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CORNELL
UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
ornell Un Library

n
F 6 H67

History of Litchfield il Connecticu

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1924 028 841 860
vers

WA iti

Date Due

 
HISTORY

LITCHFIELD COUNTY,

CONNECTICUT,

* WITH

ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

PROMINENT MEN AND PIONEERS.

PHILADELPHIA:
J. W. LEWIS & CO.,
1881.

 

oy 2
O33,

N76 679b

A. H. W.
L. E. 0. 469
PREFATORY.

 

THE province of the historian is to gather the threads of the past ere they elude forever his
grasp, and weave them into a harmonious web, to which the “art preservative” may give immor-
tality ; therefore he who would rescue from oblivion the deeds of a community, and send them

on to futurity in an imperishable record, should deliver “a plain, unvarnished tale,”—

“Nothing extenuate,

Nor aught set down in malice.’

“ In such a spirit have the compilers of the following pages approached the work of detailing the
history of the county embodied herein, and trust they have been fairly faithful to the task
imposed.

It has been our honest endeavor to trace the history of the development of this section
from that period when it was in the undisputed possession of the red men to the present, and to
‘place before the reader an authentic narrative of its rise and progress to the prominent position
it now occupies among the counties of New England.

That such an undertaking is attended with no little difficulty and vexation none will deny ;
the aged pioneer relates events of the early settlements, while his neighbor sketches the same
events with totally different outlines. Man’s memory is ever at fault, while Time paints a
different picture upon every mind. With these the historian has to contend; and while it has
been our aim to compile an accurate history, were it devoid of all inaccuracies that perfection
would have been attained of which the writers had not the faintest conception, and which Lord
Macaulay once said never could be reached.

From colonial and other documents in the State archives, from county, town, and village
records, family manuscripts, printed publications, and innumerable private sources of informa-
tion, we have endeavored to produce a history which ‘should prove accurate, instructive, and in
every respect worthy of the county represented. How well we have succeeded in our task a
generous public, jealous of its reputation and honor, of its traditions and triumphs, must now be
the judge.

We desire to acknowledge our sincere thanks to the editorial fraternity generally for much
valuable information, which has greatly lessened our labor in the preparation of this work, and
also to each and every one who has assisted in its compilation, and would cheerfully make per-

sonal mention of each, but it is impracticable, as the number reaches over a thousand.

PHILADELPHIA, June 10, 1881.
CONTENTS.

 

ELISTORICA TL.

CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

Geographical—Topographical—Organization of Litchfield County—Lo-
cation of County-Seat—Conflicting Claims—Tirst County Officiale—
County Buildings—List of Sheriffs, Treasurers, Clerks, and State’s At-
torneys from 1751 to 1882—Chief Judges Court of Common Pleas from
LT51 to 1854......scccersecerecereoes ansesseesseciseasan Segacssveety saatesney oneness 13

CHAPTER II.

BencH AND BAR z 14

CHAPTER III.
Mepicat History.

Organization of Medical Association in 1767—Early Physicians—Names
of Members of Medical Society from 1808, with Dates of Admission—
List of Presidents and Secretaries from 1808 to 1881—Present Members
— Present OM CerS iv.1.05.svessvessccaesantecencesestereecvessseveeemcaceecssveceedyes 48

CHAPTER IV.
Miuirary History.

The Second Regiment—The Fifth Regiment—The Eighth Regiment—
The Ninth Regiment—The Tenth Regiment—The Eleventh Regiment
—The Twelfth Regiment—The Thirteenth Regiment... 50

CHAPTER V.
Miuirary Hisrory (Continued).

THE NINETRENTH REGIMENT......ssecccsceesseeees ee ssaaeccscnsenssscceessesecese 53

 

CHAPTER VI.
Miuitary History (Continued).

The Twenty-third Regiment—The Twenty-eighth Regiment — First
Regiment Heavy Artillery......... a astauslieeauy sacsereoncgssess's wesdessyecoasves 98)

CHAPTER VII.
InTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The Housatonic Railroad—The Naugatuck Railroad—The Connecticut
Western—The Shepaug—The New Haven and Northampton...... 100

CHAPTER VIII.
PoruLation AND ScHoou STArIsTIcs.

Population of Litchfield County... 104

  

CHAPTER IX.
LitcHFieLp.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indian Purchase—The Explorations
of the Township—List of Proprietors—The Town Divided into Sixty
Shares—Court of Probate, 1719—Original Cost of the Town—One Penny
Three Farthings per Acre—The Patent of Litchfield—The First Settle-
ments—Names of Pioneers—‘ House Lots”—The Pioneer Homes—The
Forts—Indian Depredations—Incident—Litchfield in the French War,
1755-63—Names of Soldiers 105

 

CHAPTER X.
LitcHFiep (Continued),

Firat Indications of Revolutionary Spirit in Litchfield—Letter of Aaron
Burr—The First Company of ‘Soldiers—Capt. Bezaleel Beebe—The

 

Bowling Green Statue of George III. Demolished—Carried to Litch-
field—Converted into Cartridges—Continental Stores—Army Work-
shops—Prisoners of War—Arrest of David Matthews, Mayor of New
York—Conveyed to Litchfield—Governor Franklin a Prisoner here—
Visit of Count Rochambeau and Gen. Lafayette—Gen. Washington
Visits the Village—Various Votes of the Town—Rev. Judah Cham-
pion’s Prayer—Resident British Soldiers—Incidents, etc., etc........ 110

CHAPTER XI.
LitcHFIELD (Continued).

Ethan Allei—Elisha Sheldon—Oliver Wolcott—Andrew Adams—Beza-
lee] Beebe—Jedediah Strong—Benjamin Talmadge—Tapping Reeve—
Moses Seymour—Elisha Mason........ svetecase ase peeieenseeanwacesi apileawens 120

CHAPTER XII.
LircuFIeLp (Continued),

Congregational Church, Litchfield—Congregational Church, Milton—
Congregational Church, Northfield—St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield—
Methodist Church, Litchfield—St. Paul’s Church, Bantam Falls—
Trinity Church, Milton—Baptist Church, Bantam Falls—Roman Cath-
olic Church, Litchfield. . 129

 

CHAPTER XIII.
LircnrreLp (Continued).

The Village of Litchfield—Incorporation—First Officers—Presidents and
Clerks from 1818 to 1882—Borough Organization—The Press—The
Weekly Monitor and American Advertiser—The Witness—The Edi-
tors Convicted of Libel—Imprisoned—Political Excitement throughout
Immediate and Distant States—Grand Oration to the Imprisoned
Editor—Excitement in the Town—The Litchfield Gazette—The Litch-
field Journal—The Litchfield Republican—The Miscellany — The
American Eagle—The Litchfield County Post—The Litchfield En-
quirer—The Litchfield Democrat—The Litchfield Sun—The Mercury
—The Democratic Watchman—The Litchfield Republican—The Litch-
field Sentinel—The Litchfield Law-School—The Post-Office—Banks—
Savings Society—Insurance Company—“Spring Hill”—St. Paul’s
Lodge, No. 11, F. and A. M.—Minerals—Temperance in 1789—Slavery
in Litchfield—Bantam Falls—Northfield—Milton—Biographical Notes
—College Graduates—Physicians—Lawyers...

 

CHAPTER XIV.
LircuFrieLp (Continued).

Incorporation of the Town—First Town Officers Elected—Representa-
tives from 1740-1882—Military History ...........cccceccseseeees epaseslotexes 152

CHAPTER XV.
WINCHESTER,

Geographical—Topographical—List of Proprietors of Winchester—A llot-
ment of Lands—Survey, etc.—Indian History—First Conveyance of
Land — First Roads— The Pioneers—Their Locations—Incidents of
Pioneer Life—Initial Events—Reminiscences of Mrs. Swift—The First
Forge—The Pioneer Grist-Mill—The First Saw-Mill —The Revolution
—Names of Soldiers, etc.—Assessment Roll] of 1783.. seagate LOL

 

CHAPTER XVI,
WincuHester (Continued).

Pioneers in Winsted Society—Manufacturing Interests—The Winsted
Bank—The Hurlbut Bank—The Hurlbut National Bank—The First
National Bank—The Winsted National Bank—The Winsted Savings
Bank—The Mechanics’ Savings Bank—St. Andrew Lodge, No. 64, F.

v
vi CONTENTS.

and A. M.—Meridian Chapter—Tyrian Council—Orion and Union
Lodges, I. 0. of O. F.—Temperance Organizations—Palmer Post—
Knights of Pythias—Libraries—Early Schools—The Winsted Herald—
The Winsted Press—The Winsted News—Post-Office Difficulties—List
of Old Inhabitants—The Borough of Clifton—The Borough of Winsted
—Incorporation—First Officers Elected—Wardens from 1858 to 1881—
Burgesses from 1858 to 1881—Clerks, Treasurers, and Bailiffs from 1858
to 1881—Water-Works—Fire Department, etc.—Population of Town
Frei 1756 Wo 1880 comamnuonnsovemevawanrianiseiereeamenntonseniemiiis: 186

CHAPTER XVII.

WINCHESTER (Continued) daa ie snveatea aseatas (aidss eM dee semceewseeaes 198)

CHAPTER XVIII.
Wincuester (Continued).

First Congregational Church, Winchester—First Congregational Church,
Winsted—Second Congregational Church—Methodist Episcopal Church

—St. James’ Church—St. Joseph’s Church—The Women’s Christian |

MOMPSrance Unio wsss cscs seveedeesteaacuccccceessesvsesseveaninavedssneesGeedacte 206

CHAPTER XIX.
WINCHESTER (Continued).

Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—
Documentary History—List of Senators—Representatives—Judges of
Probate—Town Clerks—Selectmen—Military Record......s..000. 216

CHAPTER XX.
BARE HAMSTE D cosa ssascsussvecasosyressssvssvorsitesvedasedsdeddereessacdevecosvesseeds 237

CHAPTER XXI.
BARKAAMSTED (Contintedd) 1: sessssesesseeceesesaenene cessor eee

 

CHAPTER XXII.

BARKHAMSTED (Continued nescence

 

CHAPTER XXIII.
BaRKHAMSTED (Continued).

 

CHAPTER XXIV.
BARKHAMSTED (Continued) +--+

  

CHAPTER XXV.
BETHLEHEM.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Graut—The Indian Purchase
—The Survey—The First Settlements—The Pioneers—Petitions for
“Winter Privileges"—Incidents—Prices of Irovisions in 1747—Ec-
clesiastical History—Congregational Church—Christ Church—Meth-
odist Episcopal Church—Bethlehem Library Associations—Physicians
—The “ Great Sickness” of 1760—Civil and Military History—Organi-
zation of Towu—Ofticers Elected—Town Clerks—Selectmen from 1787
to 1881—Representatives from 1787 to 1881—Present (1881) Town Oti-
cers—Military Record ane 251

 

 

CHAPTER XXVI.
BripGEWATER.

Geographical — Topographical — Incorporation of Town—First Town-
Meeting—Officers Elected—List of Town Clerks—Representatives from
1857 to 1881 — Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church—Sst.
Mark’s Church— Methodist Episcopal Church — Baptist Church —
Roman Catholic Church—Grand List, 1881—Military Record....... 255

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CANAAN.

Geographical—Topographical—The Housatonic Falls—Sale of the Town
—First Meeting of Proprietors—Held at Wethersficld—Name of the
Town—First Settlement of the Town—Names of Pioneers and Gran-
tees—Early Births and Marriages—Ecclesiastical History—Congrega-
tional Church, South Canaan—Congregational Church, Falls Village
—Methodist Episcopal Church, Falls Village—The Iron Bank—The
Falls Village Savings Bank.....ssssesssecccsssesssceessscnecessssececeessssserse 264

 

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CANAAN (Continued).

Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meetings—Bounty on Rattle.
snake Tails—Religious Service—The Ringing of Swine—Pounds—
Church Service—Extracts from Town Records—Unwholesome Inhab-
itants—Fire-Locks —Grist-Mill— New County—Petition for Bank —

- Trouble with Proprietors—Inhabitants Admitted—Bounty on “ Squir-
rels,” etc.— List of Representatives from 1757 to 1881— Military
RGGOId .ccccssssass cccvsssassxceacess dee paneuanasbseselacescescoeu seen dtaravesanie 267

CHAPTER XXIX.
CoLEBROOK.

Geographical—Topographical—Towns Patented to Hartford and Wind-
sor—The Controversy—Survey of the Town—Ministerial and School
Lots—Initial Events—Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meet-
ing—High ways—Early Settlers and their Locations—The First Death
—The First Birth—The Church Controversy—Ecclesiastical History—
Congregational Church—Representatives from 1796 to 1882—Military
Record........0005 deasUsaeate wots secrets a aleucdeaaeaatiees obvedsceeeee Sacee oy pceates 274

CHAPTER XXX.

CoRNWALL.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indians—‘ Tom Warrups”—Sale of
the Town—Its Bounds—The First Meeting of Proprietors—Early Reg-
ulations—The First Settlers and their Locations—Grand List of 1742
—Family Sketches—The Old Emmons Tavern—The Whipping-Post
and Stocks............ auieunsusabepeseecissuniiicasvas sews aenwesseeei int « 287

CHAPTER XXXI.
CornwALu (Continued).

 

Congregational Church, Cornwall—Congregational Church, North Corn-
wall—Cornwall and Sharon Baptist Church—Baptist Church, Cornwall
Hollow—Baptist Church, East Cornwall—Methodist Episcopal Church,
Cornwall Bridge—Educational—The Foreign Mission-School—Cream
Hill Agricultural School—W. C. and Miss L. Rogers’ School—Noah R.
and E. Burton Hart’s School—Young Ladies’ Institute—The Alger
Institute—Physicians—Cemeteries—Organization of Town—Represen-
tatives from 1761 to 1882—Soldiers of the Revolution—Soldiers of the
Risbelliony, LSGIAOG: sai; sss-cesspunssesineaneaconaaensi ey aiawslied adie Siicsesigeineas ce 300

CHAPTER XXXII.
GosHEN.
Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlements—The Laying Out
of the Town—New Bantam—Goshen—Troubles between the Town
and the Colony—The Mob—Committee of Investigation— Settlement
of the Controversy—The First Grant and Survey—The Surveyor—The
College Farm—Division of the Town into Rights—First Proprietors’
Meeting—The First Birth—The First .Meeting-House—The Pioneer
Minister—The Pioneer Taverns—Location of Early Settlers—Pioneer
Merchants—The First Saw- and Grist-Mill, etc...cseescccee avewees seeree 322

CHAPTER XXXITITI.
GosHEN (Continued) ...ccccccccscssesescsses ade sCaceeetaeiiesy agevaipidtnden +e 833

CHAPTER XXXIV.
GosneN ( Continued).—EccLestastica, CiviL, AND Mixitary.

The Congregational Church—The Episcopal Church—The Methodist
Episcopal Church—Methodist Episcopal Church, North Goshen—The
First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Extracts from Records—Rep-
resentatives from 1700 to 1880—Military History—The Heroes of
Three Wars—The French War—War of the Revolution—War of the
Rebellion—Names of Soldiers—Interesting Statistics...........ccsss0 346

CHAPTER XXXV.

Harwinton.
Geographical — Topographical — Original Proprietors— The Pioneers—
Early Schools—Votes—The Revolution—Names of Soldiers, etc. 374

CHAPTER XXXVL

Harwinton (Continued).
The Congregational Church—The Episcopal Church—Incorporation—
First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Representatives from 1757 to ‘
1882—Military...... Aerereeneeaaeseneeseeseeenseeseesecssanvesssessssssscsseresense BTQY:
CONTENTS. vii

 

CHAPTER XXXVII.
Kent.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indians—The Moravians—The Grant
—First Proprietors’ Meeting—List of Proprietors—The First Settle-
ments—Grand List, 1745—The First School—The Congregational
Church—St. Andrew’s Church—St. Luke’s Lodge, No. 48, F. and A. M.
—Civil History—Incorporation of Town—The First Town-Meeting—
First Marriage, Births, etc.—Representatives from 1757 to 1881—Mili-
tary Record...... 384

 

CHAPTER XXXVIIL
Morris.

Geographical — Topographical — Pioneer Settlement—Parish of South
Farms Incorporated—History of Congregational Church—The Advent
Society—James Morris and Morris Academy—Incorporation of the
Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Extracts from Societies’
Records—Representatives from 1860 to P882—Military Record..... 388

CHAPTER XXXIX.

 

CHAPTER XL.
New Mixrorp.

Geographical—Topographical—Indian History—Documentary History—
Original Indian Deed, etc.......s.sesseeees age Ssbig| fa bincbachosenbeey aaageiee 422

CHAPTER XLI.
New Mivrorp (Continued).

Early Explorations—Purchases—Indian Map of the Town—The Patent
—The First Settlement—First Proprietors’ Meeting—List of Original
Proprietors—Initial Events—The North Purchase—Names of Proprie-
tors—Biographical Notes of Some of the First Settlers—Town Hill and
Town Street. 426

CHAPTER XLII.
New Mirorp (Continued).

Home-Lots of Original Purchasers—Proprietors of Common Fields—
Proprietors’ Meetings—Record of Highways... wae 438

 

CHAPTER XLIII.
NEW MILFORD (Continwed).....ccssessseeeeeeees sdboteedswachscbetets seve 445

CHAPTER XLIV.
New Mixrorp (Continued).

Congregational Church, New Milford—Methodist Episcopal Church,
New Milford—Methodist Episcopal Church, Gaylordsville—Baptist
Church, Northville—Baptist Church, Gaylordsville—Jemima Wilkin-
son, the Universal Friend—Quaker Society—Roman Catholic Church.

451
CHAPTER XLV.

New Mirrorp (Continued).

The Press—The New Milford Republican—The New Milford Journal—
The Housatonic Ray—The New Milford Gazette—First National Bank
—Savings Bank—Library—St. Peter's Lodge, No. 21, F.and A. M.—
Ousatonic Chapter, No. 33, R. A. M.—Good Shepherds’ Lodge, No. 65,
1.0.0. F.—Fire Department—Adelphic Institute—Old Advertisements
—The Tobacco Interest—Grand List, 1880—Incorporation of Town—
Representatives from 1725 to 1881—Probate Judges from 1787 to 1881
—Military History. 455

CHAPTER XLVI.

Norro.k.

Geographical—Topographical—The Pioneers—Sale of the Town—First
Proprietors’ Meeting—War of the Revolution—Names of Soldiers—
Labor Regulations, 1778—Pioneer Mills—Schools—The First Post-Office
—LEcclesiastical History—Congregational Church—Methodist Episcopal
Church—Temperance Society—Civil History—Incorporation of the
Town—List of Representatives from 1722 to 1881—List of Physicians
—College Graduates—Military History—Names of Soldiers—Soldiers’
Monuinient ..cccosassiarsanssenionassnarer vine esinesseetecdateveben festirindastizivik 468

 

CHAPTER XLVII.

Norra Canaan.
Geographical—Topographical—Incorporation of the Town—The Revolu-
tion—Incidents—The First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Select-
men from 1859 to 1882—Clerks from 1859 to 1882—Probate Judges
from 1847 to Present Time—Representatives from 1859 to 1882—Eccle-
siastical History—Congregational Church—Christ Church—Methodist
Episcopal Church—Connecticut Western News—Villages—Military
Record 482

CHAPTER XLVIII.
PLyMouTH,

The First Settlements—The Old Lead-Mine—Petition for “ Liberty of
Planting”—Petition for Winter Privileges—Charter of the Town—Or-
ganization of the Society, etc....cossseeeee 486

CHAPTER XULUIX.
PiymovureH (Continued).
Congregational Church, Plymouth—Congregational Church, Terryville

—St. Peter’s Church, Plymouth.........:scressssssssecsrsercsseneseeees ssreee 492
CHAPTER L.
PLYMOUTH (Continwued).ecccccccesessersercsccessrcesssseseceeeeseees 500
CHAPTER LI.
Roxpury.

Organization—Topographical—The Indians—The First Exploration—
The First Settlements—Initial Events—The War of the Revolution—
Ethan Allen—Col. Seth Warner—Capt. Remember Baker—War of
1812—The Schools—Prominent Citizens—Physicians, etc.—Ecclesias-
tical History—Congregational Church—Episcopal Church—The Bap-
tist Church—The Methodist Church—Civil and Military—Organization
of Town—List of Representatives from 1797 to 1881—Organization of
Probate District—List of Judges—Military Record.....cccccsecesees 512

CHAPTER LII.
SALISBURY.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indiaus—The First Purchase of
Lands—The First Grant—The First Settlements—EHarly Highways—
The Pioneers—Early Schools—Iron Interests—Lawyers, Physicians
—Prominent Citizens—Grand List, 1742—Market-Place—The First
Post-office—Pioneer Mill—Indian Mounds—The Revolution—War of
1812—The Iron Interests.

518

CHAPTER LIII.
ed) +

 

Sauissury (Conti

CHAPTER LIV.
SauisBury (Continued).

Congregational Church—St. John’s Church—Trinity Church, Lime Rock
—Methodist Episcopal, Lakeville—Methodist Episcopal, Lime Rock—
Catholic, Lakeville. 641

CHAPTER LV.

Sauispury (Continued).—Crvit anp Miuirary.

First Proprietors’ Meeting—Incorporation of the Town—The First Town-
Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary—Origin of the Name of Town
—Representatives from 1757 to 1881—Military History.........s.0+ 547

CHAPTER LVI.
SHARON. -
Geographical—Topographical—Conflicting Claims to Territory—Survey
of the Towu—Line Between New York and Connecticut Defined—
Indian History—The First Settlement—Richard Sackett—Sale of the
Town—List of Original Purchasers—Patent of the Town—The Settle-
ment in Distress—The First Death—The First Birth—First Marriage
—The Moravians—The Revolutionary War—Shay’s Rebellion—List of
Early Settlers......... . ve 563

CHAPTER LVII.
Snanon (Continued).

  

 

Congregational Church, Sharon—Congregational Church, Ellsworth—
Episcopal Church—Methodist Episcopal Church—Incorporation of the
viii 3

Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Representatives from
1755 to 1881—Members of the Governor’s Council—Senators—Judges of
the County Court—Justices of the Peace—Town Clerks—Attorneys—
Physicians—College Graduates—Military Record......... eivicueeuwteees 583

CHAPTER LVIII.
THOMASTON.

Geographical—Topographical—Thomaston in 1825—Seth Thomas—The
Seth Thomas Clock Company—Ecclesiastical History—Civil History—
Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—
Present Town Officers—Representatives....csscsssssecsssresseserseveeses . 599

CHAPTER LIX.
TORRINGTON.
Geographical—Topographical—Naming the Town—List of Proprietors—
Grand List, 1733—Division of Lots—The First Settlers and their Lo-
cations—Initial Events—First Deeds of Conveyance—The Indian Fort
—The First School-house—Pioneer Taverns—War of the Revolution—
Proceedings of the Town—Names of Officers and Soldiers—Taxes
During the Revolution—The Whipping-post—A Prosecution for Pro-
fanity—Slavery—Organization of County Anti-Slavery Society at Wol-
cottville—The Convention Routed by a Mob—‘ Nigger Pew” in Tor-
rington and Torringford Churches—Emancipation of Slaves in Tor-
Tington—John BrowD........::scccesseacsesessecssare: seccnsnes can seconessneaenes 610

CHAPTER LX,
TorRINGTON (Continued).

Wolcottville—Its Inception—United Movements—The Village in 1819—
In 1836—In 1881—Seneca Lodge, F. and A. M.—Wolcottville Savings
Bank— Brooks Brothers’ Banking-Office — Physicians — Attorneys—
Torringford—Holbrook’s Mills—Hart’s Hollow—Torrington Hollow—
Wrightville—Burrville...

 

CHAPTER LXI.
TorRINGTON (Continued).

Congregational Church, Torrington—Congregational Church, Torring-
ford — Wolcottville Congregational Church — Methodist Mpiscopal
Church, Wolcottville— Trinity Church, Wolcottville — St. Francis’
Church, Wolcottville—Baptist Church, Newfield—Methodist Episcopal
CHUECH, NOWAHElG ssrcceuisassneeiessvsteenenssacgay sys veveeheiie dcectaicas vs sied sonaee 626

CHAPTER LXII.
TorrinetTon (Continued).

The Coe Brass Manufacturing Compapy—The Coe Furniture Company
—The Union Manufacturing Company—The Turner & Seymour
Manufacturing Company --The Excelsior Needle Company — The
Hardware Company—C. H. Hotchkiss & Sons—The Alvord Manu-
facturing Company—The Hardware Manufacturing Company—The
Hendy Machine Company, Etc..........csesesecee: aaend cae vedeaverye: sbiassdes 634

CHAPTER LXIII.
TorRINGTON (Continued).

Incorporation of Town—Representatives from 1762.to Present Time—
Military Record, 1861-65.........cssccsseeserssessesesscssarseeereesssesenes seeeee 637

CHAPTER LXIV.
WARREN.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlements—Names of Set-
tlers—Early Marriages—Organization of Parish and Town—The First
Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary History—Ecclesiasti-
cal History—-Representatives from 1786 to 1881.........000..cceee awees 641

CHAPTER LXV.
WASHINGTON.

Geographical—Topographical—Judea and New Preston Societies—The
First Settlements—Names of Pioneers—Organization of Judea Society
—Kcclesiastical History—The Congregational Church, Washington—
Congregational Church, New Preston—Congregational Church, New
Preston Hill—St. John’s Church—St. Andrew’s Church—Rising Sun
Lodge, No. 27, F. and A. M.—Physicians—Revolutionary Incident—
Gunn’s Seminary—The Shepaug Railroad—Lake Weroamaug—Civil
and Military History—Organization of the Town—The First Town-

 

CONTENTS.

Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary History—List of Selectmen
from 1786 to 1881—List of Representatives—Probate Judges—Military

 

 

Record

CHAPTER LXVI.

WATERTOWN.
Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlements—The Pioneers—
Organization of the Parish of Westbury—Incidents—Reminiscences of
Hon. F. J. Kingsbury—Physicians—Men of Prominence—Lawyers—
War of 1812—Notes—Evergreen Cemetery—Mortality List—Agricul-
tural—Summer Resort—Railroad—Reminiscences of Mrs. Rev. Fred-
aeccceeeeseeee 660

ope peeeneedasene ceases seers coneee sn:

erick HOlcomb.......c.sseee coeeeoe

CHAPTER LXVII.

Watertown (Continued).

Congregational Church—Christ Church—Methodist Episcopal Church—
Methodist Episcopal Church*in North Part of Town........ssse eres 670

CHAPTER LXVIII.
Watertown (Continued).

Incorporation of Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Ex-
tract: from Town Records—The Revolution—Division of the Town—
Representatives from 1780 to 1881—Town Clerks—Probate Judges—
Military Record, 1861-65..........secce0e- Bidvecesigueses ds sesoleReneecen yea tireines® 672

CHAPTER LXIX.
Woopzoury.
Introductory—Six Purchases from the Pootatucks—First, or Pomperaug
Purchase—Kettletown Purchase—Fourth, or Nonnewaug Purchase—

Fifth Purchase—Sixth, or Confirmatory Purchase—Reservation, or
“ Purchase”—Indian “ Marks’”—A Buried Race. see 685

 

CHAPTER LXX.
Woopzury (Continued).

Church Dissensions in Stratford the Cause of the Settlement of Wood-
bury—Action of the General Court in 1667, 1669, 1670—Pomperaug
Granted, and Settlement Commenced in 1672—Fresh Arrivals Next
Year—Pomperaug made a Town and called Woodbury in 1674—Sig-
nification of the Name...

 

 

CHAPTER LXXI
Woopzury (Continued).

King Philip’s War in 1675—Inhabitants of Woodbury go back to Strat-
ford—Orders of the General Court—Rev, Mr. Walker’s Letter—Inhab-
itants Return in 1677—The First Three Corn-Mills—Town First Rep-
resented in the General Court in 1684—Patent Granted to the Town
in 1686—General Court grants the North Purchase to the town in
1703—Same Purchased of the Indians in 1710.......0..cssseces cesses cesses 691

CHAPTER LXXII.
Woopzury (Continued),

Character of the First Settlers—Capt. John Minor—Capt. William Cur-
tiss—Hon. Samuel Sherman—Hon. John Sherman—Lieut. Joseph Jud-
son—Lieut. Israel Curtiss—Col. Joseph Minor—IIackaliah Preston—
HON. William Preston sccsicis:seasnsssesncssnas suceiievssesessvevvdsssomvesseon + 693

CHAPTER LXXIIIL
Woopzury (Continued),

Home-Lots—Rey. Z. Walker’s House—Palisaded Houses—First School-
House—Second, or Stoddard Parsonage—First Meeting-House—First
Birth, Marriage, and Death—First Clothier—First Physician—First
Blacksmith—First Divorce—Parson Stoddard Kills Two Indians—
Wood Creek Expedition—Slavery. 695

CHAPTER LXXIV.
Woopsury (Continued).
Character of Rey. Zechariah Walker—Reyv. Anthony Stoddard Settled—
Rey. Noah Benedict Settled—Half- Way Covenant Abolished, 1760—

Rey. Samuel R, Andrew Settled—Remaining Pastors of the Church
—Recapitulation — Strict Congregational Church — Rey. Grove L.
CONTENTS. eo

 

Brownell Settled—Rev. John Churchill Settled—W. L. R. Wychorf
Settled—Episcopal Church—Methodist Church—Catholic Church. 697

CHAPTER LXXV.

Woovsury (Continued).

French and Indian Wars—War of the Revolution—War Convention at
Litchfield in 1766—Town-Meetings in 1774—Roston Alarm—Commit-
tee of Olservation— Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point by
Woodbury Men—Woodbury the Birthplace of Col. Ethan Allen, Col.
Seth Warner, and Capt. Remember Baker—Tories—Events of 1775—
Events of 1776—Events of 1777—Events of 1778—Shadrach Osborn—
Commissary Supplies—Events of 1779—Events of 1780—Volunteers

till New York should be taken—Events of 1781 and 1782—Conclu-
BIO as ssierscsveonied sada niasseiesesveianeccecoseees Whee Sddecnnvauda var eansaonceereteeey + 700

CHAPTER LXXVI.

Woopsury (Continued).

List of Public Officers in Ancient Woodbury—Representatives, 1684-1881
—List of Soldiers in Fort William Herity Alarm—List of Soldiers in the
Revolutionary War—List of Soldiers in the War of 1812—Woodbury’s
Roll of Honor—War of the Rebellion, 1861-65—Alphabetical List of

 

BIOGRAPHICAL.

  
  
  
 
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
 
 

PAGE
Patridge Thatcher.. 14
Daniel Everitt.. 15
Tapping Reeve.. 15
John Allen......... 16
Barzillai Slosson.. 4 Et
Samuel W. Southmayd. 18
Jno. C. Smith. 20
Nathaniel Smith.. 20
James Gould.... 21
Noah B., Benedict. 22
Jabez W. Huntington 23
Phineas Miner.... 23
Leman Church.... 24
Ansel Sterling 24
Stephen T. Hosmer 25
Jno. T. Peters 26
Asa Chapman 27
Willistny Bristollsscvsveecocsessyeesasieneeiescess vaysvegswisaceesteecQenmnsexeosecnses 27
Jeremiah G. Brainard.. 27
David Daggett.. 27
John Welch.. 27
Jabez Swift. 28
Adonijah Strong 28
JOS. Canfield.....secsceccccsee seers cceeeeseee ebat ab sseexserece 28
Martin Strong. 28
Asa Bacon..... 28
Elisha Sterling. 28
David 8, Boardman. 29

William G. Williams.

 

 

   

 

 

 

John Strong, Jr... 29
Calvin Butler. - 29
Cyrus Swan..........0.ssecereesseoees eaviscei audedeaaty aseawees 29
Jos, Miller ee .. 80
William Ms Burrall .o.sssesccsccone sooesovesssessesuaensseesnssonatenesse end qdevewians 30
William Coggswell. 30

Seth P. Beers
Perry Smith
Roger Mills

 

 

 

Michael F. Mills. 30
Charles B. Phelps 31
Matthew Minor..... 31
Nathaniel P. Perry..........0-0.00+- 31
Holbrook Curtis 31
William BE. Curtia.......cccccccceecereors wees 32
Isaac Leavenworth and R, R. Hinman 33

 

Joseph H. Bellamy.
Theodore North
William S. Holabird..
George S. Boardman.
John Elmore...
Samuel Church,
Gideon Hall.....
Truman Smith ee
Charles F. Sedgwick ....-.sssossssesscseessessers
George C. Woodruff.

J. H. Hubbard

 

 
  
    

 

 

 

 

|

the Soldiers of Woodbury in the War of the Rebellion............... 705
PAGE

, 0.8. Seymour... 36
Miles T. Granger.. 37
Henry B. Graves ir 38
William Cothren........cccecccssecesscceeeercees ree 38
George A. HickOX seis iwc sessise secscascsivevsseseessesscousesees coseet 40
Marcus A. Delavan 40
Jacob B. Hardenbergh.. 42
George Wheaton.. 43
F. D. Fyler....... 43
Augustus H. Fenn 44
A. P. Bradstreet... 44
Augustus Pettibone. 44
John B. Welch....... 51
L,. W. Wessells. 76
Julius Deming 155
Gideon H. Hollister... 156
Hiram Stone.. 156
J.P. Brace.. 157
John Catlin. 158
F. H. Catlin 159
Myron Osborn 159
Amos Bissell.. 160
The Bissell Family. 160.
Eliada Kilbourn.. 161
Noah Guernsey.... 162
Guy Catlin....... 162
Henry W. Buel. 162}
Payne R. Kilbourne 1624
Daniel Sheldon....... 1623
Samuel H. Dudley.. 163

 

   
 
 
 
 
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  

Heman Beach
Charles D. Wheeler...

  

 

 

 

 
 
 
  
  
   
   
 
 
 
  

 

Levi Coe......

Jacob Morse .. 164
David M. Grant... 165
The Plumb Family. 165
Philip 8. Beebe. 166
George Dudley. 223
John Boyd.. 224.
James Welch 224
Jno. W. Bidwell.. 225
Elliot Beardsley 225
William H. Phelps... 225
John G. Wetmore 226
W. L. Gilbert... 227
Elias E. Gilman. 228
John Hinsdale... wee 228
Harvey B. Steele.. «between 228, 229
Henry Gay...... me 228, 229
Lyman Baldwin... 229
David Strong.... : 230
Samuel W. Coe. -between 230, 231
Franklin Moore.. » 231
Charles Cook....... 232
Eugene Potter.. 232

J. H. Norton...
x CONTENTS.

PAGE

William F. Hatch. 233

Timothy Hulber
E. Manchester.
Theron Bronson.
Henry H. Drake.
William Lawrence
D. H. Stephens.....
James Allen......
Glover Sanford
Lyman Smith.
James H. Keeler
Henry Sanford...
Marcus B. Mallett.
Roswell Morris
John Wooster....
U. H. Miner ‘
Aw CO, Randall. ii... cscs ce eeeeeceee:
Whiting G. Kellogg.

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charles Hunt.....cccccccsececssesscesesseecanere oe 271
Nathan Millard 272
Milo Holabird... 272
Jonathan Bates... 273
Pitkin Cowles.... 273
Edward A. Phelps. 284
Reuben Rockwell... 284

 

Timothy Persons
John S. Wheeler
Asaph 0. Pinney...
Solomon Sackett
Lucien 0. Bass
Wm. P. Lawrence.
Loren De Wolf.
Luther Phelps.
Harvey W. Pinney,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Theodore S. Gold... 311
The Harrison Family. 313
John R. Harrison... 313
Myron Harrison 314
Frederick Kellogg . 315
Edwin White.. 315
Ezra D. Pratt.. 316
Isaac Marsh......... 317,
The Noah Rogers Family. + 318
Sylvester H. Barnum...... between 320, 321
Charles N. Shepard............cessscsssssescrsseeeresesscceee 321
Henry Norton.......ss2000 354
Capt. William Gaylord 354
Moses Lyman... 355

Erastus Lyman
The Waddam Family,
Daniel N. Lucas
Frederick A. Lucas...
F. E. Hurlbut
I eerceescseeiecmeoneonesimmiiesy
Fessenden Ives..
Norman Norton..
William Norton...
Charles L. Norton.
Truman P. Clark...
William L. Griswold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 

 

 

 
 
 
  

Acors W. Lawton.. seeeansesseereereeeene OTE
Burfus Fuller......cse cscs ssesse vonsssresevess soseseseceneeseeseeense eosees facing 386
Russell Stone . ee Seana ents 388
Dan Throop........ age eesrtetes lacing 390
Phineas W. Camp.... we 391
Lyman L. Griswold.. 391
‘Abel C. Tracy.... 392
William H. Farnham . 392
John C, Smith... 419
Henry Jones...... « 419
The Goodwin Family. -between 420, 421
Charles F. Maxfield.........ssssssecssesscerceaseecesses scenes 421
Chester W. Gilman.......cccacccsssssccsssesccecconesensessccenssenseseess easeeseene 421
E. M. Chapin... 421
Ambrose 8. Rogers. 461
George Taylor ove 463

 

PAGE

D. E. Sonle...... opdavaiseceersys 465

 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  

Albert N. Baldwin. 465
George S. Noble. 466
H. G. Sperry. 467

480

Joseph Eldridge.
Austin A. Spaulding.
K. T. Butler.........-
William Bennett...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  
 
  

 

 

 

 
 
  

 

 

 

James Terry.....-sseccreseee 504
Andrew Terry 506
Augustus C. Shelton. 507
Byron Tuttle..... 508
George Pierpont. 509
Lyman D. Baldwin 510
William B. Fenn... 511
Aaron P. Fenn... 511
Oliver Smith...... 512
Charles Beardsley......ssccsssssscsssccessreerecsenssen sss cs sneeeesneesecnsees ens eas 517
George Hurlbut..cc. cecccscecssee cosseereeeeenseensocesseessseneneanee seeeas facing 518
John M. Holley 550
A. H. Holley coe 551
The Moore Family. wee 553
Frederick Miles.... 554
Henry M. Knight... 554
Peter P. Everts 556
Newton J. Reed.. - 558
H. P. Harris.. 558
Daniel B. Cook a 559
Robert Little... 559
James M. Selleck... 560
Erastus D. Goodwin 560
James Landon. 560
Charles H. Bissell.. 562
John F. Cleaveland 562
Thomas N. Smith... 562
Johu C. Jackson.. 590

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 

John 8. Jewett.
Ralph Deming.
Gamaliel H. St. John
The Peck Family
Lemuel Peck...........scecseeoe
Charles M. Parsons .. ae
F. L. Pierson..... 0

 

  

 

 

594
Samuel Skiff, Jr. 595
Gibbs W. Skiff... 595
Seth B. St. John 596
Henry St. John ~ 596

 

Samuel Dean.
Asa Everitt...

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  

 

 

 

 

   
  
  
 

Ichabod 8S. Everitt. 598
Augustus Everitt...... 598
Benjamin 8. Reed. 599
Seth Thomas. 602
Seth Thomas, Jr.. 603
Edward Thomas.. 603
Aaron Thomas.. 603
Thomas J. Bradstreet 603
William Woodruft..... 605
George W. Gilbert.. 606
Marcus Prince.... 606
Randal T. Andrews 607
Benjamin Platt... 607
George B. Pierpont 608
Miles Morse........... 608
Israel B. Woodward.. 608
F. E. Warner......... ieancnseecesennageunsesrees aay -between 608, 609
Henry F, Reynolds....sscssccsccssessesssessscessevesenceacsensscecses 609
William P. Judson 609
Hiram Pierce.. 610
Milo Burr........ 640
Jesse B. Rose... 640
F. P. Hills... 641
Orson Barber 641
William Hopkins 650
Daniel N. Bri d 656

 

Daniel B. Brinsmade....

  
 

 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  
  
 

Stanley E. Beardsley.

CONTENTS. xi
PAGE PAGE

F, W. Guan... Caleb T. Hickox....
Henry Upson | William G. French 683
Gregory Seeley. Frederick J. Partree. 684.
Samuel J. Averill The Curtiss Family "17
Leman W. Cutler.. Daniel Curtiss. 718

 

Merrit Heminway. 675
John De Forest...ccccsess-sssssreecccenssessaecessenssererceesescesceentseneceeseoees 676
Samuel Elton

 

A.M. Hungerford.

   

Benjamin De Forest.
E. B. Dickerman
Alanson War;ren..ssece
Frederick Hol b

E. C. Bower

678
679

 

 

 

Thomas Bull............
Benjamin Fabrique .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ILLUSTRATIONS.

 

 

 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
   
     
 
 

 

 

PAGE

Outline Map of County facing 13
Portrait of James Gould..... ee 22
ee Ansel Sterling... ey 24

cs Michael F. Mills. eg 30

ef Holbrook Curtis. ne 31

« William E. Curtis. accesses“ 32

te Charles F. Sedgwick... se 35

ey 0. S. Seymour........ es 36

ee George C. Woodruff. ++ between 36, 37

ae John H. Hubbard... “36, 37

ad M. T. Granger. .facing 38

s W. Cothren. se 39

s George Wheaton.. s 43

« Augustus Pettibone. between 44, 45

4s Albert P. Bradstreet... eroane «=F 44, 45

 

a John Sedgwick. 50
as John B. Welch. 52
“ L. W. Wessells.. 76

LITCHFIELD.
Portrait of Moses Seymour...

 

 

 

 

 

  
 
 
  

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

a Julius Deming. & 155
. Hiram Stone. s 156
f J.P. Brace. ee 157
i John Catlin “ 158
sf F. H. Catlin “ 159
# Myron Osborn... ..between 160, 161
me Amos Bissell... pee is 160, 161
Be Henry B. Bissell., » © 160, 161
* Eliada Kilbourn.. ae 160, 161
e Noah Guernsey.... asooseefacing 162
e Guy Catlin.......... -between 162, 16244
« H. W. Buel facing 16214
a Dan. Sheldon......cccccccsssseesstscecerserecceesessse erence ce 16214
zs 8. H. Dudley...... «between 162, 163
os Heman Beach.. “162, 163
“ Charles D. Wheeler.. «162, 163
Residence of Charles D. Wheeler (two views)... « 162, 163
f Levi C00 ....esssssesseerercesseesseereee “ 162, 163
Portrait of Levi Coe « (164, 165
. Jacob Morse... fs 164, 165
- David M. Grant. “164, 165
ee Seth PF. PIUMD........cccocsernceascsseeseceee seseessesereseees facing 165
f William Beebe.. . between 166, 167
a Philip 8, Beebe : » © 166,167
WINCHESTER.
Residence of George W. Phelps...cseccsscocrresrsessenescceeesssereeftacing 220

Portrait of George Dudley.......
Jno. Boyd...
% W. 4H. Phelps...
a James Welch...
J. W. Bidwell...

J. G. Wetmore.

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Horace Hurd, 720
George B. Lewis... sete secceresesenassercees 721
Harmon W. Shove...... 721
Joseph Battell 723
The Coe Family 124
Rufus Babcock 725

PAGE

Residence of J. G. Wetmore...

between 226, 227
Portrait of William L. Gilbert..

wfacing 227

 
  
  
  
  
 

 

 

 

 

“Elias E. Gilman. my 228

see Harvey B. Steele.. between 228, 229
« Henry Gay.......... ee 228, 229
“ John Hinsdale...... a s 228, 229
* Lyman Baldwin... facing 229
« David Strong.... a) oe 230
“ Samuel W. Coe.

 
 
  
  
  
 

between 230, 231

 

 

 

 

  
 
 

 

 

 

  
 
 
 

 

   

 

 

 
  

  

ee Franklin MOoore........ccssssscccesssseesscsacsecssesescseees facing 231
us Charles Cook 232
“ J. H. Norton... facing 232
as Eugene Potter.. ebetween 232, 233
a W.F. Hatch...... a 232, 233
oe Timothy Hulbert.........-s:ccccscessrersescsssssecsereseesn facing 233
es E. Manchester...... 234

Resid of E. Manchest «facing 234

Portrait of Theron Bronson..... s 235
ee William Lawrence.. Be 236

Resid of L. S. Nash “« 237

: BARKHAMSTED.
Portrait of D. H. Stephens...... dedeassaa termites wetCINg “241
BETHLEHEM.

Resid of James Allen between 252, 253
Portrait of James Allen......ccsssscseesarssecssessersreesseceerrreeetacing 255
BRIDGEWATER.

Portrait of Glover Sanford.........ssssersseessusseereree «between 258, 259
re Lyman Smith a MS 258, 259
ee James H. Keeler. 1 senses 260
“ Marcus B. Mallett... facing 261
ce Henry Sanford.....eccccsssessceccscnscesssnvsscerscecssnerensenseneese 261
% Roswell Morris.. facing 262
“ John Wooster... 263

CANAAN,

Portrait of Joel Miner... facing 269
ss U. H. Miner.. -between 270, 271
se A. C. Randall......... widinesiisidatisncccimcioccstents: S -270, i201,
of W. G. Kellogg. facing 271
ce Charles Hunt... " 272
“ W. W. Millard. -between 272, 273
se Jonathan Bates. “272, 273
a Milo Holabird... i Ganabeoswaestsevessses facing 273

COLEBROOK.

Residence of E. A. Phelps.. «facing 282

 

   
 
  
 

 

 

Portrait of E. A. Phelps.. e 284
s Timothy Persons. -between 284, 285
st John S, Wheeler.. oe ss 284, 285
s Reuben Rockwell.. ae 284, 285
“ A. 0. Pinney......... sites: Soe 284, 285

Solomon Sackett.......sse+0 . 286

 
Xil

PAGE
Portrait of William P. Lawrence. .-facing 286

af L. O. Bass...

   

 

Residence of L. 0. Bass. “286, 287
Portrait of Loren DeWolf. s 286, 287

s Luther Phelps... a a ae 286, 287
Residence of Harvey W. Pinney....ccceccceserssccersecereecenee certs facing 287

CORNWALL.

Portrait of T.S. Gold.......scesee
e George C. Harrison
Residence of George C. Harrison..
Portrait of John R. Harrison.
s Myron Harrison

 

fea Fes 312
«between 312, 313
facing 313

 
 
 
 
 
  
 

 

 

cs Frederick Kellogg 315
ce Edwin White.. 316
ee E. D. Pratt.. . 316
af Isaac Marsh facing 317

 

ve Dwight Rogers.. mess “8 320

ee Sylvester H. Barnum.. «between 320, 321

ae Charles N. Shepard........ssccccsscesseserersccossscnseeoses facing 321
GOSHEN.

Portrait of Henry Nortou.... facing 354

 

 

 

 
  
  

 

 
  
  

se William Gaylord « between 354, 355
s Moses Lyman.... » © — 354, 355
Residence of Moses Ly matue...cccsssssseseccseseecesseesereesneesereee facing 355
Portrait of Erastus Lyman... co, SY 357
£8 John M. Wadhams Gi 363
fs Daniel N. Lucas..... s 365
fa Frederick A. Lucas er 367
ie F. E, Hurlbut. seg SE 370
ee Henry G. Wright. -between 370, 371
5 Fessenden Ives... ce 370, 371
Residence of Fessenden Ives. re 370, 371

 

 

Portrait of Norman Norton.s......cccscsscessoececceeescesssesesseeseeeee facing 371
a William Norton. -between 372, 373
Charles L. Norton.. e 4S “8780878
a Truman P,, Clarkinasss Assesses sisarracenavrsverisseavenay facing 373

 
  

a William L. Griswold.
ee Acors W. Lawton.....

- between 374, 375
wee TE, BT5

 

 

 

 

 

 

KENT.

Portrait of Rufus Fuller...

sé Russell Stone...
r MORRIS.

Portrait of Dan Throop..... - facing 390
si P. W. Camp.. -between 390, 391
& Lyman L. Griswold... sig 390, 391
ae William H. Farnham... wee = 8392, 893
es Abel C. Tracy ae “© 392, 393

NEW HARTFORD.

Portrait of John C. Smith....... gad pages siug seassagpoeneinensean’ between 418, 419

#6 Henry Jones.. " 418, 419

 
 
  
 
 
 
   

he BE. M. Chapin see facing 420
---between 420, 421
“420, 421
“490, 491
wowefacing 421

s Charles F. Maxfield
Residence of Charles F. Maxfield..
Portrait of C. W. Gilman........ccccsecsereeseees

NEW MILFORD.

Portrait of Ambrose 8. Rogers....... between 460, 461

  
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 

 

Residence of Ambrose S. Rogers. “ 460, 461
Views of A. S. Rogers’ grounds “ 462, 463
Portrait of George Taylor facing 463
Residence of D. E. Soule. “ 464
Portrait of D. E. Soule... 465
e Albert N. Baldwin. wfacing 465
cd George H. Noble. a“ 466
sf H. G. Sperry....... “ 467

NORFOLK.

Portrait of Joseph Battell.....
He Joseph Eldridg:

ee QB. T. Butler........

wfacing 478
ava Gt 480
Witocs ve between 480, 481

 
  
  

 

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Residence of E. T. Butler.......... aabea serena a sesanssnsecaseanee ree between 480, 481
ee Austin A. Spaulding.. «facing 481
Portrait of Austin A. Spaulding,

 

 

NORTH CANAAN.
Portrait of William Bennett........sssccssenccesseeeeessssee revere nene facing 486
PLYMOUTH.

Portrait of James Terry. «facing 504

te Andrew Terry.
se A. C. Shelton..
ee Byron Tuttle..
ne George Pierpont.
st L. D. Baldwin
ss William B. Fenn..

  
 
  
 
 
 
 

 

 

ss Aaron P. Fenn.. facing 511

fe Oliver Smith....ccccscessssessseeeee oe fe 512
ROXBURY.

Residence of Charles R. Hurd. between 514, 515

 
 
 

 

  
   
 
 
  
 
   
 
  
   

Portrait of Charles Beardsley.........ssseccsessssseesesennseesesscenseanseeceene . 517
a George Hurlbut....
SALISBURY.
Portrait-Of Milo: BarnuMlesesssasstevssesesaacessaneevervsssrsessveecwessie’ facing 530
ss Leonard Richardson... es 532
Residence of A. H. Holley...... between 534, 535
se Mrs. M. H. Williams. ne 534, 535
Portrait of John M. Holley........ «facing 550

ee Alexander H. Holley
" Silas B. Moore.
ne Albert Moore...
e Frederick Miles..
sf H.M. Knight.
a Peter P. Everts
- Newton J. Reed...
os H. P. Harris.......
“ Daniel B. Cook...

   

wee 558
. between 558, 559
“558, 559
facing 559
Albert Selleck etaiasate | 560
«between 560, 561
«860, 561

 
  
 
  
  
   

s Erastus D. Goodwin..

 

ef James Landon.... facing 561

te Charles H. Bissell.. ~ © 562

“e John F, Cleaveland... -between 562, 563

fe Thomas N. Smith..... “562, 563
SHARON.

Residence of John C. Jackson facing 588

 

 
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
  
  
 
   
 
 
  

 

Portrait of John ©. Jacksou......s.ccccssccccesssseesseccesscecessteseuece es 590
Residence of 8. B. Jewett..... -between 590, 591
Portrait of John S, Jewett. ae) O88 590, 591
ie Ralph Deming..........cccccsccsssssscsssssssscecssesscecs facing 591
se Gamaliel H. St. John... .ccccccccscesecceceseseseeece fs 592

a Enoch P. Peck..
se Augustus L. Peck
sf EB. R. Peck.......
fe Charles W. Peck

-between 592, 593
- © — §92, 593
se 592, 593

ee Lemuel Peck. ven #E 594
i Charles M. Parsons. -between 594, 595
ee Gibbs W. Skiff..... 7

 
  
 
 
  

se Samuel Skiff.......
Frederick L. Pierson..
Residence of Ichabod S. Everitt ..

+ Henry St. John.
Portrait of Seth B. St. John .

s Henry St. John.
Samuel Dean...
s Ichabod §. Everitt.
s Asa Everitt.........
Augustus Dyeritt...
sf Benjamin 8. Reod..

   
 
 
  
  
 
  
 

-between 596, 597

“696, 597
597
facing 598
between 598, 599
“ 598, 599
«facing 699

THOMASTON.

Portrait of Seth Thomas........cccceces
hii Seth Thomas, Jr..
“ Aaron Thomas...

-between 602, 603
“ 602, 603
“ 602, 603
CONTENTS.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

  
 
  

 

 

 

 

 

PAGE

Portrait of Edward Thomas - between 602, 603
et Thomas J. Bradstreet.....ccccccsescsssns cosceerseessetees facing 603

as William Woodruff.. saver 88 605

“ G. W. Gilbert. .between 606, 607

ce Randal T. Andrews. Boe HEE 606, 607

ug Marcus Prince He 606, 607

He Benjamin Platt... i HE 606, 607

ie George B. Pierpont. se 608, 609

& Miles Morse... << 608, 609

ct Israel B. Woodward a 608, 609

g Henry F. Reynolds. es 608, 609

« F. E. Warner...... ss 608, 609

€ William P. Judson.. «facing 609

TORRINGTON.

View of John Brown’s birthplace................ pscussadeecagnes re 620
Residence of John M. Burr... -between 638, 639
Portrait of Milo Burr........... we facing 640
ee Jesse B. Rose...... ...between 640, 641

ef Frederick P. Hills cabs, OSE 640, 641

" O. Barber... .ssessecceess igs veld saddles esses spe searae ss os 640, 641

WARREN.

Residence of H. H. Morehouse
Portrait of William Hopkins....
Residence of George C. Hopkins.... caw
WASHINGTON.

Portrait of Daniel N. Brinsmade.

 

ai, 650
«between 650, 651

 
 
   

«between 656, 657

 
  
 
 

 

 

Daniel B. Brinsmade. se 656, 657
a6 F. W. Gunn... ss 656, 657
e Henry Upson. « 656, 657
Upson Seminary facing 657

 

Portrait of Gregory Seeley....

 
 

“ Samuel J. Averill. oa 659
WATERTOWN.

Residence of Buell Heminway.....scsseccssessseseeseeseeseesaveneeae facing 670

ss the late Eli Curtiss. . 672

Portrait of Leman W. Cutler.

Portrait of John Curtiss.....

 

  
  
 
   
 
   
 

 

between 674, 675
eS 674, 675
“676, 677
“ 676, 677
«facing 677

Merrit Heminway..
John De Forest.
Samuel Elton....
A. M. Hungerford..

 

 

 

 

 
  
 
  

Eli Curtiss........ ee 678
Benjamin De Forest between 678, 679
E. B. Dickerman. sea ME 678, 679
A. Warren i
Frederick Holcomb. - © 68L
# 682
Caleb T. Hickox between 682, 683
Dayton Mattoon = 682, 683
Wn. G. French...... «facing 683
F. J. Partree.. a HA 684

WOODBURY.

Henry 8S. Curtiss
Daniel Curtiss

 

  
 
 

 

Stanley E. Beardsley.. se 719
Thomas Bull.. between 720, 721
Benjamin Fabrique.. 720, 721
Horace Hurd.. i 720, 721
H., W. Shove... “720,721
George B. Lewis .... cies, 720, 721
MASS A CH US ETTS5

F

oO

S TATE

 

 
HISTORY

OF

LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER I.
GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

Geographical—Topographical—Organization of Litchfield County—Lo-
cation of County-Seat—Conflicting Claims—First County Officials—
County Buildings—List of Sheriffs, Treasurers, Clerks, and State’s At-
torneys from 1751 to 1882—Chief Judges Court of Common Pleas from
1751 to 1854.

GEOGRAPHICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE.

LITCHFIELD CounTyY lies in the extreme north-
western portion of the State of Connecticut, and is
bounded as follows: On the north by Massachusetts,
on the east by Hartford and New Haven Counties,
on the south by New Haven and Fairfield Counties,
and on the west by the counties of Dutchess and Co-
lumbia, in New York. It comprises about eight hun-
dred and eighty-five square miles of territory, and is
the largest county in area in the State.

The physical features of Litchfield County present
a bold outline of irregular hills and deep valleys.
The county is watered by the Housatonic, Nauga-
tuck, Shepaug, and Farmington Rivers, and numer-
ous smaller streams. The Naugatuck and Shepaug
are tributaries of the Housatonic, which flows into
Long Island Sound, while the Farmington empties
into the Connecticut River a few miles above Hart-
ford. The soil is generally a gravelly loam, in many
portions strong and fertile, and well adapted to graz-
ing. The manufacture of iron is carried on in this
county—principally in the town of Salisbury—more
extensively than in any other section of the State.

ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY.

Litchfield County was organized in the year 1751,
and at that time consisted of the following towns:
Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, Kent, New
Hartford, New Milford, Salisbury, Sharon, Torring-
ton, and Woodbury,—eleven in number. As the pop-
ulation increased new towns were formed, and at the
present time the county consists of twenty-six civil
subdivisions. The following is a list, with dates
of incorporation: Barkhamsted, 1779; Bethlehem,
1787; Bridgewater, 1856; Canaan, 1789; Colebrook,
1779; Cornwall, 1740; Goshen, 1749; Harwinton,

2

 

1787; Kent, 1739; Litchfield, 1724; Morris, 1859;
New Hartford, 1733, about ; New Milford, 1725, prob-
ably; North Canaan, 1858 ; Norfolk, 1758; Plymouth,
1795; Roxbury, 1801; Salisbury, 1745; Sharon, 1739;
Thomaston, 1875; Torrington, 1732; Warren, 1786;
Washington, 1779; Watertown, 1780; Winchester,
1771; Woodbury, 1674.*

When the movement started for the organization
of the county much diversity of opinion existed re-
garding the location of the county-seat. Cornwall
and Canaan made their claims and had their advo-
cates, but the chief contest was between Litchfield
and Goshen. The latter town was supposed to occupy
the geographical centre, and many persons had settled
there in expectation that that would become the fixed
seat of justice, and, among others, Oliver Wolcott,
afterwards Governor of the State. But at the October
session of the General Court, in 1751, Litchfield County
was organized with Litchfield as the county-seat.

THE FIRST COUNTY OFFICERS.

The following were appointed by the General Court
first officers of the county: Chief Justice, William
Preston, of Woodbury; Associate Justices, John Wil-
liams, of Sharon; Samuel Canfield, of New Milford ;
and Ebenezer Marsh, of Litchfield; Clerk, Isaac
Baldwin; Sheriff, Oliver Wolcott.

Mr. Kilbourne in his history says,—

“Even after this county was thus formed and its officers appointed the
town of Woodbury continued to manifest her dissatisfaction in various
ways and at all reasonable times, Instead of being made the central and
shire town of the new county, she was left quite in one corner. She first
petitioned the Legislature (in May and again in October, 1752) to be re-
annexed to the county of Fairfield. Twenty years later an effort was
again made to persuade the General Assembly to organize a county
to be called Woodbury. On this occasion the town of Woodbury laid a
rate of a penny and a half on the pound, in addition to the regular tax,
to be applied towards erecting the county buildings; and, further, she
generously offered the use of her Town-Hall for a Court-House.

“Mr. Cothren informs us that in May, 1748, the inhabitants of Wood-
bury appointed Col. William Preston an agent to prefer a memorial to
the General Assembly for the organization of a new county to be called
the county of Woodbury, to embrace the towns of Woodbury, Waterbury,
New Milford, Litchfield, aud New Fairfield, and as many of the northern
towns as might choose to join them, with Woodbury for the county-seat.
The result need not he told.”

 

* Hartland, Hartford Co., originally belonged to this county.
13
14

The County Court at its first session in December of
thesame year appointed Samuel Pettibone, of Goshen,
to be King’s attorney, who was within a few years
succeeded by Reynold Marvin, of Litchfield, and these
two gentlemen were the only ones in this county in
this capacity who ever represented the King’s majesty
in that administration of criminal justice.

COUNTY BUILDINGS.

The first jail erected was a small wooden building,
on the north side of East Street. This stood but a
few years, and in its place a more commodious one
was built, nearly on the same foundation. The present
jail was built in 1812, and has been subsequently im-
proved. The first court-house stood on the open
grounds a little casterly from the West Park. It was
a small building, but in it were often witnessed some
of the most able efforts of American eloquence. In
this humble temple of justice Hon. 8. W. Johnston,
of Stratford, Edwards, of New Haven, Reeve, Tracy,
Allen, and the Smiths, of this county, exhibited some
of the best essays of forensic power. The present
court-house was erected in 1798.

CHIEF JUDGES COURT OF COMMON PLEAS.*
William Preston, Woodbury, 1751-54; John Williams, Sharon, 1754-73 ;
Oliver Wolcott, Litchfield, 1773-86; Daniel Sherman, Woodbury,
1786-91; Joshua Porter, Salisbury, 1791-1808; Aaron Austin, New
Hartford, 1808-16; Augustus Pettibone, Norfolk, 1816-30; David S.
Boardman, New Milford, 1831-36; William M. Burrall, Canaan,
1836-38 ; Ansel Sterling, Sharon, 1838-39; Calvin Butler, Plymouth,
1839-40; Ansel Sterling, Sharon, 1840-42; William M. Burrall, Ca-
naan, 1842-44; ALijah Catlin, Harwinton, 1844-46; Elisha 8. Aber-
nethy, Litchfield, 1846-47; Holbrook Curtis, Watertown, 1847-49;
Hiram Goodwin, Barkhamsted, 1849-50; Charles B. Phelps, Wood-
bury, 1850-51; Hiram Goodwin, Barkhamsted, 1851-52; Charles B.
Phelps, Woodbury, 1852-54; Hiram Goodwin, Barkhamsted, 1854.

SHERIFFS FROM 1751-1882.

Oliver Wolcott, 1751-72 ; Lynde Lord, 1772-1801; John R. Landon, 1801-
19; Moses Seymour, Jr., 1819-25; Ozias Seymour, 1825-34; Albert
Sedgwick, 1834-35; Charles A. Judson, 1835-38; Albert Sedgwick,
1838-54; Leverett W. Wessels, 1854-66; H. W. Botsford, 1866-70 ;
George If. Baldwin, 1870-78; John D. Yale, 1878-81; Charles J.
Porter, 1881.

TREASURERS FROM 1751-1882.

Jolin Catlin, 1751-61; Elisha Sheldon, 1761-79; Reuben Smith, 1779-
1801; Julins Deming, 1801-14; Abel Catlin, 1814-42; Charles R.
Webb, 1842-64; G, A. Hickox, 1864-76; William (. Buell, 1876-81.

COUNTY CLERKS, 1751-1882.

Isaac Baldwin, 1751-93 ; Frederick Wolcott, 1793-1836; Origen S. Seymonr,
1836-44; Gideon H. Hollister, 1844-46; Origen S. Seymour, 1846-47 ;
Gideon II, Hollister, 1847-50; Elisha Johnson, 1850-51; Frederick
D. Beeman, 1851-61; W. L. Ransom, 1861-81.

STATE'S ATTORNEYS.

King’s Atlorneys.—Saumnel Pettibone, Goshen;
Reynold Marvin, Andrew Adams, Litchfield.

State's Attorneys—Andrew Adams, Tapping Reeve, Litchfield ; Jolin Can-
field, Sharon; Jobn Allen, Uriah Tracy, Daniel W. Lewis, Uriel
Holmes, Jr., Litchfield; Elisha Sterling, Salisbury; Seth P, Beers,
Litchfield; Samuel Church, Salisbury (and Litchfield); Leman
Church, Canaan; David C. Sanford, New Milford (and Litchfield) ;
John H, Hubbard, Salisbury (and Litchfield) ; Julius B. Harrison,
New Milford; Gideon Hall, Winchester; Charles F, Sedgwick,
Sharon ; James Huntington, present incumbent.

J. Whitney, Canaan;

ei
|

* Court abolished in 1835,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CHAPTER II.
BENCH AND BAR+

Amone the prominent agencies which give shape
and order in the early development of the civil and
social condition of society, the pulpit, press, and bar
are perhaps the most potential in moulding the insti-
tutions of a new community; and where these are
early planted, the school, academy, and college are
not long in assuming their legitimate position, and the
maintenance of these institutions secures at the start
a social and moral foundation upon which we may
safely rest the superstructure of the county, the State,
and the nation.

The establishment of court and judicial tribunals,
where society is protected in all its civil rights under
the sanction of law, and wrong finds a ready re-
dress in an enlightened and prompt administration of
justice, is the first necessity of every civilized com-
munity, and without which the forces of society in
their changeable developments, even under the teach-
ings of the pulpit, the direction of the press, and the
culture of the schools, are exposed to peril and disaster
from the turbulence of passion and conflicts of in-
terest; and hence the best and surest security that
even the press, the school, or the pulpit can find for
the peaceful performance of its highest functions is
when protected by and intrenched behind the bul-
warks of the law, administered by a pure, independent,
and uncorrupted judiciary.

The Litchfield County bar has from its beginning
numbered among its members able jurists, talented
advocates, and safe counselors. Here many have lived,
flourished, and died, while others still are upon the
stage of action who have been prominent in the ad-
vancement. of the interests of the county and figured
conspicuously in the councils of the State.

“PATRIDGE THATCHER was the first man who
practiced the legal profession in New Milford. He
was not educated to the profession, but took up the
trade because there were none of the craft hereabout
when this county was organized, which was after he
came to middle age. He was a native, I have been
told, of Lebanon, in this State, and came to New Mil-
ford I know not how long ago. He was, however, a
married man at the time. He had no children, but
a large number of negroes, whom he treated with
kindness enough to put to shame the reproaches of
all the abolitionists in New England. He was a man
of strong mind, of rigid morality, and religious to the
letter according to the strictest sect of orthodox Epis-
copacy. He adored Charles I. as a martyr, and he
hated Oliver Cromwell worse than he did the evil
one. Loyalty, unconditional loyalty, was the prime
element of his political creed. Of course, his name

 

} This chapter embraces the reminiscences of the late David 8. Board-
man, of New Milford; the remainder, except sketches of living lawyers,
being furnished chiefly by Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick, of Sharon, to whom
We are under special obligations.
BENCH AND BAR.

was not found in any list of the wicked Whigs of the
Revolution, and had he lived in these days he would
most thoroughly have eschewed Democracy and Ab-
olitionism. On the breaking out of the Revolution-
ary war his loyalty necessarily silenced his voice in
court, and he died soon after its conclusion. Lawyer
Thatcher, as he was always called, was undoubtedly
a very odd, a very honest, and a very good man.

“DANIEL EVERITT was a native of Bethlehem, and
settled in New Milford as a lawyer some time during
the early part of the Revolutionary war, probably as
early as 1776 or 1777, possibly earlier, as from a record
I have access to I see he was married to a daughter
of the Rev. Nathaniel Taylor on the Ist of January,
1778, and I remember that he lived here some time
before that event. He had not a collegiate education,
but was a man of good education and received an
honorary degree. He read law with Judge Adams, of
Litchfield, and I remember to have heard him say that
he occasionally officiated in Mr. Adams’ place as State’s
attorney when he (Adams) was absent in Congress,
which he often was during the war of the Revolution.
Mr. Everitt was a man of much wit, boundless ex-
travagance of expression, quick conception, and in
command of language and fluency of utterance unsur-
‘passed, but not a man of much depth of mind, nor
had he much legal learning, his library extending
little beyond Blackstone and Jacobs’ Law Diction-
ary.

“He had, I believe, a very good run of practice,
when the court read/y opened to do civil business after
the conclusion of the war. His success in this respect
was, however, of rather short duration, a number of
younger lawyers having about that time commenced
practice here, and other circumstances conspired to
carry business away from him, and he never recovered
it. While studying law I heard him argue a case or
two, keeping the court-house in a roar by his wit and
sarcasm, but by the time I was admitted—viz., in 1795
—he had about given up attending courts at Litchfield,
though he was not fifty years of age, and indeed he
was, I think, but fifty-seven when he died, in 1805.
I met him, however, a few times before arbitrators
and justices, and had enough to do to parry his home-
thrusts of good-natured wit. Before him I often
went, as he tried almost all the justice cases, which
he always did with entire integrity and usually came
to a correct conclusion. He represented this town, I
think, three times in the General Assembly, and as
a member of the convention which ratified the Con-
stitution of the United States. He was a man of
strict honesty, entire moral rectitude of conduct, and
a professor of religion. He was, however, much given
to sociality, and to that conviviality which sometimes
borders on a kindred indulgence. Mr. Everitt suc-
ceeded the late Col. Samuel Canfield as judge of
probate in this district in 1790, and held that office
till his death, at the time above mentioned.

 

15

“TAPPING REEVE.*—I saw much of Judge Reeve’s
practice at the bar for nearly five years, during which
time he was engaged in almost every case of import-
ance tried in the Superior Court at Litchfield, and
never failed to argue every one in which he was en-
gaged, if argued at all. In the County Court, after I
became acquainted with him, he did not practice.
His school had become numerous, and he gave up his
practice in that court because (I suppose) it too much
interrupted his course of daily lectures, and knowing
as he did that he should have a part in every cause
expected to be tried in the Superior Court. And, by
the way, trials were then managed and got through
with in a reasonable time, and not suffered to be
dragged out to the abominable and shameful length
which they now are, to the disgrace of the profession
for indulging in it, and of the courts for permitting it.

“T joined Judge Reeve’s school in the fall of 1793,
and he was not placed on the bench till the spring of
1796; so that I saw him at the bar during nine ses-
sions of the Superior Court, and never failed to listen
to him, if I could avoid it, with unqualified love and
admiration through every speech he made to its con-
clusion. I say with love, for no instructor was ever
more generally beloved by his pupils, and indeed en-
tirely so, except it was by those whose love would
have been a reproach to the object of it. As a rea-
soner he had no superior within the compass of my
observation of forensic performances. J mean true,
forcible, and honest reasoning. In sophistry he was
too honest to indulge, and too discerning to suffer it to
escape detection in the argument of an adversary.

“ As a speaker he was usually exceedingly ardent,
and the ardor he displayed appeared to be prompted
by a conviction of the justice of the cause he was ad-
vocating. His ideas seemed often, and, indeed, usu-
ally, to flow in upon him faster than he could give
utterance to them, and sometimes seemed to force him
to leave a sentence unfinished to begin another, and
in his huddle of ideas, if I may so express it, he was
careless of grammatical accuracy, and, though a thor-
ough scholar, often made bad grammar in public
speaking. Careless as he was of his diction, and
thoughtless as he was of ornament in ordinary cases,
yet some elegant expressions and fine sentences would
seem, as if by accident, to escape him in almost every
speech. But in.such cases as afforded the proper field
for the display of eloquence, such as actions of slander,
malicious prosecutions, etc., and in that part of such
cases as usually prompt to exertions of the kind, his
hurried enunciation and grammatical inaccuracies
all forsook him, and then he never failed to electrify
and astonish his audience. Many of these used to be
recited to me by those who had often heard him, and
it fell to my lot to witness one such occasion, In an
action for malicious prosecution, in closing the argu-
ment on entering upon the subject of damages, he

 

* See history of Litchfield, elsewhere in this work.
16

burst forth into such a strain of dignified and soul-
thrilling eloquence as neither before nor since has
ever met my ear. The first sentence he uttered
thrilled through every nerve of my entire frame to
the very ends of my fingers, and every succeeding
sentence seemed to increase in overwhelming effect.
I was perfectly entranced during its delivery, and for
an hour afterwards I trembled so that I could not speak
plain. His manner was as much changed as his lan-
guage, and to me he looked a foot taller than before.
The next day I went to him and asked him to commit
to writing the concluding part of his speech, to which
request he said in the simplicity of his nature, ‘Why,
if I should do that, perhaps I should make it better
than it really was, and that would not be fair.’ We
told him (Mr. Bacon was with me) there was no
danger of that, for we knew it could not be bettered.
Well, he said, he would try, but he did not know
whether he could recall it to memory, for there was
not a word of it written beforehand. A day or two
after he saw me in court, behind his seat, and beck-
oned me to him and said he had tried to comply
with my request, but it was so gone from him that he
could make nothing of it.

“T believe I have said enough in regard to Judge
Reeve as an advocate, and that is the extent of your
inquiry. As a judge you are acquainted with his rep-
utation historically, though you probably never saw
him on the bench, as he left it in May, 1816, to the
regret of all admirers of legal learning and lovers of
impartial justice.

“JouN ALLEN was born in Great Barrington,
Mass., some time, I believe, in 1762, of respectable
parents, though not distinguished in society, as I re-
member to have heard him say that he was the son
of a joiner. There were but two children in the
family, a son and a daughter, both much distinguished
in life for many good qualities, and especially for dig-
nity of manner and deportment, but the winning and
amiable accomplishments all fell to the lot of the fe-
male, gaining her many admirers, and among others
a husband worthy of her in that excellent man, Elizur
Goodrich, of New Haven. Their father died during
the minority of both the children. Mr. Allen, having
an excellent common-school education, though not a
classic education, became a teacher, and, being im-
pelled by a spirit of adventure, somewhat romantic
as he was thought in those days, went suddenly, and
without the knowledge of his friends, and while yet
a minor, to Germantown, near Philadelphia, where
he obtained a place as instructor of the younger
classes of an academic establishment of some note at
the time. How long he remained in the aboye-men-
tioned establishment I do not know, but soon after
leaving that place, and I believe almost immediately,
he came to New Milford, and taught a school for some
six months, and from here went immediately into Mr.
Reeve’s law-school, and after the accustomed period
of study was admitted to the bar, and immediately

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

settled in practice in Litchfield, where he spent his
life. He confined himself almost entirely to the
practice of Litchfield County, though occasionally,
when called, in consequence of the eminence to which
hesoon attained in the profession, he practiced in other
counties in some cases of importance, and especially
in the Federal Circuit Court, in which, for a few
years after the formation of the present Constitution
of the United States, some considerable business was
done. Mr. Allen, however, never went abroad in
quest of business, thinking that the very great share
of attorney business which he acquired in being al-
ways found in his office equal, at least in point of
profit, to what counselor business he might obtain by
attending courts in other counties, considering that
all the counselor business flowing from the attorney
business which he did he was sure to be engaged in.
From the time I entered the law-school, in the fall of
1798, I occupied a room in his office, and had free ac-
cess to his ample library, and boarded at the same
house with him. During all that time, and all the
remaining years of his prosperous practice, which
indeed lasted till the apparent commencement of his
rapid decline, soon followed by death, he was engaged
in almost every case of any importance in the Supe-
rior and County Court. He was certainly a very suc-
cessful and powerful advocate, equally with the jury
as with the court, a thoroughly read lawyer, equal in
point of legal science to any one at our bar during
the fore part of the time I am speaking of, except
Tapping Reeve, who had no rival, and in the latter
part of the period James Gould, of whom I need say
nothing, as you knew him in his meridian light. Mr.
Allen always made diligent and faithful preparation
of all cases committed to his care, and made himself
fully acquainted with every point of law and every
accessible point of evidence which could arise in the
case, and was, therefore, usually successful when the
case deserved success.

“He was six feet four or five inches high, very
erect, and with an attitude and walk well calculated
to set off his full stature, and, though quite lean,
weighed full two hundred and thirty pounds. His
countenance was strongly marked and truly formi-
dable, his eyes and eyebrows dark, his hair dark, what
little he had, for he was quite bald, far back, even be-
fore middle age, and indeed his whole appearance
was calculated to inspire dread rather than affection.
His manners and conversation were, however, such
as to inspire confidence and respect, though little cal-
culated to invite familiarity, except with his intimates,
of whom he had a few, and those, knowing the gen-
erous and hearty friendship of which he was capable,
were usually much attached to him and ready to over-
look all his harsh sallies, imputing them to the ‘rough
humor which his mother gave him.’ His feelings
were not refined, but ardent, generous, and hearty.
His friendships were strong and his aversions equally
80, and, as I used to say of him speaking to others,
BENCH AND BAR.

17

 

‘his feelings were all of the great sort.’ He neither
enjoyed nor suffered anything from many of those
little incidents which so often affect, either pleasingly
or painfully, minds of a more refined texture. As
he had no taste for such things, nor, as it would seem,
any faculty of perceiving, so he knew no language
appropriate to their description, but in respect to those
things and principles which he thought worthy of his
regard he lacked no power of language to make him-
self fully and forcibly understood. For neutral ground,
either in morals or politics, he had no taste, and but
little less than absolute abhorrence. As a specimen
of his feelings and language, better than I describe,
I will give you the laconic answer to an inquiry
of him, why he took the Aurora, the leading Demo-
cratic paper in the county, then under the guidance
of that arch-Democrat, Duane; he replied it was be-
cause he wanted to know what they were about in the in-
Jernal regions. And after giving this specimen I need
make no further attempt to give you an idea of his
humor, manners, and language.

“ After Mr, Allen was married, which was not till
he was towards forty years old, and went to house-
keeping, I boarded at his house at his express solicita-
tion for many years while attending court, though
he took no other one, nor ever named to me any price,
nor would he count the money I handed to him when
leaving for home, seeming to receive it only because
I refused to stay on any other terms. I therefore saw
much of him in his family, where his conduct was
always dignified, proper, and kind. He was proud,
very proud, and justly so, of his wife, who was a
woman of much personal beauty, polished manners,
and great and even singular discretion, and for whom
he entertained, I believe, an ardent affection.

“Before his marriage and at the age of thirty-five
Mr. Allen was elected a member of the Fifth Con-
gress, where he distinguished himself at a time when
Connecticut was never more ably represented in the
House of Representatives, and would undoubtedly
have been chosen for as long a period as he would
have desired to be a member of that body, but he
declined a further election. He was elected an as-
sistant in 1800, and was re-elected for the five suc-
ceeding years, and as such was one of the judges of
the Supreme Court of Errors. For several years pre-
vious to his election to Congress he had represented
the town of Litchfield in the General Assembly. His
wife was a granddaughter of the first Governor Gris-
wold.

“ BARZILLAI SLOSSON.—In speaking of Mr. Slosson,
I must first observe that I had formed a tolerably
correct notion of him before I ever saw him. When
I was a boy his father was often at my father’s house,
intimately acquainted there, and, I believe, scarcely
ever passed that way without calling and holding a
pretty long chat, for he never was in a hurry, and his
peculiar turn of mind, abundance of common sense,
and great fund of wit, joined to his singularly slow,

 

emphatic, and sententious mode of talking, was such
as to secure the attention of any one, and especially
aboy. He used occasionally to speak of his children,
and especially of his oldest son, Barzillai, of whom he
was manifestly very proud, representing him to be
always at the head of the school when small, and af-
terwards used to speak with high gratification of his
industry and tact at acquiring the higher branches
of knowledge without the aid of an instructor, and
more particularly the knowledge of the dead lan-
guages, of which he knew nothing himself. And this
account given by the old gentleman, from intimate in-
tercourse and frequent conversation with his son when
I afterwards became acquainted with him, I found was
by no means exaggerated. And to his excellent and
accurate common-school education he owed much, very
much, of his character for exact accuracy and correct-
ness in all that he said and did through life. He was
about the best reader I ever heard, wrote a fair, hand-
some, and legible hand, and in the unfailing correct-
ness of his orthography and use of terms no lexicog-
rapher excelled him, and in everything pertaining to
mere English, home, and common-school education
no one appeared to be a more thorough proficient.
And in Greek and Latin I never saw his superior,
except old President Stiles, nor, with that exception
perhaps, his equal, unless it was old Parson Farrand,
of Canaan, and in the other branches of collegiate
education he was, to say the least, above mediocrity.
As he entered college not until the senior year, and,
I believe, did not even attend during the whole of
that year, he could not, of course, expect to shine and
did not shine in the college honors depending upon
the faculty, but availed himself of the right to become
a candidate for the honors of Dean Scholar, and ob-
tained the first premium for excellence in Greek and
Latin in a class of unusually high reputation. This,
I suppose, he did merely out of a laudable pride, for
he did not avail himself of the pecuniary reward,
which would have required him to reside in New
Haven; for he went, immediately after his gradua-
tion, with one of his classmates (Mr.—afterwards the
Rev. Dr.—Smith) to reside in Sharon as one of the
instructors in the Sharon Academy, then in full and
successful operation. He soon after became a stu-
dent-at-law under Governor Smith’s instruction, and
the first County Court, which sat after his two years’
clerkship had expired, being in Fairfield County, he
went there for examination and admission to the bar.
This was, I believe, at the November term, 1793. It
was not until he began to attend court at Litchfield,
and while I was in the law-school there, that I first
became personally acquainted with Mr. Slosson,
though I had barely seen him once or twice before.
After my admission to the bar, being located in ad-
joining towns, we often met each other before justices,
and consequently before the upper courts. From our
frequent meetings and intercourse at Litchfield and
elsewhere I became greatly attached to him, and
18

finally for a number of years he and I, with South-
mayd for our constant companion, always occupied
the same room at Catlin’s Hotel during every court
until his death, and there was the last time I ever
saw him in life. Soon after the court adjourned,
hearing of his rapid decline, I set out to visit him,
and on the way heard that he had died the night
before. I however went on and stayed with the fam-
ily until I assisted in burying him. This was in Jan-
uary, 1818, and in that grave I felt that I had buried
a sincere, and I am sure a much-loved, friend, on
whose character and conduct in life I could reflect
with melancholy satisfaction unmarred by a single
reproachful recollection or one which I could wish
to have forgotten.

“Mr. Slosson’s great fondness for ancient litera-
ture rendered him scarcely just in his comparative esti-
mate of that with modern improvements. Asa lawyer
he was highly respectable in theory and remarkably
accurate in practice; as a pleader I do not remember
that he ever had occasion to ask for an amendment
or to alter a tittle of what he had written. As an
advocate he was clear, deliberate, methodical, and
logical in his deductions. He spoke in much of the
peculiarly emphatic manner of his father above
mentioned, though not with his unusual slowness.
He was always cool and self-possessed, rarely warm-
ing into any high degree of animation or aiming at
effect to appear eloquent, but he never failed to secure
a respectful and satisfied attention. Though not one
of the most leading advocates, of which there are al-
ways some three or four at the bar, he might, at least,
be estimated an equal to any of the second class of the
Litchfield bar, which was then certainly a highly
respectable one.

“Though not an aspirant after public preferment,
and from his habitually modest and retiring habits
not calculated to push his way when opportunities
offered, he was yet at the time of his decease in a fair
way of promotion. He was early and often elected
to the Legislature from his native town, and indeed
their usual representative until the October session,
1812, when he was elected clerk, which in those days
was a sure stepping-stone to future advancement;
and having myself been a witness of the manner in
which he performed the duties of that office, for
which no man was better qualified, I am sure he es-
tablished a reputation, which, had Providence per-
mitted, promised a solid and lasting existence,

“Mr. Slosson’s political opinions were of the gen-
uine Washingtonian political school. None of your
heady, rash, and merely partisan notions found favor
with him. He was a constant and honest adherent
to the political views then prevalent in this State.

“The foregoing sketch of the leading incidents in
Mr. Slosson’s life may be a sufficient indication from
which to deduce his true character, but I must indulge
myself in adding that I never knew or heard of a
single act of his life, either in youth or mature years,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

that left even a shade upon his reputation. Cooland
deliberate in his temperament, never hurried away
by enthusiasm,—for enthusiasm never manifested it-
self in his nature except in his passion for ancient
literature,—he was sure to think and act with pro-
priety. He was nevertheless warm and faithful in
his attachments, but not so far as to warp his con-
scientious regard for integrity. He was perfectly
just and generous in his intercourse with the world,
honest in his predilections, and uncompromising in
his love of virtue and detestation of vice. In moral-
ity his principles were without a taint, and his prac-
tice through life in conscientious conformity with them.
In religion he was a firm and steadfast believer in the
great doctrines of the gospel, though not a public pro-
fessor. His principles were those of true rational
Calvinism, unswayed by vindictive zeal or hysterical
weakness.

“He was a small man, not much, if any, under
medium height, but of slender frame and counte-
nance. Though not dark complexioned his coun-
tenance was rather dusky, his skin not clear; his
features, though far from handsome, bespoke intelli-
gence, and were therefore not disagreeable. His gen-
eral appearance was more like that of the late Leman
Church than any other member of the bar I can think
of, though he was somewhat larger and more erect.

“SAMUEL W. SouTHMAYD.—In the life, conduct,
and character of Samuel W. Southmayd there were
some peculiarities, such as render it a matter of diffi-
culty to describe him in such a manner as to make
them intelligible to one who did not personally know
him.

“YT never saw or heard of him until I became a
member of the law-school, in the fall of the year 1798,
of which he had then been a member about one year,
I believe, and of which he continued a constant at-
tendant during the eighteen months which I spent
there. He was admitted to the bar the next term
after I was,—to wit, September term, 1795,—and
passed as good an examination as I ever heard there or
elsewhere, he having been for the full periéd of three
years under Judge Reeve’s tuition. He was a native
of Watertown, where he settled in practice, and where
he spent his life. Like Mr. Slosson, he had an ex-
cellent common-school education. Beyond that his
acquirements did not extend far in an academic course,
enough, however, I believe, to enable him to under-
stand the homely law Latin used in our books. Few
have entered upon the practice of law with a better
store of legal learning than Mr. Southmayd, but the
place in which he settled was not calculated from its
location and the habits of the people, by no means
litigious, to furnish much practice, and he was too
honest to promote litigation; and furthermore, he
had no legal adversary there except an old gentleman
who never had any more legal learning than was
necessary for a church warden, and whose ignorance
made him the victim of Southmayd’s merry witchery
BENCH AND BAR. 19

 

and innocent cunning, of both of which he had a
superabundance, though he never indulged in ma-
licious or even very serious mischief, and indeed in
none except such as would do to relate for the pur-
pose of making fun in merry company. Anecdotes
of that description used to be related in great num-
bers. Asa pleader Mr. Southmayd was always sure
to have all in his drafts which was requisite and per-
tinent to the object in view, and in all his declarations
affording room for coloring circumstances to be in-
serted there was pretty sure to be found, slyly slipped
in, some ingenious slang whang, or Southmaydism,
as we used to call it. He was not ambitious of argu-
ing cases in court, but when he did he always dis-
played much ingenuity, and attracted respectful at-
tention from the audience as well as from the triers.
And before arbitrators, referees, and committees a
more formidable opponent could hardly be found.
And although his practice was not large, and as was
observed of Mr. Slosson he was not among the lead-
ing practitioners at the Litchfield bar, he was certainly
a very respectable lawyer, upon a par with the fore-
most of the second class, and much beloved and re-
spected by all whose good opinions are desirable.

“ As was observed in the outset, there were peculi-
arities in Mr. Southmayd’s private character and de-
portment which it is difficult to describe or reconcile.
Though of a benevolent disposition and full of good
nature and kind feelings, there was yet in him a vein
of adventure after intellectual amusement, which, from
its very nature, could not be gratified but at the ex-
pense of others, and often to such an extent as to render
them ridiculous in the view of third persons to whom
the result of the adventure was related. I have many
times joined most heartily in the laugh at the relation
of the result of many such seemingly innocent pieces
of roguery, though I could not help condemning the
mischief while participating in its fruits. In all such
indulgences Southmayd never entertained the least
malice, for his heart was a stranger to it, but his in-
tense love of fun and enjoyment of the ridiculous
often impelled him to go beyond the line of honest
propriety. I used often to reproach him with it, but
my admonitions were not well calculated to take effect
when given at the close of a hearty laugh.

“From what I have been saying of Mr. Southmayd
you would, I presume, be ready to conclude that he
was one of the most cheerly and happy of men. But
the case was directly the reverse, and during a consid-
erable period of his life, and that, too, the most val-
uable part of it, he was a very unhappy man indeed,
and I have no doubt he had recourse to much of the
indulgence of that peculiar propensity I have at-
tempted to describe for the purpose of dispelling a
mental malady which for a long time oppressed and
preyed upon his heart. He was for many years the
victim of the strongest species of hypochondria that
ever mortal man was. It never showed itself in long
fits of settled melancholy or monomania, but in sud-

 

den fits and starts. After hours of cheerful conversa-
tion, and while in entire health, he would suddenly
complain of great distress, and exhibit unmistakable
evidence of great terror and apprehension of imme-
diate dissolution. One very extraordinary instance I
will relate. He and I had been alone many hours,
conversing and reading together, and he not in the
least complaining, when he at once sprung from his
seat and with a scream as would have alarmed me
had it been any other person, and pressing both hands
upon his breast, he exclaimed that he was going to die
immediately. I stepped to him and gently and calmly
said to him, ‘Don’t be alarmed, you are not going ta
die’ (for we never treated him as if we thought his
distress imaginary), and put my hand gently upon
him to lead him to the bed, when he raised one hand
from his breast and thrusting his finger against the
side of his head declared, with another outery, that
something was passing through his head. I persuaded
him to lie down, telling him the feeling would pass
off in a few minutes, but he continued to groan for
some time. I, knowing what would cure him, took
up and began to read to him one of Burke’s finest
essays, which lay by me, and, turning to a passage of
extraordinary eloquence, read_it, on which he sprung
up on end in the bed, and exclaimed, ‘ Was ever
anything finer than that!’ I continued on reading,
and in the course of half an hour he was well and
cheerful as ever. This was the most extraordinary
instance I ever saw in him, but those in a degree like
it were frequent. He always went to bed an hour or
two before Slosson and I did, he saying that he never
was able to get asleep until he had gone through a
great deal of such feelings as he never would attempt
to describe.

“Mr. Southmayd was greatly esteemed in his na-
tive town by, I believe, almost every one, both old and
young. He was early in life sent to the Legislature,
and that often, and was so, I know, the last year of
his life. He died of lung fever in March, 1813, about
two months after the death of his friend Slosson. At
the December term, 1812, the three who had so long
occupied the same room in perfect harmony were for
the last time there together. At the February term of
the Supreme Court, Southmayd and I occupied it,
but felt that we were in solitude, and in the next term
it seemed to me most emphatically a solitude, and
more like a family vault than like an abode for living
men, and I believe I have never been into it since.

“Mr, Southmayd was undoubtedly an honest and
honorable man, of uncommon pleasing manners and
much beloved, and I never heard that he had an
enemy. Indeed, the amenity of his manners and the
gentleness of his temper almost forbade it.

“The family to which Mr. Southmayd belonged
was of the Congregational order, and two of his sis-
ters married Congregational clergymen. He, how-
ever, joined himself to the Episcopal Church, , of
which he was a member after he settled in life, and
20

of which I believe he was a communicant, but am
not sure. He died unmarried, and I believe in the
thirty-ninth or fortieth year of his age.

“Hon. Jonw Corron Smiru, the most eminent
citizen of the town of Sharon, was a son of Rev.
Cotton Mather Smith, and was born Feb. 12, 1765.
He was graduated at Yale College in 1788, ad-
mitted to the bar of Litchfield County in 1786, and
married to Miss Margaret Evertson, of Amenia,
N. Y., in October of the same year. Their only
child, the late William M. Smith, Esq., was born in
August, 1787. Mr. Smith was soon introduced into
the active duties of his profession in his native town
by reason of the pecuniary embarrassments of the
community in consequence of the Revolutionary war,
and particularly from the extensive and embarrassed
affairs of his uncle, Dr. Simeon Smith, who removed
to Vermont, leaving the management of his extensive
and complicated concerns in the hands of his young
and inexperienced nephew. Through unwearied ex-
ertions he was able to extricate the affairs of his uncle
from a nearly hopeless condition by the full pay-
ment of all just demands against him, and leaving
him at last in the enjoyment of a handsome estate.
It is but justice to his uncle to say that he, having
no children of his own, made ample compensation to
his nephew by the bequest in his will of a large and
valuable estate. He was first elected to the Legis-
lature in 1793, and was very frequently a member,
and twice Speaker before 1800, when he was elected a
member of Congress. There he remained six years,
when the declining health of his father compelled his
resignation. He was immediately elected to the Leg-
islature of the State, and represented the town with-
out intermission till 1809, and held the place of
Speaker at each session. He was then elected to the
Council, and in the October session of the same year
was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. In
1811 he was elected lieutenant-governor, and in 1813
Governor, of his native State. In this office he was
continued till 1817, when the public voice demanded a
change in the form of the government of the State,
and the substitution of a written constitution for the
less stable provisions of the charter of King Charles
II. Governor Smith, not,sympathizing with the ma-
jority on this question, retired to private life, and
lived, for nearly thirty years, a private citizen of
Sharon. In public life he was never appointed to a
position which he was not fully competent to fill. As
a presiding officer in a deliberative assembly he had
no peer, and although while he was member of Con-
gress, except for one short term, he was associated in
principle and feeling with the minority, he was called
upon to preside in committee of the whole more fre-
quently than any other member. The late Luther
Holley, an eminent citizen of Salisbury, who had
been a member of the Legislature when Governor
Smith was Speaker, once remarked that he had never
seen aman who could take a paper from the table

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and lay it back again so handsomely as could John
Cotton Smith.

“In private life Governor Smith was a fine speci-
men of the polished Christian gentleman. He de-
voted some of his time to reviewing the studies of
his early life, and in the preparation of useful and
entertaining articles for the more elevated literary
periodicals. He was for several years president of
the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions, and of the American Bible Society, which
latter office he retained till his death, which occurred
on the 7th day of December, 1845, when he had
nearly reached the age of eighty-one years.

“ NATHANIEL SmiTH.*—I received a line from my
friend, Gen. Sedgwick, stating that it was your de-
sire that he would ask of me, in your behalf, to
furnish you with some facts in relation to the late
Nathaniel Smith, and my views of his character,
which might be of use to you in the preparation of
the work you have in hand.

“T am, of course, aware that this application is
owing to the accidental circumstance that I am the
oldest, if not the only, member of the profession now
living who had much personal acquaintance with
that truly able and excellent man, or saw much of
him in the exercise of his forensic or judicial talents.
Judge Smith was indeed one of nature’s nobles, and,
considering the limited range of his early education,
he had few equals and perhaps no superior in the
profession which he chose, and which he eminently
adorned. You are doubtless aware that Judge Smith
had only such an education in childhood and youth
as the common schools of the country afforded at the
time. It was such, however, as a boy of unusual
capacity and industrious habits would acquire from
such a source, and such as, under the guidance of un-
common discretion through life, rarely permitted its
defects to be disclosed.

“When I first went to the law-school in Litch-
field, which was in the fall of 1793, Mr. Smith,
though not over thirty years old, was in full practice,
and engaged in almost every cause of any import-
ance. Indeed, he was said to have established a high
reputation for talents in the first cause he argued in
the higher courts. It was upon a trial for man-
slaughter, which arose in his native town, and in
which he appeared as junior counsel, and astonished
the court, the bar, and all who heard him. Not long
afterwards, in the celebrated case of Jedediah Strong
and wife, before the General Assembly (she having
applied for a divorce), he greatly distinguished him-
self again, and thus became known throughout the
State as a young lawyer of the first promise, and the
reputation thus early acquired was never suffered to
falter, but, on the other hand, steadily increased in
strength until his elevation to the bench.

“During my stay in Litchfield, and after my ad-
a es

* From Hollister's “ History of Connecticut.”
BENCH AND BAR.

21

 

mission to the bar, I of course saw Mr. Smith, and
heard him in almost all the important cases there ;
and as I was located in the southwest corner town in
the county, adjoining Fairfield, I almost immediately
obtained some business which, though small, was
such as during nearly all my professional life caused
me to attend the courts in that county, where I found
Mr. Smith as fully engaged and as highly esteemed
as in his own county. In New Haven I also know he
had a very considerable practice.

“Tt is worthy also to be observed, in forming an
estimate of Mr. Smith’s professional talent and char-
acter, that there never at any period was an abler bar
in Connecticut than during his practice. In Litch-
field County were Judge Reeve, Judge Adams, Gen.
Tracy, John Allen, Judge Gould, N. B. Benedict,
and others; at the Fairfield County bar were Pier-
pont Edwards, Judge Ingersoll, and Judge Daggett,
constantly from New Haven, Judge Edmunds, 8. B.
Sherwood, R. M. Sherman, Judge Chapman, and
Governor Bissell; and in New Haven, besides the
three above named, were James Hillhouse, Judge
Baldwin, and others.

“As I suppose it not probable that you ever saw
Judge Smith, as he ceased to attend courts in 1819,
and died when you were very young, I will observe,
what you have doubtless heard, that he was a large
and fine-appearing man, much of the same com-
plexion of the Hon. Truman Smith, his nephew, with
whom you are so well acquainted ; less tall than he,
but of rather fuller habit. His face was not only the
index of high capacity and solid judgment, but un-
commonly handsome; his hair was dark and thin,
though not to baldness, except on the fore part of his
head, and was very slightly sprinkled with gray. His
fine, dark eyes were remarkably pleasing and gentle
in ordinary intercourse, but very variable; always
kindling when highly excited in debate, they became
almost oppressive. His voice was excellent, being
both powerful and harmonious, and never broke
under any exertion of its capacity. His manner was
very ardent and the seeming dictate of a strong con-
viction of the justice of his cause, and his gestures
were the natural expression of such a conviction.
Mr. Smith’s style was pure and genuine Saxon, with
no attempt at classic ornament or allusion. His
train of reasoning was lucid and direct, and evincive
of the fact that the whole of it was like a map spread
out in his mind’s eye from the beginning. His in-
genuity was always felt and dreaded by his opponent.
He spoke with much fluency, but with no undue
rapidity ; he never hesitated for or haggled at a word,
nor did he ever tire his audience with undue pro-
lixity, or omit to do full justice to his case for fear
of tiring them ; and indeed there was little danger of
it. Though certainly a very fine speaker, he never
achieved or aspired to those strains of almost super-
human eloquence with which his old master Reeve
sometimes electrified and astonished his audience,

 

and yet, in ordinary cases, he was the most correct
speaker of the two, though Judge Reeve was, and he
was not,a scholar. Mr. Smith, though quite unas-
suming, and often receding in common intercourse
and conversation, was, when heated in argument, it
must be confessed, often overbearing to the adverse
party, and not only them, but to their counsel.
Upon all other occasions he appeared to be, and I
believe was, a very kind-hearted, agreeable, and
pleasant man. To me he always so appeared, and I
have been much in his company.

“Mr. Smith came early into public life, and was
frequently elected to the General Assembly from
Woodbury. In 1795 he was elected a member of the
Fourth Congress, and in 1797 he was chosen to the
Fifth Congress, but declined further election. In May,
1799, he was made an assistant, and was re-elected for
the five following years, when he resigned his seat at
that board in consequence of the passage of the act
in 1808 prohibiting the members of the then Supreme
Court of Errors from practicing before that court.
He remained in full practice at the bar until October,
1806, when he was elected a judge of the Superior
Court and continued to fill that office until May, 1819,
when the judiciary establishment of that year went
into operation, from which time he remained in
private life until his death.

“In every public station in which Mr. Smith was
placed he distinguished himself. He did so in Con-
gress, at a time when our representation was as able,
perhaps, as it ever has been, and when the character
of the house to which be belonged was far higher than
it nowis. Inthe Superior Court he was certainly very
greatly respected and admired as an able and perfectly
upright judge.

“Tn private life his name was free from all reproach.
A strictly honest and pure life, free from any of those
little blemishes which often mar the fame of distin-
guished men, may, I think, be fairly claimed by his
biographer to be his due. As a husband, a parent, a
friend, a neighbor, a moralist, and a Christian, I be-
lieve few have left a more faultless name.”

“ JameEs GouLD, the son of Dr. William Gould, an
eminent physician, was born at Brandford, in this
State, in the year 1770. The goodness of his com-
mon-school education is inferable from the perfect
accuracy of it, which showed itself in all he did or
said in after-life. He graduated, when a little over
twenty-one, at Yale College, in September, 1791, with
distinguished honor in a class distinguished for
talents.

“The year next following his collegiate course he
spent in Baltimore as a teacher. He then returned
to New Haven and commenced the study of law with
Judge Chauncey; and in September of that year he
was chosen a tutor in Yale College, in which office he
continued two years. He then joined the law-school
of Mr. Reeve, at Litchfield, and was soon after ad-
mitted to the bar. Immediately after his admission
bo
bo

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

to the bar he opened an office for practice in that
town, where he resided during the remainder of his
life.

“On his first appearance as an advocate he evinced
such an apparent maturity of intellect, such a self-
possession, such command of his thoughts and of the
language appropriate to their expression, that he was
marked out as a successful aspirant for forensic emi-
nence. His progress in the acquisition of professional
business was steady and rapid.

“Fortunate circumstances concurring a few years
before his choice of Litchfield as the field of his pro-
fessional labors, in the removal by promotion of two
very distinguished practitioners at that bar, opened
the way to such a choice, and by like good fortune a
similar event removed one of the two only remaining
obstructions in that town to his full share in the best
business as an advocate, the only business to which he
aspired. As a reasoner Mr. Gould was forcible, lucid,
and logical; as a speaker his voice was very pleasant
and his language pure, clear, and always appropriate.
He never aspired to high strains of impassioned elo-
quence, and rarely, if ever, addressed himself to the
passions of the court and jury, but to their under-
standing only, and was a very able, pleasing, and
successful advocate. His argument was a fair map of
the case, and one sometimes engaged against him, but
feeling his superiority, observed that he had rather
have Gould against him in a case than any other of
anywhere equal powers, because he could perfectly
understand his argument, and if susceptible of an
answer could know how to apply it. In his practice
at the bar he was always perfectly fair and honorable.
Within some two or three years after Mr. Gould com-
menced practice, Mr. Reeve, the founder and until
that time the sole instructor of the Litchfield Law-
School, accepted a seat upon the bench of the Su-
perior Court. This court made it necessary for him
to give up the school or to associate some one with
him in its management, and to deliver lectures in his
absence upon the circuits. The judge selected Mr.
Gould as that associate, and for a number of years
they jointly conducted and received the profits of the
school; and on the final retiring of Judge Reeve
from any participation in the instruction of the
school, Mr. Gould became its sole instructor and so
continued until elevated to the bench of the Superior
Court in the spring of 1816, when he in turn had to
have recourse to temporary aid for the short time he
remained on the bench. But a thorough political
revolution having taken place in this State, and a
new constitution formed which entirely new-modeled
the courts of law, Mr. Gould took no further share in
public employments; and, his health being greatly
impaired, he never resumed practice at the bar, but
confined himself wholly to his school during the re-
mainder of his life, as far as severe infirmities would
permit. He died, as appears by the college catalogue,
in 1838.

 

“Tn person Mr. Gould was very handsome. Of
about medium height, or perhaps a little over, but
rather less in body and limbs than medium size; his
complexion fair, with fine dark eyes and beautiful
brown hair; all his features good, and in connection
indicative of much intelligence and good nature, and
his form for symmetry and gracefulness could hardly
have been mended; and in all respects, in body,
mind, and education, he may be fairly styled a fin-
ished man. In private and social intercourse he was
highly pleasing, facetious, and witty.

“Soon after his settlement in Litchfield he married
the eldest daughter of the Hon. Uriah Tracy, so well
known for his long and distinguished services in the
councils of the State and nation.

“Mrs. Gould in person and mind was a fit wife for
such a husband, and partook with him in the happi-
ness of raising a very numerous and promising family
of children.

“Judge Gould wrote and published a volume of
pleadings, which, together with his fame as an in-
structor, gave him a distinguished name among the
eminent jurists of the country.”

“Hon, NoAn BENNET BENEDICT was a native of
Woodbury, in which he resided during his whole life.
He was the son of the Rev. Noah Benedict, long the
pastor of the First Congregational Church in that
town. Mr. Benedict’s early school education must
have been correct and good, as its fruits invariably
showed itself in after-life. He graduated at Yale
College in September, 1788, when a little short of
eighteen years of age. His legal studies commenced
soon after his graduation, which were, I believe, pur-
sued principally, if not wholly, in the office of his
brother-in-law, Nathaniel Smith, afterwards so highly
distinguished as a jurist, which was near the residence
of Mr. Benedict’s father. As soon as he arrived to
lawful age Mr. Benedict came to the bar, and for the
remainder of his life—to wit, about thirty-nine years—
it is believed he never failed to attend every regular
session of the courts holden at Litchfield; and, though
he never habitually attended courts in other counties,
he occasionally did so for the purpose of arguing a
particular case. During the long course of his prac-
tice Mr. Benedict had an ample share of business, and
for the latter half of that period he was, especially
in the Superior Court, the leading advocate on one
side or the other in most of the trials either to the
court or to the jury. His management of a trial was
discreet, his arguments sound, sensible, and, being
aided by the well-known and generally esteemed in-
tegrity of his character, had their due effect, He
never attempted to play the orator or to attract atten-
tion by fine turned periods, but contented himself
with plain reasoning, of which he was no indifferent
master.

“At a very early period Mr. Benedict was a mem-
ber of the Legislature. But the political majority of
the voters in Woodbury, becoming about this time
 

JAMES GOULD.
BENCH AND BAR. 23

 

and for long afterwards decidedly Democratic, proved
an effectual bar to his political promotion, as far as
depended upon that town, but by the vote of the State
at large he was elected in 1813 one of the twelve as-
sistants (as they were then styled who composed the
upper house of the Assembly), and was re-elected the
two following years; but in the year 1818 an entire
political revolution took place in Connecticut, and
Mr. Benedict shared the fate of almost every one who
held any post of dignity or profit depending upon
public suffrage at large in the State. He was subse-
quently many years later elected once more to the
lower house. He was also for several years judge of
probate for the district of Woodbury, an appointment
then depending upon the Legislature. Mr. Benedict
was twice married, but left no living issue. He died
in June or July, 1831, at the age of sixty, or in his
sixtieth year.

“Tn private life Mr. Benedict was entirely unas-
suming, and a very pleasing companion to all who
could relish purity of moral character and conduct,
which his whole life was an eminent example; his
feelings were peculiarly sensitive and delicate; a loose
or profane expression never escaped his lips; and in-
deed so fastidious was he in respect to the former
that it used to be a matter of amusement with his less
scrupulous associates in jocose conversation to tease
his feminine delicacy upon such subjects. Though
when alone and unoccupied he had a propensity to
indulge in somewhat gloomy reflections, yet he was
not averse to participate in facetious conversation
when due delicacy was observed. He had a profound
respect for religion, and was in all respects a good, a
very good, man.

“Mr. Benedict was of somewhat less than middling
size, of a medium complexion, but his eyes and hair
rather dark.

“Hon. JABEZ W. HUNTINGTON, son of the late Gen.
Zachariah Huntington, of Norwich, and grandson of
the Hon. Jabez Huntington, of that place, the as-
sistant and associate of the first Governor Trumbull,
was born in Norwich in the year 1787 or 1788. He
received his early training and instruction in his na-
tive town, which after-times evinced to be accurate
and good. He became a member of Yale College in
September, 1802, and graduated in September, 1806,
with the reputation of a good scholar. Soon after
his graduation he became a teacher in an academic
school under the government of its founder, Esquire
Morris, of Litchfield South Farms, as then called, now
the town of Morris, named after the founder of said
school. After about a year thus employed, Mr. Hun-
tington entered Judge Reeve’s law-school, in which
he continued a diligent student until admitted to the
bar in Litchfield County, of which he soon showed
himself to be a worthy member, and in due time a
distinguished one, he having commenced the practice
of his profession in Litchfield, and there continued it
until its final termination by an office conferred upon

 

him incompatible with its further pursuit. In prac-
tice his whole aim and ambition was to become an
advocate, and had no desire to obtain any share of
collecting business, though in many hands not less
lucrative, and, as he was always ready to aid the less
ambitious of speaking, he early acquired a very con-
siderable share of the portion of practice of which he
was ambitious, and which was improving to him.
His forte as an advocate was in detecting error in
declarations and other parts of pleadings, and in a
lucid manner of pointing them out. Upon the whole,
he was an advocate clear and accurate, rather than
peculiar for the gracefulness of manner or refinement
of diction, though his manner was by no means dis-
gusting, and his language entirely free from any ap-
proach to vulgarity. His manners were pleasing and
popular, and he repeatedly represented Litchfield in
the General Assembly, and distinguished himself
there. He was elected to the Twenty-first Congress,
and re-elected to the Twenty-second and Twenty-
third Congresses, and near the expiration of the last of
his congressional career he was chosen a judge of the
Superior Court, and held that office until 1840, when,
being chosen a senator of the United States, he re-
signed the judgeship and accepted the latter appoint-
ment, and continued to hold it by virtue of a second
appointment until his death, in 1847, in all which
stations he performed the duties thereof with honor
to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the public.
His moral character was irreproachable ; a professor
of religion and an observer of its precepts. Late in
life he was married, but it is believed left no issue.
Soon after election to Congress he removed to his na-
tive town, and died there.

“ PHINEAS MINER, a very respectable and some-
what eminent member of the Litchfield County bar,
was a native of Winchester, in that county, and there,
and in that region, as far as by the writer hereof
known, received his entire training and education in
all respects. At an early period in life he commenced
the practice of law in the place of his birth, in the
society of Winsted, as is believed, a place of a great
deal of active manufacturing business and furnishing
an ample share of employment for gentlemen of the
legal profession, of which Mr. Miner soon acquired an
ample share, and at no distant period an engrossing
one, with which he appeared in court from term to
term until he felt warranted in the expectation of
drawing after him an engagement in all the disputa-
ble cases from that fruitful quarter, when he removed
to Litchfied, and was much employed as an advocate for
a number of years, and until his health rather prema-
turely failed, and he became the victim of great men-
tal and bodily suffering, until relieved by death before
reaching the ordinary period at which old age begins
to make its effects much perceptible in the human
frame. As an advocate Mr. Miner was ardent, impas-
sioned, and fluent, but in his apparent great ambition
to be eloquent he often made use of figures of speech
24

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

which a more chastened and correct training in youth
would have taught him to avoid, and less wounding
to an ear of taste, but the fault apparent to all was
the extreme prolixity of his arguments, but, these
faults notwithstanding, Mr. Miner was a respectable
and able advocate.

“Before his removal to Litchfield, Mr. Miner was
an early and frequent member of the Legislature from
his native town, and after his removal there a member
of the State Senate for the Fifteenth District, and was
also elected to fill a vacancy in the second session of the
Twenty-third Congress.

“Mr. Miner was twice married, but, it is believed,
left. no issue, but of this the writer is uncertain. He
led a strictly moral life, and was justly esteemed a
good man.

“LEMAN CHURCH, a late member of the Litchfield
County bar, was a native of Salisbury, in this county,
a son of an opulent farmer of that town, and in it, it
is supposed, he received his education, both scholastic
and professional, the latter in the office of his half-
brother, Samuel Church, afterwards a judge of the
Superior Court, and finally chief justice of the same;
and after his admission to the bar he opened an office
in North Canaan, where he resided during the. re-
mainder of his life. Mr. Church was successful in
acquiring at an early period a promising share of pro-
fessional business, which steadily increased, until
by the middle of professional life he occupied a
stand among the leading advocates at the bar; and
towards the close of life there was scarce a cause,
especially in the higher courts, of considerable im-
portance, discussed in which he was not engaged.

“In September, 1838, Mr. Church was appointed
by the court State’s attorney as successor to his brother
Samuel, on the latter’s elevation to the bench of the
Superior Court, and held that office by annual reap-
pointments until September term, 1838, when by a
political change in the court he was required to yield
the place to another; it is believed, however, that he
afterwards for a time reoccupied that place, but not
positively recollected.

“As a speaker he was cool, unimpassioned, and in-
genious; he never attempted to affect the passions of
those he addressed, and, being destitute of passion
himself, was consequently incapable of moving the
passions of others; he never attempted to be eloquent
or made use of a merely ornate expression, his object
in speaking was effect, and that wholly directed to his
cause and not to himself; in the management of a
case he was always cool and self-possessed ; no sudden
and unexpected turn in the progress of a trial discon-
certed him or appeared to be unexpected by him; no
collision at the bar ever appeared to affect his temper
in the least. With such a temperament, it is obvious
that the legal profession was of all the professions the
one for him, and that in which he was calculated to

excel.

“Mr, Church was always entirely regardless of per-

 

sonal appearance and dress; he was very small,
meagre, and ill formed, his features quite ordinary,
but all this very indifferent appearance was rescued
from inattention by a most remarkably attractive and
intelligent eye.

“Mr. Church was frequently a representative to the
Legislature from Canaan, and never failed to make
an impression upon that body; and to his sagacious
management is attributable the preservation of the
Housatonic Railroad from ruin, as a commissioner
thereon appointed by the Legislature, with power, to-
gether with his associate in office, Mr. Pond, to sell
and consequently to destroy the road, which seemed
to be a favorite object with them for a time.

“Mr. Church died in the midst of life as a profes-
sional man, July, 1849.”

The Hon. ANSEL STERLING was born in Lyme,
Conn., Feb. 3, 1782, the seventh son of William Ster-
ling, a man of position and considerable wealth in
that town. His grandfather, Joseph Sterling, born
in 1700, was one of the early settlers of Lyme: The
name originally was spelt Stirling, as seen in the old
cemetery in that place.

On the maternal side Judge Sterling is descended
from William Hyde, whose name is on the monument
in the old cemetery at Hartford, Conn., as one of the
original settlers of 1636, and one of the original pro-
prietors of the town of Norwich, Conn.

Mr. Hyde’s great-great-great-granddaughter, Jemi-
ma Sill, married Capt. William Stirling, Jan. 3, 1763,
the subject of this sketch being their tenth child and
seventh son.

Judge Sterling, at the early age of twenty-three,
was a practicing lawyer at the bar of Litchfield
County, and for forty years there were no interrup-
tions to his attending each session of the different
courts. He studied his profession with his eldest
brother, Hon. Elisha Sterling, of Salisbury, Conn.,
who was a graduate of the class of 1787 of Yale Col-
lege, “a man of a high order of talent.”

Judge Sterling settled in Sharon in the year 1808,
where he spent his life. Oct. 8, 1804, he married
Isabella Canfield, seventh daughter of Hon. John
Canfield and Dorcas Buell, of Sharon.

Hon. John Canfield was a son of Samuel Canfield,
Esq., of New Milford, Conn., a judge of the court of
Litchfield County, and deacon of the Congregational
Church in that place. Samuel Canfield’s wife was
Elizabeth Judson, the great-great-granddaughter of
William Judson, who came from Yorkshire, England,
in 1634.

The Hon. John Canfield was born in New Milford,
Conn., 1740; was graduated at Yale College 1762. He
was a great-grandson of Matthew Canfield, an original
settler of Norwalk, Conn., a judge and leading man
in the colony. Hinman says,—

“As a proof of his standing, I may only mention he was one of the
nineteen signers of the petition to King Charles II. for the Charter of
the colony, and his name is mentioned in that invaluable grant to Con-
 
BENCH AND BAR.

necticut in 1662. This is ample proof of his exalted standing in the
colony, as no gentleman would have been called upon to sign the peti-
tion but such men as had sustained a high reputation in England before
they came to New England.”

John Canfield established himself in his profession
in Sharon, 1765, being the jirst lawyer in the town.

He fitted for the legal profession several gentlemen
who afterwards rose to eminence; among them his
son-in-law, Ambrose Spencer, chief justice of the
State of New York, Hon. John Cotton Smith, and
Noah Webster.

“Mr. Canfield enjoyed a most enviable reputation
and was held in the highest estimation by his fellow-
citizens. He represented the town in the Legislature
at ten different sessions.” In 1786 he was elected a
member of the Continental Congress, but died on the
26th of October of the same year. Not living to take
his seat in that body, his name is omitted-from the
honorable roll of those early days.

Mr. Canfield was a friend of Benjamin Franklin,
with whom was held many earnest consultations, the
“tax on tea” being at one time a subject of special in-
terest. His wife, Dorcas Buell, was the only daughter
of Solomon Buell, eighth son of John Buell, and
grandson of William Buell, who came from England
in 1643. Their children, eight in number, were
Laura, wife of Ambrose Spencer; Annis, wife of
Andrew Adams, Jr., son of Chief Justice Adams, of
Litchfield; Eunice, wife of Samuel Rockwell, M.D.;
Avis, who died aged thirteen years; Alma, wife of
Hon. Elisha Sterling; Almira, wife of Gen. Elisha
Buel; John Montgomery, married Fanny Harvey ;
Isabella, wife of Ansel Sterling.

Judge Sterling was a man of unimpeachable in-
tegrity, “of diversified talent. As a lawyer his fo-
rensic ability was of a high order, nor was he deficient
in legal science. His language flowed rapidly, and at
times his appeals to the jury were very effective.”

Judge Church, of the Supreme Court, thus writes
of him:

“This distinguished gentleman was long an active and prominent
member of the bar of Litchfield County, fur many sessions an influential
member of the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut, a circuit
judge of the County Court, a member of Congress for two sessions, and
an estimable mun iu all the relations of social aud domestic life.”

Judge Sterling died Nov. 6, 1858, aged seventy-one.
His wife died July 26, 1855, aged seventy-four.
Their children, eight in number, are Laura Spencer;
George Augustine, who graduated at West Point,
served for a time in the United States army stationed
at Fort Gibson, in the then Territory of Arkansas,
resigned and entered the ministry of the Episcopal
Church. He died at Sharon, Oct. 17, 1869. He
married Flora J. Chamberlain. Their children were
Mary Isabella, wife of Walter M. Patterson, Esq,,
who died Feb. 18, 1864; George Ansel, M.D., married
Mary P. Havens.

Ambrose Spencer, second son of Ansel Sterling,
died July 1, 1880. His wife, Louisa M. Clarke.

 

25

Their children were Louisa M., wife of L. H. Stewart;
Pierre Clarke; George Edward.

Charles Ansel, third son, married Augusta A. Shel-
ton. Two children: Charles Frederick, M.D., wife,
Mary C. Anthony ; Isabella Canfield, wife of William
C. Atwater.

Isabella Dorcas, married Rev. George Ryerson; one
son, George Ansel Sterling Ryerson, M.D.

Thomas Sterling, fourth son, married Louisa T.
Winchell, deceased.

Avis Canfield, married Frederick 8. Bogue.

Rey. John Canfield, fifth son, was graduated at
Trinity College, Connecticut, a clergyman of the
Episcopal Church; died at Hartford, Conn., Dec. 10,
1874. He married Caroline Sargent Upson. Their
children are Caroline, Isabella, Alice, Clarance Can-
field.

For notices of Ephraim Kirby, Uriel Holmes, E.
C. Bacon, Francis Bacon, and John Bird, see Litch-
field history; and for John and Judson Canfield, see
history of Sharon.

“STEPHEN Tirus HosMER was a lawyer of eminence
in his peculiar way. He had no very high standing
as an advocate, but, as a lawyer learned in elementary
principles, his position was a very good one. A gen-
tleman who had heard him told me that his manner
was hard and dry and his elocution very defective,
but in some branches of legal science he had few
superiors. He seemed to delight in exploring an-
cient paths in search of legal principles, and in get-
ting up old legal tracts and dissertations. In the first
volume of Day’s Reports there is a note of forty pages
of fine print containing an opinion of Lord Camden,
of the English Court of Common Pleas, which has
hardly a rival in judicial learning or eloquence. Mr.
Day informed me that this was presented to him in
manuscript by Mr. Hosmer, there being then no
printed copy of it on this side of the Atlantic. He
was appointed a judge of the old court in 1815, but,
being one of the younger judges, it never fell to his
lot to preside on the trial of a case until his accession
to the chief justiceship. His career on the whole
was very successful, both at nisi prius and on the
bench of the Supreme Court. His apprehension of
the points involved in the case before him was very
quick, and the first intimation he gave on incidental
matters occurring in the course of the trial was a sure
indication of what the result would be, and, although
he would take special pains to say to the counsel that
he had formed no opinion, the party against whom
he leaned knew that his fate was sealed. His labors
in his official duties must have been immense. It
fell to his lot to give the opinion of the court in nearly
all the cases tried in the Supreme Court for several
years after his appointment, and nearly all the ma-
terial of the third, fourth, and fifth large volumes of
the Connecticut Reports are the result of his study
of the cases before the court, and some of them are
very learned and labored. His illustrations in the
26

case of Mitchell vs. Warner, in the second of Connec-
ticut Reports, of the extent of the obligations incurred
in the covenants of a deed, explained the subject to
me when I was young better than anything I had
before read on the subject.

“Tt seemed to be his object to render himself as
agreeable as possible to the members of the bar,
sometimes employing his leisure moments on the
bench in furnishing prescriptions for human ail-
ments, such as corns on the toes, and handing them
over to such members as stood in need of them.
Then he would hand over a formula for making, as
he said, the best kind of liquid blacking for our
boots. In fact, everything which he had prescribed
he always designated as the very best. At one term
of the court, Phineas Miner, Esq., who had lived a
widower for several years, was about being married,
which fact was intimated to the judge. While he
‘sat waiting on the bench for the preparation of some
business, he spoke out suddenly : “Gentlemen, is there
a vacant cell in your jail? Won’t it be necessary for
me to commit Mr. Miner to prevent his doing some
rash act?” The laugh was thoroughly turned upon
poor Miner, and the whole scene was very enjoyable.
He employed all his leisure hours in obtaining all
the relaxation which was within his reach. He
played on the piano and violin, and sang with great
power and effect.

“There was no perceptible waning of his powers,
physical or mental, during the time of his service on
the court. He retired from the bench at the age of
seventy years, in February, 1838, and died, after a
short illness, in less than two years thereafter.”

“JoHN THompson PETERS was the senior asso-
ciate judge of the court, and he held his first circuit
in this county. He was a native of Hebron, and a
lawyer of respectable standing. His fellow-citizens
had often honored him with a seat in the Legislature,
and thus he had become tolerably well known in the
State. When the United States direct tax was laid,
in 1814, he was appointed collector for the First Dis-
trict, removed to Hartford, and held that office when
he wasappointed judge. Hehad been one of the leaders
of the Democratic party from its formation, and as an
Episcopalian had opposed the claims of the ‘Standing
Order’ to ecclesiastical priority, and some apprehen-
sions were felt lest his well-known views on these
subjects might temper his opinions on those questions
incidentally involving them. Many fears were en-
tertained as to the stability of ecclesiastical funds
which existed in almost every Congregational parish,
and those who desired to break them down looked to
Judge Peters and to his influence with the court to
aid them. But those who entertained such hopes
were destined to an early disappointment, as their
past experience of his administration on such ques-
tions showed him to be disposed to stand firmly on
the old paths. He used to tell an amusing anecdote
relating to his first trial of such a case in one of the

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

eastern counties of the State, where he was appealed
to very strongly to decide that a promise to pay money
in aid of such funds was without consideration. But
he told the parties that the law on that subject was
well settled, and, in his opinion, founded on correct
principles, and that if he had the power he had not the
disposition to change it. It had been the practice of
the Congregational pastor of the village to open the
proceedings in court with prayer, but, considering
Peters to be a heretic (I use the judge’s own lan-
guage), he had never invited Divine favor for him,
but after that decision every prayer was charged with
invocations of blessings upon ‘ thy sarvant, the judge’

“ He was very severe in meting out the punishments
of the law to convicted criminals, generally inflicting
the severest sentence that the law would allow. One
case was tried before him which excited much remark
and some reprehension. A man had been convicted
before Judge Lanman of a State-prison offense; had
been sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, and had
serveda part of ayear, when he obtained anewtrial. He
was tried again, before Judge Peters, and again con-
victed. When the time came to pass sentence on the
last conviction, his counsel asked for some mitigation
on account of the imprisonment already suffered.
Said the judge, ‘He must settle that account with
Judge Lanman. He owes me five years’ imprison-
ment in State prison,’ and such was the sentence.
One prisoner who had received a severe sentence at
his hands after the expiration of his confinement
burned the judge’s barn, and he petitioned the Leg-
islature of the State to pay for it in 1831, but they
declined to make the compensation.

“For a few years the services of Judge Peters on
the bench were very acceptable. His decisions were
prompt and generally founded on a sensible view of
the matter before him, without any affectation of
learning or a display of oratory. His entire candor
and fairness were never called in question, and the de-
cay of his powers, which was very apparent towards the
close of his career, was observed by the bar with sor-
row and regret. I witnessed an affecting scene con-
nected with his experience on the bench which excited
a deep feeling of sympathy. He had a favorite son,
Hugh Peters, Esq., whom he had educated at Yale
College, and in whom all his hopes seemed to centre.
This young man, in connection with George D. Pren-
tice, the noted editor, had much to do in conducting
the New England Weekly Review, a paper just estab-
lished in Hartford, and which was the organ of the
party which elected William W. Ellsworth, Jabez
W. Huntington, and William L. Storrs to Congress.
He had acquired a wide reputation as a writer of
brilliant promise, and after a while went to Cincin-
nati to go into business as a lawyer. On his way
across Long Island Sound he wrote a farewell to New
England in poetry, which was published with great
commendation in most of the newspapers in the
country. Soon after his arrival at Cincinnati his
BENCH AND BAR.

27

 

dead body was found floating in the Ohio, several
miles below the city, and circumstances were such as
to create the belief in some minds that it was a case
of suicide. The intelligence of this sad event was
brought to Litchfield while the Court of Errors was
in session, in June, 1831. It was first communicated
to Judge Williams, who sat next to Judge Peters,
and he, with all possible tenderness, informed the
latter. The reporter, Mr. Day, in giving the report
of the case on trial, closes it by saying, ‘Peters,
Judge, having received, during the argument of this
case, intelligence of the death of his son, Hugh
Peters, Esq., of Cincinnati, left the court-house,
‘“multa gemens casuque animum coneussus,’ and gave
no opinion.’ I witnessed the mournful scene, and I
well remember the loud and plaintive groans of ‘the
afflicted old man as he passed out of the court-room
and down the stairway to his lodgings.

“When Chief Justice Hosmer retired from the
bench, the Legislature, by a very strong vote, elected
Judge Peters’ junior, Judge Daggett, chief justice.
-He felt the slight, but did not retire, and held his
place till his death, in August, 1834. A few weeks
longer and he would have reached the age of seventy
years.

“ Asa CHAPMAN.—The next judge in seniority was
Asa Chapman, of Newtown, in Fairfield County.
For several years before he received the appointment
he practiced to some extent in this county, and was, of
course, well known here. He was the father of the late

_ Charles Chapman, of Hartford. He was somewhat
taller than the son, and, with his bald head, white locks,
thin face, and gray eyes, he resembled him not a
little in personal appearance, but he had none of that
bitterness of manner or spirit which characterized the
efforts of the younger Chapman. He was an Epis-
copalian in religious faith, and he had very naturally
fallen into the ranks of the new party, and, being
well qualified for the place in point of legal ability,
he made a very acceptable and popular judge. He
was a man of good humor, genial temper, and great
colloquial powers, which he exercised very freely on
the trial of cases. If a lawyer undertook to argue a
case before him, he soon found himself engaged in a
friendly, familiar conversation with the judge, the
evident intent of the latter being to draw out the
truth and justice of the case. His administration
was very popular, and his early death was greatly
deplored. He died of consumption, in 1826, at the
age of fifty-six years.

“ JEREMIAH GATES BRAINARD, of New London,
the father of the poet Brainard, was next in seniority
on the bench. He had been a member of the old
court from 1807, and he was elected to the new court
under the circumstances which I have mentioned.
He was a man of no showy pretensions, very plain
and simple in his manners, and very familiar in his
intercourse with the bar. He affected very little dig-
nity on the bench, and yet he was regarded as an ex-

 

cellent judge. He despatched business with great
facility, and implicit confidence was placed in his
sound judgment and integrity. He resigned his place
on the bench in 1829, his health not being equal to
the duties of the office, having served as judge for
twenty-two years.

“WILLIAM BristoL.—Of all the judges on the
bench, William Bristol, of New Haven, was the
youngest in years as well as in rank. He had not
been much known as a lawyer out of the county of
New Haven, and, of course, his coming here was
looked for with considerable interest. He evidently
had a high sense of judicial dignity, his manners on
the bench being very taciturn, approaching severe-
ness, very seldom speaking except to announce his
decisions in the fewest -possible words, and I doubt if
any one ever saw him smile in conrt. His decisions
were sound and well considered, and upon the whole
his administration was respectable, although he could
not be said to have had much personal popularity
with the bar.

“Davip DaccEeTt.—The decease of Judge Chap-
man and the resignation of Judge Bristol in 1826
created two vacancies in the court which were to be
filled at the session of the Legislature of that year.
The same party which had effected the change in the
government of the State and in the constitution of the
court was still in power, but nearly all the eminent
lawyers in the State adhered to the Federal party.
Probably the most obnoxious man in the State to the
dominant party was David Daggett, not so much
from personal dislike as from his prominence in the
ranks of his party. His talents, integrity, and high
legal abilities were conceded by every one, but when
the Legislature assembled there was probably not a
man in the State who looked to his election as a
judge.

“There were a few men in the State belonging to
the toleration party who felt deeply the importance
of having a reputable court, and who, on this ques-
tion, were willing to forego all party considerations.
Morris Woodruff, of Litchfield County, Thaddeus
Betts and Charles Hawley, of Fairfield County, Wal-
ter Booth, of New Haven County, and Charles J. Mc-
Curdy, of New London County, were men of that
stamp; and it was through the influence of these
men, and of others of less prominence, that David
Daggett was elected a judge of the Supreme Court.
The same influences, exerted by the same men, se-
cured the election of Judges Williams and Bissell,
three years later.

“ After the election of Judge Daggett was effected
no one seemed to care who the other judge might be,
as with Chief Justice Hosmer at the head of the
court, and Judge Daggett as an associate, it was felt
that it could have a highly respectable character.
The Hon. James Lanman received the appointment,
but after a short term of service resigned.

“Joun WeELcH.—The junior judge of the court
28

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

was the Hon. John Welch, of Litchfield. He was a
native of the parish of Milton and a graduate of Yale
College in the class of 1778,—a class which is said to
have produced more eminent men in proportion to
its numbers than any other which ever graduated at
that institution. Joel Barlow, Zephaniah Swift,
Uriah Tracy, Noah Webster, and the last Governor
Wolcott, with many other distinguished men, were
of the class.

“Judge Welch never entered either of the profes-
sions, but he lived to a very great age. He was ap-
pointed a judge of the County Court in the place of
Cyrus Swan, Esq., of Sharon, who had resigned his
position on the bench of the court in 1819. Judge
Welch continued on the bench till he became dis-
qualified by age in 1829. He made no pretensions to
legal learning, but his decisions were based on a fair,
impartial view of the questions as they came up. He
always gave reasons for the opinion he had formed,
always made himself well understood, and his candor,
fairness, and sound judgment were admitted by all.

“JuDGES BURRALL, WOODRUFF, AND Boarp-
MAN.—In 1829, when Judge Welch must retire on
account of his age, it was deemed proper by the Legis-
lature to make new appointments of both associate
judges. Judge Strong had been twelve years on the
bench, and in his place William M. Burrall, Esq., of
Canaan, was appointed senior associate judge, and
Gen. Morris Woodruff took the place of Judge Welch.
The court continued thus organized till the resigna-
tion of Judge Pettibone, when, not only with the
consent, but with the decided approval, of both asso-
ciate judges, David 8. Boardman, Esq., of New Mil-
ford, was taken from the bar and installed chief judge
of the County Court, which as then constituted held
a high position in public confidence.

“ JABEZ SwIFt was the first lawyer who settled in
Salisbury. He was a native of Kent, and upon the
breaking out of the war of the Revolution he joined
the army in Boston, and there died.

“ ADONIJAH STRONG was a pupil of Mr. Swift, and
succeeded him in practice. Col. Strong was a man
of vigorous mind, had a large practice, but possessed
none of the graces of eloquence. For many years he
was an efficient magistrate, and a member of the Gen-
eral Assembly. He died in February, 1818.

“JOSEPH CANFIELD, EsqQ., commenced his profes-
sional studies with Col. Strong, and finished them at
the Litchfield Law School. He commenced his prac-
tice at. Furnace Village, in Salisbury, about the year
1789. Mr. Canfield was a gentleman of graceful
manners and good talents; he died in September,
1803, having been several times a member of the As-
sembly.

“Martin Strong, of Salisbury, son of Col. Adon-
ijah Strong, of that town, was a lawyer of the olden
time, of whose wit, as well as blunders, many stories
were rife fifty years ago. Col. Strong had four sons,
all of whom entered into professional life——two as

 

clergymen, and two as lawyers. His son, the Rey,
William Strong, was father of the Hou. William
Strong, of Pennsylvania, now one of the associate
justices of the United States Supreme Court. Judge
Martin Strong had been a member of the bar for sey-
eral years, but had never made a very high mark in
his profession; in fact, he had never devoted himself
assiduously to the discharge of its duties. He owned
a very large and valuable farm on the town hill in
Salisbury, and his principal business was to attend to
that. When he came upon the bench he seemed to
have a recollection of a few plain legal maxims, but
his method of applying them to cases was not always
the most skillful. He was a man of immense physi-
cal dimensions, and when he had taken his seat on
the bench he sat in perfect quiet until the loud proc-
lamation of the sheriff annougced the adjournment of
the court. He remained in office till 1829, when
William M. Burrall, Esq., of Canaan, took his place.
“Asa BACON was a native of Canterbury, and came
to Litchfield as early as 1806, after a short period of
practice at East Haddam, and for a while was a part-
ner of Judge Gould. In 1820 he had become a leading
spirit at the bar. He had a fine personal appearance,
being tall and well proportioned, and usually richly
dressed. The first time I saw him before the jury his
head was well cased in powder and pomatum, anda
long queue was dangling at his back; but he soon laid
aside this conformity to old-time fashions, although
he was the last member of the bar to do so. He was
undoubtedly a very hard student, and his briefs were
the result of extensive and faithful study. He was
not a very fluent, but was after all an interesting,
speaker. He would sometimes interlude his argu-
ments with specimens of drollery and flashes of wit,
and the expectation that these would be put forth se-
cured a very strict attention from all his hearers. He
frequently quoted passages of Scripture and com-
mented upon them, not always irreverently, but some-
times with rather unbecoming levity. He was a mortal
enemy of universal suffrage, and once in commenting
upon the parable of the talents he called the bailee
of one talent who had hid it in the earth a universal
suffrage man. He was a genial, jolly, companionable
man, and, although not addicted to excessive liberality
in his benefactions, still kept himself in good standing
while he remained here. When he had reached the
age of sixty years he was appointed president of the
branch of the Phenix Bank, located in Litchfield,
and after that was never seen professionally engaged
in court. The last years of his life were spent in New
Haven, where he died at a very advanced age.
“GEN. ELISHA STERLING was a native of Lyme and
a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1787. He
studied law with the Hon. John Canfield, of Sharon,
who was his father-in-law, and settled in Salisbury in
1791. He was a man of a high order of talent, and
had he addressed himself solely to professional points
would probably have stood at the head of the bar in
BENCH AND BAR.

29

 

this county. But he loved money and gave much of

his time to different kinds of business, and acquired.

great wealth for those times. Notwithstanding this
propensity he had an extensive practice and was en-
gaged in most of the cases coming from the northern
portions of the county. He was a ready speaker, not
very select in the choice of his words, and not elo-
quent by any established rule of elocution, but there
was a kind of impetuosity in his manner, accompanied
by a rapid but distinct utterance of language, which
gave him popularity as an advocate. He was ap-
pointed State’s attorney in 1814, and held the office
six years, when Seth P. Beers, Esq., was appointed in
his place. He retired from practice soon after, and
died in 1886, at the age of seventy-two years. His
wealth enabled him to indulge the strong taste he had
for a handsome style of living and equipage, and in
that direction his mind had strong aristocratical tend-
encies.

“Davip 8S. BOARDMAN was a native of New Mil-
ford, and settled there in the practice of law after his
admission to the bar, in 1795. He was a man of re-
tiring disposition, in no way giving showy display of
his powers, but he was a finished legal scholar, and
was deemed a very safe and prudent. professional ad-
viser. He had a very nice literary taste, and the
least grammatical blunder by a judge or lawyer at-
tracted his attention and frequently his ridicule. His
arguments were pointed specimens of perspicuity,
precision, and force, but he failed to attract much at-
tention as an advocate through a defect of vocal
power. His voice was feeble and could scarcely be
heard except by those who were near him. He had
a high character for moral rectitude, and his four or
five years’ service at the head of the County Court
gave it a dignity and moral power which in other
years it had scarcely obtained. Sketches from his
pen descriptive of some of the members of the bar
in this county of the last century may be found in
the beginning of this chapter. He was a college
classmate of Asa Bacon, and they were warm personal
friends. He lived to the great age of ninety-seven
years.

“ PHINEHAS MINER, the last, because the youngest,
of the class of lawyers to whom I have referred, de-
serves a much more extended notice than I shall be
able to give him. His amiable and genial temper as
aman seemed to make him very popular as a lawyer.
Fidelity to his clients and a laborious attention to their
interests was a marked trait in his professional career.
He commenced practice in Winchester, his native
town, and had there acquired a good standing in his
profession, when he came to Litchfield in 1816. He
had an extensive practice and was noted for the dili-
gence with which he pressed every point, however
unimportant, which could be made to tell in favor of
his client. His arguments were generally extended
to a great length, and I have known him to receive a

gentle hint fromthe judge recommending a condensa-
3

 

tion of his thoughts. He died in 1889, at the age of
sixty years, and Mr. Day, the reporter, gives a flatter-
ing estimate of him in a foot-note on 134th page of
the 13th volume of Connecticut Reports.

“ WILLIAM G, WILLIAMS, of New Hartford, stood
as high as any member of this class, He belonged to
the eminent and reputable Williams family, of Massa-
chusetts, his father being a nephew of Col. Ephraim
Williams, the founder of Williams College, and him-
self the first cousin of Bishop Williams, of the Epis-
copal Church of Connecticut. As a special pleader
he had no superior at the bar. He had a tolerably
fair standing as an advocate, and was indefatigable in
pursuing to the last possible effort any purpose he had
undertaken. If he failed in one form of action he
would try another, and never gave up till further per-
sistence was hopeless. He commenced business as a
lawyer in Sharon, where he married, but after a few
years he removed to New Hartford, where he re-
mained during his life. He had scarcely reached the
age of sixty years when he died.

“ JoHN Strong, JR., of Woodbury, his native town,
was a lawyer of very fair standing. I remember once
to have heard Judge Boardman say ‘that if he found
John Strong differing from himself on a law point, he
always doubted the correctness of his own conclusions.’
He was a ready speaker and had a peculiar habit of
looking all over the hall, frequently directly behind
himself, while he was addressing the jury. His argu-
ments were clear and logical, and he was always lis-
tened to by the court with attention. He had scarcely
reached the age of fifty years when he died.

“CALVIN BuTLER, of Plymouth, had a very good
reputation as a lawyer. He also stood well with his
fellow-citizens of Plymouth, as he was often a mem-
ber of the Legislature, and he was of the convention
of this State. He was also a member of the Senate in
1882. He had a part in all cases which came from
that town and managed a trial very well. He was
earnest in his manner of addressing the jury, and he
was in full practice up to the time of his death, when
he had reached the age of seventy-two years. He
died suddenly while away from home, and left behind
a good record as a faithful lawyer and an honest man.

“Cyrus Swan, of Stonington, came to the bar of
this county in 1798. He settled in Sharon, and con-
tinued in full practice for twenty years. He was ap-
pointed a judge of the County Court in 1818, and reap-
pointed for the succeeding year, but resigned the of-
fice before the close of the term. His health becom-
ing intolerant of sedentary habits and requiring out-
door pursuits, he never resumed full practice, although
he occasionally appeared in trials where his old friends
demanded his aid. His arguments were clear, sound,
and sensible, and were listened to with attention.
His mind was well stored with sound legal maxims,
and his aim seemed to be to make a sensible applica-
tion of these to the case in hand. He died in 1835, at
the age of sixty-five years.
30

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“JosEPH MILLER, of Winsted, who died recently
in Michigan at a very advanced age, was a man of
moral talent and of a higher order of legal acquire-
ments than he usually had credit for. After the re-
moyal of Mr. Miller to Litchfield his practice was
large, and continued to be so for several years. His
arguments were short, compact, and logical, and were
listened to with attention and interest. In middle
life he removed to Michigan, where he had a pros-
perous career.

“WILLIAM M. BURRALL, a native, and through
life a resident, of Canaan, was a lawyer of very ex-
tensive practice in one branch of business. He com-
menced a great many cases to the court, but never
argued one on the final trial.
argue motions for continuance or for other purposes,
and his success on such occasions showed that he had
underrated his own powers. Although he did not
argue his cases, he was the master-spirit in managing
all the details of the trial, in what order witnesses
should be called, and the points of testimony brought
out. His associates depended greatly on his skill in
conducting this part of the proceedings. He had a
kind, affable, and winning way in his social inter-
course, and his offices were employed in adjusting and
settling legal controversies. He acted as committee
and arbitrator in more cases than any other member
of the bar of his time, and if a desire to make him-
self as indifferent as possible to all parties sometimes
seemed to hold him back from decisive action, he
always, in the end, showed true firmness and integrity.
He was an associate judge of the County Court from
1829 to 1836, and after that chief judge for ten years.
He died at the age of seventy-seven years.

“Cot. WILLIAM COGGSWELL, of New Preston, a
very worthy and respectable gentleman, was a mem-
ber of the bar, and was very seldom absent from the
courts. He never engaged in the trial of a case, and
very seldom spoke to the bench, but he was always a
busy man in the court-room. He was one cf the
electors who cast the vote of Connecticut for John
Quincy Adams for President in 1824. He died before
he had reached a very advanced age.

“SrtH P. BEERS.—When I came to the bar, in
1820, Seth P. Beers, Esq., was in full practice. He
was appointed State’s attorney soon after, but re-
signed in three years, having been appointed commis-
sioner of the school fund, which office he held for
twenty-five years. I have heard him say that at some
terms of the court he had commenced as many as one
hundred and fifty cases, and he was very thorough in
all matters committed to his trust. His talents as an
advocate were respectable, his briefs being very full
and his knowledge of every minute point being very
complete.

“Perry SMITH, of New Milford, held a somewhat
prominent place at the bar, and his practice was ex-
tensive. So many different estimates have been made
of Mr. Smith’s real qualities that it is difficult to

He would sometimes -

 

speak of him with any very strong assurance of cor-
rectness. That he had talents and friends the success
which he achieved both as a lawyer and a politician
renders certain, but those who remember the time of
his professional experience here know that he had
enemies, and such would be the natural result of the
unrelenting bitterness with which he pursued his ad-
versaries in his efforts before the courts. There wasa
bitterness in his invectives, a persistence in his perse-
cutions, an implacability in his enmities, which gave
a decided character to his professional career, and
which insured to him the enmity of all against whom
his efforts were directed. He was always listened to
with a kind of inquisitiveness as to what new fountain
of bitterness he would open, or what new invectives
he would invent to pour out upon his adversary.
These were sometimes directed against the opposing
counsel as well as the opposing party, and upon the
whole he incurred a great amount of hatred. I am
only speaking of what occurred in court, and express-
ing the opinion which we would form in witnessing
his professional conflicts. It cannot be doubted that
he had many friends and supporters outside of this
scene of action, and it is not unlikely that he was as
warm and constant in his friendships as he was bitter
and unrelenting in his hatreds. After his election to
the United States Senate he retired from the bar and
was very seldom seen here.

“RocER MIxts, of New Hartford, was at one time
a partner with Mr. Williams, of whom we have
already spoken, from whom he differed in every re-
spect except that both held the position of honorable
and worthy gentlemen. Mr. Mills was slow in his
conception of thoughts, slow in all the movements of
his mind, and very slow in the delivery of his argu-
ments, and yet when all his duties in a case were ac-
complished it would be seen that he had made a cred-
itable effort, and that he was far from being a lawyer of
indifferent pretensions. His son of the same name
succeeded him in the practice of law at New Hart-
ford, but has since removed to Wisconsin, where he
has had a successful career.

Micuart F. Minus was born in Norfolk, March
22,1776. He was the youngest of a family of nine
children, all of whom attained advanced age except
one brother, who died in early life. Mr. Mills sur-
vived all of them and most of his early friends, and
at the time of his death, with one exception, the late
Deacon Amos Pettibone, was the only male first de-
scendant of the original landed proprietors of Nor-
folk, The other members of the family were born in
the town of Simsbury, Hartford Co., from whence
Mr. Mills’ parents as well as many others of the first
settlers of Norfolk emigrated.

Mr. Mills, never having lived out of his native town
and never having held any high public station, may
not have been as publicly kuown out of his own town
and county as many other men less gifted, but so far
as his townsmen could testify their respect and cou-
 

Y At F GO) ke
 
BENCH AND BAR.

fidence in him they did so by elevating him to every
place of trust and responsibility within their gift. He
represented his town in several sessions of the Legis-
lature, was appointed judge of probate in 1822, and
held the office twenty years; in 1812 was appointed
justice of the peace and officiated in that capacity
until he was seventy years of age. He was the first
postmaster at Norfolk, appointed by Thomas Jeffer-
son in 1804. At that time the mail only arrived twice
a week in Norfolk, and only two papers were received
at the office,—the Connecticut Courant and Litchfield
Monitor.

Mr. Mills never figured conspicuously as an advo-
cate in the higher courts, but was regarded by the
ablest lawyers as one of the best men in the State to
prepare a case. Most people know how very liable
members of the legal profession are to make enemies
in discharging the duties of their calling, but in this
Mr. Mills was peculiarly fortunate. Being of a happy
and generous disposition, whatever he said or did
never partook of ill-will or malignity.

Mr. Mills died Aug. 2, 1857, and a friend, in speak-
ing of the departed, says, “As might be expected, the
funeral obsequies of the deceased were solemn and
impressive to his friends and neighbors and particu-
larly to the aged inhabitants of the town. The funeral
discourse was delivered by Rev. Joseph Eldridge.
We have attended a great many funerals, but seldom
one where we have seen so large a number of mourning
relatives, a circumstance that goes to show the antiquity
of the family in the town.” Mr. Mills was interred
in the old burying-ground, where his remains rest
amidst departed kindred and friends.

Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick, in speaking of Mr. Mills,
says, “He never attempted to argue cases in the higher
courts, but on the trial of motions as they came before
the courts he was very prominent. We all thought
well of ‘Uncle Mich,’ as we used to call him, and so
did the people of Norfolk, for he was always a promi-
nent man in the affairs of the town. He was a mem-
ber of the Legislature in 1830 and 1831.”

Two daughters of Mr. Mills survive,—Mrs. John A.
Shepard and Mrs. John K. Shepard.

“EDWARD AIKEN resided in Norfolk, and gained
some prominence at the bar.

“CHARLES B, PHELPS settled in Woodbury soon
after his admission to the bar, nearly sixty years ago.
He continued in practice while he lived. He died
suddenly from a disease of the heart, at the age of
seventy-two years. He held a respectable position as a
lawyer, and for two years was a judge of the County
Court while that court was holden by a single judge.
All who knew him have a very pleasant memory of
his genial humor, pertinent anecdotes, and witty and
pungent sayings. The younger members of the bar
were delighted with his company, and all deeply de-
plored his sudden death.

“MatTHEW Minor, of Woodbury, was a lawyer
of good classical education and respectable legal at-

 

31

tainments. He had a native diffidence which pre-
vented him putting himself forward very often on the
trial of cases, but when his powers were brought out
he made a respectable show. He belonged to one of
the eminent families of Woodbury, and for personal
qualities was very much respected.

“NATHANIEL P. PERRY, of Kent, was a quiet, un-
obtrusive, conscientious man. He was the only law-
yer in that town during the greater part of his profes-
sional life, and did a good local business. He was
very diligent in the pursuit of his profession, and gen-
erally argued the cases that he commenced. He was
a member of the Senate for two successive years, and
died at the age of about sixty years.”

Hoxusroox Curtis, lawyer, of the class of 1807,
died at Watertown, Conn., Feb. 21, 1858, of apoplexy.
The deceased was born at Newtown, Fairfield Co.,
July 14, 1787. When eleven years of age he was
placed by his parents in the family of the Rev. Dr.
Burhans to be prepared for college. Remaining with
him two or three years, he subsequently pursued his
studies with that accomplished jurist and classical
scholar, Judge Chapman, from whom: he imbibed a
taste for the classics, which he cultivated and enjoyed
through life. He entered the junior class of Yale
College in 1805, and on graduating returned to his
native town, studied law with Judge Chapman, and
was admitted to the bar, at Fairfield, in 1809.

He pursued the practice of his profession at New-
town until 1818, when upon the death of Samuel W.
Southmayd, Esq., a lawyer, at Watertown, Litchfield
Co., Conn., he was invited by several gentlemen of
that place to remove there. The invitation was ac-
cepted and he remained there until his death. During
almost fifty years of professional life he received the
confidence and esteem of those around him, and his
good sense and kindness of heart were very frequently
enlisted to make peace and heal dissensions among
neighbors and friends. He pursued an honorable,
highminded, liberal course in the performance of his
duties as a lawyer, as a citizen, and asaman. In the
various public trusts he was called upon during periods
of many years to discharge, as a magistrate, member
of the Legislature, judge of probate and of the county,
and member of the general conventions of the Epis-
copal Church, in which he was educated and through
life attached, his sound judgment, strict integrity,.and
conservative views were pre-eminent.

He was a man of constant and extensive reading,
had made some progress in modern languages, and of
the Latin poets could repeat large portions of Horace
and Virgil from memory. He was warm and social
in his feelings and possessed an immense fund of
ancedote, not only of the bench and bar of his early
days, but the traditional, extending back into the
colonial tinres; and even the unpublished stanzas
with which the legal wits honored the king’s attorney
in the days of the Stamp Act, or the ancient clergy
occasionally prepared in commemoration of some
32

ludicrous mishap of one of their number, were stored
away in his retentive memory.

The men of those times have long since passed away,
and he has been called to follow them, regretted by
all who knew him.

“Jam te premet nox, fabuleque Manes,
Et domus exilis Plutonia.”

WILLIAM EpMonpD CurRTIS was the eldest son of
Holbrook and Elizabeth (Edmond) Curtis, and was
born at Watertown, in the same room in which he
died, Sept. 29, 1823. A sketch of his father appears
elsewhere in this work. His maternal grandfather,
Judge William Edmond, of Newtown, Conn., was of
Irish descent, but was born in this State, graduated at
Yale College in 1773, served as a volunteer, and was
wounded in the attack on Danbury in 1777; married,
for his second wife, a daughter of Benjamin Payne,
Esq., of Hartford; was a member of Congress and a
judge of the Supreme Court of this State.

Young Curtis had a brother Henry, near his own
age, and the two boys grew up together, studying
partly at the schools of the town and partly with their
father until about twelve years of age, when Henry
died, leaving William the only child of his parents.
He had begun the study of Latin with his father at
the age of eight, and pursued his classical studies
under his guidance until he was fifteen, when he went
for a year to the Episcopal academy at Cheshire, then
under the care of the Rev. Allen C. Morgan and the
Rey. Dr. Beardsley, where he finished his preparation
for college, and entered Trinity College, Hartford, the
ensuing year. He graduated with distinguished honor
in 1848, and entered the law-office of Hon. William
Curtis Noyes, then a prominent member of the New
York bar.

He undertook, in addition to his legal studies, the
acquisition of a more thorough knowledge of the
French and Spanish languages, and with such success
that by the time he was admitted to the bar he was
able to speak both languages with sufficient facility
for business purposes, and immediately reaped the
benefit of his labors by attracting French and Span-
ish clients, and thus early laying the foundation of
an extensive and successful practice.

It is worth while to notice, however, for the encour-
agement of younger members of the profession, this
entry in his diary :

“June 26, 1846. Nothing to do; business dull.
ter, I shall emigrate to Texas,”

This probably does not indicate any intention of
going to Texas, but was a figurative expression of the
time, indicating merely the intention of making some
change of location for the purpose of bettering his
fortunes.

Soon after his proposed emigration to Texas busi-
ness prospects began to improve, and from that time
forward he never lacked professional occupation. He
was not only a careful student of the law, but he was
a man of excellent business judgment, so that his

If things are not bet-

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

advice was much sought and greatly valued. Faith-
fulness to duty was a marked feature of his character,
He prepared his cases with care and fidelity, giving
careful thought to every consideration by which his
clients’ interest might be affected. As a consequence
of this he won many causes without a trial. He was
fair and honest by nature, and people instinctively
confided in him in regard to their property interests
and their personal affairs. His courtesy was remark-
able, and it was only when occasion seemed to demand
it that he assumed a tone of severity with the air of dis-
charging a duty rather than of giving way to the in-
dulgence of personal feeling. His whole demeanor
was eminently dignified and judicial, and when, in
1871, he was elected on the Reform ticket one of the
judges of the Superior Court of the City of New
York, there was a very general feeling that he was in
his right place. His career on the bench fully justi-
fied this feeling, and on the death of Chief Justice
Monell, in 1876, he was with great unanimity selected
as presiding judge.

One of his late associates, in speaking of his char-
acter at a meeting of the bar held with reference to his
death, said, ‘‘ He seemed to have an intuitive idea of
right and justice from which he never swerved. He
was asafe guardian of every interest committed to his
management, and allowed no selfish purpose to swerve
him from entire justice to others. This sentiment
was carried in instances to self-sacrifice. He was a
large-minded man, and the current of his thoughts
and actions was limited by no narrow bounds; it
deepened and widened according to the subjects he
was called upon to consider.”

Perhaps the highest praise that can be given to a
judge is that he has no history but the reports.

Outside of his profession Judge Curtis’ chief efforts
were in the cause of education. To Trinity College,
as his Alma Mater, his ties were strong and his rela-
tions intimate. In 1846 he was appointed to deliver
the Master’s oration. In 1857 he became a Fellow of
the college and a member of the corporation, and in
1862 he received the honorary degree of LL.D.

In 1857 he was elected a member of the board of
education of the city of New York, and served in
that capacity for nine years and, dusing the last four
years, as president of the hosed, He was a vestry-
man of St. George’s Church, a member of the council
of the New York Geographical Society, and of various
other religious, literary, and social organizations.
All these duties he discharged with conscientious
fidelity, and especially to those connected with the
board of education he devoted a large amount of
time.

His personal friendships, though not demonstrative,
were lasting, and an old friend or acquaintance in
need never appealed to him in vain. Many could
testify to this, but he was naturally secretive, and
probably few comparatively of these acts of kindness
were ever known beyond himself and the recipient.
 
BENCH AND BAR.

33

 

His local attachments were very strong. He always
retained the old place in Watertown which he had
inherited from his father, where he himself was born,
and which had always been his home. Here his
family spent their summers, and here he came to rest
when rest was permitted, thoroughly enjoying the
scenes of his childhood and the familiar faces and
voices that greeted each return. He was deeply at-
tached to the place and greatly respected and esteemed
by the people. “ We have lost our great man,’’ was
the simple tribute paid to him by one of his towns-
men.

The character of his mind was in all things strongly
conservative, and although he kept pace with the time
in knowledge and habit of life, yet to him personally
change was painful, and he endured rather than en-
joyed the little that circumstances compelled him to
adopt of what was new in all his personal belongings.

In his youth he was tall, slender, and delicate, and
although in later years he became a large man, and
had the appearance of physical vigor, he was not as
strong as he appeared. Nearly two years before his
death he had a severe sickness which prostrated him
for many weeks. The following summer he spent in
Europe and partially regained his health; but the
severe work of a long winter was too great a tax upon
his enfeebled vitality, and on the 6th day of July,
1880, at his old home, and surrounded by his family,
he suddenly sank under what appeared to be buta
slight indisposition.

Judge Curtis married, Sept. 2, 1851, Mary A.,
daughter of William H. Scovell, Esq., of Waterbury,
and great-granddaughter of the Rev. James Scovill,
a native of Watertown, and the first Episcopal min-
ister of Watertown and Waterbury.

His widow, with five sons and two daughters, survive
him.

“Tsaac LEAVENWORTH AND RoyaL R. HINMAN.
—There were two lawyers in Roxbury fifty years ago,
Isaac Leavenworth and Royal R. Hinman, who made
a considerable show of business before the courts, but
who retired from practice in the course of a few years.
Mr. Leavenworth went into other business in New
Haven, where it is said he has been very successful,
and is still living at a very advanced age. Mr. Hin-
man held the office of Secretary of State for eight
years, and published several pamphlets containing
the statistics of many of the most prominent families
in the State. ;

“JosrPpH H. Betuamy, of Bethlehem, deserves
more than a passing tribute. He was a grandson of
the celebrated divine of that name, and was a man of
great moral worth. He never had a very extensive
practice as a lawyer, but was much employed in va-
rious branches of public business. He was frequently
a member of the Legislature, and once represented the
Sixteenth District in the Senate.’ He died in middle
life, and all, of all names and parties, pay him the
tribute of an affectionate and respectful remembrance.

 

“THEODORE Nortu, of Goshen, his native town,
removed to Chenango Co., N. Y., about 1823. He
graduated at Williams College in 1806 with the high-
est honors of his class. He was a remarkably well-
read lawyer, and had a respectable standing as an
advocate. He attained to eminence in his profession
in the State of New York. He died some twenty
years since.

“Hon. WILLIAMS. HOLABIRD, a native of Canaan,
Conn., studied law with Hon. W.M. Burrall, attended
the law lectures of Judge Gould at Litchfield, was
admitted to the bar about 1820, and soon after
commenced practice at Colebrook, Conn., whence
he moved to Winsted in 1824, and soon after secured
a large practice and high standing at the bar. He
held the appointment of district attorney for four
years under President Jackson, and was Lieutenant-
Governor of the State in 1842 and 1844; besides which,
he held the offices of postmaster and assignee in
bankruptcy. He was a man of commanding person
and pleasing address. As a lawyer he was adroit
rather than learned, thorough in preparing his cases,
quick to discern the weak points of his adversary,
and energetic beyond most men in carrying forward
his cases to a final issue. The same qualities were
prominent in his political career, but his success as a
lawyer was more decided than as a politician. About
1850 he withdrew from legal practice and devoted
himself to financiering with decided success. He
died May 22, 1855, at the age of sixty-one.

“GrorcE 8. BOARDMAN, son of the Hon. Elijah
Boardman, of New Milford, was admitted to the bar in
1821. He was a young man of decided promise, and
was a special favorite of his uncle, Judge Boardman.
His death was greatly lamented throughout the com-
munity. His efforts at the bar gave proof of decided
talent, and he had made himself a special favorite
among the members.

“ Joun ELMoRE was a native of Sharon. He set-
tled as a lawyer in Canaan about 1793. He had no
great eminence at the bar, but was a great favorite
with his associates for his genial humor, pertinent
anecdotes, and witty sayings. He lived to a very ad-
vanced age. The last years of his life were devoted
to zealous efforts in the cause of temperance. His
son, of the same name, was also in the practice of the
law for several years in Canaan.

“GroRGE WHEATON spent a somewhat protracted
life in Cornwall in the practice of law. He was ad-
mitted to the bar about 1812, and at once engaged in
professional occupations. He was an ingenious, sa-
gacious, and perhaps it may be said crafty, lawyer,
for opposing counsel were always fearful that he
would spring upon them some new points to which
their attention had not been directed. He was defi-
cient in early education, but even his blunders in the
use of language were often witty, and he was always
listened to in his arguments with close attention.
He understood well all the points in his case, and
34

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

presented them with great skill to the court. He had
a successful career, and left a good name behind him.

“SamMUEL CHURCH was a native of Salisbury, and
a graduate of Yale College of the class of 1803, and
he continued his residence in Salisbury while he was
a member of the bar. He held quite a respectable
standing as a lawyer, and for several years was the
State’s attorney for the county. He had not attained
to the higher ranks in his profession when, in 1832,
he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court, but
to the duties of the latter office he devoted himself
with great assiduity and success, and was in no degree
inferior to his associates on the bench in those qual-
ities which go to make a good judge of our highest
court. On the expiration of the term of Chief Justice.
Williams, in 1847, he was appointed his successor,
and held that position during the remainder of his
life. After his appointment as judge he removed to
‘Litchfield. He died a few months before he had
reached the age of seventy years.

“JaBEz W. HuntTINGTON, a native of Norwich,
graduated at Yale College in 1806; came to Litch-
field as a teacher and student-at-law in 1807, and
continued to reside here until October, 1834, when he
returned to Norwich, and died there in 1847, in his
sixtieth year. While a resident of Litchfield he was
elected a representative member of Congress, and
judge of the Superior Court. From 1840 until his
death he was a member of the United States Senate.

“GIDEON HALL was a native of Winchester, and
had abundant early advantages’ for an education,
although he did not go through a college course. His
father was a man of large estate, and the son was left
in easy circumstances. He had a fair standing at the
bar and did a considerable amount of professional
business. Towards the close of his life he received
the appointment of judge of the Supreme Court, but
after a short term of service in that office consump-
tion terminated his life.”

Hon. TRUMAN SMITH was the oldest son of Phin-
eas and Deborah Ann (Judson) Smith, and was born
in Roxbury, on the 27th day of November, A.D. 1791.
His father was the oldest son of a family, two of whose
members, Nathaniel Smith, of Woodbury, and Nathan
Smith, of New Haven, became very distinguished at
the bar and in public life in Connecticut. Phineas
Smith was a farmer, and was in no degree inferior in
intellectual ability to either of his brothers. The sub-
ject of this notice was brought up on his father’s farm,
and owes whatever success he achieved in after-life to
habits formed and principles inculcated in the home
of his childhood. He was graduated at Yale College
in 1815, and soon after commenced the study of law.
He was admitted to the bar of Litchfield County in
March, 1818. In the fall of the same year he opened
an office for the practice of the law in Litchfield, and
that village was his home until 1854. The bar of
Litchfield County then numbered more than forty
members, and several of them were eminent in the

 

profession. Mr. Smith felt that at such a bar as this
faithful study and indefatigable labor alone would
insure success, and to such study and labor he devoted
himself strictly, and he soon became known as a
young lawyer of decided promise and marked ability.
He soon acquired professional business, and at the end
of ten or twelve years took rank among the able mem-
bers of the bar in the management of the most im-
portant cases before the courts in Litchfield County,
and was sometimes engaged in such cases in other
counties in the State. His habits and methods of
practice were peculiar to himself. In the examination
of witnesses and in the discussion of interlocutory
questions he showed peculiar ability. The reluctance
of a witness to disclose the truth and give a fair state-
ment of the matters of which he was testifying, would
sometimes provoke the most severe reprehension of
the advocate, which he was not backward in exhibit-
ing in court. He never went into the trial of an im-
portant case without having made a thorough study
of ali questions likely to arise in the course of the
proceedings, and was generally well prepared to give
such questions a thorough discussion. His method of
argument to the court and jury was also peculiar to
himself. His style and manner showed nothing of
the polished refinement which marked the perform-
ances of James Gould and Roger M. Sherman, but
there was a power of thought and a strength of argu-
ment attending his oral deliveries which made him a
popular advocate. In his arguments at the bar he
discussed nothing but the merits of the question, and
he was heard with strict attention by the triers whom

| he was addressing. Upon the whole, his career asa

lawyer was eminently successful.

Mr. Smith early took a deep interest in public af-
fairs, and a considerable. portion of his subsequent
career was devoted to public employments, to which
he was appointed by the voice of his fellow-citizens,
and to all matters which agitated the public mind he
devoted the same assiduous attention and thorough
examination which marked his professional labors.
It followed, of course, that he became a prominent
member of the different legislative bodies to which
he was elected, and all the speeches which he de-
livered in either house of Congress, to which he was
elected, bore evidence of thorough labor in their
preparation. He was elected to the Legislature of
Connecticut, by the town of Litchfield, in 1831, 1832,
and 1834, and had much to do in shaping the legisla-
tion of those years. Buta wider field soon opened
before him, and higher posts of duty awaited him.
It was not the fashion of those times for candidates
to urge their own claims, or spend their money in
promoting their own advancement in public life. It
has been said of Mr. Smith, and probably with truth,
that he never packed a convention, never solicited a
nomination, never asked a man to vote for him, and
never addressed a political meeting when he .was a
candidate for office.
    

        
  

 

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In 1839, and again in 1841, he was elected to the
National House of Representatives by decided ma-
jorities in the district to which he belonged, which
then embraced the county of Litchfield. The census
of 1840 rendered necessary a new apportionment of
members of Congress in the different States, and
under that arrangement the counties of Fairfield and
Litchfield were embodied into a single district, and
from this district, thus enlarged, he was twice elected
by large majorities. He was elected to the Senate of

the United States for the term commencing March.

4, 1849, but he resigned his place before the expira-
tion of the time to which he had been appointed.
His career in both branches of Congress was honor-
able and successful, and the speeches which he made
in each were marked by the evidence that much study
and reflection had been employed in their prepara-
tion. In the House of Representatives his published
speeches were: 1. On the New Jersey Broad Seal elec-
tion case. 2, On our wool-growing and wool-manu-
facturing interests. 3. On the territory to be acquired
from Mexico by a treaty then pending. In the Sen-
ate he delivered speeches on the following subjects:
1. On removals from office. 2. On a bill to admit
California into the Union, and to establish several
territorial governments. 38. On French spoliations,
etc. 4. On the proposition of Mr. Douglas to levy
tonnage on the States for the improvement of rivers
and harbors. 5. On the construction of a railroad to
the Pacific coast. 6. On the Nebraska question. Of
the speech on the bill to admit California into the
Union, and to establish several territorial governments,
Mr. Webster, in a speech on the same question, made
a few days afterwards, said, “It contained one of the
clearest and strongest demonstrations that I have
heard from the mouth of man.” All the speeches of
Mr. Smith were fraught with good sense and sound
logic. The last one delivered, Feb. 10 and 11, 1854,
was a discussion on the repeal of the Missouri Com-
promise, and expressed his full conviction that the
measure foreboded incalculable mischief to the coun-
try, and he felt bound to oppose to it an uncompro-

mising resistance. He undertook to demonstrate that |:

there was, and had ever been, an entire harmony in
the elements on which the prosperity of the different
sections of the Union depended; that there was an
utter impossibility of maintaining an equilibrium be-
tween the free and slave States, and that such equi-
librium, if attainable, would be useless to the latter ;
that the slavery question, which, during the few pre-
ceding years, had made so much disturbance in and
out of Congress, was of very little importance. Sub-
sequent history has disclosed events which no one
then foresaw.

Mr. Smith had a decided preference for Gen. Tay-
lor as a candidate for the Presidency in 1848, and was
a member of the convention which gave him the
nomination. He was also the chairman of the Na-
tional Whig committee by which the canvass for the

 

general was conducted. One of his colleagues on
this committee was Abraham Lincoln, who spent a
considerable time in Washington as a member of the
committee during the canvass.

On the accession of Gen. Taylor to the Presidency
he proposed to Mr. Smith to make him Secretary of
the Interior, thus constituting him a member of his
cabinet, but Mr. Smith preferred to occupy his seat

‘in the Senate as best suited to his habits and method

of life.

Soon after the accession of Mr. Lincoln to the
Presidency, a treaty was entered into between the
United States and Great Britain for establishing in-
ternational courts, to be located, two in Africa and
one in the city of New York, to adjudicate slave-
trading cases, each to consist of two judges, one rep-
resenting the United States and the other Great Brit-
ain. Mr. Smith was appointed to the New York
court, and held the situation for several years; but
our coast having been blockaded during the war, and
slavery in the United States being abolished, there
could be no cases to be submitted to the court except
in connection with Cuba or some other slave-holding .
country, of which there was very little probability,
the two governments, by a new treaty, abrogated the
courts and left the matters regarding them to the or-
dinary courts. This was the last public office held

_by Mr. Smith.

Mr. Smith established his home in Stamford in 1854,
where he has ever since resided. He had a law-office
in New York, and practiced in the courts of that State
and in the Supreme and Circuit Courts of the United
States till 1872, when he retired from the profession.
He has, to some extent, of late years occupied him-
self in submitting his views to the public on topics
which he deemed important, sometimes in pamphlets,
but more generally through the newspaper press. He
has taken much interest in the temperance cause, and
his articles on that subject furnish very strong argu-
ments in favor of the entire suppression of the traffic.
Various other matters of much public interest have
also received his attention.

Mr. Smith was married, June 2, 1832, to Miss Maria
Cook, daughter of Roger Cook, Esq., of Litchfield.
She died April 24,1849. He was again married, Nov.
7, 1850, to Miss Mary Ann Dickinson, who still sur-
vives.

He now (1881), at the age of ninety years, enjoys
comfortable health and has a good share of mental
activity.

CHARLES F, SEpGwick, of Sharon, was born in

. Cornwall, Conn., Sept. 1, 1795. He prepared for col-

lege with Rev. Truman Marsh, of Litchfield, and

-Rev. A. R. Robbins, of Norfolk, principally with

the latter. He entered Williams College in 1809,
and graduated in 1813. After graduation he taught
about three years and fitted several young men for
college. He studied law with Gen. Elisha Sterling,
of Salisbury, and Cyrus Swan, Esq., of Sharon, and
36

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in March, 1820, was admitted to the bar. He married
a daughter of Mr, Swan in 1821. He has been much
.in public life, and has ever been faithful to the trusts
imposed. He was a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature in 1830 and 1831, and of
the Senate in 1832; was appointed brigadier-general
of militia in 1829 and major-general in 1831; was ap-
pointed State’s attorney in 1856, and held that office
by reappointment for eighteen years. Soon after he
retired from office, and has since been a citizen of
Sharon.

Gen. Sedgwick has a decided taste for literary
pursuits, and has added many highly interesting and
valuable works to the historic literature of this sec-
tion, among which may be mentioned “Sedgwick’s
History of Sharon,” two editions, an excellent work,
sketches of members of the Litchfield bar, various
historical addresses, etc. Gen. Sedgwick has taken
an active interest in historical matters, and to him
more than any other person is due the preservation of
the history of the bar of Litchfield County.—(Ep1ror.)

ORIGEN Storrs SEYMOUR was born at Litchfield,
Conn., Feb. 9, 1804; has always resided in his na-
tive village and within a few rods of the place of his
birth. After graduation he commenced the study of
law. His own eyes were too weak to allow him to
read for himself; his friend and classmate, Treat,
therefore read aloud to him. He was admitted to the
bar September, 1826, and at once commenced the
practice of the law. He devoted himself without in-
terruption to his professional duties for the space of
twenty-five years; during that time, however, he sev-
eral times represented his town in the General As-
sembly, and in 1850 served as Speaker of the House.

In 1851 he was elected a member of the United
States Congress, and then for four years was occupied
in public political life. He was elected as a Union
Democrat, pledged to the earnest support of the com-
promise measures then recently adopted on the subject
of slavery. He strenuously opposed the well-known
Kansas and Nebraska bills as being a violation of
those compromises,

On his retirement from Congress he was elected
a judge of the Supreme Court, and held that laborious
office eight years, from 1855 to 1868, that being the
term for which he was elected. He then resumed the
practice of law in copartnership with his son, Edward
W. Seymour, and continued in a full practice till
1870. He was then chosen judge of the Supreme
Court of Errors of Connecticut, which office he held
until he became seventy years of age, having been
chief justice during his last year of service. The con-
stitution of the State limits the term of judicial life to
the age of seventy. Since his retirement from judi-
cial life he has declined to appear as an adyocate at
court. He, however, spends some of his time in office
business and as arbitrator and referee.

Mr. Seymour was married, Oct. 5, 1830, to Lucy
M. Woodruff, daughter of Hon. Morris Woodtuff, by

 

whom he had four children,—Edward Woodruff, set-
tled at Litchfield in the legal profession ; Storrs Ozias,
clergyman of the Protestant Episcopal Church, set-
tled in Litchfield, Conn.; Maria (deceased) ; Morris
Woodruff, settled in the legal profession at Bridge-
port, Conn., present State senator.

He is a member of the Protestant Episcopal
Church, and as such was one of the lay delegates for
the Diocese of Connecticut in the Triennial General
Conventions of 1865, ’68, ’71, ’74, ’77, and ’80. Re-
ceived the degree of LL.D. from Yale in 1873.

GrEorGE C. WoopRvFr, descended from Matthey
Woodruff, one of the earliest settlers of Connecticut,
and from Nathaniel Woodruff, one of the first settlers
of Litchfield, is the eldest son of the late Gen. Morris
Woodruff, of said town, and was born in Litchfield,
Dec. 1, 1805. He graduated at Yale College in 1895,
studied at the Litchfield Law School, and came to the
bar in 1827. For more than half a century he has
been in the successful practice of his profession in his
native town, where he has ever been intrusted with
positions of honor and responsibility, besides repre-
senting his district in the Thirty-seventh Congress.
In 1845 he published a history of his town. In 1829
he married Henrietta 8. Seymour, daughter of the
late Ozias Seymour, and sister of ex-Chief Justice
Origen S. Seymour, by whom he has one child living,
—George M. Woodruff, of Litchfield.

JoHy Henry Hvusparp was born in Salisbury,
Conn., in 1804. His childhood and youth was
spent on his father’s farm, with only those advan-
tages for education which the district school af-
forded. Ofthese he made such diligent use that at the
early age of fifteen he was found qualified to be a
teacher. Shortly after this he entered the office of
the Hon. Elisha Sterling, of Salisbury, then a very
prominent lawyer, as a law student. While a student
he supported himself by teaching school winters.

In addition to his studies in the law, before he
reached his majority he had acquired a very good
knowledge of Latin, and had read many standard
books with great care, such as “ Rollin’s Ancient His-
tory,” ‘“Plutarch’s Lives,” ‘The Spectator,” and
others. He also attained some proficiency in mathe-
matics. In these studies as well as in law he
was guided and encouraged by the sound advice of
Mr. Sterling. In later life he extended his reading
into works of fiction, and somewhat into the realm of
poetry; of Wordsworth and Burns he was especially
fond, reading and rereading their poems with the
keenest interest.

At the April term of the County Court in Litchfield
County, 1826, and before his twenty-second birthday,
he was admitted to the bar, and immediately estab-
lished himself -in practice at the village of Lakeville,
in his native town, where he continued to reside for
nearly thirty years. At that time Samuel Church,
afterwards chief justice of the State, was living in
Salisbury, and was in full practice at the bar, as was
 
 

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BENCH AND BAR.

37

 

Philander Wheeler, a man of high ability. Leman
Church and Judge Burrill were in Canaan; Ansel
Sterling, Cyrus Swan, and Charles F. Sedgwick were
in Sharon; George Wheaton was at Cornwall, all of
them men of eminence and lawyers of great skill.
Surrounded by such opponents and competitors,
young Hubbard found no time for idleness. He was
spurred to his best. But whatever he may have
lacked, he did not lack industry. Genuine mettle
was in him, and before he left Lakeville he had liter-
ally conquered for himself a place among the very
foremost lawyers in the State, and had secured a very
handsome estate.

As a practitioner he was painstaking to the last de-
gree.- He spared no effort. He was always intensely
in earnest, believing thoroughly in his client and his
cause. As astudent of the law he practiced all his
life upon the maxim, which he said was given him by
Gen. Sterling, “to know a few books well.” He had
studied “Swift’s Digest,” ‘Starke’s Evidence,” and
“Chitty’s Pleadings,” till he knew them by heart.
He knew the “Connecticut Reports” so familiarly
that there was no case and hardly a dictum that he
could not recall. Other books were to him books for
reference and not for study in the sense that they
were. He was wont to say that everything could be
found in our own reports ; if not’ expressly decided, the
principle was there which would control.

In 1847, and again in 1849, Mr. Hubbard was
chosen State senator from the Seventeenth District.
The latter year he gained considerable celebrity for a
very able and vigorous opposition to the scheme for
bridging the Connecticut River at Middletown. He
defeated the project for a time, but lived to see it ac-
complished more than twenty years later. The same
year, 1849, he was appointed State’s attorney for Litch-
field County, which office he held for four years. In
1855, Mr. Hubbard removed to Litchfield, where he
resided till his death.

All his life Mr. Hubbard had been a Whig, and
subsequent to 1850 he was one of the “Conscience
Whigs,” sympathizing deeply with the anti-slavery
feeling then prevailing all over the North, and so
naturally he became a Jeader in the Republican party
from its formation. He took an active part in the
campaign of 1860, which resulted in the choice of Mr.
Lincoln to the Presidency. On the breaking out of
the Rebellion he sacrificed a large part of his practice.
The cause of the Union was to him in the place of a
client. He actively engaged in rousing up a war
feeling and in enlisting men. Enjoying a generous in-
come, he spent money liberally to promote these ob-
jects. He made presents of needful articles to the
men who volunteered, or gave them money. Many
times he provided for their families, and in all other
ways he sought to carry forward the work of defeat-
ing secession. He devoted himself to this work for
the greater portion of the time during the years 1861
and 1862, rendering especial aid in recruiting the

 

Thirteenth and the Nineteenth Regiments. The lat-
ter regiment (afterwards the Second Heavy Artillery,
Connecticut Volunteers) was composed entirely of
Litchfield County men.

In the spring of 1863 he was elected a member of
Congress from-the Fourth District, and was re-elected
in 1865. In the Thirty-eighth Congress he served on
the committee on patents, and also on committee on
post-offices and post-roads. In the Thirty-ninth Con-
gress he was continued on the committee on patents
and was on committee on roads and canals. He also
was placed on several special committees. No man
was ever more faithful to public duties than he.
During the entire four years of his service in Congress
he never failed to answer on a call of the House, ex-
cept when absent on official duty by its direction, and
once when sick. Outside this official labor, Mr. Hub-
bard while in Washington found himself under great
responsibility in caring for the soldiers from his State.
Many Connecticut regiments were in the army of the
Potomac, among them the Litchfield County regi-
ment. In the terrible battles of the Wilderness hun-
dreds of their numbers were killed, and hundreds
more were brought wounded to the hospitals around
Washington. In the battle of June 1, 1864, more
than four hundred men of his own county regiment
were killed and wounded. They were his neighbors,
his acquaintances, his friends. Many of them had en-
listed at his solicitation. It was an anxious time.
Every hour that he could snatch from his public duty
he devoted to the soldiers. There was not a day that
he did not visit one or more of the hospitals. He
sought out every Connecticut man, sat by their bed-
sides, wrote letters for them, procured for those who
were themselves unable medicine and delicacies at
his own expense. No one appealed to him in vain.
Many dying messages he faithfully transmitted to
loved ones at home. He assisted friends to identify

| and obtain the bodies of their dead, and in more than

one instance he paid from his own pocket for embalm-
ing bodies to be sent North. All this was to him
a labor of love. He never regretted it. He always
declared that he had his abundant reward in the suc-
cess of the cause for which these men had fought.

After his return from Congress, Mr. Hubbard en-
gaged again in the practice of his profession, and con-
tinued in it up to a short time before his death. He
died on the 30th day of July, 1872.

Mies T. GRANGER, son of James L. Granger and
Abigail Tobey, was born in New Marlborough, Berk-
shire Co., Mass., Aug. 12, 1817. arly in life he be-
came dependent upon his own resources for a liveli-
hood, having commenced at the early age of ten years
to work in a woolen-mill for twelve and a half cents
per day. He remained in this employment about two
years and then hired to a farmer in Norfolk, receiving
twenty-five cents per day, and continued working as
a farm-hand in various localities until. 1835, when,
concluding that farming was a hard life, and, at the
38

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

wages then paid hired men, not a quick way to get
rich,—besides his health was failing,—he concluded to
try teaching school. He entered the office of Dr.
Benjamin Welch, in Norfolk, and began “reading
up” for a schoolmaster. In the fall of the same year
he passed examination and engaged as a teacher
at twelve dollars and fifty cents per month for four
months. He continued chiefly in this occupation
until 1838, when he was induced to attend the
seminary at Amenia, to better qualify him for the
work he had chosen—teacher of common school. He
remained here one term, and returned to Canaan,
helped his uncle do the “ harvesting”’ on the Benedict
farm; worked out in haying during the balance of
season, and then concluded to return to Amenia, com-
plete two or three branches of study which he had
commenced, and at the close of the term find a school
for the winter. He fully expected to close his “ going
to school” at the expiration of this term, but things
transpired quite otherwise. Upon his arrival at the
seminary the second term, the principal, Davis W.
Clark, sent for him to come to his room, and, after
paying him some compliments upon his scholarship,
etc., advised him to prepare for college. He followed
his advice and commenced the studies required at
Wesleyan University to enter freshman year. Went
over the course during the academic year, and, with
what he had done the first term at the seminary, he
entered Wesleyan a freshman, in August, 1839, and
was allowed to enter the sophomore class in mathe-
matics. He was then, and always had been, without
any means or money except what he had earned, and
his earnings were well-nigh exhausted; but he ob-
tained a school in Glastonbury in the winter after
entering college (six months for twenty dollars per
month), kept the school and kept up with his class,
except that he fell back at the end of the college year
in mathematics. Entered on sophomore year with-
out condition in all studies. Kept school that year
three months, and managed to be up with the class
at the end of the year. Junior year he asked and ob-
tained from the faculty the privilege of taking the
junior and senior year together—to do two years’
work in one. He undertook it, had double recita-
tions every day in most of the studies, kept school
three months that winter, was examined in both
classes at end of year, passed, and received his diplo-
ma as A.B., August, 1842. In August, 1845, received
the degree of A.M. In 1843 went to Louisiana; em-
ployed as preceptor in family of Francis A, Evans,
parish of West Feliciana; engaged for a year. Read
law at same time. In April, 1845, was admitted to
the bar in Wilkinson Co., Miss. Came back to Ca-
naan, June, 1845. Entered the law office of Leman
Church, Esq., as student. In October, 1845, he was
admitted to the bar in Litchfield County. Remained
in Mr. Church’s office till the spring of 1847, when
he opened an office at the old village of “Canaan
Four Corners,” in Couch’s “hat-shop.” Here he re-

 

mained a year, and then went to the Depot, where he
remained during his whole practice. In 1849 he was
elected judge of probate, and held the office, with
exception of two years, till elected judge of Superior
Court. Was town clerk and treasurer. In 1857 wag
elected member of House of Representatives; Gen-
eral Assembly of Connecticut in 1866. Elected sen-
ator of Seventeenth District in 1867. Re-elected sen-
ator, and during this session was elected judge of Su-
perior Court for eight years. At expiration of term
was re-elected, and in 1876 elected to present position
—associate judge of the Supreme Court of Errors;
term commenced Nov. 16, 1876. He was married
Oct. 22, 1846, to Miss Sarah C. Ferguson, of Sheffield.
Judge Granger says, “For the benefit of young men
dependent on brain or muscle in the battle of life, it
might be stated that I never had but one dollar in my
life except what I earned by hard work. My father
once gave me a silver dollar,—my whole inheritance
and patrimony.”

Henry B. GRAveEs was born in Sherman (for-
merly a part of Litchfield County) on the 4th day of
April, 18238. He received a good common-school ed-
ucation, and for a few months pursued more liberal
studies in an academy with a view of entering college,
but, owing to a sudden death in his father’s family of
an elder brother, the boy of fourteen was needed upon
the farm, where he remained till he was eighteen
years of age, when he entered the law-office of James
C. Loomis, Esq., of Bridgeport, and after pursuing
the study of the law with that gentleman for three
years and a half was admitted to the bar, at Litch-
field, in April, 1845, and upon the Ist of May, 1845,
commenced the practice of his profession at Plymouth,
and continued there till October, 1849, when he
opened. an office in Litchfield, where he has since
continued in the active labors of the forum. He
represented Litchfield in the General Assembly in
1858, 1866, 1867, 1876, 1877, and in 1879, taking a
leading position in the legislation of the State, and
drafting many of the laws now to be found in the
public statutes. For many years he has been re-
garded as one of the prominent attorneys of the
county, and has been engaged in a large practice, as
the dockets of the courts will attest, and the volumes
of the Supreme Court of the State will verify.

As a counselor he has been faithful and true to
his clients, deferential to the court, courteous to op-
posing counsel, and kind and helpful to his younger
brethren.

WILLIAM CoTHREN, son of William and Hannah
Cooper Cothren, was born at Farmington, Me., Nov.
28,1819. He prepared for college at the Farmington
Academy ; graduated at Bowdoin College (Maine) in
1843; received his second degree in course at the
same institution in 1846, and the degree of Master of
Arts, ad eundem, from Yale College in 1847. He
studied law under the direction of Hon. Robert
Goodenough, of Farmington, Me., a member of Con-
 
 

 

WOOPDBD

   

Ey, COV,
BENCH AND BAR.

39

 

gress from his district, and the leader of the bar in
his county, and with the late Hon. Charles B. Phelps,
of Woodbury. He went to Woodbury in 1844, taught
school for a while, continuing his law studies at the
same time, and was admitted to the Litchfield County
bar October, 1845. He immediately commenced the
practice of his profession at Woodbury, and has con-
tinued there in the performance of his duties as coun-
selor to the present time. He immediately acquired
a large practice in the several courts of the western
half of Connecticut, and later in the District, Circuit,
and Supreme Courts of the United States. For many
years he has taken rank among the leading members
of the bar of Connecticut. He takes great pride in
his profession, and prefers excellence in that to any
official station. He has mingled little in the political
controversies of his time, preferring to devote his en-
ergies to professional and literary pursuits. In the
practice of his profession he prefers the investigation
and discussion of intricate legal questions to the more
strong display of forensic eloquence before a jury,
though he holds himself ready for the performance
of any duty of his profession. In short, he has a
sincere love of his profession, and believes in no
higher honor than that of a wise and upright coun-
selor.

A marked feature in the professional career of Mr.
Cothren is his faithfulness and untiring devotion to
the interests of his clients. No matter how trifling
the amount at stake, or how uncertain the prospects
of remuneration for his services, he labors just as
hard and with the same zeal as though the case in-
volved large interests and abundant reward. As a
man of unflinching rectitude and integrity, as a care-
ful and sagacious counselor, as a bold and successful
advocate, ever contending for the right, he occupies
an enviable position.

He has a strongly contemplative mind, and he is |

never happier than when he can steal a passing hour
to be “alone in nature’s fane,” in the grand old
woods, by the falling waters of the silvery cascade,
or in the shaded dell, where he can hold silent com-
munion with nature, in all her beauty and grandeur.

He has a strong, logical, and practical mind, an
exceedingly retentive memory, and great clearness
and quickness of apprehension. THe seizes a point
at once, and states it clearly and precisely. He
makes careful preparation, and manages his cases
with skill and ability. Difficulties do not discourage
him; obstacles do not embarrass him; they but serve
the purpose of making the attainment of his object
the more secure. He is endowed with a will of the
very highest order. It subjects the material to the
spiritual in a degree rarely attained. He is the most
diligent and laborious of men, never losing a mo-
ment from his occupations.

No man treats his equals with more courtesy and
candor, his superiors on the bench or elsewhere with
more respect and deference, and his juniors and infe-

 

riors with more affability and kindness. Liberal and
honorable in his practice with his professional breth-
ren, he scorns all subterfuge, trick, or unfair advan-
tage. As a citizen he is public-spirited and generous.
His liberality is bounded only by his ability, and he
gives freely to every worthy object for which appli-
cation is made to him for assistance. His hand has
aided every public work or improvement in his com-
munity during his time.

On the 8d of September, 1849, he was married, in
Woodbury, to Miss Mary J. Steele, daughter of the
late Dr. Samuel Steele, of the same place. They had
one son, who died young. They have now an adopted
daughter. He joined the First Congregational Church
in Woodbury, July 7, 1850, of which he continues
an influential member.

He was elected a county commissioner for Litch-
field County at the May session of the General As-
sembly in 1851. He was elected senator of the Six-
teenth Senatorial District in 1855. In April, 1856, he
was admitted an attorney and counselor of the United
States Circuit Court, and on the 8th of March, 1865,
he was admitted an attorney and counselor of the Su-
preme Court of the United States. He was elected
corresponding member of the New England Historic
Genealogical Society at Boston, Mass., May 5, 1847;
a member of the Connecticut Historical Society, Nov.
23, 1852, of which for many years he has been a vice-
president; an honorary member of the Old Colony
Historical Society, at Plymouth, Mass., April 24, 1854;
a corresponding member of the Wisconsin Historical
Society, Jan. 17,1855; a corresponding member of
the Vermont Historical Society, Feb. 3, 1860; a cor-
responding member of the Maine Historical Society,
Sept. 18, 1861; an honorary member of the Rutland
County Historical Society, Oct. 8, 1868; and a mem-
ber of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, Alpha of Maine,
Sept. 20, 1878.

From the twentieth year of his age he has been a
frequent contributor, in prose and verse, to the press
and the standard magazines of the day. He has
steadily pursued this course in his leisure moments
as a sort of rest and recreation, his latest literary
labor being the preparation of the article on Wood-
bury for this volume. No one holds a more ready
and facile pen. It has been well said that a lawyer
who confines himself exclusively to the study of his
profession is a “man of one book.” A dread of
being impaled in this category led him, in part, to
literary labor.

A short time after his settlement in Woodbury he
turned his attention to the collection of the historical
dataof the town. Theresult has been the publication
of an elaborate history of that town, comprising three
octavo volumes, and containing about two thousand
five hundred pages in the whole. The first volume
was issued in 1854, and was the pioneer work, as a
full history of a town, that had been issued. Many
histories of towns have succeeded, but none have

“
40

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

excelled it. It has received the highest commenda-
tions of the public press and of well-informed critics.
Though professedly a local work, it contains a very
complete epitome of the historical events of Connec-
ticut. His chapter on the early ecclesiastical troubles
of the colony of Connecticut is the most complete,
exhaustive, and authoritative that has yet been pub-
lished.

Of this work the late Rev. Dr. Chapin, of Glaston-
bury, Conn., remarked: “The author has made a
place for himself among the ‘men of the times,’ and
his name will be blessed as long as ‘ Ancient Wooa-
bury’ has a son living worthy of herself.” The late
Governor Dutton, of Connecticut, said of it, “It
embodies a large number of historical facts not to be
found in other publications, of great interest not only
to those who have a peculiar regard for the town of
Woodbury, but to all who cherish the memory of our
forefathers.” Rev. Dr. Fuller, late of Andover, Mass.,
said of it, “The historical portion, extending through
a period of nearly two centuries, has all the absorbing
attractions of a romance. The author has placed
Connecticut, and the community generally, under
perpetual obligations to him.” Judge Williams, late
chief judge of Connecticut, said, “It will be highly
valuable to the future historian of Connecticut.”
Ex-President Day, of Yale College, remarked, ‘“ That
the style of composition is such as history, biography,
and statistics require; simple, lucid, and unostenta-
tious.” Hon. Thomas Day, LL.D., late of Hartford,
Conn., speaking of the work, said of it, “ As a part
of the history of the State, no authority is more re-
liable. It is minutely accurate, without being in the
least degree tedious.” In a letter to Mr. Cothren,
President Wayland, late of Brown University, assured
him, “TI have no doubt yours will take an honorable
* place in this most interesting class of historical works ;
for you have done laborious and patriotic service to
our common country, and will have the thanks of all
those who cherish a veneration for our Puritan fore-
fathers.”

In all the social and confidential relations in life
the character of Mr. Cothren is worthy of imitation.
Few men have had truer or more devoted friends than
he has always found for himself wherever he has been
intimately known. The sentiment of friendship with
him partakes of a high nobility. Of course it is not
promiscuous, but is confined to those who can appre-
ciate the same affection which he himself feels. For
such his respect and esteem are entire. Those that
are once loved are loved to the end. He does not see,
or.seeing, has not the heart to notice a fault in one
whom he admits asa friend. To others he is gener-
ous; with a friend he is more than paternal. He rey-
erences only what he truly admires, and: can love no
one whose character he does not really respect. With
these sentiments he has won for himself a circle of
warm friends both in his public and private relations.
It is to be hoped that he may long enjoy their friend-

 

ship, and live many years to add to the well-earned
fame which already gathers around his name. :

GrorcE A. Hickox was born in Washington,
Conn., in 1830, and graduated from Trinity College,
Hartford, in 1851. He pursued the study of the law’
in the law school at Ballston, N. Y., and Yale law
school, and in the office of Hollister & Beeman, in
Litchfield. In 1853 he was admitted to the bar and
commenced practice in Litchfield, where he has since
resided. Since 1866 he has combined the practice of
his profession with editorial work, having in that
year become editor of The Litchfield Enquirer, and
three years later its sole proprietor. He was a mem-
ber of the Legislature in 1862.

Marcus L. DrLtavan.—When nearly half a mil-
lion of Huguenots left. France because of the revo-
cation of the Edict of Nantes, they sought homes in
those countries where their Protestant faith would be
respected and could be enjoyed. Every nation that
opened its arms to receive them brought within its
limits a class of citizens honest, conscientious,
deeply religious, industrious, energetic, intelligent, *
and generally far advanced in all arts of industry,—a
class whose presence was of immense benefit to it
Many came to what, about a century later, became
these United States. Among them was the progenitor
of the present Delavan family, the name then being
spelled De La Van. Later the last capital was dropped
and the last two syllables were united, making the
name De Lavan, and in process of time it became the
more convenient Delavan of the present time. At
the time of the Revolutionary war there were eleven
brothers, descendants of the progenitor alluded to,
all of whom took an active part in our struggle for
national independence. Gen. Daniel Delavan was
the trusted friend and adviser of Gen. Washington,
and the warm, personal, and intimate friend of La-
fayette, who presented him with a beautiful sword as
a mark of his esteem. Gen. Delavan was wounded in
the engagement at Stony Point, but not one of the
brothers was killed,—a fact which, historians have
declared, finds no parallel in the recorded history of
this or of that of any other country. The general
was also actively engaged in the war of 1812. The
subject of this sketch came from the same stock. On
the maternal side his ancestors, as far back as can be
traced,—which is for several generations,—have been
among the most solid, respectable, influential, and
well-to-do natives of the towns adjoining New Haven,
Conn., in which city, on the 23d day of August, 1832,
Mr. Delavan first saw the light. By the dishonesty of
those who should have protected the defenseless, the
property his mother should have received was never
permitted to come to her, and when she married she
could call only a few hundred dollars her own. Hav-
ing a large family, and her husband being laid up for
many years with consumption, the little pittance which
had been inherited, and that which had been accumu-
lated in the early life of their union, was swept away
BENCH AND BAR.

41

 

before our subject was born. At three years of age
one of the members of the church with which his
parents were identified called upon them, and, taking
the little one upom his lap, began to question him
about religious subjects. He was so pleased with the
child’s answers, questions, and remarks that he wrote
a Sunday-school book about him,—a work, however,
which he never saw, the only copy his parents had
carefully treasured up to present to him when he be-
came old enough to fully appreciate it having myste-
riously disappeared before that time arrived. When
he was five years of age his father died, leaving one
son younger than our subject, and one son and four
daughters older. The death of his father forced his
mother, in order that she might engage in the means
of supporting those who were too young to care for
themselves, to send him to the orphan asylum, where,
however, she paid his board weekly. His health had
always been quite poor, and, after several months of
living on the the meagre and innutritious food of the
institution, it was found necessary to send him to asea-
side country town in order to save his life. There his
health improved, and, returning to the place ofhis birth,
he was sent to school until he was ten years of age; then,
with a maturity unusual in one so young, he saw the
necessity of contributing to the support of the family,
which, by the second marriage of his mother, was in-
creasing. The illness and death of his step-father, at
about this time, strengthened his conviction that he
should be a help to, and not a drain upon, the family ;
so he obtained a situation in a printing-office,—that of
the New Haven Daily Herald. This was finally merged
into the Courier, and made a morning paper. As this
change required night-work, and only the poorest
kind of lights were used,—for gas had not then been
introduced into New Haven,—our subject’s eyes com-
pelled him to give up his position, after about seven
years’ service in the same office without the loss of a
single hour. Finishing his trade, a few months later,
in the Waterbury American office, he worked there for a
while as a journeyman, in Litchfield, and in Chicopee,
Mass., and other places, in the same capacity, for a
short time, and then gave up the mechanical part of
the business. From his earliest recollection he had
had an intense desire to qualify himself for the prac-
tice of law, but he saw the necessity of a general
education before he could properly pursue legal
studies ; so, before his day’s work was begun, and after
it was finished, until long after midnight, it was his
daily custom to take his books to a quiet place and
study them. So intense was his desire for an educa-
tion that he used to carry his dinner and his books to
the office where he was employed, and devote the
noontime to study. This course was adopted when
he first entered a printing-office, at about ten years of
age, and was persevered in until after his admission
to the bar. He has often said he “never had a boy-
hood.” He seldom engaged in the pastimes which
gave others of his age great delight, but always pre-

 

ferred his books, or the society of much older persons
than himself, to them. He had also a strong love of
disputation and of public speaking, and while in his
“teens” he would walk ten miles any evening, how-
ever bad the walking was, or however stormy it might
be, for the purpose of attending a lyceum. He was
“brought up” in the Democratic party, and his first
votes were cast for that party; but when the struggle
for prohibitory legislation was going on in this State,
and slavery was pushing itself into the Territories, he
thought the main-springs of that party were “Rum,
Romanism, and Human Bondage,” so he left it, and
as soon as the Republican party was organized he
united with it, and at every Presidential election since
then he has ‘‘ stumped” some portions of this or some
other State for that party. He has been elected a
number of times collector of taxes of the town of
Naugatuck, and has often been named for other offices,
for which he has declined to run. As we have inti-
mated, he qualified himself for admission to the bar
before people were generally awake in the morning,
or after they were asleep at night, though he attended
a course of lectures before the law-school of Columbia
College. An incident connected with his admission
to the bar may be worth giving here. His strong
political convictions, and his outspoken manner of
presenting them, gave great offence to a former judge
of one of the highest courts in the State and his son-
in-law, and when his application for admission was
presented by the State’s attorney of the county, who
was his warm friend, the judge and his son-in-law ob-
jected to its reception. Being pressed for the reason
for such an unusual objection, they claimed that the
applicant was not a resident of that county. Liter-
ally, at that moment, that may have been the fact,
but it was not when the application was placed in the -
State attorney’s hands, nor would it have been at any
time for many months before that. Some of the mem-
bers of the bar learned that the reason assigned was
not the real one entertained, and it did not take them
long to become convinced that the opposition was
really for political reasons. Still the judge and his
obedient son-in-law had succeeded in presenting the
matter in such a way that the members present were
fearful of offending them if they were found to be
very strongly opposed to them, so, though they voted
to accept the application and examine the applicant,
not a single member would consent tu be one of the
committee of examination. For forty years three at-
torneys, appointed by the bar, had constituted the ex-
amining committee, but so much feeling had been ex-
cited in this case that it was decided the whole bar
should conduct the examination. There.were about
thirty or thirty-five members of the bar present. Mr.
Delavan had listened to all that had been said in op-
position to him, and, taking into consideration the
bitterness shown, the fact that he, though nominally
in a law-office during his studies, had really had to
pursue them when he should have been asleep, that
42

he had not had the most ordinary advantages of law-
students, and that instead of being examined by a
committee of three who were without prejudice, he
must be examined by the entire bar, some of whom
were known to be strongly opposed to his admission,
he keenly felt the injustice, and also the danger of
rejection. It seems, however, to have made him all
the more cool and determined, and, after an examina-
tion lasting nearly three hours, conducted by some of
the best lawyers in the State, in which he answered
correctly every question put to him except two, and
corrected himself on one of those before it passed
from consideration, the bar voted unanimously for his
admission, paying him a very high compliment for the
way in which he passed through the trying ordeal.

When the war broke out Mr. Delavan was under
bonds of many thousands of dollars as tax-collector,
but, collecting all he could collect, he made a satisfac-
tory arrangement with the authorities of the town,
by which another collector took his place and his
bondsman was released, and he hurried to enlist in the
Fifteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, influen-
cing many to go with him.

For his interest and activity in the Union cause he
was offered various official positions, but his reply
always was, “No! If I live through this struggle I
want to feel that no man can say he has borne more
of the ‘brunt of the battle’ than I have; and I do
not mean that any one shall have even the shadow of
a reason for saying that I enlisted only for some office.”
So he remained a private until physical disability ren-
dered him unfit for military duty and confined him in
the hospitals at Washington and Darby, near Phila-
delphia, from which latter place he was discharged,
greatly to his surprise, and in opposition to his earnest
protest. From the age of sixteen he had been a pro-
lific writer for newspapers, and before the close of the
war he was employed editorially on various papers.
Twice he was one of the editors of the New Haven
Palladium, for extended periods; for about two years
he edited the New Britain Record, and for over five
years he was the owner and chief editor of the Meri-
den Daily Republican. For a number of years he
also owned and edited the State Temperance Journal.
All these papers were in Connecticut. While editing
the Daily Republican his health became so shattered
that his physician insisted upon a change. For a
number of years he had been a licensed preacher in
the Methodist Episcopal Church, supplying the pul-
pits of pastors who were ill or absent, and visiting the
various school districts in Meriden, evenings, to hold
religious meetings, and when he was compelled to
give up his Meriden paper a church in Hartland,
Conn., which is situated in a very mountainous and
healthy region, invited him to become their pastor.
Believing that he could recover his health there while
laboring in a cause to which he was warmly wedded,
his presiding elder sent him there, putting him in
charge of three churches. Five months after he went

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

there the greatest revival ever known in that section
broke out, and about forty professed conversion. The
labor of attending meetings every evening for a
month, and being out until about midnight every
night, brought his health back to the point where it
was when he first went there, and recuperation seemed
impossible. He remained more than a year afterwards
with his people, but finally had to bid them good-by,
Believing that a weekly paper would furnish sufficient
mental exercise to keep him in working order, he pur-
chased a paper in New Milford, named it The Housa-
tonic Ray, and has published it ever since. Though
so attached to newspaper labors, he has, much of the
time while engaged in them, been in the full practice
of his legal profession. In this State he has practiced
at Southington, at New Britain, in New Milford,
where he now is, and in other places. He has taken
a somewhat unusual stand in his practice, publishing
to the world that he will be connected with only those
cases in which he feels that the moral right is on his
client’s side, and no inducement is sufficient to make
him violate that rule.

Cou, JAcos B. HARDENBERGH was born in Wa-
warsing, Ulster Co., N. Y., Aug. 4. 1881, the son of
Col. L. Hardenbergh. At the age of thirteen he
entered the Kingston Academy, at Kingston, for a
four years’ business course, from which he graduated
in 1848. Immediately after his graduation he took
up the study of law, in the office of Judge J. O. Lin-
derman, with whom he remained four years, being
admitted to the bar in 1852. He practiced in King-
ston until the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861,
when the Twentieth New York militia, of which he
was a member, under Col. George W. Pratt, entered
the “three months’ service,” during which term he
was elected major. At the expiration of the engage-
ment the regiment returned home and immediately
proceeded to reorganize for the war, entering the
service again in October, 1861. Col. Pratt was killed
in the battle of Second Bull Run, when Lieut.-Col.
T. B. Gates took command, Maj. Hardenbergh suc-
ceeding the latter as lieutenant-colonel. He was
appointed colonel on the muster out of Col. Gates in
the fall of 1864, and by that title he is familiarly
known, although justly entitled to the preface of
“general,” having received the appointment of brevet
brigadier-general, “for gallant and meritorious ser-
vices,” in 1865. His regiment participated in some
of the fiercest and most decisive battles of the war,
Second Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred-
ericksburg, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Petersburg, and
earned a most honorable record. They were mustered
out Feb. 1, 1866, after having served nearly five years.

At the close of the war, Col. Hardenbergh returned
to Kingston, and resumed the practice of law until
the fall of 1867, when he came to North Canaan, and
purchased the law-office of Judge M. T. Granger, his
present location. He was appointed clerk of the
Probate Court—Frederick Watson, judge—the same
 
BENCH AND BAR.

year, and was subsequently elected by the Democrats
judge of probate, town clerk, treasurer, registrar, etc.,
which offices he still holds. He was married in April,
1869, to Miss Delia Watson, of North Canaan. In
1870 he was elected to represent the town in the
General Assembly, and in 1876-77 was senator from
the Seventeenth Senatorial District of Litchfield
County. He has several times been chosen as
delegate to attend Democratic conventions, and is
jdentified with almost every enterprise relating to
the welfare of his town. He purchased the Connecti-
cut Western News on Dec. 18, 1878, from which, in
connection with his law business, he derives a com-
fortable income.

As a lawyer, Col. Hardenbergh is widely known
for his natural ability, dignified courtesy, and thorough
knowledge of the science of law; and his biting sar-
casm, combining these three elements, makes him an
opponent to be respected. Of the confidence reposed
in him by his fellow-citizens, witness the various town
offices he has held consecutively: since his location
here. ‘

The fraternal disposition of Col. Hardenbergh can
be felt and appreciated only by those whose privilege
itis to enjoy his confidence and intimate acquaintance.
His unconscious dignity, almost severe, inspires at
once respect, and the impression that his stern ex-
perience on the field and the cynical character of
his profession have blunted the susceptibility in his
nature that is calculated to insure success in one’s
social and domestic relations. But a thorough ac-
quaintance with the man discovers the contrary to be
the fact. Few men have a faculty for retaining friends
and commanding their respect to a greater extent
than Col. Hardenbergh, and no man has a greater
respect for the rights and opinions of others than. he.
No adequate review of his life and characteristics can
be given in a brief sketch like this. In him are com-
bined the qualities found only in that rarity to which
can truly be applied the words—without the irony—
of Antony: “An honorable man.”

GEORGE WHEATON was born in East Haven, Conn.,
in 1790. He lost his father when very young, and
went to live with a Congregational clergyman, prob-
ably in Southbury, when about twelve years of age.
His mother died soon after. He availed himself with
eagerness of his advantages for education, soon be-
came a teacher, and steadily pursued his studies in
preparation for the profession of his choice—law ; and
in course of time came to Salisbury to become a stu-
dent in the office of Judge Church, who occupied a
high standing in legal circles. He was a close and

careful student, was admitted to practice in 1813, and |

settled in Cornwall Centre, then a thriving place. He
there married Lewey, daughter of Medad Alling, an
early settler of Canaan. Their children were Nancy
(Mrs. William Baldwin), Cynthia (Mrs. Elbert Shep-
ard), and George A. Mr. Wheaton soon became an
important factor in Cornwall, and was selected to hold

 

43

various positions of public trust, was many times the
representative of Cornwall in the General Assembly
of the State, and for twenty years the postmaster at
Cornwall Centre. For his second wife he married
Eliza, daughter of Andrew Cotter, of Cornwall.
Their only child, Lucetta, married Dr. P. C. Cum-
mings.

About 1840, Mr. Wheaton moved to West Cornwall,
then making rapid growth from the advantages given
by the opening of the Housatonic Railroad, and made
that place his home until his death, Nov. 5, 1865, at
the age of seventy-five years.

For over half a century Mr. Wheaton moved among
the citizens of Cornwall, active in political, educa-
tional, and religious matters, and none ever questioned
the purity of his motives, the honesty of his convic-
tions, or the soundness of his judgment. He was a
member of the Congregational Church for years. In
politics he was in early life a Whig, afterwards a Re-
publican.

As a lawyer he was not so much noted as an advo-
cate as for the thorough manner in which he prepared
his cases. They were carefully arranged, and every
little point on which dispute might arise was properly
fortified. His knowledge of law was extensive, and
it has been said of him that he never gave advice
that was not the very best that could have been given
under the circumstances as expressed to him. In pre-
paring a case he was absorbed in his work, paying no
attention to meals or sleep, and when made up and
presented to a court he was uniformly found to be
successful. Of one thing his clients were assured:
all the law favoring their side would be presented, and
in the clearest, briefest’ manner, and the court always
listened when they were presented. As a consequence,
he had many and good clients and acquired a hand-
some property.

As a citizen, Mr. Wheaton was conservative, and in
favor of all things tending to improve, elevate, and
dignify society, but he did not assume that all things
claiming to be of benefit were really so. If, on in-
vestigation, they proved to be desirable, he gave
them his persistent and unwavering support. By his
death Cornwall lost an able lawyer, a good citizen, and
an honest man, one lamented by all of the better class
of the community.

G. W. Shepard, son of Elbert Shepard, bears his
grandfather’s name, and inserts his portrait in this
work,

Fiorimonp D, FyLeR was born in Torrington,
Conn., Dec. 11, 1834. He commenced the study of
law in the office of Judge Gideon Hall, at Winsted,
where he continued as his health would allow until
the spring of 1864, when he attended Yale Law School
that term. He was admitted to the bar in 1864, and
returned to Yale Law School and studied one year,
and received the degree LL.B., July, 1865. In Sep-
tember, 1865, he located in Winsted as an attorney-at-
law. He was a member of the Legislature in the
44

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

May session of 1872. He was elected by the Legisla-
ture of 1877 judge of the District Court of Litchfield
County for four years from July 1, 1877.

AvGustus Hatt FENN was born in Plymouth,
Conn., Jan. 18, 1844. In March, 1862, he commenced
the study of the Jaw in the office of Ammi Giddings,
of Plymouth, and in the following August enlisted in
the Nineteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers,
subsequently the Second Artillery.

The following extract concerning his military
career is taken from Vaill’s history of the regiment:

“He proved himself one of the best drill-masters and disciplinarians in
the regiment, and one of the most competent officers in every position.
Before going to the front he was made captain of Company C. On the
22d of June he led his company into the skirmish at Petersburg as far
as it advanced, and was then and there detailed assistant adjutant-gen-
eral on Upton's staff, vice Capt. Sanborn, of the Fifth Maine, and, mount-
ing a horse which had been brought to him, commenced his duties at
once. When the regiment left the Sixth Corps at Tenallytown, in July,
he was relieved. In September he was appointed judge-advocate of the
division court-martial, which tried twenty-five cases. At Cedar Creek
he lost his leftarm. The surgeons at Annapolis proposed to muster him
out and discharge him for disability, but he protested, and wrote to Gen.
Mackenzie, urging his interference. The consequence was that he was
retained, and in less than seven weeks from the time he had an arm taken
off at the shoulder he reported for full duty at the front, and was at once
detailed as assistant adjutant-general of the brigade again, which detail
was afterwards changed to brigade inspector. He subsequently partici-
pated in several fights. He was detailed as judge-advocate five different
times, was brevetted major after Cedar Creek, promoted to major in Jan-
uary, 1865, brevetted lieutenant-colonel for Little Sailor’s Creek, and
colonel for services during the war.”

At the close of the war he returned, and in Septem-
ber, 1865, resumed his studies in the office of Kelloge
& Terry, in Waterbury, Conn. He remained there
until Feb. 15, 1867, when he was admitted to the bar
at Litchfield. After passing one year in the law
school of Harvard University, obtaining the degree
of LL.B., he commenced practice, Jan. 1, 1868, in
Waterbury. Removed to Plymouth, April 1, 1869,
remained there until March 14, 1876, but opened an
office in Winsted, July 1, 1875, where he has since
practiced and now resides.

Col. Fenn was city clerk of Waterbury in 1866-67 ;
judge of probate, town clerk, and register of births
and deaths in Plymouth, 1869 to 1876; and is now
judge of probate for the Winchester District. In
1875 he was the Republican candidate for Secretary
of State.

ALBERT P, BRADSTREET, son of Thomas J. and

Amanda T. Bradstreet, and grandson of Seth Thomas,
deceased, was born in Thomaston on the 9th day of
June, 1846. He attended school in his native village
and worked upon his father’s farm until the fall of
1867, when he entered Yale College, where he gradu-
ated in the year 1871. In October of the same year
he entered the law department of Columbia College
in New York City, and graduated with the degree of
LL.B. in the spring of 1878. After remaining in the
office of Webster & O’Neil, in the city of Waterbury,
a few months, he opened a law-office in Thomaston,
where he has since remained, in the enjoyment of a

 

lucrative practice. He was elected as representative
of Thomaston in the Legislature in the years 1877
and 1878, and in the year 1880 was elected senator
from the Sixteenth District for two years, being the
first Republican elected to that position in his district
since 1873. He was also appointed deputy judge of
the Waterbury City Court in 1879, a position which
he now holds. Mr. Bradstreet has held the office of
town clerk of Thomaston since the incorporation of
the town in 1875, and is at present a member of the
board of education. Mr. Bradstreet is held in high
esteem by the bar of Litchfield County, and his
legislative experience has brought his name quite
prominently before the people of the State.

Hon. Augustus PETTIBONE was born at Norfolk,
Conn., Feb. 19, 1766. He was a descendant of John
Pettibone, who came from Wales, and served under
Cromwell until the end of the wars, and emigrated to
America about 1650. He was admitted a citizen of
Windsor in 1658. John Pettibone shortly after this
removed from Windsor to Simsbury, and was the
ancestor of the Pettibone family now spread abroad
through most of the United States. Giles Pettibone,
a descendant of this John Pettibone, removed from
Simsbury to Litchfield County, and settled in that
portion of it which the next year (1758) was incorpo-
rated under the name of Norfolk. At the first town-
meeting, held in 1758, forty-four citizens attended,
three of whom were Pettibones,—Eli, Isaac, and Giles,
the father of Augustus Pettibone. Giles Pettibone
was the first representative from Norfolk in the
General Assembly, a position which he occupied for
twenty-six sessions; he was also judge of probate
from 1779 to 1807; justice of the peace for thirty
years ; and treasurer of the town for forty years. He
served in the war of the Revolution, as a commissioned
officer, at the battles of Saratoga and the capture of
Burgoyne, and in the campaigns on the Hudson,
carrying his title of colonel during his life. He was
twice married and had eleven children. The mother
of Augustus Pettibone was the daughter of Col.
Michael Humphrey, of Simsbury, and left four chil-
dren. Augustus Pettibone, at the age of fourteen,
accompanied his father to the field and served several
months. In 1784 he entered Yale College, where he
continued about two years, but did not graduate. In
1787 he began reading law with Dudley Humphrey,

Esq., of Norfolk, then in practice there, and continued

with him from September to the following April,
when he went to Litchfield, and attended Judge
Reeve’s lectures until March, 1790. He was admitted
to the bar in Litchfield in 1790, and settled in prac:
tice at Norfolk. He continued in active practice
until 1812, when from infirm health he relinquished
his practice; but in the same year he was appointed
associate judge of the County Court for Litchfield
County, and continued such until 1816, when he was
appointed chief judge of the County Court, and held
that office until May, 1881. At the age of sixty-five
 
4

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BENCH AND BAR.

years he resigned, declining to hold any public office.
Judge Pettibone represented the town of Norfolk
in thirty-two sessions of the General Assembly, and
in 1880 and 1881 he was senator from the Seventeenth
Senatorial District. In 1818, Judge Pettibone was
a member of the constitutional convention, and a
member of the committee which drafted the con-
stitution for consideration of the convention, and
voted for its adoption. He was a justice of the peace
for nearly forty years, and judge of probate from 1807
to 1822, succeeding his father in that office.

Judge Pettibone occupied an honorable position
in his profession, and was greatly esteemed by his
brethren of the bar for his ability and integrity. He
was forcible and logical in his address, but wholly
without effort at display, and with little personal
ambition. Thoroughly sincere and earnest himself,
he despised all attempts at deception or trifling, and
could not endure any resort to subterfuge, or any
hypocrisy.

The latter years of his long life were spent at his
home in Norfolk, in the care of a small farm, which
afforded him needed exercise and recreation, and in
the management of the estate he had accumulated in
his business. He died Oct. 4, 1847, leaving a wife,
but no children.

The following inscription, found upon the monu-
ment of his father, Col. Giles Pettibone, in the old
burying-ground at Norfolk, so fitly describes and
applies to the life of Judge Pettibone that it is in-
serted here:

“ Hig life was honorable to himself and useful to society. He was
distinguished by various marks of honor from his fellow-men, was prompt
in their service and enjoyed their confidence through a long life devoted
to public empluyments. To the needy and unprotected poor he was a
father and a friend. Tears of sorrow bedew his grave who felt for the
sufferings of others. Mortality, tho’ it presents a barrier to the works of

good men, does not obscure their virtues. The life of the just man shines
with lustre beyond the grave.”

Rufus Pettibone, a brother of Hon. Augustus Petti-
bone, graduated at Williams College in 1805, studied
law, and about 1818 emigrated to Missouri, then a
territory, and settled there as a lawyer. He was a
man of brilliant talents and education, and imme-
diately took high rank as a lawyer. He was a mem-
ber of the constitutional convention of Missouri, and
was chosen one of the circuit judges of the State.
Afterwards he was appointed chief justice of the
State by Governor McNair, the first Governor of the
State, and held the office until his death in 1825.

S. Pettibone, another brother of Augustus Petti-
bone, a man of excellent ability and education, also a
lawyer, was a graduate of Williams College, class of
1800. He died in Norfolk, Conn., in the prime of
life.

Levi Pettibone, another brother of Augustus Petti-
bone, was the companion of Henry R. Schoolcraft in
his exploring tour through Southwestern Missouri and
Arkansas in 1817, and afterwards settled in Missouri,
where he was many years in responsible positions, as

4

45

judge of probate and clerk of the Circuit Courts. He
is still (in 1881) living in the city of St. Louis, in his
one hundred and first year, in the enjoyment of fair
health and considerable vigor. Until his eyesight
failed, when he was ninety-seven years of age, he was
an excellent correspondent, and engaged to a con-
siderable extent in active business pursuits.

Hiram P, LAWRENCE was born at Norfolk, Conn.,
in 1833. Was a member of the class of 1855 in Yale
College, but did not graduate. Read law with Hon.
F. D. Fyler, of Winsted, in 1870, was admitted to the
bar in Litchfield County in 1878, and is settled in
practice at Winsted, Conn.

JAMES HUNTINGTON was born in South Coventry,
Conn., June 4, 1833. He studied his profession in
the office of Loren P. Waldo and Alvan P. Hyde, at
Tolland, Conn; subsequently graduated at the law
school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.; was admitted to the
bar of Fulton County in 1859, and in the same year
commenced practice in Woodbury, where he has since
resided. He is judge of probate for Woodbury Dis-
trict, and State’s attorney for Litchfield County.

ATTORNEYS’ FEES IN 1793.

The following interesting extracts are from the
records of a “ Barr” meeting held Dec. 18, 1793:

“ Ata meeting of the bar held Dec. 18, 1793, of which Adonijah Strong,
Esq., was chairman, it was voted, ‘ that Frederick Wolcott, Esq., of Litch-
field, be Clerk of this Barr, and have power to make Records of all Re-
solves of this Barr, to make and certify Copies thereof, and to perform
all other Duties incident to said Office.’

“ Resolved, That in future the Fees to be charged by each Member of
this Barr in all Causes in which he may be employed be established as
follows, vizt:

“Tn Common Pleas,

  
  
 
  

£o a da

“Retainer 0 12 0

Term Fees........ 0 1 0

On appointment of Auditors. 116 0

Arguing Remonstrance to Report o: 2 2 0

Attending Arbitrator each Day 1 Ww oO
“

Before a justice, nine Shillings at least, and
more in proportivu to the distance and importance uf
the case.

“The Members present and who subscribed to the above table of fees
are as follows: Tapping Reeve, Adonijah Strong, Daniel Everitt, David
N. Brinsmade, Teaac Baldwin, Jr., Ephraim Kirby, Benjamin Stiles, Jr.,
Nathan Preston, Judson Canfield, Samuel Bostwick, John C. (Smith,
Nicholas 8. Masters, John Allen, Uriel Holmes, Nathan Smith, John
Elmore, Joseph Canfield, Augustus Pettibone.

    
 
  
  

 

  
 
  
      
   

£ 8s d.

“ Arguing Plea of Abatement, there being no other defense
in the CaS@........-ccseeeeeeeeeeene i & ©
The same with further defense .. 0 BO
Arguing Demurrer or Petition for ne - 1 16 #0
a Bill in Chancery 2 2 0
Silent Appeal, including term fees. »- 1 4 0
Arguing Issue in fact..........-eeereeee -2 2 0
Ae Motion in Arrest of Judgmen 3 1 4 0
On appointment of AUGItOrS...... 46+ petreses 1 4 0
Arguing Remonstrance to report of Auditors... 1 4 0

In Superior Court,

£ ss d.
“Retainer - 0 18 +O
» Term Fee... ek 2
Arguing Plea of Abatement * 1 10 0
Demurrer...... 6 2 B
Issne in fact oe oO oO
Arguing Motion in Arrest of Judgment » 1 do oo
se Bill in Chancery....sasesseeseeeree 4 10 O

“Edmond Akins, Philo Ruggles, Daniel W. Lewis, William Cogswell,
Matthew B. Whittlesey, Frederick Wolcott, Elisha Sterling, James Thoni-

 
46

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

son, David Tallman, Eli Curtis, Aaron Smith, Roger Skinner, David Dag-
gett, Isaac Mills, M. Strong, Joel P. Pettett.”

THE COURTS IN 1820.

Under the old government the Superior Court con-
sisted of nine judges, and they were selected annually
by the Legislature. Under the constitution the num-
ber was reduced to five, and they held their office
during good behavior or until they reached the age
of seventy years. In like manner the judges of the
County Courts were reduced from five to three.
Formerly these judges held the Superior Courts, but
now they are holden by one judge.

THE SUPERIOR COURT.

There were sessions of the Superior Court in each
year, holden on the third Tuesdays of August and Feb-
ruary, and the terms rarely extended beyond two weeks.
If they reached to the third week, they were deemed to
beof extraordinary length. TheSuperior Court had no
original jurisdiction except as a court of equity. All
its actions at law came up by appeal from the County
Court, and generally important cases were carried up
without a trial in the court below. The party wishing
to appeal his case would demur either to the declara-
tion or plea, as the case might be, suffer a judgment
to be entered against him, and appeal from it, and
then change his plea in the Superior Court as the
exigencies of his case may require. The making of
copies in the case appealed was a very profitable item
in the business of the clerk. All cases at law wherein
the matter in demand exceeded seventy dollars were
appealable, and all matters in equity in which the
sum involved exceeded three hundred dollars were
brought originally to the Superior Court. In criminal
matters the jurisdiction of both courts was concurrent,
except in crimes of a higher grade, which were tried
exclusively in the Superior Court. A case was pretty
certain to reach a trial at the second term after it was
entered in the docket unless special reasons could be
shown for its further continuance.

THE COUNTY COURT.

The County Court had an important agency in the
administration of justice fifty years ago. Under the
old form of government it consisted of one judge and
four justices of the quorum; under the constitution,
of one chief judge and two associate judges.

There were three sessions of the. old County Court
in each year, in March, September, and December.
The September term was generally short, merely dis-
posing of the criminal business and such other pre-
liminary matters as could not be passed over. The
March term lasted three weeks, and the December
term from four to six weeks, as the business might de-
mand, The first half day was always taken up in
calling the docket. Mr. Wolcott had his files ar-
ranged alphabetically, corresponding with the entries
on the docket, and of these some member of the bar,
usually one of the younger, had charge. The sheriff

 

took his station in the centre of the bar, and as the
cases were named by the clerk the proper entries were
made both on the docket and on the file, and then the
file was passed to the sheriff, who delivered it to the
party entitled to it, and thus, at the close of the pro-
ceedings, all the files had passed into the hands of the
members of the bar, where they remained until the
case received final disposition. Three hundred cases
were considered as constituting a small docket, and
there were as many as nine hundred entered at a
single term.

In 1820 there were two grades of lawyers in the
State. The first admission only authorized the candi-
date to practice at the County Court, and a service of
two years was required at that bar before he was al-
lowed an examination for admission to the bar of the
Superior Court. The statutes of the State were sub-
sequently revised under the superintendence of Judge
Swift, and many and material alterations had been
made to conform the provisions of the law to the new
order of things under the constitution. The question
came before Judge Mainard, and he decided that
under the revised statutes an admission to the bar of
the County Court gave the candidate authority to
practice in all the courts in the State; and that de-
cision was assented to by all the judges.

The matter of examining candidates for admission
to the bar was, in those days, an imposing solemnity,
and the day for that proceeding was a marked day of
the term. All the members of the bar were expected
to be present, and few failed of attending.. The com-
mittee of examination occupied the judges’ seats,
the chairman, holding the place of the chief judge,
indicating to each separate member of the committee
the subject in which he was expected to examine the
candidate, and thus a thorough and searching exami-
nation was had. After the examination was closed
the candidates retired, and the members of the bar
gave their opinions seriatim on the question of the ad-
mission of the applicant. Sometimes candidates
were rejected. It had been the practice in early
times to have an entertainment at the close of the ex-
amination at the expense of the successful condidates,
but this had been dispensed with when I was ex-
amined. Stories were told of some eminent members
of the bar who, on such occasions, indulged in prac-
tices which were not credible to their reputation for
temperance and sobriety. Perhaps it was for this
reason that the practice was abolished.

PRACTICE,

Statutory provisions and the advance of legal sci-
ence, as well as a more just sense of what is due to
the best interest of litigation, have made great
changes in the course of proceedings before the courts
during the last fifty years. Then it was customary
for counsel to take advantage of any trivial omission
which could be found in the proceedings, and a case
never came to trial until every possible effort for
BENCH AND BAR.

abatement or delay had been exhausted. Our statute
in relation to amendments had not then received so
liberal a construction, nor was it in itself so liberal
in its provisions as it now is; and thus opportunity
was afforded for the display of much ingenuity in the
prosecution of. dilatory pleas.

Then there were no statutory provisions relating to
injunctions, all the power which the court had in
that matter being that with which it was invested by
the common law as a court of equity, and hence
very little will be found in our reports on this subject
until about 1826, after the statute authorizing the
judges to grant temporary injunctions had been
passed. This statute was introduced into the Legis-
lature by Judge Swift, who was a member for several
sessions after his retirement from the bench. Since
then many cases relating to this branch of jurispru-
dence have been before our courts.

Probably more than half the suits commenced in
our County Courts fifty years ago were brought to
enforce the collection of debts, and in some localities
this was a profitable business. The County Court
then had jurisdiction in all cases where the matter in
demand exceeded the sum of fifteen dollars, and this
brought into it a great number of suits now tried by
single justices, and accounts for the great diminution
in the number of cases now brought here,

Piles of learning were devoted to destruction by the
edict of the Legislature admitting parties and other
persons in interest to be heard as witnesses.
nicest and most refined legal questions were fre-
quently brought before the courts for decision in
matters relating to the interest of witnesses, but now
they are almost forgotten by the most learned of the
profession.

THE AUTHORITIES THEN IN USE.

The statutes then in force were the revision of 1808,
by far the most elaborate and complete of any ever
published. It- contains a complete history of the
legislation of Connecticut on all subjects of statutory
enactment from the first, and is still a useful book for
study by the profession, {he principal labor of its
preparation for publication was performed by Thomas
Day.

Comparatively few American authorities were cited |

in our courts then. Mr. Day had published four vol-
umes of Day’s Reports, and then had suspended
further publication for want of encouragement, The
Legislature, in 1815, had authorized the court to ap-
point a reporter, and had given him a salary. Under
such an appointment Mr. Day had commenced pub-
lishing the Connecticut Reports, and had published
three volumes of them when he published the fifth of
Day, thus filling the gap between the fourth of Day
and the first of Connecticut. The New York Re-
ports, by Caine and Johnson, down to the twelfth of
Johnson, and twelve volumes of the Massachusetts
Reports were out, and these, with our own reports,

The |

 

47

were about all the American authorities which were
cited in our courts. Not a single American ele-
mentary work had then been published except Swift’s
System and Swift’s Evidence. The English Reports
from Burrows down, including Douglas’, Cowper’s,
Term, and East’s Reports, down to the twelfth vol-
ume, with Blackstone’s Commentaries, which were
always on the table, were the staple authorities of the
times. Judge Reeve said that he considered Cowper’s
Reports the best that had then been published of the
decisions of the Court of King’s Bench.

The following is a list of the present members of
the Litchfield bar:

Litchfield. George C. Woodruff, George M. Wood-
ruff (railroad commissioner), Origen 8. Seymour (does
not appear in court as counsel), George A. Hickox,
Henry B. Graves, Henry H. Prescott, Dwight C. Kil-
bourn, Wm. L. Ransom (clerk of the Superior Court),
Charles B. Andrews, Frank W. Wessells, Edward W.
Seymour.

Winchester.—R. Hitchcock (judge of the Superior
Court), Augustus H. Fenn, Hiram P. Lawrence, Wel-
lington B. Smith, Samuel B. Horne, William H. Ely,
William F. Hurlbut, Florimond D. Fyler, Samuel A.
Herman. ;

New Hartford—Jared B. Foster, John B. Betts,
Nathan Morse.

Riverton.—Hiram Goodwin.

Wolcottville—Gideon H. Welch, George W. Cole.

Thomaston.—Albert P. Bradstreet, F. W. Etheridge.

Terryville—Henry Plumb.

Harwinton.—Abijah Catlin.

Woodbury.—_James Huntington, William Cothren,
George F. Shelton.

New Milford.—John S. Turrill, James H. McMahon,
T. Dwight Merwin.

Sharon.—J. Wade Hughes, Charles F. Sedgwick.

West Cornwall.—Arthur D, Warner, N. A. Nicker-
son.

Lakeville—Hubert Williams.

Salisbury——Donald J. Warner, Donald T. Warner.

Canaan.—M. T. Granger (judge of Court of Errors),
Jacob B. Hardenberg, A. T. Roraback.

Falls Village —Lee P. Dean, Dwight W. Clarke.

Washington.—William H. O’Hara,

The senior members of the bar of this county have,
many of them, made up their records; those still left
are soon to follow, and the juniors are to assume their
places at the bar and on the bench ; to them will soon
be committed these great responsible trusts. The per-
petuity of our free institutions is committed to the
guardianship and keeping of the bar and judiciary of
our free country, for the history of the world teaches,
and all free government illustrates, this truth,—treat
the subject lightly as you will,—that to the profession
of the law civil government is indebted for all the safe-
guards and intrenchments with which the liberties of
the people are protected; that legislation is shaped,
constitutions enlarged, amended, and adopted by the
48

enlightened administration of the statesmen, both of
England and the United States, who have been in
both, and are in all free governments, educated for the
bar, and, ascending by the inherent force of their dis-
ciplined, professional life, they become the directors of
the destinies of states and nations.

Military chieftains may spring into power, tyrants
may dazzle with the glamour of military parade and
the pomp of war an oppressed and frenzied people,
but they turn as the cannonade dies away to the states-
manship of the country, and call to the parliaments
and congressional halls for final debate the arbitra-
ments of the liberties of the people.

From the days of King John to the present hour
the bench and bar have furnished the statesmen who
have erected the bulwarks of constitutional law, and
extorted from tyrants the Magna Chartas which have
secured to the oppressed the guarantees of free insti-
tutions.

Imbued with the historical traditions of their pre-
decessors, and tracing the paths they have trod, emu-
lating their good example, it should become more and
more the resolute purpose of the Litchfield County
bar to so walk in the light of their professional teach-
ings that when they are called to follow them to that
upper court, and file their judgment-roll of the great
trial of life with that Supreme Judge from whose bar
they can take no appeal,—

“Thou go not like the quarry-slave at night
Scourged to his dungeon, but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave

Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him and lies down to pleasant dreams,”

CHAPTER III,
MEDICAL HISTORY.

Organization of Medical Association in 1767—Early Physicians—Names
of Members of Medical Society from 1808, with Dates of Admission—
List ef Presidents and Secretaries from 1808 to 1881—Present Members
—Present Officers. ‘

As early as January, 1767, a medical association
was formed in this county, composed of the most emi-
nent physicians then in practice here. Its object was to
establish rules of practice and intercourse, promote
medical science by providing for annual consultations
and dissertations, and to protect the reputation of the
profession and the health of the community from the
inroads of ignorant pretenders to medical science.
Among the gentlemen composing this body were
Joshua Porter, Lemuel Wheeler, Joseph Perry, Seth
Bird, William Abernethy, Samuel Catlin, Simeon
Smith, Cyrus Marsh, Ephraim Gitteau, John Calhoun 5
etc. One of the earliest physicians of the county was
Oliver Wolcott. He was the son of Hon. Roger Wol-
cott, of Windsor, a former Governor of the colony.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

He had served as an officer in the French war, and
settled himself in Goshen before the organization of
the county in the practice of his profession. Whether
he continued in practice as a physician after his ye-
moval to this town is not known ; probably, however,
his official duties as sheriff prevented it. He was sub-
sequently honored with almost every official place
which a good man would covet: he was a member of
the House of Representatives, of the Council, a judge of
probate, a judge of the County Court, a representative
in Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independ-
ence, lieutenant-governor and Governor of his native
State, and, more than all, the father of an excellent
family. He is said to have been a man of uncommon
diffidence and distrustful of his own ability. His
public communications display sound judgment, and
his more confidential correspondence a warm affec-
tion and a pure purpose.

Dr. Seru Biro, of Litchfield, probably held the
first place among the early physicians of the county,
His reputation was widespread. For acuteness of
discrimination and soundness of judgment he was not
excelled.

Dr. JosEPH Perry, of Woodbury, was not only
eminent in his profession, but, what was unusual in
his day, he excelled as a belles-lettre scholar and
was a gentleman well read in various branches of
science.

Later generations produced eminent and accom-
plished physicians: Dr. NATHANIEL PERRY, son of
the gentleman just named; Dr. DANIEL SHELDON,
of Litchfield; Dr. FowLEr, of Washington; Rocxk-
WELL, of Sharon ; Wrtcu, of Norfolk; Trckwor, of
Salisbury.

Dr. SAMUEL WoopwaRD, of Torrington, was not
only a physician of high repute himself, but he was
almost literally a father of the faculty.

Among the surgeons of note, in earlier times, were
Dr. SAMUEL CATLIN, of Litchfield, and at a later
period Dr. SAMUEL R. GAGER, of Sharon.

The medical profession in this county has pro-
duced some writers of respectability. Dr. ELISHA
Nortu was for several years a physician of extensive
practice in Goshen, and he afterwards removed to
New London. He published an approved treatise on
spotted fever, which extensively prevailed in Goshen
and its vicinity while he resided there.

Dr. CALEB Ticxwor, of Salisbury, was brother
of the late excellent Dr. Luther Ticknor, of that town,
and of Dr. Benajah Ticknor, for many years a surgeon
in the navy of the United States, and, although a
young man when he removed to New York City,
about the year 1832, he rose rapidly to a high place
in his profession. He published several medical
works, the most popular of which was the “ Philoso-
phy of Living.’’*

 

*The above reference to the physicians of the early days is taket
from the address delivered by the late Judge Samuel Church at the
Litchfield centennial, in August, 1851,
MEDICAL HISTORY.

49

 

THE MEDICAL SOCIETY.*

The records of the old society are doubtless lost.
The following is a list of members of the Litchfield
County Medical Society in 1808: Samuel Woodward,
President; Samuel Buel, Clerk; Anson Tuttle, John
Raymond, Aaron Coleman, P. B. Fowler, Ebenezer
Smith, William H. Taylor, Roswell Abernethy, Jesse
Carrington, John Calhoun, Samuel Rockwell, J. R.~
Eastman, Elijah Lyman, Samuel Orton, Timothy
Clark, Gideon Woodruff, Asahel Humphrey, Joshua
Cornwall.

Since then the following admissions have been
made:

1808.—Anson Wright, John C. Warner, David Warner, Launcelot Phelps.

1809.—Samuel B, Woodward, Henry Tuttle,

1810.—Jehial Williams, Edmond Allen.

1811.—Elisha North.

1812.—Frederick Graves, John Warner.

1813.—James R. Dodge, Conant Catlin, Asahel Hale, E. L. Hart, Ira N.
Bronson.

1814.—Jobhn M. West, Elmore Everitt, Curtis Hurd.

1815.—Norman Smith.

1816.—William Buel, Erastus Bancroft, William Marsh.

1817.—Benjamin Platt.

1818.—Samuel Enstie.

1819.—Henry Fish, Luther Tichnor, Gaylord Wells, Samuel Andrews,
George O. Jarvis, Orvid Plumb. a

1820.—Roswell Abernethy, John M. West.

1821.—Horatio Gridley, Chauncey B. Foot, Samuel W. Gold, Johnson C.
Hatch.

1822,—Benjamin Welch, Elias W. Williams, Thomas Brinsmade.

1823.—Sherman Woodward, Clark Chapman, Samuel Chittenden.

1824.—Jehial Abbott, Uriah Turner.

1825.—Benjamin F. Cleaveland, Samuel R. Childs,

1826.—Eli Reed, Ives Cowles, William Woodruff.

The following is the first complete list of members,
made in 1827:

Alanson Abbe, William Buel, Samuel Buel, John M. West, Samuel R.
Childs, Manly Peters, John W. Russell, Norman Landon, Samuel
W. Gould, Solyman Russell, William Marsh, Luther Ticknor, Henry
Fish, Adonijah Strong, Benjamin Welch, Joshua S. Cornwall, Amasa
Kellogg, Benjamin Welch, Jr., John Calhoun, Uriah Turner, John
Sears, George Taylor, Jebial Williams, Clark Chapman, Ralph Den-
ning, Reuben Warner, Lyman Catlin, Royal Cook, Ives Cowles,
William Woodruff, Gaylord Wells, Joel G. Caudee, Roswell Aber-
nethy, Frederick B. Woodward, Conant Catlin, Elias Williams, Nor-
man Buel, Johnson C. Hatch, Remus M. Fowler, William C. Wil-
Hiams, George O. Jones, Erastus Bancroft, H. Scovill, William 0.
Talcott, Andrew De Wolf, Wells Beardsley, Howell B. Graham, Miles
Belden, Garry H. Miner, Jarvis Case, Amos Beecher, William Erwin,
Andrew Abernethy, Paul W. Cluseborough, Eli Reed, William Car-
rington, Warren R. Fowler.

The following have been admitted since that date:

1828.—Stephen Reed, Jethro Hatch, Bushrod Camp.

1829.—Norman Lyman, —— Hollister, John De Forest, Josiah Barnes,
Amos Butler, Jefferson Stone, C. S. Ticknor, A. 8. Lewis.

1830.—Moses A. Lee, Albert Wright, William P. Buel, J. G, Beckwith,
Burritt North, Myron Downs.

1831,—George L. Hurd, Theodore C. Hurd, George M. Fowler, Charles
Vaill, Edwin C. Ely, L. S. Adams.

1832.—Charles H. Webb, Stanley Griswold, G. H. St. John, Samuel Mc-
Alpen, Ambrose Ives.

1833.—Walter Peck, Asahel Humphrey, —— Kibbe, Horace Judson, A.
M. Huxley, Ozias Lewis, Albert C. Knight.

1834.—Aaron Wildman, J. R. Eastman, E. D, Hudson, —— Karson.

1835.—Horace K. Beach, Wells Beardsley, Philando Stewart,

1836.—James Barry, Joseph McComb, Elmore Everett, Russell Everett.

a

 

 

* Contributed by J. J. Newcomb, M.D., of Litchfield.

1837.—Samuel T. Salisbury.
1838.—John §. Wolcott, R. Tiffany, Loomis North, Horace Buttolph,
Reuben M. Woodruff, W. J. Barry, William B. Lacy, J. A.

Gillette.
1839.—George Adams, C. H. Reed, —— Moody, Sylvanus Stewart.
1840.— William W. Welch, Eliada Osborn, —— Perry, —— Platt, ——
Freeman,

1841.—Henry Baldwin, William B. De Forest.

1842,—George Seymour, L. 8. Turner, Myron K. Hubbard, Sidney P.
Lyman, Charles Byington.

1843.—Baldwin Seeley, Thomas Seeley, William Cockie, Edward P. Ly-
man, Joseph North.

1844.—John Stootcote, George Lyman, John Yale.

1847.—W. E. Bulkley, David E. Bostwick, Seth Porter.

1848.—John L. Wakefield, Graham Lee, J, Edward Smith.

1849.—G. 8. Bissell, P. Beardsley.

1850.—William Werden, Ithaneer H. Smith, H. G. Westlake.

1851.—Orlando Brown, Erastmus Hugins, Asahel Catlin, Jr., J. W. Phelps,
J. B. Whiting, Seti Pease, John H. Welch, Samuel Catlin.

1852.—Charles B. Maltby, George B. Parsons.

1854.—Henry M. Knight, William J. Burge, Gaylord B. Miller, J. H. T.
Cockey, J. W. Bidwell.

1855.—Albin E. Barber, Henry W. Buel.

1856.—John B, Derrickson,

1857.— William W. Knight, William Deming.

1858.— William Bissell.

1859.—Harmon W. Shove.

1860.—Edward Sanford.

1863.—Henry Davis.

1867.—Francis J. Young.

1868.—J. K. Bacon.

1869.—G. W. Bell, J. H. Blodgett.

1870.—J, Morgan, H. E. Gates, William Porter, R. S. Goodwin, T. S.
Hanchett, W. S. Munger, C. W. Bull, W. J. Beach.

1871.—Franklin Booth, R. E. Ensign.

1872.—E. B. Heady, L. T. Platt, C. F. Couch.

1873.—T. G. Wright, J. H. North, L. H. Wood.

1874.—F. P. Esterley, C. W. Camp.

1875.—Virgil Buel, J. J. Newcomb.

1876.—J. H. Stevens, A. M. Kessler.

1877._A. G. Heaney, W. L. Barbour, B. 8. Thompson, Samuel H. Hunt-
ington, F, W. Brown.

1878.—J. H. Trent, W. P. Swett.

1879.—George K. Roberts, Jerry Burwell, C. L. Blake, Isaac R. Sanford.

1880.—Frederick E. Barrows.

LIST OF OFFICERS.

The following is a list of presidents and secretaries

from 1808 to 1880:

PRESIDENTS.

1808, Samuel Woodward; 1809-10, Jesse Carrington ; 1811-13, Nathaniel
Perry ; 1814, Jesse Carrington ; 1815-16, Nathaniel Perry; 1817, Jesse
Carrington; 1818, William Buel; 1819, Nathaniel Perry; 1820-22,
Samuel Rockwell ; 1823, William Buel; 1824, Samuel Rockwell;
1825, Warren S. Fowler ; 1826, Roswell Abernethy ; 1827-29, William
Buel; 1830, Roswell Abernethy; 1831, Reuben S, Woodward; 1832,
William Buel; 1833-34, Norman Lyman; 1835, Johnson C. Hatch;
1836, Remus M. Fowler; 1837, Samuel Buel; 1838, Gaylord Wells;
1839, Benjamin Welch ; 1840, Samuel W. Gold; 1841, G. H. St. John;
1842, Manley Peters; 1843, Charles Vaill; 1844, Reuben Woodruff;
1845, William J. Barry ; 1846, Harvey Baldwin; 1847, A. M. Huxley;
1848, Johnson C. Hatch ; 1849, Burrit B. North; 1850, Ralph Deming;
1851, James Welch ; 1852, Myron Downs; 1853, S. T. Salisbury ; 1854,
Sidney H. Lyman; 1855, William H. Welch; 1856, William Wood-
ruff; 1857, George Seymour; 1858, Henry M. Knight; 1859, James
Welch; 1860, Henry W. Buel; 1861, J. H. Welch; 1862, D. E. Bost-
wick; 1863, C. H. Webb; 1864, J. W. Phelps; 1865, H. M. Knight;
1866, J. W. Phelps; 1867, Henry M. Knight; 1868, J. W. Phelps;
1869, F, S. Young; 1870-71, Henry W. Buel; 1872, J. W. Bidwell;
1873-74, Orlando Brown; 1875-76, Burritt B. North; 1877, William
Deming; 1878-79, R. S. Goodwin; 1880, W. 8. Munger.

SECRETARIES.

1808-11, Samuel Buel; 1812-15, Elijah Lyman; 1816-18, Conant Catlin;
1819, Erastus L. Heart; 1820-22, Roswell Abernethy ; 1823-25, Ho-
ratio Gridley ; 1826-28, Samuel Childs; 1829-30, Samuel Gold; 1831,
50

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Moses A. Lee; 1832-47, J. G. Beckwith; 1848-49, A. M. Huxley;
1850-54, George Lyman; 1855-57, Henry W. Buel; 1858-59, David
E. Bostwick ; 1860-62, G. B. Miller; 1863-66, Henry Davis; 1867-68,
J. G. Beckwith; 1869, G. W. Bell; 1870-71, Howard E. Gates; 1872,
William Porter; 1873-74, Willis J. Beach ; 1875-77, T. G. Wright;
1878-80, J. J. Newcomb.

The following record appears among the proceed-
ings of the society under date of April 21, 1828:

“A communication from the American Temperance Society was laid
before the society, and the following resolution was passed:

“¢ Resolved, That this society highly appreciate the exertions of the
Temperance Society for the suppression of the deplorable evils under
which our country is suffering from the abuse of ardent spirits, and that
we will use our best endeavors to further the views of that highly-re-
spectable association; and we hereby pledge ourselves that we will at
this and at all future nieetings of our society abstain from and discourage
the use of that highly deleterious article.’”

The present officers and members are as follows:
President, Walter S. Munger, Watertown; Vice-Presi-
dent, Willis J. Beach, Litchfield; Secretary, J. J.
Newcomb, Litchfield; Committee on Membership
and Ethics, Henry W. Buel, J. W. Bidwell, Luther
H. Wood; Fellows to the State Society, R. 8S. Good-
win, G. H. Miner, J. B. Derrickson, Orlando Brown,
W. J. Beach.

Reporter, L. H. Wood.

Members, Henry W. Buel, W. J. Beach, J. W. Bid-
well, O. Brown, William Bissell, T. W. Brown, J.
Burwell, C. L. Blake, T. E. Barrows, C. W. Camp, C.
F. Couch, William Deming, J. B. Derrickson, Myron
Downs, H. E. Gates, R. 8. Goodwin, F. P. Esterley,
T. 8S. Hanchett, A. G. Heavey, W. W. Knight, E. P.
Lyman, G. H. Miner, W. 8. Munger, J. J. Newcomb,
J. H. North, Edward Sanford, J. H. Stevens, H.
W. Shove, W. P. Swett, I. R. Sanford, B. 8. Thomp-
son, James Welch, William Woodruff, L. H. Wood.

CHAPTER IV.
MILITARY HISTORY.

The Second Regiment—The Fifth Regiment—The Eighth Regiment—
The Ninth Regiment—The Tenth Regiment—The Eleventh Regiment
—The Twelfth Regiment—The Thirteenth Regiment.

TuHE lightning had scarcely flashed the intelligence
to the expectant North that Maj. Anderson and his
gallant band had surrendered as prisoners of war to
the Southern confederacy ere the patriotic sons of
old Litchfield were rallying to the support of their
imperiled country. Men and money were promptly
raised, and the record of the county during the whole
struggle is one in which her citizens may justly feel a
patriotic pride.

SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY.

The Second Regiment of Infantry was enlisted for
three months and recruited from the volunteer militia,
It was mustered into the service May 7, 1861, under
the command of Alfred H. Terry, of New Haven, an
efficient and accomplished officer. The regiment left

 

for Washington, May 7, 1861, numbering seven hun-
dred and eighty. There were.two companies from
Litchfield County in this regiment,—infantry com-
pany B, Abram G. Kellogg, of New Hartford, captain,
Charles W. Morse first lieutenant, and Charles War-
ren second lieutenant, and rifle company E, with
Sherman T. Cooke as captain, Wheelock T. Batchel-
lor first lieutenant, and Charles E. Palmer second
lieutenant. The former company was recruited prin-
cipally from Winchester and New Hartford, and
the latter, except eight men, entirely from Win-
chester. The regiment was present at the battle of
Bull Run, where both officers and men acquitted
themselves with honor. It was mustered out of the
service Aug. 7, 1861.

THE FIFTH REGIMENT

was organized in the summer of 1861, and entered the
service with Orris 8. Ferry, of Norwalk, as colonel,
He was subsequently United States senator. There
was one company principally from this county in the
regiment,—Company I,—with G. A. Stedman, of Hart-
ford, captain. The first and second lieutenants, W.
8. Cogswell and W. H. Webster, were also from
Hartford. The regiment participated in the follow-
ing engagements: Winchester and Cedar Mountain,
Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Resaca, Dallas, Mari-
etta, Peach-Tree Creek, Atlanta, Chesterfield Court-
house, and Silver Run.

THE EIGHTH REGIMENT,

This regiment was mustered into the service in
September and October, 1861, under the command of
Edward Harland, of Norwich. Litchfield County
was represented by two companies,—C and J. Com-
pany C was officered as follows: Captain, Charles W.
Nash; first lieutenant, Samuel Glasson ; second lieu-
tenant, Robert H. Burnside; sergeant, Henry R.
Jones. Company I had for its officers F. W. Jackson,
of Danbury, captain; William J. Roberts, of New
Milford, first lieutenant; and F. E. Nearing, of
Brookfield, second lieutenant. The regiment left
Connecticut Oct. 17, 1861, one thousand and twenty-
seven strong, and at Annapolis, Md., was joined to
Burnside’s corps. “Its earliest services were in the
battle of Newbern, N. C., March 14, 1862, and the
siege of Fort Macon the following month. It accom-
panied Gen. Burnside when he was ordered to join
the Army of the Potomac, and subsequently went
with the corps into Maryland. At Antietam, in Sep-
tember, 1862, the regiment lost: Killed, one officer
—Lieut. Mason Wait, of Norwich—and 33 men;
wounded, 10 officers and 129 men; missing, 21 men;
total, 194.

“In December the Eighth was engaged at Fred-
ericksburg, but suffered slightly, and in February,
1863, was sent to Southeastern Virginia. In April the
regiment was in the fight at Fort Hagar, Va., and
remained in Virginia until January, 1864. It then
 
MILITARY

HISTORY. 51

 

returned to Connecticut on veteran furlough, three
hundred and ten men having re-enlisted as veterans.
In March it returned to its old camp near Portsmouth,
Vaz., and, after outpost- and picket-duty at Deep Creek
and vicinity, was in the battle at Walthall Junction,
May 9th, and lost eighty men. Col. Harland having
been promoted to be a brigadier-general, the regiment
was at this time in command of Col. John E. Ward,
who was severely wounded by a shell at the battle
named. A week later the regiment participated in
the engagement at Fort Darling, and on the night of
the 16th returned within the fortification, the men
worn out with eight days’ constant warfare. In this
short time the Eighth lost one-third of its fighting
strength. Early in June it was engaged with the
enemy at Cold Harbor, and from June 16th to Aug-
ust 27th in skirmishes and siege-work around Peters-
burg, losing heavily. The following four weeks were
spent on the James River, picketing the Bermuda
Hundred post, and September 27th the regiment lost
seventy-three men in the storming of Battery Harri-
son. This was the last general engagement of the
regiment, which was mustered out Dec. 12, 1865.”
The regiment saw severe service, and participated
in the following engagements: Newbern, Fort Macon,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, Fort Hagar, Walthall
Junction, Fort Darling, Cold Harbor, Petersburg,
Fort Harrison. There were killed, 72; died of
wounds, 40; died of disease, 182; missing, 11.

THE NINTH REGIMENT

was mustered into the service in the fall of 1861 as
the “Irish Regiment,” under the command of Thos.
W. Cahill, of Hartford, with Richard Fitzgibbons, of
Bridgeport, lieutenant-colonel. It had a few men
from this county.

Its principal engagements were Baton Rouge,
Chackaloo Station, Deep Bottom, and Cedar Creek.
Mustered out Aug. 3, 1865.

THE TENTH REGIMENT

was recruited in the fall of 1861, and mustered into
the service during September and October of that
year, with Charles L. Russell, of Derby, as colonel,
and A. W. Drake, of Hartford, as lieutenant-colonel.

There was one company from this county,—Com-
pany D,—commanded as follows: Captain, Lewis
Judd, of Roxbury ; first lieutenant, Charles H. Hurl-
burt, of Roxbury; second lieutenant, Sanford B.
Palmer, of Sharon.

The regiment left for the seat of war in October,
and was assigned to Gen. Burnside’s command. The
Tenth received its baptism of fire at the battle of
Roanoke Island, where it fought nobly, and its gal-
lant colonel, Russell, was killed while leading the
charge.

“A month later the regiment lost twenty-three
killed and wounded in the battle of Newbern, and
then had rest from close warfare until the 14th of

 

December. It then participated in the sanguinary
battle of Kingston, N. C., and lost one hundred and
six officers and men, and only two days later was in
another fight at Whitehall. March 28, 1868, after a
winter’s rest, the Tenth was in the battle of Seabrook
Island, 8. C., and spent the spring, summer, and fall
before Charleston. December found the regiment in
Florida, where twenty-two men were lost in a fight at
St. Augustine.

“Tn the spring of 1864 the regiment went to Vir-
ginia, and suffered the loss of all the garrison and
camp equipage and regimental and company records
by the sinking at Norfolk of the transport on which
they were stored. Its first fight in the Virginia cam-
paign was at Whitehall Junction, May 7th, and from
this time the history of the organization shows battle
after battle clear through to the surrender of Appo-
mattox, the Tenth being ‘in at the death.’ ”’—Battle-
Flag Day.

A total of 2124 was credited to the organization
during its existence, embracing the original 996; re-
cruits, 848; re-enlisted veterans, 280. Casualties:
Killed in action, 57; died of wounds, 59; died of dis-
ease, 152.

The regiment sustained a very heavy loss of officers
and otherwise. It had four colonels during its first
eighteen months of service.

The Tenth participated in the following engage-
ments: Roanoke Island, sieges of Charleston and St.
Augustine, Walthall Junction, Drury’s Bluff, Ber-
muda Hundred, Strawberry Plains, Deep Bottom,
Deep Run, siege of Petersburg, Laurel Hill Church,
New Market Road, Darbytown Road, Johnson’s Plan-
tation, Hatcher’s Run, Fort Gregg, and Appomattox
Court-house.

THE ELEVENTH REGIMENT.

This regiment had one company from Litchfield
County,—I,—officered as follows: captain, John D.
Griswold, of Old Lyme; first lieutenant, P. C. Cum-
mings, North Canaan; second lieutenant, William
H. Sackett, of Hartford. The regiment was raised in
1861, and December 16th left Hartford for the front,
under command of Thomas H. C. Kingsbury, of
Franklin. It participated in the following engage-
ments: Newbern, South Mountain, Antietam, Fred-
ericksburg, Suffolk, near Suffolk, Swift’s Creek,
Drury’s Bluff, Cold Harbor, before Petersburg. Total
loss of men, 85.

THE TWELFTH REGIMENT.

The Twelfth Regiment was mustered into the ser-
vice in the winter of 1861-62. It had but’ few men
from this county. Dr. John B. Welch was assistant

surgeon.
JOHN BENJAMIN WELCH.

John Benjamin Welch was born at Winsted, Conn.,
Sept. 14, 1888. He commenced regularly the study
of medicine with his father at the age of seventeen.
52

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

During the term of his professional study, his time,
when not in attendance upon lectures, was divided.
A portion of it was spent in the office of his father,
and portions of it in the offices of his uncles, Dr.
Benjamin Welch, of Salisbury, and Dr. William W.
Welch, and Dr. John H. Welch, of Norfolk. He at-
tended his first course of medical lectures in Washing-
ton, D. C., his second and third at the medical college
in New Haven, where he received the degree of M.D.,
January, 1860. Much the larger part of the two
years after his graduation he spent with his father,
more or less engaged in the practice of his profession,
the last year especially, doing quite as much business
as was best for so young a man.

He was ardently devoted to his profession, nobly
ambitious to excel in it, and eager to avail himself of
every opportunity within his reach to fully qualify
himself for its responsible duties.

On the breaking out of the late Rebellion there
arose a demand for surgeons for the army. He pre-
sented himself to the Military Board of Medical Ex-
aminers for the State of Connecticut, and underwent
an examination. He applied for the post of assistant
surgeon, for which he was recommended by the board
of examiners and by others. He obtained the posi-
tion, and received his commission, which was dated
Dec. 11, 1861, as assistant surgeon of the Twelfth
Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, then stationed at
Hartford.

He immediately went to Hartford, signified his ac-
ceptance of the appointment, and soon entered upon
its duties. The regiment remained in Hartford till
Feb. 24, 1862, when it left to join the division of
Gen. Butler, at Ship Island.

During the voyage he was quite sea-sick in rough
weather. On pleasant days he often mounted the
wheel-house, and appeared to enjoy very much ocean
scenery. On the 6th of March he began to complain
of headache and debility. These symptoms, however,
excited no serious alarm, as they were attributed to
the effects of the sea-sickness ; and it was confidently
anticipated that they would disappear on his reaching
jJand.

The steamer came to anchor off Ship Island at sun-
rise, March 7th, when Dr. Brownell hastened to the
state-room of Dr. Welch to give him the information
and to offer him his congratulations. He requested Dr.
Brownell to look at his throat, remarking that it felt
sore. Two or three small ulcers were visible, and the
next day the rash made its appearance,—decisive
symptoms of scarlatina.

The accommodations being much better on ship-
board than ashore, Dr. Brownell decided that it would
be better for Dr. Welch not to attempt to land in
the condition in which he then was. Dr. Brownell
came off shore to see him daily, and Dr. Fernandez,
the surgeon of the ship, was constantly at hand.

Dr. George W. Avery, in his letter, says,—

“When the steamer ‘Fulton’ dropped anchor in

 

our harbor, I hastened to the wharf to greet your
son, my old college friend and professional brother,
I was disappointed as to seeing him, and was told by
Dr. Brownell that he was slightly ill, and that it would
not be advisable to attempt to bring him ashore. Im-
mediately I obtained permission of Gen. Phelps to
visit him. He was much rejoiced to see me, and I
spent nearly all of Sunday afternoon with him. I
found a bad pulse; it was soft and small. On Tues-
day following, the 11th, I visited him again, and found
him, as before, very glad to see me. It had now been
decided to send him home, a furlough to that effect
having been granted by Col. Deming. I found him
so weak that it was with great difficulty that he could
speak. He complained very much of his throat.”

The late Dr. Eldridge, who preached his funeral
sermon, in speaking of his prominent traits, said,—

“His intellect was clear, strong, and remarkably
well balanced. Endowed with strong common sense
and a sound practical judgment, he was peculiarly re-
liable, and always proved himself adequate to an
emergency. Though modest and unobtrusive, he
shrunk not from responsibility, and on several import-
ant occasions met and sustained it with a composure,
self-possession, independence, and ability that even
surprised his most intimate friends. They hardly
looked for so much vigor and force in one whose
kindness of heart had been deemed his most promi-
nent characteristic. He evidently possessed traits that
gave promise of the highest distinction as a physician
andasaman. His disposition was exceedingly ami-
able and affectionate. He was greatly beloved. He
soon won a place in the hearts of those who were
brought into association with him.

“Dr. Brownell says,—

““ His affectionate disposition had endeared him
very much to myself. My heart grows heavy as I
think of the many dull hours I shall pass in my tent
alone, when I had expected to have his pleasant face
before me; for I had decided that he and I should
have quarters together.’

“Dr. Avery observes in his letter,—

“*When your son was a student in New Haven I
formed a very strong attachment to him, and have al-
ways considered him as a man of great purity of char-
acter. I had anticipated much pleasure in having him
here.’”

Dr. Welch had gained the confidence and the love
of the soldiers of his regiment, who deeply deplored
his death. His piety was humble, sincere, and un-
questionable. He had quarters with the chaplain at
Hartford and on ship-board. Rev. Mr. Bradford, the
chaplain, mentions a circumstance that was very sig-
nificant. He says, ‘‘I have seen Dr. Welch in his
private devotions, both in Hartford and on the
steamer.” Hence, it is evident that he did not in-
tend to be deprived of his communion with his God,
though he could not command that degree of retire-
ment that he would have desired. He was sincere;
 
MILITARY

HISTORY. 53

 

he had a true, manly independence. How clear it is
that he was getting ready for that event which, though
then unlooked for, was so near at hand!

Such was the young man whom God in his Provi-
dence removed from the earth. He summoned into
eternity a native of this place, known, esteemed, and
beloved by all; he took from the family a beloved
and devoted son and brother; he called away from
the medical profession a well-educated and promising
young physician; he struck from the roll of the
United States army a genuine patriot; he took to
Himself, from the bosom of the Church here, a sincere,
humble, devoted member.

“Tt were easy,” says Dr. Eldridge, “to imagine
reasons, many and weighty, why the life of such a
young man should be prolonged: his promise of use-
fulness in his profession and as a man; the comfort
and the stay he would have been to his parents; the
honor he would have done religion. Oh, how many
such things crowd on the mind!”

The reasons why God took, though satisfactory to
God, are hidden from man. Still it is the Lord that
hath done; be content to leave the mystery unex-
plained now. You shall know hereafter.

Then the affliction is very severe; the sensibilities
wounded are very tender; the hopes blighted were
very bright; the object taken away was very dear.
Yet complain not; murmur not. It is the Lord, your
Father, and the Father of him who is gone.

“ For God has marked each sorrowing day,
And numbered every secret tear,

And heaven's long years of bliss shall pay
For all his children suffer here.”

THE THIRTEENTH REGIMENT

was organized in November, 1861, and mustered into
the service with Henry W. Birge as colonel, and
Alexander Warner as lieutenant-colonel.

Only one company was recruited entirely from this
county,—C,—officered as follows: Captain, Charles
D. Blinn, of Cornwall; first lieutenant, Isaac F. Nat-
tleton, of Kent; second lieutenant, Charles E. Tib-
betts, of New Milford. Company I was raised prin-
cipally from this county, its captain being H. L.
Schleiter, of New London. Its first lieutenant, Frank
Wells, was from Litchfield. The second lieutenant,
Joseph Strickland, was also from New London.

The regiment enjoys the distinction of having been
in the service longer than any other Connecticut or-
ganization. In January, 1864, the Thirteenth, almost
to a man, re-enlisted. In the following December it
was consolidated into five companies, called “The
Veteran Battalion Thirteenth Connecticut Volun-
teers.”

During the regiment’s long service it participated
in numerous hard-fought battles, a few of which are
here enumerated: Georgia Landing, Irish Bend,
siege of Port Hudson, Cane River, Mansura, Ope-

 

quan, Winchester, and Fisher’s Hill. It was mus-
tered out April 25, 1866, and paid off May 5th follow-
ing, having been in the service four years and six
months.

CHAPTER V.
MILITARY HISTORY (Continued).

TIE NINETEENTH REGIMENT.*

THIS regiment was raised during the dark days of
1862, when the glamour of military life had died
away and grim-visaged war in all its horror stood out
before the people of the country. At the close of
Gen. McClellan’s disastrous Peninsula campaign,
1862, President Lincoln called for three hundred thou-
sand volunteers, and on the 22d of July a meeting of
the citizens of this county was held at Litchfield, and
it was resolved to recruit an entire regiment from
this county, and the convention unanimously recom-
mended Leverette W. Wessells, of Litchfield, for col-
onel, and requested the Governor to rendezvous the
new regiment at Litchfield. Recruiting immediately
commenced, and on the 24th of August nine com-
panies had been raised, as follows: Company A was
recruited by Wm. Bissell, A. B. Shumway, and C. B.
Hatch ; was composed of men from the following
towns: Litchfield, 68; Harwinton, 10; Morris, 7;
Washington, 5; other towns, 7. Company B, re-
cruited by James Hutton and F. A. Cooke: Salis-
bury, 48; Kent, 24; Canaan, 7; other towns, 14.
Company C, recruited by James Q. Rice and W. T.
Spencer: Goshen, 42; Torrington, 34; other towns,
12. Company D, recruited by A. H. Fenn, W. H.
Lewis, Jr., and Robert A. Potter: Plymouth, 53;
Watertown, 18; Harwinton, 18; Burlington, 1;
Morris, 1. Company E, recruited by Jeffrey Skinner,
B. F. Hosford, and H. D. Gaylord: Winchester, 62;
Norfolk, 16; Barkhamsted, 5; other towns, 7. Com-
pany F, recruited by E. W. Jones and James Dean:
New Hartford, 3Q; Canaan, 16; North Canaan, 19;
Colebrook, 14; Barkhamsted, 9. Company G, recruited
by Lyman Teator and George N. Smith: Sharon, 41;
Conwell, 34; other towns, 15. Company H, recruited
by G. S. Williams: New Milford, 37; Washington,
21; Warren, 5; other towns, 8; Company I, recruited
by EliSperry : Woodbury, 61; other towns, 20. Com-
pany K was composed of recruits from the different
towns in the county. The rendezvous of the regi-
ment was at Camp Dutton, Litchfield.

.“On the 10th of September the regiment marched
to the village to receive an elegant stand of colors
from Mrs. William Curtis Noyes, and to listen to a
presentation address by her husband, then in the ze-
nith of his power and fame. On the 11th the regi-

 

* Compiled and condensed from the excellent “ History of the Second
Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery, originally the Nineteenth Con-
necticut Volunteers,” by Theodore F. Vaill.
5+

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ment was mustered, by Lieutenant Watson Webb,
into the service of the United States ‘for three years
or during the war;’ and on the 15th, having formed
in line and given three parting cheers for Camp
Dutton, the long and firmly-treading battalion, con-
sisting of eight hundred and eighty-nine officers and
men, moved to Litchfield Station, where a train of
twenty-three cars stood ready to take them to New
York. The journey was a continuous ovation. The
deep interest everywhere felt in the ‘Mountain County’
regiment was attested by crowds of people at the
stations and all along the railway, and by white hand-
kerchiefs and white hands that waved us a farewell
and a blessing from window and veranda and hill-top.
The good people of Bridgeport and Stamford entered
every car without ceremony, and fortified the soldiers
with melons and cakes and sandwiches, and with the
last cup of real, civilized, cultivated Connecticut
coffee that they were to taste for months and years.
The next day found us in Philadelphia, that noblest
city of America, where we were treated like royal
guests, as hundreds of other regiments had been, by
the beneficence of her private citizens. At night we
slept on the floor of the immense railway station at
Baltimore, and the next night in the barracks at
Washington, where the government insulted us with
coffee that was viler than anything else in the world
except the unwashed cups that held it. On the 18th
we moved to Alexandria in transports, and bivouacked
after dark just north of the city. The line wheeled
into ‘column by company,’ and, being informed that
that would be their rest for the night, the tired men
spread their blankets on the ground, and, with their
blue overcoats for a covering and their knapsacks for
pillows, were soon deeply and earnestly sleeping their
first sleep on the ‘sacred soil,’ all unconscious of the
rain that washed their upturned faces.

“<«What are they going to do with us?’ was the
question in every man’s mind the next morning, as
soon as he was sufficiently awake to take his reckon-
ing. Would an hour later find us en route for Har-
per’s Ferry to join McClellan’s army and take the
‘place of those who had fallen at Antietam only forty-
eight hours before? or on board a transport bound
for Charleston or the Gulf? Nobody knew. Out
came pencils and rumpled paper from hundreds of
knapsacks, and behold a bivouac of reporters, all
briskly engaged in informing friends at home that we
had got so far, but there was no telling where we
might be to-morrow. But the order which was to
decide our fortunes for at least eighteen months had
already been issued, and before night the regiment
moved to a pleasant slope about a mile west of Alex-
andria which had been selected for a permanent
camp ; and it was announced that we were attached
to the command of Gen. John P. Slough,* military
governor of Alexandria, and that our first actual

 

* Pronounced like “ plow.”

 

military service was to consist in doing patrol- and
picket-duty in that city. On the following day we
received our first hard bread, and our arms and A
tents; and the Nineteenth Connecticut thenceforth
had a local habitation as well as a name.

“Yes, a name. Alexandria, under martial law ever
since the breaking out of the war, had suffered un-
speakable things from the troops on duty in her streets
or quartered in her environs, and the Alexandrians
had come to regard a soldier as a scoundrel, always
and everywhere. But the Nineteenth Connecticut
had not been a week in Virginia before the self-
respecting good behavior of its men became the gen-
eral theme, and the authorities were petitioned by the
citizens—nearly all of whom were rebels—not to re-
move that regiment from Alexandria.

“The arms were Enfield muskets. In process of
time the men became acquainted with the nomencla-
ture and functions of every part of the weapon from
bayonet to butt-plate, although at first it seemed
wonderful how so awkward and inconvenient a tool
could ever have been constructed. Emery paper and
crocus cloth were soon brought to bear upon the
bronzed barrels, and by the middle of October there
were a good many men—the foremost of whom was
Pendleton, of Company C—who could use their
‘lock-plate’ or ‘upper band’ for a looking-glass,
The A tents were of linen, woven about as compactly
as a sieve, and were intended for just five men and no
more; and woe to the squad that contained a fat man
or one over six feet long, for somebody, or at least
some part of somebody, must sleep out of doors.
‘Spoon-fashion’ was the only possible fashion; no
man could make a personal revolution on his own
axis without compelling a similar movement on the
part of each of his tent-mates, and a world of com-
plaint besides. Most of the days of that autumn
were warm, and even hot; but the chill of night
would penetrate the bones of the soldiers and cause
them to turn over and over from midnight until dawn,
when each company, without waiting for réveille,
would rally in a huddle on the long sheet-iron cook-
stove at the foot of the street, and endeavor to burn
the pain out of their marrows while toasting their
bread.

“On the 22d of September a detail of five officers
and seventy men relieved the patrol of the Thirty-
third Massachusetts in Alexandria, and the same was
daily furnished during the remainder of 1862. It was
the duty of the patrol to move about the city in
small squads, or stand guard at theatres and certain
other places, and arrest all soldiers who could not
produce passes, or who were in mischief, and bring
them to the provost-marshal’s office, whence they
were usually escorted to the ‘Slave-Pen’ in Duke
Street,—a horrible den, with the following sign in
large letters over the door: ‘Price & Burch, Dealers
in Slaves.’ It had a large room or yard, about fifty
feet square, with windowless brick walls fifteen ot
MILITARY

HISTORY. 55

 

twenty feet high, a door of iron bars, and no floor
except the earth. It had been one of the chief insti-
tutions of Alexandria, and any urchin could direct a
stranger to the ‘Slave Pen’ as readily as a New York
boy can point out the City Hall.

“¥rom the soft beds and regular habits of Connecti-
cut homes to the hard ground, severe duties, irregular
sleep, bad food, and worse water of a Virginia camp
was a change that could not be made without loss of
health and life. Measles and mumps began to pre-
vail, rheumatism made the men lame, chronic
diarrhea weakened them, typhoid fever fired their
blood, and jaundice painted their skins and eyeballs
* yellower than saffron. Two hospital tents were soon
filled to overflowing, and an African church near by
was appropriated as regimental hospital; while the
‘sick call’ brought to the surgéon’s quarters a daily-
increasing crowd who desired medical treatment or
an excuse from duty. The first death— that of Daniel
E. Lyman, of Company C—occurred on the 2d of
November. Corporal Frederick B. Webster, of D
Company, followed him on the 6th, and Arthur G.
Kellogg, of C Company, on the 10th; and by New
Year the number had increased to seventeen. Some
of them were embalmed and sent home, and some
buried in the soldiers’ cemetery in the southern edge
of the city with military honors, which consisted of
an escort of their comrades with reversed arms, a roll
of muffled drums, the mournful ‘Pleyel’s Hymn’
tremulously executed upon the fife, and a salute fired
over the grave, with sometimes a prayer from the
chaplain, and sometimes without.

“Colonel Wessells, having been taken ill soon after
reaching Alexandria, was confined at King Street
Hospital during the greater part of the fall, and went
home about New Year on a two months’ leave of
absence; so that Lieut.-Col. Kellogg had almost un-
interrupted command from the time the regiment left
Connecticut until the following April.

“Company A was sent into the city and quartered
at the foot of Duke Street on the 15th of November,
to guard the government stores, where it remained
until about New Year, when the regiment was trans-
ferred to Gen. Robert O. Tyler’s command, which now
consisted of the Nineteenth Connecticut, First Con-
necticut Artillery, Fourteenth Massachusetts, and a
New York regiment, and was entitled the ‘ Military
Defenses of Alexandria.’

“Jan. 12, 1863, the regiment moved up the Lees-
burg pike, passed Fairfax Seminary, and encamped
among the stumps a few rods from the abatis of
Fort Worth. The liability of an immediate call to
the front was now so far diminished that there was a
very noticeable relaxation of military rigor. Dress
parade, guard mounting, and camp guard were for
some days the only disciplinary duties required, and
great was the enjoyment afforded by the respite.
Stumps were to be cleared away, and ditching and
draining done for a camp and parade-ground, and the

 

change from constant duty under arms to chopping,
grubbing, and digging fresh earth was extremely
grateful and beneficial. True, the month of January
witnessed a greater mortality than any other of the
entire twenty months passed in the ‘Defenses,’ but
it was the result of disease previously contracted.
The improved and improving condition of the regi-
mental health is shown in the record of deaths for
1868, which is as follows: January, 16; February, 5;
March, 3; April,5; May, 1; June, 1; July, 0;* Au-
gust, 1; September, 3; October, 3; November, 2; De-
cember, 2.

“Fort Worth was a neat little earthwork, situated
about a quarter of a mile in rear of Fairfax Seminary,
overlooking the broad valley of Hunting Creek and
the Orange and Alexandria Railway, and mounting
some twenty-four guns of all kinds—Rodman, Par-
rott, Whitworth, eight-inch howitzers, and iron and
Coehorn mortars. Here the winter was passed.

“ After the middle of March a large number of men
were daily sent to load cars with wood, several miles
out on the Orange and Alexandria Railway, and each
man always brought home a stick on his shoulder, so
that firewood was no longer dug out of stumps. On
the 18th of April orders were received from Gen.
Heintzelman, the commander of the Department of
Washington, directing the Nineteenth Connecticut
Volunteers to be provided with shelter tents and seven
days’ cooked rations, and to be held in readiness to
march. The regimental pulse was instantly quick-
ened. Troops were hourly passing, on their way to
join Hooker’s army, and the command to ‘fall in’
and take the ‘route step’ in the same direction
was hourly expected. Superfluous property was dis-
posed of, and bushels of letters dispatched northward.
Capt. Bissell, quite as much excited as any of his men,
gave an enormous ham to a squad in Company A,
with much the same liberality wherewith a death-
doomed voyager flings his gold and jewels about the
cabin of asinking ship. But army life is full of va-
rious surprises. Troops sometimes unexpectedly go,
and sometimes unexpectedly stay. Not only that
April, but the next April also, left us still in the de-
fenses of Washington.

“On the 12th of May the regiment was for the first
time broken up into separate garrisons. Companies
B, F, and G went to Fort Ellsworth; Company A,
to Redoubt A; Company D, to Redoubt B; Com-
panies O and K, to Redoubt C; and Companies E,
H, and I, to Redoubt D; and this arrangement con-
tinued during the summer. These redoubts were
small works in the vicinity of Fort Lyon, on the
Mount Vernon road, and commanding the land and
water approaches to Alexandria on the south. About
this time Gen. Tyler was relieved in command by
Gen. De Russy, and all the fortifications from Alex-

 

* July, 1863, was the only month of the entire three years in which no
death occurred.
56

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

andria to Georgetown received the name of the ‘De-
fenses of Washington South of the Potomac,’ and
the troops stationed therein constituted the Twenty-
second Army Corps. During the entire season the
Nineteenth was called upon for nothing more labori-
ous than drilling, target practice, stockade-building
in Alexandria, picking blackberries, drinking a quar-
ter of a gill of whisky and quinine at reveille and
retreat, and drawing pay from Maj. Ladd every two
months. Yet a good many seemed to be in all sorts
of affliction, and were constantly complaining because
they could not go to the front. A year later, when the
soldiers of the Nineteenth were staggering along the
Pamunkey with heavy loads and blistered feet, or
throwing up breastworks with their coffee-pots, all
night under fire, in front of Petersburg, they looked
back to the defenses of Washington as to a lost
Elysium, and fervently longed to regain those bliss-
ful seats. O Happiness! why is it that men never
recognize thy features until thou art far away?

“Col. Wessells resigned, on account of ill health,
on the 16th of September. In October the regiment
was withdrawn from the redoubts and brigaded with
the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, under the
command of Col. Henry L. Abbott. The regimental
headquarters were established at ‘Oak Grove House,’
and the companies distributed at three forts,—Ells-
worth, Williams, and Worth,—where they remained
until the following May.

“ About the middle of November, Gen. Barry, chief
of artillery of the Department of Washington, re-
viewed Col. Abbott’s brigade, and made a particularly
careful inspection of the Nineteenth Connecticut;
and, from what occurred a day or two thereafter, it
was inferred that he bore to Washington a good report
of Col. Kellogg and his command, for on the 23d
of November the War Department issued an order
changing the Nineteenth Connecticut Infantry to a
regiment of heavy artillery,* and directing it to
be filled up to the maximum artillery standard.
This was joyful news. Itdid not take long (for every
man was his own tailor) to exchange the faded blue
straps and chevrons for bright red, and that soldier
could not be accused of overmuch ambition who did
not see some chance for promotion among the two
majors, two companies, two captains, twenty-eight
‘lieutenants, forty-six sergeants, and sixty-four cor-
porals that would be required in addition to those
already on hand. Lieuts. Edward W. Marsh and Oren
H. Knight were already in Connecticut on recruiting
service, and on the 30th of November Lieut. Benja-
min F. Hosford, with a party of ten enlisted men,
left for home on the same duty. A draft was then
pending and enormous bounties were offered for vol-
unteers, and these officers and men entered upon their
duties with vigor, and achieved a success which, it

 

. * The name of “Second Connecticut Artillery” was given by Governor
Buckingham.

 

may safely be said, had no parallel in the history of
recruiting during the entire war. The first install.
ment—68 men—arrived on the last day of the year;
on New Year’s day (1864), forty-four more; fifty on
the 6th of January; another lot on the 9th; one
hundred and fifteen on the 10th; more on the 17th;
and so on until the Ist of March, by which time the
regiment had received over eleven hundred recruits,
and now contained eighteen hundred men. The new-
comers were divided equally among the several com-
panies, and the full complement of officers and non-
commissioned officers forthwith ordered. It was as-
tonishing to see with what celerity a promoted ser-
geant would shed his enlisted man’s coat and appear '
in all the pomp and consequence of shoulder-straps
and terrible scimitar, and it was for some time a
question of serious discussion among the older officers
whether the fort gates would not have to be enlarged
in order to facilitate the ingress and egress of the new
lieutenants who drew such an alarming quantity of
water.

“ After the resignation of Col. Wessells, the colo-
nelcy remained vacant for some time. It was sup-
posed that Governor Buckingham hesitated to give
the eagles to Lieut.-Col. Kellogg on account of his
rude treatment of Maj. Smith a few months before,
and a rumor reached camp that a certain unpopular
major of the First Artillery was endeavoring to ob-
tain this position. A -petition praying that Kellogg
might not be thus ignominiously ‘jumped’ was in-
stantly signed by nearly every member of the regi-
ment and forwarded to the Governor, who thereupon
immediately sent him a colonel’s commission.

“Tt was about one o’clock on the morning of the
17th of May when an orderly galloped up and dis-
mounted at headquarters near Fort Corcoran, knocked
at the door of the room where Col. Kellogg and the
adjutant lay soundly sleeping, drew from his belt and
delivered a package, received the indorsed envelope,
and mounted and galloped off again, as little con-
scious that he had brought the message of destiny to
hundreds of men as the horse which bore him, The
dispatch, as nearly as can now be remembered, read
thus :

“War DepaRTMENT, ADJT -GENL'S, OFFICE,
“ Wasuinaton, May 16, 1864.
“<TSPECIAL ORDERS, No. 438.] i

“The commanding officer of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artil-
lery will proceed at once, with his command, to join the Army of the Po-
tomac, now in the vicinity of Spottsylvania Court-house. Transporta-
tion from Alexandria to Belle Plain will be furnished by Capt. A. 8.
Lee, A.Q.M. At Belle Plain he will report to Brig-Gen. Abercrombie
for supplies, and for directions how to proceed.

“Having arrived at the Army of the Potomac, he will report imme
diately to Maj.-Gen. Meade, commanding, for duty.

“© By order of the Secretary of War,

“CK, D. TOWNSEND,
“6 Assistant Adjutant-General

“ Five minutes had not elapsed before staff-officers
and orderlies were hurrying from fort to fort, and mn
less than five minutes more the sound of the reveille
MILITARY

and the sharp command ‘ Fallin /’ broke upon the still
night air, and the soldiers came pouring from their
cosey bunks, like angry bees when their hive is rudely
disturbed, and formed in line to hear the order.
“The day was passed in busy preparation for de-
parture. In the evening the companies assembled
near the Arlington House, and the regiment moved to
the outskirts of Alexandria, where it bivouacked a
little after midnight. arly in the morning* we em-
parked for Belle Plain, at which place we arrived in
the afternoon, in a pouring rain and in mud knee-
deep, in floundering through which many a soldier
Jost one or both of his shoes. Night found us curled
up and shivering under shelter tents among the drip-
ping bushes on the steep hillsides, each man supplied
with five days’ rations and one hundred rounds of
ammunition, with orders to carry the same somehow
on his person. About midnight the rain ceased, and
Maj. Ladd, who had failed to reach us at Alexandria,
and had followed right on, paid off the regiment. On
the 19th we marched to Fredericksburg, at that time
the hospital city, nearly every house of which was
filled with wounded, and on the 20th, after passing
Massaponax church and crossing the Mat, the Ta, the
Po, and the Ny, four small streams that form the Matta-
pony, we reached the headquarters of the Army of the
Potomac, and were at once assigned to the Second Bri-
gade, First Division, Sixth Corps. The army had been
lying for several days where we found it, resting a
little (although with constant skirmishing and picket-
firing) after the recent severe fighting in the Wilder-
ness, and waiting for reinforcements, and now, having
received them, it began to swing to the ‘left,’—7.e., to
the southward. On the 21st the Second Connecticut
found itself for the first time face to face with the
enemy. Yes, that dingy-looking line, slowly moving
to the north along that slope, a mile and a half in
front of us, was a body of real, live Johnnies, and
those puffs of smoke in the woods below were from
the muskets of rebels who were firing on our pickets.
During that afternoon and evening our regiment, al-
though so lately arrived in the field, occupied a posi-
tion perhaps more important and hazardous than any
other portion of the entire army. The Ninth Corps
had been withdrawn from the right and had passed by
our rear to the left, leaving the Sixth Corps on the
right, and for several hours our men lay with their
bayonets pointing over a semi-circular line of breast-
works which constituted the extreme right of the vast
army, nearly all of which, except our own brigade,
was in motion towards the left. Just at dark our
batteries opened on the rebel lines, eliciting no reply,
but frustrating an attempt of the enemy to get in
upon our left and cut us off from the rest of the army.
Late in the evening we silently moved out, following
the track of the troops that had preceded us, and
began that long and terrible series of marches which

HISTORY. 57

were continued, almost without a breathing-spell, until
the Ist of June. The next day+ we passed Guienna
Station and reached Bowling Green. About noon of
the following dayt the first rations were issued since
we left Belle Plain, and late at night we arrived at
the North Anna River, near Oxford. The men were
strung along for miles in the rear, so that when a
picket detail of one hundred and twenty men was
ordered, immediately upon our arrival, it seemed’ to
take half the regiment. The pickets, although hardly
able to stand up, were sent across the river that night.
The rest of the men, as they came up, tumbled upon
the soft and delicious ground of the corn-field where
we had halted, and

“¢Not poppy nor mandragora,
Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,’

could have medicined them to a sounder sleep than
their unutterable weariness quickly brought them.
On the 24th the river was crossed by pontons at
Jericho Ford, and the corps disposed for action ; but
no general engagement occurred, although there was
lively skirmishing all day, in which the “ first blood”
of the Second Connecticut was drawn. The rebels
fired upon and drove our pickets, but they were ral-
lied behind rifle-pits by Capt. Wadhams, who was in
command, with the loss of Patrick Keegan, of Com-
pany M, killed, and three others wounded. Our regi-
mental and brigade headquarters that day were at the
house of one Fontaine, a wealthy and grand old rebel,
who had fled on the approach of our army, with all
his household except one or two slave women.

“While some of the field- and staff-officers were ly-
ing on the ground near this house that afternoon,
Maj. Hubbard ‘suddenly asked, ‘What was that? I
thought I heard a “thud” just now.’ Maj. Rice, who
lay not more than six feet off, replied, ‘I guess you
did, for I felt something go through me ;’ and, putting
his hand beneath his clothing, drew it forth stained
with blood. It was the work of a rebel sharpshooter,
who could not have been less than a mile distant, and
whose telescopic rifle had probably mistaken the ma-
jor’s gilt leaves for the stars of a major-general,
which they resemble. The projectile passed through
the scrotum and the fleshy part of the rump, and
could not have exceeded the sixteenth part of an inch
in diameter. Maj. Rice was disabled but two or
three days. It was in this manner that Maj.-Gen.
Sedgwick had been picked off a week before, and
possibly by the same skillful hand.

“On the 26th the Fifth and Second Corps were
engaged on our left, which extended towards Hano-
ver Junction; but our own operations were confined
to tearing up a quantity of railroad-track near Noel’s
Station, and forming a line of battle about nightfall
in a thick wood on the crest of a hill adjacent to Lit-
tle River. Here again we were on the extreme right
of the army. Whether this formation was for the pur-

 

* May 18, 1864.

 

+ May 22, 1864, t May 23, 1864.
58

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

pose of making or resisting an attack I do not know;
but, at all events, the attempt to dislodge Lee from his
position here seems to have been abandoned about
that time, and at daylight we recrossed the river and
marched to Chesterfield Station, where we halted
from noon until evening. During the afternoon
Upton called on Col. Kellogg and said, ‘Colonel, let
your men know that we are to have a hard march to-
night, so that they may get as much rest as possible.
We shall probably be within fifteen miles of Rich-
mond to-morrow morning.’ At eight o’clock the col-
umn was again in motion, on the road following the
left bank of the Pamunkey; and oh! what language
will convey to those who were not there the least idea
of the murderous cruelty of that march? We had al-
ready suffered all that flesh and blood seemed able to
bear on the road from Spottsylvania to the North
Anna, and the future had in store for us many other
marches that were grievous beyond expression ; but I
am persuaded that if all the regiment were to be sum-
moned—the living and the dead—and notified that
all their marches except one must be performed over
again, and that they might choose which one should
be omitted, the almost unanimous cry would be, ‘ De-
liver us from the accursed night-march along the Pa-
munkey!’ In darkness and silence, hour after hour,
without a rest of more than five minutes at a time, the
corps was hurled along that sandy road. There was
no danger that the head of the column would lose its
way, for a large body of cavalry had preceded us a
day or two before, and dead horses lined the road
throughout at intervals averaging not more than a
quarter of a mile, sickening all the motionless air,
Ten o’clock, — eleven o’clock, — midnight, — two
o’clock,—four o’clock,—the darkness began to fade
before the inflowing tides of the morning light, but
still the jaded men moved on. Capt. Burnham, with
stockings and rags bound upon his blistered feet like
sandals (his boots having been used up and thrown
away), hobbled painfully along beside his men, whose
feet, like those of all the rest, were in the same con-
dition. In the morning, after passing Mongohick
and turning to the right, we crossed the Pamunkey
on pontons, and encamped on the southern bank,
not far from Hanovertown, where we lay until the
afternoon of the next day, when we moved three
miles and encamped again. The whole army seemed
to be close along, and there was considerable cavalry
skirmishing somewhere in the neighborhood.

“On the 29th the First Division was sent on a rec-
onnoissance, and marched in a roundabout way until
it struck the railroad. Having thrown out a strong
picket and destroyed a portion of track, we lay down
for the night on the direct road leading from Han-
overtown to Richmond. On the 30th we were roused
at dawn, returned to the Richmond road, drew three
days’ rations, and marched five or six miles towards
Mechanicsville. Some of our men were on picket,
and there was more or less firing all day in front,

 

On the 31st we lay along the edge of a piece of woods
near Tolopotomy Creek, behind breastworks, passing
the day without much danger of position. During
the entire day there was very lively firing along our
front, and we had two B men and three L men
wounded,—those two companies being on the skir-
mish-line until afternoon, when they were relieved
by A and another company. Here again the Sixth
Corps held the right; but only twelve hours elapsed
before it had been moved (and our regiment with it,
of course) in rear of the rest of the army and ap-
peared on the extreme left at Cold Harbor.

“ June relieved May at midnight. Half an hour
afterwards we had withdrawn from the Tolopotomy
and were swinging along the road, through pitchy
darkness, towards the south. Having marched, with
short and few rests, nearly until the following noon,
we halted along the eastern edge of a pine wood,
where we lay for perhaps half an hour. Col. Kel-
logg remarked that it seemed as though he had been
on that ground before, and so he doubtless had in
McClellan’s campaign. At first there was nothing to
indicate that this was more than an ordinary halt,
and the men fell to hard-tack and sleep, according as
their hunger or weariness predominated, though it
was generally the latter, for hard-tack could be taken
on the march, while sleep could not. Near us was an
unpainted house, inferior looking in everything ex-
cept its dimensions, and about half a mile to the
south were two or three others of the same sort. At
the time we did not know, nor care, what buildings
these were, but those of us who were alive the next
day learned that they constituted the settlement
known as Cold Harbor. In a few minutes the ad-
vance of several other columns, together with bat-
teries of field artillery and ammunition-trains, began
to appear on the open level fields in our rear; but
we were so nearly dead with marching and want of
sleep that we hardly heeded these movements, or re-
flected on their portentous character. ‘ Jim, there’s
a pile of troops coming. I guess there’s going to be
a fight. You’d better wake up.’ Such a piece of in-
telligence and advice as this, given to a prostrate sol-
dier by some less exhausted comrade, would elicit
some such reply as this: ‘I don’t care a damn, I
wish they’d shoot us and done with’t. I’d rather be
shot than marched to death.’ And the sleeper would
not even raise his head to look. But if the prospect
of a coming battle could not move them, there was
one other thing that cowld, and that was the com-
mand ‘Fallin’ The brigade moved again towards
the left about one o’clock, and, leaving the road, fol-
lowed along the edge of the woods until our regiment,
which was in the advance, reached a position almost
in front of the Cold Harbor houses before mentioned,
and about fifteen rods north of the road that led from
these houses direct to Richmond. Some of the men
began to go for water and to gather fuel for cooking
coffee, having eaten nothing except raw hard-tack
MILITARY HISTORY.

59

 

since the night before; but this was at once forbidden,
and they were ordered to keep near the stacks of
muskets. Sheridan’s cavalry had been skirmishing
on this ground the day before, and five dead rebels
lay within thirty feet of where we had halted. Our
men dug a grave about two feet deep on the spot, and
scarcely were the five laid side by side therein and
covered up before a few shots from pickets or sharp-
shooters came singing over our heads from a little to
the left of our front. It was evident, therefore, that
the enemy was there, but in how great force we did
not know. It is said that Longstreet’s corps, which
was in front of the Sixth Corps on the Tolopotomy
the day before, had moyed, in like manner, from one
flank of the rebel army to the other, and now again
confronted us at Cold Harbor. But it is hardly prob-
able that there was any such force in our front at
noon as was found there at five o’clock.

“ Just at the left of the spot where we had stacked
our muskets was a hollow, basin-like spot, containing
about an acre of land and a few pine- and chestnut-
trees, and well protected on the front by a curved
line of breastworks which were thrown up during
McClellan’s campaign, two years before, or else had
been erected by Sheridan’s cavalry. In this hollow
the three battalions of our regiment were massed
about two or three o’clock, preparatory to a charge
which had been ordered by Gen. Meade to take place
at five. By this time the field-pieces of the First Di-
vision had taken position directly in our rear, while
the rebels had batteries directly in our front, and for
a long time the solid shot flew back and forth between
them, right above our heads, lopping off twigs, limbs,
and even large branches, which came crashing down
among the ranks. Said Col. Kellogg to the first bat-
talion, ‘Now, men, when you have the order to move,
go in steady, keep cool, keep still until I give you the
order to charge, and then go, arms a-port, with a yell.
Don’t a man of you fire a shot until we are within the
enemy’s breastworks. I shall be with you.’ Even all
this, added to a constantly-increasing picket-fire and
ominous signs on every hand, could not excite the men
to any great degree of interest in what was going on.
Their stupor was of a kind that none can describe,
and none. but soldiers can understand. In proof of
this only one incident need be mentioned. Corp.
William A. Hosford, then of Company E, heard the
foregoing instructions given by Col. Kellogg, and yet
was waked out of a sound sleep when the moment
came to move forward.

“Col. Upton, the brigade commander, was in almost
constant conference with Col. Kellogg, giving him in-
structions how and when to proceed, surveying the
ground, and anxiously but quietly watching this new
regiment, which, although it now constituted more
than half his command, he had never seen in action.
The arrangement of companies and battalions was
the same that had been established in the defenses
upon the change from infantry to artillery. The

 

following diagram will show the formation at Cold
Harbor:

 

FRONT.
FIRST BATTALION—MAJOR HUBBARD.
A B K
Left. | ll | Right.
Wadhams. Lewis, Spencer, ° Skinner.

SECOND BATTALION—MAJOR RICE.
L Cc H G

I y It
MW q tl

Fenn. Berry.
THIRD BATTALION—MAJOR ELLS.
M D I F

If | J].
q WV

Marsh. Hosford. Burnham, Jones,

“ At five o’clock—or it might have been somewhat
later—the three battalions were moved just in front
of the curved breastworks, where they remained for
two or three minutes, still closed in mass. Knapsacks
were left behind the breastworks. Pine woods—or
rather a few tall pine-trees, not numerous enough to
hide our movements—extended about ten rods to the
front, and then came an open field. Col. Kellogg,
having instructed Majs. Rice and Ells to follow at
intervals of one hundred paces, placed himselfin front,
and gave the command, ‘Forward! Guide Centre!
March ’ The first battalion, with the colors in the
centre, moved directly forward through the scattering
woods, crossed the open field at a double-quick, and
entered another pine wood, of younger and thicker
growth, where it came upon the first line of rebel rifle-
pits, which was abandoned at its approach. Passing
this line, the battalion moved on over sloping ground
until it reached a small, open hollow, within fifteen
or twenty yards of the enemy's main line of breastworks.
There had been a thick growth of pine sprouts and
saplings on this ground, but the rebels had cut them,
probably that very day, and had arranged them so
as to form a very effective abatis, thereby clearing
the spot, and thus enabling them to see our move-
ments. Up to this point there had been no firing
sufficient to confuse or check the battalion; but here
the rebel musketry opened. The commander of the
rebel battalion directly in our front, whoever he was,
had his men under excellent control, and his fire was
held until our line had reached the abatis, and then
systematically delivered,—first by his rear rank, and
then by his front rank. <A sheet of flame, sudden as
lightning, red as blood, and so near that it seemed to
singe the men’s faces, burst along the rebel breast-
work ; and the ground and trees close behind our line
were plowed and riddled with a thousand balls that
just missed the heads of the men. The battalion
dropped flat on the ground, and the second volley like
the first, nearly all went over. Several men were struck,
but notalargenumber. Itis more than probable thatif
there had been no other than this jront fire, the rebel
breastworks would have been ours, notwithstanding
the pine boughs. But at that moment a long line of
rebels on our left, extending all the way to the Rich-
60 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

mond road, having nothing in their own front to
engage their attention,* and having unobstructed
range on the battalion, opened a fire which no human
valor could withstand, and which no pen can ade-
quately describe. The appended list of casualties tells
the story. It was the work of almost a single minute.
The air was filled with sulphurous smoke, and the
shrieks and howls of more than two hundred and fifty
mangled men rose above the yells of triumphant
rebels and the roar of their musketry. ABouT Face /
shouted Col. Kellogg; but it was his last command.
He had already been struck in the arm, and the
words had scarcely passed his lips when another shot
pierced his head, and he fell dead upon the interlacing
pine boughs. Wild and blind with wounds, bruises,
noise, smoke, and conflicting orders, the men stag-
gered in every direction, some of them falling upon
the very top of the rebel parapet, where they
were completely riddled with bullets, others wan-
dering off into the woods on the right and front, to
find their way to death by starvation at Anderson-
ville, or never to be heard from again. LIE DOWN!
said a voice that rang out above the horrible din. It
was the voice of Col. Upton, whose large bay horse
was dancing with a bullet in his bowels. The
rebels in front now fired as fast as they could load,
and those of our men who were not wounded,
having worked their way back a few yards into the
woods, began to reply with energy. But the wounds
showed that nine-tenths of our casualties were inflic-
ted by that unopposed fire on the left flank. The
second battalion followed the first, according to in-
structions, crossed the open field under a scattering
fire, and, having moved through the woods until within
perhaps seventy-five yards of the first battalion, was
confronted by Col. Upton with the command Lie
down! LIE Down!—which was obeyed with the
utmost alacrity. Maj. Ells was wounded very soon
after the third battalion commenced to follow, and
his command devolved upon Capt. Jones. Upon
reaching the woods, this battalion also had orders
to lie down. The rebel fire came through the woods
from all parts of the line, and most of the losses in
these two battalions occured while lying here. ‘Put
up your sabre,’ said Col. Upton to a young officer,
‘T never draw mine until we get into closer quarters
than this. See the Johnnies! See the Johnnies!
Boys, we'll have these fellows yet!’ said he, pointing
to the front, where a long string of them came run-
ning through the lines towards us. They were the
very men who had delivered the first two volleys in
our front, and (there being a lull in the firing at the
moment) they came tumbling over the breastwork in

 

* * The rest of the brigade—i.e., the One Hundred and Twenty-first and
Sixty-fifth New York, Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, and Fifth Maine—were
formed in three lines immediately on our left, and advanced when we
did, But they received a heavy fire, and advanced but part of the way.
Indeed, the first battalion of our regiment went up to the enemy’s breast-
work alone. Our right was nobody’s left, and our left nobody’s right.

 

a crowd, within two or three rods of where Kellogg's
body lay. We had too much on hand just then to
run after safely-bagged prisoners, and when they got
to the rear the Third Division (who, by the way,
having at first advanced on our right, had broken
and run to the rear through our first battalion as it
was charging, and were consequently in a convenient
position to make the ‘capture’) put a guard over
them and triumphantly marched them to army head-
quarters; and in due time Gen. Meade issued an
order complimenting the Third Division of the Sixth
Army Corps for having captured between. three and
four hundred prisoners, which they never captured
at allt The lines now became very much mixed,
Those of the first battalion who were not killed or
wounded gradually crawled or worked back; wounded
men were carried through to the rear; and the woods
began to grow dark, either with night or smoke, or
both. The news of Kellogg’s death quickly found its
way everywhere. The companies were formed and
brought up to the breastwork one by one, and the
line extended towards the left. As Lieut. Cleveland
was moving in with the last company, a squad of
rebels rose directly in front, fired a volley yery wildly,
and dropped. The fire was vigorously returned, and
the enemy soon vacated the breastwork in our im-
mediate front and crept off through the darkness,
Thousands and thousands of bullets ‘zipped’ back
and forth over the bodies of the slain, now striking
the trees high up with a ‘spud,’ and now piercing
the ground under foot. Upton stood behind a tree in
the extreme front, and for a long time fired muskets
as fast as the men could load and hand them to him,
Some sudden movement caused a panic, and they
started to flee, when he cried out with a voice that no
man who heard it will ever forget, ‘Men of Connecti-
cut, stand by me! We MUST hold this line! It
brought them back, and the line was held. Firing
was kept up all night long, by a few men at a time,
to let the enemy know that we were there and awake,
and thus to deter them from attempting to retake the
line, which they could easily have done. Maj. Hub-
bard sent word twice to Col. Upton that if the enemy
should attempt to return he could not possibly hold
it. Upton’s reply was, ‘He must hold it. If they
come there, catch them on your bayonets and pitch
them over your heads.’ At the first ray of dawn it
was strengthened and occupied by skirmishers; and
during our stay at Cold Harbor, which lasted until
midnight of June 12th, it remained our front line,
the rebel front line being about thirty-five rods dis-
tant and parallel with it.

“On the morning of the 2d the wounded who still

 

+ Every surviving man of the Second Connecticut Artillery will bear
witness that the Ninth New York Artillery (which belonged to the
Third Division) came pell-mell through our regiment towards the rear 08
we were charging, and that the capture of these prisoners was made by
our regiment alone. Col. Upton, who saw the whole of it, said that the
niatter should be rectified, aud the credit given to the Second Connecti-
cut. But it never was,
MILITARY

HISTORY. 61

 

remained were got off to the rear and taken to the
division hospital, some two miles back. Many of
them had lain all night, with shattered bones, or weak
from loss of blood, calling vainly for help, or water,
or death. Some of them lay in positions so exposed
to the enemy’s fire that they could not be reached
until the breastworks had been built up and strength-
ened at certain points, nor even then without much
ingenuity and much danger; but at length they were
all removed. Where it could be done with safety,
the dead were buried during the day. Most of the
bodies, however, could not be reached until night, and
were then gathered and buried under cover of the
darkness.

“On the morning of the 3d the regiment was again
moved forward, under the personal command of Col.
Upton, from the same spot whence the fatal charge
had been made thirty-six hours before; but this time
we proceeded by a circuitous route which kept us tol-
erably well protected. Several, however, were killed
and wounded during this movement, and after we had
taken position. The line was pushed to the left, con-
siderably nearer the Richmond road than we had been
before, and there speedily covered by breastworks.
This, I presume, was our part of the movement of
June 3d, which the larger histories regard as the battle
of Cold Harbor. Perhaps it was. It has always
seemed, however, to the survivors of the Second Con-
necticut Heavy Artillery (Upton’s Brigade, Russell’s
Division, Wright’s Corps) that the affair of June 1st
was entitled to more than the two or three lines of
bare mention with which it is tossed off in ‘ Greeley’s
American Conflict,’ ‘Deming’s Life of Grant,’ ‘ How-
land’s Grant,’ and probably every other of the more
important and comprehensive histories of the war.

“ Artillery and picket firing continued through the
entire twelve days during which the lines at Cold
Harbor were held, and casualties occurred in the reg-
iment almost daily.

“The ranking officer* of the regiment, after the
death of Col. Kellogg, was Lieut.-Col. James Hub-
bard, to whom Governor Buckingham immediately
forwarded a commission as colonel. Hubbard, how-
ever, was unwilling to assume the responsibility of
the command. In common with all the officers and
men, he was worn out. The purely murderous charge
of June Ist was our first, and thus far our only, fight-
ing experience, and Lieut.-Col. Hubbard drew the
hasty inference that all the fighting was likely to con-
sist in a similar walking right into the jaws of hell.
He afterwards found that this was a mistake. During
the ten months which followed, the regiment was in
the hottest of many a hot fight, and did its whole
duty, but it never found another Cold Harbor. Col.
Upton advised him to head a recommendation from
his officers for the appointment of Randal 8. Macken-

 

* Maj. Nathaniel Smith was promoted to lieutenant-colonel upon the
change to artillery, and resigned for disability, May 6, 1864.
6

 

zie, a graduate of West Point, and captain of engi-
neers, who was then on some duty at army headquarters.
Hubbard called a meeting of his officers and laid the
matter before them. They unanimously opposed the
proposition; but he assured them he should decline
the colonelcy, and at his request all the officers
joined him in recommending to Governor Bucking-
ham the appointment of Capt. Mackenzie. The
recommendation was forwarded ‘through the regular
channel,’ favorably indorsed by Upton, Russell,
Wright, Meade, and Grant; and on the 6th of June
Col. Mackenzie appeared and assumed command.

“New and strong lines of breastworks were built
at Cold Harbor during the 10th, 11th, and 12th of
June, and it began to be the general opinion that the
place was to be permanently occupied and fortified.
By the term ‘general opinion’ I mean the opinion
along the line; and that was not always well founded.
Things had changed in the Army of the Potomac
since the peninsular campaign, and it was not now
the custom to inform the rank and file, and the news-
papers, and the enemy, ofintended movements. Work
was continued on the breastworks, by large details of
soldiers, until almost the hour of leaving Cold Har-
bor,—probably to protect the withdrawing troops in
case of attack. It was nearly midnight on the 12th
of June when we found ourselves in motion on the
road to White House, and innumerable were the
conjectures as to our destination. The night was in-
tensely dark, and after having marched a mile or two
we became entangled with the Second Corps (which
was also in motion) in such a manner that there
would have been ugly work in the event of an attack.
But at length the difficulty was overcome, and we
moved rapidly on until morning, when the sun indi-
cated that our destination must be some other place
than White House, for we were marching south-
east instead of northeast. By seven o’clock that
evening we had marched thirty miles, and were en-
camped a mile and a half south of the Chickahominy,
and six miles from Charles City Court-house. On
the 14th we marched at seven o’clock A.M., and en-
camped about noon not far from the river. On the
15th we moved a mile and a half. On the 16th
moved again a short distance; heard firing for the
first and only time since leaving Cold Harbor; threw
up a line of breastworks, and took a bath in the river.
It was the only luxury we had had for weeks.
Troops were embarking all day at the landing, and at
midnight we went aboard,—half the companies on
one transport, and half on another,—and soon were
so quietly and pleasantly gliding up the broad and
beautiful river that imagination and memory could
make it seem, for a moment now and then, like some
pleasure excursion on the Hudson or Long Island
Sound.

“ Companies C, D, F, I, L, and M disembarked soon
after sunrise at Point of Rocks, on the Appomattox ;
while the other transport, being a little too late for
62

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

‘

the tide, landed A, B, E, G, H, and K at Bermuda
Hundred, whence, after a march of three miles, they
joined the others, and bivouacked until noon. In the
afternoon we moved two miles farther, and encamped
in the woods, in the neighborhood of the Sixth and
Seventh Connecticut, and the First Connecticut Ar-
tillery. At one o’clock next morning we moved out,
marched a mile or two in the darkness, halted, and
stood in ominous silence for a few minutes while
mounted officers rode silently by, after which we
returned by the same way to camp. It has always
been supposed that this move was intended for a
charge, which, for some reason not known (but which
would doubtless have been deemed abundantly suffi-
cient by the regiment, if their opinion had been asked),
was not made.

“Reveille was sounded next morning* at three
o’clock, rations issued, and orders received to be ready
to move at four; but the “pack-up” bugle did not
sound until five. Such delays may or may not cost a
campaign; they are always welcome to soldiers while
cooking their breakfast. After marching back for
some distance towards the Point of Rocks, and cross-
ing the Appomattox by a ponton, we moved directly
towards the city of Petersburg.

“In the afternoon we movedt to Harrison’s Creek
and relieved a portion of Hinks’ Brigade of colored
troops, who were holding a line of rifle-pits which,
together with two guns, they had captured four days
before.

“The day was Sunday,—and what a Sunday!
Shells whistled and muskets rattled, both to the right
and left, as far as the ear could reach. Petersburg
and its inner defenses were in plain sight; and if our
troops had not captured the city, we had at least got
so near that it would be an uncomfortable place for
trade and residence unless we could be pushed farther
off. After dark (for no such move could be made by
daylight) the regiment moved down a steep bank in
front of Harrison’s house, relieved the Eleventh Con-
necticut, and took position on the eastern edge of a
broad, level wheat-field. The minie-balls that came
singing along overhead with a Kee-ooh! 00-00, told
that the enemy held the opposite side of the wheat-
field, and no time was lost in ‘covering.’ Spadés
did not come for a long time, and only a few of them
at last. Tons of loamy earth were thrown, all night
long, with coffee-pots, bayonets, hands, and shovels
whittled out of hard-tack boxes. Pickets were sent
ahead several rods into the field, and three men sta-
tioned at each post. The ‘posts’ were holes dug in
the ground by bayonets and fingers. The deeper the

 

* June 19, 1864.

+ The term “we,” which so frequently occurs in this volume, is used
sometimes for the regiment, sometimes for the brigade, division, corps,
or army, according to circumstances, And the writer himself does not
always know how large a “we” it is. The whole of Russell’s Division
moved in at Harrison’s Creek; but whether the other two divisions of
the corps were there the limited range of vision enjoyed by a regimental
officer did not enable the writer to know.

 

hole, the higher the bank of earth in front; and the
pickets very naturally kept digging to strengthen
their position. The tall wheat rustled with ripeness
as they moved through it to and from their posts,
Are these men who lie here and there dead or. asleep?
Here is one who, at all events, has krinkled and spoiled
a good deal of wheat in settling down to his rest. Is
he a reb or one of our men? It is difficult to tell, on
account of the darkness, but that is the Union blue,
Take hold of his arm. Ah! there is a certain stif-
ness that decides the point at once. He probably
answered to his name this morning at the roll-call of
the Eleventh Connecticut; but he will not do-so to-
morrow morning.

“The first and second battalions dug all night,
The third went to the rear about nine o’clock, and
lay in some old rifle-pits, but were ordered to the
front again just after midnight to help dig. The city
clocks could be heard tolling the night-hours away,
for they were not so far off as Camp Dutton from Litch-
field Hill. The morning} revealed a magnificent line
of earthworks which had grown up in the night for
our protection. Had they sprung by magic, like the
palace of some Arabian fable? No. Our worn and
weary men knew where they came from.

“This was the most intolerable position the regi-
ment was ever required to hold. We had seen a dead-
lier spot at Cold Harbor, and others awaited us in the
future; but they were agonies that did not last. Here,
however, we had to stay, hour after hour, from before
dawn until after dark, and that too where we could
not move a rod without extreme danger. The enemy's
front line was parallel with ours, just across the
wheat-field; then they had numerous sharpshooters,
who were familiar with every acre of the ground,
perched in tall trees on both our flanks; then they
had artillery posted everywhere. No man could cast
his eyes over the parapet or expose himself ten feet
in rear of the trench without drawing fire. And yet
they did thus expose themselves; for where there are
even chances of being missed or hit, soldiers will take
the chances rather than lie still and suffer from thirst,
supineness, and want of all things. ‘Keep down!
roared Maj. Skinner at a man who seemed bent on
making a target of himself. ‘Tell John Meramble
to stop putting his head over,’ said Col. Mackenzie,
‘or he will get it knocked off.’ Harvey Pease, of
Company H, straightened himself up and essayed to
walk, but was struck in the head before he had taken
five steps, and fell like a log. Matthias Walter, of
Company D, was wounded in the thigh by a sharp-
shooter. John Grieder, of D, received a fatal wound
in the thigh from a piece of three-inch shell. Corp.
Disbrow, of H, was hit in the shoulder; and other
casualties occurred, until there were eleven in all.
There was no getting to the rear until zigzag passages
were dug, and then the wounded were borne off. 4

 

t June 20, 1864.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 63

 

new relief of pickets had gone on just before day-
break, and each man was notified to have two can-
teens of water, because they must remain until night.
Reader, do you like to drink warm water? Then en-
list in the next war, and stay twelve hours in a hole
in the ground, without shelter from the fierceness of
a Virginia sun in June, with bullets passing two feet
above your head, with dead bodies broiling all around
you, and with two tin canteens of muddy water.

“The day wore on, and welcome darkness came at
last, giving us a chance to stand erect. Our occupa-
tion continued during the night and the next day,
the regiment being divided into two reliefs, the one
off duty lying a little to the rear, in a corn-field near
Harrison’s house. But it was a question whether
‘off? or ‘on’ duty was the more dangerous. During
the day* Col. Mackenzie directed his staff-officers to
occupy separate shelter tents, and to leave him in one
by himself, in order to diminish the ‘ chances’ of in-
jury. When one of them looked into his tent an hour
afterwards he pointed to a hole through his straw hat,
remarking that if any one else had been there some-
body would have been hurt. Frequent shells came
just overhead and plunged into the corn-field behind
us. Company E had a man killed, and K had several
wounded. A three-inch shell struck right among the
boys of Company H and threw dirt into their coffee,
but did not explode.
unmistakably meant for the author of this history, so
far as he knows, was on that day. There was a well
in front of Harrison’s house, covered by a roof, which
was supported by four posts. The writer was sitting
and drinking with his head leaning against one of
these posts, when a musket-ball buried itself with a
‘tun? in the wood just about four inches too high
to prevent the writing of this history. I have ever
since had some desire to see that well. If the post is
still there, I am quite sure it contains lead.

“ At eight in the evening we were relieved by the
Eighth Connecticut, and there saw the brave and
noble Lieut. Seth F. Plumb, of that regiment, for the
last time. Moving by the left-in-front (which, by the
way, was the order of march all the way from Spott-
sylvania to Petersburg), we crossed the City Point
Railroad, passed Grant’s headquarters, and marched
by a semi-circular route towards the east, southeast,
south, and west until three in the morning, when we
bivouacked, not much farther from Petersburg than
before. How can we march so far and yet go so little
way? was the question here, as it had been between
the Tolopotomy and Cold Harbor. At eight o’clock
in the morningt we entered the woods, and after sun-
dry moves and halts came to a square, open field
surrounded on all sides by thick woods, where the
brigade was disposed in two lines. An officer and
twenty men were immediately sent out by Mackenzie,
with orders to push into the woods directly in front,

The only shot that was ever |

and find the left of the Second Corps pickets. They
were soon found, and the line was extended from the
left by details from our regiment. Upton and Russell
were both out in the jungle on foot, to see the connec-
tion made. Soon afterwards the first line of the bri-
gade, which contained our regiment, was advanced
into the dense wood, perhaps two hundred yards,
the second line being not far behind, and a few min-
utes later the pickets were engaged in a sharp skir-
mish with Hill’s rebel division close in our front,
which resulted in a loss to the Second Connecticut of
six killed, seven wounded (several of them mortally),
and six missing, some of whom were afterwards heard
from at Andersonville. Mackenzie had two fingers
shot off and afterwards amputated. A good deal of ma-
neuvring followed which was difficult to understand.
We retired to the open lot, moved about a regiment’s
length to the right, and advanced again, somewhat
farther than before, into a wilderness of woods, bushes,
brambles, and vines so thick that a man could hardly
see his neighbor. This position became a permanent
picket-line, while the main line was established the
next dayt along the open field in the rear, and daily
strengthened until it became impregnable. Here, as
at Cold Harbor, there was no telling where we were
until the day after the fight. Kellogg, Wadhams, and
the multitude who fell with them on the Ist of June,
never knew that they fell at ‘Cold Harbor,’—indeed,
most of them never heard that name, which has since
become so familiar to their surviving-friends. And
so with the victims and the survivors of June 22d.
Pine woods, with a jungle of undergrowth, extended
to an unknown distance in every direction, and the
only data from which: any sort of reckoning could be
made were the sun and the moon and the firing.
Time revealed the fact that we were about three miles
south of Petersburg, and a mile east of the Weldon
Railroad, which the enemy held.

Here, then, the Army of the Potomac settled down
to stay. The little barricade of rails where Knight,
Hempstead, Guernsey, and many others had found
their deaths grew day by day into breastworks, par-
allels, batteries, and mighty forts which all the artil-
lery of the world could not shake. The enemy began
to fortify with equal strength, and henceforth there
was more digging than fighting. The seventeen days
following the 22d of June furnished several episodes
which might have grown (but happily did not) into
events that would have required a chapter instead of
a few lines,—such, for example, as moving out on the
night of the 23d and massing for a charge; building
breastworks all night on the 24th; marching to Reams’
Station on the 30th to support troops that were tear-
ing up eight miles of track; and being under arms
before daylight, on the 6th of July, in anticipation of
an attack. Nevertheless, these were days of compar-
ative rest, quiet, and comfort. Camps were regularly

 

* June 21, 1864, + June 22, 1864.

 

t June 23, 1864.
G4

laid out and well policed. The band and drum corps
encamped with the regiment, which was an infallible
sign that danger had evacuated. Each company
dug a well in the clay and provided it with an old-
fashioned ‘sweep;’ and, inasmuch as the deepest
well drained all the rest, they were constantly scoop-
ing out deeper and deeper. The commissary-wagons
came up, and rations consisted of hard-tack, salt pork,
coffee, sugar, potatoes, pepper, salt, and rice. The
sutlers also—those noble patriots—drew near, and the
soldiers renewed their almost-forgotten acquaintance
with sardines, bologna, bolivars, condensed milk
(sixty cents per can), canned fruits, and a kind of
bog hay tea, which, after all, was fea. The region
abounded in young pines from one to three inches
in diameter, and every man had a bedstead con-
structed of these pine ‘ poles,’ while the long, needle-
shaped pine leaves made bedding which, if not luxu-
rious, was certainly better than none. And thus the
Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery played its part
on the theatre of war, until a sudden bugle blast on
the night of the 9th of July announced a shifting of
the scene. The regiment was then ordered to City
Point.

“ The morning of July 10, 1864, found us—the First
and Second Divisions of the Sixth Corps, perhaps
twelve thousand men in all—embarking at City
Point as fast as the transports could get up to the
dock, load, and move off, en route to Washington to
defend the capital from the expected attack of Gen.
Early.

“We passed Alexandria just after sunrise of the 12th,
reached Washington at six o’clock, and marched di-
rectly up Seventh Street. At ten in the evening the
regiment marched two or three miles up the road, by
Fort De Russy, to Fort Kearney, and after much
shifting lay down on their arms to sleep. In the
morning Companies C and H were sent to man a
battery, but returned in half an hour. Early had
learned of the presence of the Sixth Corps, and also
of the Nineteenth (Emory’s), which had opportunely
arrived from New Orleans; and he concluded not to
capture the capital and Capitol, Congress and ar-
chives, arsenal and navy-yard, Lincoln and Cabinet,
until (as Pollard says), ‘another and uncertain time.’
He had begun his retreat towards Snicker’s Gap, and
pursuit was instantly made by the Sixth and a divi-
sion of the Nineteenth Corps, under command of
Gen. Wright. Our brigade moved up the river at
2.20 p.M., and bivouacked late in the evening near
Potomac Cross-Roads. Next morning* we moved at
half-past five, but not much progress was made for
some hours, on account of a handful of rebel cavalry,
who annoyed our advance and covered the enemy’s
retreat. Two of them were captured. But after noon
the pace was quickened, and, it being intensely hot,
the march was very severe. Mackenzie stormed at

 

* July 14, 1864.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

the company commanders on account of the strag-
gling, but it was no use. The men fell out inces-
santly. At seven in the evening we were only two
hours behind the graybacks, whose rear-guard, as we
learned from citizens, had skirmished over that region
during the afternoon.

“On the 16th we forded the Potomac at Edwards’
Ferry, and after marching through Leesburg and a
mile beyond encamped in plain sight of the rebels,
During this entire march they kept moving as fast as
we approached, manifesting little or no disposition to
dispute our progress; and there was a delay in the
pursuit which Mr. Greeley, in his ‘ History of the
American Conflict,’ characterizes as ‘timid and fee-
ble.’ It was certainly neither timid nor feeble after
Ricketts came up with his Third Division on the 17th.
Starting before sunrise, the entire force moved all
day and had nearly all passed through Snicker’s Gap
at sunset. The top of the Blue Ridge, overhanging
the gap, afforded an excellent position for counting
our troops, and several rebels, thus occupied, were
captured. As we reached the middle of the gap we
caught our first glimpse of the beautiful Shenandoah
valley, with which we were destined, before long, to
have an intimate and bloody acquaintance. Lively
artillery-firing could be seen upon a knoll a couple of
miles to the west, and sharp musketry heard to the
right of it. We cleared the gap, filed to the right
into a blind, steep, and narrow defile, which suddenly
became almost impassably blocked by troops who had
been driven by the enemy, and were in confused re-
treat. Having forced a passage through them, we
reached an open field sloping to the Shenandoah
River, and encamped. Nothing remarkable occurred
the next day, except an issue of three days’ rations,
including beans and dried apples, with instructions to
make them last five days. On the 20th we forded the
Shenandoah,—which was about four feet deep, and as
wide as the Housatonic at New Milford,—and moved
towards Berryville, left in front. The Second Con-
necticut was the advance regiment of the advance
brigade, and a portion of it was deployed as skir-
mishers and marched through the fields parallel with
the column, and about forty rods on the right of it.
Few of the regiment will ever forget the shower that
soaked us that day. A halt was made in the woods
not far from Berryville, and foraging-parties detailed,
who secured a large quantity of bacon, vegetables, and
meal. There must have been some conflict or misun-
derstanding in the foraging orders, for Lieut. Warren
Alford, who was on his way to camp with several
head of cattle and a barrel of flour, was directed by
Gen. Russell to take them back where he found them.
Cavalry scouts reported no enemy within eight miles,
and at midnight the column moved eastward. The
river was forded again by bright moonlight, and the
gap passed before day. It seems to have been the
presumption (an erroneous one) that Early, having
succeeded in decoying a large army into the valley on
MILITARY

HISTORY. 65

 

a wild-goose chase, was now hurrying back to Peters-
burg to enable Lee to strike a heavy blow at Grant
before the Sixth and Nineteenth Corps could be
moved back to City Point. This, then, was the ex-
planation of our return through Snicker’s Gap.

“The march back to Washington was severe enough
to be called a forced march. Moseby’s guerillas
were close upon our rear, and although straggling was
continually punished by rail-carrying, yet a vast
number of stragglers were ‘gobbled’ by the enemy,
and doubtless found their way to Andersonville or
some other prison. Tenallytown was reached, by
way of Chain Bridge, on the 23d, and the stiff, lame,
sore, tired, hungry men found thirty-six hours’ rest,
new clothing, new shoes, soft bread, and surreptitious
whisky, for all of which they were truly thankful;
also cross-cannon to adorn their hats, for which they
would have been more thankful if this brazen badge
had not been to them such a bitter mockery.

“ But it suddenly seemed as though the cross-cannon
were to be no longer a mockery. The powers at
Washington had been pretty well shaken up by the
thunder of the enemy’s guns at the.gates of the capi-
tal, and they resolved that the Sixth and Nineteenth
Corps should not embark for Petersburg again with-
out leaving at least a few troops to reinforce the in-
valids and hundred-days men. For this purpose the
Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery was detached
from the Sixth Corps and ordered to report to Gen.
De Russy, at Arlington.

“ July 25, 1864, the regiment moved through George-
town, across Aqueduct Bridge, up to Fort Corcoran, and
by noon the companies were distributed at the same
eleven forts which they had garrisoned for forty-eight
hours before going to the front in May. The Ohio
regiment of hundred-days men which had relieved
us in May and was still there, with its gawky officers,
moved out and turned over its comfortable barracks,
bunks, cook-houses, and light duties to those who
were able to appreciate them.

“From this time until the following September
the time was principally passed in marching and
countermarching.

“September 2d found us at Clifton, where we en-
camped and remained for two weeks, drilling and
preparing for the grapple which was hidden in the
immediate future.

“ At three o’clock on the morning of the 19th of
September the advance was in motion. Our brigade
started from Clifton about daylight, and, having
struck the Berryville pike, moved five or six miles
towards Winchester, and halted for an hour about
two miles east of the Opequan, while the Nineteenth
Corps was crossing. The cavalry had previously
moved to secure all the crossings, and firing was now
heard all along the front, and continually increasing.
The Sixth and Nineteenth Corps, following Wil-
son’s cavalry, which fought the way, crossed at and
near the pike bridge, our brigade wading the stream

 

a few rods north of it. West of the creek the pike
passed through a gorge over a mile long, from which
the rebels had been driven by the cavalry. The
Nineteenth Corps and a portion of our own had
moved through it and formed a line of battle some
distance beyond, under a heavy artillery-fire, when
our division emerged from the gorge and filed to the
left into a ravine that ran across the pike, where it
was held in readiness as a reserve. This was about
half-past nine. The fighting now waxed hotter,
louder, nearer; nevertheless, some of the men found
time while their muskets were stacked in this ravine
to dig potatoes from a neighboring field. At length
the enemy made a vigorous charge upon the centre
of the front line, at the point where the Third Brigade
of the Second Division joined the left of the Nine-
teenth Corps. The line broke and retreated in com-
plete disorder, each broken flank doubling and crowd-
ing back on itself and making for the rear. The
enemy pushed its advantage and came rolling into
the breach. It was the critical moment of the day;
for if he had succeeded in permanently separating
the two parts of the line, there would have been no
possible escape from utter defeat for Sheridan’s army.
At this juncture Gen. Russell, who was watching
from the rise of ground just in front of the ravine
where his division lay, exclaimed, ‘Look here, it is
about time to do something! Upton, bring on your
brigade.’ The brigade was at once moved out of the
ravine, passed through a narrow strip of woods, crossed
the pike, halted for a moment in order to close and
dress up compactly, then went at a double quick by
the right flank into the gap that had been made in the
first line, and made a short halt, just in rear of a
piece of woods, out of which the remnants of the
Second and Third Divisions were still retreating, and
on the other side of which was the advancing line of
Rodes’ and Gordon’s rebel divisions. The first fire
that struck our brigade and regiment during the day
was while coming to this position. Gen. Russell was
killed by a shell at the same time, having been pre-
viously wounded and refused to leave the field. It
was this movement of our brigade that checked the
enemy until the lines were restored and the two or
three thousand fugitives brought back. Some of our
men began to fire, but were quickly ordered to desist.
After a very few minutes the brigade was pushed for-
ward, the left half of it being somewhat covered by
woods, from which position it instantly opened a
terrific fire, while the Second Connecticut, which
constituted the right half, passed to the right of the
woods into an open field of uneven surface, and
halted on a spot where the ground was depressed
enough to afford a little protection, and only a little;
for several men were hit while lying there, as well as
others while getting there. In three minutes the
regiment again advanced, passed over a knoll, lost
several more men, and halted in another hollow spot
similar to the first. The enemy’s advance had now
66

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

been pushed well back, and here a stay was made of
perhaps two hours. Col. Mackenzie rode slowly back
and forth along the rise of ground in front of this
position in a very reckless manner, in plain sight and
easy range of the enemy, who kept up a fire from a
piece of woods in front, which elicited from him the
remark, ‘I guess those fellows will get tired of firing
at me by and by.’ But the ground where the regi-
ment lay was very slightly depressed, and although
the shots missed Mackenzie they killed and wounded
a large number of both officers and men behind him.
Lieut. Candee merely raised himself from the ground
on his elbow to look at his watch, but it was enough
to bring his head in range of a sharpshooter’s ball,
and he was instantly killed. About three o’clock, an
advance of the whole line having been ordered by
Sheridan, the regiment charged across the field, Mac-
kenzie riding some ten rods ahead, holding his hat
aloft on the point of his sabre. The distance to the
woods was at least a quarter of a mile, and was tra-
versed under a fire that carried off its victims at
nearly every step. The enemy abandoned the woods,
however, as the regiment approached, in consequence
of which the line obliqued to the left and halted.
Companies F and D were here detached and taken off
to the right on a small reconnoissance, but were soon
brought back, and the regiment proceeded to the
right of the woods and partly through them, and ad-
vanced to a rail-fence which ran along the side of an
extensive field. Here, for the first time during the
whole of this bloody day, did the regiment have
orders to fire, and for ten minutes they had the priy-
ilege of pouring an effective fire into the rebels, who
were thick in front. Then a flank movement was
made along the fence to the right, followed by a
direct advance of forty rods into the field. Here was
the deadliest spot of the day. The enemy’s artillery,
on a rise of ground in front, plowed the field with
canister and shells, and tore the ranks in a frightful
manner. Maj. Rice was struck by a shell, his left arm
torn off, and his body cut almost asunder. Maj.
Skinner was struck on the top of the head by a shell,
knocked nearly a rod with his face to the earth, and
was carried to the rear insensible. Gen. Upton had
a good quarter pound of flesh taken out of his thigh
by a shell, and was laid up for some weeks. Col.
Mackenzie’s horse was cut in two by a solid shot,
which just grazed the rider’s leg, and let him down
to the ground very abruptly. Several other officers
were also struck, and from these instances, as well as
from the appended list of casualties, some idea may
be gained of the havoc among the enlisted men at
this point. Although the regiment had been under
fire and losing continually from the middle of the
forenoon until it was now almost sunset, yet the losses
during ten minutes in this last field were probably
equal to those of all the rest of the day. It was
doubtless the spot referred to by the rebel historian
Pollard when he says, ‘Early’s artillery was fought

 

to the muzzle of the guns.’ Mackenzie gave the
order to move by the left flank, and a start was made:
but there was no enduring such a fire, and the men
ran back and lay down. Another attempt was soon
made, and after passing a large oak-tree a sheltered
position was secured. The next move was directly
into the enemy’s breastwork. They had just been
driven from it by a cavalry charge from the right and
were in full retreat through the streets of Winchester,
and some of their abandoned artillery, which had
done us so much damage, stood yet in position, hiss-
ing hot with action, with their miserable, rac-a-bone
horses attached. The brigade, numbering less than
half the muskets it had in the morning, was now got
into shape, and, after marching to a field in the east-
ern edge of the city, bivouacked for the night, while
the pursuit rolled miles away up the valley pike.

“Roll-call revealed the fact that the regiment had
lost one hundred and thirty-six in killed and wounded,
fourteen of whom were officers. Company A, out of
its entire list of officers and non-commissioned officers,
had left only First Sergt. Henry Williams, who had
command of the company during nearly the whole
of the fight, and two corporals. Company H had
three noble officers killed, including Capt. Frederick
M. Berry, of whom Col. Kellogg once said that he
was the most perfect officer, gentleman, and man, all
things considered, in the regiment. Companies A,
B, and E suffered heavily ; C and G still more; and D,
F, and I most of all.

“But, unlike Cold Harbor or Petersburg, there was
victory to show for this fearful outlay. And it was
the first cup of palpable, unquestionable, unmistak-
able victory that the Second Connecticut, with all its
marching and fighting, had ever tasted.

“Nobly did the valiant regiment sustain itself in
this sanguinary conflict, and, summing up his opera-
tions in the Valley, Sheridan said,—

““At Winchester, for a moment, the contest was uncertain, but the
gallant attack of Gen. Upton’s brigade, of the Sixth Corps, restored the
line of battle, until the turning column of Crook, and Merritt's ‘and

Averill’s divisions of cavalry, under Torbert, “sent the enemy whirling
through Winchester.”’’

“Tt would seem, from Sheridan’s report, that the
brunt of the fighting at Fisher’s Hill did not fall on
Wheaton’s division. Nevertheless, the Second Con-
necticut had five killed and nineteen wounded, while
the entire loss of the Sixth Corps was only two hun-
dred and thirty-seven. So that the loss in our regi-
ment was fully eight per cent. of that of the entire
corps, although the regiment probably did not con-
stitute more than four per cent. of the corps,—perhaps
less. Among the killed was Quartermaster-Sergt.
David B. Wooster, of Company D, one of the best
men that ever entered the service. The Nineteenth
Corps lost sixty, and Crook probably less; so that the
victory at Fisher's Hill was very easily and cheaply
bought, in comparison with the price paid for some
other victories.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 67

 

“The regiment moved from bivouac near Win-
chester before daylight on the 20th, and by the mid-
dle of the afternoon encamped just south of Cedar
Creek, remaining until the afternoon of the next day,
when it moved off to the right of the pike, taking a
circuitous route through wooded ravines and over
wooded hills, and at length came out upon open
fields about a mile and a half west or southwest of
Strasburg. This was on the evening of the 2lst.
Here lines of battle were formed, and a stay was
made of about two hours, after which the march was
continued by the right flank, up a steep and winding
hillside, until midnight, when the regiment halted
under arms until daylight on the very top of a hill
fully as high as Fisher’s Hill, and separated from it
by Tumbling River. The enemy’s stronghold was on
the top of the opposite hill, directly. across the
stream. In the morning breastworks were com-
menced, part of the men building while the rest re-
mained in line of battle. Lively skirmishing was
going on all day, and once or twice things were
hastily put in readiness to meet an anticipated
charge, which, however, did not come. About three
o’clock in the afternoon orders were given to pitch
tents, but while the men were at it a general advance
was ordered. The regiment had but just commenced
to move directly forward when the rebels (who knew
every inch of the ground, and could tell where our
lines ought to be, whether visible or not) began to
drop shells into their new breastworks and upon the
very spot where they had begun to pitch tents. The
regiment moved: down the steep hill, waded the
stream, and moved up the rocky front of the rebel Gib-
raltar. How they ever got up there is a mystery, for
the ascent of that rocky declivity would now seem an
impossibility to an unburdened traveler, even though
there were no deadly enemy at the top. But up they
went, clinging to rocks and bushes. The main rebel
breastwork, which they were so confident of holding,
was about fifteen rods back from the top of the bluff,
with brush piled in front of it. Just as the top was
reached the Eighth Corps struck the enemy on the
right, and their flight was very disordered and pre-
cipitate. The Second Connecticut was the first regi-
ment that reached and planted colors on the works
from the direct front.* After firing until the rebels
were so far off that it was a waste of powder, the pur-
suit was resumed and kept up all night, although
but little progress was made on account of the block-
ade of the road both by the pursuing army and the
property abandoned by the enemy. Although the
regiment experienced considerable marching, nothing
of especial importance occurred until October 10th,
when the Sixth Corps left Strasburg and moved to
Front Royal, on its way to Alexandria,—whence it

 

* The men were so bewildered by the daily and nightly marching and
fighting that some of them lost their reckoning, and there hay ever
since been a dispute whether the Fisher’s Hill affair came off on the
2ist or 22d. It was on the 22d, at about five o’clock in the afternoon.

_be the next shift in the scenes.

 

was to embark for Petersburg. It was believed that
the punishment inflicted on the rebels at Winches-
ter, Fisher’s Hill, and all through the valley would
incline them to give up the project of carrying
the war across the Potomac. This was evidently the
opinion of Grant, Sheridan, and the authorities at
Washington ; and thus it happened that we were on
the way back to City Point, leaving the valley in the
care of the Eighth and Nineteenth Corps and the
cavalry. After resting near Front Royal until the
morning of the 18th, the corps started to cross the
Blue Ridge; but, instead of going through Manassas
Gap, as was at first intended, the route was changed
for the one via Ashby’s Gap, a few miles farther
north, and we moved in that direction. We had
passed through White Post and Millwood, and the
advance had almost entered the gap, when there was
a sudden ‘right about,’ and the whole corps moved
back and encamped at Millwood. ‘What’s up now?’
was the universal question. And when the answer was
given that Early, strongly reinforced, had followed us
up again, and was in his Gibraltar at Fisher’s Hill,
and his outposts challenging another ‘set-to,’ the
next universal and wondering question was, ‘Hasn’t
old Jewball had drubbing enough yet?’

“ He doubtless had. But Mr. Davis’ government
was in a fearful strait, and the suddenness and vigor
of Early’s return to the ‘scratch’ proved that even
before the roar of battle at Fisher’s Hill had died
away it had been decreed that one more desperate
attempt should be made to defeat Sheridan in the
Shenandoah valley.

“The corps moved westward early in the morning,t
struck the valley pike at Newtown, rejoined the
Eighth and Nineteenth Corps at Middletown, and
the whole army encamped between Middletown and
Strasburg, along the northern bank of a tributary of
the Shenandoah called ‘Cedar Creek.” The Eighth
Corps was on the left, the Nineteenth in the centre,
and ours on the right, and somewhat in the rear. For
the next few days there was much quiet, and a good
deal of speculation among the troops as to what would
The enemy was close
in front, just as he had been for weeks preceding the
battle of Winchester; but this attitude, which might
once have been called defiance, now seemed to be
mere impudence, and it was the general opinion
that Early did not wish nor intend to fight again, but
that he was to be kept there, with a small force, as a
standing threat, in order to prevent Sheridan’s army
from returning to Grant. And yet there was some-
thing mysterious in his conduct. He was known to

/ be receiving reinforcements, and his signal-flags on

Threetop Mountain ( just south of Fisher’s Hill) were
continually in motion. From the top of Massanutton
Mountain—the peak at the north end of the range
that. separates the Luray from the main valley—his

 

+ Oct. 14, 1864.
68

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

videttes could look down upon the whole Union
army, as one can look down upon New Haven from
East Rock; and there is no doubt that the exact
location of every camp and the position of every gun
and every picket-post were thoroughly known to him.
Nevertheless, it seemed the most improbable thing in
the world that he could be meditating either an open
attack or a surprise. One would have supposed that
the more he saw of our camp, the less inclined he
would have been to disturb it. The position was
strong, the creek and its crossings in possession of our
pickets, both along the front and well out on either

flank.
“Mr. Greeley, in his ‘American Conflict,’ thus de-

scribes the surprise :

“Our forces were encamped on three crests or ridges: the Army of
West Virginia (Crook’s) in front; the Nineteenth Corps (Emory’s) half
amile behind it; the Sixth Corps (Wright's) to the right and rear of
the Nineteenth. Kitching’s provisional division lay behind Crook’s
left; the cavalry, under Torbert, on the right of the Sixth. It is a fact,
though no excuse, that they had no more apprehension of an attack from
Early than from Canada.

“Early had arranged his army in two columns, in order to strike
ours at once on both flanks. He had of course to leave the turnpike
and move over rugged paths along the mountain-side, climbing up and
down steep hills, holding on by bushes, where horses could hardly keep
their feet, and twice fordiug the north fork of the Shenandoah,—the
second time in the very face of our pickets. For miles his right column
skirted the left of Crook’s position, where an alarm would have exposed
him to utter destruction. So imperative was the requirement of silence
that his men had been made to leave their canteens in camp, lest they
should clatter against their muskets. The divisions of Gordon, Ramseur,
and Pegram thus stole by our left, those of Kershaw and Wharton
simultaneously flanking our right.

“At two a.m. the pickets of the Fifth New York Heavy Artillery
(Kitching’s division) heard a rustling of underbrush and a sound as of
stealthy, multitudinous trampling, and two posts were relieved and
sent into camp with the report. Gen. Crook thereupon ordered that a
good lookout be kept, but sent out no reconnoitring party; even the
gaps in his front line caused by detailing regiments for picket-duty were
not filled; and, when the crash came, the muskets of many of our men
were not loaded. There was some suspicion and uneasiness in Crook’s
command, but no serious preparation.

“*An hour before dawn the rebels had all reached, without obstruc-
tion or mishap, the positions severally assigned them, and stood shiver-
ing in the chill mist, awaiting the order to attack. No sound of alarm,
no hum of preparation, disquieted them. At length, as the gray light
of dawn disclosed the eastern hilltops, a tremendous volley of musketry,
on either flank and away to the rear, startled the sleepers into bewil-
dered consciousness; and the next moment, with their well known bat-
tle-yell, the charging lines came on.

“««Tell the brigade commanders to move their men into the trenches,”
said Gen, Grover, calmly; aud the order was given; but it was already
too late. The rebels, disdaining to notice the picket-fire, were them-
selves in the trenches on both flanks before our soldiers could occupy
them in effective force, On our side, all was amazement and confusion;
on theirs, thorough wakefulness and perfect comprehension. In fifteen
minutes the Army of West Virgivia was a flying mob; one battalion of
its picket-line had lost one hundred killed and wounded and seven hun-
dred prisoners, The enemy, knowing every foot of ground as familiarly
as their own door-yards, never stopped to reconnoiter or consider, but
rushed on with incredible celerity.’

“The Second Connecticut had its full share of
the varied fortunes of that wondrous day. The
exact number present for duty on that morning
cannot be given,—for there was no time for roll-
calls,—but the morning report of a day or two pre-
vious showed

 

Officers. Enlisted Men,
Present, 25 Present, 708
Absent, 25 Absent, 648

50 1356

“These six hundred and forty-eight absent men
were scattered allover. Every hospital at City Point,
Alexandria, Washington, Baltimore, Annapolis, Sandy
Hook, Georgetown, Philadelphia, Newark, New York,
and New Haven had a share of them, sick, wounded,
convalescent, or on duty as nurses: besides which,
there were prisoners, stragglers, men on sick furlough,
men absent without leave, and men on detached ser-
vice. Of the seven hundred and eight reported pres-
ent, probably not more than two-thirds were ‘ pres-
ent for duty,’--that is, there were not more than four
hundred and seventy-two muskets—probably not so
many—that went into the fight. The remaining two
hundred and thirty-six are to be accounted for in va-
rious ways. They were detailed in the medical, com-
missary, quartermaster, and ordnance departments;
also as pioneers, blacksmiths, butchers, cattle-drivers,
stretcher-bearers, teamsters, ambulance-drivers, offi-
cers’ cooks, guards, and orderlies at brigade, division,
and corps headquarters. Some were sick in the field
hospital. Company L and part of Company E were
on picket. Then there were the drummers, fifers, and
band. Nor were all the twenty-five ‘ present’ offi-
cers available for action with the regiment. Out of
that number must be deducted Lieut. Cleveland, who
was on duty as inspector-general on the staff of Gen.
Hamblin, the brigade commander; Surgeon Plumb
and Assistant Surgeons Hassard and Andrews, all of
whom were sure to have a multitude of new patients
on their hands in a few minutes; Quartermaster Hux-
ley and Chaplain Phelps ; and Lieuts. Henry Skinner
and Austin P. Kirkham, both of whom were on picket,
and were taken prisoners early in the morning. The
appended list of casualties will show, therefore, that
our losses at Cedar Creek were greater, in proportion
to the number engaged, than in any other fight, not
even excepting Cold Harbor.

“On the morning of the 19th most of the regiment
were up long before reveille, and many had begun to
cook their coffee, on account of that ominous popping
and cracking which had been going on for half an hour
off to the right. They did not exactly suppose it meant
anything, but they had learned wisdom by many a sud--
den march on an empty stomach, and did not propose to
be caught napping. The clatter on the right increased.
The musket-shots reverberated through the fog, and at
last, ‘Whang! ng-ng-ng’! went a piece of artillery.
And then another. And then a smart cannonading,
and more musketry. It began to be the wonder why
no orders came. But suddenly every man seemed to '
lose interest in the right, and turned his inquiring
eyes and ears towards the Jeff, Rapid volleys and a
vague tumult told that there was froudle there. ‘Fall
in!’ said Mackenzie. ‘Shoulder’ Arms / Battalion!
MILITARY HISTORY.

69

 

Left! Face/ File Left! March! Double Quick!
March ’ The brigade moved briskly off towards the
east, crossing the track of other troops and batteries
of artillery which were hurriedly swinging into posi-
tion, while ambulances, orderlies, staff-officers, camp-
followers, pack-horses, cavalrymen, sutlers’ wagons,
hospital-wagons, and six-mule teams of every de-
scription came trundling and galloping pell-mell to-
wards the right and rear, and making off towards Win-
chester. It was not a hundred rods from our own
camp to the place where we went into position, on a
road running north. Gen. Wright, the temporary
commander of the army, bareheaded, and with blood
trickling from his beard, sat on his horse near by, as
if bewildered, or in a brown study. The Sixty-fifth
New York was on our left, and then came the Second
Division. The First Brigade* (Penrose’s) was on the
right of ours, and then came the Third Division.
The ground was cleared in front of the road, and
sloped off some.thirty rods to a stream, on the oppo-
site of which it rose for about an equal distance, to a
piece of woods, in which the advance rebel line had
already taken position. Truly does Pollard say that
‘a heavy fog favored them.’ The newly-risen sun,
huge and bloody, was on their side in more senses than
one. Our line faced directly to the east, and we could
see nothing but that enormous disk rising out of the
fog, while they could see every man in our line, and
could take good aim. The battalion lay down, and
part of the men began to fire, but the shape of the
ground afforded little protection, and large numbers
were killed and wounded. Four-fifths of our loss for
the entire day occurred during the time we lay here,
which could not have been over five minutes, by the
end of which time the Second Connecticut found itself
in an isolated position, not unlike that at Cold Harbor.
‘Go and ask Penrose where he’s going with that bri-
gade,’ said Col. Mackenzie to the writer hereof. (The
Jerseys had withdrawn from our right, and were mov-
ing directly across our rear to the left, with Penrose
on foot, some distance ahead of his line.) ‘Col. Pen-
rose, Mackenzie wants to know where you are going
with that brigade.’ ‘I’m not going anywhere. T’m
wounded,’ was the energetic reply, which was carried
to Col. Mackenzie. Just then Lieut. Cleveland rode
up on a keen jump and said, ‘Col. Mackenzie, Gen.
Wheaton wants you to move directly to the rear by
right of companies.’ Mackenzie replied, ‘My God!
Icannot! This line will break if I do.’ ‘Well,’ said
Cleveland, pointing to the left, ‘there goes the Sixty-
fifth, and the First, Brigade is gone.’ A few seconds
later, Mackenzie’s horse, ‘Old Pop,’ was struck square
in the head, and after spinning around two or three
times on his hind-legs went down dead as a stone;
and the colonel, who had previously got a shot through
the heel, went off over his head. The fog had now
thinned away somewhat, and a firm rebel line, with

 

* Algo called the Jersey Brigade.

 

colors full high advanced, came rolling over a knoll
just in front of our left, not more than three hundred
yards distant. ‘Rise up! Retreat! said Mackenzie;
and the battalion began to move back. For a little
distance the retreat was made in very good order, but
it soon degenerated into a rout. Men from a score of
regiments were mixed up in flight, and the whole
corps was scattered over acres and acres, with no more
organization than a herd of buffaloes. Some of the
wounded were carried for a distance by their comrades,
who were at length compelled to leave them to their
fate in order to escape being shot.

“ About a mile from the place where the retreat
commenced there was a road running directly across
the valley. Here the troops were rallied, and aslight
defense of rails thrown up. The regimental and bri-
gade flags were set up as beacons to direct each man
how to steer through the mob, and in a very few min-
utes there was an effective line of battle established.
A few round shot ricocheted overhead, making about
an eighth of a mile at a jump, and a few grape were
dropped into a ditch just behind our line, quickly
clearing out some soldiers who had crawled in there,
but this was the extent of the pursuit. Mackenzie
and Hamblin now left for the hospital to have their
wounds dressed, and the whole brigade (and a very
small brigade it was!) was deployed as skirmishers
under Col. Olcott, of the One Hundred and Twenty-
first NewYork. Three lines ofskirmishers were formed,
and each in turn constituted the front line, while the
other two passed through and halted; and so the re-
treat was continued for about three miles, until a halt
was made upon high ground, from which we could
plainly see the Johnnies sauntering around on the
very ground where we had slept.

“Tt must have been after noon when we left that
position, and moved eastward through the wood, by
Sheridan’s order, to join the Second Division and meet
the enemy.

“ About two o’clock we were posted, in two lines, in
the southwestern edge of a piece of woods, in front of
which was an open, side-hill field, at the top of which,
along a stone wall, was the rebel skirmish-line, while
the main line was not a great distance back of it.
Their assault had already been made, and repulsed by
the Nineteenth Corps. About three o’clock we could
hear the cheering to the right as Sheridan rode along
the line, but that personage did not get within sight
of our regiment. By this time Hamblin and Macken-
zie had returned to take part in the ‘left half-wheel’
which had been ordered. The lines moved forward
over the ascending ground, under a galling but not
very destructive fire from the rebel skirmishers, who
soon gave up the stone wall to us and retreated on
their main line. A square musketry fight was kept
up here for ten minutes, when the enemy left, not,
however, before inflicting considerable damage on us.
Here Col. Mackenzie was again struck by a solid shot
or shell which just grazed his shoulder. A remarka-
70 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

bly large number of our officers were wounded at this
point, but none fatally, nor even very severely. (In
the morning the casualties among officers had been
few and severe, Hosford being killed, and Fenn and
Gregory losing each an arm.)

“The enemy attempted to rally behind another
fence, a little farther back, but after a moment or two
gave it up and ‘retired.’ Not only in front of our
regiment, but all along as far as the eye could reach,
both to the right and left, were they flying over the
uneven country in precisely the same kind of disor-
der that we had exhibited in the morning. The
shouts and screams of victory mingled with the roar
of the firing, and never was heard

“So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.’

The sight of so many rebel heels made it a very easy
thing to be brave, and the Union troops pressed on
utterly regardless of the grape and canister which, to
the last moment, the enemy flung behind him. It
would not have been well for them to have fired too
much if they had had ever so good a chance, for they
would have been no more likely to hit our men than
their own who were our prisoners and scattered in
squads of twenty, squads of ten, and squads of one all
over the vast field. At one time they made a deter-
mined stand along a ridge in front of our brigade. A
breastwork of rails was thrown together, colors planted,
a nucleus made, and both flanks grew longer and longer
with wonderful rapidity. It was evident that they
were driving back their men to this line without re-
gard to regiment or organization of any kind. This
could be plainly seen from the adjacent and similar
ridge over which we were moving, the pursuers being
in quite as much disorder (so far as organizations were
concerned) as the pursued. That growing line began
to look ugly, and somewhat quenched the ardor of the
chase. It began to be a question in many minds
whether it would not be a point of wisdom to ‘survey
the vantage of the ground’ before getting much farther.
But just as we descended into the intervening hollow
a body of cavalry, not large, but compact, was seen
scouring along the fields to our right and front like a
whirlwind, directly towards the left flank of that for-
midable line on the hill. When we reached the top
there was no enemy there! They had moved on, and
the cavalry after them. Thus the chase was contin-
ued, from position to position, for miles and miles, for
hours and hours, until darkness closed in, and every
regiment went into camp on the identical ground it
had left in such haste in the morning. Every man
tied his shelter tent to the very same old stakes, and
in half an hour coffee was boiling and salt pork sput-
tering over thousands of camp-fires. Civil life may
furnish better fare than the army at Cedar Creek had
that night, but not better appetites; for it must be
borne in mind that many had gone into the fight di-
rectly from their beds, and had eaten nothing for
twenty-four hours.

 

“Late in the evening, after many were sound asleep,
the regiment was ordered to be formed in line with-
out arms. When the command to ‘ fall in’ was heard
the general question was, ‘ Well, old Jubal hasn’t for-
gotten anything and come back after it, has he? The
clause, ‘ without arms,’ however, showed that he had
not, although the soldiers expressed their perfect wil-
lingness to fight him in that way if he found himself

; still unable to restrain his pugnacity. The line being

formed, Capt. Jones—now in command of the regi-
ment—said, ‘Soldiers, I have just received a dis-
patch from Gen. Sheridan’s headquarters which an-
nounces that we have this day taken not less than
two thousand prisoners, forty-seven guns and caissons,
a large number of battle-flags, all the wagons and
supplies taken from us this morning, besides horses,
mules, wagon-trains, and material of all kinds in un-
known quantities, and that our victory is complete.
I now propose three cheers for Sheridan, ourselves,
our army, and the Union!’ They were given with
indescribable heartiness, while all the camps far and
near joined in full chorus. The battalion was dis-
missed, and thus ended the day that had witnessed
a battle which was, in many respects, without a par-
allel in ancient or modern history.

“The killed, wounded, and missing of the Sixth
Corps were two thousand two hundred and fifteen,
of which the Second Connecticut had its full share.
Men from every company started out the first thing
after reaching camp to look for our dead and wounded,
many of whom lay not fifty rods off. The slightly
wounded who had not got away had been taken pris-
oners and sent at once towards Richmond, while the
severely wounded had lain all day on the ground near
where they were hit. Some of the mortally wounded
were just able to greet their returning comrades, hear
the news of victory, and send a last message to their
friends before expiring. Corp. Charles M. Burr, of
Company E, went into the fight with Company B (his
own company being on picket), and was shot above
the ankle just after the battalion had risen up and
started to retreat. Both bones of his leg were shat-
tered, and he had to be left. In a few minutes the
rebel battalion, which I have already mentioned, came
directly over him in pursuit, and was soon out of his
sight. Then, being alone for a short time, he pulled
off the boot from his sound leg, put his watch and money
into it, and put it on again. Next a merciful rebel
lieutenant came and tied a handkerchief around his
leg, stanching the blood.

“Capt. Benjamin Hosford was shot in the morning
through the head and instantly killed. His brother
and other men of Company D carried the body about
half a mile on the retreat, and were compelled to
leave it there. At night it was found that the rebels
had taken a ring from his finger, the straps from his
coat, and the shoes from his feet. Corp. Henry L.
Vaill, of Company C, was found alive stripped of
everything, and so were many others.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 71

 

“Company D mustered only nineteen muskets,
and its commanding officer was Sergt. Hough. The
other companies were reduced to nearly the same
extent. The loss in officers was so great that for a
few days there were but six officers on duty with
twelve companies ; while little short soldiers who had
always been at the left end of the companies suddenly
found themselves corporals and sergeants. We re-
mained at Cedar Creek until the 9th of November,
when, on account of the scarcity of wood, and the
long distance from our base at Harper’s Ferry, the
army was moved to Camp Russell, near Kearnstown,
about four miles south of Winchester, where it re-
mained until the 2d of December. The morning re-
port for November 20th showed three hundred and
seventy-nine men and seventeen officers present for
duty, and the regiment was recruited daily both in
numbers and condition.

“Now that the rebels had been thrice defeated in
the valley, there remained no temptation for another
invasion of the Northern States. It was absolutely
certain that it would not be again attempted; and
therefore the Sixth Corps was ordered to City Point
again. On the Ist of December, Wheaton’s Division
marched to Stephenson’s Depot and took the cars for
Washington, en route to City Point. The regiment
-went into camp at Parke Station.

“From this time until the 6th of February the
regiment had no fighting to do, and no very startling
experiences of any kind. Some mention, however, of
the more noteworthy occurrences of this period will
be acceptable, at least to my soldier readers; and it
will perhaps be well to transcribe them direct from
some of the diaries in my possession. The following
entries are copied, mostly without alteration, from
the diaries of several officers and men, besides my
own:

“Dec. 11. Twenty-nine convalescents returned.

“Dec. 12. Fifty convalescents returned.

“Dec. 13. Capt. A. H. Fenn returned and reported for duty, although
it is not seven weeks since he lost his arm at Cedar Creek. What has
become of the adjutant’s desk? It was turned over to the quartermaster
at Camp Russell, but does not come.

“Dec.14. Good deal of anxiety in camp about Sherman's march coast-
ward. A Richmond minister told his congregation last Sunday that
God had a hook in Sherman’s nose, and was leading him to destruction.
Nous verrons !

“Dec. 15. We now have to furnish four officers and one hundred and
twenty-five men daily for picket. They are posted out by the rebel lead
mines, They frequently see the Johnnies and talk with them.

“Dec. 16. Heavy cannonading. Sergt. Soule and squad of carpenters
detailed for duty at division headquarters. They will fix things up gor-
geous. This is the regiment they have to apply to when they want
things done nice.

“Dec. 18. One hundred guns from Fort Sedgwick in honor of Thomas’
victory over Hood. They must enjoy the salute in Petersburg.

“Dec. 21, Rain played lullaby on the tent all last night. Quarters
well ventilated this morning, because rain washed mud off logs. Put it
‘on again. Plenty of water to mix mortar with. Kelley, McKinney,
Tuttle, Twiss, and Jo Fenn mustered as first lieutenants by Capt. Tyler,
commissary of musters.

“Dec. 23, Went clear up to Hancock's Station, via corduroy, to have
a brigade drill under Mackenzie.

“Dec. 26, Sherman presents Lincoln with a X-mas gift of Savannah,
one hundred and fifty guns, and twenty-five thousand bales cotton.

 

Much rejoicing thereat. Story afloat that Lee is going to do something
surprising on New Year's day.

“Dec. 21. Muster day. Very busy with the pesky rolls. Capt.
Marsh’s rolls first in, of course.

“1865,

“Jan.1. Gad Smith and John Wheeler returned.

“Jan. 2. Wheeler mustered as first lieutenant, and goes on brigade
staff as A. A. A. G., vice Ed Hubbard, who is discharged and goes Iome.

“Jan. 3. Eight companies on fatigue duty. News received of Butler's
fizzle at Wilmington.

“Jan.4. Three inches snow.
night because too cold to sleep.

“Jan.5. Muddy. New Springfields came to take the place of En-
fields. Farewell, old Enfields! Every one of you could tell thrilling
tales if you could speak. And you can speak !

“Jan. 6. All our division moved down corduroy, a mile to left, and
formed square to witness execution of Peter McCox, deserter from Com-
pany A, Fourth New Jersey, First Brigade, First Division, Sixth Corps.
Stood ‘in place rest’ an hour, waiting. Prisoner unable to walk, brought
clear round the square in ambulance, preceded by band playing Dead
March in Saul, Coffin placed on the ground in front of open grave.
Prisoner seated on foot of coffin. Proceedings, findings, and sentence
of court-martial read in front of each regiment. Prisoner blindfolded,
and firing party of twelve men drawn up in front, in single rank, about
twenty paces off. Captain of provost-guard gave the order ‘Fire!’
Good many men turned away their heads. Prisoner fell back and off on
the ground, leaving one leg on the coffin. Division then wheeled into
column by companies, marched by the coffin, and then home.

“Jan. 7. Inspection. Mackenzie appeared in stars. Cleanest man
in each regiment to go to division headquarters to compete for a twenty
days’ furlough. One man from each of B, D, K, BE, and M Companies
sent to brigade headquarters. Sam Terrell, the lucky man out of the
whole division.

“Jan. 9. Rebels made charge on Third Division picket-line, a little
to our left. Promptly met and defeated. Caused no disturbance in
camp.

“Jan. 10. Snowdy returned. Our daily picket detail is now five offi-
cers and one hundred and five men. Prettyrough. Makes a man’s turn
come pretty often.

“Jan. 11. Got eighteen potatoes from brigade commissary. Maj. Jef-
frey Skinner appointed to command the Sixty-fifth New York while
Col. Fisk is absent on leave.

“Jan. 12. Noisy picket firing. Curtis made regimental ordnance
officer. Capt. Cleveland ordnance officer on Wheaton’s staff.

“Jan.14. Picket firing in our front.

“Jan. 15. Commenced to have brigade guard-mounting. Gen. Mac-
kenzie rode over to inspection on his nankeen, in that new gawly hat,
and inspected the regiment at a support. Niram Buttolph, of Company
G, sent to division headquarters, aud got the division furlough. Gen.
Wheaton said he was the handsomest soldier he ever saw, Cleveland
and Fenn are majors.

“Jan. 16. Received four hundred and eighty-nine sets of ‘Mann’s
Patent Accoutrements.’ Boys don’t like ’em. Call ’em ‘belly trunks.’
Company F is at Fort McMahon.

“Jan. 17. Salute of one hundred guns for Terry’s capture of Fort
Fisher and twelve hundred prisoners. Capt. Woodman made A. A. A.G.,
and Johnny Wheeler A. A. D. C.

“Jan. 18. Lieut. Oscar Platt discharged. Ab. Dunham and Mr.
Dewell arrived. Their goods are at City Point, awaiting transportation.
Thirty-eight convalescents and substitutes arrived in evening.

“Jan. 20. Mackenzie on fifteen days’ leave. Lieut.-Col. Olcott, One
Hundred and Twenty-first New York, commands brigade. Lieut.-Col.
Skinner returned to regiment.

“Jan. 22. In the evening went with Capt. Marsh and chaplain to
Maj. Jones’ quarters to hear a large discussion on the resurrection.
Later, went over to Capt. Marsh’s and talked of war, love, and the kin-
dred destructive arts.* ;

“Jan, 23. Large lot of deserters came in on the left, They come
thicker since the fall of Fort Fisher, Charleston, and Savannah. Won-
der what is going on atthe right? Furious cannonading, heaviest we ever
heard; fairly shook the earth.

“Jan. 24, It was the battle of the monitors, Rebels tried to take
City Point. We should have been in a pretty fix if they had succeeded !
Inspection. Grannis (of D Company) sent to brigade headquarters as

Good many men sit by their fires all

 

* Curtis’ diary. (Of course.)
72

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

cleanest man, but Olcott villainously threw him out, and sent a One
Hundred and Twenty-first man to division headquarters.

“Jan. 26. Hubbard mustered as cofonel, and relieves Olcott in com-
mand of brigade. Skinner mustered as lieutenant-colonel, and commands
regiment.

“Jan. 29. Inspection. Zelotes Grannis got it this time. Iselton, of
H, Dugette, of L, Atwood, of A, and a B man also received furloughs.

“Feb. 1. Orders received at three a.m. to be ready to move at a mo-
ment’s notice. Ed Sedgwick mustered as second lieutenant of Company
C. Somebody checkmated.

“Feb. 2. James W. Dixon, son of Senator Dixon, has been kindly
given to the regiment, and mustered into a vacant lieutenancy, to serve
on the staff of Gen. Wright. Gen. Wright must have a poor opinion of
his corps if he cannot by this time find timber in it good enough to
make aides-de-camp of without going to Connecticut. There are plenty
of men in this regiment yet uncommissioned, and yet unkilled, as re-
spectable, as able, and probably as brave, as can be found anywhere, and
they deem it rather shabby treatment, after they have marched through
fire and blood for months, after many of them have been perforated with
rebel bullets, and are now on duty with scarcely healed wounds, for
Gen. Wright to fill a vacancy in the Second Connecticut by the ‘dona-
tion’ (that is what they call it) of a boy who has remained with his
mother all through the war, until the fighting is all over, and the whole
world knows that the Rebellion is in the article of death. But then, you
know, his father has been of enormous service to the country. Soldiers
must take what they can get. They must put their heels together, keep
their eyes to the front, and ask no questions. If I ever get home with
a whole cuticle, I will be grateful evermore.

“Feb. 4. Brisk firing on right. Officers’ recitation at brigade head-
quarters two evenings per week. :

“On the morning of February 5th we had orders
to be in readiness to move with four days’ rations,
leaving our pickets out, and leaving the minimum
force necessary to hold the lines. Companies A, K,
and portions of H and E were detailed to remain
(which was not an unpleasant ‘ detail’). The Fifth
Corps was fighting on the left, in the vicinity of
Hatcher’s Run, and it was guessed (and truly) that
we were to go in that direction. After remaining in
readiness until four o’clock in the afternoon, the First
Division moved off to the left, and after going about
five miles bivouacked for the night. It was bitter
cold sleeping that night,—so cold that half of the
men stood or sat around fires all night. In the morn-
ing the movement was continued, and the day* was
mostly consumed in mancuvring. We were there
for the purpose of protecting the left flank of the
Fifth Corps, which had been fighting all day. A
little before sundown we crossed Hatcher’s Run, and
moved by the flank directly into a piece of woods, the
Second Brigade, under Hubbard, leading the division,
and the Second Connecticut, under Skinner, leading
the brigade. Wounded men were being brought by
to the rear, and the noise just ahead told of mischief
there. As the brigade was moving into the woods,
staff-officers came riding along the column with the
order, ‘Load your pieces, load your pieces without
halting.’ Col. Hubbard filed to the left at the head
of the column, along a slight ridge, and about half
the regiment had filed, when troops of the Fifth
Corps came running through to the rear, and at the
same moment Gen. Wheaton rode up with, ‘Oblique
to the left, oblique to the left!’ and making energetic
gestures towards the rise of ground. The ridge was

 

* February 6th.

 

quickly gained, and fire opened just in time to head
off a counter-fire and charge that was already in
progress; but between the ‘file left’ and the ‘left
oblique,’ and the breaking of our ranks by troops re-
treating from in front, and the vines and underbrush
(which were so thick that they unhorsed some of the
staff-officers), there was a good deal of confusion, and
the line soon fell back about ten rods, where it was
re-formed, and a vigorous fire poured—somewhat at
random—a little to the left of our first position. The
attempt of the enemy to get in on the left of the
Fifth Corps was frustrated. Our casualties were six
wounded (some of them probably by our own men)
and one missing. The position was occupied that
night and the next day, until aboutsundown, when the
brigade shifted some distance to the right and again
advanced, under an artillery fire, to within a short
distance of the rebel batteries and built breastworks,
One shot on this occasion was particularly memorable,
The regiment was moving across a cleared field, by
the flank, when a solid shot came through the woods
from directly in front, and passed the column ap-
parently so near as to singe the left ears of the whole
line. If it had come ten feet farther towards the
right it might have ‘flanked’ the entire regiment and
cut a swath from one end to the other. The rebel
picket-shots whistled overhead all the time the breast-
works were building, but mostly too high to hurt any-
thing but the trees. At midnight the division moved
back to quarters, arriving at sunrise. Again we found
our domiciles appropriated, this time by a regiment of
engineers,—but out they went, and in went we; and,
having taken a ration of whisky,—which had been
ordered by Grant or somebody else, in consideration
of three nights and two days on the bare ground in
February, together with some fighting and a good
deal of hard marching and hard work,—the men lay
down to sleep as the sun rose up, and did not rise up
until the sun went down.

“Tt was now the 24th of March. The weather was
fast improving, and signs of coming great events mul-
tiplied. No positive orders of a very important nature
had been received ; but the discontinuing of furloughs
plainly meant something in the aggressive line, while
the condition of things on the other side, as revealed
by the tattered and cadaverous deserters who now
came over to us not only in the night but also in
broad daylight, made it evident that Lee must do
something of dreadful note or else give over the
contest.

“What would be the particular manner of his coup
was a question much discussed, but not settled until
the coup occurred. Very early on the morning of
March 25th, after a noisy night all along the picket-
line, heavy firing was heard on the right, but there
was nothing uncommon about that, and little notice
was taken of it until orders came from brigade head-
quarters to ‘move out instantly.’ Shortly after, Gen.
Hamblin arrived to expedite matters, and in a few
MILITARY

HISTORY. 73

 

minutes the brigade was on the corduroy moving
rapidly to the right, which was of itself quite a note-
worthy circumstance, for we usually went to the left
when mischief was brewing. ‘Oh, we sha’n’t get into
a fight,’ said the men; ‘ we always have to go the other
way to find our fighting.’ These remarks were of
course made ina partially jocular vein, but they were,
nevertheless, entirely true. Indeed, that very day
proved both parts of the proposition,—viz., first, that
the Second Connecticut never fought to the right,
and, secondly, always did fight to the left.

“The firing subsided after we had gone a mile or
so, but there was much moving of troops, and evi-
dently something the matter ahead. The rebel bat-
teries had range on portions of the column, and fired
at us as we were on the corduroy, dropping several
shots only a few feet away. One struck within a rod
of our regiment, splashing into a small puddle of
water and burying itself in the earth directly under a
soldier of the division who was sitting on the ground
and fixing his shoes. He did not stir for a second or
two, but then, picking up his musket and shoe, he
started on half a dozen double-quicks, and it is to
this day a mooted question with our men whether
that man has stopped running yet. After moving a
little farther, a staff-officer rode up with the informa-
tion that the rebels had surprised and captured Fort
Stedman, on the Ninth Corps front, and a quarter of
a mile of breastworks, including three batteries; but
that they had been retaken, together with eighteen
hundred prisoners, and that therefore our assistance
would not be required.

“ After a rest of half an hour the division moved
homeward. But instead of going into camp there
was an ominous halt of a few minutes in rear of our
quarters, and then the march was continued towards
the left, where a brisk artillery fire was going on.
Grant knew that the massing of troops for the assault
at Fort Stedman must have left the rebel lines with
little or no protection in some places, and he resolved
at once to find the weak spots. Accordingly, an ad-
vance was ordered in front of Fort Fisher, near the
tall frame lookout, about a mile to the left of Warren’s
Station. Our troops were posted under cover during
nearly all the afternoon, while the large guns threw
shot and shell at each other over our heads. At
length a train of ambulances moved up from the
right, and halted just in rear of the division. There
was no mistaking that symptom.

“The sun had already begun to grow large and red
with its nearness to the western horizon when the
brigade was moved down in front within twenty rods
of the rebel picket-line, and halted behind a slight
rise of ground, just high enough to intercept their
fire. After standing there for some ten minutes wait-
ing for orders, Col. Hubbard rode slowly along to the
right flank of his line, and said in a low tone to the
writer, ‘If they don’t put us in soon, we sha’n’t have
much fighting to-night.’ After he had gone back,

 

Sergt.-Maj. E. Goodwin Osborne stepped up and
asked what the colonel said, and was informed.
‘There is time enough yet,’ he replied, in a low but
foreboding tone. The parting sunset ray, had not
vanished before his lifeless form was borne on a rub-
ber blanket towards the rear, across the very spot
where he had uttered these prophetic words.

“The fire from our batteries suddenly ceased. Gen.
Hamblin rode up to Hubbard, and said, ‘Colonel,
move directly forward. Conform your movement to
the Second Division, on your left.’ The front line,
consisting of the Second Connecticut and the Sixty-
fifth New York, advanced on the rifle-pits as steadily
as though on a battalion drill, while the rest of the
brigade followed in a second line. There seems to
have been a vacant space in their line of rifle-pits, or
else the Second Division and the greater part of our
brigade must have entirely flanked their pickets on
the left. At any rate, the only part of our regiment
that went over any rifle-pits was the extreme right,—
perhaps one or two companies. When we were with-
in fifty feet of them the rebels jumped over in front,
threw down their muskets, threw up their arms, and
yelled, ‘Don’t shoot, don’t shoot!’ and then passed
through to the rear in large numbers as fast as they
could move. The right flank was a little demoralized
by its success in taking these rifle-pits, and by the
fire which came from the pits farther to the right,
which the enemy still held; nevertheless, the regi-
ment moved on, across a swampy run, then over as-
cending ground, among stumps and scrub-oaks, for
twenty or thirty rods, and there halted and lay down.
This distance was all traversed under a combined
artillery and musket fire, the former coming from a
battery about half a mile to the right and front, which
was very effectively served. It apparently had three
guns in use, and the air was bdwe with the little cast-
iron balls from spherical case-shot, which shaved the
ground and exploded among the stumps just in rear
of the line at intervals of only a few seconds. Prob-
ably the musket fire came entirely from the enemy’s
pickets, who still remained on the right. Twenty of
the Second Connecticut were wounded—seven of
them mortally—in reaching, occupying, and aban-
doning this position, which, proving entirely unten-
able, was held only a few minutes. The line faced
about and moved back under the same mixed fire of
solid shot, spherical case, and musketry, across the
swampy run, and halted not far in front of the spot
whence it had first moved forward. Other troops, on
the right, now engaged the battery, and captured the
rest of the picket-line, and after half an hour the bri-
gade again moved forward to a position still further
advanced than the previous one, where a permanent
picket-line was established. Thus ended the event-
ful 25th of March. Its dawn ushered in the surpris-
ing attack on Fort Stedman, and its close found miles
of the rebel picket-lines in our possession, thousands
of prisoners in our hands, and the grip of the Union
G4

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

armies upon Petersburg greatly tightened. At mid-
night the brigade returned to camp, leaving a strong
picket. The picket detail from our own regiment,
which had been on duty all day in front of our own
camp, had its share in the work and success of the
day, occupying the rebel rifle-pits that night, and cap-
turing more than their number in prisoners.

“The Fort Fisher picket was relieved about noon
of the next day, and returned to camp. All hands
were compelled to come out on inspection and dress
parade that afternoon; and immediately afterwards a
detail of one hundred and fifty men relieved our
regular pickets in front, who had been out since the
morning before,—i.e., thirty-six hours. At midnight a
working-party was also sent out to move forward our
picket abatis to the new line. At three o’clock on
the morning of the 27th, mounted Orderly Keith
came with orders to have the regiment fall in at
four and stand by the breastworks. Lively firing
was going on all along, but nothing momentous oc-
curred, and at sunrise the line broke ranks and fell
to cooking coffee.

“The experience of the regiment for the next six
days cannot be set forth in a more readable manner
than as it stands recorded in the spicy diary of Lieut.
Homer 8. Curtis, who became acting adjutant after
the affair at Fort Fisher, although still retained as
ordnance officer.

“March 27. Brisk skirmish and a charge just before light on Second
Division picket-line. Some movement near the lookout to-day that
looked like a charge; but none came off. Picket firing all day. Our
picket not relieved. Got four thousand E. B. cartridges from division
ordnance officer. Charley Gosley runs the adjutant’s department pretty
much. Capt. Woodman (A. A. A. G.) ordered detail of five officers and
two hundred men fur night fatigue. Battalion drill one hour p.m.

“March 28, Spring-like, hazy, fair. Fatigue detail came into camp
at three a.m., and the entire force was called up and got under arms at
four. Some officers not very punctual, Tuttle, Fenn, etc., got rats from
the colonel. We stood till sunrise, and returned to quarters. Very funny,
especially for the boys that have not had any sleep in three nights.
Pleuty of swearing. I weut over to brigade guard-mount, and made a
bullof it considerable. Johnny a very showy sergeant-major, but just a
Lit careless or so. Parts of Sheridan’s cavalry—Twenty-fourth and
Twenty-fifth Corps—moving by to the left. Good news. Occupation of
Goldsboro’ by Sherman, and junction of Terry, Schofield, and Sherman.
Our loss on the 25th is found to have been five hundred; rebel loss, six
thousand.

“March 29. Orderly came from brigade headquarters at one a.m. with
orders for detail of five officers and two hundred men for reserve picket,
and orders fur regiment to be under arms from four o’clock till sunrise.
I got up and made the details, and had just lain down when Maj. Fenn
came riding up and ordered the regiment out instanter. So we got out

and stood in line until broad daylight. Capt. Redway, brigade officer of -

the day. Very quiet all along the lines through the day. Troops and
trains moving to left all day. Gen. Mackenzie with his cavalry corps,
two thousand strong, went by. Johnny Wheeler called at brigade head-
quarters. We were ordered and re-ordered to pack up and be all ready to
nove, but stayed the day out in camp finally. Tremendous cannonade
after taps, evening. We hustled out into line double quick, stood an
hour or so, then went in.

“March 30. Got out about five o’clock a.m., and stood in line about
an hour, in aright smart rain, Post guard-mount. Swept out huttie,
built fire, and took a doze. The adjutant’s tent is a leaky old concern,
and so cribbed up that one cannot move at all. Col. H. says we are to
make a charge at daylight.

“March 3l. Rained all last night, and until ten a.m. Orders came at
eleven o’cluck last night to pack up everything, shelters and all, fora
march. This was accomplished in a few minutes, and we stood ready to

 

form line some time, when Capt. Gordon came over to advise us that the
movement was temporarily suspended, and that the men might lie down
tosleep, but not unpack knapsacks. Got orders soon after for picket detai)
of four officers and one hundred and forty-seven men. Also to form line at
three o'clock a.m, We got out and stood shivering in the rain until day-
light, when we went in and put up canvas. Heavy firing ov left all a.sr,
At two P.M. orders came to pack up everything all ready for a move. We
go this time, sure, to see what the racket is down on the left. Moved out
as per order, formed line, stacked arms, unslung knapsacks, and went
back to quarters to wait orders to move, and to draw rations. Waited
patiently until retreat, until tattoo, and then got orders to take in guns
and packs, and sleep in clothes, all convenient for getting out quickly,
One thousand rumors areund,—all lies, of course, except the one about
the strengthening of the reb lines in our front. Stories of the Fifth
Corps swinging across the 8.8, R. road and occupying it, besides also
threatening the reb right flank. Bosh! If there were anything in it
we should have official despatches a plenty. Good-night.

“April 1. Lovely day. We got out at three o’clock a.m., and got up
allthe men, Sent one hundred and fifty out as picket reserve; formed
line with the remaining three companies, but soon a staff-officer came
over and ordered them out to the line. So every man but the guard went
out. Col. Hubbard had the camp patrolled for bummers, but got only a
lean haul. Companies returned atter sunrise. New picket went out at
nine A.M.,—one hundred and fifty men under Lucas, Anderson, Hoyt,
and Griswold. Smart firing in the morning on the left, but it soon died
away, and it remained very quiet all the rest of the day. At two pat, I
rode out to new picket-line, which is one-half mile in advance of the
old one. Found everything lovely,—boys gay, rebs civil. Saw Rich-
mond Sentinel of this morning,—exchanged by Fenn of ‘G’ for Herald,
—no uews in it. We had a dress parade, and tle day altogether has
seemed like one of the old fort days, but it cannot last long, and even as
I write the quartermaster has orders to pack up all his stores,

“Ten o’clock p.m. Colonel has just had all the commandants of compa-
nies up at his quarters, giving them instructions fur the morrow. We
are to move out by the left flank some time in the night, and form line
near Fort Fisher, by brigades, in two lines. Our brigade is on the right
of the corps, our regiment on the right of the brigade, in the front line,
The whole army is to charge simultaneously at fuur o’clock in the morn-
ing, and colonel says we are tu take Petersburg. Iam very hopeful.

“The events of the next twenty-four hours justified
the hopefulness of Lieut. Curtis.

“On the Ist of April, Sheridan, with cavalry and
infantry, won a great victory at Five Forks over the
divisions of Pickett and Bushrod Johnson. Mr. Pol-
lard tells us that on thet occasion five thousand rebels,
‘having got the idea that they were entrapped, threw
down their arms and surrendered themselves as pris-
oners.’ Indeed, the rebels all along the line seemed
about this time to have ‘got the idea’ badly; and
Gen. Grant determined to strengthen their hold upon
it hy a shotted salute in honor of Sheridan’s victory
at Five Forks. It was about eleven o’clock on the
evening of the 1st of April, and all quiet, when bang!
went a gun frcm Fort Wadsworth. Heavy firing ata
distance of three miles or more will not start soldiers
from their bunks. Every shot may destroy a regiment
or sink a ship: it will not destroy their repose. But
Fort Wadsworth was too near camp,—only fifty paces
off,—and the men were constrained to look out and
see the cannonading of which that shot was the open-
ing gun. Waterloo’s opening roar and Hohenlinden’s
far flashes were but the work of pop-guns in compari-
son with the artificial earthquakes that shook Peters-
burg and its bristling environs, and the lightnings
which came in such quick succession that the jaws of
darkness were not able to devour them up. Mr. Pol-
lard says of it,—
MILITARY

HISTORY. 75

 

“On the night of the Ist April, Grant celebrated the victory of Five
Forks, and performed the prelude of what was yet to come by a fierce
and continuous bombardment along his lines in front of Petersburg.
Every piece of artillery in the thickly-studded forts, batteries, and mor-
tar-beds joined in the prodigious clamor; reports, savagely, terrifically
crashing through the narrow streets and lanes of Petersburg, echoed up-
wards ; it appeared as if the fiends of air were engaged in a sulphurous
conflict.’

“At about midnight the regiment was called up
and ordered to pack up everything. Knapsacks,
however, were to be left behind; and, to secure greater
silence, canteens were to be worn on the right side.
Six companies and a half fell in (the rest being on
picket), and proceeded to brigade headquarters, and
thence to the neighborhood of Patrick’s Station. All
mounted officers were ordered to leave their horses
inside the earthworks; and the division moved out
in front, a little to the left of the lookout. A heavy
picket-fire was opened, under cover of which the
lines were formed, three or four deep in all except
our brigade, which had only two, although on the
right of the division, and our regiment (of course) in
the front line. The charge was expected to come off
at four o’clock, but day began to dawn before the sig-
nal-gun was fired. Skinner had command of the right
wing of the battalion, Jones of the left wing, Hub-
bard of the whole. The advance was made en echelon
by brigades, with a great rush and yell, although a part
of the First Brigade (the Jerseys) broke and ran in-
gloriously. The advance was over precisely the same
ground as on the 25th of March, and the firing came
from the same battery and breastworks, although
not quite so heavy. Lieut.-Col. Skinner and seven
enlisted men were wounded,—none of them mortally.

“A shot, which, judging from the hole it made, was
something smaller than a minie-ball, struck Skinner
on the side, under the right arm, went through an
overcoat, wadded blouse, and vest, pierced the skin
and traveled seven inches on the ribs, then came out
and sped on, and may have wounded another man, for
aught that is known to the contrary. There was but
little firing on our side, but with bayonets fixed the
boys went in,—not in a very mathematical right line,
but strongly and surely,—on, on, until the first line
was carried. Then invigorated and greatly encour-
aged by success, they pressed on,—the opposing fire
slackening every moment,—on, on, through the abatis
and ditch, up the steep bank, over the parapet, into
the rebel camp that had but just been deserted. Then,
and there, the long-tried and ever-faithful soldiers of
the Republic saw DAYLIGHT! and such a shout
as tore the concave of that morning sky it were worth
dying to hear. On the ground where so long the
rebels had formed and drilled their battalions our
line was now reformed, and then pushed on, over the
hills and far away, across a pike and past a telegraph,
which was quickly cut, then on, until at length Col.
Hubbard found himself and his half battalion alone
on the Boydtown plank road. After cutting off and
burning a small wagon-train loaded with medical

 

stores, we marched back to the rebel camp, where we
found the remainder of our brigade holding the right
of the captured line. The rest of the corps was in
line two miles farther to the left, where it had some
sharp fighting. Our skirmishers took several works
and guns, but for want of support had to relinquish
them, and the rebels, following up their slight advan-
tage, turned the guns on us, making it very uncom-
fortable for a few minutes,—our flank being quite
uncovered,—when, suddenly, hurrah! a column of
reinforcements come over the hill by Fort Fisher.
The rebels turn their guns in that direction, but to
no purpose; for the Twenty-fourth Corps marches
steadily forward, goes into line by regiments, ad-
vances a heavy skirmish-line, and then a superb line
of battle, whereupon the enemy abandon their works
and flee. This advance of the Twenty-fourth Corps
was one of the most magnificent sights our soldiers
ever saw: it drove the Rebellion before it as the
hurricane drives dead leaves. Our men watched the
charge until the line was a mile to the right, then
moved inside of our own works and rested an hour,
“The corps followed the Second Corps,—all except
our brigade, which was detached and ordered to re-
port to Gen. Parke, commanding the Ninth Corps.
We marched to the right, by the old camp near War-
ren’s Station, and up the corduroy to the rear of Fort
Hell, where a rest of an hour was made, in a fiercely
hot sun. Then the brigade advanced through a
covered way, past Fort Hell, and out in front to the
works that had been captured early that morning by
Hartranft’s division of the Ninth Corps. There the
men lay down in muddy trenches, among the dying
and the dead, under a most murderous fire of sharp-
shooters. There had been charges and counter-
charges, but our troops held all they had gained. At
length the hot day gave place to chilly night, and the
extreme change brought much suffering. The men
had flung away whatever was flingawayable during
the charge of the morning and the subsequent hot
march,—as men always will under like circumstances,
—and now they found themselves blanketless, stock-
ingless, overcoatless, in cold and damp trenches, and
compelled by the steady firing to lie still or adopt
a horizontal, crawling mode of locomotion which did
not admit of speed enough to quicken the circulation
of the blood. Indeed, it was very cold. Some took
the clothing from the dead and wrapped themselves
in it; others, who were fortunate enough to procure
spades, dug gopher holes and burrowed. At day-
light, Col. Fiske and the Sixty-fifth New York clam-
bered over the huge earthwork, took possession of
Fort Hell, opened a picket fire, and fired one of the
guns in the fort, eliciting noreply. Just then a huge
fire in the direction of the city, followed by several
explosions, convinced our side that Lee’s army had
indeed left. The regiment was hastily got together,
ninety muskets being all that could be produced,
and sent out on picket to relieve the Two Hundredth
76

Pennsylvania. The picket-line advanced, and, meet-
ing with no resistance, pushed on into the city.
What regiment was the first to enter the city is, and
probably ever will be, a disputed question. The
Second Connecticut claims to have been in first, but
Col. Hubbard had ordered the colors to remain be-
hind when the regiment went out on the skirmish
line, and consequently the Stars and Stripes that first
floated over captured Petersburg belonged to some
other regiment. Col. Hubbard was, however, made
provost-marshal of the city, and for a brief while
dispensed government and law in that capacity. But
city life was not conducive to good order and mili-
tary discipline, and the brigade shortly moved out
and marched gayly down to the old camp, four miles
away. After remaining there two hours everything
of a portable nature was packed up, a farewell leave
taken of the camp near Warren’s Station, and the
line of march taken up due west. The brigade now
furnished a striking illustration of the difference be-
tween the marching and fighting strength of an army.
It had come down from Petersburg to camp number-
ing three hundred; now nearly two thousand men,
all of the Second Brigade, started in pursuit of the
retreating Rebellion.

“ And now came the day of the last fight for the
Second Connecticut. It was the 6th of April, 1865.
Reveille sounded at 4.30, and at 5.30 the lines were
formed for an advance upon the enemy, who were in
force immediately in front. The affair is thus de-
scribed by Lieut. Curtis:

“After marching back two miles on the road by
which we came on the previous evening, we halted
for half an hour, and were then ordered back to the
ground from which we had just come. We had just
halted there, after a muddy, slippery march, and were
mourning that Lee had outwitted and escaped us,
when, hark! Firing in advance and to the right.
All right. We'll have him yet. We moved on and
struck the Danville Railroad at Amelia Court-House,
marching alongside of it for two miles, and on it for
a mile more, toward Burkesville. Here we met Johnny
Wheeler, wounded, and Mackenzie and his cavalry.
We struck off west-northwest from the railroad and
marched steadily forward, hour after hour, toward a
distant cannonade. At four o’clock we began to over-
take the cavalry, who reported everything going on
well. We passed fifteen hundred prisoners just taken
from Messrs. R. E. Lee & Co. The firing grew heavier
and nearer, and at five o’clock we reached the cavalry
battle-field of the morning. Although tired and
‘played out,’ there was no halt for us, but we moved
forward into position, advancing beyond our batteries,
which were playing a lively tune from a hill close by.
When formed, the line was advanced—sometimes by
brigade front and sometimes by a flank, but always
on, until we crossed Sailor’s Creek* and came to a

 

* A small tributary of the Appomattox.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

halt under a steep bank, from the crest of which the
rebels poured down a murderous fire. Two lines were
formed, the Second Connecticut Volunteer Artillery
and Sixty-fifth New York in the second line. Every-
thing being ready, ‘Forward!’ sounded along the
whole line, and away we went up the hill, under a
very hot fire. It was tough work to get over the
crest, but at last we got the Johnnies started, and
made good time after them. The Second Heavies
captured Mahone’s headquarters train and many pris-
oners, besides one battle-flag. We were badly broken,
but after running on for some distance were finally
halted and reformed. Col. Hubbard and Maj. Jones
came up in time to present us to Gens. Sheridan,
Wright, Wheaton, and Hamblin, who all rode along
to the front. We also advanced soon after, and found
things in a promising condition. Gen. Ewell and
staff and several thousand other prisoners had been
taken, together with wagon-trains, guns, caissons, and
small-arms without number. One of the prisoners
told us that they had but three guns left. Our loss
in the charge was seven wounded, three of them mor-
tally,—viz., Emory W. Castle and Erastus W. Con-
verse, of D, and Charles Griswold, of F. At ten
o’clock we moved up a mile further to the front, and
bivouacked for the night.

“When the long and firmly treading battalion of
the Nineteenth Connecticut moved from Camp Dutton
to Litchfield Station, on the 15th of September, 1862,
followed by hundreds of relatives and friends, none
but God knew what was to be its history. We have
now found out. The regiment has fought its last bat-
tle, and made up its Roll of Honor.”

LEVERTTE WARD WESSELLS.

Leverette Ward Wessells, youngest son of Dr. Ash-
bel and Grace (Ward) Wessells, was born in the town
of Litchfield, Conn., July 28, 1819, where he contin-
ued to reside till he was twenty years of age, receiving
an academical education. In his twentieth year, in
consequence of serious hemorrhages of the lungs, he
went to Florida and remained two years with his
brother, H. W. Wessells (then lieutenant Second U.S.
Infantry), during the progress of the Seminole war.

After his return to Litchfield he entered upon the
study of medicine with Dr. John 8. Wolcott, but was
obliged to abandon it at the end of two years on ac-
count of ill health. In 1842 he was appointed deputy
sheriff, performing the duties of that office for nine
years. Upon the death of Reuben M. Woodruff, in
1849, he was appointed postmaster of Litchfield,
Conn., retaining that position during President Fill-
more’s administration.

In 1854 he was elected high sheriff of Litchfield
County, and continued to hold the office by re-election
for twelve consecutive years.

In 1862, at the earnest solicitation of Governor
Buckingham, he organized the Nineteenth Regiment
Connecticut Volunteers, or the Litchfield County
 
MILITARY

HISTORY. 07

 

Regiment, as it was termed (afterwards known as
the Second Heavy Artillery), and was commissioned
colonel of the same July 28, 1862. The flower of the
county was enrolled in the ‘Old Nineteenth,” and
no regiment achieved a more honorable record. In
September, 1862, Col. Wessells was ordered to Alex-
andria, Va., with his regiment, where it performed
provost duty until the following winter, when it moved
to Fort Worth and became a part of Gen. R. O. Tyler’s
brigade. In April, 1863, Col. Wessells assumed com-
mand of the “Second Brigade, defenses south of the
Potomac,” occupying Forts Williams, Ellsworth,
Lyon, and A, B, C, and D redoubts, in which he
continued until the following September, when ill
health obliged him to resign. In December of the
same year he was sent to Virginia by Governor
Buckingham to procure re-enlistments in the First
Regiment Heavy Artillery, and on the 9th of Febru-
ary, 1864, was appointed provost-marshal of the
Fourth District of Connecticut, with headquarters
at Bridgeport, where he remained until the close of
the war, since which time he has been engaged in the
drug business at Litchfield, Conn.

In 1868, Col. Wessells was nominated for treasurer
on the State ticket, with Marshall Jewell as nominee
for Governor. He was also tendered the nomination
the following year, but declined it.

In politics he is a staunch Republican and as such
represented Litchfield in the State Legislature in
1879, though the town was strongly Democratic. In
January of the same year he was appointed quarter-
master-general by Governor Andrews, and performed
the duties of that office during his administration.
He married Mary M. Parks, of Litchfield, Conn.,
November, 1840, and to them have been born two
children, viz.: Grace, wife of Dr. Howard E. Gates, of
Litchfield (they have one daughter, Annie Howard),
and Harry Walton Wessells, a merchant of Litchfield.

ENGAGEMENTS.

The regiment participated in the following battles:
North Anna, near Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor, Pe-
tersburg, Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, Cedar Creek,
Hatcher’s Run, Fort Fisher, Petersburg, and Sailor’s
Creek.

The following is a list of the colonels who at differ-
ent times had command of the regiment: Leverette
W. Wessells, resigned Sept. 15, 1863; Elisha 8. Kel-
logg, killed at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864; James
Hubbard, declined commission; Ranald S. Macken-
zie, promoted brigadier-general Dec. 28, 1864; James
Hubbard, brevet brigadier general, must. out Aug.

18, 1865.
CASUALTIES.

Killed in action, 184;* died of wounds, 100; died
of disease, 152 ;+ missing, 24; died in prison, 21; total,
431.

 

* The adjutant-general’s report places the number at one hundred and
forty-three,

tT ae report, one hundred and eighty-six.

 

The regiment was mustered out Aug. 18, 1865, and
on the 20th reached New Haven, “and passed up
Chapel Street amid welcoming crowds of people, the
clangor of bells, and a shower of rockets and red
lights that made the field and staff horses prance with
the belief that battle had come again. After par-
taking of a bounteous entertainment prepared in the
basement of the State-House, the regiment proceeded
to Grapevine Point, where, September 5th, they re-
ceived their pay and discharge, and the Second Con-
necticut Heavy Artillery passed into history.”

THE DEAD OF THE REGIMENT,

FIELD AND STAFF.
Killed at Cold Harbor.—Col. Elisha 8. Kellogg.
At Winchester.—Maj. James Q. Rice.
At Fort. Fisher.—Sergt.-Maj. E, Goodwin Osborne.

Company A.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—I\st Sergt. Joseph P. Parks, Corp. Albert A. Jones,
Corp. Benjamin Meeker, Lyman J. Smith, Jr., Robert Watt, John
Iffland, Willard H, Parmelee, Almon D. Bradley, Oliver Hitch-
cock, William Barton, William Brashing, George Everett, Stephen
Fallen, Patrick Ryan, Robert Scull, Homer F. Tilford, James Brad-
ley.

At Winchester.—Joseph Gardner. :

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor.—Capt. Luman Wadhams, Corp.
George Wilson Potter, Corp. Charles Adam, Jr., Corp. Apollos C.
Morse, Andrew J. Brooker, Truman Mallory, George Savage, Amos
H, Stillson, Ranson E. Wood, John Benedict.

At Winchester—Horatio P. Bennett, Corp. Frauklin M. Bunnell.

At Cedar Creek.—Corp. John L. Wilcox.

Died in Rebel Prisons.—David M. Candee, Benjamin H. Rathbun.

Died of Disease—Watson Parmelee, William S. Wilson, Henry M. Miner,
Nelbert P. Newberry, Corp. Joseph E. Coe, Norman L. Barber, Julius
Winship, Edward F. Perkins, Lewis Ludington, Sylvester Lampson,
Simeon W. Loud.

Company B.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—Corp. Walter OC. Sparks, Corp. Monroe Whiteman,
Corp. Myron R. Sterry, Robert W. Bragg, Francis Burger, Daniel 0.
Page, Samuel V. Benedict, James Caul, John Handel, Ezra B. Mor-
ris, Adam O’Strander, Frauklin D. Stevens, John B. Sto], George A.
Skiff, Elias P. Scott, Charles II. Segur, Henry Voelker, Henry Wie-
sing.

At Winchester —Daniel Glaven.

At Fisher’s Hill—Lucien 0. Spencer.

At Fort Fisher.—Corp. John Best.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor—Wilson W. Scoville, John W.
Coons, Henry Tanner, Chester A. Johnson, Amos Woodin, Sergt.
John McGraw. ,

At Winchester —2d Lieut. William H. Cogswell.

At Fisher's Hill—Corp. Jacob F, Rapp.

At Cedar Creek.—Sergt. Henry S. Wheeler, Robert Ames.

Missing at Cold Harbor.—Corp. William Dunn, David Lacy.

Prisoner at Cold Harbor —Reuben R. Speed.

Died of Disease.—John H. White, Charles D. Hall, James Ostrander, Jr.,
Sergt. Moses Couk, Jr., Peter Ostrander, Carlf Volusen, Thomas
Hyer, Almeron Burton, William 8. Horton, Henry Winters, Patrick
Delaney, Gurdon O. Davidson, Hiram Fanning.

Company C.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—Sergt. David J. Thorpe, George W. Pierce, John
H. Ure, Ezra B, Bouton, Corp. Orson M. Miner.

At Winchester.—Corp. William H. Beach, Peter Burke, Jeremiah Mc-
Carty.

‘At Cedar Creek—Corp. George W. Cleveland, Corp. William H. Bray,
Cyrus M. Bartholomew.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor —Christian Bjornsen, Lucius B.
Palmer, Corp. Erastus Cleaveland.

At Winchester.—Anson F. Balcom.

At Cedar Creek.—Corp. Henry L. Vaill, Albert M. Scoville.

Died in Rebel Prisons.—Alfred Blackman.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Died of Disease—I1st Lieut. William McK. Rice, Sergt. Matthew H. Hux-
ley, Daniel E, Lyman, Arthur G. Kellogg, William 8. Robinson, Or-
lando Evans, John H. Stewart, Corp. Uri Wadhams, William H.
Norville, William H. Herald, George W. Brown, Giles A. Cone, Wil-
liam Butler, William H. Hart, Andrew H. Sanford, James M. Hayes,
Henry M. Woodruff, Corp. Willard N. Wadhams, Royal G. Andrus,
Harlow §, Johnson, Milo Young, James Rogers, John J. Abbott.

Company D.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—Pomeroy Beecraft, Philo A. Fenn, Henry W.
Miller, John Murphy.

Al Petersburg.—Geurge Comstock (real name George Roberts), Walter M.
Fox.

At Winchester—Richard Beebe, Hiram F. Coley, James Slater.

A Fisher's Hill—Qr.-Mr. Sergt. David B. Wooster.

«lt Cudar Creek—Capt. Benjamin F. Hosford, Corp. Edward C. Hopson,
Jorp. William Wright, John H. Conklin, Daniel Van Allen, Charles
R. Warner.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor —George L. Beach, Corp. Edgar
J. Castle, Thomas Mann, Walter Stone, Hiram Mattoon.

Al Petersburg.—Corp, Charles E. Guernsey, Jacob Demuth, John Grieder.

At Winchester—George H. 8. Goodwin, George E. Clark.

At Cedar Creek.—Henry Gilbert, Henry Lynch.

At Sailor's Creek.—Emery W. Castle, Erastus W. Converse.

Died in Rebel Prisons—Benjamin Filley, James Strawn, Charles D. Han-
son.

Dlissing—Walter Oates, William S. Barnes.

Died of Disease—Corp. Frederick B. Webster, Corp. William W. John-
son, Burritt H. Tolles, Charles J. Cleveland, George H. Holt, Frank-
lin W. Hubbard, Sergt. Edgar B. Lewis, Josiah J. Wadsworth, Wil-
liam W. Richardson, James H. Pritchard, Sergt. Salmon B. Smith,
David Davenport, Horatio G. Perkins.

Company E.

Killzd at Cold Harbor.—Corp. Frederick W. Daniels, Corp. Alonzo J. Hull,
Corp. Willard Hart, Corp. Henry A. Rexfurd, Frederick D. Painter,
Myron Ferris, Lewis Downs, Alfred Commins, John M. Teeter,
George A. Tatro, Charles H. Stanley, Ruel H. Perkins, Daniel Mc-
Donald, James Mooney, Walter Martin, William Kelly, Patrick
Kaine.

At Petersburg.—Jared P. Evarts.

At Cedar Creek—Jvhn McDonough.

Died of Wounds at Cold Harbor. —Sylvester Barrett, Qr.-Mr. Sergt. James
A. Green, Elizur Maltbie, Stephen J. Green.

At Petersburg. —Birdseye Gibbs, Capt. Oren H. Knight.

At Winchester.—Corp. George H. Pendleton, Corp. John H. Boughton,
Asa Humaston.

At Cedar Creek.—David Backus.

Missing at Cold Harbor,—2d Lieut. Calvin B, Hatch, Corp. James R. Bald-
win, James Simpson, John J. Toule, John Scully, Boughton D, Knapp,
Henry C. Kent, John Cook, Bernard Carberry, Martin Blake, Sher-
man Apley.

At Petersburg.—Charles Bohan.

Died in Rebel Prisons.—Michael Donahue, Allen B. Young, Matthew Fitz-
gerald.

Died of Disease.—2d Lieut. Hiram D. Gaylord, George W. Hurlbut, Wil-
liam §. Hurlbut, Darwin E. Starks, Jerome Preston, Julius Wood-
ford, William R. Hubbard, Joseph Robinson, Julius Rogers, Edwin
E. Rowe, Charles Long.

Killed by Accident—Manwaring Green.

Company F,

Killed at Cold Uarbor—Sergt. Samuel E. Gibbs, John E. Hall.

At Petersburg.— William H. Colt.

Al Winchester—Sergt. Lorenzo P. Light, Sergt. Alfred C, Alford, Tim-
othy O'Callaghan.

At Cedar Creek.— George Simons.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor,—George N. Andrus.

At Fisher’s Hill—Cornelius H. Merrell.

At Winchester—Edmund Dougherty.

At Sailor's Creek.—Charles A. Griswold, Jay J. Cushman,

Died in Rebel Prisons or After Release.—Robert Cahill, Solomon G. Hay-
ward.

Missing.—John Busby.

Died of Disease—Harlan D. Benedict, Augustus H, Barrett, Albert Beck-
with, Richard 8. Thompson, Corp. William G. Henderson, Philander
Emmons, Peter Riley, Lorenzo K, Lamoine, Haryey Ford, Philander

 

Eggleston, Horatio G. Eggleston, Henry Van Dusen, Charles Tuttle,
Jefferson T. Lent.

Company G.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—Qr.-Mr, Sergt. Joseph B. Payne.

At Winchester.—Wilson Waterman, Chauncey L. Warner, Henry Peck,

At Cedar Creek.—Corp. Charles J, Reed, Corp. George W. Page, Elisha
Soule.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor.—Horace Sickmund,

At Winchester.—Corp. Patrick Troy, James H. Vanburen, Qr.-Mr, Sergt,
Charles Ingersoll, George Clinton,

At Cedar Creek,—James M. Palmer, Barney Kinney.

At Fort Fisher.—Corp. Dwight B. Studley, Sylvester Prout,

Missing —Robert Bard, Corp. James Stanley.

Died of Disease——Myron H. Hubbell, Philo Cole, Lucien Rouse, Merritt
Stone, Charles C. Herman, Harvey Clark, John H. Bradley, Paschal
P. North, Herman E. Bonney, Lewis Sawyer, Henry H. Waters, Al-
bert A. Peck, Allen Williams, John M. Hamblin, William White,
Sergt. Albert Robinson, John Lapham, William Slover,

Company H.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—Hoenry C. Straight, Charles W. Jackson, Theo-
dore A. Barnes.

At Winchester.—2d Lieut. Horace Hubbard, 1st Lieut. Franklin M,
Candee.

At Cedar Creck.—Edward Mead.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor.—Jerome Johnson.

At Petersburg.—Harvey Pease.

At Winchester—Capt. Frederick M. Berry.

At Cedar Creek.—Daniel Payne.

Missing —Patrick Lynch.

Died in Rebel Prisons.—Herbert H. Reed, Moses L, Wigglesworth.

Died of Disease—Henry A. Calhoun, William C. Warner, William H.
Dains, Lewis St. John, Sheldon Clark, Sergt. Garwood R. Merwin,
Ira S. Bradley, Henry Bridge, Sylvester C. Platt, Joseph R. Love-
ridge, Willis Hartwell.

Company I.

Killed at Cold Harbor —Friend F. Kane, Almon D. Galpin.

At Winchester.—Charles Barney.

At Cedar Creek.—William Fitzgerald, Samuel B, Ferris, Addison Cook.

Al Fort Fisher —David Cramer, Thomas Wheeler.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor.—Curtis Wheeler.

At Winchester—Sergt. Walter J. Orton, Corp. Charles F. Flushman,
George W. Locklin.

At Cedar Creek—Seymour Lobdell, Sergt. George E. Judson, Charles
Bennet, Corp. Patrick Brady.

At Noel's Station—Ham A. Barnes.

Missing —Timothy F, Walsh.

Died in Rebel Prisons—Albert Woodruff, Marshall Lines.

Died of Disease—John 8. White, James C. Polley, Harvey H. Fox, Corp.
Henry F. Hard, Charles L. Thomas, Corp. Horatio $. Thomas, Banks
Lounsbury, Timothy Elwell, James Sidney, Isaac Briggs, Corp. Ed-
ward Bell, Joseph Colonel, Corp. Cornelius Goebel, John K, Northrop.

Company K.

Killed at Cold Harbor—Sergt. George H. McBurney, John Warner,
Robert Sothergill, David D. Lake, Andrew Jackson, Edmund
Hickey, Peter Gallagher, Ilenry B. Bristol, Isaac Baldwin, Franklin
Andrus.

At Petersburg.—Henry H. Hyatt.

At Winchester—Lucien Button,

At Cedar Creek.—Alexander D. Kasson, John H. R. Hipwell.

Died of Wounds Received at Cold Harbor—Jacob Wentworth, Edward B.
Griffin, Charles Reed, Asahel N, Perkins, John Munson, William B.
Leach, Patrick Kennedy, Owen Cromney.

At Petersburg.—Alfred June.

At Winchester—Ist Lieut. James P. McCabe.

At Cedar Creek.—Albert J. Miner, Charles A. Johnson, Charles Haviland.

Missing —Charles H. Russell. g

Died in Rebel Prisons.—Sergt. Lant Ryan, Amaziah Downs, Noble AD
drus,

Died of Disease.—Corp. Wesley T. Glover, Charles B. Ferris, Sergt. Wil
liam S. Watson, Fifer George A. Hoyt, Leander Ide, George W.
Harrington, Eben Norton, John Burch, Anton Barth, Wolcott Cook,
Corp, Sidney A. Law, Henry Colby.
MILITARY

Company L.

Killed at Cold Harbor.—John Martin.

At Winchester—August Berg.

Died of Wounds Received at Winchester—William Day.

Near Tolopotomy.—John Pollard, Corp. Norman Mansfield.

At Cold Harbor.—Sergt. George Parker, Amos L. Ives.

Died in Rebel Prisons or After Release—Fred. Hooker, George Grover,
Patrick Butler, Corp. William Dixon.

Died of Disease.—Corp. Henry A. Hubbell, Corp. William Morton, Horace
B. Wood, Fred. Slade, William Malloy, Thomas B. Foster, Charles
Davenport.

Company M.

Killed on Picket at North Anna River.—Patrick Keegan.

At Cold Harbor —Samuel S. Osborne.

At Wenchester.—Abner W. Scott.

Died of Wounds Received at Fort Fisher—Jobn Fay.

At Winchester.—Thomas Doyle.

Al Petersburg.—Thomas Colburn.

Missing —Aaron Joseph, William Bergen.

Died of Disease——John Thomas, Lorin L. Morris, James H. Case.

WOUNDED.
FIELD AND STAFF.

Col. (afterwards Brig.~Gen. and Bvt. Maj.-Gen.) Ranald 8. Mackenzie.

Maj. William B. Ells, at Cold Harbor. A musket-ball passed through
the bone of the right leg, between the knee and ankle, in sucha
manner as to inflict permanent injury.

~ Maj. (afterwards Lieut.-Col.) Jeffrey Skinner, was twice wounded; first
by a shell at Winchester, and at the capture of Petersburg, April 2,
1865, by a musket-ball in the side. In the first instance he was
absent from duty not more than a month, and only six weeks after
receiving the latter wound, although it was quite severe.

Capt. (afterwards Maj.) Chester D. Cleveland, then ordnance officer of
First Division, Sixth Corps, was slightly wounded in the arm at
Cedar Creek, but did not report it.

Sergt.-Maj. (afterwards 2d Lieut.) Frederick A. Lucas, received a wound
in the left thigh at Cedar Creek, which disabled him for several
months. He returned to the regiment just in time to receive
another wound (a slight one) in the affair at Hatcher’s Run. He
was promoted for gallantry at Winchester and Fisher’s Hill, and
Col. Mackenzie said, just after those battles, that he never saw a
braver man than Sergt.-Maj. Lucas.

Lieut. and Adjt. Theodore F. Vaill, at Fort Fisher.
left hip, by cast-iron ball from spherical case-shot.

1s

ot

Flesh wound,

Company A.
At Cold Harbor.

Q.-M. Sergt. George W. Mason. Head. Very severe, and at first sup-
posed to he mortal, but after many months he recovered, and was
mustered as captain and assistant quartermaster in the general ser-
vice, having been commissioned thereto by President Lincoln before
he was wounded.

Watson Cogswell. Left arm.

Samuel Gunn. Shoulder.

Corp. Curtis P. Wedge. Right hand.

Corp. Seth Whiting. Haud.

Edward Hull. Buttocks.

Lyman F. Morehouse. Wrist.

James Ferris. Leg amputated.

Robert W. Coe. Arm amputated.

Charles Belcher. Shoulder.

John Benedict. Breast.

Michael Bray. Hip.

John Bailey. Arm.

Charles Carter. Shoulder.

Robert Crawford. Arm.

Edson §. Dayton. Thigh.

Myron E. Kilbourn, Finger amputated,

John Lawlor. Both thighs.

David McBath. Arm.

Also wounded in toe.

Norman B, Perkins, Hand.
Harvey B, Perkins, Side.
James M. Prindle. Fingers.

Jason St, John. Knee. Had previously been wounded in the other
knee, when a member of the Eighth Connecticut Volunteers.
Reuben A. Swift. Cheek and thigh.

 

HISTORY.

George F. Waugh. Breast.

David P. Wetmore. Leg.

1st Lieut. Hubbard E. Tuttle. Head.
1st Lieut. Bushrod H. Camp. Leg.

At Winchester.

Frederick T. Jennings. Left hand and head. Wounded while passing
over the knoll between the two ravines.

Capt. Alexander B. Shumway. Leg. Wounded where the regiment was
first moved into action.

2d Lieut. Daniel E. Marsh. Arm. Wounded in the first ravine.

Watson Cogswell. Arm.

Corp. Henry T. Cable. Abdomen.
the first to the second ravine.

Edmund P. Aiken. Head.

James Moll. Leg. Real name James Moore. It was entered wrong at
first, and, like that of Hiram U. Grant, had to remain wrong.

Edmund Haley. Leg.

Severe. Wounded while going from

At Fisher's Hill.
James L. Osborn. Side.

At Cedar Creek.
Sergt. William $. Smith. Head. Also at Fort Fisher in foot, slightly.
Thomas Morris. Face.
Joseph Moody. Ankle.

At Fort Fisher.

Corp. Horace N. Williams. Mouth. Ball could not be found, and after
four months was taken out from the back of his neck. The muscles
of one eye were cut or destroyed, so that it cannot be shut.

Company B.
At Skirmish on Tolopotomy, May 31, 1864.
Mortimer M. Lillibridge. Foot.
William H. Surdam.
At Cold Harbor.

George W. Mansfield. Leg. Also wounded at Fisher's Hill in leg, and
had thumb shot off at Sailor’s Creek. Was scalded to death by col-
lision on Housatonic Railroad on his way home, after being dis-
charged. Had never been home since enlisting.

Daniel 0. Page. Paroled prisoner.

Sergt. George L. Johnson. Hip.

Augustus Adams. Leg.

Horace Ball. Breast.

Richard Brown. Head.

Sheldon Carley. Head.

Newton W. Cogswell. Arm.

John Coons. Breast and back.

Ezra Clark. Neck.

William Connell. Arm amputated.

John Decker. Right hand.

Daniel Dunlavey. Left hand.

Henry Dryer. Foot.

John Funk. Neck.

Solomon Hinkley. Hand and head.

Roger Lyddy.

Peter Malath. Thigh.

Godfrey Miller. Ankle.

George McLane. Hand.

John McMahon.

Joel Snyder. Neck.

Henry Tanner. Thigh.

Daniel Taylor. Hand.

Charles O. Whaples. Thigh.

Francis Burger.

At Winchester.

Capt. William H. Lewis, Jr. Wrist.

Sergt. (afterwards Lieut.) William 8, Cooper.

Peter Flood. Leg, flesh wound.

Gilbert McMahon, Leg.

Lewis Morey. Left arm.

At Fisher's Hill.

Luther E. Speed. Neck.

John McGovern. Finger amputated.

George W. Mansfield. Leg.

At Cedar Creek.

Ist Sergt. James Parks. Left leg. Piece of shell.
Sergt. Curtis Hall. Right shoulder,
80 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

John Hughes.
Robert Ames,

Tingers.
Hip.
Al Petersburg, April 2, 1865.
Corp. Daniel T. Clark.
At Sailor’s Creek.
George W. Mansfield.
Company C.
At the North Anna.

Charles G. Adams. Hip broken tearing up railroad near Noel’s Station.
Returned to duty before the close of the war.

At Skirmish on the Tolopotomy.

James A. Bryan. Leg.

At Cold Harbor.
Patrick Harvey. June 3d. Leg. Also wounded in leg at Winchester.
James P. Quinn. Foot.
Erastus Ruscoe. Arm.
Corp. Harrison Whitney. Left elbow.
Peter Bunts, Arm amputated.
George Manning. Heel.
Anson Johnson. Leg.
Henry W. Richards.
Royal Stone. Neck.
Enos Benedict. June 3d. Leg. Also at Cedar Creek, ankle.
Newton Calkins. June 7th. Hand.

Arm.

At Petersburg.
Seelye Richmond. June 22d. Arm.

At Winchester.

Patrick Harvey. Leg.
Leonard Hower. Shoulder.
Sergt. Joseph Sherry. Left arm broken; never healed.
Sergt. (afterwards 2d Lieut.) Calvin L. Davis. Color-bearer.

shoulder and arm.
Thomas B. Stewart. Lost both feet. Shell.
Lucien N. Whiting. Arm. Flesh wound.
1st Lieut. Dwight C. Kilbourn. Both arms.
Anson F, Balcom. Foot. Flesh wound.
Walter E, Foster. Hip. Slight.

At Fisher’s Hill.

Right

Flesh wound. Shell.

Henry Barnes. Leg.

At Cedar Creek.
John Quinn. Hand. Died in California since the war.
Edmund Thorn. Foot and right hand.
Corp. Frederick A. Hills. Right shoulder-joint.
Thomas 0. Murphy. Neck.
James Moran. Both hips.
Capt. (afterwards Maj.) A. H. Fenn. Right arm amputated. Walked
three miles to hospital after being wounded.
1st Lieut. Morris H. Sanford, Arm.
George W. Brown. Arm.
Henry D. Pierce. Arm.

Lost use of arm

At Hatcher's Run.
Charles G. Wheeler, Breast and arm.
Orange 8. Brown. Finger.
At Fort Fisher.
William E. McKee. Brigade commander's orderly. Hip.

Company D.
Al the North Anna.
Finger off.
At Cold Harbor.
Q.-M. Sergt. David B. Wooster. Thigh, slight. Afterwards killed at
Fisher’s TiN.
Charles Warner. Hand. He was from Watertown, and was not the
Charles R. Warner killed at Cedar Creek.
Benjamin Williams. Leg. Flesh wound,
Justin 0. Stoughton. Shoulder and back.
Nathan H. Geer. Leg thrice amputated. Died at Hartford in 1866.
Corp. Albert Alfred. Hand. Severe.
Lawrence A. Hunt. Face and mouth.
Everett Griswold. Hand. Finger amputated,
Chauncey Culver. Side and breast. Severe.
William Elliott. Back. Shell. Severe.

George W. Butler.

 

Jonathan Hall, Head. Spent ball in forehead.
Wallace E. Beach. Arm.

George T. Cook. Shoulder.

Zelotes F. Grannis. Head.

William H. Harrison. Arm.

Kelsey D. Clark. Head.

James Slater. Leg. (Afterwards killed at Winchester).

At Petersburg.
Matthias Walter. June 20th. Thigh.

At Winchester.

Corp. Ira H. Stoughton. Hip. Canister.
Corp. John A. Castle. Lung, and from shoulders to groin. Very severe.
Emery B. Taylor. Leg.
William H. Whitelaw. Thigh and head.
David Davenport. Leg. Slight.
Seeley Morse. Thigh.
G.E. Clark. Leg. Slight.
Philip H. Golde. Arm.
Robert Tompkins. Face.
George H. Bates. Side and back. Shell.
George Hancock. Mouth.
Frederick R. Keith. Wrist.
At Fisher's Hill.
Charles L. Bryan. Hand. Slight.
Swift McG. Hunter. Shoulder.
Thomas Bulluss. Shoulder.
Edward W. Conklin. Leg and buttocks.
Mark B. Stone. Arm.
Sergt. Samuel Brown. Heel.
James Boyce.
Sergt. Charles P. Traver, color-bearer. Arm. Promoted to second lieu-
tenant for gallantry.

Severe.

Severe.

At Cedar Creek.

Charles L. Bryan. Leg. Severe. Took part in the final battles, but
died since the war (February, 1866), of the effects of chronic diar-
rhea. Buried in Watertown.

Corp. Henry N. Bushnell. Neck. Severe.

Corp. David A. Bradley. Neck.

William Lindley. Finger.

Henry Tolles. Head.

Sergt. (afterwards 2d Lieut.) Amzi P. Clark. Foot.
Jobn L. Conklin.

Nehemiah Dutton. Side. Severe.

Robert Lowrie. Breast. Severe.

Ist Lieut. (afterwards Capt.) Gad N. Smith, Leg.

Corp. John Curtin.
Corp. Ira Chapman. Arm.
Edward Dwyer. Heel.
Stephen OC. Smith. Finger.
Henry Smith. Leg.

At Fort Fisher.
Sergt. David A. Bradley. Thigh. Severe.
George E. Atwood. Ankle.
Harvey Bronson. Shoulder.
William A, Stoddard. Leg.

Severe.

Company E.

At Cold Harbor.
Ernest Basney. Arm.
August Hain. Lung.
Peter Jordan. Jaw and hand.
Richard Gingell. Hand.
Patrick Lynch. Arm.
Jacob Leroy. Arm and finger.
Chauncey 8. Loomis. Head.
Charles G. Mason. Leg.
Henry G. Mitchell. Arm and leg.
John O’Connell. Arm and leg.
Nathan Perry. Wrist and right shoulder.
Edward L. Riker. Arm.
William H. Seymour, Thigh.
Henry P. Warner. Foot.
Marcus J, Whitehead. Shot himself in hand.
Henry Wenzel. Head, thigh, and knee.
Erastus Woodworth. Leg.
MILITARY

 

Charles Walsh. Neck and wrist.
Christopher Arnold. Arm.

Edward Beach. Hip.

Samuel U. Brewer. Leg.

Corp. David Miller, Hand.

Corp. William A. Hosford. Shoulder.
Charles B. Howard. Lung.

Philip D. Carroll. Hand.

At Petersburg.

Robert Bulcraft. June 22d. Thigh.
Charles Walsh. June 26th. Foot.

At Winchester.
Edmund B. Sage. Groin.

Sergt. (afterwards Lieut.) William S. Cooper. Thigh.
—— Clark. Foot.
James Maloy. Thigh.
Martin Keaton. Leg.
Elbert B. Rowe. Knee.
Julius Collins. Groin.
At Fisher’s Hill.
John Campbell. Leg.
At Cedar Creek.

Leg amputated.

Corp. Charles M. Burr.

At Hatcher's Run.
Charles Walsh. Side.

Peter Larive. Finger.
Company F,

At the North Anna.
Charles J. Thompson. Right arm.

At Cold Harbor.

Alexander Waters. Right hand.

James 0. Hotchkiss. Left arm.

William Malthouse. Left leg.

John W. Shaw. Right leg.

William Burke. Breast and arm.

Bernard Kelly. Hand. ,
Thomas Smyth. Hand.

Alexander McCormick, Leg.

Timothy F. Kelly. Hand.

At Petersburg.

Sergt. E. D. Lawrence. Shoulder. Severe. June 22d.
Sergt. James H. Hakes. Hand. Slight. April 2, 1865.

At Winchester.

1st Lieut. Warren Alford. Slight.
Corp. Byron 0. Hawley. Leg.

Corp. Ira D. Jones. Arm.

Corp. Thomas Noonan. Abdomen.
Parley B.Gammons. Thigh.

John Johnson. Foot,

Timothy F, Kelley. Right side.

James F, Keith. Back.

Ephraim Tucker. Arm.

Michael McMahon (3d).

Edwin Walden. Thigh.

Horace F. Calkins, Shoulder.

Joseph McManus. Right side. Slight.
George Simons. Hand. (Afterwards killed at Cedar Creek.)

At Fisher's Hill.
Corp. James H. Hakes. Shoulder.
John Rodemyer. Heel.

At Cedar Creek.

Sergt. Jesse Turner. Leg and buttocks.
Otis Billings. Leg. —
Elisha L. Bancroft. Leg.
Dwight Case. Several wounds,—arm, side, and thigh.
Wayne B. Castle. Arm and side.
Robert Cahill. Leg. Also taken prisoner.
Morris E.Munger. Toe amputated.
Rufus B. Smith. Arm.
At Sailor's Creek.

James Hyde. Arm. Slight.
Corp. Seth Haskins. Shoulder. Severe.

 

HISTORY. 81
Company G.
At Cold Harbor,
Charles Ingersoll. Shoulder. (Afterwards mortally wounded at Win-
chester.)
John Harris. Arm.

Andrew J. Bolles. June 5th. Foot.
Horace Sickmund. June 3d. Knee.
John Christie. June Sth. Hand.
Ist Sergt. Henry Dean. Leg and thigh. Very severe.
John O’Dougherty. Arm.
Timothy Leonard. Hand.
John R. Thompson. Arm.
Wesley Bunnell. Hand.
John Byrnes. Arm.
Michael Curley. Leg amputated.
George Barton. Head.
John Hawver. Shoulder.
At Petersburg.

Hand. Slight. April 2, 1865.

At Winchester.

Sergt. Julius A. Glover. Shoulders and head.
Corp. Alfred L. Benedict. Ankle.

Michael Gallagher. Arm.

William Frazier. Hip.

Asa Lee. Leg.
George A. Case.

Patrick Murphy.

Leg.
At Cedar Creek.

Corp. Matthew P. Bell, Jr. Thigh and back. Very severe.
Corp. Edward Hawver. Thigh.
William C. Bowne. Leg.
Peter Gilmet. Foot.
Lewis Hamlin. Arm.
John Curtin, Arm.
Ira Chapman. Arm.
At Fort Fisher.

Sergt. Charles R. Swift. Shoulder. Severe.
Corp. William Clinton. Leg. Slight.

Company H.
' At Cold Harbor.

Sergt. Lewis W. Mosher. Elbow. Shell.

Corp. Henry A. Burton. Left hand.

Corp. Uriah F. Snediker. Neck. Severe.

Charles H. Butler. Hand. Slight.

George Chamberlain. Leg. Slight.

John Harris. Toe amputated.

Henry M. Marshall. Right forearm.

Henry Paine. Heel.

Frank J. Warner. Arm and hand.

Hugh O’Donnell. Head. Slight.

Daniel T. Somers. Foot. Severe.

Alfred N. Whittlesey. Shoulder. Very severe.

Charles McDermott. June 8th. Hand. Accidental.

States B. Flandreau. Side. Shell Slight. Had served in a rebel regi-
ment.

Edward Harrington. Mouth.

At Petersburg.
Corp. William E. Disbrow. June 20th. Hit while carrying Harvey
Pease to the rear.
At Winchester.

2d Lieut. James M. Snowden. Left wrist.
Charles H. Butler. Lost right leg.

Corp. William E. Disbrow. Shoulder,
Charles E. Gilbert. Thigh. Severe.
Apollos Jennings. Hand. Slight.

Henry W. Mallett. Hand.

Corp. Henry 8. Gridley. Forearm.

Louis Weber. Nose.

Jeremiah Thompson. Thigh. Very severe.
Charles A. Way. Wrist.

Alfred Cables. Knee. Slight.

Lucius §. Sherman. Foot.

Hiram Cables. Several places with shell. Shoulder and hand.
82 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

At Cedar Creek.

Ist Lieut. John M. Gregory. Right arm amputated at shoulder.
Sergt. Robert Erwin. Right shoulder. Slight.

Sergt. Minor A. Strong. Right thigh. Severe.

Sergt. Irwin C, Buckingham. Thigh.

Corp. Horace N. Sanford. Shoulder and leg. Slight.

Joseph S. Knowles. Lower jaw shattered. *
Franklin Nichols. Back. Severe.

Alanson Peet. Rightarm. Slight.

Edward O’Brien. Abdomen.

Homer 8. Sackett. Chest.

William Smith. Foot.

Charles Hurd.

At Sailor’s Creek.
Charles A. Way. Arm. Slight.
Frank J. Warner. Slight.
@ Company I.
At the North Awna,

Charles Smith. Buttocks.

At Cold Harbor.
Charles §. Tyrrell. Back.
Corp. Benjamin Wellman. Left cheek and back.
Abner Bennett. Arm amputated.
Samuel Eastman. June 3d,
Daniel P. Galpin. Ankle.
Sergt. Thomas Shaw. Arm.
William Gregg. Lost right arm.
Levi Hotchkiss. Hand and arm.
John Hutchinson. Left breast.
Israel Lucas. Head.
Seymour Lobdell. Thigh. (Afterwards killed at Cedar Creek.)

At Petersburg.

Corp. William H. Smith. June 22d, Foot.
Ruel Hazen. June 22d. Face.

At Winchester.

2d Lieut. Orsamus R. Fyler. Wounded in the leg very much in the same
manner as Maj. Ells at Cold Harbor.

Sergt. Cyrus T, Nicholson. Jaw and neck.

Sergt. Marcus D. Smith. Right forearm.

Corp. George W. Root. Leg.

Charles Botsford. Leg.

David Cramer. Foot. (Afterwards killed at Fort Fisher.)

Jolin Harrigan. Elbow.

Thomas Harper. Leg.

Andrew Knoph. Leg.

Amos A, Lucas. Knee.

Theodore Lockwoud. Leg.

William H. Reynolds. Knee.

Sergt. Hubbard Hotchkiss, Hand.

Henry Taylor. Breast.

John Turley. Shin.

Daniel B. Galpin. Leg.

William Webster. Knee.

Corp. Charles 8. Terrell. Thigh.

Timothy F. Walsh. Knee. (Afterwards missing at Hatcher’s Run.)

Corp. Charles T. Squires. Foot.

At Fisher's Hill.

Al Cedar Creek.
Capt. Walter Burnham. Thigh. Spherical case-shot.
Sergt. Thomas Shaw. Arm.
Sergt. David W. Manning. Thigh.
Sergt. Warden Stammer. Leg.
John B, Parker.
William Davis. Hand,
John Hutchinson. Leg amputated.
David Backus.
Frederick R. Hard. Leg.
Edwin Holland. Leg.
John McQueeny. Head.
Jeremiah Newcomb. Leg.
Andrew Tiernay, Arm.
Daniel S. Taylor. Arm.
Theron M. Woodruff. Face.
Albert Woodruff.

William O’Brien, Breast.

 

Charles Wright. Shoulder.

Corp. Bela Potter. Leg. ;
At Fort Fisher.

Henry C. Rogers. Hand. Severe.

At Sailor’s Creek.
Charles Fox. Arm. Slight.
Company K,
At Cold Harbor.

Edgar J. Stewart. Back. Piece of shell.
Corp. James Tracy. Head and arm.
John A. Ludford. Right arm amputated.

Francis Sothergill. Arm.

Thomas Coleraine. Back. Sent to White House, and never heard from
again.

George A. Wood. Hip and arm. Sent to White House, and never heard
from.

William H. Stevens. Thigh.

Chauncey Stevens. Leg.

George Brown. Shoulder.
William W. Wheeler. Arm and shoulder.

Corp. Enoch M. Warhurst. Head.
Philo H. Bassett. Arm and breast.
Corp. Patrick Farrell. Head.
Stephen P. Harlow. Leg.
Homer W. Hodge. Arm.
Charles A. Hoyt. Leg.
Bernard C. Keegan. Lost leg.
George E. Taylor. Arm.
Evelyn L. Thorpe. Arm.
At Petersburg.

Truman Favereau. Thigh. June 22d.
Michael Convey. June 22d.

George H. Knapp. Left shoulder.
John Ette. Right elbow.

June 22d.
June 2ist.

At Winchester.

William S. Hines, Head.

Al Fisher's Hill.

Allen 8. Tuttle. Finger.

At Cedar Creek.
William Hart. Hip.

Erwin Monroe. Left hip. Slight.

John Burns. Both legs.

Daniel Briggs. Thigh.

Anglebert Hermann. Breast.

George D. Beman. Right leg amputated below knee.

Company L.
In Skirmish near the Tolopotomy.

Corp. James Wilson. Neck.
Henry McGinety. Leg.
At Cold Harbor.
Capt. James Deane. Forehead.
Sergt. (afterwards Lieut.) Austin P. Kirkham. Head.
Corp. (afterwards Sergt.-Maj.) John L. Parmelee. Leg.
James Gillen. Hand.
Edward Thomas (1st). Leg.
William Vrooman, Groin.
George Reed. Foot.
Thomas Dailey. Thigh. June 3d.

At Petersburg.
Sergt. George Parker. Side. June 20th.
Corp. George Babcock, Hand. Slight. April 2, 1865.
John Owens. Hand. Slight. April 2, 1865.

At Winchester,
Sergt. Andrew Clark. Leg.
Charles H. Ryan. Arm,
James Hyatt. Thigh.
Peter D. Nelson. Arm.
William Hall. Side.
James McDonald. Arm.
Frank Sabine. Shoulder.

At Cedar Creek.
2d Lieut. James M. Snowden. Arm.
Sergt. William A. Slenker. Leg.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 83

 

At Hatcher's Run.
Jesse Cady. Thighs.

At Fort Fisher.
Corp. John Holt. Mouth. Slight.
2d Lieut. Admatha Bates. Foot. Slight.

Company M.

At the North Anna,

James Graham. Thigh.

At Cold Harbor.
Sergt. Silas A. Palmer. Finger.
Sergt. William E. Canfield. Hand. Slight.
Corp. Amaziah Livingston, Leg and arm.
Myron W. Schultz. Face.
Patrick Kennedy. Leg.
John Burns. Arm. June 3d.

At Petersburg.
June 20th.

June 3d,

Thomas Colburn. Shoulder.
James Parker. June, 1864.

At Winchester.

Charles Brant. Back and hand.
Thomas Doyle. Back.

Martin H. Grube. Adbomen.
William Hoffman. Wrist.

Theodore Drune. Leg.
At Fisher’s Hill.
Corp. William Munson. Leg.

At Cedar Creek.
Charles Allen. Leg.

Sergt. Henry Maskell.

Charles 0. Bosworth. Wrist.

George Dayton. Leg.

James Fitzsimmons. Arm and breast.

Peter Ward. Leg and breast.

Henry Strih. Jaw.

Patrick Feneren. Ear.

Peter Hayden. Head.

Sergt. (afterwards Lieut.) Azarie N. Lamoreux. Shoulder.
At Hatcher's Run.

Starr L. Booth. Leg.

Peter Hayden. Head. Slight.

At Fort Fisher.

Sela Wheeler. Neck. Severe.
James Fay. Thigh. Severe.

CATALOGUE OF THE REGIMENT.
CoMMISSIONED OFFICERS.
Colonels.

Leverette W. Wessels, res. Sept. 15, 1863.

Elisha 8. Kellogg, killed in action June 1, 1864.

James Hubbard, declined commission.

Ranald S. Mackenzie, pro. to brigadier-general Dec. 28, 1864.
James Hubbard, bvt. brigadier-general ; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Lieutenant-Colonels.

Elisha 8. Kellogg, pro. to colonel Oct. 23, 1863.
Nathaniel Smith, res. for disability May 6, 1864.
James Hubbard, pro. to colonel Jan. 7, 1865.
Jeffrey Skinner, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William B. Ells, com. vacated, Lieut.-Colonel Hubbard having declined
com. as colonel.
Majors.
Nathaniel Smith, pro. to lieutenant-colonel Nov. 5, 1863.
James Hubbard, pro. to lieutenant-colonel May 13, 1864.
William B. Ells, disch. Dec. 24, 1864.
James Q. Rice, killed in action Sept. 19, 1864.
Jeffrey Skinner, pro. to lieutenant-colonel Jan. 7, 1865.
Edward W. Jones, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Chester D. Cleveland, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Augustus H. Fenn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Adjutants.

Charles J. Deming, res. July 30, 1863.
Bushrod H. Camp, disch, for disability Nov. 5, 1864.
Theodore F, Vaill, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

 

Quartermasters,

Bradley D. Lee, pro. to captain Feb, 17, 1864.
Edward C. Huxley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Chaplains.

Jonathan A. Wainwright, res. Jan. 20, 1863.
Winthrop H. Phelps, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
cs

Surgeon.
Henry Plumb, disch. Aug. 12, 1865.

First Assistant Surgeons.

John W. Lawton, must. out to enter U.S. A. April 4, 1863.
Robert G. Hazzard, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Second Assistant Surgeons.

John W. Lawton. pro. to first assistant surgeon Oct. 28, 1862.
Robert G. Hazzard, pro. to first assistant surgeon July 21, 1863.
Judson B. Andrews, must. out Aug, 18, 1865.

Captains.
William Bissell, res. July 21, 1863.
James Hubbard, pro. to major Nov. 5, 1862,
James Q. Rice, pro. to major Feb. 17, 1864.
William B. Ells, pro. to major Feb. 6, 1864.
Jeffrey Skinner, pro. to major May 13, 1864.
Edward W. Jones, pro. to major Oct. 8, 1864.
Edward F. Gold, disch. Feb, 21, 1865.
George 8. Williams, res. March 16, 1864.
Eli Sperry, res. March 30, 1864.
Edward O. Peck, res. July 25, 1863.
Luman Wadhams, died of wounds June 3, 1864.
William T. Spencer, must. out July 20, 1865.
William H. Lewis, Jr., disch. Jan. 25, 1865.
Bradley D. Lee, com. revoked March 22, 1864; appointed A. C. S. of

volunteers.

Edward W. Marsh, must. out July 20, 1865.
James Deane, must. out July 20, 1863.
Benjamin F. Hosford, killed in action Oct. 19, 1864.
Frederick M. Berry, died of wounds Sept. 28, 1864.
Augustus H. Fenn, pro. to major Jan. 7, 1865.
Walter Burnham, disch. Feb. 23, 1865.
Oren H. Knight, died of wounds July 6, 1864.
Alexander B, Shumway, disch. Feb. 4, 1865.
Robert A. Potter, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Morris H. Sanford, disch. (as first lieutenant) Jan. 13, 1865.
Chester D. Cleveland, pro. to major Jan. 7, 1865.
Gad N. Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Daniel E. Marsh, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Hubbard E. Tuttle, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James N. Coe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Theodore F. Vaill, must. out (as first lieutenant) Aug. 18, 1865.
Michael Kelley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Henry 8S. McKinney, must. out Aug. 23, 1865.
Orlow J. Smith, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Henry Skinner, must. ont Aug. 18, 1865.

First Lieutenants.

Luman Wadhams, pro. to captain Aug. 11, 1863.
Frederick A. Cook, res. June 5, 1863.

William T. Spencer, pro. to captain Aug. 11, 1863.
William H. Lewis, Jr., pro. to captain Nov. 20, 1863.
Benjamin F. Hosford, pro. to captain March 15, 1864.
James Deane, pro. to captain Feb. 19, 1864.

Gideon D. Crane, res. Dec. 26, 1862.

Frederick M. Berry, pro. to captain March 26, 1864.
Lyman Teater, res. March 2, 1863.

Augustus H. Fenn, pro. to captain March 31, 1864.
Walter Burnham, pro. to captain April 21, 1864.
Oren H. Knight, pro. to captain June 21, 1864.
Alexander B, Shumway, pro. to captain July 11, 1864.
Robert A. Potter, pro. to captain Aug. 12, 1864.
Morris H. Sanford, pro. to captain Oct. 22, 1864.
Chester D. Cleveland, pro. to captain Oct. 22, 1864.
Wilbur W. Birge, disch. Sept. 7, 1864.

John M. Gregory, disch, Jan. 10, 1865.

James N. Coe, pro. to captain Feb. 4, 1865.
84 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Oliver P. Loomis, disch. Aug. 30, 1864.

William McK. Rice, died of disease Nov, 8, 1864,
Gad N. Smith, pro. to captain Nov. 30, 1864.
Theodore F. Vaill, pro. to captain March 2, 1865.
Philip E. Chapin, disch. Oct. 17, 1864.

Edwin 8. Hubbard, disch. Dec. 31, 1864.

Franklin J. Candee, killed in action Sept. 19, 1864.
Warren Alford, disch. for disability April 20, 1865.
James P. McCube, died of wounds Oct. 3, 1864.
Edward C. Huxley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Orlow J. Smith, pro. to captain March 30, 1865.
Henry Skinner, pro. to captain March 30, 1865.
Daniel E. Marsh, pro. to captain Jan. 7, 1865.
Hubbard E. Tuttle, pro. to captain Jan. 7, 1865.
Michael Kelley, pro. to captain March 2, 1865,
Orsamus R. Fyler, disch. as second lieutenant March 9, 1865.
Joseph E. Fenn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry 8. McKinney, pro. to captain March 2, 1865.
William L, Twiss, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

John E. Wheeler, disch. May 15, 1865.

James W. Dixon, must. out July 20, 1865.

Dwight C. Kilbourn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Homer S. Curtis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James M. Snowden, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Lewis Munger, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles A. Reynolds, decl’d and com. revoked March 31, 1865.

John E. Sedgwick, must. out as second lieutenant Aug. 18, 1865.

David C. Munson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Orville B. Tiffany, decl’d and com, revoked March 27, 1865.
Salinon A. Granger, decl’d and com. revoked April 27, 1865.
William A. Hosford, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Heman Ellis, decl'd and com. revoked March 27, 1865.
Henry R. Hoyt, must. out Aug. 18,.1865.

Hower W. Griswold, decl’d and com. revoked March 27, 1865.

Second Lieutenants.

Alexander B. Shumway, pro. to first lieutenant July 8, 1863.
Oren H. Knight, pro. to first lieutenant March 21, 1863.
Morris H, Sanford, pro. to first lieutenant Aug. 11, 1863.
Robert A. Potter, pro. to first lieutenant Aug. 11, 1863.
Chester D. Cleveland, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 20, 1863.
Oliver P. Loomis, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864.
John M. Gregory, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864,
Walter Burnham, pro. to first lieutenant Dec. 26, 1862.
George E. Betts, res. Nov. 25, 1862.

James N. Coe, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864.

Wilbur W. Birge, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864,
Edward W. Marsh, pro. to captain Feb. 17, 1864.

Wm. McK. Rice, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864.
Hiram D. Gaylord, died Nov. 19, 1863, while first sergeant.
Edwin S, Hubbard, pro, to first lieutenant March 31, 1864,
Dwight C. Kilbourn, pro, to first lieutenant Feb. 4, 1865,
William H. Cogswell, died of wounds Oct. G6, 1864.
Michael Kelley, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 18, 1864,
Orsamus R. Fyler, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 18, 1864.
George B. Hempstead, died of wounds June 30, 186-4,
James P. McCabe, pro. to first lieutenant March 31, 1864.
Calvin B. Hatch, missing since June 1, 1864,

Hubbard E. Tuttle, pro. to first liontenant Oct. 8, 1864,
Orlow J. Smith, pro. to first lieutenant July 11, 1864.
Edward C. Huxley, pro. to first lieutenant March 31, 1864.
Horace Hubbard, killed in action Sept. 19, 1864.

George K. Hyde, disch. Oct. 23, 1864.

Franklin J. Candee, pro. to first lieutenant March 31, 1864.
Daniel E. Marsh, pro. to first lieutenant Oct, 8, 1864,
Warren Alford, pro. to first lieutenant March 31, 1864.
John E. Wheeler, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 30, 1864,
Henry §, McKinney, pro. to first lieutenant Nov, 30, 1864,
David R. Norman, dismissed Sept. 1, 1864,

James M. Snowden, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 4, 1865,
Lewis Munger, pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 4, 1865,

Oscar Platt, disch. Jan, 18, 1865.

Henry Skinner, pro, to first lieutenant Aug. 12, 1864,
Homer §, Curtis, pro, to first lieutenant Feb, 4, 1865.
William L, Twiss, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 30, 1864,
Austin P, Kirkham, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

 

Joseph E. Fenn, pro. to first lieutenant Nov. 30, 1864,
Charles P. Travers, must. out July 20, 1865.

Frederick A. Lucas, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles A, Reynolds, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Salmon A. Granger, must. out July 20, 1865.

John E. Sedgwick, pro. to first lieutenant March 2, 1865.
David C. Munson, pro. to first lieutenant March 2, 1865.
Orville B. Tiffany, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Homer W. Griswold, must. out July 20, 1865.

Amzi P, Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William S. Cooper, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Henry S. Dean, declined commission.

Charles F, Anderson, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry R. Hoyt, pro. to first lieutenant March 2, 1865.
George D. Stone, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Admatha Bates, must. out July 20, 1865.

William A. Hosford, pro. to first lieutenant March 2, 1863,
Heman Ellis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Joseph Pettit, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

David E. Soule, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Seneca Edgett, must. out July 20, 1865.

Frederick M. Cook, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

A. N. Lamoreux, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Calvin L. Davis, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Non-ComMIssIONED Starr,
Sergeant-Majors.
Wilbur W. Birge, commissioned.
Bushrod H. Camp, commissioned.
Theodore F. Vaill, commissioned.
Lewis Munger, commissioned.
Frederick A. Lucas, commissioned.
E. Goodwin Osborne, killed.
John §. Parmelee, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Quartermaster-Sergeants.
Edward W. Marsh, commissioned.
Edward C, Huxley, commissioned.
Edward F. Carrington, must. out July 7, 1865.
Robert Erwin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Commissary-Sergeants.
Franklin M. Candee, commissioned.
Prosper W. Smith, must. out Sept. 11, 1865.

Hospital Stewards.

James J. Averill, must. out July 7, 1865.
Orson Buell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Senior Principal Musicians.
Hicks Seaman, must. out July 7, 1865.
Wilson B. White, must. out July 7, 1865.
Frank J, Thomas, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Junior Principal Musicians.
Wilson B. White.
Albert R. Nettleton, must. out July 7, 1865.

Company A.
The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.
Captain.— William Bissell.
First Lieutenant.—Luman Wadhams.
Second Liewtenant.—Alexander B. Shumway.

Sergeants.
Dwight ©. Kilbourn, commissioned.
George B. Hempstead, commissioned.
Calvin B. Hatch, commissioned.
Joseph P. Parks, first sergeant; killed.
Henry Williams, first sergeant; must. out July 7, 1866.

Corporals.
William H, Hull, disch. for disability Feb, 17, 1865.
Hiram 8. Spencer, must. out July 7, 1865; sergeant.
Joseph E. Coe, died.
Ferris Pond, must. out July 7, 1866; sergeant.
Henry F, Cable, disch. for disability,
Charles W, Hinsdale, must. out July 7, 1865; quartermaster-sergeant.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 85

 

George W. Mason, quartermaster-sergeant; com. as captain and A. C.S.
Beebe S. Hall, disch. for disability Feb. 12, 1863.

Musicians.

Albert R, Nettleton, trans. to field and staff.
Frederick S. Fenton, must. out July 7, 1865.

Wagoner.
Edward 8. Hempstead, must. out July 7, 1865.

Privates.

Charles Adams, Jr., died of wounds; corporal.

Norman B, Barber, died.

Charles 8. Barber, must. out July 7, 1865.

Nelson Barker, must. out July 7, 1865.

Howard W. Baldwin, disch. for disability April 11, 1863.
Nelson H. Barnes, disch. for disability Feb. 9, 1863.
Charles Belcher, disch. for disability. 1
Hiram Bradley, disch. for disability April 11, 1863.
George Bradley, must. out June 14, 1865.

Leonard O. Bradley, disch. for disability April 29, 1863.
Joseph D. Bradley, must. out July 7, 1865.

Andrew J. Brooker, died of wounds.

Thomas W. Beach, must. out June 19, 1865.

Lewis Bissell, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
Leonard C. Bissell, disch. for disability May 8, 1863.
John S. Bishop, must. out July 7, 1863.

Apollos W. Buell, disch. for disability Feb. 9, 1863.
Franklin M. Bunnell, died of wounds; corporal.
Lyman §. Catlin, com. in colored troops.

Henry H. Catlin, disch. for disability June 3, 1863.
Edward Coe, com. in colored troops.

Robert W. Coe, disch. for disability April 26, 1865.

. Watson Cogswell, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Russell Curtis, must. out July 7, 1865; sergeant.
John Flesar, disch. for disability June 6, 1865.
Henry G. Gibbs, disch, for disability April 11, 1863; corporal.
Silas M. Griswold, must. out June 15, 1865.

Samuel Gunn, must. out July 11, 1865.

William J. Hall, disch. for disability Dec. 26, 1863.
George N. Hannans, must. out July 7, 1865.

Anson W. Healey, must. out June 22, 1865.

Henry W. Hotchkiss, must. out June 14, 1865.
Edward Hull, must. out July 7, 1865.

Joseph S. Hubbard, must. out May 14, 1865.

John Iffland, killed.

Frederick T. Jennings, must. out June 28, 1865.
Albert A. Jones, killed; corporal.

Myron E. Kilbourn, must. out July 7, 1865.

James B. Lyons, must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles Merriman, must. out July 3, 1865.

Henry W. Miner, died.

Lyman F. Morehouse, disch. for disability June 21, 1865.
Apollos C. Morse, died of wounds ; corporal.
Nelbert P. Newberry, died.

Eben L, Oakes, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
E. Goodwin Osborne, killed; sergeant-major.
Luther Pratt, disch. for disability March 27, 1865.
Watson Parmelee, died.

Willard H. Parmeles, killed.

Edwin F, Perkins, died.

Norman B. Perkins, disch. for disability.

William H. Plumb, must. out July 12, 1865.

Seth C. Pond, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
Gideon D, Pond, disch. for disability Dec. 18, 1862.
Edwin W. Pond, must. out July 8, 1865.

George W. Potter, died of wounds; corporal.

Isaac L. Sanford, must. out July 7, 1865.

Garwood T. Sanford, must. out July 7, 1865.

Harry Scoville, must. out July 7, 1865; sergeant.
Whiting P. Smith, trans, to Veteran Reserve Corps.
William 8. Smith, must, out May 31, 1865; sergeant.
Lyman J, Smith, Jr., killed.

George D. Stone, sergeant ; commissioned.

Jackson Tompkins, disch. for disability April 29, 1862.
Theodore F, Vaill, sergeant-major; commissioned.
Willard J. Watrous, must. out July 7, 1865.

 

David P. Wetmore, must. out June 10, 1865.

Seth Whiting, disch. for disability in 1865; sergeant.
William 8. Wilson, died.

John L. Wilcox, died of wounds; corporal.

Julius Winship, died.

Curtis P. Wedge, must. out June 19, 1865; corporal.
Robert Watt, killed.

The Recruits of Company A.
Atwood A. Aiken, must. out August, 1865.
Newton T. Abbott, disch. for disability June 16, 1865.
Minott M. Atwood, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Josiah Atwood, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Ames, must. out July 7, 1865.
Edmund P. Aiken, must, out June 22, 1865.
William Barton, killed.
John Bailey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edward A. Banks, must. out June 20, 1865.
Edwin A. Banks, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Horatio N. Bennett, killed.
William H. Brewer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Benedict, must. out July 14, 1865.
John A. Belden, must. out June 2, 1865.
Frederick W. Brashing, killed.
Charles F, Blackman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Almon D. Bradley, killed.
Frederick G, Buell, must, out Aug. 15, 1865.
James Bradley, killed.
Charles Carter, must. out Sept. 9, 1865.
Thomas Cashman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles T. Conger, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Robert Crawford, must. out Aug. 18, 1865; corporal.
Robert Cogswell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
David M. Candee, died at Andersonville,
Joseph Cusher, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edson 8. Drayton, disch. for disability Feb. 27, 1865.
Robert Elill, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Stephen Fallen, killed.
James A. Ferris, disch. for disability Aug. 4, 1865.
Charles F. Goslee, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James Gibbons, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John L. Gibbons, trans. to the navy.
Joseph Gardner, killed.
Albro W. Hopkins, disch. for disability April, 1865.
Oliver Hitchcock, killed.
Abram Hunter, must, out May 20, 1865.
Edward Haley, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
David J. Jennings, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Sheldon B. Jones, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Johnson, must. out Aug. 28, 1865.
Marcellus J. Judd, disch. for disability June 10, 1865.
Jacob June, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Sylvester Lampson, died.
Herman S. Lathrop, must. out June 23, 1865.
Lewis S. Ludington, died.
Simeon W. Loud, died.
John Lawler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Daniel M. Leighton, must, out June 21, 1865,
Thomas Lyons, must. out June 17, 1865.
Matthew McEnroe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Joseph Moody, must. out May 14, 1865.
John L. Mintsch, must. out June 17, 1865.
Benjamin Meeker, killed; corporal.
James Moore, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Truman Mallory, died of wounds.
David McBath, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas Morris, must, out Aug. 18,1865; corporal.
James Oswald, must. out.
James L. Osborn, must, out May 26, 1865.
Henry Osborn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James M. Prindle, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Pierce, must. out June 14, 1865,
Patrick Ryan, killed.
Benjamin H. Rathbun, died at Andersonville.
Nehemiah Reynolds, must, out June 3, 1865,
Thomes Ryan, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Willis 1’, Richardson, disch. for disability Feb. 4, 1865.
86 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Jason St. John, disch. for disability June 6, 1865.
Amos H. Stilson, died of wounds.

Clarence Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Robert Scull, killed.

Michael Shearer, must. out May 20, 1865.

George Savage, died of wounds.

Reuben A. Swift, disch. for disability Nov. 1, 1864.
Homer F. Tilford, killed.

Ransom E. Wood, died vf wounds.

Horace N, Williams, disch. for disability Aug. 8, 1865; corporal.
Luther L. Weeks, must. out June 20, 1865.
George F. Waugh, must. out June 10, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Henry L. Bly, John J. Cogswell, Jeremiah Greany, James Harris, Charles
P. Lamb, Thomas Ledger.

Company B.

Captain —James Hubbard.
First Lieutenant.—Frederick A. Cook.
Second Lieutenant.—Oren H. Knight.

Sergeants,

William H. Cogswell, commissioned.

Admatha Bates, commissioned.

Ambrose N. Negus, must, out July 7, 1865.

Moses Cook, Jr., died.

James Parks, disch. for disability June 23, 1865; first sergeant.

Corporals.

Charles B, Benedict, must. out May 18, 1865.

George L. Johnson, must. out June 6, 1865; sergeant; quartermaster-
sergeant.

Ambrose Hufcut, must. out July 7, 1865; sergeant.

James S, Thayer, disch. for disability Jan. 24, 1863.

John McGovern, must. out July, 1865.

Francis J. Young, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.

George W. Mansfield, disch. for disability August, 1865.

Musicians,
John H, Ward, must. out July 7, 1865.
Bradford B. Brown.
Wagoner.
4
Nathaniel Roraback, must. out July 7, 1865.

Privates.

Augustus Adams, must. out July 7, 1865.

Lewis Burton, must. out July 7, 1865.

Joseph D. Bierce, disch. Aug. 14, 1863.

Elisha A. Briggs, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
Henry Burgess, must. out July 7, 1865.

John H. Bruce, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
Frank Benedict, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
John H. Brazee, disch. Sept. 10, 1863.

James Burns, must. out June 15, 1865.

Martin A. Besler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Sheldon Carley, must. out July 7, 1865.

James Caul, killed.

Michael Casey, disch. for disability May, 1865.
Thomas Casey, disch. for disability Nov. 6, 1862.
Daniel T. Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865; corporal.
Joseph E, Dwy, must. out July 12, 1865.

Gurdon C. Davidson, died.

Austin Frink, disch. Feb. 12, 1863.

Frank Friar, must. out July 7, 1865; corporal.
John Funk, disch. May 29, 1865, by order of War Department,
Franklin 8. Graves, must. out July, 1865; corporal.
Wesley Gibbs, must. out July 7, 1865; sergeant.
James Gibbons, trans. to the navy.

Daniel Glaveen, killed.

Solomon Hinckley, must. out July 7, 1865.

John Handel, killed.

Luther Hall, mu&, out July 7, 1865.

Curtis Hall, sergeant; trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Benjamin E. Halleck, must. out July 7, 1865,
Dwight Halleck, must, out July 7, 1865; corporal.
Charles D. Hall, died.

 

William H. Ingraham, disch. for disability Jan. 12, 1862.
Chester A. Johnson, died of wounds.

Lewis Morey, disch. for disability June 9, 1866.
Henry M. Marshall, disch. for disability Feb, 12, 1863,
George Methven, disch. for disability Jan. 3, 1865,
John McGraugh, sergeant; killed.

Peter Ostrander, died.

Adam Ostrander, killed.

William O’Rourke, must. out July 7, 1865.

James Ostrander, Jr., died.

Watson W. Peck, must. out June 1, 1865.

Daniel O. Page, killed.

Charles Powell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Jacob F. Rapp, died of wounds.

Henry Sterry, disch. for disability April 3, 1863.
Myron R. Sterry, corporal; killed.

George L. Sterry, must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles H. Segur, killed.

Luther E. Speed, must. out July 7, 1865.

Warren Silvernail, disch. for disability Nov. 3, 1862.
Joel Snyder, disch. for disability June 6, 1865.
James Surdam, must. out July 7, 1865.

John W. Turner.

Henry Voelker, corporal; killed.

Carlf Volusen, died.

John H. White, died.

Henry 8S. Wheeler, sergeant; died of wounds.
Monroe Whiteman, corporal; killed.

William Waters, Jr., must. out July 7, 1865.

Amos Wooden, died of wounds.

Henry Wiesing, killed.

Not Mustered out with Company.

Corp. Franklin Miller, Joseph Brennan, William Beecraft, George A.
Caul, Sheldon Daskam, Patrick Ellwood, William H, Hotchkiss,
Thomas Lee.

The Recruits of Company B.

Henry L. Ayers, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Robert W. Ames, died of wounds.

Charles H. Ball, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Best, killed.

Francis Burger, killed.

Samuel V. Benedict, killed.

Ambrose Brazie, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Richard A. Brown, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Baldwin, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Silas Burton, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Robert W. Bragg, killed.

Almeron Burton, died.

William Bradley, trans. to the navy.

Newton W. Cogswell, disch. by order War Department May 27, 1865.

John W. Coons, died of wounds.

Ezra Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Cooper, must. out June 10, 1865.

Patrick Canfield, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Connell, disch. for disability June 6, 1865.

Joseph Compton, must. out March 10, 1865.

John Crothers, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

James Collins, trans. to the navy.

Thomas Carroll, trans, to the navy.

Thomas Carral, must. out Aug. 18, 1865. ¢

John A. Decker, disch. for disability June 9, 1865.

William Dunn, missing.

Daniel Dunlavey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Delaney, died.

Philip Davis, trans. to the navy.

Hiram Fanning, disch. for disability Feb. 26, 1865.

John C, Foote, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Peter Flood, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Thomas Fox, corporal ; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Finn, trans. to the navy.

Paul Gaetel, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Hyer, died.

Walter D. Hoag, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Huskinson, must. out June 17, 1865.

William 8. Horton, died.

Charles 8. Higgins, must. out June 10, 1865.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 87

 

William Howard, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Louis Kraeger, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Mortimer M. Lillibridge, disch. for disability June 13, 1865.

Thomas G. Lombard, must. out June 1, 1865.

David Lacy, missing.

George Lowe (1st), must. out May 18, 1865,

George Lowe (2d), must. out May 18, 1865.

Peter Malath, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Ezra B. Morris, killed.

Gilbert McMahon, must. out June 4, 1865.

Godfrey Miller, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John McMahon, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Moore, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Murphy, trans. to the navy.

John Manross, disch. for disability Feb. 3, 1865.

Correl F. North, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

John O’Brien, must. out May 23, 1865.

William F, Ohman, disch. for disability May 22, 1865.

Daniel T. Phillips, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Powel, must. out Oct. 18, 1865.

John Quirk, must. out July 28, 1865.

Allen Rogers, must. out June 10, 1865.

Reuben R. Speed, died after release from Andersonville.

William H. Surdam, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Stevens, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Franklin B, Stevens, killed.

Walter C. Sparks, corporal; killed.

Wilson W. Scoville, died of wounds.

George F. Sherwood.

James Sheridan, corporal; must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Lucius 0. Spencer, killed.

George A. Skiff, killed.

Elias P. Scott, killed.

Joun B. Stohl, killed.

Henry Tanner, died of wounds.

Horace N. Thorpe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Chester A. Weller, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles 0. Whaples, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Winters, died.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Horace Ball, Isaac Beardsley, Benjamin Case, William R. Curtis, Henry
Dryer, William W. Foster, James Graham, John Hughes, Roger
Lilly, George W. McLean, William Moore, Henry Ostrander, John
Ross, Daniel E. Taylor, Corp. Charles Turner.

Company, C.
The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.
Captain.—James Q. Rice.
First Lieutenant—William T. Spencer.
Second Lieutenant.—Morris H. Sanford.

Sergeants.
William McK. Rice, commissioned. .
George K. Hyde, first sergeant; commissioned.
James P, McCabe, commissioned.
Matthew H, Huxley, died.
Orsamus R. Fyler, commissioned.

Corporals.
Homer W. Griswold, first sergeant; commissioned.
Uri Wadhams, died.
David C. Munson, sergeant; commissioned.
George W. Newcomb, first sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Frederick A. Lucas, sergeant; sergeant-major; commissioned.
David J. Thorp, killed.
Martin L, Judd, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
William W. Hyde, disch. for disability Aug. 8, 1863.

Musicians.
Hicks Seaman, junior primary musician; must. out July 7, 1865.
Andrew E. Workman, must. out July 7, 1865.
Wagoner.
George D. Bentley, must. out July 7, 1865.
Privates.

Charles G. Adams, corporal; must. out July 20, 1865,
William L, Adams, must. out July 7, 1865.

 

Avery M. Allyn, must. out June 20, 1865.
Milo F. Barber, disch. for disability April 18, 1864.
Frederick Barber, must. out July 7, 1865.
Edward M. Balcom, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Cyr. M. Bartholomew, killed.
William H. Beach, corporal; killed.
Zophar Beach, must. out June 20, 1865.
Darius C. Beach, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
James M. Benton, must. out May 18, 1865.
John R. Blakeslee, must. out July 7, 1865.
George P. Blakeslee, must. out July 7, 1865.
Virgil R. Bissell, must, out July 7, 1865,
Philo Cleveland, must. out July 7, 1865.
Albert B. Cleveland, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
George W. Cleveland, color corporal; killed.
Erastus Cleveland, died of wounds.
Orrin H. Cooke, must. out June 22, 1865.
George W. Curtiss, must. out July 7, 1865.
Daniel B. Curtiss, must. out July 7, 1865.
Calvin L. Davis, sergeant; commissioned.
Edward M, Dunbar, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Joseph Durocher, must. out July 7, 1865.
Orlando D. Evans, died.
Seymour H. Eldridge, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
John Friend, must. out July 7, 1865.
Hobart Griswold, corporal ; must. out 1865.
William Herald, died.
Samuel Hunter, must. out July 7, 1865.
Edward C. Huxley, regimental quartermaster-sergeant; commissioned.
Cornelius A. Hammond, disch. for disability Nov. 9, 1862.
Frederick 0. Hills, corporal; disch. for disability Aug. 19, 1865.
Henry H. Ives, must. out July 7, 1865.
James Jukes, must. out July 7, 1865.
Arthur G. Kellogg, died.
Daniel E. Lyman, died.
Orson M. Miner, corporal; killed.
Avery F. Miner, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Dennis Murphy, must. out June 22, 1865.
McKenzie Millard, must. out July 7, 1865.
James Moran, must. out May 18, 1865.
Charles E. Morse, must. out July 7, 1865.
William E, McKee, disch. for disability June 24, 1865.
Correl F. North, trans. to Co. B as quartermaster-sergeant,
Carlton N. Nichols, disch. for disability April 29, 1865.
Theod. A. Pendleton, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry D. Pierce, must. out July 8, 1865.
Joseph P. Reed, must. out June 1, 1865.
Owen Reddy, must. out May 29, 1865.
William T. Robinson, died.
Seeley Richmond, must. out May 18, 1865.
Joseph Sherry, sergeant; disch. for disability Aug. 1, 1865.
Charles J. Soudant, must. out May 18, 1865.
Henry A. Stoddard, disch. for disability Dec. 26, 1862.
George C. Stewart, must. out July 7, 1865.
John H. Stewart, died.
Royal Stone, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Alonzo Smith, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
George C. Thompson, must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry L. Vaill, corporal; died of wounds.
Wright Waterhouse, corporal; must. out- July 12, 1865.
William U. Wadhams, must. out July 7, 1865.
Willard N. Wadhams, corporal; died.
Henry M. Woodruff, died.
Lucien N. Whiting, disch. for disability Jan. 31, 1865.
Harrison Whitney, corporal; disch. for disability June 2, 1865.
Charles G. Wheeler, corporal; must. out June 2, 1865.
Milo Young, died.

The Recruits of Company C.
William E. Albin, corporal ; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles H. Albin, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John J. Abbott, died of accidental wounds.
Royal G, Andrews, died.
Eugene G. Austin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas Bidwell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Alfred Blackman, died at Andersonville.
Peter Burke, killed.
88 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

James A. Bryan, must. out May 21, 1865.

Richard Butler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Barnes, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Butler, died.

Peter Bunts, must. out July 20, 1865,

Ezra B. Bouton, killed.

Chauncey E, Brown, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
George W. Brown, died.

Enos S. Benedict, disch. for disability Juno 22, 1865.
Orange S. Brown, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William H. Bray, killed.

Christian Bjornsern, died of wounds.

Newton A. Calkins, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
George C. Curtis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Adelbert M. Calkins, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Marshall A. Calkins, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Alfred Calkins, must. out June 14, 1865.

Joseph H. Canfield, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Giles A. Cone, died.

Charles Clark, disch. for disability June 30, 1865.
William Dover, must. out June 22, 1865.

John Delowry, disch. for disability June 12, 1865.
Watson E. Foster, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Patrick Harvey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Franklin Hoxie, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

William H. Hart, died.

Leonard Hower, must. out Aug. 21, 1865.

Seth M. Hersey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Eugene Hyatt, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James M. Hayes, died.

Anson W. Johnson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edward B. Janes, must. out Aug. 18, 1265,

Harlow Johnson, died.

Hezekiah Johnson, disch. for disability June 23, 1865.
William Kelley, killed.

James Karney, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

James Lynn, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Abraham W. Losey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Wolcott Little, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Frederick G. Lampson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas 0. Murphy, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Jeremiah McCarty, killed.

Thomas Milnes, must. out May 18, 1865.

Timothy Mahar, corporal; must. out July 18, 1865,
John McDonald, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George W. Manning, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William H. Norville, died.

Andrew H. Nichols, must. out June 1, 1865.

Patrick O'Connor, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George O’Brien, must. out May 18, 1865.

Henry W. Ostrum, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Prindle, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Pierce, killed.

Lucius B. Palmer, died of wounds.

James P. Quinn, first sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
John Quinn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James W. Roswell, must. out June 13, 1865.

Hawley Reed, must. out June 13, 1865,

Erastus Ruscoe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Ruscoe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Rogers, died.

Jarvis M. Richards, must. out Aug. 18,1865.

John W. Steele, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas B. Stewart, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Albert M. Scoville, died of wounds,

Andrew H. Sanford, died.

John Smith, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edwin Thorn, disch. for disability Juno 5, 1865.
George Taylor, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Freeman M. Thurston, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John H. Ure, killed.

Edward White, must. out June 20, 1865.

George E. Warren, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Albert F, Williams, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
William 8. Wilson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Peter 0. Wilson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

 

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Henry Benson, Jerome Chapman, William Curtland, James Dayton,
John Devirnne, Charles Flannigan, John H. Hayes, Andrew Harris,
James Hill, John Jones, Philip Manly, Edward Northrop, Henry
W. Richards, Henry Sminer, Robert Scott.

Company D.
1
The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept, 11, 1862,

Captain. — William B. Ells.
First Lieutenant. William H. Lewis, Jr.
Second Lieutenant.—Robert A. Potter.

Sergeants.

Thomas D. Bradstreet, disch. for disability March 9, 1863.
Theodore C. Glazier, disch. for disability Dec. 26, 1862; afterwards com,
in U.S.C. T.

Horace Hubbard, commissioned.
Andrew J. Tuite, must. out July 7, 1865.
Edgar B. Lewis, died.

Corporals,
Salmon B. Smith, sergeant; died.
Samuel Brown, sergeant; must. out June 1, 1865.
Lewis Munger, sergeant ; sergeant-major; commissioned.
James McCormick, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
William W. Johnson, died.
David B. Wooster, quartermaster-sergeant; killed.
Emery B. Taylor, sergeant; must. out May 18, 1865.
Frederick B. Webster, died.

Musicians.

Belden S. Brown, must. out July 7, 1865.
John 8. Atwood, disch. for disability June 3, 1865.
Wagoner.
Henry Pond, must. out July 7, 1865.
Privates.
Albert F. Alfred, disch. for disability May 31, 1865.
William C. Atwood, com. in U.S. ©. T.
Norman W. Barnes, must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry C. Barnum, disch. for disability July 11, 1864.
George H. Bates, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
George L. Beach, died of wounds.
James A. Beach, must. out June 3, 1865,
Wallace E. Beach, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Jobn D. Benjamin, must. out July 7, 1865.
Harvey Bronson, must. out June 25, 1865.
Charles L, Bryan, must. out July 13, 1865.
David A. Bradley, sergeant; disch. for disability July 18, 1865.
Henry N. Bushnell, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
John D. Castle, disch. for disability June 9, 1865.
Emory W. Castle, died of wounds.
Edgar J. Castle, died of wounds,
James H. Cable, must. out July 7, 1865.
Martin H. Camp, must. out July 7, 1865.
John ©. Chase, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles G. Cleveland, died.
Amzi P. Clark, commissioned.
Hiram T. Coley, died of wounds.
George T. Cook, must. out July 7, 1865.
David Davenport, killed.
Philo A. Fenn, killed.
Joseph B. Fenn, first sergeant ; commissioned.
Benjamin Filley, died a prisoner.
Joseph Gooley, must. out July 7, 1865.
George H. 8. Goodwin, died of wounds,
Jobn Grieder, died of wounds.
Zelotes F. Grannis, sergeant ; must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles E. Guernsey, corporal; died of wounds.
Albert J. Hotchkiss, must. out July 7, 1865,
George H. Holt, died.
Edward C, Hopson, corporal; killed.
Charles I, Hough, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865,
Franklin W. Hubbard, died.
Swift McG. Hunter, must. out May 30, 1865.
William Lindley, disch, for disability April 11, 1863.
Timothy Malone, must, out July 7, 1865.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 89

 

Thomas Mann, died of wounds.

Hiram Mattoon, died of wounds.

Jerome Munger, must. out July 7, 1865.

Ralph W. Munson, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
John Murphy, killed.

Simon J. O'Donnell, must, out July 7, 1865.

George L. Penfield, must. out July 12, 1865.

Horatio G. Perkins, died.

James H. Pritchard, died.

Daniel 0. Purcell, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Walter Stone, died of wounds.

Mark B. Stone, must. out July 7, 1865.

Ira H. Stoughton, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Justin O, Stoughton, must. out July 7, 1865.

James Straun, died at Andersonville.

Charles W. Talcott, must. out July 7, 1865.

Samuel R. Terrell, must. out July 7, 1865.

Rurritt H. Tolles, died.

Henry Tolles, must. out July 7, 1865.

Josiah J, Wadsworth, died.

Matthias Walter, must. out June 13, 1865.

Charles R. Warner, killed.

Charles Warner, must. out June 13, 1865.

William H. Whitelaw, disch. for disability May 18, 1865.
William Wright, corporal; killed.

William Weston, must. out July 7, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.
Abrabam Dobson.

The Recruits of Company D,
George E. Atwood, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Dwight S. Atwood, missing.
Henry Ashburn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George W. Butler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Richard Beebe, killed.
Charles Barley, must. out May 18, 1865.
Joseph Boyce, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Pomeroy Becraft, killed.
William P. Burr, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William J. P. Buck, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles F. Brown, must. out June 15, 1865.
Thomas Bulluss, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William L. Barnes, died a prisoner.
John H. Conklin, killed.
Erastus W. Converse, died of wounds.
Edgar W. Conklin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
George Comstock, killed.
John L, Conklin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George G. Conklin, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Henry Carr, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George E. Clark, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Carlos Curtis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Chauucey Culver, must. out June 20, 1865.
Joseph Cleveland, trans. to the navy.
Hiram E, Castle, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Kelsey D. Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William N. Cockefair, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Johnson S. Dow, must. out July 6, 1865.
Nehemiah H. Dutton, must. out Aug. 15, 1865.
Edward Dwyer, corporal; must. out Aug. 15, 1865.
Jacob Demuth, died of wounds.
William Elliot, Jr., must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Walter M, Fox, killed.
Nathan H. Geer, disch. for disability May 31, 1865.
Philip H. Golde, must. ont June 4, 1865.
Everett Griswold, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Charles B. Guttman, returned to a Pennsylvania regiment.
William H. Harrison, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Henry Jones, trans. to the navy.
Elmore Hotchkiss, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Lawrence A. Hunt, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles D. Hanson, died a prisoner.
Jonathan Hall, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Francis Howard, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Olet F. Hanson, trans. to the navy.
William Hilliker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

 

Samuel Hine, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Holland, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Francis Hawley, disch. for disability Oct, 3, 1864.
Morris B. Hanford, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Frederick R. Keith, first sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Kapser, must. out June 10, 1865.

Edwin Lyon, trans. to the navy.

George A. Lyon, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George L. Lyon, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Lynch, died of wounds.

Robert Lowrie, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William H. Lindley, trans, to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Seeley 8. Morse, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry W. Miller, killed.

John Moore, trans. to the navy.

John M. Moseley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Munger, must. out June 13, 1865.

Samuel Nelson, trans. to the navy.

Walter Oates, must. out July 3, 1865.

Frederick Olroyd, must. out July 7, 1865.

Frederick Patchen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Peterson, trans. to the navy.

Tompkins J. Patterson, trans. to the navy.

William W. Richardson, died.

William Russell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Chauncey F. Reed, must. out June 19, 1865.

Charles H. Sherwood, disch. for disability Sept. 21, 1865.
William Smith, disch. for disability June 19, 1865.
Peter Schultz, trans. to the navy.

Stephen C. Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Austin Shelley, disch. for disability July 8, 1865.
James Slater, killed.

Henry Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Robert Tompkins, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Frank J. Thomas, sergeant; leader of band; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Daniel Van Allen, killed.

Alexander Vogel, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Truman D. Wooster, disch. for disability Jan. 12, 1865.
Benjamin Williams, must. out May 18, 1865.

John L. Wheeler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

William Wirt, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Irwin C. Beach, Daniel Boyce, Charles F. Cain, Henry J. Hubbard, Mor-
timer Holcomb, Francis McLaughlin, Charles H. Webb.

Company E.

The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.
Captain.—Jeffroy Skinner.

First Liewenant.—Benjamin F. Hosford.

Second Lieutenant,—Chester D. Cleveland.

Sergeants.

Hiram D. Gaylord, commissioned.
Orlow J. Smith, first sergeant; commissioned.
Salmon A. Granger, first sergeant; commissioned.
George White, disch. per order March 9, 1865.
Henry Skinner, commissioned.

Corporals,
David Miller, must. out June 30, 1865.
Sherman H. Cowles, disch. for disability May 31, 1863.
William 8. Cooper, sergeant; commissioned.
Stephen W. Sage, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Mason Adkins, must. out July 7, 1865.
Frederick W. Daniels, killed.
Charles A. Reynolds, sergeant; commissioned.
Ruel H. Perkins, killed. ;

Musicians,
Wilson B. White, junior principal musician; must. out July 7, 1865.
Myron Ferris, killed.

Wagoner.

Alfred G. Bliss, must. out July 7, 1865.
Privates.

Sherman A. Apley, missing.

James R. Baldwin, corporal; missing.

Edward Beach, must. out July 7, 1865.

Edwin 8. Beecher, disch. March 25, 1863.
90

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Patrick T. Birmingham, must. out July 7, 1865.

Almeron Bunnell, must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles M. Burr, corporal; disch. for disability May 23, 1865.

Edwin R, Canfield, quartermaster-sergeant ; must. out July 7, 1865.

John Christina, must. out July 7, 1865.

Edward F. Carrington, regimental quartermaster-sergeant; must. out
July 7, 1865.

Philip D. Carroll, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Frederick M. Cook, sergeant; commissioned.

Alfred Comins, killed.

Robert A. Cutler, must. out July 7, 1865.

Henry A. Dayton, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Adam J. N. Dilly, must. out July 7, 1865.

Edwin Downs, disch. for disability May 1, 1863.

Lewis Downs, killed.

Bernard W. Doyle, must. out July 20, 1865,

Adam Feathers, must. out July 7, 1865.

Oliver C. Fitch, disch. Nov. 20, 1862.

Birdsey Gibbs, killed.

George N. Gibbs, disch. for disability March 31, 1864.

Richard C. Gingell, disch. for disability.

James A. Green, disch. for disability July 5, 1864.

Manwaring Green, accidentally killed.

Anthony B. Guernsey, disch. Nov. 2, 1862.

William Hall, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles H. Hart, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Luther W. Hart, disch. Nov, 25, 1863.

Timothy A. Hart, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865,

Willard Hart, killed.

George W. Hurlbut, died.

William §. Hurlbut, died.

William R. Hubbard, died.

Asa Humiston, died of wounds.

Alonzo J. Hull, corporal; killed.

Jule Jackson, must. out July 7, 1865.

Matthew Jackman, must. out Sept. 10, 1865.

Henry C. Kent, missing.

Isaac R. Knapp, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

Elizur Maltbie, died of wounds.

Walter Martin, killed.

Charles G. Mason, must. out July 7, 1865.

Herman P. Moore, must. out July 7, 1865.

Henry Overton, trans. to the navy.

George H. Pendleton, corporal; died of wounds,

Joseph Pettit, sergeant; commissioned.

Charles Henry Pine, must. out June 20, 1865.

Jerome Preston, died.

Henry A. Rexford, killed.

Theodore Robbins, corporal; must. out June 1, 1865,

Edmund B. Sage, must. out July 7, 1865.

William Seymour, disch. for disability March 25, 1865,

Lucius 8, Skinner, must. out July 11, 1865.

John Smith, must. out July 7, 1865,

Prosper W. Smith, regimental commissary-sergeant; must. out Sept.
11, 1865.

Philip Stabell, musician; must. out July 7, 1865.

Darwin S. Starks, died.

George A. Tatro, killed.

John M. Teeter, killed.

Benjamin B. Thayer, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

William H. Turner, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.

Hubbard E, Tuttle, sergeant; commissioned.

Wells Tuttle, must. out July 12, 1865.

Hubert A. Warner, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Marcus J. Whitehead, disch. for disability June 2, 1865.

Warren M. Wood, disch. June 13, 1865, by order of War Department.

Julius Woodford, died.

Wallace W. Woodruff, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

William Gager.
The Recruits of Company EB.

Jackson Ayres, must. out June 20, 1865.
Jacob P. Arnold, must. out July 7, 1865,
Christopher Arnold, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps,
John H. Boughton, corporal; died of wounds.
Henry Bush, lst sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

 

Ernst A. Basney, disch. for disability Oct. 14, 1864.
Joseph E. Baton, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Robert J. Bulcroft, must. out June 19, 1865.
Samuel U. Brewer, must, out Aug. 18, 1865. *
Sylvester Barrett, died of wounds.

Martin Blake, missing.

Thomas H. Birge, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James E. Billings, disch. for disability April 20, 1865.
Henry Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Welles Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Benjamin G. Carman, must. out May 12, 1865.
Bernard Carbury, missing.

John J. Cummins, trans. to the navy.

Julius Collins, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Campbell, disch. for disability June 15, 1865.
William Downer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Charles N. Decker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Michael Donahue, died a prisoner at Salisbury.
David Durand, must. out Aug. 18, 1868.

Jared P. Evarts, killed.

John D. Ellis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Heman Ellis, commissioned.

Matthew Fitzgerald, died a prisoner.

Stephen J. Green, died of wounds.

Francis Gallagher, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas H. Gilbert, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles Griffin, must. out June 13, 1865.
Augustus’ Hain, disch. for disability Oct. 1, 1864.
William A. Hosford, trans. to Co. D and commissioned.
Erle Hamilton, band; must. out Sept. 9, 1865.
Charles B. Howard, disch. for disability June 27, 1865.
Peter Jordan, disch. for disability Jan. 10, 1865.
Louis Jaeger, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Boughton D. Knapp, missing.

John Koons, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Keegan, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Patrick Kaine, killed.

Jacob Leroy, must. out June 1, 1865.

John Lemley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Lynch, disch. for disability May 23, 1865.
Chauncey S. Loomis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Leonard, must. out July 3, 1865.

Henry G. Mitchell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John McDonough, killed.

James Mooney, killed.

John McPherson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edward Moggon, must. out June 21, 1865.

James Maloy, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles Martin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John McDonald, must. out June 9, 1865.

John O’Connell, disch. for disability May 22, 1865.

Frederick D. Painter, killed.

Nathan Perry, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Joseph Robinson, died.

Edward Reicker, disch. for disability April 29, 1865.
Jacob Riley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles H. Rowe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William H. Rowe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Julius Rogers, died.

Edward Rugg, must. out Aug. 18, 1864.

Elbert B. Rowe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Rankin, disch. for disability June 9, 1865.
Philip Shelley.

John Sculley, missing.

John Scott.

James Simpson, missing.

Charles H., Stanley, killed.

Levi B. Stone, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Tracy.

Edward H. Turner, trans, to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Ebenezer C, Terrell, discharged.

John J. Toole, missing.

Talmer Tatro, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Van Dusen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Warner, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Erastus Woodworth, killed.

-Prelott Wilbur, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
MILITARY

HISTORY. 91

 

Michael Welch, must. out July 10, 1865.

Henry P. Warner, must out May 22, 1866.

Henry Wenzel, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Welch, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles H. Walsh, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Allen B. Young, died a prisoner at Salisbury Nov. 10, 1864.
Charles H. Ziegelmeyer, must. out June 28, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

George W. Boger, William Brown, Charles Collins, William Drew, John
Dunigan, Pierre Gigin, John Jackson, John Keon, George Kenna,
Michael Klein, Robert Livingston, Lorenzo Moseley, Augustus V.
Mercken, John Miller, Philip Nagle, John Neickel, Henry Saggan,
Charles Warren, William J. Wood, George Williams.

Company F.
The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.
Captain.—Edward W. Jones.
First Lieutenant.—James Deane.
Second Lieutenant.—Oliver P. Loomis.

Sergeants,
Warren Alford, commissioned.
Samuel E. Gibbs, killed.
Alfred C, Alford, killed.
Carlton Seymour, com. in colored troops,
Wiliam L. Twiss, commissioned.

‘Corporals,
John E. Wheeler, sergeant; commissioned.
Edward S. Roberts, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Roswell G. Benham, regimental quartermaster-sergeant ; disch. June 15,
1865.
Norman M. Rust, com. in colored troops.
Edward D. Lawrence, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Thomas B. Spencer, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Ruel 8. Rice, disch. for disability April 11, 1863.
John Rodemyer, must. out July 7, 1865.

Musicians.

Watson H. Deming, disch. Nov. 26, 1862.
John L, Merrill, must. out June 23, 1865.

Wagoner.
Henry H. Griffin, must. out July 7, 1865.

Privates.
George N. Andrus, died of wounds.
Abernethy Baker, must. out July 7, 1865.
Elisha L. Bancroft, must. out May 18, 1865.
Augustus E. Barret, died.
Albert Beckwith, died.
Hopkins J. Benham, must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles Burr, disch. for disability July 30, 1863.
Harlan D, Benedict, died.
Albert F. Bradley, disch. for disability June 21, 1865.
Albert P. Briggs, disch. for disability May 5, 1863.
Henry C. Butler, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
William Burke, must. out June 3, 1865.
Horace F. Calkins, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Wayne B. Castle, disch. for disability June 3, 1865.
William H. Colt, killed.
John Carroll, must. out June 1, 1865.
Abram Coons, corporal; must, out July 7, 1865.
Henry G. Dailey, disch. for disability March 9, 1865,
Miles H. Day, disch. for disability Feb. 13, 1863.
Edward E. Dayton, disch. for disability May 15, 1864.
Eugene Decker, must. out July 7, 1865.
Watson W. Deane, must. out June 22, 1865.
Alfred M. Dowd, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Horatio N. Eggleston, died.
Philander Emmons, died.
George L, Fairchild, must. out July 7, 1865.
William G. Gardner, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
William Gorman, must. out July 7, 1865.
James H. Hakes, sergeant; disch. for disability June 15, 1865.
Seth Haskins, color corporal; disch. by order War Department May 4,

1865,

 

Solomon G. Hayward, died a prisoner.

Alg’n G. Henderson, must. out July 7, 1865.
William G. Henderson, died.

Bennett Hines, must. out June 15, 1865.

Tra D. Jones, sergeant; must. out June 11, 1865,
Lorenzo Light, sergeant; killed.

Joseph M. Marsh, disch. for disability Feb. 18, 1863.
Patrick McGrath, must. out July 7, 1865.

Edward McGrath, must. out July 7, 1865.

Andrew McGrath, trans. to Co. L.

Joseph McManus, must. out June 15, 1865.
Cornelius H. Merrell, died of wounds,

Henry C. Merrell, must. out June 22, 1865.

Charles H. Mitchell, disch. for disability Dec. 20, 1864.
Edwin R, Mitchell, corporal; must. out July 19, 1865.
Pierre Mundry, disch. for disability April 8, 1863.
Morris E. Munger, must. out July 7, 1865.

George Munson, must. out July 7, 1865.

Thomas Noonan, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Joseph Nul, must. out July 7, 1865.

Roswell Root, must. out July 7, 1865.

Edward H. Roys, must. out July 7, 1865,

Charles N. Rust, must. out July 7, 1865.

Daniel Ryan, must. out July 7, 1865.

Patrick Ryan, must. out July 7, 1865.

John W. Shaw, disch. for disability Aug. 1, 1865.
George Simons, killed.

Edward P. Smith, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Homer D. St. John, must. out July 7, 1865.

Allen B, St. John, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Richard S. Thompson, died.

William H. Tiffany, must. out July 7, 1865.

Orville B. Tiffany, first sergeant ; commissioned.
Ephraim Tucker, must. out March 28, 1865.

Harvey Tucker, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Jesse Turner, sergeant; must. out June 17, 1865.
Jefferson M. Tyler, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865:
George W. Warren, must. out May 18, 1865.

Johu C. Weeks, disch. by order of War Department May 29, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.
John H. Batterman.

The Recruits of Company F.
George D. Allen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Allen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Myron C. Benson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Stanton §. Belden, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Ammi Bailey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Joseph Busby, missing.
Otis Billings, must. out June 10, 1865.
John Brown, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Olaph Benson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Chester Barnes, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Alexander Bierce, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Jay J. Cushman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Cruess, must. out Aug. 8, 1865.
Dwight Case, disch. for disability June 3, 1865.
John R. M. Cleaveland, disch. for disability Feb. 8, 1864.
Timothy B. Cannon, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Thomas Calnen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
‘Robert Cahill, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Decker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edmund Doherty, died.
Philander Eggleston, died.
Harvey Ford, died.
Charles W. Griswold, died of wounds.
Parley B. Gammons, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
John E. Hall, kilJed.
Byron 0. Hawley, corporal; disch. for disability June 29, 1865.
James Hyde, must. out July 14, 1865.
James O. Hotchkiss, must. out June 20, 1865,
Charles Herville, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Howard, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Johnson, disch. for disability June 4, 1865.
Timothy F. Kelly, disch. for disability June 25, 1865,
John Kelley, must. out June 20, 1865.
92 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

John Korn, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Guilford M. Kirkham, band; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Keith, disch. for disability May 14, 1865.

Lorenzo K. Lemoine, died.

Michael Lloyd, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Lomax, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Louis Langelile, trans. to the navy.

Jefferson T. Lent, killed by accident.

Oscar M. Mitchell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry J. McLean, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Benjamin A. Murphy, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George F, McNary, Ist sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas McMahon, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Michael McMahon (Ist), must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Michael McMahon (2d), must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Michael McMahon (3d), must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Sherman Messenger, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Alexander McCormick, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Malthouse, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William C. Morris, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Timothy O'Callaghan, killed.

Robert H. Rust, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Peter Riley, died.

John Riley, must. ont Aug. 18, 1865.

William Scoville, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George W. Scoville. corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Henry O. Sweet, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Spreyer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Rufus B. Smith, must. out July 7, 1865.

Thomas Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Thompson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Henry Van Deusen, died.

Robert J. Van Deusen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Martin Wilcox, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Elisha Wells, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edwin Walden, must out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edward Wadsworth, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Williams, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Alexander Waters, quartermaster-sergeant; disch. for disability May
18, 1865.

John Williamson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Wot Mustered Out with Company.

Patrick Burke, Henry H. Heofman, Thomas Kelly, Lack Murray, James
Mahoney, General H. Morgan, John O’Brien, Charles Van Roden.

Company G.

The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.
Captain —Edward F, Gold.
First Lieutenant—Lyman Teator.
Second Lieutenant.—J. Milton Gregory.

Sergeants,

Michael Kelley, commissioned.

Gad N. Smith, commissioned.

Henry S. Dean, 1st sergeant; declined. commission ; disch. for disability.
Silas A. Palmer, trans. to Co. M.

Ira Chapman, disch. by order of the War Department June 10, 1865.

Corporals,
Julius A. Glover, sergeant ; disch. for disability July 5, 1865.
Charles P. Traver, sergeant; commissioned.
Henry P. Milford, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Albert Robinson, disch. for disability Dec, 21, 1864,
Joseph B. Payne, quartermaster-sergeant; killed.
Gilbert E. Lake, disch. for disability April 11, 1863.
William S. Shepard, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Musicians,
Myron Hubbell, died.
James H. Van Buren, died of wounds,

Wagoner,
Rufus 8. Frink, must. out July 7, 1865.

Privates.

George M. Bennett, disch. for disability Dec. 31, 1862.
William H. Bowen, must, out June 1, 1865.
Alfred L, Benedict, must. out July 7, 1865.

 

Mathew P. Bell, Jr., sergeant ; disch. for disability June 22, 1865,
Frederick F. Butler, must. out July 7, 1865.
Franklin B. Bierce, must. out May 30, 1865.

Henry W. Baker, disch. for disability Sept. 11, 1863,
Daniel Buxton, disch. for disability Jan. 21, 1863.
Russell T. Barnum, disch. for disability Jan. 5, 1865.
George W. Brague, must. out July 7, 1865.

Jerome Chipman, disch. for disability Feb. 22, 1865.
George V. Capron, must. out June 12, 1865,

Nelson Clark, must. out July 7, 1865.

John Chase, must. out July 7, 1865.

John Curtin, disch. for disability March 15, 1865.
William Clinton, must. out July 7, 1865.

Michael Curley, disch. for disability March 15, 1865.
Philo L. Cole, died.

James B. Capron, must. out July 7, 1865.

Harvey Clark, died.

Josiah B. Corban, must. out May 18, 1865.

John OQ. Doherty, must. out July 7, 1865.

Miles E. Dean, must. out July 7, 1865,

Patrick Delaney, ‘must. out July 7, 1865.

William Frazear, disch. for disability June 8, 1865.
John Grady, must. out July 7, 1865,

Frederick D. Holmes, must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles C. Hinman, died.

Edmund E. Hoffman, must. out July 7, 1865.
Edward Hover, must. out July 7, 1865.

Wesley L. Holmes, must. out June 22, 1865.
William H. Ingraham, must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles Ingersoll, sergeant; died of wounds.

Nelson T. Jennings, must. out June 6, 1865.

George L. Jaues, must. out June 1, 1865.

Nathan H. Jewitt, disch. for disability Dec. 22, 1862.
Barney Kinney, died of wounds.

David Kimball, must. out July 7, 1865.

David Killmer, must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles King, must, out July 7, 1865.

Walstein Lounsbury, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Sidney Lapham, must. out July 7, 1865.

John Lapham, died.

Elijah C. Mallory, disch. for disability Jan. 21, 1863.
Ralph J. Miner, disch. for disability March 8, 1863.
Rollin R. Northrop, must. out July 7, 1865.

George D, Palmer, must. out July 7, 1865.

Heury Peck, killed.

George W. Page, killed.

John F, Peck, must. out July 7, 1865.

Albert A. Peck, died.

Charles J. Reed, killed.

Lucien G, Rouse, died.

Charles R. Swift, sergeant; must. out June 9, 1865.
Frederick Skepard, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Lewis J. Sawyer, died.

Thomas Sherman, must. out July 7, 1865,

Dwight B. Studley, died of wounds.

Charles Hl. Smith, discharged for disability June 5, 1865.
Merritte H. Stone, died.

George W. Studley, sergeant; must, out July 7, 1865.
Elisha Soule, killed.

Henry Shadt, must. out July 7, 1865.

Patrick Troy, corporal; died of wounds.

Elmore E, Waldron, disch. for disability Nov. 1, 1864.
Allen Williams, died. ::
Horace Williams, must. out July 7, 1865.

William Young, disch. for disability May 10, 1863.

Not Mustered Out with Company.
Robert A. Bard, Edward H. Cross, Dayton S. Reed, Isaac L. Reed.
The Recruits of Company G.
Edward F. Brague, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Herman E. Bonney, died.
George Burton, disch, by order of War Department April 14, 1865.
Niram Buttolph, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles H. Bentley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
John Byrnes, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Wesley Bunnell, trans, to Veteran Reserve Corps,
MILITARY

HISTORY. 93

 

Andrew J. Bolles, must. out Aug, 18, 1865.

John H. Bradley, died.

George W. Baldwin, must. out June 9, 1865.
Albert H. Bailey, must. out June 12, 1865.

George Clinton, died of wounds.

John Christie, disch. for disability May 17, 1845.
Frank L, Cadwell, baud; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George A. Case, disch. for disability June 15, 1865.
Henry E, Fenn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles I. Fenn, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Linus S. Goodrich, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

El Grover, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Peter Gilmet, disch. fur disability May 31, 1865.
Michael Gallagher, disch. for disability Feb. 28, 1865.
Thomas H. Graham, must. out May 19, 1865.
Frederick Hyer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William H. Hosmer, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Hawver, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
John W. Hamblin, died.

Lewis Hamblin, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Michael Henry, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

James Hicks, must. out May 30, 1865.

Hubert D. Hoxley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Zina D. Hotchkiss, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Dwight A. Hotchkiss, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Peter Joray, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Keech, disch. for disability Jan, 13, 1865.
Timothy Leonard, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Asa Lee, digch. for disability Jan. 8, 1865,
Stephen McMasters, disch. for disability Sept. 8, 1864.
John M. McLaughlin, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.
Patrick Murphy, must. out Aug. 7, 1865.

Paschal P. North, died.

Sylvester Prout, died ef wounds.

Nathan Payne, disch. for disability Feb. 13, 1864,
William S. Palmer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James M. Palmer, died of wounds.

Frederick J. Pierce, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Henry W. Parker, trans. to navy.

Gilbert G. Rose, must. out June 1, 1865.

Erastus Rusco, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Roberts, trans. to the navy.

John Reynolds.

James Stanley, must, out May 30, 1865.

Orville Slover, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Swift B. Smith, first sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Horace C. Sickmund, died of wounds.

William A. Slover, died.

Michael Shannon, must out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Thomas Sizer, must. out Aug 18, 1865.

Albert N. Smith, must. out June 1, 1865.

George C. Short, trans. to the navy.

John R. Thompson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Jobn Tully, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Thompson, trans. to the navy.

Quincy Thayer, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
George E. Wansor.

Lockwood Waldron, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William White, died.

Charles A. Wheeler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Chauncey L. Warner, killed.

Wilson G. Waterman, killed.

Henry H. Watrous, died.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Lorenzo Buttolpb, Jolin Byford, John Burns, William Burgess, Lawrence
Canfield, James Lynch, Joseph Muller, Thomas McCauley, John
McCool, Mark Shay, Dwight Smith, John H. Taylor, Benjamin
Wilson, John W. Williams, Charles Way.

Company H.
The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862,
Captain.—George S. Williams.
First Lieutenant.—Frederick M. Berry.
Second Lieutenant Walter Burnham.

7

 

Sergeants.
Daniel E. Marsh, commissioned.
Charles W. Robertson, disch. fur disability Feb. 6, 1863.
Garwood R. Merwin, died.

' Charles F, Anderson, first sergeant; commissioned.

Romulus C. Loveridge, com, in colored troops.

Corporals,
David E. Soule, sergeant; commissioned.
Heury C. Noble, sergeant; disch. for disability Feb. 4, 1864.
Minor A. Strong, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Lewis W. Mosher, sergeant; disch. for disability May 24, 1864.
Homer 8. Curtis, sergeant ; commissioned.
Irwin C. Buckingham, sergeant; disch. for disability May 24, 1864.
Edward F. Lyon, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Horace E. Jones, must. out July 7, 1865.

Musicians,
Andrew E. Bailey, must. out May 18, 1865.
Orlo H. Buckingham, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

Wagoner,
Harmon T. Edwards, must. out July 7, 1865,

Privates,
Charles Brinell, disch. for disability May 29, 1865.
Henry A. Burton, corporal; disch. for disability June 7, 1865.
Gustavus H. Black, must. out June 16, 1865.
Iva 8. Bradley, died.
Edgar W. Calhoun, must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry A. Calhoun, died.
Russell B. Camp, must. out June 1, 1865.
Alfred Cable, disch. for disability June 1, 1865.
Sheldon Clark, died.
Hiram Cable, disch. for disability May 18, 1865.
George Chamberlain, disch. for disability June 3, 1865.
William E. Canfield, trans. to Co. M as sergeant.
Benjamin F. Dunham, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
William E. Disbrow, corporal ; must, out July 7, 1865.
William H. Dains, died.
George S. Erwin, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Oliver B. Evitts, must. out July 7, 1865.
Sheldon Fox, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry Fry, must. out July 7, 1865.
Francis L. French, must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry S§. Gridley, corporal; disch. for disability April 3, 1864.
Horatio 8. Hoyt, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry R. Hoyt, trans. to Co. M; Ist sergeant; commissioned.
Austin R. Humphrey, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
John Harrington, must. out July 7, 1865.
Cyrus Howland, must. out June 1, 1865.
Herman Hoffman, must. out July 7, 1865,
Charles W. Jackson, killed.
Elroy S. Jenuings, must. out July 7, 1865.
Jerome Johnson, died. ;
Andrew S. Kinney, must. out Feb. 6, 1863.
Joseph 8, Knowles, disch. for disability April 6, 1865.
Frederick J. Logan, disch. for disability April 12, 1863. \
Daniel G. Marshall, must. out July 7, 1865,
John N.Meramble, color corporal ; must. out July 7, 1865.
Jairus W. Monroe, disch. for disability March 9, 1863.
Henry S. Morehouse, must. out July 7, 1865.
Anson B, Nichols, must. out July 7, 1863.
Franklin Nichols, corporal; disch. for disability May 28, 1865.
George D. Potter, must. out July 7, 1865.
George H. Potter, corporal ; must. out June 12, 1865.
Alanson Peet, must. out July 7, 1865.
Loren Peet, must. out July 7, 1865.
Herbert A. Reed, died a prisoner.
Nathan H. Root, trans. to Co. M as Ist sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry C. Straight, killed.
Reuben H. Sherwood, must. out July 7, 1865.
Lucius §. Sherman, must. out July 7, 1865.
Homer 8. Sackett, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Stephen V. Suediker, must. out May 21, 1865.
Uriah F, Snediker, corporal; disch. for disability June 6, 1865.
Orville A. Sawyer, must, out July 7, 1865.
Lewis St. John, died.

—
94 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Horace N. Sanford, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Daniel T. Somers, must. out June 22, 1865.

Jerome Titus, must. out July 7, 1865.

Seth N, Taylor, sergeant ; must. out July 7, 1865.
William If, Thompson, corporal]; must. out July 7, 1865.
Edward E, Thompson, must. out June 22, 1865.
William C. Warner, died.

Frank J. Warner, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles A. Way, must. out June 20, 1865.

John F. Williams, must. out July 7, 1865,

Alfred N. Whittlesey, disch. for disability June 3, 1865,
Burr Williams, disch. for disability March 27, 1865.
David V. Wright, disch. for disability Jan. 23, 1863.
Lewis S. Young, must. out July 7, 1865.

The Recruits of Company H.

Newell W. Andrews, must. out Aug, 18, 1865.
Doctor Bronson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Orson Buel, regimental hospital steward; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles E. Beeman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Rufus Beeman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

John A. Beeman, disch. for disability May 31, 1864.
Henry Bridge, died.

Henry D. Burr, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Theodore A. Barnes, killed.

Charles H. Butler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Frank A. Beardsley, must. out May 18, 1865.

Jesse A. Barden, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Bone, must. out June 30, 1865.

Daniel Cuhill, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
David B. Disbrow, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Robert Erwin, trans. to field and staff as quartermaster-sergeant ; must.

out Aug. 18, 1865.
States B. Flandreau, corporal ; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles V. Flandreau, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Adam H. Graham, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles E. Gilbert, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
John B, Gavitt, must. out June 19, 1865.
Charles A. Hurd, must. out July 15, 1865.
Edwin Harrington.
John Harris, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
John Haley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Hickey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John J. Harrower, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Willis Hartwell, died.
Charles Iselton, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Ira Jones, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Apollos Jennings, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Keeler, disch. for disability Jan. 23, 1864.
Michael Kelly, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Joseph R. Loveridge, died.
Patrick Lynch, missing.
Charles E, Lampson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William F. Lane, must. out July 3, 1865.
Henry Mallett, must. out Aug. 18, 1865..
Henry Murphy, disch, for disability April 18, 1865,
Hiram Murphy, nmst. out June 20, 1865.
Charles McDermott, must. out June 30, 1865.
Henry M. Marshall, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.
Edward Mead, killed.
Ernest Michaelis, must. out June 1, 1865.
Albert N. Marsh, must. out July 21, 1865.
Harvey J. Nicholson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Northrop, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Hugh O'Donnell, quartermaster-sergeant; must, out Aug. 18, 1865,
John O’Brien, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
James M. Parsons, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Harry Payne, must. out June 10, 1865.
Sylvester C. Platt, died.
Daniel Payne, died of wounds.
Marcellus R. Pishon, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
John R. Phelps, corporal ; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Harvey Pease, died of wounds.
John Rogers.
George Squire, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Homer Sterling, disch. for disability April 18, 1864,
Adam Sebastian, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

 

Jonathan T. Salmons, must. out June 12, 1865,
William L. Stoddard, must. out June 19, 1865.
William Smith, must. out June 12, 1865.

James K. Taylor, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry J. Thompson, must. out June 21, 1865.
Jeremiah A. Thompson, must. out June 17, 1865.
Henry Thecklenberg, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
George Wedge, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Botsford Whitehead, disch. for disability Feb. 4, 1864.
Edward H. Willard, corporal; must, out Aug. 18, 1865,
Theodore F. Warner, must. out May 14, 1865.

Moses L. Wigglesworth, died a prisoner.

John Williams, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Louis Weber, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Benjamin Bierce, Andrew A. Bronson, John Blaney, James Brown, Fer-
dinand Cole, Barney Casey, Henry W. Davis, William W. Fox,
George Hancock, William §. Kohler, Henry Miller, William H. Rice,
Samuel Turner, George Wood, George Wilson.

Company I.

The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1869,
Captain.—Eli Sperry.

First Lieutenant.—Gideon D. Crane.

Second Lieutenant.—George E. Betts.

Sergeants,

James M. Bradley, com. in colored troops.

Walter J. Orton, quartermaster-sergeant; died of wounds.
Henry §. McKinney, commissioned.

Marcus D. Smith, sergeunt; must. out July 7, 1865.

Corporals.

Cyrus T. Nicholson, 1st sergeant; disch. for disability June 23, 1865,
George C. Bradley, sergeant; must. out July 12, 1865,

Herbert V. Peck, disch. for disability Dec. 5, 1862.

Charles M. Rowley, must. out May 18, 1865.

Henry F. Hard, died.

John 8. White, died.

Dexter C. Northrop, must, out July 7, 1865.

Musicians.

Frederick M. Minor, disch. for disability June 5, 1865.
James C. Polley, died.
Wagoner.

Charles P. De Forest, disch. for disability April 8, 1865.
Privates.

Charles N. Baldwin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Isaac Briggs, died.

William Barry, disch. for disability Jan. 31, 1865.

Edward Botsford, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

Patrick Brady, corporal; died of wounds.

Charles Botsford, must. out May 18, 1865.

Herman Bachman, disch. for disability March 9, 1863,

George D. Bennett, must. out June 23, 1865.

Charles Barney, killed.

Henry Dunham, Jr., disch. for disability Feb. 12, 1863,

Charles F. Flushman, corporal; died of wounds.

Charles H. Fogg, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Harvey H. Fox, died.

James W. Green, disch. for disability Feb. 27, 1865.

Almon D. Galpin, killed.

John F, Harrigan, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

John Hutchiuson, must. out July 7, 1865.

Ruel Hazen, disch. for disability June 9, 1865.

John S. Hall, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.

John T. Hall, disch. for disability Nov. 20, 1863.

Frederick R. Hard, disch, for disability May 27, 1865,

Hubbard Hotchkiss, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865,

Levi H. Hotchkiss, disch. for disability April 26, 1865.

Samuel D. Hayes, must. out May 22, 1865.

George E. Judson, sergeant; died of wounds.

Friend F. Kane, killed.

Daniel E. Leach, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.

Amos A. Lucas, disch. for disability June 22, 1865.

Israel Lucas, disch. for disability Dec. 18, 1865.
MILITARY

John McLaughlin, must. out June 22, 1865.
Willis J. Mallory, must. out July 8, 1865.
Oscar H. Manchester, disch. for disability Feb. 7, 1865.
Joseph Miller, must. out July 7, 1865,
Samuel M. Mallory, disch. for disability May 8, 1863.
Arthur B. Newy.
Harson B. Northrop, must. out July 7, 1865.
William O’Brien, must. out July 7, 1865.
Erastus F. Peck, must. out July 7, 1865.
Bela Potter, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
William H.- Reynolds, must. out July 7, 1865.
John J. Rogers, must. out July 7, 1865.
Henry C. Rogers, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
George W. Root, corporal; must. out May 28, 1865.
Thomas Shaw, sergeant; disch. for disability June 1, 1864.
Frederick C. Slade, must. out July 7, 1865.
Chauncey Seeley, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Charles T. Squires, corporal; trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Andrew Tiernay, disch. for disability June 7, 1865.
Charles T. Tyrrell, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Ira Thomas, disch. for disability March 4, 1864.
Horatio S. Thomas, died.
Charles L. Thomas, died.
Daniel §. Taylor, must. out June 1, 1865.
Timothy F. Walsh, sergeant; missing.
Curtis Wheeler, died of wounds.
Jareb B. Winton, must. out July 7, 1865.
Ambrose H. Wilsey, disch, by order of War Department Aug. 17, 1865.
Benjamin Wellman, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Elliott Dibble, sergeant; Charles H. Lum, corporal; James Burton,
George A. De Forest, Thomas Soothill.

The Recruits of Company I.
Edward Bell, corporal; died.
Ham ‘A. Barnes, died of wounds.
Asahel D. Brockett, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles Bennett, died of wounds.
Abner Bennett, disch. for disability Nov. 16, 1864.
David Backus.
George I. Babcock, Jr., trans. to Co. Las sergeant.
Harman Clark, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James Comber, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Levi Callender, must. out June 1, 1865,
Addison Cook, killed.
David Cramer, killed.
Stephen Carney, must. out May 30, 1865.
Joseph Curnal, died.
Lewis Clark, must. ont Aug. 18, 1865.
Francis Dugan, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Davis, must. out July 8, 1865.
Timothy Elwell, died.
Samuel Eastman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Samuel B. Ferris, killed.
Charles Fox, disch. for disability June 17, 1863.
William Fitzgerald, killed.
William Gregg, disch. for disability Aug. 23, 1864.
Felix Gillick, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Cornelius Goebel, corporal; died.
Thomas Harper, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Holt, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edwin Holland, disch. for disability June 22, 1865.
James Healy, must. out June 19, 1865.
Myron M. Jennings, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Andrew Knoff, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas Keeler.
Jason T. Lampson, must. out May 18, 1865.
Marshall Lines, died a prisoner.
Charles A. Locklin, must. out July 8, 1865.
Davis A. Locklin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Isaac W. Locklin, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George W, Locklin, died of wounds.
Theodore Lockwood, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Seymour Lobdell, died of wounds.
Banks Lounsbury, died.
John McQueeny, disch. for disability June 19, 1865.

 

HISTORY. 95

Hanford Meeker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865."
Charles S, Meeker, must, out Aug. 18, 1863.

John McDavitt, must. out June 1, 1865.

David W. Manning, corporal; disch. for disability July 15, 1865.
Olin Nash, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John K. Northrop, died.

Jeremiah Newcomb, must. out June 8, 1865.
Stephen Olmstead, must. out June 22, 1865,

Henry Payne, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

John B. Parker, must. out June 27, 1865.

George Parsons, trans. to the navy.

James Ragan, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James T. Roche, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Smith, must. out June 3, 1863.

Charles W. Speer, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Sidney, died.

William Smith, trans, to the navy.

William H. Smith, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Warden Stammer, sergeant; must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Smith, trans, to navy.

James Sweeney, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edward Sturges, disch. for disability May 23, 1865.
Leandar Snider, must. out Nov. 23, 1865.

John Simmons, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Stephenson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William B. Shaw, must. out June 18, 1865.

Henry Taylor, disch. for disability April 29, 1865.
John Turley, disch. for disability June 20, 1865.
Theron M. Woodruff, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.

| Nelson B. Williams, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.

John Wright, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Wright, disch. for disability July 30, 1865.
Albert Woodruff, died a prisoner.

Daniel P. Wakeman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Wells, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William P, Walker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George R. Walker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Webster, must. out June 13, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

George Alford, Dominick Burns, Allen Brundage, Thomas§. Carter, John
Clayton, John Farley, William Headdens, James Hill, Joseph Miller,
James K. Taylor, James W. Weaver, Melvin R. Warner, Irvin E.
Warner.

Company K.

The original infantry company, mustered in at Litchfield, Sept. 11, 1862.

Captain —Edward 0. Peck.

First Lieutenant.—Augustus H. Fenn.

Second Lieutenant.—James N. Coe.

Sergeants.
Bushrod H. Camp, sergeant-major; commissioned.
John E. Sedgwick, Jr., first sergeant; commissioned.
Oscar Platt, commissioned.
William 8. Watson, died.
Edwin D. Beeman, first sergeant ; must. out July 7, 1865.

Corporals.
James R. Johnson, disch. for disability Jan. 12, 1864.
Wolcott Cook, died.
Hiram Du Bois, disch. for disability Nov. 17, 1862.
Alanson A. Negus, must. out July 7, 1865.
David D. Lake, killed.
Truman O. Sanford, must. out July 7, 1865.
Lant Ryan, died a prisoner.

Musicians,
James Martin, must. out July 7, 1865.
George A. Hoyt, Jr., died.
Wagoner.
Minor ©. Wedge, disch. for disability Aug. 13, 1863,

Privates.
Franklin Andrus, killed.
Noble Andrus, missing.
Isaac Baldwin, killed.
Chester L. Bancroft, must, out July 7, 1865,
96 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Hiram L. Bronson, must. out July 7, 1865.

John H. Burns, must. out June 24, 1865,

Charles A. Campbell, must. out July 7, 1865.

Submit B. Castle, disch. for disability Nov. 20, 1863.
Cyrene M. Clark, disch. for disability Feb. 6, 1863.
John H. Cooper, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
George R. Colby, must. out May 18, 1865.

Henry Colby, died.

Daniel Conley, disch. for disability May 15, 1864.
Frederick A. Dauchy, disch. for disability Nov. 24, 1864.
Frederick Ette, must. out July 7, 1865.

John Ette, must. out July 7, 1865.

Charles D. Ferris, died.

Patrick Farrell, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Edward Griffin, killed.

Wesley F. Glover, died.

Charles Gregory, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
Elizur A. Hodge, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
William Hart, must. out May 18, 1865.

John Halion, disch. for disability Aug. 12, 1863.
Stephen P. Harlow, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Thomas Herbert, must. out July 7, 1865.

aAnglebert Herman, must. out July 7, 1865,

Charles Hungerford, must. out July 7, 1865.

Levi N. Jacus, disch. fur disability Jan. 24, 1863.
Alfred June, died of wounds.

Bernard C. Keegan, disch. for disability Aug. 11, 1865.
Alexander D. Kasson, killed.

Sidney A. Law, died.

Arthur Lockwood, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865,
John A. Ludford, disch. for disability Feb. 25, 1865.
George H. McBurney, killed.

Erwin Munroe, must. out July 14, 1865.

Jobn Munson, died of wounds.

Henry Murphy, disch. for disability Nov. 3, 1862.
Eben Norton, died.

John O'Connor, disch. for disability May 18, 1863.
Frank Parker, must. out July 7, 1865.

William R. Parmelee, disch. for disability Dec. 5, 1862.
Abner B. Palmer, must. out July 7, 1865.

Asahel N. Perkins, died of wounds.

Asa Pettis, must. out July 7, 1865,

Charles Reed, killed.

Jobn Shores, must. out July 7, 1865.

Allen Sawyer, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Alonzo Stewart, disch. for disability June 29, 1863.
Edgar J. Stewart, corporal; must. out Jnne 9, 1865.
George E, Taylor, must. out July 7, 1865.

Thomas P. Tompkins, corporal; must. out May 13, 1865:
James Tracy, disch. for disability June 8, 1865.
Enoch G, Warhurst, corporal; must. out July 7, 1865.
John Warner, killed.

Francis Wedge, sergeant; must. out July 7, 1865.
Lebbeus J. Welch, must. out July 7, 1865.

Jacob Wentworth, died of wounds.

Thomas Wheeler, must. out July 7, 1865.

Alfred White, must. out July 7, 1865,

George A. Wood, must. out July 7, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

William H. Knickerbocker, Jason W. Johnson, Ira Warner, Jacob War-
ner, Noah B, Welch.

The Ieeruits of Company K.
Charles N. Beeman, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Orson Buell, sergeant; trans. to field and staff.
Lucien Button, killed.
George Brown, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles A, Bristol, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Philo K, Bassett, disch, fur disnbility Dec. 20, 1865.
Daniel Buckley, corporal; must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Birch, died.
Anton Barth, died.
Henry B. Bristol, killed.
Hubert E. Banker, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Daniel Briggs, must. out June 13, 1865,
Charles A. Bigelow.

 

John Branan, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Lucius Brown, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George D. Beeman, disch. for disability July 26, 1865,
Andrew Carney, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John H. Call, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Coleraine.

Joseph E, Camp, missing.

Owen Cromney, died of wounds.

Robert Clark, must. out June 10, 1865.

Michael Convey, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Lyman F. Cole, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
George H. Curtis, must out Aug. 18, 1865.
Amaziah Downs, died a prisoner,

Jobn Fitzpatrick, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Truman P. Favereau, trans, to Veteran Reserve Corps.
John Foley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Finnigan, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
William H. Gorham, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Peter Gallagher, killed.

William 8, Hines, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John H. R. Hipwell, killed.

William Harrington, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George W. Harrington, died.

Homer W. Hodge, disch. for disability Jan. 10, 1865.
Edward D, Hall, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edmund D. Hickey, killed.

Charles Haviland, killed.

Dennis Haley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry H. Hyatt, killed.

George Hoxley, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Benjamin W. Higby, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Leander Ide, died.

Charles A. Johnson, died of wounds.

Andrew Jackson, killed.

Patrick Kennedy, killed.

George H. Knapp, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Roswell Kelly, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William B. Leach, died.

Joseph Lewis, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edward Monroe, disch. for disability Jan. 24, 1864.
Francis McAdam.

Henry Miller.

Charles May, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Ransom L. Maloney, must. out June 28, 1865.
George W. Murphy, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles F. Morris, must, out Ang. 18, 1865.

Albert J. Miner, died of wounds.

Robert Morris, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Henry H. Mason, corporal; must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Martin, killed.

Dennis Moore, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Oliver P. Platt, must. out Aug. 21, 1865.

George Platt, disch. for disability March 8, 1865,
Austin V, Rogers, must. out July 10, 1865.
Charles H. Russell, missing.

Isaac Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Smith, must. out July 3, 1865,

Robert Sothergill, killed.

Chauncey Stevens, disch. for disability June 6, 1865, *
Edgar Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William II. Stephens, disch. for disability June 6, 1865.
James Slatery, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Robert S. Short, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Francis Sothergil], must. out Sept. 5, 1865.
Charles Simoson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Evelyn L. Thorpe, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Abram A. Tolles, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Allen 8. Tuttle, disch. for disability June 23, 1865.
William W. Wheeler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,
Nathan B. Westbrook, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

John Bray, Henry 8. Cummings, John Clarke, John Campbell, Orrin
Ferguson, James Finnegan, Solomon Gorham, Charles A. Hoyt, Wil-
liam Howe, James Jones, William K endrick, Daniel Lavell, Oakley
Middlebrook, John Murphy, Frank Morton, James Monrow, Michael
MILITARY

HISTORY. 97

 

Riley, Charles H. Trigler, Samuel Williams, Benjamin Wells, Wil-
liam Wenslor.
Company L.*
Captain.—James Deane.

First Lieutenants.—Philip E. Chapin, Edward C. Huxley.
Second Liewtenants.—James M. Snowden, Oscar Platt.
William H. Allen, first sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Alfreds, trans. to ihe navy.

George I. Babcock, Jr., sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Timothy Brown, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Calvin A. Bowers, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Butler, died a prisoner.

James Busse, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

August Berg, killed.

Thomas Burns, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William J. Burke, must. out Aug. 8, 1865.

James Bishop, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Blackman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Barry, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Boyce, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Jesse Cady, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Dugald Campbell, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out June 10, 1865.
John Calnon, must. out June 1, 1865.

John Clow, disch. for disability Jan. 15, 1865.

William J. Dixon, corporal; died.

Ezra Daggett, discharged April 18, 1865.

Charles Davenport, died.

William Dostman, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Marshall Davenport, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Dostman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Anthony Dougherty, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Oliver Dugette, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1855.
William Day, died of wounds.

Peter Dolan, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Seneca Edgett, sergeant; commissioned.

Thomas B. Foster, died.

Thomas Farrell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Clark Fox, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Farrell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865. .
George R. Grover, died a prisoner.

Sylvester Graves, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles A. Gonliet, must. out June 1, 1865.

Charles E. Groat, corporal; must. out June 10, 1865.
James Gillin, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles W. Hale, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Robert Harrington, disch. for disability Nov. 1, 1864.
Noah Hart, disch. for disability Nov. 15, 1865.
Frederick Hooker, died.

Henry A. Hubbell, corporal; died.

William Hall, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James Hughes, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles Heidenrich, must. out May 31, 1865.

James Hyatt, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Amos L. Ives, died of wounds.

Henry Jones, trans. to the navy.

Van Leeson Jenks, must. out June 12, 1865.

Richard M. Kelley, trans, to the navy.

Austin P, Kirkham, sergeant; commissioned.

George McCoy, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
William Molloy, died.

Norman Mansfield, corporal; died of wounds.
Thomas McDonald, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Andrew McGrath, sergeant; must, out July 7, 1865.
William Morton, corporal; died.

John Martin, killed.

John Mullen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry McGinety, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas May, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Edward H. Northrop, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Peter D. Nelson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Norman, must. out June 23, 1865.

John Owen, must. out June 9, 1865.

Dominick O’Brien, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Elisha Peck, must. out June 17, 1865.

John 8. Parmelee, sergeant-major; trans. to field and staff.

Walter William Payn, disch. for disability Jan. 18, 1865.
George Phelps, must. out June 19, 1865.
William Parry, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Parker, sergeant; disch. for disability Sept. 24, 1864.
John Pollard, died.
George M. Perkins, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Charles H. Ryan, corporal; must. out June 9, 1865.
William Rodman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Isaac Reimert, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Reed, disch. for disability June 5, 1865.
William Ragan, must. out June 10, 1865.
Samuel N. Scranton, corporal; must. out June 1, 1865.
William A. Slenker, sergeant; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Watson W. Stone, disch. April 2, 1864; furnished substitute.
John S. Strickland, Ist sergeant; must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
George W. Scott, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Edward A. Snow, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Frederick Slade, died..
Frank Sabine, disch. for disability April 29, 1865, -
George Stringer.
Biard Tuttle, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.
Edward Thomas (2d), must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Travers, trans. to Veteran Reserve Corps.
Thomas Taylor, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Vrooman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Nelson Vrooman, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Adelbert D, Webster, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
John Woods, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Williams, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
James Wilson, corporal; must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Peter Welltrot, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Horace B. Wood, died.
Christopher C. Wells, must. out June 15, 1865.
Morris W. White, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Patrick Wallace.

Not Mustered Out with Company.
George Alexander, William Brown, John Brown, Ernest Bauer, Thomas
Butterfield, James W. Blake, Robert Burk, David Brown, Adam
Bartholomew, Byron Booth, Andrew Clark, Richard Crawford, John
Clark, Richard Darling, Elliott L. Dorman, Oscar Davidson, John Da-
vidson, Edward M. Dunham, Thomas Daley, James Edmonds, John
Emerson, Audrew Edwards, Joseph Furniss, George Ferguson, George
Fiss, John Finnegan, George Fairbanks, Albert Fisher, Thomas A.
Goodman, John M. Grant, Joseph Gettier, George Green, John Gil-
more, John Greenwood, Richard G. Hawkins, Albert Howe, James
Haywood, Peter Hanson, John Hilton, James Hart, William Hall,
Charles Hart, Benjamin Hawkins, George Jackson, William Jones,
Edward King, John Keeler, Patrick Kelly, James Kenar, George
King, John Lewis, Henry Lewis, Wendell Lehman, William Lee,
John McQuanne, Thomas McCarty, Alexander McCarty, David Mil-
ler, Thomas Maxwell, James McDonald, Michael Moroff, Frank Mc-
Kay, Patrick Murray, William Myer, John McIntyre, Patrick Mc-
Cormick, John O’Brien, Edward O’Brien, Heury Peters, David Purdy,
William Provost, Jaseph Palmer, John Roberts, Patrick Riley, Charles
Russell, James Smith, Charles Smith, Edward L. Sangston, Martin
Sullivan, James Shaw, George Thompson, Charles Thompson, Ed-
ward Thomas (Ist), William Thompson, John Tracy (substitute for
Watson W. Stone), James Van Slyke, Allen G. Wiunegar, Thomas
Weldon, John White, James Watts, John Wright, Andrew Wilson.

Company M.t

Captain._Edward W. Marsh.

First Lieutenant.—James P. McCabe.

Second Liewtenant.—Henry Skinner.

Henry RB. Hoyt, first sergeant; commissioned.

Silas A. Palmer, quartermaster-sergeant; must. out May 12, 1865.
Charles Allen, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William Bergen, missing.

George Bunnell, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

William T. Blake, must. out June 22, 1865.

Charles Brant, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

John Burns, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Charles C. Bosworth, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Patrick Cosgrove, disch. for disability Nov. 22, 1864.
Edward Corcoran, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

 

* Composed entirely of recruits.

 

+ Composed entirely of recruits.
98 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Samuel Cummings, must, out Aug. 18, 1865.
Thomas Colburn, died of wounds.

James H. Case, died.

Edward Crosby, must. out June 13, 1865.

George H. Couch, must. out June 22, 1865.
James Doyle, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Thomas Doyle, died.

Theodore Drune, must. out Aug. 18, 2863.

George W. Dayton, must. out June 1, 1865.
Alexander El!cock, must. out June 1, 1865.
William Erwin, must. out May 30, 1865,
Cornelius L, Everett, must. owt June 8, 1865.
James Fitzsimmons, must, out June 9, 1865.
John Feeney, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Feneren, must. ont Aug, 18, 186%.

Peter Fitzgerald, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
William Fisher, trans. to the navy.

Martin H. Grube, disch. for disability May 30, 1865.
James Gallagher, must. out Aug. 12, 1866.
Charles E. Gilbert, must. out June 1, 1863.
William Hoffman, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.

Peter Hayden, must. out Avg. 18, 1865.

John Jay, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Patrick Keegan, killed.

Azarie N. Lamoreux, sergeant; commissioned.
Patrick Little, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

James H. Lee, disch. for disability Oct. 8, 1865.
Anmaziah Livingstone, disch. for disability June 30, 1865.
William Munson, disch. for disability Aug. 8, 1865.
John McFarden, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Henry Maskell, sergeant; must. owt Aug. 18, 1865.
Samuel 8. Osborne, killed.

James M. Price, disch. for disalility March 21, 1868.
James Parker, must. out Aug. 18, 1863.

George M. Price, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Bernard Riley, must. out Aug. 28, 1865.

Michael Roach, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Ellsworth M. Russell, must. out June 28, 1865.
Edwin Rawson, disch. for disability Feb. 17, 186.
Myron W. Schulta, muss. out Aug. 18, 1865.
Samuel Simpson, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

Merritt W. Sweet, must. out Ang. 18, 1863,
Charles Smith, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.

George Schmidt, must. out Ang. 28, 1865.

Henry Strih, disch, for disability June 13, 1865.
Abner W. Scott, killed.

John Thomas, died.

Edward S. Tubbs, must. out Aug. 18, 1865.
George Taylor, trans. to the navy.

Selah T, Wheeler, must. out Aug. 18, 1865,

Peter Ward, must. out June 10, 1865.

Not Mustered Out with Company.

Charles Anderson, James Anderson, John Anderson, Thomas Adams,
William Asken, Thomas Crown, James Brannon, Andrew Burns,
James Brown, James A. Brown, Joseph Barber, John Blaney, Nich-
olas Burk, John Bruce, David Bartly, Patrick Birmingham, Vinson
Clark, Thomas Crane, Robert Colman, Joseph Carr, Joseph M. Cooper,
George Cashier, John Cole, William Culver, John Dow, Alfred Dick-
enson, John Davis, Thomas Donahue, John Dukin, James Devine,
James M. Eagan, John Flannigan, Ransom J. Fargo, Thomas Foley,
Michael Farrell, James Flinn, Andrew Flannigan, James Graham,
John Hargent, Frank Henry, Patrick HW yland, Patrick Hagen,
George Holland, William E. Joy, James Jones, John Jones (Ist),
Jubn Jones (2d), George Jones, John Kennedy, John King, Arthur
Kemp, Patrick Kennedy, John Larkins, Robert Mullen, John Mc-
Laughlin, Thomas Mack, Charles Milton, Charles Marsh, John Mc-
Shaahy, Terence O'Neil, George Peunington, William Potter, John
Perston, Edson Patrick, William Ryan, Henry Roth, John Rork,
John Robinson, William Rouke, James Roberts, James Robinson,
Henry Smith, John Smith, James Smith (Ist), James Smith (2d), John
Shaahan, James Spellman, John Sweeny, Jacob Smith, William A.
Taylor, John Turner, Charles Thomas, George Thompson, John G.
Terrell, Horace A. Thompson, Peter Welch, Robert Willis, Goorge
M. Washington, James Wilson (1st), James Wilson (2d), Joseph Welch,
John Williams, George White, John Wilson, Charles E. Wold, James
Winslow, James C. Williams, Julius Zimber,

 

CHAPTER VI.

MILITARY HISTORY (Continued),

The Twenty-third Regiment—The Twenty-eighth Regiment — First
Regiment Heavy Artillery.

THE TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT.

THE Twenty-third Regiment was recruited mainly
from Bridgeport, Danbury, Waterbury, Newtown,
Fairfield, Georgetown, Bethel, Naugatuck, Ansonia,
and Trumbull, in Fairfield County, and Watertown,
in this county, during the months of August, Septem-
ber, and October, 1862. It was designed as a nine:
months’ regiment, though every man served a year,
and some two years, before being mustered out of ser-.
vice.

The companies rendezvoused at Camp Terry, Oyster
Point, New Haven, early in September, where they
commenced the drill, and did guard duty until the
16th of November, when they embarked on the Sound
steamer “Elm City” for “Camp Buckingham,” at
Centreville Race Course, near Jamaica, L. I.

This regiment was under the command of Col.
Charles E. L. Holmes, of Waterbury, with Charles
W. Wordin, of Bridgeport, for lieutenant-colonel, and
David H. Miller, of Georgetown, as major.

Camp Buckingham was a mud-hole of the worst
possible description, and the Twenty-third pitched
tents in a rain-storm that lasted a week.

November 30th the regiment marched twelve miles.
to the foot of Atlantic Street, Brooklyn, thence on
board the “ Che Kiang,” a river steamer totally unfit
for “outside” weather; and because of being over-
loaded, after three days, Companies H and I of the
Twenty-third, with one company of the Twenty-
eighth and another of the Twenty-fifth Connecticut
Volunteers, were transferred to the barracks at Pier.
1, New York. All but these companies left New York
City for the Gulf of Mexico, on the “Che Kiang,”
Dee. 8, 1862. The steamer was nearly swamped ina
terrific storm on the night of December 5th, and the
suffering on board for several days was very great.
They arrived at Ship Island on the 11th.

The portion of the regiment left in barracks at New
York received orders, December 12th, to go on board
the ship “ Windermere,” while the balance were dis-
patched on the ship “ Planter,” an old hulk that was
wrecked off Florida Keys. A few stragglers reached
Louisiana on the ship “ Alice Counce.”

These divisions arrived at New Orleans at long in-
tervals apart, and when once there were assigned to
guard duty along the eighty miles of the New Orleans,
Opelousas and Great Western Railroad, and kept at
such duty almost continuously till their term of ser-
vice had expired, though they repeatedly asked that
they might be relieved and sent to the front. The
Twenty-third was never brigaded, but left to itself,
shunned by paymasters for many months, kept a yeat
instead of nine months in service, and its officers,
MILITARY

HISTORY. 99

 

most of them, confined nearly fourteen months in
rebel prison-pens.

June 20, 1863, the rebels under Gen. Dick Taylor
captured Terre Bonne, and on the 21st drove in the
pickets of the Twenty-third at Lafourche Crossing.
The same night the rebels made several attempts to
capture Lafourche, but were repulsed with three hun-
dred and seventy killed and wounded. Federal loss,
thirty wounded and nine killed.

The rebels shelled Brashear City on the 23d, which,
being defended almost solely by convalescents, was at
last forced to surrender. The officers captured by
Taylor were all marched to Tyler, Smith Co., Texas
(Camp Ford), and held nearly fourteen months, while
the men were paroled, and Aug. 9, 1863 (Sunday), at
one o’clock P.M., left New Orleans on a Mississippi
River steamboat “homeward bound.” They arrived
at New Haven, Conn., at six A.M. August 24th, and
were welcomed with military and civic honors.

THE TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.

This regiment was organized Oct. 11, 1862, at New
Haven, and was mustered into the United States
service November 15th, with the following officers:
Colonel, Samuel P. Ferris; lieutenant-colonel, Whe-
lock T. Batcheller; major, William B. Wescome;
adjutant, Charles H. Brown; quartermaster, Milton
Bradley, Jr.; chaplain, Richard Wheatly ; sergeant-
major, William A. Bailey; quartermaster-sergeant,
Wilfred H. Mattson; commissary-sergeant, N. B.
Bennett; hospital steward, William E. Bissell; sur-
geon, Ransom P. Lyon; first assistant surgeon, Levi
8. Pease; second assistant surgeon, Henry Rockwell.

LINE-OFFICERS.

Company A.—Captain, Francis R. Leeds ; first lieu-
tenant, Philip Lever; second lieutenant, F. R. War-
ner.

Company B.—Captain, Cyrus D. Jones; first lieu-
tenant, Charles Durand; second lieutenant, Henry
L. Wilmot.

Company C.—Captain, L. R. McDonough; first
lieutenant, William M. Whitney; second lieutenant,
J. C. Taylor.

Company D.—Captain, David D. Hoag; first lieu-
tenant, Charles M. Booth; seeond lieutenant, Levi
Hungerford.

Company E.—Captain, Charles B. Landon; first
lieutenant, Joseph Bostwick ; second lieutenant, War-
ren C.. Dailey.

Company F.—Captain, L. B. Wheelock ; first lieu-
tenant, C. P. Newman; second lieutenant, Jabez Al-
ford.

Company G.—Captain, T. L. Beckwith; first lieu-
tenant, William Mitchell; second: lieutenant, Henry
Ayres.

Company H.—Captain, George W. Middleton; first
lieutenant, James Kiley ; second lieutenant, Thomas
G. Bennett.

 

Three companies,—D, E, and F,—with the excep-
tion of one man, were enlisted from Salisbury.

The regiment left New Haven November 18th, and
proceeded to Camp Buckingham, L. I. Here it re-
mained until the 28th, when, having been assigned
to the Department of the South, it embarked on the
“Che Kiang” for a Southern clime. The Twenty-
third Connecticut also embarked in the same steamer,
thus crowding fourteen hundred men in quarters
which would comfortably accommodate about eight
hundred.

The steamer weighed anchor at ten A.m., December
3d, with sealed orders, which finally assigned the regi-
ments to Ship Island, La. During the voyage a storm
arose, and for twelve hours the heavily-laden steamer
battled with the angry waves which lashed in fury
about it, seeming every moment to swallow it up in
the awful abyss. During the night, while the storm
was on, an officer sent the intelligence, “‘We shall
never see another sunrise ; the vessel cannot stand it
much longer.” The vessel, however, rode safely on,
and the voyage was completed in safety.

December 12th the regiment disembarked on Ship
Island. On the 17th it re-embarked for New Or-
leans, and after stopping a few hours in the city
started for Camp Parapet, some seven miles up the
river, where it landed and pitched tents, but was
immediately ordered to re-embark for Pensacola,
Fla. By eleven that night it was on board again and
ready for starting. It reached Pensacola Monday
morning, and stacked its arms on the Grand Plaza.
On the 20th it was ordered to evacuate Pensacola and
go to the Barrancas Navy-Yard, where it remained
until May 20th, when it was ordered to take the
steamer “Orescent’’ and proceed to Brashear City,
La. On the 25th it was ordered to Port Hudson, and
at noon reached Springfield Landing, having now
come within hearing distance of the strife of arms.
Marching twelve miles towards the scene of conflict,
it found itself now, by some oversight of the move-
ment, right between the two contending armies. It
fairly ran the gauntlet, escaping unharmed, and the
next day, after a march of about thirty miles, when
four might have sufficed, it reached Grover’s division,
to which it had been assigned. Until June 3d it here
suffered for want of rest and food, when it was ordered
tothe front. Atthis time Col. Ferris was acting briga-
dier, with Maj. Wescome in charge of the regiment.

The regiment was now called upon to test the
music of whistling balls, and there was for the present
to be no more rest for it. June 4th it was ordered to
be ready to go into the rifle-pits. In spite of blun-
dering movements, Company A in advance, it at length
reached the pits, where it spent the night. The next
day, until eight in the evening, the men did their best,
“firing fast and well,” to harm the enemy, when they
were ordered back to camp. This move was executed
without loss, and the regiment next did good service
in the trenches.
100

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

The regiment participated in the second assault on
Port Hudson, when it lost fifty-nine killed, wounded,
and missing. Among the killed were Capt. Hoag, of
New Milford, and Lieut. Durand, of Stamford. This
was one of the most desperate charges made during
the Rebellion, but in that holocaust of fire not a man
in that noble legion shrank from his duty.

After the surrender of the place the Twenty-eighth
did garrison duty until the expiration of its term of

service. The regiment lost,—killed, 9; died of wounds, '

9; died of disease, 65. It was mustered out at New
Haven, Aug. 28, 1863.

FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

There was one company—I—in this regiment from
Litchfield County. Its officers were as follows: Cap-
tain, Sanford H. Perkins; first lieutenant, Albert
F. Brooker; second lieutenant, Edward H. Mix, all
from Torrington. The regiment was organized as
the Fourth Regiment of Infantry, and remained as
such until June 2, 1862, when it was changed to heavy
artillery. It was a gallant regiment, and participated
in the following engagements: Siege of Yorktown,
Hanover Court-house, Gaines’ Mills, Chickahominy,
Golden Hill, Malvern Hill, siege of Fredericksburg,
before Fredericksburg, Kelly’s Ford, Orange Court-
house, siege of Petersburg and Richmond, Fort
Fisher.

CHAPTER VII.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

The Housatonic Railroad—The Naugatuck Railroad—The Connecticut
Western—The Shepaug—The New Haven and Northampton.

THE HOUSATONIC RAILROAD COMPANY
was incorporated in 1836, with authority to build

a road from Sheffield, Mass., to Brookfield, Conn., and |

from thence to tide-water at Bridgeport, or such other
point as might be deemed expedient.

In order to aid the undertaking, the city of Bridge-
port, at a meeting held March 2, 1837, voted to sub-
scribe for stock of the new company to the amount of
one hundred thousand dollars, and individuals resid-
ing in other towns upon the route subscribed for two
hundred thousand dollars more.

Ex-Governor Gideon Tomlinson acted for a time
as president of the company, but at the first regular
election, April 5, 1887, the following persons were
chosen officers of the road: William P. Burrall,
President; William H. Noble, Secretary; Jesse Ster-
ling, Treasurer; William P. Burrall, Edwin Porter,
Samuel Simons, Stephen Lounsbury, Charles De
Forest, of Bridgeport, Anan Hine, Asa Pickett, of
New Milford, Alpheus Fuller, of Kent, and Peter
Bierce, of Cornwall, Directors.

Mr. Horace Nichols subsequently became treasurer
of the road, and held the position until his resigna-

 

tion, in 1848. A contract was made by the board of
directors with Messrs. Bishop and Sykes to build the
entire road for the sum of $936,000,—viz., cash,
$636,000, and stock of the company at par, $300,000,
Work was commenced in July, 1837, about three
hundred men being employed by the contractors,

Owing to the panic of 1837, which caused nearly
all the banks and moneyed institutions of the country
to suspend specie payments, subscriptions for stock
were not received as rapidly as had been anticipated,
and the progress of the road was delayed.

In February, 1840, the southern division of the
road—viz., from Bridgeport to New Milford—was
completed and opened for travel. The cost up to
that time had been, for the road proper, $476,000;
for cars, engines, depots, tanks, etc., $99,000; total,
$575,000.

The remaining portion of the road was opened Dee,
1, 1842. Much annoyance was caused by the original
track, which consisted of an iron strap fastened upon
wooden sills by spikes, which often became loose,
when the weight of passing trains caused it to curl
up into “snake-heads.” In 1846 it was replaced by
iron rails of the present pattern.

March 25, 1888, the city of Bridgeport voted to con-
firm the previous subscription of one hundred thou-
sand dollars, and authorized an additional one of fifty
thousand dollars, and Messrs. Henry Dutton, F.C,
Bassett, and Lockwood De Forest were appointed
agents for the city to raise the necessary funds by
issuing coupon bonds. These bonds were paid to the
railroad company in lieu of cash, and by the company
were disposed of to other parties.

At the May session in 1838 the Legislature by a
special act validated the action of the city of Bridge-
port, referred to above, in subscribing for the stock
of the Housatonic Railroad Company, and in issuing
bonds in payment for the stock. This act of the
General Assembly was approved at a city meeting
held for the purpose, but no provision was made for
the payment of the bonds or of the coupons as they
fell due.

The action of the majority was viewed with alarm
by many of the leading tax-payers, who in January,
1839, appointed a “Council of Safety,” to advise as
to what measures should be taken in regard to these
bonds. This council was composed of thirteen mem-
bers, Philo Hurd being chairman and Isaac Sherman
secretary. Eminent counsel were also retained by the
city, and an effort was made to secure the services of
Daniel Webster, but Mr. Webster was obliged to de-
cline the case on account of other engagements. No
active effort seems to have been made by any one to
repudiate the debt, but a very general desire was man-
ifested that some competent tribunal should decide
to what extent the private property of citizens in the
minority could be taken to satisfy a debt created by
the vote of a majority, many of whom were not tax-
payers.
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

101

 

In June, 18438, the railroad company obtained judg-
ment against the city in the Superior Court, and, an
appeal to the Supreme Court of Errors having been
decided in favor of the plaintiff, an execution on this
judgment was issued and placed in the hands of
Deputy Sheriff Smith, of Norwalk, to be by him
levied and collected. This officer then first demanded
payment of the amount from the mayor, clerk, and
treasurer of the city in turn, and then, payment not
having been made, called upon them to exhibit goods,
chattels, or lands belonging to the debtors,—viz., the
mayor, Common Council, and freemen of the city,—
which they were either unable or unwilling to do.
The deputy sheriff then, acting under legal advice,
broke open the dry-goods store of Bronson B. Beards-
ley and the wholesale grocery of Niles, Thorp & Co.,
and, seizing a quantity of goods from the former, sold
them at the post. Mr. Beardsley brought an action
against the deputy sheriff for taking his property un-
lawfully, but in June, 1844, the case was decided
against him. It was then carried to the Supreme
Court of the State, where the decision in favor of the
defendant was affirmed, Judge Church, in giving the
opinion, using the following language:

“The city of Bridgeport, with great deliberation and unanimity, and
under sanction of the General Assembly, has contracted a debt, The
securities issued by the city have been purchased by bona-fide holders,
with its assent, and upon the faith of the city and the laws. No funds,
either by taxation or otherwise, have been provided for payment. A
right without a remedy is not an admitted principle. We know of no
other practical remedy but the one to which this plaintiff has resorted.”

This was a very important decision, as the question
at issue—viz., the liability of private property for
the debts of a municipality—had never before been
adjudicated. Once definitely settled, however, im-
mediate steps were taken for the payment of overdue
interest and legal expenses, and a tax of seven and a
half per cent. upon the entire property of the city was
laid and collected. ,

In 1856 a sinking fund of fifty thousand dollars—
this being the sum derived from the sale of the stock
owned by the city—was established by Mayor Cal-
houn, which, by careful management, has increased
from year to year, until the greater part of the rail-
road debt of the city has already been paid off, and
for the balance, due in 1886, full provision is already
made.

In 1844 the road, which had largely been built
with borrowed capital, was much crippled. It passed
into the hands of a committee of twenty citizens, and
for some time was operated under the name of E.
Gregory & Co. Preferred stock to a large amount
was finally issued, and a reorganization of the com-
pany effected.

Judging from the last report of the railroad com- ;

missioners, however, this road is now in a prosperous
state. At the beginning of the year 1880 it had 74
miles of track, extending from Bridgeport to Sheffield,
Mass., besides several branches and leased lines. Its
capital stock is $2,000,000,—viz., $820,000 old stock,

 

and $1,180,000 preferred. Its bonded debt is $550,000,
and its floating indebtedness $228,038.73 ; total, $778,-
088.73. It has 20 locomotives, 32 passenger- and bag-
gage-cars, and 440 freight-cars, 420 employees, and 20
stations. It carried last year 252,740 passengers and
225,037 tons of freight, and its revenue from all
sources was $599,660.09.

The railroad commissioners, in concluding their re-
port, say of this road,—

“Steel rails have been laid as far north as Merwinsville, and it is pro-
posed to continue the steel track during the present year to the State
line. The bridges, track, and rolling stock of this road are all in good

condition. The usual dividend of eight per cent. has been paid to the
preferred stockholders.”

The following are the officers of the company:
William Hi Barnum, President; David 8. Draper,
Vice-President; Charles K. Averill, Secretary and
Treasurer; Henry C. Cogswell, General Freight
Agent; Hobart W. Watson. Chief Clerk; L. B. Still-
son, Superintendent; William H. Barnum, of Lime
Rock, Conn.; Samuel Willets, of New York; Horace
Nichols, William D. Bishop, of Bridgeport; George
W. Peet, of Falls Village; Edward Leavitt, John B.
Peck, of New York; D.8. Draper, of Great Barring-
ton; A. B. Mygatt, of New Milford, Directors.

NAUGATUCK RAILROAD.

The Naugatuck Railroad, from Derby to Plymouth,
was chartered in 1845. In 1847 the company was al-
lowed an extension of one year for commencing its
road and expending thereon the sum of fifty thousand
dollars, and were authorized to extend its line to Win-
sted. Prior to the awarding of the contracts and ex-
tending the line to Winsted, it had been transferred to
Alfred Bishop, of Bridgeport, and his associates, who,
in consideration of a bonus of thirty thousand dollars
and payment of the land damages along its line to
Waterbury, by the citizens interested in its comple-
tion, contracted to build the road and open it to that
point in 1849. Soon after the extension to Winsted
was authorized, Mr. Bishop proposed to so extend it,
on being secured another cash bonus of thirty thou-
sand dollars and a right of way from Waterbury
northward. The proposition was unlooked for, but
was promptly responded to. A meeting of citizens
interested along the line was immediately called, and
a division of responsibility was agreed upon, by which
the citizens of Winsted assumed half the bonus and
the securing the whole right of way and depot grounds
within the town of Winchester; and the citizens of
Wolcottville and Plymouth agreed to assume the
other half of the bonus and the whole expense of the
remaining land title.

A spirit of liberality, before unprecedented, pre-
vailed. Men gave their thousands who had never
before given a hundred, for any public object. The
subscription was speedily filled up, when the chronic
sectional disease of our community broke out on the
question of locating the terminus,—whether it should
102

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

be on East village green, on the Flat, or in the West
village. There was a backing down of a portion of
subscriptions, which rendered a new subscription ne-
cessary on the basis of locating the terminus on the
Flat, where the depot nowstands. A reassessment of
the adhering subscribers was proposed and speedily
adopted. About five thousand dollars was assumed
by adhering subscribers to make good the withdrawn
subscriptions, and the contract with Mr. Bishop was
thereupon perfected.

The iron horse paid his first visit to the Winsted
depot Sept. 21, 1849. The first passenger-train came
up on Saturday the 22d, and returned on the follow-
ing Monday.

Mr. Bishop, the projector and builder of the road,
died before its completion. He was a man of far-see-
ing and comprehensive views, of quiet energy and
liberal spirit.

The present officers and directors are as follows:
President, E. F. Bishop, Bridgeport, Conn.; Secre-
tary and Treasurer, Horace Nichols, Bridgeport,
Conn.; Superintendent, George W. Beach, Water-
bury, Conn.; Chief Clerk, James Potter, Bridgeport,
Conn.; General Ticket Agent, William Tomlin,
Bridgeport, Conn. ; Freight Agent, B. Soules, Bridge-
port, Conn. ; Board of Directors, E. F. Bishop, Wil-
liam D. Bishop, R. Tomlinson, Bridgeport, Conn.;
J. G. Wetmore, Winsted, Conn.; F. J. Kingsbury,
Waterbury, Conn.; A. L. Dennis, Newark, N. J.;
H. Bronson, J. B. Robertson, New Haven, Conn.; R.
M. Bassett, Birmingham, Conn.

CONNECTICUT WESTERN RAILROAD.

After the opening of the Naugatuck Railroad, in 1850,
the necessity of a railroad communication eastward to
the Connecticut River, and westward to the Hudson,
became more and more apparent, but until recently
seemed impracticable, by reason of the high grades
and circuitous lines required in running roads easterly
and westerly over the mountain ranges between the
Hudson and Connecticut Rivers.

The steady growth of Collinsville, New Hartford,
and Winsted, and the great enlargement of the iron
interests of Salisbury and Canaan, stimulated the
desire to overcome difficulties in the way of the en-
terprise which had seemed to the communities inter-
ested to be insuperable.

Public attention was first called to the practicabil-
ity of the enterprise by E. T. Butler, Esq., of Norfolk,
in 1865, and, mainly through his instrumentality, ex-
perimental surveys were made during that year; and
in 1866 a charter was granted to the “ Connecticut
Western Railroad Company,” with power to construct
a road from Collinsville, Conn., to the Massachusetts
State line, on the border of North Canaan. Strenuous
efforts were made by Mr. Butler and others to interest
capitalists in the scheme. The Boston and Erie Rail-
road Company were vainly solicited to make the route
a part of their line. Hartford and Springfield capi-

 

talists were appealed to in vain. The Canal Railroad
Company would have nothing to do with it. The
Harlem, Housatonic, and Naugatuck Companies,
with which it was to form connections, gave it a
cold shoulder.

At this nearly hopeless stage of the enterprise the
Dutchess and Columbia Railroad Company, under
the auspices of George H. Brown, Esq., of Washington
Valley, N. Y., had completed their road from Fish-
kill-on-the-Hudson, opposite Newburg, to near Pine
Plains, in Dutchess Co., N. Y., and were seeking an
eastern connection. The existence of the Connecticut
Western charter was made known to Mr. Brown,
who, with characteristic energy, at once embarked
with Mr. Butler and others in the enterprise. A new
charter was obtained from the Legislature of 1868,
granting power to extend the road from the city of
Hartford to Collinsville; thence to follow the line of
the charter of 1866, through New Hartford, Winsted,
and Norfolk; and thence to diverge westerly through
North Canaan and Salisbury, in the direction of Mil-
lerton, on the Harlem Railroad, so as to connect with
the Dutchess and Columbia Railroad at the State
line. The charter authorized towns along the line of
the road, in their corporate capacity, to subscribe and
pay for stock in the road to an amount not exceeding
five per cent. of their grand lists last made up, on
being empowered so to do by a two-thirds vote of the
inhabitants of such towns at meetings duly called and
notified for that purpose.

The town of Winchester, on the 22d of August,
1868, by a ballot of three hundred and sixty-six to
sixty-six, voted a subscription of five per cent. on its
lists, amounting to one hundred and sixteen thousand
dollars, to the stock of the company, and individual
citizens of the town made further subscriptions to the
amount of seventy-four thousand nine hundred dol-
lars. Winchester was the first town on the line to
vote on this test question, the result of which was to
determine whether the road should be carried through.
Subscriptions of other towns along the line were soon
afterwards voted as follows:

 
       

By Town. By Citizens.
$50,000 $103,090
34,000 16,000
41,500 10,800
+ 40,000
«50,000 20,100
«. 42,300 25,900
Hartford. -. 750,000 64,000
Winchest +. 116,000 74,900

The surveys, estimates, and location of the road
were completed in 1870, and the whole line was put
under contract immediately afterwards. The first
passenger-train passed over the road from Hartford
to Millerton, N. Y., on the 21st of December, 1871, and
returned the same day, and since then the communi-
cation has been uninterrupted. Its connections with
other roads along its line, and at its termini, will
make it a trunk-line of equal importance with the
other east-and-west roads of New England. Its con-
nections with roads already completed are with three
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.

103

 

roads at Hartford, with the Canal Road at Simsbury,
its branch at Collinsville, the Naugatuck at Winsted,
the Housatonic at Canaan, the Poughkeepsie and East-
ern, the Dutchess and Columbia at State line, and the
Harlem at Millerton. Other connections are shortly
to be completed with the Connecticut River and Bos-
ton and Albany roads at Springfield, the Collinsville
and New Britain branch at Collinsville, the Farming-
ton River road from Lee to New Hartford, or Win-
sted, and the road from Rhinebeck-on-the-Hudson to
the State line, the three latter now in process of con-
struction.

The present officers are as follows: President, C. J.
Camp, West Winsted, Conn.; Vice-President, C. T.
Hillyer, Hartford, Conn.; Secretary, E. R. Beardsley,
West Winsted, Conn.; Treasurer, William L. Gil-
bert, West Winsted, Conn.; Superintendent, John F.
Jones, Hartford, Conn.; General Ticket Agent, Walter
Pearce, Hartford, Conn.; General Freight Agent,
John F. Jones, Hartford, Conn.; Board of Directors,
C. T. Hillyer, T. M. Allyn, H. 8. Barbour, L. B. Mer-
riam, N. B. Stevens, Hartford, Conn.; Joseph Toy,
Simsbury, Conn.; C. J. Camp, William L. Gilbert,
George Dudley (deceased), West Winsted, Conn. ; E.
T. Butler, Norfolk, Conn.; D. J. Warner, Salisbury,
Conn.; A. H. Holley, Lakeville, Conn.; L. W. Cutler,
Watertown, Conn.

SHEPAUG RAILROAD.

The first meeting of the corporators of the Shepaug
Valley Railroad Company was held at Litchfield,
April 25, 1869, when it was voted that books be
opened for subscription to the capital stock. At the
second meeting of the corporators, held at Litchfield,
Nov. 18, 1869, it was voted that the first meeting of
stockholders be called at Litchfield, Nov. 27, 1869, for
the purpose of choosing directors. At the meeting,
which was held pursuant to call, the following were
chosen: David C. Whittlesey, Chairman; Edward W.
Seymour, Clerk; Directors, J. Deming Perkins, Henry

W. Buel, George A. Hickox, Henry R. Coit, Edward:

W. Seymour, George M. Woodruff, William Deming,
Simon H. Mitchell, Seth 8. Logan, George C. Hitch-
cock, Albert L. Hodge, Glover Sanford. J. Deming
Perkins was elected President; Simeon H. Mitchell,
Vice-President; Henry R. Coit, Treasurer; and George
M. Woodruff, Secretary. Sept. 9, 1870, the directors
met and voted to invite Maj. Edwin McNeill to meet

with the board, he having taken a deep interest in the |

enterprise and made the preliminary survey at his own
expense. On the 24th of the same month it was voted

 

to adopt as the location of road the line as laid in the
valley of Shepaug River, through Roxbury, more than
four hundred thousand dollars having been subscribed
to the capital stock.

Maj. Edwin McNeill was elected director Oct. 1,
1870, in place of Glover Sanford, resigned. The con-
struction of the road commenced October, 1870, and
it was opened for business Jan. 1, 1872. In 1873 the
second mortgage bondholders foreclosed, a new charter
was obtained, and a new company was organized in
June, 1878, as “The Shepaug Railroad Company,”
the second mortgage bondholders of the Shepaug Val-
ley Railroad Company becoming stockholders in the
new corporation.

The first board of directors were Edwin McNeill,
Origen S. Seymour, Henry W. Buel, George M. Wood-
ruff, Henry R. Coit, F. Ratchford Starr, J. Deming
Perkins, and William Deming. J. Deming Perkins
was elected President; Henry R. Coit, Treasurer;
George M. Woodruff, Secretary.

Maj. Edwin McNeill died in September, 1875, and his
son, Edwin McNeill, was chosen director in his place.

The present board of directors are Henry W. Buel,
Henry R. Coit, William Deming, Origen 8. Seymour,
Dorsey Neville, Asahel H. Morse, Holmes O. Morse,
Leverett W. Wessells, and Edwin McNeill. The
officers are Henry W. Buel, President; Henry R. Coit,
Vice-President; William Deming, Secretary ; Henry
R. Coit, Treasurer; Edwin McNeill, Superintendent.

The road extends from the borough of Litchfield
thirty-two and one-half miles to Hawleyville, in Fair-
field County, where it connects with the Housatonic,
Danbury and Norwalk and New York and New Eng-
land Railroads. Arrangements have been made for
the erection of a union freight and passenger station
building and platforms for the accommodation of the
business of the four roads meeting at that point. The
cost of the Shepaug road has been about one million
dollars, a local enterprise, the entire cost furnished by
the section of country traversed by the road, about
three-quarters of the amount named having been
raised in the town of Litchfield. The road traverses
a good section of country heretofore comparatively
isolated, and much credit is due to its enterprising
progenitors and those through whose influence and
energy it has been sustained.

A branch of the New Haven and Northampton
Railroad extends from Farmington to New Hartford,
the New York and New England road passes through
Woodbury, and a branch of the Naugatuck extends
from Waterbury to Watertown.
 

 

 

 

 

 

104 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
CHAPTER VIII.
POPULATION AND SCHOOL STATISTICS.
\
POPULATION OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
1756 1774 1782 1790 1800 1810 1820 1830 1840 1850 1860 1870

Litchfield 2,554 | 3,077 4,285 | 4,639 | 4,610! 4,456 | 4,038 | 3,953 | 3,116
Barkhamsted.. 250 503 1,487 | 1,506 | 1,592 | 1,715 | 1,571 | 1,524] 1,264
Bethlehem.. BY
Bridgewater.....cccccccocrersesccenee |secscscreens|sesteeersese| coescssccess|stceenenssen | sevenaerenes
Canaan 2,137
COlebrOOK.....ecceeeteeeeeecsssteeceesen [avecesereeee 1,119
Cornwall. 1,614
Goshen.. 1,493
Hartland .ec.ssccsinonnssseoweasenessees: | ovessentanes acvvae decal tancorn inne tates sss v8 sMt
Harwinto: 1,481 A
Kent. 1,607
MOPEIB's:osssscsssccncncedncesssecen oe! L{Q00" besssacssees| eae
New Hartford.

New Milford...

 

  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Roxbury..
Salisbury..
Sharon..
Torrington..
Warren ...
Washington
Watertown.,
Winchester.

 
 

 

 

 

 

  
    
  
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
     
 
   
   
     

 

Woodbury
Southbury...
Th rs
11,827 | 27,345 | 33,656 )*38,755 | 41,214 | 41,375 | 41,267 | 42,855 | 40,448 | 45,253 | 47,318 | 48,797 | 52,048
SCHOOL STATISTICS.
Blog 2 ScHoL srs, TEACHERS.
E34] 3
ig Silala
Towns. Grand dst, Alal|a 3 Registered. S . |Av. Attend.| Male. /Female./ Wages, Month,
s/o /e| 2 | Boum. Diffiatc'3 23
7) 2) 8 |Jas. 79. 7 Schl £224
Z)2/8| = w.) 8, Oret) Bee la a) w. | s. |w.'s.w.| S. (Male. Female,
Litchfield $1,880,337 | 20) 20, 2015148} 691 | 509} 456] 44) 644) 76) 62; 342/ 311, 11) 1] 9] 19.$31.58) $25.82
Barkhamsted.. 442,59L | 11) 11) 12134.50) 274 | 257) 205) 19) 986) 7) 17; 179) 144) 2/...| 10] 11} 24.73) 24.38
Bethlehem... 485,794 | 8) 8 8149.00} 123 | 128] 82) 11/ 41] 7]... 89] 60} 4) 1) 4] 5} 25,72) 22.67
Bridgewater 431,708 | 5) 6 6175.32] 185 | 181] 132] 16/ 906) 1; 5) 129} 91) 4/1) 2| 5) 37.06) 24.00
Canaan... 600,001 | 10, 10| 10,137.00] 245 | 164) 155] 15| 215/ 21) 27| 113| 97) 11...) 9] 10! 20.00] 22,74
Colebrook. 440,577 10, 10 11-150.00| 289} 250| 252/ 13} 310| 6 14| 174) 115) 4; 2) 7| 9/ 22.00) 21.60
655,790 | 16' 15) 15:169.73| 416 | 329! 281) 16] 394} 21) 22] v56| 212] 6] 2] 9] 13] 28.25] 24.67
774,108 | 12| 11) 11,164.00] 255 | 228] 172) 28) 968) 3! 14) 164] 125) 4/1) 7] 10) 26,64) 22.65
484,307 | 12) 12) 12145.08] 228 | 192/ 176] 10; 939) 2 10] 151] 132° 2'...] 10] 12| 30.50, 23.37
493,619 | 13) 13) 13'183.08} 361 | 317! 252] 27| 379} 17| 14] 2041 159) 10'...) 3] 13] 23.90) 17.92
370,852 | 6} 6 6167.00} 139 133] 111] 14|  164j...... 1) 99} 82) 6| 1) 0} 8) 27.18; 22.00
1,088,983 | 9; 9) 13,174.62; 757 | 487/ 447! 19 573] ...... 201; 360! 299) 8] 5) 6] 9, 38.51) 24.67
1,963,846 | 18 18) 21,179.96] 833 | 697} 627) 48| 798] 34) 56, 454| 358/ 14/ 2) 7] 19) 38.19} 22.17
k 763,935 | 13, 11) 12 137.50] 356 | 296! 247, 17) 356) ...... 20, 196; 188] 5/3) 7! 9) 28.00; 2231
North Canaan. 703,361 | 5) 5) 8180.00, 414 | 302) 270) 13| 353) 29| 56| 212) 200] 3/2) 5 6) 37.38) 28.12
Plymouth. 1,030,042 | 9° 9) 13/175.38) 548 | 443, 4101 18| 537, 3, 43/ 332, 301/ 4) 3) 9] 10] o7.14| 34.83
Roxbury.. 474,910 | 7 7] 7164.26 174 | 175] 164 27] 219)... 1; 113] go] 3i...| 4] 7] 24.00) 19.32
Salisbury. 1,948,471 | 13 13) 18 198.61) 889 | 586] 558! 18| 792] 39; 74| 404] 369] 4) 3) 14] 15| 28.00) 27.97
Sharon .... 1,270,829 | 18] 18 18 200.00] 641 | 474) 450; 24| 612| 34) 19| 289| 258] 7| 7| 11] 11! 2428) 23.14
di ae se 1,317,345 1| 4) 10/180.00 617 | 455) 450) 23 587 | sesces 63; 336} 324) 1/1) 9] 9/110,00; 36.50
puingron, 1,510,281 | 10) 10) 15/176.67/ 814 | 612| 558| 32) 771] S1| 33] 444] 420] 4: 1) 12] 14] 66.80) 33.89
Warren... 264,113 | 7) 6} 6160.83) 171 | 134) 109] 6) 158)... lo} 83) 77) 2i.../ 4] 6) 24.00) 22.40
939,358 | 12 12, 12177.92) 296 | 234] 238) 14] 318] 10, 3) 175) 165) 6 1| 6| 11) 28.14) 2294
1,643,347 | 9) 9| 11|168.18} 372 | 327) 253] 29| 371] 14] 23] 926, 180| 3! 1! 8} 9| 41.60) 29.37
2,804,248 | 8 8) 16 187.50; 979 | 612] 588| 66| 761| 199) 85} 409] 449! 5] 4| 12) 13) 62.67| 39.8
7,138,185 | 14) 14 ee 428 | 344' 310 21] 427/ 6] 15] 236] 208) 6| 1| 9] 13| 33.71) 25.85
$25,920,938 aoe Big lonas 11,495 |8,866 7,953] 588 | 10,874! 580) 878! 6,169) 5,464 pee ae ee $26.19

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

* Total for county ; no returns for other towns.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 
   
 
 
  
 
 
   
 
  
 
 
 
  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LITCHFIELD. 105
SCHOOL STATISTICS (Continued.)
RecrIPts. EXPENSES.
Towns.
School Town | Local} Town | District Teachers’| Fuel. é Other
Fund, etc.| Deposit.,Funds.| Tax, | Tax. | Tot |) Wages. | etc.’ | RePit.| onjects,) Total.

Tied vs 858.40 9522.90 $96.00 2,543.52 $500.00 $5,370.74 $4,318.15} $344.25) $13.45] $230.50) $1,922.92
arkhamsted.. ; 28), | 920, 86} 2,241.25] 1733.85! 96.28! 349.42]  61.75|  2/241.95
Bethlehem .. 295.20) 139.001. 980.15) 100.00) 1,614.3] 17245.03) 123.30] 100.00] 46.00! 1,514.35
si ee ea) eigen] al Ae BBL) a

Colebrook. 693.60] 92.69). L120, 23093.99|| 1.70140) 134. 7 ‘06! 1,950.79
Cornwall. 998.40, 243.50 7,531.98 26.81] 3/372.72') 2,965.05 i ; '30| 3,372.72
Goshen..... 612.00 : 1,294.22 300.00, 2/903.53|| 2,088.82 . 2. 5.00, 2,752.71
Harwinton .. 547.20) 242: 1,373.84| _73.87| 2236.91|] 1978.35] 112, i :00) 2,236.91
Kent. 06.40 308.2 1, 7359, of 296.78| 2,976.45|| 2,433.26 : } 22) 2,976.45
o1ris .. 333. 3102! ..esceee| 725.00) ...0.. .2000 1,247,32|| 1,081.97 “ . i 1,244,54
New Hartford. 1,816.80 6 2,259.96| 1,657.59| 5,979-49|| 3,908.18 : : 198 1726.84
New Milford 1,999.20 i £201; & 163.00! 7/375.30|| 6:202'87 : ‘ 45) 7,375.00
Norfolk ...... 854.40 , 1st 43). ; 62|| 2:280.00| 214.61; 840, 79.41| 2,582.42
Roxbury... 417.80 ; ce es : i : ; 0] 1/247'57
Salisbur: 2,133.60 : 3,263.42 "569. 7,569.21
Sharon 13538.40 d 9,958.74 : 4,955.14
Thomaston... 1480.80 f 3,545.74" ; 5,185.57
Torrington. 1953.60 : 4,123.77 428.5 6,427.45
Warren.. 410.40 i 680.48, 234. : 1,406.14
Washington 710.40 : 1,629.17, 166.27! 2'889.89 2'889.89
Watertown. 892.80 F 2'153,29| 1,093. 31 4490.81 4742.81
Winchester. 2,349.60 1O4 easezeoess 6, 098:02  . 3 ry 850.48) . ‘11239: 85
Woodbury .... 1'027.20,  345.13|"" 6.00} 21076. ea 3,465.14|| 3) 15. 19! 219.95! 00) 3,465.14

| |
, Sprpono wep ee aout (38,261.81 $98.646.18 79,000.18 $7,102.62 $6,114.83 $5,513.71 $99,587.47
|

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER IX.
LITCHFIELD.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indian Purchase—The Explorations
of the Township—List of Proprietors—The Town Divided into Sixty
Shares—Court of Probate, 1719—Original Cost of the Towo—One Penny
Three Farthings per Acre—The Patent of Litchfield—The First Settle-
ments—Names of Pioneers—“ House Lots”—The Pioneer Homes—The
Forts—Indian Depredations—Incident—Litchfield in the French War,
1755-63—Names of Soldiers.

THE town of Litchfield* lies near the centre of
Litchfield County and is bounded as follows: On the
north by Goshen and Torrington ; on the east by Har-
winton and Thomaston; on the south by Thomaston,
Morris, and Washington; and on the west by Mor-
ris, Washington, and Warren. The surface of the
town is rolling and hilly, and the soil is generally
strong and fertile. The town is watered by the
Naugatuck, Bantam, and Shepaug Rivers and their
tributaries. Bantam Lake, located partly in this
town and partly in Morris, is the largest sheet of
water in the State.

THE INDIAN PURCHASE.

By grants from the Indian occupants and the Colo-
nial Legislature the title to this territory became
vested in the towns of Hartford and Windsor. The
initiatory steps towards the opening and settlement of
the ‘‘ Western Lands,” as the tract in this section of
the State was called, was the extinction of Indian
titles. This was effected, by a committee appointed
for the purpose, by the following deed given at Wood-
bury, March 2, 1715:

 

 

* Named from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England.

THE INDIAN DEED,

“ To all People to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING :

“Know Ye that we, Chusquenoag, Corkscrew, Quiump, Magnash,
Kehow, Sepunkum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen, Toweecume,
Mansumpansh, and Norkgnotonckquy, Indian Natives belonging to the
Plantation of Potatuck within the Colony of Connecticut, for and in con-
sideration of the sum of fifteen pounds money in hand received to our
full satisfaction and contentment, have given granted bargained and sold
and by these presents do fully freely and absolutely give grant bargain
sell and confirm, unto Cole William Whiting, Mr. John Marsh, and Mr,
Thomas Seymour, a Committee for the town of Hartford—Mr. Jokn
Eliot, Mr. Daniel Griswold, and Mr. Samuel Rockwell, a Committee for
the Town of Windsor, for themselves, and in the behalf of the rest of the
Inhabitants of the Towns of Hartford and Windsor,—a certain tract of
Land, situate and lying, north of Waterbury bounds, abutting southerly,
partly on Waterbury and partly on Woodbury,—from Waterbury River
westward cross a part of Waterbury bounds, and cross at the north end
of Woodbury bounds to Shepaug River, and so northerly, in the middle
of Shepaug River, to the sprains of Shepaug River below Mount Tom,
then running up the east branch of Shepaug River, to the place where
the said River runs out of Shepaug Pond, from thence to the north end
of said Pond, then east to Waterbury River, then southerly as the River
runs, to the north end of Waterbury bounds upon the said River; which
said tract of land thus described, To Have and tu Hot», to the said Col.
William Whiting, Mr. John Marsh, and Mr. Thomas Seymour, Mr. John
Eliot, and Mr. Daniel Griswold, and Mr. Samuel Rockwell, Committees
for the Towns of Hartford and Windsor, as aforesaid, in behalf of them-
selves and the rest of the Inhabitants of said Towns, to them, their heirs
and assigns, to use occupy and improve, as their own proper right of In-
heritance, for their comfort furever; together with all the privileges,
appurtenances and conditions to the same belonging, or in any wise ap-
purtaining. And further, we the said Chusqunnoag, Corkscrew, Qui-
ump, Magnash, Kehow, Sepunkum, Poni, Wonposet, Suckqunnokqueen,
Toweecume, Mansumpansh, and Norkgnotonckquy, owners and proprie-
tors of the above granted Land, do for ourselves and our heirs, to and
with the above said William Whiting, John Marsh, Thomas Seymour,
John Eliot, Daniel Griswold, and Samuel Rockwell, committee as afore-
said, them, their heirs and assigns, covenant and engage, that we have
good right and lawtul authority, to sell the above granted land; And
Further, at the desire and request of the aforesaid Committees, and at
their own proper cost and charge, will give a more ample deed.

“And for a more full confirmation hereof, we have set our hands and
seals, this second day of March, in the second year of His Majestie’s
Reign, A.D. 1715,

 
106

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“ Memorandum,—Before the executing of this instrument, it is to be
understood, that the grantors above named have reserved to themselves
a piece of ground sufficient for their hunting houses, near a mountain

called Mount Tom,
“ CuusquNNoaG fp his mark. [1. 8.]

“ CoRKSCREW ( )
© QuiuMP >a

“ MAGNASH J
“Kenow ey

“ SepUNKUM 6
“ WonPOSET YQ
“ SucKQUNNOCKQUEEN oe

“ TAWEECUME Uv his mark, [1.

his mark. [L. 8.]

D

]

his mark. [L.

n

-]

his mark. [L.

his mark, [1. 8.]

his mark. [L. s.]

“ Pont his mark. [1. s.]

his mark, [t. 8.]

his mark. [u. s.]

m

.]

“ MANSUMPANSH \ his mark. [1. s.]

“ Signed sealed and deliv-
is
ered in our presence.

“ WEROAMAUG 2 his mark.
“ Woenacue bo his mark.

+

“ TonHOCKS his mark.

“JouHNn MITCHELL,
“ JosePpH Minor.

“ The Indians that subscribed and sealed the above said deed, appeared
personally in Woodbury, the day of the date thereof, and acknowledged
the said deed to be their free and voluntary act and deed. Before me

“Joun Minor, Justice.”

The committees named in this decd conveyed all
their interest in said lands to the towns of Hartford
and Windsor by deed dated Aug. 29, 1716.

The conflicting claims in this township, between
the towns of Hartford and Windsor on the one part,
and ‘‘ certain considerable persons in the town of Far-
mington” on the other, arising out of the preceding
conveyances, were subsequently amicably adjusted by
the parties. The Farmington company, by their at-
torney, John Stanley, on the 11th of June, 1718, con-
veyed their interest to the towns of Hartford and
Windsor, and, in consideration thereof, those indi-
viduals were invested by those towns with one-sixth
part of this township.

The title to the lands having been acquired from
the aborigines, the town took immediate measures to
explore and survey the township of Litchfield.

 

Mr. John Marsh, of Hartford, one of the settlers of
this town, and the ancestor of the Marshes of Litch-
field, was one of the committee appointed for that
purpose by the town of Hartford. He was an ener.
getic and courageous man, and in May, 1715, under.
took what was then a perilous journey into the path-
less wilderness. His bill, as appears from the ancient
records, was as follows:

“The Town of Hartford, Dr.
To John Marsh.

May, 1815, For 5 days man and horse, with expenses in

viewing the Land at the New Plantation...........0. £2
“The Toun of Hartford, Dr.

Jan. 22, 1715-16, To 6 days journey to Woodbury, to treat
with the Indians about the Western Lands, by Thomas -
Seymour.

To expenses in the journey..

 

 

“The Toun of Hartford, Dr.

To Thomas Seymour, Committy. £ s,
May, 1716, By 2 quarts of Rum.
Expenses at Farmiugton

 
  
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
 
 

ne at Waterbury.. ll
Paid Thomas Miner towards 7 10
Expenses at Woodbury......s:.0ssceseeee 2 11

ae for a Pilut and protection. 1 10

Fastening horse-shoes at Waterbury...

Expenses at Waterbury...........66 L,
Ke to Col. Whiting for writing 40 deeds.. 1 10
ee to Capt. Cooke for acknowledging 18 deeds 18
es to Ensign Seymour. 1 0
is at Arnold's... 1 7

is by sending to Windsor.
Aug. 4, 1718.—Sold 11 lots for...
Expenses for writing 20 deeds, ‘to Mr. Fitch

= to Capt. Cooke for acknowledgin,

es for making out a way 2 0
‘ at Arnold’s 1l
se to Tho’s Seymour for perambulatiug nor! 6
ss Ab ATMOME Se eesticiih nocansancen cacd0sb cease ssectnverss 0

 

Feb. 10, 1818.—At a meeting of the Committees, then

sold 16 lots reserved by Marsh for Hartford’s part...
At same meeting, paid by John Marsh for expenses.
At same meeting, loss of money by mistake in acc’t...
April 14, 1719.—A meeting of the Committees, expenses 6
April 27.—At a meeting of the Committees, expenses... 1

37 «1T

  

 

>
eoscou BROS CO COCO CC MC OOOFD AS

LIST OF PROPRIETORS.

In 1818 a company was formed for the settlement
of the town, and the individuals composing it were
known as the “proprietors” of the town. The fol-
lowing is the list: John Marsh (two rights), Samuel
Sedgwick, Jr., Nathaniel Goodwin, Timothy Seymour,
Paul Peck, Jr., Joseph Mason, Nathaniel Messenger,
Benjamim Webster, Joshua Garrett, from Hartford;
Samuel Forward, Thomas Griswold, Jr., Jacob Gibbs,
Joseph Birge, Benjamin Hosford, from Windsor;
John Hart, Timothy Stanley, John Bird, Joseph
Bird, Samuel Lewis, Ebenezer Woodruff, Samuel
Root, Nathaniel Winchell, Hezekiah Winchell, from
Farmington; Joseph Gillett, from Colchester; Jona-
than Buck, from New Milford; William Goodrich,

, John Stoddard, Ezekiel Buck, from Wethers-
field; Jacob Griswold, John Buel (two rights), Ed-
ward Culver, Hezekiah Culver, Thomas Lee, Eleazer
Strong, Supply Strong, Caleb Chapel (two rights),
Thomas Treadway, John Caulkins, from Lebanon;
Ezekiel Sanford (two rights), Nathan Mitchell,
Thomas Pier, John Mann, Joseph Peet, Samuel Som-
ers, from Sirabfordls Nathaniel Smith (two rights),
John Collins, Ephraim French, from Taunton, Mass.;
Josiah Walker, Samuel Orton, Joseph Waller, Isaac
Judson, from Woodbury.
LITCHFIELD.

107

 

Of the above, the following became residents of the
town: John Marsh, Paul Peck, Jr., Joseph Mason,
Benjamin Webster, Joshua Garrett, Jacob Gibbs, Jo-
seph Birge, Benjamin Hosford, John Bird, Joseph
Bird, Joseph Gillett, William Goodrich, Jr., John
Stoddard, Ezekiel Buck, Jacob Griswold, John Buel,
Hezekiah Culver, Thomas Lee, Eleazer Strong, Sup-
ply Strong, Thomas Treadway, Nathan Mitchell,
Thomas Pier, Nathaniel Smith, Josiah Walker, Sam-
uel Orton, and Joseph Waller.

“The town was divided into sixty shares, three of
which were reserved for pious uses—one to the first
minister and his heirs forever, one for the use of
the first minister and his successors, and one for the
support of the school. The title was conveyed to the
adventurers, and in May, 1719, was confirmed by the
Legislature, which granted leave to settle a town at
Bantam, to be called Litchfield.

“At the October session of the Assembly of the
same year, a Court of Probate for the town was ordered
to be held at Woodbury, and at the October session,
1722, the town was annexed to Hartford County.

“The town was in length, east and west, eight
miles, three-quarters, and twenty-three rods, and in
breadth seven miles anda half. The cost to the pro-
prietors did not exceed one penny three farthings
per acre.

THE PATENT OF LITCHFIELD.

“In 1724, a formal patent of the town, signed by
Governor Saltonstall, was granted by the Governor
and company of the colony, to John Marsh and John
Buell and their partners.”’* It read as follows:

“The Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut in New

England, to all to whom these Presents shall come, GREETING:

**Know YE, That the said Governor and Company, by virtue of the
power granted unto them by our late sovereign, King Charles the Sec-
ond, of blessed memory, in and by His Majesty’s Patent, under the great
seal of England, dated the twenty-third day of April, in the fourteenth
year of His Majesty’s reign, and in pursuance thereof and in General
Court assembled, according to charter, did, by their act, made May four-
teenth, Anno Domini, 1719, upon the humble petition of Lieut. John
Marsh, of Hartford, within the said Colony, and Dea. John Buell, of
Lebanon, grant unto the said John Marsh and John Buell, and partners,
settlers, being in the whole fifty-seven in number, liberty to settle a
town westward of Farmington, in the county of Hartford, at a place
called Bantam, which town was to be in length east and west eight
miles, three quarters, and twenty-eight rods, and in breadth, seven
miles and an half—to be bounded east on Mattatuck river; west, part on
Shepaug river and part on the wilderness ; north, by the wilderness ; and
south by Waterbury bounds and a west line from Waterbury corner to
the said Shepaug river. And Ordered, that the said town should be
called by the name of LitcHFIELD, as more fully appears by the said act.
The said Governor and Company, by virtue of the afuresaid power, and
by their special act bearing even date with these presents, for divers good
causes and considerations them hereunto moving, have given, granted,

and by these presents, for themselves, their heirs, and successors, do
fully, clearly, and absolutely give, grant, ratify, and confirm unto the

 

* “The families of John Marsh and John Buell intermarried. Their
descendants had a family picnic in the grove of Mr. F. A. Marsh, on the
shore of Bantam Lake, Sept. 3, 1846, at which at least six hundred of the
family were present, and the names of five hundred and eighty-one were
registered. Mrs. John Buell died in 1768, having had thirteen children,
one hundred and one grandchildren, two hundred and seventy-four great-
grandchildren, and twenty-two great-great-grandchildren. Total, four
hundred and ten, of whom three hundred and thirty-six survived her.”
—Hon. George C. Woodruff, in 1876.

 

said John Marsh and John Buell, and the rest of the said partners, set-
tlers of said tract of land [in their actual, full, and peaceable possession
and seizin being], and to their heirs and assigns, and such asshall legally
succeed and represent them, forever [in such proportions as they, the
said partners and settlers, or any of them, respectively, have right in and
are lawfully possessed of the same], all the said tract of land now called
and known by the name of Litchfield, in the county of Hartford afore-
said, be the same more or less, butted and bounded as followeth, viz.:
Beginning at the north east corner, at a tree with stones about it, stand-
ing in the crotch of Mattatuck river aforesaid, and running southerly
by the side of said river until it meets with Waterbury bounds, where is
a well known white oak tree standing about fifteen rods west of said
Mattatuck river, anciently marked with IS: IN: From thence running
west twenty-three degrees thirty minutes south, to two white oak trees
growing out of one root, with stones about them, and west one mile and
a half to Waterbury north west corner bound mark; and from thence
west five degrees thirty minutes north to Shepaug river, where is a tree
and stones about it butting upon Waterbury township; then beginning
at the first mentioned tree by Mattatuck river and running westward
into the wilderness, to an oak tree marked and stones laid around it;
then south to a crotch in the Shepaug river; and thence by the wester-
most branch of Shepaug river to Woodbury bounds. And also all
and singular, the lands, trees, woods, underwoods, wood-grounds, up-
lands, arable lands, meadows, moors, marshes, pastures, ponds, waters,
rivers, brooks, fishings, fowlings, huntings, mines, minerals, quarries,
and precious stones, upon and within the said land. Andall other rights,
members, hereditaments, easements, and commodities whatsoever, to the
same belonging or in any wise appertaining, so butted and bounded as is
herein before particularly expressed or mentioned, and the reversion or
the reversions, remainder or remainders, rights, royalties, privileges,
powers, or jurisdictions whatsoever, of and in all and singular the said
tract of land and premises hereby granted, and of and in any and every
part and parcel thereof. And the rents, services, and profits to the same
incident, belonging, or appertaining—Zo Have and to Hold all the said
tract of land, and all and singular other the premises hereby given or
granted, or mentioned, or intended to be granted, with all the privileges
and appurtenances thereof, unto the said John Marsh and John Buell,
and the rest of the partners, settlers of the same, their heirs and assigns,
to their only proper use, benefit, and behoof, forever; and to and for no
other use, intent, or purpose whatsvever. And the said Governor and
Company, for themselves and their successors, have given and granted,
and by these presents do give and grant, unto the said John Marsh and
John Buell, and the rest of the partners, settlers of the tract of land
herein before granted, their heirs and assigns; the said tract of land so
butted and bounded as aforesaid, shall from time to time and at all times
forever hereafter, be deemed, reputed, denominated, and be an entire
town of itself, and shall be called and known by the name of LitcuFIELp,
in the county of Hartford, and that the aforesaid partners, settlers, and
inhabitants thereof, shall and lawfully may from time to time and at all
times, forever hereafter have, use, exercise, and enjoy all such rights,
powers, privileges, immunities, and franchises, in and among them-
selves, as are given, granted, allowed, used, exercised, and enjoyed, to,
by, and amongst the proper inhabitants of other towns in this Colony,
according to common approved custom and observance; and that the
said tract of land and premises hereby granted as aforesaid, and appur-
tenances, shall remain, continue, and be unto the said John Marsh and
John Buell, and the rest of the partners, settlers, their heirs and assigns,
in proportion aforesaid forever, a good, peaceable, pure, perfect, absolute,
and indefeasible estate of inheritance in fee simple, to be holden of His
Majesty, his heirs and successors, as of His Majesty’s Manor of East
Greenwich, in the County of Keut, in the Kingdom of England, in free
and common soccage, and not in capite, nor by Knight's service.—Yield-
ing therefur and paying unto our Sovereign Lord King George, his heirs
and successors forever, one fifth part of all ore of Gold and Silver, which
from time to time, and at all times forever hereafter, shall be there got-
ten, had, or btained, in lieu of all services, duties, and demands whatso-
ever.

“In WITNESS WHEREOF, The said Governor and Company have caused
the Seal of the said Colony to be hereunto affixed.

“Dated in Hartford, May the 19th day, Anno regni regis Decimo
Georgii, Mag’ Britt’, Fran's, Hybern’x, Annoque Domini, One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty Four, 1724.

“G, SALTONSTALL, Gov’r.

Company in General Court

“By order of the Gov'r mt
assembled.

“Hez, WYLLIs, Secretary.”
108

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

The first settlement was made in the summer of
1720, by Capt. Jacob Griswold, from Windsor, Ezekiel
Buck, from Wethersfield, and John Peck, from Hart-
ford. The little settlement rapidly increased, and
within three years from the pioneer location the fol-
lowing were residents of the town: Nehemiah Allen,
from Coventry ; Joseph Birge, from Windsor ; John
Bird, Joseph Bird, from Farmington; Ezekiel Buck,
from Wethersfield; Samuel Beebe, from Fairfield
County; John Buell, from Lebanon; John Baldwin,
from Stratford; Daniel Culver, Samuel Culver, Heze-
kiah Culver, from Lebanon; Timothy Collins, from
Guilford; John Catlin, James Church, from Hart-
ford; Joseph Gillett, from Colchester; Abraham
Goodwin, Joshua Garrett, from Hartford ; Benjamin
Gibbs, Jacob Gibbs, from Windsor; William Good-
rich, Jr., Jacob Griswold, from Wethersfield; John
Gay, from Dedham, Mass.; Benjamin Hosford, from
Windsor; Joseph Harris, from Middletown; Joseph
Kilborn, from Wethersfield; Thomas Lee, from Leb-
anon; Joseph Mason, John Marsh, from Hartford ;
Nathan Mitchell, from Stratford; Samuel Orton,
from Woodbury ; Edward Phelps, from Windsor;
Thomas Pier, from Stratford; Paul Peck, Jr., John
Peck, from Hartford ; John Stoddard, from Wethers-
field; Eleazer Strong, Supply Strong, from Lebanon;
Joseph Sanford, Lemuel Sanford, from Stratford ;
Nathaniel Smith, John Smith, from Taunton, Mass. ;
Samuel Smedley, from Woodbury; Thomas Tread-
way, from Lebanon; Benjamin Webster, from Hart-
ford; Josiah Walker, Joseph Waller, from Wood-
bury; Nathaniel Woodruff, from Farmington.

“The township was divided among the proprietors,
giving to each a home-lot of fifteen acres, as nearly
as could conveniently be done. The choice of home-
lots was decided by lot. The lot first selected was about
half a mile south of the court-house, and next to
Middle Street or Gallows Lane; the second was half a
mile further south, and on the corner opposite the
residence of Mr. Arthur D. Catlin; the third three-
fourths of a mile west of the court-house, known as
the Strong place.

“The eleventh choice was the lot thirty rods next
west of the county-house corner, which subsequently
the town voted was not fit for building a house upon.
The mansion-house corner was the twentieth choice;
the corner now owned by Mrs. Bostwick the twenty-
fifth choice; and the county-house corner the thirty-
third choice. Ten lots were selected on Chestnut
Hill, southerly from the school-house, and the last
choice (the 57th) was the lot on which is the dwelling-
house of Mrs. A. O. Smith.

“The home-lot of the first minister was the corner
lately owned by Mrs, Weller, deceased, and the twenty-
acre division appurtenant thereto was laid adjoining
on the north, and extended to the north line of the
land of Mr. Charles Jones.

“The highway from Bantam River, running wester-

 

ly through the village, was laid twenty rods wide, and
called Meeting-House Street; that now called North
Street twelve rods wide, and was called Town Street;
that now called South Street eight rods wide, and
was called Town Hill Street, the east line of which
terminated six rods east of the front of Mrs. Bost-
wick’s dwelling. Gallows Lane, then Middle Street,
was twenty-eight rods wide. The highway running
southerly from Mr. David De Forest’s house was
named South Griswold Street, and that running
northerly North Griswold Street. Prospect Street,
then called North Street, was seventeen rods wide,

“The first church, court-house, and school-house,
stood nearly in the centre of Meeting-House Street;
the court-house about opposite the centre of Town
Street, and the church east and school-house west of
the court-house.

“The first white child born in Litchfield was
Eunice, the daughter of Jacob Griswold, afterwards
the wife of Capt. Solomon Buell. She was born
March 23,1721. The first white male child born in
Litchfield was Gershom Gibbs, on the 28th of July,
1724. He was taken prisoner at Fort Washington in
1776, and died on board a British prison-ship on the
29th of December of that year.

“Mrs. Mary Adams was born in Stratford in 1698,
and died here in 1803, aged one hundred and five.
Mr. Reuben Dickinson was born in 1716, and died
here in 1818, aged one hundred and two. Capt. Sal-
mon Buell was born here in 1767, and died here in
1868.

“¢The first founders built log houses. The settlement proceeded as
fast as could reasonably be expected. During the frequent wars between
England and France the Canadians and Indians often harassed our bor-
ders, and Litchfield, being a frontier town, was exposed to their ravages.’

“Tt is not strange that the natives, accustomed to
rove over these beautiful hills, through these pleasant
valleys, and about our delightful lakes (gems in eme-
rald), should have viewed with jealousy the approach
of the white man.

“But of course our predecessors, the owners of the
soil by fair purchase, stood on their defense.

“Between the years 1720 and 1730, five houses were surrounded by
pallisadoes, One of these stood on the ground near the present court
house, another half a mile south, one east and one west of the centre,
and one in South Farms. Svldiers were then atationed here to guard
the inhabitants, both while they were at work in the field and while
they were attending public worship on the Sabbath.

“In May, 1722, Capt. Jacob Griswold being at work alone ia a field
about one mile west of the present court-house, two Indians suddenly
rushed upon him from the woods, took him, pinioned his arms, and
carried him off.

“«They traveled in a northerly direction, and the eame day arrived in
some part of the township called Canaan, then a wilderness. The Indians
kindled a fire, and after Linding their prisoner hand and foot lay down
to sleep. Griswold, fortunately disengaging his hands and feet, while
his arms were yet pinioned, seized their guns, and made his escape into
the woods. After traveling a small distance he sat down and waited the
dawn of day, and although his arms were still pinioned he carried both
their guns, The savages awoke in the morning, and finding their pris-
oner gone immediately pursued him; they soon overtook him and kept
in sight of him the greater part of the day, while he was making his
way homeward. When they came near he turned and pointed one of his
pieces at them; they then fell back. In this manuer he traveled till
LITCHFIELD.

109

 

near sunset, when he reached an eminence in an open field, about one
mile northwest of the court-house. He then discharged one of his guns,
which immediately summoned the people to his assistance. The Indians
fled, and Griswold safely returned to his family.

“¢Phe capture of Griswold made the inhabitants more cautious for
awhile, but their fears soon subsided. Afterwards, in 1723, Mr. Joseph
Harris, a respectable inhabitant, was at work in the woods not far from
the place where Griswold was taken, and, being attacked by a party of
Indians, attempted to make his escape. The Indians pursued him, and,
finding that they could not overtake him, they shot him dead and scalped
him, As Harris did not return the inhabitants were alarmed, and some
search was made for him, but the durkness of the night checked their
exertions, The next morning they found his body and gave it a decent
burial. Harris was killed near the north end of the plain, where tho
road turns to Milton, a little east of a school-house, and for a long time
after this plain was called Harris’ Plain.’*

“The place of his interment remained unmarked
for more than a century, but rested in the memory of
the older inhabitants. He was buried in'the west
burial-ground, near the village of Litchfield. In 1830
a suitable monument, with an appropriate inscription,
was erected at his grave by voluntary contribution.

“The summer of 1724 was a period of excitement
and alarm. The war between the English and the
French was then prevailing, and the latter used great
efforts to incite the Northern Indians to attack the
frontier settlements of the whites.

“The conduct of the Indians at the North and West
during this year, and especially their hostile move-
ments in the vicinity of Litchfield, induced the
government ‘to take such precautionary measures as
the occasion demanded in order to furnish protec-
tion to the weak and exposed settlements. A line of
scouts was established extending from Litchfield to
Turkey Hills, curving around the most northerly and
westerly settlements in Simsbury. On the 4th of
June, 1724, Capt. Richard Case, of Simsbury, was
directed to employ ten men on this scouting-®arty
to rendezvous at Litchfield. They continued in ser-
vice until early in October.

“During these difficulties some of the more timid
of the inhabitants deserted their posts, and the inter-
position of the Legislature was deemed necessary, and
therefore the following enactment was made,—viz. :.

“A General Court holden at New Haven, Oct. 11, 1724, upon the me-
morial of the inhabitants of the town of Litchfield, be it enacted and
ordained, by the Governor, assistauts, and deputies in General Court as-
sembled, and by the authority of the same, that whosoever hath or ought
to have been an inhabitant, and is a proprietor of any lands within the
town of Litchfield, or have deserted and left said town since difficulties
have arisen there on account of an enemy, and shall neglect for the space
of one month after the rising of this Assembly to return to the said town
and there abide, or send some man in their room or stead to perfurm and
do the necessary duties of watching and warding and the like during
the continuance of the difficulties of the war, shall lose and forfeit all
their right and estate in and upon any and all of the lands aforesaid, and
their estate, right, aud interest therein, unto the corporation of Connec-
ticut. And further, it is provided, that if any other man being nowa
proprietor and inhabitant, or a proprietor and ought to have been an in-
habitant in the said town, shall hereafter during the continuatice of fear
and danger of the enemy, desert and leave the said town, or neglect to
repair thither, and there personally abide, without constantly providing
some other sufficient person in his room and stead, there to perform all
duties as before mentioned in the case of them who have already deserted,
shall likewise forfeit their estate in and ou all the lands in the town
aforesaid unto this corporation.

 

* Morris’ statistical account of Litchfield.

 

“© And further, it is provided, that upon complaint made to the Com-
mittee of War at Hartford, of or against any such deserter, upon their
satisfaction of the truth thereof, the said committee shall declare the for-
feiture, and the said committee are enabled to admit any other person
who shall go and abide there in the room of the deserter, and perform
the necessary duties as aforesaid, and that he shall hereafter receive a
grant from this court of the estate escheated as aforesaid for his further
confirmation therein. And it is further ordered, that five shillings per
week shall be allowed for billeting soldiers in Litchfield for the summer
past.’

“Tn 1726, upon news of the Indian enemy coming
down towards our frontiers, the Assembly resolved
that thirty-five effective men be raised to march to
Litchfield for its defense, to be under the command
of Capt. John Marsh.

“Dr. Dwight, the former president of Yale College,
wrote:

“Not many years after the county of Litchfield began to be settled
by the English, a strange Indian came one day into an inn in the town
of Litchfield, in the dusk of the evening, and requested the hostess to
furnish him with some drink and supper. At the same time he observed
he could pay for neither, as he had had no success in hunting, but prom-
ised payment as soon as he should meet with better fortune. The hostess
refused him both the drink and the supper, called him a lazy good-for-
nothing fellow, and told him she did not work so hard herself to throw
away her earnings upon such creatures as he was.

“¢A man sat by and observed that the Indian, then turning about to
leave so inhospitable a place, showed by his countenance that he was
suffering very severely from want and weariness, and directed the hostess
to supply him with what he wished, and engaged to pay the Dill himself.
She did so. When the Indian had finished his supper he turned to his
benefactor, thanked him, and assured him that he should remember his
kindness, and whenever he was able would faithfully recompense it... .

“Some years after the man who had befriended him had occasion tu
go some distance into the wilderness between Litchfield, then a frontier
settlement, and Albany, when he was taken prisoner by an Indian scont
and carried to Canada. When he arrived at the principal settlement of
the tribe, on the southern border of the St. Lawrence, it was proposed by
some of the captors that he should be put to death. During the consul-
tation an old Indian woman demanded that he should be given up tu
her, that she might adopt him in the place of a son whom she had lost
in the war. He was accordingly given to her, and lived through the en-
suing winter in her family, experiencing the customary effects of savage
hospitality.

«“¢The following summer, as he was at work in the forest alone, an un-
known Indian came up to him and asked him to meet him ata place
which he pointed out on a given day. The prisoner agreed to the pro-
posal, but not without some apprehensions that mischief was intended
him. During the interval these apprehensions increased to such a de-
gree as to dissuade him effectually from fulfilling his engagement.

“Soon after the same Indian found him at his work again, and very
gravely reproved him for not performing his promise. The man apolo-
gized awkwardly enough, but in the best manner in his power. Tho
Indian told him he should Le satisfied if he would meet him at the same
place ona future day which he named. The man promised to meet him,
and fulfilled his promise.

“When hearrived at the spot he found the Indian provided with two
muskets, ammunition for them, and knapsacks. The Indian ordered
him to take one of each and follow him. The direction of their march
was to the south. The man fullowed without the least knowledge of
what he was to do or whither he was going, but concluded that if the
Indian intended him harm he would have dispatched him at the begin-
ning, and at the worst he was as safe where he was as he could be in any
other place.

«“* Within ashort time, therefore, his fears subsided, although the Indian
observed a profound and mysterious silence concerning the object of the
expedition. In the day-time they shot such game as came in their way,
and at night kindled a fire, by which they slept. After a tedious journey
of many days they came one mourning to the top of an eminence present-
ing a prospect of a cultivated country, in which was a number of houses.
The Indian asked his companion whether he knew the place. He replied
eagerly that it was Litchfield. His guide then, after reminding him that
he had so many years befure relieved the wants of a famishing Indian
at an inn in that town, suljoined, “I that Indian; now I pay you; gv
110

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

home.” Having said this he bade him adieu, and the man joyfully re-
turned to his own house.’”

LITCHFIELD IN THE FRENCH WAR, 1755-63.

In this struggle Litchfield furnished her full quota
of men and contributed largely in means. There is
but a single list of the soldiers who went from this
town preserved. This list appears as “A Pay-Roll
for Capt. Archibald McNeile’s Company in the Second
Regiment of Connecticut Forces for the year 1762,”
which is on file in the Secretary of State’s office in
Hartford :

Archibald McNeile, captain; Isaac Moss, first lieutenant; Increase
Moseley, second lieutenant; Elisha Blinn, ensign; Thomas Catlin,
Nathaniel Taylor, Bezaleel Beebe, Hezekiah Lee, Archibald Mc-
Neile, Jr., sergeants; Roger Catlin, Wm. Driakwater, Nathan Stod-
dard, James Lassly, corporals; Daniel Barns, Jacob Bartholomew,
drummers; Charles Richards, Samuel Warner, Samuel Gibson, Jo-
seph Jones, John Barrett, John Barrett, Jr., William Forster, Francis
Mazuzan, Thomas Wedge, Reuben Smith, Jeremiah Osborn, Benja-
min Landon, Isaac Osborn, Benjamin Bissell, David Nichols, Icha-
bod Squire, Comfort Jackson, Elisha Walker, Amos Brougton, Na-
thaniel Lewis, Levi Bonny, Thomas Barker, Samuel Drinkwater,
Asahel Gray, Eliakim Gibbs, Samuel Peet, Ephraim Smedley, Eu-
mund Hawes, Silas Tucker, Robert Bell, Thomas Sherwood, Ephraim
Knapp, Titus Tyler, Robert Coe, Adam Mott, Asabel Hinman, Roswell
Fuller, Daniel Grant, William Emons, Moses Stoddard, Gideon Smith,
Jonathan Smith, Hezekiah Leach, Adam Hurlbut, Jeremiah Harris,
Eli Emons, Alexander Waugh, Orange Stoddard, Ezekiel Shepard,
Ozias Ilurlbut, Daniel Harris, Johu Collins, Solomon Palmer, Jona-
than Phelps, John Cogswell, Mark Kenney, Aaron Thrall, Timothy
Brown, Roswell Dart, William Bulford, James Manville, Thomas
Williams, Justus Seelye, Janies Francier, George Peet, Nathaniel
Barnum, Adonijah Roice, Elisha Ingraham, Daniel Hurlbut, Ebene-
zer Blackman, Domini Douglas, Amos Tolls, Thomas Ranny, Daniel
Hamilton, Asahel Hodge, Daniel Warner, Titus Tolls, John Ripner,
Caleb Nichols, John Fryer, Ebenezer Pickett.

“Tt is not to be inferred,” says Mr. Kilbourn, “that
all the members of Capt. McNeile’s company belonged
in Litchfield. Some in the list are recognized as resi-
dents of neighboring towns. Lieut. Moseley, for in-
stance, was a Woodbury man. He became an eminent
lawyer, legislator, and judge in his native county, and
afterwards removed to Vermont, and was there ele-
vated to the bench of the Supreme Court.

“The name of the late Col. Beebe, of his town, will
be noticed among the sergeants of this company. At
a still earlier date he had been a member of Maj.
Rogers celebrated corps of Rangers, and was engaged
in one of the forest fights, when the soldiers were dis-
persed by order of their commander and each man
was directed to fight, in true Indian style, from behind
a tree. Beebe chanced to be stationed near Lieut.
Gaylord, who was also from Litchfield County. He
had just spoken to Gaylord, and at the moment was
looking him in the face for a reply, when he observed
a sudden break of the skin in the forehead, and the
lieutenant instantly fell dead,—a ball from the enemy
having passed through his head.

“The names of some of the Litchfield officers who
received commissions between the years 1755-68 are
here given, as it is known that a part of them were in
the war,—viz. :

 

Solomon Buel, captain, 1756; Ebenezer Marsh, coloncl, 1757; Isaac
Baldwin, captain, 1757; Joshua Smith, lieutenant, 1757; Abner
Baldwin, ensigns ; Archibald McNeile, captain, 1758 ; Zebulon Gibbs,
ensign, 1758; Stephen Smith, lieutenant, 1760; Eli Catlin, lieutenant,
1760; Isaac Moss, lieutenant, 1761 ; Josiah Smith, lieutenant, 1761 Asa
Hopkins, lieutenant, 1761; Gideon Harris, ensign, 1761; David Lan-
don, ensign, 1761; Lynde Lord, ensign, 1762.

“Zebulon Gibbs was in the northern army from
1756 to 1762. In March, 1758, he was commissioned
as ensign in Capt. Hurlbut’s company, which was
raised as a part of the force designed for the capture
of Crown Point.”

 

CHAPTER X.
t
LITCHFIELD (Continued).

First Indication of Revolutionary Spirit in Litchfield—Letter of Aaron
Burr—The First Company of Suldiers—Capt. Bezaleel Beebe—The
Bowling Green Statue of George III. Demolished—Carried to Litch-
field—Converted into Curtridges—Continental Stores—Army Work-
shops—Prisoners of War—Arrest of David Matthews, Mayor of New
York—Conveyed to Litchfield—Governor Franklin a Prisoner here—
Visit of Count Rochambeau and Gen. Lafayette—Gen. Washington
Visits the Village—Various Votes of the Town—Rev, Judah Chan-
pion’s Prayer—Resident British Soldiers—Incidents, etc., etc.

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.*

THE first indication of the rising spirit of revolu-
tion in this town is contained in the following docu-
ment, which emanated from a town-meeting held Aug.
17, 1774, of which Oliver Wolcott was moderator:

“The Inhabitants of Litchfield in legal Town Meeting assembled on
the 17th day of August, A.D. 1774, taking into consideration the distress
tu which the Poor of the Town of Boston may likely be reduced by the
operation of an Act of the British Parliament for Blocking up their Port ,
and @teply commiserating the unhappiness of a brave and loyal People,
who are thus eminently suffering in a General Cause for vindicating
what every virtuous American considers an essential Right of this
Country, think it is their indispensable Duty to afford their unhappy dis-
tressed brethren of said Town of Boston all reasonable Aid and Support.
And this they are the more readily induced to do, not only as the In-
habitants of said Town are thus severely condemned for their reluctance
to submit to an arbitrary, an unconsented to, and consequently uncon-
stitutional Taxation, but the whole of the great and loyal Province of
the Massachusetts Bay have been condemned unheard, in the loss of their
Charter Privileges, by the heretofore unknown and unbeard of exertions
of Parliamentary Power, which they conceive is a power claimed and
exercised in such a manner as cannot fail of striking every unprejudiced
mind with Horror and Amazement as being subversive of all those in-
herent essential and constitutional Rights and Privileges which the
good people of this Colony have ever held sacred and even dearer than
Life itself, nor ever can wish to survive ; not only every idea of Property,
but every emolument of civil life being thereby rendered precarious and
uncertain,

“In full confidence, therefore, that no Degree of Evil thus inflicted on
said Town and Province will ever induce them to give up or betray theit
own and the American Constitutional Rights and Privileges, especially
as they cannot but entertain the most pleasing Expectations that the
Comniittees of the several North American Provinces, who are soon to
meet at Philadelphia, will in their wisdom beable to point out a Method
of Conduct effectual for obtaining Redress of their grievances,—a Method
to which (when once agreed upon by said Committee) this Town will
look upon it their duty strictly to attend. And in the mean time earn
estly recommend that subscriptions be forthwith opened in this Town, under

SP peng

 

* This chapter is compiled. mainly from the late Payne Kenyon Kil
bourne's “ History of Litchfield,” and Hon. Geo. C. Woodrufi’s “ Histor!
cal Address,” delivered in 1876.
LITCHFIELD.

111

 

the care of Reuben Smith, Esq., Capt. Lynde Lord, and Mr. William
Stanton, who are hereby appuinted a Committee to receive and forward
to the Selectmen of Boston, for the use of the Poor in that place, al]
such Donations as shall be thereupon made for that purpose, and also to
correspond with the Committee of Correspondence there or elsewhere,
as there may be occasion.

“We also take this opportunity publicly to return our thanks to the
members of the Honorable House of Representatives of this Colony, for
their patriotic and loyal Resolutions passed and published in the Jast As-
sembly on the occasion, and order them to be entered at large on the
Public Records of this Town, that succeeding ages may be faithfully fur-
nished with authentic Credentials of our inflexible attachment to those
inestimable Privileges which we and every honest American glory in
esteeming our unalienable Birthright and Inheritance.”

At the annual town-meeting held December 6, 1774, it was voted,
“That the Honorable Oliver Wolcott, Esq., and Messrs. Jedediah Strong,
Jacob Woodruff, John Marsh, John Osborn, Jehiel Parmelee, Abraham
Bradley, Seth Bird, Archibald McNeile, Abraham Kilbourn, Nathan

Garnsey, James Morris, and Ebenezer Benton be a Committee for the.

Purposes mentioned in the Eleventh Article of the Association Agree-
ment of the Grand Continental Congress in Philadelphia, 5th of Septem-
ber last, and approved, adopted, and recommended by the General As-
sembly of this Colony at their session in October last.”

“The ‘Eleventh Article of the Association Agree-
ment’ here referred to provides for the appointment
of ‘Committees of Inspection’ in each city and town,
‘whose business it shall be attentively to observe the
conduct of all persons touching this Association ; and
when it shall be made to appear that any person has
violated its articles, they are to cause their names to
be published in the Gazette, to the end that all such
foes to the Rights of British America may be publicly
known and universally contemned as the enemies of
American Liberty, and thenceforth we break off all
dealings with him or her.’ Committees of Inspection
were also appointed at the annual. town-meeting in
1775 and 1776. In addition to the above, the follow-
ing persons were appointed, viz.: Messrs. Reuben
Smith, Lynde Lord, Andrew Adams, Archibald Mc-
Neile, Jr., Moses Sanford, Tapping Reeve, Jonathan
Mason, Caleb Gibbs, Nathaniel Woodruff, William
Stanton, and Nathaniel Goodwin.

“The celebrated Aaron Burr (afterwards Vice-
President of the United States) became intimately
associated with Litchfield during this period. He
graduated at Princeton College in October, 1772, and
in the following June his only sister, Sarah Burr,
became the wife of Tapping Reeve, Esq., of this town.

“In May, 1774,” says his biographer,* “ he left the Rev. Mr. Bellamy’s,
and went to the house of his brother-in-law, Tapping Reeve, where his
time was occupied in reading, principally history, but especially those
portions of it which related to wars, battles, and sieges, which tended to
inflame his natural military ardor. The absorbing topics of taxation and
the rights of the people were agitating the then British Colonies from
one extreme to the other. These subjects, therefore, could not pass un-
noticed by a youth of the inquiring mind and ardent feelings of Burr.
Constitutional law, and the relative rights of the crown and the cvlo-
nists, were examined with all the acumen which he possessed, and he
became a Whig from reflection and conviction, as well as from feeling.”

“ Burr remained in Litchfield on this occasion some-
thing overa year. The letters written by him while
here contain frequent allusions to local matters and
to individuals (especially the young ladies) residing

 

* Davis, i. 46.

 

in the place. In a communication to Matthias Ogden
(dated at Litchfield, Aug. 17, 1774) he says,—

<“ Before I proceed further, let me tell you that a few days ago a mobof
several hundred persons gathered at Barrington, and tore down the
house of a man who was suspected of being unfriendly to the liberties of
the people; broke up the court then sitting at that place, etc. As many
of the rioters belonged to this colony, and the Supreme Court was then
sitting at this place, the sheriff was immediately despatched to appre-
hend the ringleaders. He returned yesterday with eight prisoners, who
were taken without resistauce. But this minute there are entering the
town on horseback, with great regularity, about fifty men, armed each
with a white club; and I observe others continually dropping in. Ishall
here leave a blank to give you (perhaps in heroics) a few sketches of
my wnexampled valor should they proceed to hostilities; and should
they not, I can tell you what I would have done.”

After the “blank,” the young hero adds

_ “The above-mentioned sneaks.all gave Londs for their appearance to
stand a trial at the next court for committing a riot.”

“While Burr remained at the house of Judge Reeve
he was startled by the news of the battle of Lexing-
ton, which took place on the 19th of April, 1775.
Immediately thereafter he addressed a letter to his
friend Ogden, urging him to come to Litchfield and
make arrangements with him for joining the stand-
ard of their country. The battle of Bunker Hill soon
followed (June 16th). As Ogden could not come at
once to Litchfield, Burr started for Elizabethtown,
N. J., to assist his friend in arranging for a speedy
trip to Cambridge, where the American army was then
encamped. In July they reached Cambridge, and in
September Burr enlisted as a private soldier in Ar-
nold’s expedition through the wilderness to Quebec.
It may be added that Litchfield was Col. Burr’s recog-
nized home for some half-dozen years.

“On the morning of the 10th of May, 1775, Col.
Ethan Allen, a native of Litchfield, at the head of
his brave Green Mountain Boys, surprised and cap-
tured the fortress of Ticonderoga. Several of this
little band of heroes were born and bred in this vi-

 

+On the 27th of January, 1776, Judge Reeve wrote to Burr thus:
“Amid the lamentations for the loss of a brave, enterprising general
[Montgomery], your escape from such imminent danger to which you
lhave been exposed has affurded us the greatest satisfaction. The news
of the unfortunate attack upon Quebec arrived among us on the 13th of
this month. I concealed it from your sister until the 18th, when she
found it out; but in less than half an hour I received letters from Al-
bany acquainting me that you were in safety, and had gained great
honor by your intrepid conduct. . . . It was happy for us that we did
not know you were an aid-de-camp until we heard of your welfare; for
we heard that Montgomery and his aids were killed, without knowing
who his aids were. Your sister enjoys a middling state of health. She
has many anxious hours on your acconut; but she tells me that, as she
believes you may serve the country in the business in which you are now
employed, she is contented that you should remaininthearmy. It must
be an exalted public spirit that could produce such an effect upon a sis-
ter as affectionate as yours.”

For several months in 1781, Mrs. Theodocia Provost (the dashing young
widow of Colonel Provost, of the British Army) was a resident ot Litch-
field; and a few of her letters written from this placo are preserved in
Davis’ life of Burr, vol. i. pp. 224-227. She became the wife of Burr,
July 2, 1782.

Aaron Burr became aid-de-camp to General Washington, Attorney-
General of the State of New Yurk, United States Senator, and in 1801
was a candidate with Jefferson fur tho Presidency of the United States,
the two receiving an equal number of electoral votes, After an exciting
contest of several days in the United States House of Representatives,
Jefferson was chosen President, and Burr Vice-President.
112 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

cinity. Lieut. Crampton, who entered the fort by the
side of Allen, was also a native of this town, and had
resided here during a large part of his life. On this
occasion was captured the first British flag that fell
into the hands of the Americans in the Revolutionary
contest! The magnitude and importance of this ex-
ploit will be better understood, when considered in
connection with the vast amount of time, and treas-
ure and blood, which the fortress had cost the Brit-
ish government. The day following the capture of
Ticonderoga the garrison at Crown Point, with all its
military stores, was surrendered to Col. Warner, a na-
tive of Roxbury, in this county.

“In January, 1776, Capt. Bezaleel Beebe, of Litch-
field, received orders to enlist a company for the de-
fense of New York. The tidings spread rapidly
throughout the town, and awakened anew the enthu-
siasm of the Whigs. A veteran who died within the
last few years stated that when the intelligence
reached him he started on a run for the captain’s
headquarters, fearing the roll would be full before he
could reach there. Capt. Beebe’s orders reached him
on a Sunday, and by the following Saturday the
company had been raised, armed, and equipped, and
were on their march towards Fairfield. The following
paper, with the names attached, is inserted here for
preservation :

“We, the Subscribers, being convinced of the Necessity of a body of
Forces to defeat certain Wicked Purposes formed by the instruments of
Ministerial Tyranny, do solemnly engage ourselves aud enlist as Private
Soldiers, in a Regiment to be Commanded by Colonel ANDREW WaRD, Jr.,
under the command of Major-General Leg, for the Term of Eight Weeks
at the utmost from the Day we March from Fairfield, which is the place
of Rendezvous; the Honorable Major-General Lee having given his
Word and Honor that we shall not be Detained a single Day after said

Term, Dated at Litchfield, 21st day of January, 1776.

“Lieut. Jonathan Mason,

Briant Stoddard,
James Woodruff,
Oliver Woodruff,
Phineas Goodwin,
Zebulon Bissell,
Benjamin Taylor,
Moses Taylor,
Frederick Stanley,
James Crampton,
Caleb Munson,
Abraham Wadhams,
Martin Nash,
Oliver Griswold,
Zadock Gibbs, Jr.,
Josiah Bartholomew,
Jesse Stanley,
Elisha Mayo,
Nathaniel Newell,
Luman Bishop,
Asaph Benham,
Joseph Finney,
Zeledee Sturtevant,
Martin Curtiss,
Levi Swan,

Joel Barnes,

Peleg Holmes,
Alexander Sackett,

“Sergt. Benjamin Bissell,

Elihu Harrison,
Roger N. Whittlesey,
Charles Woodruff, Jr.,
Joseph Sanford,
Stephen Brown,
William Patterson,
John Lyman,

Obed Stoddard,

T. Weed,

George Dear,
Jacob Gaylord,
Elihu Grant,
Abram Beach,
Ichabod Tuttle,
Chauncey Beach,
George Dear, Jr.,
Adino Hale,

Allen Lucas,
William Starr,
Heber Gilbert, Jr.,
Zebulon Palmer,
Joseph Peters,
Truman Gilbert,
Heman Brown,
Luther Comstock,
Daniel Swan.”

“Those who have a knowledge of the leading men
of Litchfield County from forty to seventy years ago

will recognize in the above list the names of many of

 

her most prominent and influential citizens,—men of
wealth and enterprise, who, though surrounded by
the endearments of domestic life, voluntarily enlisted
as private soldiers in that dangerous expedition. The
roll as here given is not complete. About two-thirds
of the persons named in the list belonged to this town;
the remainder were from Goshen, Torrington, and War-
ren. They were all enlisted from the 21st to the 25th
of January, 1776. The names of a few additional
members of this company may be gleaned from the

following appraisal :
“ LITCHFIELD, 26th January, 1776,
“We, being requested to apprise the Arms belonging to Capt. Bezaleel
Beebe's Company, in Col. Andrew Ward’s Regiment, going on an expe.
dition to New York under the command of Gen. Charles Lee—we accord-
ingly apprized the same, being first duly sworn, viz. :
Elihu Harrison’s Gun, Bayonet and Cartridge Box, in his own hands.
[Figures omitted.]
Roger N. Whittlesey’s Gun in the hands of Briant Stoddard.
Joseph Sanford's Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands.
Nathaniel Allen’s Gun, Bayonet and Belt in his own hands,
Obed Stoddard’s Gun, Bayonet, Cartridge box and belt.
Joshua Smith's Gun in his own hands.
Zebulon Bissell’s Gun in his own hands.
James Woodruff’s Gun carried by Stephen Brown.
Phineas Goodwin’s Gun, bayonet and belt.
Whiting Stanley’s Gun carried by James Crampton.
Oliver Woodruff’s Gun carried by himself.
Hezekiah Agard’s Gun carried by John Lyman.
Jedediah Strong’s Gun, bayonet and belt carried by William Patterson.
Lieut. Jonathan Mason’s Cartridge box.
Samuel Canfield’s Gun carried by himself.
Noah Garnsey’s Gun carried by T. Weed.
Sergt. Benjamin Bissell’s Gun and Bayonet carried by himself.
Asa Osborn’s Gun and Cartridge box carried by himself.
Jedediah Strong’s Gun carried by Benjamin Taylor.
Jedediah Strong’s Gun carried by Frederick Stanley.
Reuben Smith, Esq's, Gun, Bayonet, Case and Belt carried by Capt.
Beebe.
Capt. John Osborn’s Gun carried by Moses Taylor.

“ ABRAHAM BRADLEY, Appraisers on

“Tomas CaTLIN, Oath.”

“QBED STODDER,

“Tn May, 1776, a regiment was ordered to be raised
for the defense of the State, ‘to be subject to join the
Continental army, if so ordered by the Governor’
Captain Beebe was appointed to the command of one
of the companies of this regiment, with Jesse Cook
for first lieutenant, and James Watson for second
lieutenant. Lieut, Watson was soon transferred to
another corps, and John Smith, of Litchfield, was
commissioned in his place. The following is a com-
plete list of the officers and soldiers of this company:

Bezaleel Beebe, captain; Jesse Cook, John Smith, lieutenants; Wait
Beach, ensign; Levi Peck, Cotton Mather, Heber Stone, Solomon
Goodwin, sergeants; Samuel Cole, Ezekiel Bissell, Elijah Loomis,
David Hall, corporals; Joel Taylor, drummer; Epaphras Wade
worth, fifer; Nathaniel Allen, Cyrenius Austin, Enos Austin, Joseph
Austin, Andrew Austin, Elihu Beach, Barnias Beach, Zebulon Bis-
sell, James Beach, Asa Brooks, Daniel Benedict, Samuel Baldwin,
Elisha Brownson, Benjamin Bissell, Daniel Barns, Ebenezer Bacon,
Noah Beach, Elisha Bissell, Frederick Bigelow, Hezekiah Bissell,
James Davis, Friend Dickinson, Jesse Dickinson, Solomon Dickin-
son, Ebenezer Dimon, Gershom Fay, Remembrance Filley, Joel
Frost, John German, Phineas Goodwin, Beriah Birge, James Birge,
Noadiah Bancroft, Ithamar Gibbs, Moore Gibbs, Samuel Gleason,
Isaac Housford, Abraham Haskins, Amos Johnson, Charles Kilbourn,
Henry McIntire, Thomas Mason, Oliver Marshall, Timothy Marsh,
Alexander McNiel, Ebenezer Landon, Remembrance Loomis, James
LITCHFIELD.

113

 

Little, John Lyman, Noah North, David Olmsted, Ethan Osborn,
John Parmeley, Solomon Parmeley, Joseph Goodwin, Benjamin
Gibbs, Gershom Gibbs, Henry Plumb, Eliphaz Parsons, Joseph San-
ford, Frederick Stanley, Timothy Stanley, Jared Stewart, Joseph
Spencer, Daniel Smith, Aaron Stoddard, Ira Stone, John Strong,
Peleg Sweet, Stephen Taylor, Joseph Taylor, Samuel Vaill, Jeremiah
Weed, John Weed, Gideon Wilcoxson, John Whiting, Oliver Wood-
ruff.

“These names are copied from the account-book and
billet-roll preserved among the papers of Col. Beebe.
From various accounts and memoranda found in these
papers, we are able to gather certain facts in the his-
tory of some of these soldiers. Thus:

* August 9, To cash paid for coffin for Ira Stone;” Sept. 7, “ Lieut. John
Smith was discharged from the army in New York ;” “ John German was
dismissed from my company by order of a General Court Martial, July 9,
1776;” “Aug. 9, James Beach died about 8 o'clock in the morning;”
“Sept. the 5th, 10 o'clock at night, Samuel Gleason died ;” in the account
with Joel Taylor—‘“ Paid ove dollar to Zebulon Taylor to deliver to the
mother of the above Joel Taylor, deceased, it being cash that was with
bim when he died;” “Sept. 27,1777, Received of Capt. Beebe 22 shillings

for mileage from Philadelphia to Litchfield. (Signed) Abraham Has-
kins.”

“ From the account of Gershom Gibbs:

“Received of Capt. Beebe three dollars that belonged to my husband and
son, Which was part of the money cent to them whilst prisoners in New
York. (Signed) Tabitha Gibbs.”

“From the account of ‘Nathaniel Allen:

“Sept. 27,1777, To cash left with Joseph A gard to be paid to Mrs. Allen,
that was left with me when Mr. Allen died.”

“From the account with Phineas Goodwin:
“To back rations 16 days at Fort Washington,” &c.

The fate of some of these individuals, together with
that of many others belonging to this company, will
be more fully explained in the narrative which fol-
lows: :

“About the 1st of November, 1776, thirty-six
picked men (all of whose names are given in the pre-
ceding roll) were placed under the command of Capt.
Beebe and sent to Fort Washington to aid in its
defense. This fort was captured by the enemy, and
Capt. Beebe’s company, with the rest of the garrison,
were crowded, with hundred of others, into the sugar-
house and on board the prison-ships; without air or
water, and for the first two days without food, conta-
gion and death were the natural consequences. The
dysentery, smallpox, and other terrible diseases broke
out among them, and very few of the whole number
survived the terrible ordeal.

“On the 27th of December, 1776, an exchange of
prisoners took place. Only eleven of Capt. Beebe’s
company were able to sail for Connecticut,—viz.,
Marsh, Woodruff, R. Loomis, B. Beach, N. Beach,
Marshall, Brownson, Bissell, Little, Benedict, and Ma-
son. Six of these died on their way home,—viz.,
Bissell, Brownson, B. Beach, Marsh, Marshall, and
Loomis. The remainder of those who were living at
that date, being too ill to be removed, were left be-
hind, where all (except Sergt. Mather) died within a
few days, most of them with the smallpox. Here
follow the names of these ‘ picked men.’ The notes

 

prefixed appear to have been added by Capt. Beebe
at the different periods corresponding with the dates:

“AN ACCOUNT OF THE PRISONER'S NAMES AND PLACES OF
CONFINEMENT.

Sergt. Cotton Mather—returned home.
Sergt. David Hall—died of the smallpox on bvuard the ‘ Grosvenor,’ Dec.
11, 1776.
Elijah Loomis—died.
Gershom Gibbs—died on board the ship, Dec. 29, 1776,
Timothy Stanley—died on board the ship, Dec. 26, 1776,
Amos Johnson—died Dec. 26, 1776.
Timothy Marsh—died on his way home.
Barnias Beach—died on his way home.
Samuel Vaill—died on board the ‘ Grosvenor,’ Dec. 27, 1776.
Nathaniel Allen—died of smallpox, Jan. 1, 1777.
Enos Austin—died of the smallpox, Dec. 4, 1776, in the evening.
Gideon Wilcoxson—died.
Thomas Mason—reached home.
Alexander McNiel—died.
Daniel Smith—died in New York, of smallpox, Jan. 1, 1777.
Noah Beach—reached home.
Daniel Benedict—reached home.
Isaac Gibbs—died Jan. 15, 1777.
OHver Marshall—died on his way home.
Solomon, Parmeley—went on board the ship, and I fear he is drowned,
as I cannot find him.
David Olmsted—died Jan. 4, 1777.
Jared Stuart—died Jan. 26, J777, in the morning.
John Lyman—died Jan. 26, 1777.
Elisha Brownson—died on his way home.
[The above Prisoners are at Livingston's Sugar-House.]
Zebulon Bissell—died in Woodbury, on his way home.
Aaron Stoddard—died Jan. 12, 1777.
John Parmeley—died Jan. 15, 1777.
Joel Taylor—died Jan. 9, 1777.
James Little—reached home.
Phineas Goodwin—died Jan. 5, 1777.
[The above at the Church called the North Church.]
Oliver Woodruff—reached home.
Remembrance Loomis—died on his way home.
[The above at Bridewelb.]
“The above prisoners belong to Capt. Beebe’s company, Col. Bradley’s
regiment.
Corp. Samuel Cole,
Jeremiah Weed,
Joseph Spencer,
John Whiting,

Were either killed or made their escape from
Fort Washington, on the 16th of November, 1776.”

“Probably no similar instance of mortality oc-
curred during the entire war. Only six survivors out
of a company of thirty-six hale and hearty young
men is a percentage of loss rarely reached even in
the most fatal engagements. But few, if any, of these
men were slain in battle. They died miserable deaths
from cold, hunger, thirst, suffocation, disease, and the
vilest cruelty from those to whom they had surren-
dered their arms on a solemn promise of fair and
honorable treatment. Well might Ethan Allen (a
professed infidel), with clinched teeth, exclaim to
Capt. Beebe, as he did on one occasion, ‘I confess my
faith in my own creed is shaken; there ought to be a
hell for such infernal scoundrels as that Lowrie!’ re-
ferring to the officer in charge of the prisoners.

“Capt. Beebe, in consideration of his office, was
allowed the limits of the city on his parole of honor,
but was compelled to provide himself with food,
lodging, and shelter. He was accustomed to visit his
men daily, so long as any remained, and did what-
ever he was allowed to do to alleviate their wretched
114

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

condition. He was not exchanged with the other
prisoners, but was detained within the ‘limits’ for
nearly a year at his own expense. During much of
this time Col. Allen was held in New York as a pris-
oner of war, and, before the remnant of the Litchfield
soldiers were exchanged, these. two gallant officers
often met for consultation.

“In June, 1776, the general assembly ordered six
battalions to be raised in this State and marched di-
rectly to New York, there to join the Continental
army. A company was raised in Litchfield for this
service, of which Abraham Bradley was captain ;
Tilley Blakesley, first lieutenant; Thomas Catlin,
second lieutenant; and James Morris, Jr., ensign.

“Before the Revolution,” says Mr. Gibbs, in his ‘ History of the Ad-
ministrations of Washington and Adams,’ “‘a leaden equestrian statue of
George III. stood in the Bowling Green, in the city of New York. At
the breaking out of the war this was overthrown, and lead being highly
valuable, was sent to Gen. Wolcott's, at Litchfield, for safe keeping,
where, in process of time, it was cut up and run into bullets by his
daughters and their friends.”

In a paper read before the New York Historical
Society, by the author above quoted, in October, 1844,
he gives a curious and interesting history of this
statue, from which the following extracts are made:

“ACCOUNT OF THE STATUE OF GEORGE III,
STANDING ON THE BOWLING GREEN, NEW YORK.

“Most of the members ure probably aware that an equestrian statue

of King George III. stood upon the Bowling Green, in this city, prior to’

the Revolution, and was overthrown soon after its commencement. I
believe, however, that its subsequent fate has never been recorded, and
having in my possession a paper giving authentic information on the
subject, I have supposed that the royal effigy might be worth a brief
obituary.

“Hoit’s (New York) Gazette, as quoted by Mr. Dunlap, gives the fol-
lowing notice of its erection:

“* August 21st, 1770, being the birth-day of Prince Frederick, the father
of George III., an elegant Equestrian Statue of his present Majesty,
George III., was erected in the Bowling Green, near Fort George. On
this occasion the members of his Majesty's Council, the City Corpor-
ation, the Corporation of the Chamber of Commerce, the Corporation of
the Marine Society, and most of the gentlemen of the City and Army,
waited on his Honor, the Lieutenant-Governor Colden, in the Fort, at
his request; when his Majesty’s and other loyal healths were drunk
under a discharge of thirty-two pieces of cannon from the Battery, ac-
companied with a band of music. This beautiful Statue is made of
metal [Dunlap says, by way of parenthesis, ‘the writer did not like to
say what metal represented his royal majesty, the best of kings—it was
lead’), being the first equestrian one of his present Majesty, and is the
workmanship of that celebrated statuary, Mr. Wilton, of London,’

“Symptoms of disloyalty, betokening revolution, I suppose, soon

manifested themselves in the rude treatment of the effigy, for on the 6th:

of February, 1773, an act was passed ‘to prevent the defacing of statues
which are erected in the city of New York.’

“Upon the above account Mr. Dunlap observes, ‘This statue stood
till some time in 1776. I saw itin 1775. In 1776 it was thrown down,
and tradition says converted into bullets to resist his gracious majesty’s
soldiers when sent to enfurce the doctrine of ‘the sovereignty of the
British Parliament over the colonies in all cases whatsoever’—the doc-
trine of Mr. Pitt, Lord Chatham, which he died in an effort to enforce
The pedestal stood until long after the Revolution. No fragment of the
horse or his rider was ever seen after its overthrow, and so completely

had the memory of the event been lost, that I huve never found a person’

who could tell ne on what occasion it was ordered, or when placed in
the Bowling Green.

“Some cotemporary notices of the destruction of this effigy have been
pointed out to me, which I will cite. The first is from a book of general
orders issued by Washington, the original o 4 which is in the possession
of this society. It is as follows:

FORMERLY

 

“July 10.—Though the General doubts not the persona who pulled
down and mutilated the statue in Broadway last night acted in the
public cause, yet it has so much the appearance of riot and waut of order
in the army that he disapproves of the manner, and directs that in future
these things shall be avoided by the soldiery and left to be executed by
proper authority.’

“The next is ina letter from Ebenezer Hazard to Gen. Gates, dated July
12, 1776, which will be found among the Gates papers, and in the society’s
collection, and is as follows :

“¢ The King of England’s arms have been burned in Philadelphia, and
his statue here has been pulled down to make musket balls of, so that
his troops will probably have melted majesty fired at them.’

“ Another is in a letter from New York, of July 11, 1776, published in
the New Hampshire Gazette of the 27th:

“Last Monday evening the Equestrian Statue of George III., with
tory prido and fully raised in the year 1770, was, by the Sons of Freedom,
laid prostrate in the dust—the just desert of an ungrateful tyrant. The
lead wherewith this’ monument is made is to be run into bullets, to
assimilate with the brains of our infatuated adversaries, who, to gain a
peppercorn, have lost an empire. A gentleman who was present at the
ominous fall of bis leaden majesty, looking back to the original's hopeful
beginning, pertinently exclaimed in the language of the angel to Lu-
cifer, ‘If thou be’est he, but ah how fallen! how changed !’

“Mr. Stephens* (Incidents of Travel in Russia, etc., vol. ii. p. 23) men-
tions having met with a curious memorial of its destruction, and at an
out-of-the-way place. This was a gaudy and flaring engraving in a black
wooden frame, representing the scene of its destruction, which he found
in a tavern at Chiojf, in Russia. ‘The grouping of picture,’ he says,
‘was rude and grotesque, the ringleader being a long negro stripped to
his trowsers, and straining with all his might upon a rope, one end of
which was fastened to the head of the statue and the other tied around
his own waist, his white teeth and the whites of his eyes being particu-
larly conspicuous on a heavy ground of black.’ How this picture found
its way to Russia it would be difficult to imagine; it would certainly be
not less a curiosity here than there.

“The document I have mentioned gives an account of its remaining
history in a shape which history seldom assumes, that of an account cur-
rent. It is preserved among the papers of Gen. (afterwards Governor)
Wolcott of Connecticut. It is a statement of the number of cartridges
made from the materials of the statue by the young ladies of Litchfield,
and is in these words:

 

 

   

 

Cartridges.
“¢Mrs. Marvin .......08
a “on former accoun
6,058
Ruth Marvin, on former account. :
Not sent to court-house, 449 pac!
— 11,592
Laura, on former account.. 250
Not sent to court-house, 344 packs.
— 8,78
~ Mary Ann, on former account........cc.0 ceseeeusee 5762
Not sent to the court-house, 119 packs, out of
which I let Col. Perley Howe have 3 packs.. 5028
’ 10,790
Frederick, on former account......
Not sent to court-house, 19 packs. re

 

Mrs. Beach's two accounts..
Made by sundry persons....
Gave Litchfield militia, on alarm
Let the regiment of Col. Wigglesworth

  
  

 

Cartridges, No.
Overcharged i in Mrs, “Beach's account

 

42,088"

“The original document is in Gen. Wolcott’s hand-
writing, and is indorsed ‘number of cartridges made.’
There is no date to it, nor is there mention made by
him of the fact of their being made from the statue;
but a memorandum added by his son, the last Gover-
nor Wolcott, explains it as follows:

“N, B.—An equestrian statue of George the Third of Great Britain

was erected in the city of New York, on the Bowling Green, at the lower
end of Broadway. Most of the materials were lead, but richly gilded to

 

* John L. Stephens, the celebrated traveler, was a graduate of the
Litchfield Law School.
LITCHFIELD.

115

 

resemble gold. At the beginning of the Revolution this statue was
overthrown. Lead then being scarce and dear, the statue was broken in
pieces, and the metal transported to Litchfield as a place of safety. The
ladies of the village converted the lead into cartridges, of which the
preceding is an account. 0. W.

“The Mrs. and Miss Marvin and Mrs. Beach, men-
tioned in the paper, belonged to families who yet re-
side in Litchfield; the other persons named were the
two daughters and youngest son of Gen. Wolcott.”

“A few miscellaneous facts relating to Litchfield
men are here introduced nearly in chronological
order.

“Tt should have been mentioned previously that
Capt. David Welch, of Litchfield, commanded a
company that was called into active service early in
1775, and in April of that year he was commissioned
as major in Col. Hinman’s regiment. He served
throughout the war, and was an efficient and popular
officer. During this year, also, Jedediah Strong was
appointed a commissary to purchase horses for the
army, and Oliver Wolcott was chosen a member of
the Continental Congress. Fisher Gay, of Farming-
ton (a native of this town), was one of the lieutenant-
colonels appointed and commissioned at the special
session of the Legislature held in March.

“In May, 1776, Amos Parmeley was allowed by
the Assembly £14 11s, 1d. lawful money ‘ for nursing
his sick son, John, who was a soldier in Maj. Welch’s
company, Gen. Wooster’s regiment, in the Northern
army, in 1775.’
in captivity in New York, in January, 1777. Jede-
diah Strong was appointed commissary for the pur-
chase of clothing, and on a committee to exchange
bills of credit for specie.

“On the 4th of July, Oliver Wolcott appended his
name to the’ Declaration of Independence.
he was reappointed a member of the Continental
Congress.

“Drs. Reuben Smith and Seth Bird were appointed
by the Legislature, in October, on a committee ‘to
examine all persons in this State that should be of-
fered as surgeons or surgeons’ mates in the Contj-
nental army, and, if found qualified, to give them
certificates.’

“ Andrew Adams was appointed, with others, to
cause the arrest of all suspected persons, and those
dangerous to the liberties of America.

“In December the Legislature appointed Tapping
Reeve and Lynde Lord on a committee to ‘rouse
and animate the people,’ and endeavor to procure the
enlistment of volunteers for Washington’s army. A
company was forthwith raised in Litchfield, and the
following officers were commissioned: Nathaniel
Goodwin, captain; Alexander Waugh, lieutenant ;
and Ozias Goodwin, ensign. At the same session
Col. Wolcott was promoted to the rank of brigadier-
general, and given the command of the Fourth Bri-
gade.

“The last Governor Wolcott (then a student at
Yale College) was in Litchfield at the time of the

This is the John Parmeley who died’

In October:

 

Danbury alarm. Awakened at midnight by the
summons to repair to the rendezvous of the militia,
he armed himself; his mother, furnishing his knap-
sack with provisions and a blanket, hastened his de-
parture, and dismissed him with the charge ‘to con-
duct like a good soldier.’ He, with the other volun-
teers from this town, participated in the skirmish at
Wilton, as well as in the subsequent attacks during
the retreat of the British from the burning of Dan-
bury.

“ arly in 1777 orders were issued for raising eight
battalions in Connecticut for the Continental service,
‘to serve for three years or during the war.’ Ninety-
two of the soldiers for these battalions were ordered
to be raised in Litchfield. In April, of this year, the
town voted to pay out of the treasury to each soldier
that should enlist for the full term specified, the sum of
£12 per annum, in addition to the pay they might re-
ceive from the State or general governments. Theselect-
men were at the same time directed to lay a tax for the
purpose designated, and Messrs. Miles Bach, Leman
Stone, Moses Barns, and Stephen Bidwell were ap-
pointed collectors.

“A letter written by Dr. Reuben Smith, of Litch-
field, dated May 12, 1777, relating to the Danbury
alarm, states-that

“Sunday morning, 27th April, about one o'clock, we were alarmed ;
our people turned out spiritedly; came up with the enemy next day a

little below Wilton meeting-house, and pursued them aboard their ships.
Paul Peck was killed in the last attack on the enemy.’

“Tt is stated that on this occasion fourteen men,
the last in Litchfield capable of bearing arms, were
started at midnight to aid in repulsing the enemy.

“Of Paul Peck, alluded to in the letter of Dr.
Smith, it is recorded

“¢That he was the most expert hunter of the time in which he lived.
At the Danbury alarm he put his long gun in order and followed the
enemy to Compo on their retreat, and took a station behind a stone wall.

Every shot told uutil he was rushed upon by the enemy, who took his
gun from him and dashed his brains out with it.’

“He was killed April 28, 1777, aged seventy-five
years.

“ During the war Litchfield was a place of deposit
for provisions and other Continental stores. Work-
shops for the army were established here. Prisoners
of war were here confined.

“On the 21st of June, 1776, David Matthews, the
English mayor of New York, was arrested by order
of Gen. Washington, in pursuance of authority from
the New York committee, for dangerous designs and
treasonable conspiracies. He was sent to Litchfield
for safe custody, and while here he wrote to Mrs.

-Matthews, at Flatbush, a letter, dated Litchfield,

Aug. 12, 1776, in which he says,—

«¢ Ever since my arrival here I have been at the house of Capt. Moses
Seymour, who, together with his wife, have behaved in the most genteel,
kind manner, and have done everything in their power to make my
time as agreeable as possible. He isa fine, merry fellow, and she isa warm
Protestant; and if it was not the thoughts of home were continually in
m, mind, I might be happy with my good landlord and his family,
116

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“He adds, by way of postscript:

“The Congress were much afraid I should run away if I had my lib-
erty, but this good man with whom [I lodge, and who never heard of me
before, has such an opinion of me that he has wrote to them that he will
be answerable fur me whenever they shall call for me.’

“On the 19th of August, 1776, he was taken to
Hartford, and on the next day wrote to the secretary
of the Convention of New York a letter, dated Hart-
ford, Aug. 20, 1776, in which he says,—

“Tt is verily believed throughout this culony that I was concerned in
a plot to assassinate Gen. Washington and to blow up the magazine in
New York. . . . Solely owing to this report I have been obliged to de-
camp from Litchfield where I was stationed, and where the committee
thought my life was in imminent danger. I arrived here yesterday, und
am shunned as much as Lucifer would be. . . . Surely, if my life was to
be made a sacrifice there was a more gentlemanly way of doing it than
of being sent iuto a country to be fired at from behind a barn or stone
fence.’

“On the 22d of the same month he was reconveyed
to Litchfield. The original order of Governor Trum-
bull directs Capt. Moses Seymour to carry Mr. Mat-
thews to Litchfield and hold him in custody, permit-
ting him to walk abroad for the benefit of the air
and to attend divine worship. To his letter of the
20th, Mr. Matthews adds a postscript, dated the 22d,
saying,—

“*T am now on my march back to Litchfield again. . . . What horrid
treatment is this? Our convention say I must be confined. It is toomuch
for mortal man to bear. Iam now to stand fire at Litchfield. May God
spare my life to meet my eiemies face to face.’

“The British royalty evidently did not relish the
atmosphere of freedom prevailing at Hartford and
Litchfield. Under date Litchfield, Sept. 26, 1776, he
writes,—

“¢The committee have been compelled to request my remoyal in order
to pacify some people. They insist I can blow up this town. Oh that I
could! I would soon leave them to themselves. The sheriff has given
orders that I shall not approach the gaol, lest the doors should fly open
and the prisoners escape. I should not have returned to this cold wilder-
ness had not the sheriff of Hartford declared he must lock me up in
gaol.’

“The first pleasure-carriage brought into this town
was by him presented to Mrs. Major Seymour, and
was in use as late as A.D. 1812. The mayor’s travel-
ing-trunk is still here in the possession of the Hon.
Origen 8. Seymour, one of Maj. Seymour’s descend-
ants.

“Tt is stated in a letter received in London from
a British officer in New York, dated Dec. 2, 1776,
that

“* Honest David Matthews, the mayor, las made his escape, and arrived
here this day.’

“The tradition is that the public authorities did
not well know how to deal with his case, and that
one day when he ‘ walked abroad for the benefit of
the air’ he neglected to return, very much to the sat-
isfaction of all concerned in his detention.

“Dr. Smith, at the close of his letter of May 12,
1777, says,—

“¢Governor Franklin is confined in our gaol, and constant guard is

kept. We trust he will find it difficult to escape should he attempt
it?

 

“This gentleman was the Royal Governor of New
Jersey, and was the only son of the distinguished
Dr. Benjamin Franklin. He was accused of being a
virulent enemy of the United Colonies, and in June,
1776, Congress directed that he should be sent to
Connecticut under a guard. In July, 1776, he was
sent by Governor Trumbull to Wallingford to reside
on his parole, and was soon permitted to reside at
Middletown. But on the 30th of April, 1777, an
order from Congress was received to confine Gover-
nor Franklin without pen, ink, or paper, and directed
him to be conveyed under guard by the sheriff of
Hartford County forthwith to Litchfield jail. On the
19th of September, 1777, an order on the pay-table
was drawn in favor of Lynde Lord, Esq., for £100
towards the expense of the guard placed over Goy-
ernor Franklin. On the 15th of January, 1778, an-
other similar order was drawn in favor of Mr. Lord,
who was the sheriff of Litchfield County.

“The following account of him was published in
1856, viz.:

“*Dr. FRankLin’s ONLY Son.—While the name of Franklin has been
so prominently before the public of late in connection with the celebra-
tion at Boston, it may not be uninteresting to give some account of his
only son, William, about whom we think little is known by the commu-
nity at large. Unlike his father, whose chief claim to veneration is for
the invaluable services he rendered his country in her greatest need, the
son was from first to last 1 devoted loyalist. Before the Revolutiouary
war he held many civil and military offices of importance. At the com-
mencement of the war he held the office of Governor of New Jersey,
which appointment he received in 1763. When the difficulties between
the mother country and the colonies were coming to a crisis he threw
his whole influence in favor of loyalty, and endeavored to prevent the
Legislative Assembly of New Jersey from sanctioning the proceedings of
the General Congress of Philadelphia. These efforts, however, did but
little to stay the tide of public sentiment in favor of 1 esistance to tyranny,
and soon involved him in difficulty. He was deposed from office by
the Whigs to give place to William Livingston, and sent a prisoner to
Connecticut, where lie remained about two years. . . . In 1778 he was
exchanged, and soon after went to England. There he spent the re-
mainder of his life, receiving a pension from the British government for
the losses he had sustained by his fidelity.

“¢As might be expected, his opposition to the cause of liberty, so dear
to the heart of his father, produced an estrangement between them.
For years they had no intercourse. When, in 1784, the son wrote to his
father, in his reply Dr. Franklin says, ‘Nothing has ever hurt me s0
much, and affected me with such keen sensations, as to find myself de-
serted in my old age by my only son; and not only deserted, but to find
him taking up arms against me in a cause wherein my good fame, for-
tune, and life were all at stake.’ In his will, also, he alludes to the part
his son had acted. After making him some bequests, he adds, ‘The
part he acted against me in the lale war, which is of public notoriety,
will account for my leaving him no more of an estate he endeavored to
deprive me of.” The patriotism of the father stands forth all the brighter,
when contrasted with the desertion of the son.’

“Up to this period ‘Fair Wyoming on Susque-
hanna’s side,’ called Westmoreland, was claimed as
ours. Its jurors and justices were officers of this
county, and its civil processes were directed to the
sheriff of Litchfield County, were returned to and
decided by the courts held in this village, and are now
among our records. Settled from Connecticut, it may
be imagined what grief and consternation pervaded
us when the inhabitants of that infant settlement
were massacred by the ‘ Monster Brandt’ and his Indian
allies.
LITCHFIELD.

117

 

“During the Revolutionary war Litchfield was
visited by Count Rochambeau, in May, 1777, and by
Gen. La Fayette, as the guest of Judge Reeve. And,
according to Mr. George Gibbs, on the evening of
Saturday, Aug. 23, 1780, Gen. Washington arrived
here on his way from Hartford to West Point, and
was entertained at the hospitable mansion of Gen.
Wolcott, in South Street (now Mrs. Harney’s). He
spent the night in the village, and on the following
morning proceeded westward, arriving at West Point
about 11 o’clock on Monday morning. It was at this
time that he discovered the treason of Benedict Ar-
nold, who commanded at that post. The next year
he was here, as appears from the following extract
from his diary: ‘May 18, 1781, set out this day for
an interview at Wethersfield with Count de Rocham-
beau and Admiral Barras. 19th, breakfasted at Litch-
field.” Again he was here with Count Rochambeau.

“From 1776 to 1780, Litchfield was a depot for
military stores and provisions, which were guarded
by a considerable military force. The depot for pro-
visions stood on the premises now occupied in part by
Dr. Buel’s ‘Spring Hill,’ on North Street, where a
building was erected for that purpose sixty feet long
and two stories high. On the site of the present
court-house was erected a building of similar dimen-
sions as a depot for other military stores. A work-
shop for the army (which was also sixty feet in length
and two stories high) stood on the north side of East
Street, just west of the burying-ground. The pris-
oners of war were generally kept in the old jail, which
stood in East Street. At each of the places here
designated a military guard was stationed night and
day, the roll being called, the soldiers drilled, and
the guard set, at stated intervals, with as much pre-
cision as would have been observed by an army en-
camped in the vicinity of the enemy. The stores and
provisions deposited here were for much of the time
under the general superintendence of Commissary
William Richards, of Elizabethtown, N. J. Ashbel
Baldwin, a native of this town, graduated at Yale
College in 1776, and soon received the appointment
of quartermaster and was stationed here. He re-
mained at this post between two and three years,
when he received an honorable discharge, and was
succeeded in office by Oliver Wolcott, Jr., who gradu-
ated in 1778.

“On the 30th of June, 1777, Governor Trumbull
wrote to Gen. Wolcott, informing him that a team
would be sent to Litchfield loaded with powder, lead,
and flints, and requesting him to send a team to Salis-
bury for a load of cannon-shot to be forwarded to
Hartford by the returning teams. By a subsequent
record of the Council of Safety, it appears that on
this occasion there were sent to Litchfield seventeen
hundred pounds of gunpowder, two thousand pounds
of lead, one thousand flints, and three hundred pounds
of cannon-powder.

“On the 28d of July following, an order was drawn

 

on David Trumbull for £25 5s. 10d., in favor of John
and Daniel Dewey, ‘for carting powder and lead from
Lebanon to Litchfield.” Late in the autumn of this
year a large proportion of the military stores taken
at the capture of Burgoyne were deposited here.

“Tn August, Gen. Wolcott wrote to the Governor
and Council, stating that he had ordered all the ef-
fective men of Sheldon’s Horse and Humphreys’ regi-
ment (who had not been called to do duty under the
recent act and were liable to be called out of the
State) to march immediately to Peekskill, well pro-
vided with arms, and with forty days’ provisions. The
general’s course was approved, and an order was
directed to be drawn on the State treasurer, in his
favor, for the sum of £1000. About the same time
Sheriff Lord was’ directed to procure from the mer-
chants of Litchfield County, for the use of the army,
four hogsheads of rum, six hogsheads of sugar, and
two thousand pounds of coffee, at a stipulated price.
If the merchants refused to furnish the goods at the
price named, the sheriff was ordered to take the articles
wherever he could find them, at the appraisal of two or
three judicious freeholders, and to make return of his
doings to the Council.

“In September, Litchfield was established by the
Council as the place of rendezvous for the Sixth
Brigade, and Maj. Beebe was stationed here as the
recruiting officer of the brigade. |

“On the 7th of October, a special town-meeting
was held, of which Jacob Woodruff, Esq., was moder-
ator. At this meeting it was voted that Messrs. Lynde
Lord, Thomas Catlin, Caleb Gibbs, David Welch, and
Alexander Catlin, be a committee to purchase and
provide shirts, frocks, overalls, stockings, and shoes
for the non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the
Continental army belonging to this town, agreeable
to a resolve of His Excellency the Governor and
Council of Safety passed Sept. 12, 1777.’

“The Committee of Safety, at a session held De-
cember 4th, appointed one person in each county to
see that the clothing for the army demanded of the
several towns was forthwith provided by the select-
men; and to furnish pack-horses or other means of
transportation to convey the same to the commissary
at Middletown. Alexander Catlin, of this town, was
appointed the member of this committee for the
county of Litchfield.

“On the 10th of December the following votes
were passed in town- -meeting, Viz.:

“61, Voted, That Messrs. David Welch, Nathaniel Woodruff, Archibald
McNiel, Jr., Ebenezer Benton, and Thomas Waugh are hereby appointed
a Committee to provide for the families of soldiers according to law and
to the votes of the town.

“62. To pay the Committee a reasonable compensation for their time
and trouble.

«“¢3. That the Selectmen, together with Messrs. Tapping Reeve, Seth
Bird, Andrew Adams, Samuel. Lyman, and Lynde Lord, be a committee
to prepare, state, and present for recovery sundry matters and accounts
for money supposed to be due the town.

“¢4, That the Selectmen be empowered and desired to distribute to the
non-commissioned officers and soldiers in the Continental army belonging
118

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

to this town, and to the poor of the town, and to the families of such as
have died in the service, whether Continental or militia, or in captivity,
and to such other families in this town as are not in circumstances to
supply themselves, forty-two bushels of Sat lately brought from Boston
—in such proportion as they shall judge most suitable and right—at the
rate of ten shillings per bushel; and the residue to such as are able to
purchase the same at prime cost.’

“At a meeting of the inhabitants of Litchfield, legally warned and
convened on the 6th day of Jannary, A.D. 1778, to take into consideration
the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States of
New Hampshire, Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and Providence Plan-
tations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, ex-
hibited by the selectmen pursuant to a requisition from His Excellency,
the Governor, the said articles Leiug distinctly and repeatedly read and
considered :

“© Voted unanimously, That the said Articles of Confederation be ap-
proved, and that the Representatives of this town be instructed to use
their influence and votes in the General Assembly to invest the delegates
of this State with competent powers, in the name and behalf of this
State, in Continental Congress, to subscribe and confirm the said Articles
of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States.’

“ Andrew Adams, Esq., was moderator of the pre-
ceding meeting.

“At different dates during the continuance of the
war the following persons (in addition to those al-
ready named) were appointed to furnish clothing, etc.,
for the soldiers in the public service from this town,
and to provide for their families,—viz.: Capt. Joseph
Vaill, Arthur Emons, Phineas Baldwin (2d), Capt.
Solomon Marsh, Lieut. David Stoddard, Judson Gui-
teau, Jonathan Wright, Timothy Skinner, Gad Farn-
ham, Benjamin Webster, John Smith, Ebenezer
Plumb, and John Marsh.

“Tn March, 1780, the following inhabitants of this
town were appointed Inspectors of Provisions for the
Army,—to wit: Mr. Asahel Strong, Capt. Miles Beach,
Capt. Reuben Stone, Lieut. Thomas Catlin, Capt.
Archibald McNiel, Jr., Ensign Jonathan Wright,
Mr. Abel Camp, Jr., Lieut. Lemuel Harrison, Capt.
Zebulon Taylor, Capt. Alexander Waugh, Mr. Edward
Linsley, and Mr. Levi Stone.

“In the spring of 1780, in consequence of the dis-
tressed situation of the army that had wintered at
Morristown, Washington appealed to Governor Trum-
bull for assistance, and he never appealed to him in
vain. The following was related by the late George
Washington Parke Custis to Charles Hosmer, Esq., of
Hartford. A special messenger was dispatched from
Washington’s headquarters to Governor Trumbull,
to ascertain whether he could rely on any supplies
from Connecticut. The messenger was detained but
ashort time, when Governor Trumbull placed a sealed
letter in his hand directed to Gen. Washington. The
contents of the letter were unknown to the bearer,
but he arrived safely in camp and delivered it to
Washington. After the commander-in-chief had
looked it over in the presence of Mr. Custis, he re-
marked, in the words of the unbelieving Lord of
Samaris, ‘If the Lord would make windows in
heaven, might this thing be.’ He then read the
letter aloud in the presence of Mr. Custis. Its pur-
port was, that on a certain day, and at a certain hour
of the day, he would receive at Newburgh, by a

1

 

wagon-train from Hartford, two hundred barrels of
flour, one hundred barrels of beef, and one hundred
barrels of pork. It also contained a request that a
guard might be sent to a place specified, for the pro-
tection of the train. Notwithstanding Washington’s
unbelief, he sent a horse-guard, as requested. At the
hour appointed, they saw the wagon-boys of Connec-
ticut approaching with their train of provisions, This
train passed through Litchfield on their way, where
they obtained some additional supplies. When Wash-
ington received these provisions, he remarked to Mr,
Custis, ‘No other man than Governor Trumbull
could have procured them, and no other State than
Connecticut would have furnished them.’ Accom-
panying the train, Col. Henry Champion had a drove
of cattle, which were tolled across the Hudson by the
side of small boats. Col. Champion (who held the
office of commissary-general) was the father of the
Rey. Judah Champion and Mrs. Julius Deming, and
the grandfather of Mrs. Asa Bacon, all of this town.

“Barly in the spring of 1780 a train of sleds, loaded
with provisions for the army, passed through Hart-
ford and Litchfield on their way to Newburgh. Their
progress was slow, and the teamsters (among whom
were Eleazer Pinney and Ebenezer Nash, of Elling-
ton) suffered incredible hardships on account of the
unprecedented depth of snow and the unbroken state
of the roads over which they passed. On arriving at
the Hudson they attempted to cross on the ice, when
their teams broke through. The horse at the head
of Mr. Nash’s team was detached from the oxen and
floated under the ice. In due time, but not till after
a desperate struggle, the oxen were all rescued from
their perilous situation. The principal part of the
stores were then drawn across the river on light sleds,
with but a single horse attached to each. These sup-
plies were so much needed by the army that no risk
was considered too great in conveying them speedily
to Washington’s camp.*

“* At a legal Town-Meeting, holden at Litchfield on Saturday, the 8th
day of July, A.D. 1780, the Hon. Oliver Wolcott, Moderator, it was
voted, That to every able and effective man belonging to this town, to
the number of fourteen, who shall voluntarily enlist himself into the
Connecticut Battalions of Infantry of the Continental Army, for three
years or during the war, this town will pay every such recruit such &
sum in mouey, including the wages he shall receive from the State or
the United States, as shall be sufficient to procure ten bushels of good
merchantable Wheat for every month he shall so serve, the price of which
Wheat shall be computed and the money paid to such recruit, or his as-
signs, in Litchfield, in every year, on the Ist day of January, during the
time such recruit shall serve as aforesaid; and that this town will also
pay as a Bounty to every such recruit, or his assigns, in Litchfield, on the
Ist day of January of every year for so long a time as such recruit shall
serve as aforesaid, at the rate of thirty bushels of good merchantable
Wheat for one year’s service, or the full value thereof in money, for the
payment of which monies or wheat as aforesaid to such recruit or his
assigns, in case he shall enlist himself into said Battalions by the 1éth
day of July instant, this town hereby becomes bound as aforesaid.’

“At the same meeting it was

“© Voted, That whereas the Militia of this town are required by an
order of Colonel Andrew Adams, grounded on an act or order of the
Governor and Council of Safety made the 30th day of June, 1780, to fur-

 

* See No. XV., “South Windsor Sketches,” in Hartford Times.
LITCHFIELD.

119

 

nish fourteen able and effective men to serve in the Connecticut Line of
the Continental Army until the 3lst day of December next, this town,
being anxious to give every necessary encouragement to the public ser-
vice, hereby plight themselves to pay to every such recruit, or his assigns,
ag shall voluntarily enlist himself into said Battalions by the 10th day of
July instant, to serve in said Battalions until the last day of December
next,-such sum in money as shall be sufficient, including the wages he
shall receive from this State or the United States, to procure as much
good merchantable Wheat as might be obtained by the monthly wages
of forty shillings in the year 1774. Provided, nevertheless, that tho
Militia of this town not being called upon by virtue of said order to fur-
nish more than fourteen able recruits to serve in said Battalions. This
town will not consider themselves bound by the votes of this day to pay
Bounties or Wages to more than fourteen such recruits; and, in case a
greater number shall enlist, the preference shall be given to such as shall
enlist for three years or during the war, and of them, to such as shall
first enlist. And the Colonel or Commanding Officer of this Regiment
is desired to discharge any supernumerary recruits, agreeable to these
votes.

‘*t Voted, That a Rate or Tux of sixpence on the pound, on the list of
1779, be and the same is hereby laid, and made payable in Gold or Silver
Coin or Bills of Credit of this State of the emissions of the present year,
by the 1st day of September next.’

“Judson Gitteau, Timothy Skinner, Jonathan
Wright, and Ozias Lewis, were appointed to collect
the said tax.

“At a legal Town-Meeting holden at the Meeting-House in the first
society in Litchfield, on the 15th day of November, Anno Dom. 1780,
Major David Welch, Moderator, it was i

“¢ Voted, That a Tax of one shilling upon the pound be laid upon the
Polls and Rateable Estate contained in the Grand List of this town, given
in the year 1779, to be collected and paid to the Town Treasurer by the
Ist day of December next, in the Bills of Credit emitted by this State
since the Ist day of January last, new Continental Money issued under
the authority of this State, Gold and Silver, or old Continental Money
after the rate of forty shillings in old Continental Money for one shilling
Lawful Mouey, for purchasing Provisions and requisite Supplies for the
Army, and to defray other necessary expenses of the town.’

“¢ Voted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore
Catlin, and Harris Hopkins be Collectors of the said Tax accordingly.’

“Provided, Nevertheless, that any person may pay any part of said

Tax in Provisions required, and at the respective prices fixed in the Act
of Assembly made at their session in October last, entitled “An Act for
Collecting and Storing a Quantity of Provisions for the use of the Conti-
nental Army and the Forces raised for the Defense of this State.”

“Voted, That Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Seth Farnham, Theodore
Catlin, and Harris Hopkins be a Committee to purchase Provisions agree-
able to said act of Assembly.’

“© Voted, That Messrs. Miles Beach and Leman Stone be appointed to
receive the Salt, procure Casks to contain said Provisions, to receive and
inspect the same, see that it is good and merchantable and well put up,
and mark and store the casks, and report to the Governor, agreeable to
said Act of Assembly.’

“¢ Voted, That said Beach and Stone be also employed to purchase apy
of such Provisions as occasion may offer or opportunity present.’

“* Voted, That said Timothy Skiuner, Seth Farnham, Theodore Catlin,
Harris Hopkins, Miles Beach, and Leman Stone be also appointed to
purchase the Clothing required for the Army, agreeable to directions to
be given to them from time to time by the Selectmen.’ .

“Dec. 26, 1780, Reuben Smith, Esq., Moderator, ‘ Voted, That Timothy
Skinner, Heber Stone, James Stoddard, Reuben Stone, David Welch, and
Zebulon Taylor be a Committee to hire, at the cost of the town, the
requisite number of recruits to complete the quota of this town in the
Connecticut Line of the Army of the United States for three years or
during the war.’

“January 9, 1781, Colonel Andrew Adams, Moderator, ‘ Voted, That
whereas it is necessary that this town raise a number of soldiers to fill up
their quota in the Army of the United States, the town does promise and
engage to each soldier that shall enlist into said service in either of the
Connecticut Battalions before the 1st day of February next, that they
will make good to him his forty shillings per month by such addition to
the pay he shall receive from the State or the United States as shall make
said pay sufficient to purchase as much Provisions as forty shillings would
have done in 1774.’

“ A tax of three pence on a pound was laid on the list of 1779, one-half

 

to be paid in wheat flour, rye flour, aud Indian corn. Capt. Abraham
Bradley and Leman Stone were appointed receivers of the flour and corn.

“ Jan. 18, 1781.—It was voted to divide the town in classes for the pur-
pose of procuring the requisite number of recruits; and the selectmen,
together with Capt. Abraham Bradley, Capt. John Osborn, Ensign Ed-
ward Phelps, and Dr. Seth Bird, were appointed a committee for that
purpose,

“March 26, 1781.—Nine foot-soldiers and two horsemen are required
of this town, in addition to those already in the field; and the necessary
steps were taken to raise them.

“ July 9, 1781.—‘ Voted, That the men belonging to this town, lately
detached for a term of three months by special order of the Captain-Gen-
eral, agreeable to a resolve of His Excellency the Governor and Council
of Safety of the 19th of June, founded on an earnest Requisition of His
Excellency General Washington for eight hundred men, etc., have and
receive out of the Town Treasury, by the 1st of January next, each the
sum of twenty shillings in silver, or other equivalent, for each month he
shall be in actual service agreeable to such detachment.’

“ Sept. 18, 1781.—‘ Captain Miles Beach was chosen Receiver of Cloth-
ing and Provisions on the 2s, 6s. tax payable in December next; and
Leman Stone was chosen Receiver of such part of said tax as shall be
delivered to him.’

“ Jan. 3, 1782.—* Voted, That the Town Treasurer be desired to procure
the order or orders drawn by the Committee of Pay Table in favor of this
town, for Bounties on raising recruits in the year 1781, now in his hands
and office, to be exchanged for small orders to the same amount; and to
deliver out thirty pounds thereof to each of the respective classes, taking
proper receipts therefor.’

“ Feb, 25, 1782.— Voted, to raise ten men for State Service or the Regi-
ment of Guards for Horseneck, as required by Act of Assembly, by di-
viding the town into classes on the List of 1781.’

“Capt. Abraham Bradley, Col. Bezaleel Beebe, and Capt. Lynde Lord,
were appointed a committee for that purpose.

“¢ Voted, That ten men be added to the above Committee, whose busi-
ness it shall be to notify the respective classes to meet at the time and
place by them appointed, to proceed in ‘raising recruits as aforemen-

tioned, viz. :
For the Ist class, Ensign Edward Phelps.

“ « 24 “ Ozias Lewis.

“«  « 3d “ Benjamin Peck, Jr.

«  « 4th “ Elihu Harrison.

« « 5th “ Ephraim Smedley, Jr.

«“ « 6th “ Leaming Bradley.

« « th “> Ensign Jonathan Wright.

“ « 8th “ Lieutenant David Stoddard.

« « 9th “ Captain Alexander Catlin.

“ « 10th “ Lieutenant Timothy Skinner.

“« Voted, That each non-commissioned officer and soldier that is or shall
be detached out of this town into actual service the current year shall
receive twenty shillings per month for the time he shall thus continue in
actual service on such draft, or procure a man to serve for him; and that
the Selectmen draw orders on the Treasurer accordingly.’

“ March 25, 1782.—' Stephen Stone, Elijah Griswold, and Benjamin Kil-
bourn having lately been assessed on examination by the Civil Authority
and Selectmen, agreeable to law, for each a son gone to the enemy, and
having requested a hearing in Town Meeting, and being heard accord-
ingly, the question was proposed relative to said Stone in particular; and
the town by vote did not discharge said Assessment. Whereupon, it being
late, and other business requiring attention, adjourned till Thursday, the
28th, at 10 o’clock P.M.’

“ At an adjourned meeting, the vote in the case of
Stephen Stone was reconsidered, and he was released
from his assessment. In the other cases mentioned
the assessment was confirmed.

April 2, 1782.—“ Messrs. Timothy Skinner, Moses Seymour, and Abra-
ham Bradley were appointed a committee to make inquiry whether any
of the deserters from the army belonging to this town, and not accounted
as part of the quota of the town in the late returns of the army, have
joined or are likely to join the army in consequence of the general's
proclamation, and whether this town is not overrated by a mistake in
the report of the committee for ascertaining deficiencies,” etc.

“In town-meeting, 16th October, 1783, Capt. Moses Seymour, moder-
ator, it was voted that the present selectmen adjust the claims of the non-
commissioned officers and soldiers who lately served in the eight bat-
talions of this State as part of the quota of this town, and claim. a grant
of twenty shillings per month agreeable to a vote of this town passed
April 15,1777; and having by agreement with said claimants or other-
Wise ascertained the sum to them respectively due, to divide each man's
sum into three equal parts, and give certificates thereof in behalf of the
town, payable at three different periods,—viz., on the 1st days of Janu-
ary, 1784, 1785, and 1786, the last to be on interest; which certificates
shall be paid by the treasurer according to the tenor of them, the one-
half of each in money, and the other half in provisions at the market
price; and that the selectmen for the time being make three town-rates
for that purpose,—viz., in the years 1783, 1784, and 1785, to be collected
by the collectors of town-rates for those years respectivély, in December
annually, and paid into the town treasury and kept distinct from all
other town-rates or moneys, orders, and accounts, whatsoever.”

“Through the entire war Litchfield was represented,
in the persons of one or more of her sons, on the
Committee of Safety, in the Council of State, and in
the Continental Congress. At the regular session of
the Legislature in May, 1780, the representatives from
this town were Andrew Adams and Jedediah Strong;
the former was chosen speaker and the latter clerk of
the House. Maj. Moses Seymour commanded a Litch-
field company of cavalry at the capture of Burgoyne.
Col. Beebe was, during the latter part of the war, chief
in command of the troops raised for the defense of our
sea-coast. Gen. Wolcott, Gen. David Smith, and Col.
Tallmadge were active and energetic officers from the
commencement to the close of hostilities. Col. Shel-
don, commander of the celebrated corps of cavalry
known in history as ‘Sheldon’s Regiment of Horse,’
had been for some twenty years a resident of Litch-
field, and his troops were raised almost exclusively in
this vicinity. Capts. Seymour, Stanton, and Wads-
worth, of this town, commanded companies in this
corps; Capt. Stanton being at the same time paymas-
ter of the regiment. Col. Tallmadge was one of Shel-
don’s most efficient majors. This regiment was Wash-
ington’s favorite corps, and continued to act under
his immediate direction till the treaty of peace was
signed, constituting at once his messengers, his body-
guard, and his agents for the accomplishment of any
enterprise, however, desperate. Capt. Morris, also of
this town, commanded one of the companies of the
‘forlorn hope’ at the siege of Yorktown. Indeed,
the citizens of Litchfield were found at the head of
their battalions or in the ranks in nearly all the great
battles of the Revolution, including those of German-
town, Trenton, Princeton, Long Island, and Stony
Point.

“Mr. Hollister, in his ‘History of Connecticut,
says,—

“When the whole country was in a state of alarm at the intelligence
that Lord Cornwallis, with a large fleet and armament, was approaching
the American coast, Col. Tallmadge happened to pass through Litchfield
with a regiment of cavalry. While there he attended public worship
with his troops on Sunday ut the old meeting-house that stood upon the
village green. The occasion was deeply interesting and exciting. The
Rev. Judah Champion, then the settled minister of the place,—a man of
great eloquence and of a high order of intellectual endowment,—in view
of the alarming crisis, thus invoked the sanction of Heaven:

“Oh Lord! we view with terror the approach of the enemies of thy
holy religion. Wilt thou send storm and tempest to toss them upon the
sea and to overwhelm them upon the mighty deep, or to scatter them to
the uttermost parts of the earth. But, peradventure, should any escape
thy vengeance, collect them together again, O Lord! as in the hollow of
thy hand, and let thy lightning play upon them! We beseech thee,

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

moreover, that thou do gird up the Joins of these thy servants who are
going forth to fight thy battles. Make them strong men, that ‘one
shall chase a thousand, and two shall put ten thousand to flight.” Hold
before them the shield with which thou wast wont in the old time to
protect thy chosen people. Give them swift feet that they may pursue
their enemies, and swords terrible as that of thy Destroying Angel, that
they may cleave them down when they have overtaken them. Preserve
these servants of thine, Almighty God! and bring them once more to
their homes and friends, if thou canst do it consistently with thine high
purposes. If, on the other hand, thou hast decreed that they shall diein
battle, let thy Spirit be present with them and breathe upon them,
that they may go up as a sweet sacrifice into the courts of thy temple,
where are habitations prepared for them from the foundations of the
world.”

Several British soldiers became citizens of the
town, among whom were Richard Morris, John I.
Gatta, John Glass, William Burrell, Henry Poulson,
James Glass, and Adam Tilford.

Mr. Kilbourn, in his history, says that at the period
of which we are writing, “ Litchfield was the home of
a remarkable number of educated thinking men, some
of whom were already distinguished and others who
were destined to act an important part in their coun-
try’s history. Indeed, no town in the State could
boast of a community more refined and patriotic.
Within the present borough limits resided Oliver
Wolcott, Andrew Adams, Reynold Marvin, Tapping
Reeve, Isaac Baldwin, Samuel Lyman, Isaac Bald-
win, Jr., Elisha Sheldon, John Pierce, Jr., Dr.
Thomas Little, Lynde Lord, Rev. Timothy Collins,
Rev. Judah Champion, Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, Dr,
Reuben Smith, Moses Seymour, Timothy Skinner,
Abraham Bradley, William Stanton, Ambrose Col-
lins, Elijah Wadsworth, and Ephraim Kirby.

To this goodly company were soon added Oliver
Wolcott, Jr., Ashbel Baldwin, Ezekiel Woodruff,
Julius Deming, Uriah Tracy, and Dr. Daniel Shel-
don.

Sixteen of the gentlemen named were graduated at
Yale College, and one (Judge Reeve) at the College
of New Jersey; three were members of the national
Congress, or became such; seven were captains in the
Revolutionary war, and four rose to the rank of gen-
eral officers; two became chief justices, and two goy-
ernors of the State.

CHAPTER XI.

LITCHFIELD (Continued).

Ethan Allen—Elisha Sheldon—Oliver Wolcott—Andrew Adams—Bez-
aleel Beebe—Jedediah Strong—Benjamin Talmadge—Tappiug Reeve
—Moses Seymour—Elisha Mason. ‘

MEN OF THE REVOLUTION.*

“THE historic names of the Revolutionary period
most intimately associated with Litchfield are those
of Ethan Allen, Oliver Wolcott, Elisha Sheldon, An-
drew Adams, Bezaleel Beebe, Moses Seymour, Jede-
diah Strong, and Tapping Reeve. This chapter will

 

* From Kilbourne's “ History of Litchfield.”
LITCHFIELD.

 

be mainly devoted to brief biographical sketches of
these eminent and useful men.

“Gen. ETHAN ALLEN,* the hero of Ticonderoga,
was born in Litchfield, Jan. 10, 1737-88. He was the
eldest child of his parents—Joseph and Mary (Baker)
Allen—who, when Ethan was about two years old,
removed to the adjoining town of Cornwall. The
subject of this sketch spent his youth and early man-
hood in Cornwall and Salisbury ; and about the year
1765 emigrated to the ‘New Hampshire Grants,’ as
they were then called, a wild, mountainous region
lying between Lake Champlain on the west and the
Connecticut River on the east, and extending from
the Massachusetts line northward to the Canadas.
This territory was claimed alike by the governments
of New Hampshire and New York, a fact which led
to a fierce and long-continued struggle between the
settlers and Governor Tryon of the latter province.
The hardy and resolute pioneers banded themselves
together under the name of the “Green Mountain
Boys,” chose Allen as their commander, and waged a
war of extermination against all intruders from New
York. This contest continued until the attention of
both parties was diverted by the more important
events which immediately preceded the Revolution.
By this time Allen was famous throughout the North.
When, therefore, the seizure of the British fortresses
on Lake Champlain was secretly resolved upon by the
Whigs of Massachusetts and Connecticut, Col. Allen
was, by common consent, selected as the leader of the
hazardous enterprise. In another part of this vol-
ume I have referred to this subject, and can here only
give it a passing notice. In the twilight of a peace-
ful May morning, in 1775, the hero, followed by a little
band of trusty soldiers, entered the fortress of Ticon-
deroga and thundered at the door of the commander,
demanding the instant surrender of the garrison.
“By what authority do you demand it?” asked Capt.
Delaplace, as he stood trembling before the giant
apparition. “IN THE NAME OF THE GREAT JEHO-
VAH AND THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS!” responded
Allen, at the same time threatening the captain with
instant death if his demand was not forthwith com-
plied with. There was no alternative. With a coun-
tenance and manner not.to be mistaken, Allen stood
with his drawn sword ready to execute his threat.
The garrison were at once surrendered as prisoners of
war, and all the arms, ammunition, provisions, etc.,
contained in the fort fell into the hands of Allen. The
capture of Crown Point by Col. Warner, on the fol-
lowing day, gave the Whigs complete possession of
Lake Champlain. Col. Allen now visited the Pro-
vincial Congress of New York and the Continental
Congress at Philadelphia, and was received with
marked consideration by both of those illustrious
bodies. He was admitted to the floor of each, and

 

* Several towns claim his birthplace. See history of Woodbury, else-
where in this work.

 

permitted to detail his plan for the conquest of Can-
ada. His plan was approved, and he was commis-
sioned as a colonel in the Continental army. In Sep-
tember following he made an unsuccessful attack
upon Montreal, was taken prisoner, carried to Eng-
land, and confined in Pendennis Castle. As Ticon-
deroga had long been a famous place in that country,
the renown of his exploit had preceded him thither.
On his arrival at Falmouth, so great was the curiosity
to see him that crowds of people thronged the high-
ways, housetops, and rising grounds in the vicinity,
the officers being compelled to force their way through
the throng for a mile with drawn swords. He was
dressed in a fawn-skin jacket,.an underdress and
breeches of sagatha, worsted stockings, coarse shoes,
and a red worsted cap. On shipboard he was treated
with great severity, being a part of the time hand-
cuffed and imprisoned in a dirty cell. When angry
his rage was terrible. Once, on being insulted by a
petty officer, he twisted off with his teeth a tenpenny
nail with which his shackles were fastened! During
the spring of 1776 he was brought back to America,
but was detained in New York as a prisoner of war
until May 6, 1778, when he was exchanged for Col.
Campbell. After repairing to headquarters and offer-
ing his services to Gen. Washington, Allen visited the
Grants (or Vermont), where his arrival was an-
nounced by the discharge of cannon, and other dem-
onstrations of joy. The newly-organized State of
Vermont appointed him to the office of major-general
and commander-in-chief of the State militia, and
sent him as a special delegate to the national Con-
gress. He was also elected a representative to the
Legislature, a post to which he was repeatedly re-
elected.

‘Aside from several pamphlets, which had their
origin in the controversy with New York, Allen pub-
lished a narrative of his captivity in a volume of two
hundred pages, and a theological work entitled ‘The
Oracles of Reason,’ in which he attempts to subvert
the doctrines of Christianity. His writings are bold,
artful, and egotistical, and, though sometimes crude
and unpolished, evince talents of a high order.

“The following anecdote (indicating that Allen in
reality had very little faith in his own system of di-
vinity) is contained in a note to page 409, vol. ii., of
President Dwight’s ‘Travels in New England and
New York’:

“Dr. Elliot, who removed from Guilford, in Connecticut, to Vermont,
waa well acquainted with Col. Allen, and had made hima visit at a
time when his daughter was very sick and near death. He was intro-
duced to the library, where the colonel read to him some of his writings
with much self-complacency, and asked, ‘Is not that well done?’ While
they were thus employed a messenger entered and informed Col. Allen
that his daughter was dying and desired to see him. He immediately
went to her chamber accompanied by Dr. Elliot, who was desirous of
witnessing the interview. The wife of Allen was a pious woman, and
had instructed her daughter in the principles of Christianity. As soon
as her father appeared at her bedside she said to him, ‘I am about to die;
shall I believe in the principles you have taught me, or shall I believe
in what my mother has taught me?’ He became extremely agitated, his
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

chin quivered, his whole frame shook, and, after waiting a few moments,
he replied, ‘ Believe what your mother has taught you.’

“While Allen was on parole in New York, a Brit-
ish officer of honorable rank sent for him to call at
his lodgings. On his arrival the officer told him that
his fidelity, though in a wrong cause, had won the
good opinion of Lord Howe, who was disposed to
show him favor. He at the same time held out to
him brilliant prospects of promotion and money, and
large tracts of land either in Connecticut or Vermont
at the close of the war. Allen replied, that if by faith-
fulness he had recommended himself to Gen. Howe,
he should be loth by unfaithfulness to forfeit the
general’s good opinion ; and as to the lands, he re-
garded the offer not unlike that made by Satan to
Christ, who promised him ‘all the kingdoms of the
world,’ when in fact ‘the old devil didn’t own an
acre’! The officer thereupon sent him away as incor-
rigible.

“Jared Sparks, LL.D. (late president of Harvard
College), in his biography of the subject of this
sketch, says,—

“ There is much to admire in the character of Ethan Allen. He was
brave, generous, and frank ; true to his country, consistent and uny ield-
ing in his purposes, seeking at all times to promote the best good of man-
kind, a lover of social harmony, and a determined foe to the artifices of
injustice and the encroachments of power. Few have suffered more in
the cause of freedom, few have borne their sufferings with a firmer con-
stancy or a loftier spirit. His courage, even when approaching to rash-
ness, was calm and deliberate. No man probably ever possessed this at-
tribute in a more remarkable degree. He was eccentric and ambitious,
but these weaknesses, if such they were, never betrayed him into acts
dishonorable, unworthy, or selfish. So rigid was he in his patriotism,
that, when it was discovered that one of his brothers had avowed tory
principles and had been guilty of a correspondence with the enemy, he
entered a public complaint against him in his own name, and petitioned
-the court to confiscate his property in obedience to the law, His ene-
mies never had cause to question his magnanimity, or his friends to
regret confidence misplaced or expectations disappointed. He was kind,
benevolent, humane, and placable. In short, whatever may have been
his peculiarities, and however these may have diminished the weight of
his influence and the value of his public services, it must be allowed that
he was a man of very considerable importance in the sphere of his ac-
tivity, and that to no individual among her patriot founders is the State
of Vermont more indebted for the basis of her free institutions and the
achievement of her independence than to Eruan ALLEN.”

This is certainly a high compliment, coming from
the source it does. The theological writings of Allen,
however, wére not calculated to render him popular
with the good people of New England. Preachers,
poets, and critics joined in a furious crusade against
him, to all of which he affected the utmost contempt.
Soon after the publication of his “Oracles,” alluding
to the anticipated attacks of the clergy (in a letter to
‘a friend), he says, “I defy the whole artillery of hell-
fire”’ The following piece of satire from the pen of
Dr, Lemuel Hopkins (himself for some years a resi-
dent of Litchfield), is preserved in Dr. Elihu Hub-
bard Smith’s “Collection of American Poetry,” which
was printed at Litchfield, by Collier & Adam, in
1792:

“Lo, Allen, ‘scaped from British jails,
His tushes broke by biting nails,
Appears in hyperborean skies,

To tell the world the Bible lies,

 

See him on Green Mills north afar,

Glow like a self-enkindled star,

Prepared (with mob-collecting club,

Black from the forge of Beelzebub,

And grim with metaphysic scowl,

With quill just plucked from wing of owl),
As rage or reason rise or sink,

To shed his blood, or shed his ink.

Behold, inspired from Vermont dens,

The seer from anti-Christ descends,

To feed new mobs with hell-born manna
In Gentile lands of Susquehanna;

And teach the Pennsylvania Quaker

High blasphemies against his Maker.
Behold him move, ye staunch divines!

His tall head bustling through the pines;
All front he seems, like wall of brass,

And brays tremendous as an ass.

One hand is clenched to batter noses,
While t’other scrawls ’gainst Paul and Moses!”

On the 23d of June, 1762, Allen married Mary
Bronson, of Woodbury, who died in 1784. Their
children were Joseph, Loraina, Lucy, Mary Ann, and
Pamela. Loraina died young, and was the subject of
the anecdote just given.

Gen. Allen died of apoplexy, on his estate at Col-
chester, Vt., Feb. 12, 1789, aged fifty-one years,

ELiIsHA SHELDON, a native of Lyme, and a gradu-
ate of Yale College in the class of 1730, became a

| resident of this village in 1753, and here spent the

remainder of his life. He was an associate judge of
the Court of Common Pleas for Litchfield County
from 1754 to 1761; at which latter date he was elected
a member of the Council, or Upper House, in which
distinguished body he sat until his decease, a period
of eighteen years. He was also chosen a represent-
ative by the freemen of this town at ten semi-annual
elections. Mr. Sheldon was equally conspicuous in
the civil and ecclesiastical affairs of the town, and
was often called upon to preside at our town-meet-
ings. He also, for a period of eighteen years, held
the office of county treasurer. An active patriot in
the Revolution, he was not unfrequently appointed
by the Legislature and by his fellow-citizens on im-
portant committees, having for their object the ad-
vancement of the common cause. He died in the
midst of the great contest. His remains rest in the
West burying-ground, beneath a marble tablet, on
which is inscribed the following epitaph:

“This Monument is erected to the Memory of the Hon. ExrsHa SuEL-
DON, Esq., who departed this life September the first, Anno Domini 1779,
in the 79th year of hisage. A Gentleman of extensive genius and Lib-
eral Education, called in early life to various public employments, both
Civil and Military, all of which be executed wlth punctuality and fidel-
ity; much respected for his Generosity and Benevolence, and greatly
lamented by his extensive Acquaintance. In early life he made a pro-

fession of the Christian Religion, and till his Death adorned it by a very
Exemplary Conversation, ‘ Blessed are the Dead who die in the Lord.’”

The wife of Mr. Sheldon was Elizabeth Ely, by
whom he had five children,—viz., Lois (married
Lynde Lord, Esq., sheriff), Mary, Thomas, Samuel,
and Col. Elisha (commander of the Second Regi-
ment of Light Dragoons in the Continental army).

OLIVER Wotcort, LL.D. (son of his His Excel-
LITCHFIELD.

123

 

lency the Hon. Roger Wolcott, Governor and chief
justice of Connecticut), was born in Windsor, Dec.
20, 1726, and was graduated at Yale College'in 1745.
In early manhood he commanded a company of volun-
teers in the Northern army in the war against the
French. Having pursued the usual course of medi-
cal studies, he established himself as a physician in
Goshen, and was residing there at the date of the or-
ganization of the county of Litchfield, October, 1751.
The Legislature appointed him the first high sheriff
of the new county, and he immediately took up his
-abode in this village and continued to reside here
until his decease, a period of forty-six years. He
‘was thus but twenty-five years of age when he be-
came a resident of Litchfield, and hence his fame,
subsequently achieved, as really belongs to us as if he
had been born in the town. In 1752 he erected the
“Wolcott House” in South Street, which is still
one of the most desirable residences in the place.
With a commanding personal appearance, digni-
fied manners, a clear and cultivated intellect, and
a character for integrity far above the reach of
suspicion, it is not to be wondered at that he be-
came a favorite of the people with whom his lot
was cast. Besides holding the office of sheriff for
over twenty years, he was chosen a representative to
the Legislature five times between the years 1764 and
1770, inclusive; a member of the Council or Upper
House from 1771 to 1786; judge of the Court of Probate
for the district of Litchfield from 1772 to 1779 ; judge of
‘the Court of Common Pleas from 1778 to 1786; and
member of the Continental Congress from 1775 to 1784
(except two years). He was one of that memorable
band of patriots and sages who, on the 4th of July,
1776, affixed their names to the Declaration of Inde-
pendence.

In the early part of the war of the Revolution,
Judge Wolcott was commissioned as a brigadier-
general, and Congress appointed him a Commissioner
‘on Indian Affairs for the Northern Department, with
Gen. Schuyler and others. In May, 1779, he was
elected by the Legislature and commissioned by Gov-
ernor Trumbull as major-general of the militia of
Connecticut to succeed Gen. James Wadsworth, re-
signed. In these important and responsible stations
he rendered the country essential service. On the
field, in the camp, at the rendezvous, in the depart-
ments of the commissary of supplies, in fact, where-
ever he could render himself useful—he was found,
ever prompt in planning and efficient in executing.
At the same time he was an active member of the
‘committee of safety, and when at home was equally
zealous and conspicuous in the local affairs of the
town, officiating as moderator, selectman, committee-
man, etc. Indeed, no man in the State at this period
discharged so many and varied public duties. A
considerable share of the reputation which Connecti-
cut acquired for promptness in furnishing men and
means for the army: is due to Gen. Wolcott. Cer-

 

tainly, to no other individual in the western counties
could Governor Trumbull or Gen. Washington appeal
for aid, with the certainity of success, as to him.

In 1786 he was elected to the office of Lieutenant-
Governor of.the State, and was annually re-elected
for a period of ten years. In May, 1796, he was
chosen Governor, the highest executive office in the
gift of the people of his native State. To this dis-
tinguished position he was again elevated at the
annual election in 1797. He was now seventy years of
age. His naturally robust constitution began to feel
the weight of care and responsibility which had been
so long pressing upon it. He departed this life at his
residence at Litchfield, Dec. 1, 1797, aged seventy-
one years. A sermon was preached at his funeral by
the Rey. Azél Backus, D.D., which was published.
Governor Wolcott had long been a professed disciple
of Christ, and his faith in the efficacy of the great
atonement sustained him in the decisive hour.
“With all the splendor of his station and his well-
earned fame,” says Dr. Backus, “he was not ashamed
to pray in the expressive language of the publican,
‘God be merciful to me a sinner,’ and to make the
most feeling declarations of his own personal un-
worthiness. For several days before his death the
shattered remains of a once noble mind and vigorous
body were devoted continually to God. His very
breath appeared to be prayer, until, after many pain-
ful struggles, he fell asleep. O, death! in what a
mortifying light doth thy power put the little glory
of this diminutive world! To what insignificance
do earthly honors dwindle before the grandeur of
eternity! Nevertheless, the death of such a charac-
ter is a grievous loss, especially under the present
threatening aspects of Divine Providence and the
perilous situation of the country. Such tried charac-
ters are the ‘salt of the earth’ and the pillars of our
national existence. The presence, firmness, counsels,
prayers, and example of such fathers should be
esteemed the ‘chariots of Israel and the horsemen
thereof.’ But God governs the world, and his will is
done. Let it be the solemn care of each one of us to
make a profitable improvement of the frown of Heaven
in this removal.” :

Joel Barlow, in his great national poem, The Co-
lumbiad, thus refers to his zeal and efforts in the cause
of Independence:

“Bold Woxcort urged the all-important cause,
With steady hand the solemn scene he draws;

Undaunted firmness with his wisdom joined,
Nor kings nor worlds could warp his steadtast mind.”

“No resident of the town ever achieved a more
honorable and wide-spread fame than Oliver Wolcott,
and no name in the historic annals of the town and
State in which his life was passed is more earnestly
and affectionately cherished than his. His family
have been and are distinguished—some for high po-
litical stations, others for enterprise and wealth, some
as professional or literary men, and all for their lib-
124

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

erality, sterling moral qualities, and exalted social
position. His mortal remains rest in the East bury-
ing-ground, surrounded by those of many of his de-
scendants and kindred.

“Governor Wolcott married) Lorana Collins, of
Guilford, in 1755; she died April 19, 1794. Their
children were Oliver (who died in infancy), Oliver
(2d), Lorana (married Hon. William Moseley, M. C.,
of Hartford), Mary Ann (married Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor Goodrich, of Hartford), Frederick (see bio-
graphical notes). Ursula Wolcott (a sister of Gover-
nor Wolcott, next older than himself) married Gov-
ernor Matthew Griswold, and was the mother of
Governor Roger Griswold. Thus, her father, brother,
husband, son, and nephew were all Governors of
Connecticut, a fact which cannot, probably, be said of
any other lady who ever lived in the State or United
States.

“ AnpREW ADAMS, LL.D. (a native of Stratford,
and a graduate of Yale College in the class of 1760),
commenced the practice of law in Litchfield in 1774,
and continued to reside here until his death, which
took place in November, 1797. He rose rapidly in
public esteem, and was chosen a representative in
October, 1776, a post to which he was nine times re-
elected. A friend of the Revolution, he took a promi-
nent part in its favor in our town-meetings, and by
his influence and efforts did much to promote the
cause of the patriots in this vicinity. He rose to the
rank of colonel, and was for a short time in actual
service in the war. In 1779, and again in 1780, he
was speaker of the House of Representatives, the
other member from Litchfield (the Hon. Jedediah
Strong) being at the same time clerk of the House.
Col. Adams was a member of the Council of Safety
two years, a member of the State Council nine years,
a member of the Continental Congress three years, a
Commissioner of the Northern Congresses at Hartford
and Providence in 1780; an associate judge of the
Superior Court four years, and chief justice from 1793
until his decease. He was also for a few years a dea~
con of the First Church in this town.

“The body of the subject of this sketch rests be-
neath a marble tablet in the West burying-ground.
His epitaph is as follows:

“In Memory of the Hon, ANDREW Apams, Esq, Chief Judge of the
Superior Court, who died November 27, 1797, in the 63d year of his age.
Having filled many distinguished offices with great Ability and Dignity,
he was promoted to the highest Judicial Office in the State, which he
held for several years, in which his eminent Talents shone with uncom-
mon Lustre, and were exerted to the great Advantage of the Public and
the honor of the High Court in which he presided. He made an early
Profession of Religion, and zealously sought to promote its true Inter-
ests. He lived the Life and died the Death of a Christian. His filial
Piety and paternal tenderness are held in sweet Remembrance.”

“Mrs. Eunice Adams, his wife, died June 4, 1797,
aged fifty-three years.

“The Litchfield Monitor mentions it as a sad and
singular coincidence that Governor Wolcott and Chief
Justice Adams (the two highest official dignitaries of

 

the State), both residing in the same village and on
the same street, should be lying apparently at the point
of death at the same time. Governor Wolcott sur-
vived his distinguished neighbor about three days
only.*

“Cot. BEZALEEL BEEBE was born in Litchfield,
April 28, 1741, and spent his life in his native town,
except when absent in the service of his country. At
the age of seventeen he enlisted as a soldier in the
French war, and marched with Capt. Evarts’ com-
pany to Fort George, where he was for some time
stationed. He was afterwards a member of Maj,
Rogers’ celebrated corps of Rangers, an account of
whose exploits was published in London by their he-
roic commander; and, with Rogers, he participated
in the engagement which resulted in the capture of
Maj. Israel Putnam. During much of the succeeding
year he was stationed at Fort Miller under Capt.
Whiting. In 1760 he enlisted in a company com-
manded by Capt. McNeile, of Litchfield, and con-
tinued in the service for three years, having in the
mean time been chosen one of the sergeants of the
company. On the 11th of July, 1764, he was mar-
ried to Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. John Marsh, of
this town, and settled on the paternal homestead,
north of Bantam Lake, which is still owned and oc-
cupied by his descendants. On the breaking out of
the Revolutionary contest he was once more sum-
moned to the field, having been commissioned as a
lieutenant in the first recruits raised for that service,
April, 1775. He forthwith marched with his com-
pany to Boston, and thence, after a short detention,
to Crown Point, where he was transferred to the
quartermaster’s department. From this time onward
he was in actual service (except while detained as a
prisoner of war) until the spring of 1781, at which
time he applied for and received an honorable dis-
charge, and once more returned home. As his dis-
tinguished public services have been frequently re-
ferred to in the preceding pages, it will not be ex-
pected that I should repeat them here. Suffice it to
say, that he rose to the rank of colonel in the Conti-
nental army, and enjoyed in an eminent degree the
confidence and respect of his superiors in office as well
as of the soldiers under him. While chief commander
of the coast-guard of this State he performed the
duties and received the pay of a brigadier-general.
A commanding figure, and a peculiar dignity of char-
acter and manner, united to an innate kindness of
heart and a courage equal to any emergency, con-
tributed to render him an efficient and popular officer.

“He was chosen a member of the House of Repre-
sentatives for the first time in the autumn of 1781, as
a colleague of the Hon. Jedediah Strong, and was re-

 

*I have said that Judge Adams commenced the practice of law in
Litchfield in 1774. The indications are that he became a resident here
some eight or ten years earlier than that date. An Andrew Adame of
this town was a commissioner on two estates as early as 1766, and was
chosen a lister in 1772 and 1773.—Kilbourne.
LITCHFIELD.

125

 

elected during the two succeeding years. In 1788 the
Constitution of the United States was ratified, and the
general government reorganized. In 1792, ’98, and
95, Col. Beebe was returned to the Legislature. He
also served his fellow-citizens as a selectman both
before and after the war; and through life was much
employed by the Court of Probate in settling estates
of persons deceased. He departed this life May 24,
1824, aged eighty-three, his widow surviving him
about a year. Several of his Revolutionary letters to
Governor Trumbull, Gen. Silliman, etc., are preserved
among the ‘Trumbull Papers’ in the library of the
Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston.

“ JEDEDIAH STRONG was born in Litchfield, Nov.
7, 1738, and here spent his entire life. He graduated
at Yale College in 1761, and, with a single exception,
he was the first native of the town who ever received
_ a collegiate degree. He first studied divinity, but,
being early elected to office, he abandoned the sacred
profession for the more congenial pursuits of petti-
fogger and politician. He acquired and long main-
tained a political ascendency second only to that of
Wolcott and Adams. He was a representative at
about thirty regular sessions of the Legislature, at
fourteen of which he was clerk of the House. In
May, 1778, he was appointed (with Roger Sherman,
Eliphalet Dyer, Matthew Griswold, and William Sam-
uel Johnson) a commissioner to wait on Governor
Penn at Philadelphia, to negotiate relative to the
lands west of the Delaware. In May, 1779, he was
appointed a delegate to the Continental Congress in
place of the Hon. Stephen Titus Hosmer, resigned ;
and was reappointed in the October following. He
was also an associate judge of the County Court for
eleven years, a member of the Council of Safety, a
member of the State Council, and a delegate to and
secretary of the convention which ratified the Con-
stitution of the United States. He was a lister six
years, a selectman thirteen years, and town clerk six-
teen years. The first wife of Judge Strong was Ruth
Patterson, who died leaving an only daughter, Ida
Strong. In 1788 he married Susannah, daughter of
the Hon. George Wyllys, Secretary of State, Hartford.

“Cot. BENJAMIN TALLMADGE was born at Brook-
haven, L. L., Feb. 25,1754. His father, who bore the
same namé, was the pastor of the church in that place,
and his mother was a daughter of the Rev. John
Smith, pastor of the church at White Plains. The
subject of this sketch graduated at Yale College in
1773. While superintendent of the high school at
Wethersfield, in this State, he received a lieutenant’s
commission, with the appointment of adjutant of the
regiment, both commission and warrant bearing date
June 20,1776. In these capacities he joined the army,
and continued in actual service until the close of the
war, On the 15th of December of the year last named
hereceived a captain’s commission in Sheldon’s Second
Regiment of Light Dragoons. As this commission
came from Gen. Washington himself, the honor was

9

 

conspicuous and highly appreciated. He was pro-
moted to the rank of major, April 7, 1777,.and took
his station as a field-officer of the regiment. A sepa-
rate detachment for special services was committed to
him several times in the course of the war, on which
occasions he received his orders directly from the
commander-in-chief. On the opening of the spring
campaign, 1777, Gen. Washington, foreseeing that Gen.
Howe meditated some decisive blow, directed that all
recruits should be sent forward to headquarters as fast
as they were collected. He also sent a particular
order to Col. Sheldon (who was at his winter quarters
in Wethersfield) to send on all the effective men of
his regiment. Having about men and horses enough
for four companies, they were placed in the best possi-
ble order, and the command given to Maj. Tallmadge.
His own company were all mounted on dapple-gray
horses, which, with black straps and black bear-skin
holster-covers, looked superbly. On his route to
Washington’s encampment, at Middlebrook, N. J.,
he passed with his troops through Farmington, Litch-
field, Kent, Peekskill (where he crossed the Hudson),
Haverstraw, Pompton, and Morristown, reaching the
headquarters of the commander-in-chief on the 23d of
June. Maj. Tallm@dge participated in the battles of
Short Hills and the Brandywine, though before the
latter engagement the remainder of the regiment,
commanded by Col. Sheldon in person, had arrived.
In the battle of Germantown the position of Maj.
Tallmadge’s squadron was at the head of Gen. Sulli-
van’s division on the left of the centre. In the early
part of this sanguinary engagement the Americans
seemed almost certain of success, but the heavy fog
which soon enveloped both armies prevented them
in some cases from distinguishing their friends from
their enemies. They were thus thrown into confu-
sion, a panic ensued, and our men fled in every direc-
tion. By order of Gen. Washington, Maj. Tallmadge
repeatedly threw his dragoons across the principal
thoroughfare to check the retreat of the infantry, but
the effort was ineffectual.

“‘ While our army were encamped at Valley Forge, in
the gloomy winter of 1777-78, the major was stationed
with a detachment of dragoons, as an advanced corps
of observation between our army and that of the
enemy. In the performance of his duty he scoured
the country between the Schuylkill and Delaware
Rivers, a distance of five or six miles, for the double
purpose of watching the movements of the enemy,
and preventing the disaffected from carrying provis-
ions to the enemy at Philadelphia. While on this
service he was attacked, about two o’cleck one morn-
ing, by a large body of British light horse com-
manded by Lord Rawdon, and, after defending him-
self resolutely for a while, effected his escape with the
loss of but three or four men killed and as many more
wounded. While temporarily halting soon after at
the ‘Rising Sun’ inn, within sight of the British out-
posts at Philadelphia, a country girl arrived from
126

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the city, whither she had been sent with eggs, with
instructions to obtain some information respecting
the enemy. While she was communicating with the
major on the subject the British light horse were seen
advancing. Inan instant he mounted his horse, when
he found the poor girl at his side, begging him to pro-
tect her. Without a moment for reflection, he told
her to mount behind him, which she did, and in this
way they rode at full speed to Germantown, about
three miles. :

“ After taking part in the battle of Monmouth, and
in the defense of Norwalk (Conn.), Maj. Tallmadge
planned and exceuted an expedition against the en-
emy at Lloyd’s Neck, on Long Island. Here was a
strongly fortified post, manned by about five hundred
troops, in the rear of which post a large band of ma-
rauders were encamped. For the purpose of break-
ing up this band of freebooters, he embarked at Shipan
Point, near Stamford, Sept. 5, 1779, at eight o’clock
in the evening, taking with him about one hundred
and twenty men. The attack was so unexpected,
that nearly the whole party were captured. Having
destroyed the boats and huts of the enemy, the party
re-embarked with their prisoners, and before daylight
landed on the Connecticut shore without the loss of a
man.

“Tn the autumn of 1780, Maj. Tallmadge was sta-
tioned on the lines in Westchester County. Re-
turning from below to the regiment, then near North-
castle, on the evening of September 23d, he was
informed that a prisoner had that day been brought
in by the name of John Anderson. On inquiry, he
learned the particulars of his capture by three militia-
men,—Paulding, Van Wert, and Williams. He fur-
ther ascertained that Lieut.-Col. Jameson (who, in
the absence of Col. Sheldon, then had command of the
dragoons) had sent the prisoner to Gen. Arnold’s
headquarters, accompanied by a letter of information
respecting his capture. At the respectful but earnest
solicitations of Maj. Tallmadge, Anderson was brought
back to Northcastle, but Jameson persisted in sending
the letter forward to Gen. Arnold. The observation
of the major soon led him to the conclusion that the
prisoner had been bred to arms, and communicated
his suspicions to Lieut.-Col. Jameson, requesting him
to notice his gait, especially as he turned on his heel
to retrace his course across the room. The major
remained with him almost constantly, and became
deeply interested in his new acquaintance. After
dinner on the 24th he requested the use of pen, ink,
and paper, which were readily granted him. He im-
mediately wrote the celebrated letter to Gen. Wash-
ington, in which he acknowledged himself to be ‘ Maj.
John Andre, Adjutant-General to the British Army?
This letter he handed unopened to Maj. Tallmadge,
who read it with deep emotion. The sad and im-
portant sequel of the story is familiar to every reader.
A court-martial of fourteen general officers (Gen.
Greene presiding) adjudged him to be a spy from the

 

enemy, and that, ‘agreeable to the law and usage of
nations, he ought to suffer death.’ At five o’clock in
the afternoon of October 2d, Maj. John Andre died on
a gibbet, in the presence of an immense concourse of
sympathizing people. His military suit having ar.
rived from New York, he was executed in full uni-
form. Maj. Tallmadge walked with him from his
place of confinement to the foot of the scaffold, where
he bade him an affectionate farewell. Years subse-
quently, he wrote, ‘I became so deeply attached to
Maj. Andre, that I can remember no instance where
my affections were so fully absorbed in any man,
When I saw him swinging under the gibbet, it seemed
for a time as if I could not support it. All the spec-
tators seemed to be overwhelmed by the affecting
spectacle, and the eyes of many were suffused in
tears.’

“Tn the autumn of 1780, Maj. Tallmadge requested
permission of the commander-in-chief to attempt the
destruction of the enemy’s works at Smith’s Manor,
L. I., but the general regarded the expedition as
too hazardous to be undertaken. Maj. Tallmadge
did not, however, abandon the project, but secretly
visited Long Island for the purpose of making obser-
vations and gaining information. On his return he
made another application, and obtained the consent
of Gen. Washington. On the 21st of November, with
one hundred dismounted dragoons, he embarked at
Fairfield, crossed the sound, and marched toward Fort
George, on south side of Long Island. The garrison
was surprised and captured, the works were de-
molished, and the houses, shipping, and an immense
quantity of stores were burnt. Some valuable arti-
cles of dry goods were made up in bundles and bound
upon the shoulders of the prisoners, who were pinioned
two and two. The victors then recrossed the island
to their boats with their prisoners and booty. While
the main body were thus on the march, the major
selected eight or ten men, mounted them on horses
which he had taken at the fort, and made a digression
for the purpose of destroying the king’s magazine at
Coram, which he accomplished, and in the course of
an hour and a half joined his associates at a place
where he had ordered them to halt. The whole com-
pany arrived in Fairfield, only one person engaged in
the expedition having been seriously wounded. Among
the prisoners taken were one lieutenant-colonel, one
lieutenant, one surgeon, about fifty rank and file, and
a host of others in the garrison. For this daring and
successful exploit Maj. Tallmadge received the public
thanks of the commander-in-chief and of the Congress
of the United States,

“He continued in actual service until the close of
the war, and was engaged in several other desperate
enterprises. Our article, however, is already too long,
and we must close the narrative of his Revolutionary
services with the relation of a single additional fact.
From 1778 to 1783 an important and confidential
correspondence was carried on between Gen. Washing:
LITCHFIELD.

ton and Maj. Tallmadge, a large part of which is still
in possession of the Tallmadge family.

“Tn November, 1782, he purchased of Mr. Thomas
Sheldon (for the sum of £800) the premises in North
Street, in this village, still known as The Tallmadge
Place. In the purchase-deed of this property he is
styled ‘late of Long Island, now of the Continental
army.’ He continued in the public service about a
year longer, when the army was disbanded and the
subject of this sketch retired to private life with the
rank of colonel. Before separating the officers of
the army formed themselves into a national associa-
tion, called The Society of the Cincinnati, of which
Washington was chosen the first president. At the
same time a similar society was formed for each State.
Col. Tallmadge was chosen the first treasurer, and
subsequent president of the Connecticut society.

“On the 16th of March, 1784, Col. Tallmadge was
united in marriage to Mary Floyd (daughter of Gen.
William Floyd, of Mastic, L. I., a signer of the Dec-
laration of Independence), and at once took up his
residence in this village. Here he engaged exten-
sively and successfully in merchandising until 1801,
when he was elected a member of the Congress of
the United States. For a period of sixteen years
(by re-election every two years) he held his seat
in that distinguished body. Once more retiring
from public life, he devoted himself with even more
than his usual zeal to the advancement of every
good cause. For many years he was an officer and
liberal benefactor of various charitable institutions
and societies, while his contributions to the needy in
his own town were much more frequent and extensive
than were known to the public.

“On the 8d of June, 1805, Mrs. Mary Tallmadge
died in Litchfield, leaving five sons and two daughters,
viz.: William §., Henry F., Maria, Frederick A..,
Benjamin, Harriet W., and George W. May 3, 1808,
Col. Tallmadge married Maria, daughter of Joseph
Hallett, Esq., of New York. He died at his residence
in this village, March 18, 1835, in the eighty-second
year of his age.

“Col. Tallmadge possessed a tall and portly figure,
and a courtesy and dignity of manner which seemed
to have belonged peculiarly to the era in which he lived.
At the same time he was as accessible to the humblest
as he was to the highest in the land. All loved and
reverenced him. The old soldiers of the Revolution
were wont to seek his assistance and advice, and they
were ever received with cordiality and their wishes at-
tended to. Officers, also, of every grade frequently
visited him, and never failed to meet with a hospita-
ble welcome.

“The beautiful homestead where Col. Tallmadge
spent more than fifty years of his life adjoins that
where his comrade in arms, Col. Sheldon, spent his
childhood, youth, and early manhood.

“Tapping REEVE, LL.D., became a resident of
Litchfield in 1772, and spent more than fifty years of

 

127

his life in this town. A son of the Rev. Abner Reeve,
of Southold, L. I., he was born in that place in Octo-
ber, 1744. He graduated at the college of New Jer-
sey in 1768, and spent four years as a tutor in that in-
stitution. On the 24th of June, 1778, he married
Sally Burr, a daughter of President Burr, of New
Jersey College, and a granddaughter of the renowned
President Edwards. So long as she lived she was an
invalid, and for many years her husband spent a large
portion of his time in ministering to her wants.

“Though his domestic afflictions withheld him from the active scenes
of the Revolution,” says Dr. Beecher, in his funeral discourse, “ none
entered more deeply into his country’s cause than he. He shared with
his generation all the vicissitudes, hopes, fears, self-denials, and losses of
that arduous day. He possessed, though early in life, the confidence,
and participated in the counsels, of the wise and great and good men of
that era; and at the moment of greatest dismay, when Washington fled
with his handful of troops through the Jerseys, and orders came for New
England to turn out en masse and make a diversion to save him, the
judge was among the most ardent to excite the universal movement,
and actually went in the capacity of an officer to the vicinity of New
York, where the news met them of the victories at Trenton and Prince-
ton, and once more Washington and the country were delivered.”

“ At one time he had the honor of entertaining at
his house in this village Gen. Lafayette and some of
his brother officers, who were passing through this
region on important public business. In 1784 he
opened his celebrated law-school, of which he was
the principal for nearly forty years. Though fitted
to shine in public life, and though official honors were
always ‘within his reach, he seems rather to have
shunned than sought promotion. He was once elected
a representative, and once only a member of the
council. He was an enthusiast in his profession, and
had, indeed, but little taste for anything else of a
secular nature. In 1798 he was appointed a judge of
the Superior Court and of the Supreme Court of
Errors. Here his peculiar talents found ample scope
for their full development. Until the adoption of
the constitution of 1818, all our judges were elected
annually by the Legislature. Judge Reeve gave such
universal satisfaction that he continued to be reap-
pointed from year to year until 1814, when he was
promoted to the office of chief justice. On reaching

the age of seventy years he retired to private life, still,

however, devoting much of his time to his favorite
law-school. He died here, Dec. 18, 1823, in the
eightieth year of his age. He was eminently dis-
tinguished for his piety and learning. In seasons of
revival, and indeed at all times, no layman in the
parish was so efficient as a colaborer with the pastor
as Judge Reeve.”

Mrs. Sallie Reeve died soon after the war, leaving
an only son, Aaron Burr Reeve. The latter died in
Troy, N. Y., in 1809, leaving an only son, Tapping
Burr Reeve, who received his first degree at Yale Col-
lege in 1829, and died the same year. With him the
family of Judge Reeve became extinct. April 30,
1798, the J udge married asecond wife,—Betsey Thomp-
son,—who survived him a few years.

Mas. Moses SEYMOUR was born in Hartford, July
128

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

23, 1742, and became a resident of Litchfield in early
manhood. Early in the war of the Revolution, he was
commissioned as captain of the troop of horse attached
to the Seventeenth Regiment of Connecticut militia.
In June, 1776, Elisha Sheldon, Esq., of Salisbury,
was appointed major-commandant of the Fifth Regi-
ment of Cavalry; and the subject of this sketch re-
ceived the appointment of captain of one of the com-
panies of this regiment. Though Maj. Sheldon was
subsequently transferred to the command of the Second
Regiment of Dragoons in the Continental army, Capt.
Seymour retained his connection with the Fifth until
the close of the war.

In April, 1777, on the occasion of the Danbury
alarm, Capt. Seymour mustered his troops and pro-
ceeded forthwith to assist in repelling the invasion of
Governor Tryon. He participated in the skirmishing
which followed the retreat of the enemy towards the
Sound. At the capture of Burgoyne, in October of
the same year, he was once more at the head of his
favorite corps, and did good service in that most im-
portant and decisive engagement. A day or two after
the terms of capitulation were signed, the American
officers invited Burgoyne and his associate officers to
dine with them. At this interesting festival Capt.
Seymour was present. His account of the conversa-
tion that took place on the occasion between the con-
querors and the conquered, and particularly his minute
recital of the toasts given on both sides, are still re-
membered with interest by hisneighbors. The utmost
courtesy and good feeling prevailed on the part of the
principal officers, and the responses to the sentiments
given were hearty and enthusiastic. At length, Gen.
Burgoyne was called upon for a toast. Every voice
was for the moment hushed into the deepest attention,
as he arose and gave— America and Great Britain
against the world!” The response which followed
may be imagined.

During the night which succeeded the final battle
between Generals Gage and Burgoyne, Capt. Seymour
watched with a British officer who had been wounded
and carried off the field in the midst of the engage-
ment. Soon after he had entered the room the officer,
who had not before learned the fate of the day, in-
quired eagerly of Capt. Seymour as to the result. On
hearing that the British had been defeated, he re-
marked, “Then the contest is no longer doubtful ;
America will be independent. I have fought earnestly
for my king and country, but the contest is ended !”
The kindness of Capt. Seymour to him, an enemy,
deeply affected him. He thanked him again and
again; and finally offered him his watch and other
rewards, which were of course refused. The gallant
American did all in his power to relieve the distresses
and soothe the mind of his charge, but his wounds
proved fatal.

During the greater part of the war Capt. Seymour
was stationed at Litchfield as a commissary of sup-
plies for the army. In this department of the public

 

service his zeal and efficiency were conspicuous, and
duly appreciated by Governor Trumbull, Gen. Wol-
cott, and others. Few men in this section of the State
labored as untiringly or accomplished more. I have
elsewhere stated that Litchfield was a depot for mili-
tary stores and provisions. Capt. Seymour was em-
ployed not only in the purchase of these articles, but
assisted in storing and guarding them while here, and
in superintending their transportation wherever they °
might be ordered by the competent authorities. In
September, 1781, we find him with his dragoons, by
order of Gen. Wolcott, guarding a train of wagons,
loaded with supplies for the French army, from Litch-
field to Fishkill.*

With the peace of 1788, the subject of this sketch
retired to private life with the rank of major. In
1789 he was elected by his fellow-citizens to the office
of town clerk, a post to which he was annually re-
elected during the remainder of his life, a period of
thirty-seven years! This uninterrupted bestowment
of an office upon one individual for so long a time is
unprecedented in the history of the town. He was
also a member of the House of Representatives at
sixteen regular sessions, commencing with the Octo-
ber session, 1795. In the early part of the present
century Maj. Seymour was occasionally a candidate
of the political party with which he was connected
for the council of State. In 1805 he received 7426
votes, and at the election of the succeeding year he
received 7671 votes, for that office.

Maj. Seymour was a gentleman of the old school,
retaining to the last the manners and costume of that
now obsolete class.

On the 7th of November, 1771, he married Molly,
daughter of Col. Ebenezer Marsh. Their children were
Mrs. Carissa Marsh, wife of the Rey. Truman Marsh;
Moses Seymour, Jr., for many years sheriff of Litch-
field County; Ozias Seymour, also for many years
sheriff of the county ; Horatio Seymour, of Vermont,
who for twelve years was United States Senator;
Henry Seymour, one of the first canal commissioners
of New York, and father of ex-Governor Seymour;
and Epaphro Seymour, Brattleboro’, Vermont.

Maj. Seymour died at his residence in this village,
Sept. 17, 1826, in the eighty-fourth year of his age.

“There is yet another name which should be men-
tioned with respect in this connection, that of Elisha
Mason, the last of the Revolutionary soldiers in Litch-
jield. With a patriotism as unquestioned and a zeal

 

* The French commissary, Jujardy N. Granville (who appears to have
possessed a. very imperfect knowledge of our language), left the following
curious acknowledgment of the service, which is on file in the comp-
troller's office:

“We, Commissary of War, employed in the Army of Rochambeat,
Certified that the Detachment composed of 24 Dragons or Light Horses,
commanded by Mr. Moses Seymour, capitaine, came on with our teams
and stores from Litchfield. We certified beside that the said Capitain
Moses has taken a great care for the security of our convoy and baggage
while he stay with us till this place.

“ JusarnDy N. GRANVILLE.

“ FISHKILL, Sep. 22, 1781.”
 

oUt
i
LITCHFIELD.

129

 

as ardent as can be claimed for the most renowned of
our heroes, he performed the humbler duties of his
sphere as faithfully as they, though all uncheered by
the hope of fame or pecuniary reward. He died in
this village, June 1, 1858, in the one hundredth year of
his age. I frequently had occasion to consult him on
matters of local interest, and found his mind clear
and his memory retentive almost to the last. He
seemed like one who had come down to us from a dis-
tant generation. Inthe last interview I had with him
(Jan. 18, 1858), he assured me that he well remem-
bered the first meeting-house ever built in this town,
and which was demolished when he was about three
and a half years old. He also recollected the old fort,
which occupied the site of the present court-house, as
well at that which stood on Chestnut Hill, both of
which vere erected as a defense against the Indians.
In the great struggle for independence he had periled
his life in the cause of his country. And what was
his reward? On one occasion, at the expiration of a
term of service, he was discharged on the Hudson,
and paid off in Continental currency. Starting home-
ward, on foot, he reached Danbury, where he spent
the night. In the morning, on attempting to settle
his bill, his Continental money was refused. He
offered larger and still larger sums, and finally ten-
dered bills to the amount of forty dollars for his lodg-
ing and meals; but the landlord refused to take the
currency on any terms. Mr. Mason was finally com-
pelled to pawn his rifle to cancel his indebtedness. As
his wages were but eight dollars per month, he thus
offered the avails of five months’ services for his keep-
ing for twelve hours! But, though so poorly requited
by the country for which he had fought, the soldier
lived to enjoy the blessings of a free government, and
in bequeathing them as a rich legacy to his posterity,
he felt himself abundantly repaid for all his toils and
privations.” KILBOURNE.

CHAPTER XII.
LITCHFIELD (Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Congregational Church, Litchfield—Congregational Church, Milton—
Congregational Church, North field—St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield—
Methodist. Church, Litchfield —St. Paul’s Church, Bantam Falls—
Trinity Church, Milton— Baptist Church, Bantam Falls— Roman
Catholic Church, Litchfield.

THE pioneers of this town brought with them from
Lebanon the Rev. Timothy Collins, and at the first
town-meeting of which any record is extant, Nov. 6,
1821, he was “called to a settlement in the place in
the work of the ministry.” He was ordained as pas-
tor July 19, 1723.

“There is no evidence, either recorded or tradition-

 

ary, which would Jead us to suspect that aught but
the most perfect harmony existed between pastor and
people during the early part of his ministry. The
first inference to the contrary may be drawn from the
doings of a town-meeting held Dec. 25, 1728, when’ a
memorial from Mr. Collins was read, and the consid-
eration thereof ‘postponed till the next meeting,’
which, however, was not called until nearly three
months afterward. It appears from the records of the
meeting in March that the memorial had reference to
‘the discount of money since the agreement was made’
between the parties. It was finally resolved to pay
him ten pounds per year, in addition to the eighty
pounds originally agreed upon as his salary, ‘until
the town shall see cause to order otherwise.’

“On the 14th of April, 1731, the first vote was
passed for ‘seating the meeting-house.’ In the doings
of the same meeting occurs the following entry:

“Voted, after dark, that Mr. Collins have the choice of the pews for
himself and family.’

“The peculiar significance of the wording of this
vote will be understood when taken in connection
with a previous vote, which provided that ‘no act of
the town should stand in force that was passed after
daylight failed to record it.’

“The controversy, which began in a dispute con-
cerning the salary of Mr. Collins, was continued
through a long series of years, and increased in im-
portance and acrimony. Though a decided majority
of the church and society took sides against their pas-
tor, there was still a respectable minority who sus-
tained him. In 1744 the town voted ‘not to make
any rate for Mr. Collins under present difficulties.’
At the same time a committee was appointed to treat
with the pastor respecting his salary ‘and absence
from the work of the ministry.’ In December, 1745, a
committee was appointed ‘to eject Mr. Collins from
the parsonage right.’ _In December, 1750, Mr. Collins
was desired to ‘resign his ministerial office.’ During
the succeeding month a committee was appointed to
carry a charge against Mr. Collins to the Consociation,
‘for unfaithfulness in the ministerial office.’ To this
last vote Sergt. Joseph Mason, Lieut. Moses Stod-
dard, and Messrs. George Marsh, Archibald McNeile,
John Marsh, William Peck, Sylvanus Stone, Asa-
Hopkins, and Alexander McNeile ‘did protest.’
Two years later a similar vote to the last was offered
in town-meeting, and negatived by a decided ma-
jority,—yeas, 18; nays, 41.

“ After a ministry in this town of about thirty years,
Mr. Collins vacated the pulpit in 1752. Though his
pecuniary contest with the town continued for a few
years later, he seems to have been not unpopular
either as a citizen or civilian. Like many of the
clergy of that day, he had received a medical educa-
tion, and he continued here as a practicing physician
during the remainder of his life. He was elected by
the voters of this town to the offices of lister and
selectman, and was appointed by the Legislature a
130

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

justice of the peace for Litchfield County. In 1755
he was appointed a surgeon of one of the Connecticut
regiments in the expedition against Crown Point. He
is represented to have been a gentleman of good tal-
ents and stately demeanor, but with manners by no
means conciliatory or popular. It is worthy of men-
tion, as indicating that he may have been ‘sinned
against’ in his controversy with the town, that he was
successful in the only lawsuit growing out of it. He
died in Litchfield in 1776.

“In February, 1758, the town voted a call to the
Rev. Judah Champion, of East Haddam, who had
graduated at Yale College in 1751. Two thousand
pounds, old tenor currency, was voted as his settle-
ment, and eight hundred pounds, old tenor, was voted
as his yearly salary. Mr. Benjamin Webster was ap-
pointed to visit Mr. Champion and deliver to him
these votes of the town. Mr. Champion accepted the
call, and was ordained as pastor of the First Church,
July 4, 1753.

“On the 30th of December, 1760, the town voted
to build a new meeting-house on the green, and Mr.
Joseph Vaill, Mr. Alexander McNeile, Deacon Peter
Buel, Jacob Woodruff, Esq., and Capt. Solomon Buel
were appointed a building committee. At the same
time Reynold Marvin, Esq., was designated as the
town’s agent to apply to the County Court for a com-
mittee to fix the place for said meeting-house, and
Col. Ebenezer Marsh, Timothy Collins, Esq., and
Capt. Elisha Sheldon were appointed to wait on the
committee of the court. The edifice was erected near
the site of the old one, and was sixty-three feet long
by forty-two feet wide, with a steeple and bell. It was
completed during the autumn of 1762. The old meet-
ing-house was sold at auction in November of that
year, Mr. Asa Hopkins vendue-master.

“Mr. Champion proved to be an able and popular
minister, and continued here in the pastoral office
until 1798. He died in this town, Oct. 5, 1810, in his
eighty-second year.

“From the organization of the town to the year
1768 all business relating to schools and ecclesiastical
affairs was transacted in town-meeting. The society
of South Farms (or the Second Society of Litchfield)
having been incorporated, the First Society met for
the first time, May 9, 1768. Elisha Sheldon, Esq.,
was chosen moderator; Isaac Baldwin, Esq., clerk;
Mr. Joshua Garrett, treasurer; and Mr. Edward
Phelps, Jr., Capt. Oliver Wolcott, and Capt. William
Marsh, society’s committee. There was little done at
these society’s meetings, from year to year, except to
appoint officers, committees, and choristers. Now
and then we find an entry in the records of a different
character. Thus, December, 1772, measures were
taken for ‘ coloring the meeting-house, and putting up
electrical rods.’ At the same meeting the society’s
committee were directed ‘not to let the town’s stock
of powder and ball to be stored in said house. Two
years later it was voted that ‘the new method of singing

 

at present taught by Mr. Lyman’ should be intro-
duced into the public worship of the congrega-
tion; and the singers taught by Mr. Lyman were
granted ‘the use and privilege of the front seats in
the gallery.’ The subject of the minister’s salary stil]
gave the society much trouble. Mr. Champion com-
plained of the depreciated and fluctuating currency,
as Mr. Collins had done before him. To obviate this
difficulty the society, in 1779, voted to give him as
his salary for the then current year the sum of seventy-
five pounds sixteen shillings, money, ‘to be paid in
the following articles at the usual prices affixed, viz,,
wheat, at four shillings per bushel; rye, at three shil-
lings do. ; Indian corn, at three shillings do.; flax, at
sixpence per pound; pork, at twenty-five shillings per
hundredweight; beef, at twenty shillings do.; tried
tallow, at sixpence per pound ; lard, at fivepence do.;

oats, at one shilling per bushel.’

“Mr. Champion’s successor was the Rev. Dan
Huntington, who at the time he received the call to
settle here was a tutor in Yale College. He was or-
dained in October, 1798. As he was a gentleman of
learning and eloquence, the church and society were
delighted with their new pastor, and he appears to
have been no less pleased at being settled in such a
place and over such a people. He thus wrote con-
cerning them,—

““A delightful village, ona fruitful bill, richly endowed with its schools,
both professional and scientific and their accomplished teachers, With
its venerable Governors and judges, with its: learned lawyers and sena-
tors and representatives, both in the National and State departments,
and with a population enlighteued and respectable, Litchfield was now
in its glory.’

“During Mr. Huntington’s ministry in this place a
remarkable religious awakening overspread this and
the adjacent parishes, resulting in the hopeful con-
version of about three hundred persons among the
different denominations of Litchfield.

“<This town,’ says Mr. IIuntington, ‘was originally among the num-
ber of thuse decidedly opposed to the movements of former revivalists,
and went so far, in a regular church-meeting called expressly for the
purpose under the ministry of the venerable Mr. Collins, as to let them
know, by a unanimous vote, that they did not wish to see them, The
effect was they did not come. The report circulated that Litchfield had
‘voted Christ out of their borders.’ It was noticed by some of the older
people that the death of the last person then a member of the church
was a short time before the commencement of our revival.’

“Previous to the settlement of Mr: Huntington, the
society, voted him a ‘settlement’ of one thousand dol-
lars and an annual salary of four hundred dollars,
also agreeing to continue to Mr. Champion, during
life, a salary of one hundred pounds. In December,
1805, a subscription was made of funds to ‘be placed
at interest, for the purpose of adding two hundred
dollars to the salary of the pastor. It would seem,
however, that, notwithstanding these efforts to increase
his income, Mr. Huntington had resolved upon leav-
ing. The church and society, in February, 1807,
voted not to concur in his request that a separation
should take place between them. A council, how-
eyer, was called, and the connection amicably dis-
LITCHFIELD.

131

 

solved. In March, 1810, the society voted a unani-
mous call to the Rev. Lyman Beecher, which was
accepted, and he was installed on the 30th of the
succeeding May, President Dwight, of Yale College,
preaching the installation sermon. After a successful
ministry in this town of about sixteen years, he ac-
cepted a call from the Hanover Street Church,
Boston, and was dismissed Feb. 21, 1826. His
successor in the ministry here was the Rev. Daniel
Linn Carroll, who was ordained Oct. 8, 1827, and was
dismissed, at his own request, March 4, 1829.

“Tn 1827 the society voted to erect a new church
edifice, and Messrs. Frederick Wolcott, Stephen Dem-
ing, Salmon Buel, William Buel, and Leonard Good-
win were appointed a building committee. This
church was located upon the site of the present
church, and was dedicated July 15, 1829.

“The Rev. Laurens P. Hickok, of Kent, was the
next pastor, having been installed July 15, 1829.
During his ministry here of about seven years two
hundred and fourteen persons united with the church.
Ninety-five of these were added at two communion
seasons in the autumn of 1831, being a part of the
fruits of the great revival of that year. In Sep-
tember, 1836, Dr. Hickok, having been elected pro-
fessor of theology in the Western Reserve College,
Ohio, requested a dismission from his pastoral charge,

which was reluctantly granted, and he was dismissed.

Nov. 15, 1836.

“June 12, 1838, the Rev. Jonathan Brace, of
Hartford, was ordained as pastor of the church, and
was dismissed, at his own request, Feb. 28, 1844.
During his pastorate of about six years not far from
one hundred and fifty persons united with the church.

“The Rev. Benjamin L. Swan was installed as the
eighth pastor Oct. 22, 1846, and closed his labors here
on the 10th of May, 1856, having supplied the pulpit
with much ability and acceptance for nearly ten
years, ;

“Rev. Leonard Woolsey Bacon was ordained Nov.
16, 1856, on which occasion the ordination sermon
was preached by his father, the Rev. Leonard Bacon,
D.D., of New Haven; resigned in 1860. Rev. George
Richards, acting pastor, January, 1861, to December,
1865; Rev. William B. Clarke, pastor, Dec. 27, 1866,
to November, 1869; Rev. Henry B. Elliott, acting
pastor, April 1, 1870, to April 1, 1874; Rev. Allan
McLean, acting pastor, Nov. 21, 1875, still here.

“Deacons of the First Church from 1728 to 1859,
John Buel, Nathaniel Baldwin, Benjamin Hosford,
Benjamin Kellogg, Benjamin Webster, Thomas Har-
rison, Peter Buel, Moses Stoddard, Andrew Adams,
William Collins, Ozias Lewis, Thomas Trowbridge,
Andrew Benedict, Frederick Buel, Truman Kilbourn,
Charles Adams, Cyrus Catlin, Henry W. Buel, Henry
B. Bissell, Frederick D. McNeil, George M. Woodruff.”

The present officers of the church are Charles
Adams, Clerk; Frederick D. McNeil, Treasurer ;
Henry R. Coit, Auditor; Henry B. Bissell, Henry

 

W. Buel, Frederick D. McNeil, George M. Woodruff,
Deacons. Present number of members, two hundred
and seventy-four.

Sunday-School.—George M. Woodruff, Superinten-
dent and Treasurer; Charles B. Bishop, George H.
Trowbridge, Librarians.

Jan. 4, 1867, Frederick D. McNiel and George M.
‘Woodruff were chosen deacons in place of Charles
Adams, resigned, and Frederick Buel, deceased.

The present church edifice was completed and oc-
cupied in 1873.

MILTON CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.*

The first record now in existence connected with
the history of this church is dated in the year 1779,
but the date of month and day are so dim as to be
undecipherable, and is a record of an adjourned meet-
ing of the Third Society of Litchfield. David Welsh,
Esq., was chosen moderator and Jesse Judd clerk.
It was

a Voted, That we will hire Mr. Stephen Heaton to preach with us seven-
teen days, for which we agree to give him thirty-five bushels of wheat,
or equivalent in money, to be paid by the 20th of November, 1780.”

Another society meeting was held on the 8th of
April following, when it was voted to hire Mr. Heaton
yet longer, as the language is, ‘‘ to complete our winter
privileges.” There are several records of this sort:

“ Voted, That we will improve our church privileges this winter.”

This seems to mean that public worship was main-
tained within the bounds of the society during the
winter, while the inhabitants went to Litchfield
during the summer.

The society took the name of Milton on the second
Monday of June, 1795, under an act of the General
Assembly of 1795, May session, incorporating it as
an ecclesiastical society. The society is composed of
the northwest part of Litchfield and adjoining terri-
tory in the towns of Goshen, Cornwall, and Warren.
There are persons from all four of these towns in the
communion of the church.

The church was organized Aug. 19, 1798, with
eleven male and thirteen female members. For the
first few years it was served by supplies. April 26,
1802, Rev. Benjamin Judd was invited to settle, and
was installed as pastor on the 19th of May. Within
a year, or a year and a half, the church was greatly
weakened by the withdrawal of several influential
members, so that Mr. Judd was led to propose the
dissolution of the pastoral relations. This took place
in June, 1804.

Rev. Abraham Fowler was installed Sept. 16, 1807,
and was dismissed June, 1813, in consequence of the
financial weakness of the society. From this time

' forward there was no settled ministry or steady wor-

ship until 1841, more than twenty-seven years.
During this period, however, there were two very
powerful revivals of religion, adding many members

 

* Contributed by Rev. George J. Harrison.
132

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

and preserving the church from destruction. The
first of these occurred very soon after the dismission
of Mr. Fowler, and in connection with the labors of
the celebrated Dr. Nettleton. An interesting account
of this revival is given in the “Life of Nettleton.”
Asa fruit of this work twenty-seven persons united
with the church. One of these, Daniel Page, still
survives, after an interval of nearly sixty-seven years.

There was another powerful revival in the winter
of 1825-26, in connection with the labors of Rev.
Lewis Smith, an evangelist. As a fruit of this work
twenty-seven persons united with the church on the
16th of April, 1826, and fourteen on the 28th of May.
Of these, one only is still living and in the communion
of this church.

In the year 1841 some of the members of the church
and society were led to feel that they could not live
longer without regular public worship. Proper steps
were taken, and Rey. Ralph Smith was employed as
minister. He began his labors in October, 1841, and
remained till April, 1844. :

Rev. John F. Norton was ordained pastor in Oc-
tober, 1844, and at his own request, under a feeling
of discouragement, was dismissed in April, 1849.

Rev. Heman L. Vaill began to supply the pulpit
June 3, 1849, and closed his labors Dec. 1, 1851. The
society was then in debt, and felt unable to continue
worship. A meeting was called to arrange for the
payment of the debt, and then to cease further effort.
At that time Mr. A. P. Smith, a citizen of Milton,
who hitherto had taken no active interest in the
affairs of the church, encouraged them to go forward.
The debt was paid, the seats rented at a higher rate,
and Mr. Francis Williams employed as preacher.
Mr. Williams commenced on the second Sabbath of
December, 1851, and closed his labors on the last Sab-
bath of April, 1853. He was followed by Rev. James
Noyes, who remained about eleven months.

Rey. George J. Harrison began his ministry here
Sept. 14, 1854, and is still in charge (March, 1881),
having now served the church nearly twenty-seven
years.

Jan. 1, 1881, there were fifty-five members of the
church,—nineteen males and thirty-six females.

This church, during its entire existence, has en-
countered great trial and difficulty. It has been weak
in numbers and resources, and has been maintained
under much discouragement, and at the cost of much
personal sacrifice and self-denial. Its members trust
that God, who has thus far watched over and kept
them, will continue to keep and bless them.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF NORTHFIELD.*
Northfield was first known as Southeast Farms,
and was composed of territory lying part in the town
of Northbury and part in the town of Litchfield, from
which the settlement obtained the name of Northfield.
It is not known at what date an ecclesiastical society

was formed, but the first society meeting of which
there is a record was held Oct. 15, 1789, when it was
voted to hire a minister for six months.

In 1792 a committee was appointed to build a
meeting-house, and on April 21, 1794, it was voted to
petition the general assembly to be set off as a distinct
society. On the 10th of the following November it
was voted to give Rev. Joseph E. Camp a call to be-
come pastor of the church. November 24th it was
voted to give Mr. Camp a settlement of one hundred
pounds, and more if it could be raised, with a salary of
seventy pounds a year for four years, seventy-five
pounds the fifth, eighty pounds the sixth, and eighty-
five pounds thereafter.

The struggle to obtain the first meeting-house was
a long one, for not until eleven years after the com-
mittee was appointed to build a meeting-house was it
completed. The expense of the building was three
thousand one hundred and sixteen dollars. The land
upon which the house was built was the gift of a Mr.
McCall.

The Congregational Church was formed Jan. 1,
1795, consisting of fourteen members, as follows:
Samuel Peck, Steven Sanford, Titus Turner, John
Warner, Abigail Sanford, Anna Warner, Tabitha
Merriman, from the Northbury Church; Abel Atwa-
ter and Bethiah Peck, from the church in Litchfield ;
Ebenezer Todd and Ebenezer Todd, Jr., from the
church in North Haven; Israel and Hannah Wil-
liams, from the church in Westbury; and Zerviah
Curtiss, from the church in Cheshire. The sermon
was preached by Rev. Mr. Waterman, of Northbury,
admonishing the new church to let its light shine.

Rev. Joseph E. Camp became the first pastor of
this church, and served it for a term of forty-two
years, being dismissed in 18387, living only a year after
the relation between himself and the church was sev-
ered. During his ministry one hundred and seventy-
five members were added to the church.

This church was connected with the Litchfield
South Consociation until June 20, 1859, when it sey-
ered its connection with that body. Since the dis-

| mission of Mr. Camp the church has had but two set-

tled pastorates, both of them being quite brief. The

} present membership of the church is one hundred and,

one.

This church has received occasional bequests dur-
ing the more recent years of its existence, the largest
being a munificent gift, by Mr. Asa Hopkins, of about
ten thousand dollars, the interest of which is used an-
nually for the “ support of the gospel” in Northfield.

ST. MICHAEL'S CHURCH.+
Among the first settlers of the town of Litchfield
none were Episcopalians. Mr. John Davies, who came
from England in the year 1735, was in all probability
the first Episcopalian who settled here, and for some
years the only one. But in the year 1745, on the 5th

 

* Contributed by Rev. H. A. Otman.

 

} Contributed by Rev. Storrs 0. Seymour,
LITCHFIELD.

133

 

day of November, a number of persons, thirteen in
all, who were anxious to have the services of the
Church of England, met at the house of Mr. Jacob
Griswold, who lived about a mile west of the village.
The result of this meeting was that the services of
Mr. Cole were secured to act as lay reader. These
services were kept up for two years, when Mr. Davies,
in 1747, executed a deed conveying, by a lease for
nine hundred and ninety-eight years, fifty-two acres
of land to Mr. Cole, for the use of the ‘Society for
Propagating the Gospel,’—a missionary soviety of
the Church of England which is still in existence.
For this Mr. Cole and his heirs were to pay annually
on the trust of St. Michael one peppercorn, if law-
fully demanded. In addition to this land, fifty acres
more were procured and deeded to the same society.
Both lots were to be for the benefit of the Episcopal
minister in Litchfield. This land was situated in the
southwest part of the town, a little northeast of “ Lit-
tle Mount Tom,” and is now owned by Harvey
Waugh and Lucius L. Griswold, and is still called
the “Glebe.”

The first service held by a clergyman episcopally
ordained was by the Rev. Dr. Johnson, of Stratford,
but there is no record of the date.

There have been three church edifices in the his-
tory of St. Michael’s parish. The first one was built
on the hill west of Kilborn’s Brook, just south of the
barn which stands on the land now owned by Mr.
Joseph Merriman. This building was raised on the
23d of April, 1749. It has generally been supposed
that Mr. Davies gave the land for this building; but
this isa mistake. An examination of the town rec-
ords shows that Mr. Davies never owned this land.
The Rev. Mr. Mansfield, of Woodbury, officiated
when the church was opened for divine service.

The records of the parish do not show when the
second church building was erected. The land on
which it stood, on the east side of South Street, was
given to the parish by Samuel Marsh, Esq., of Nor-
folk, Va., the brother of the Rev. Truman Marsh,

who was rector at that time. The building must have

been so far advanced that services could be held in it
by 1812, for a vote was passed in that year to dispense
with the use of the old church in part, and to use the
new one at such times as the clergyman and society’s
committee deemed expedient.

At a special meeting held Dec. 12, 1814, a commit-
tee was appointed to dispose of the old church as they
thought best.

This second building was consecrated by the Right
Rev. Bishop Brownell, D.D., June 8, 1824. It re-
mained in use till 1851, when it was torn down to
make room for the present edifice. Of this the cor-
ner-stone was laid July 15, 1851. It was finished
December 10th, and consecrated by Bishop Brownell
on December 16th of the same year. No change was
made in it until the winter of 1881, when the galleries
were removed and some other slight changes made.

 

Since the time when the services of the Church of
England were first used here—viz., in 1745—down to
the present time the parish of St. Michael’s Church
has been served by a long line of able, learned, and
godly men. The first missionary who served here
was the Rev. Solomon Palmer, at one time the Con-
gregational minister in Cornwall. He went to Eng-
land, and, after being ordained to the deaconate and
the priesthood, was sent by the Society for the Propa-
gation of the Gospel as missionary for Litchfield,
Cornwall, and Great Barrington, Mass. He remained
in this position for nine years, and was succeeded by
the Rev. Thomas Davies, a grandson of Mr. John
Davies, to whom the church in Litchfield owes so
much. In one of his reports to the society in Eng-
land, Mr. Davies says that there were sixty-one fami-
lies in his charge here. Mr. Davies died at New Mil-
ford in the spring of 1766. The Rev. Mr. Palmer
then returned here, and acted as missionary until his
death, in 1771.

In 1772 the Rev. Mr. Moseley came here as mission-
ary. He was not much liked, and, some difficulty
arising between him and the people, he was with-
drawn. He was the last clergyman whose stipend
was paid by the English society, for, although the
Rey. James Nichols came here in 1775, under an
appointment from the society, the outbreak of the
Revolutionary war led, of course, to a suspension of
relation between the church in this country and in
England. During this war Mr. Nichols either did
not remain in Litchfield or, if he did, did not offi-
ciate, for Mrs. Anna Dickinson, in her account of
the parish, says that during this time Mr. Daniel
London was in the habit of reading service and a ser-
mon, and that he was not deterred from it even by
the stones which the soldiers threw through the win-
dows while he was reading. After peace was declared,
Mr. Nichols officiated here until 1784, when he re-
signed and removed to Vermont.

When the independence of the colonies had been
acknowledged by Great Britain, and State govern-
ment had been set up, the churchmen of Litchfield
organized as a society under the laws of the State.
This was done on Oct. 26, 1784, and the parish as-
sumed the legal title “The First Episcopal Society
of Litchfield.” The society comprised then, as now,
three parochial organizations,—St. Michael’s Church,
Litchfield ; St. Paul’s, Berntown; and Trinity, Milton.
Mr. Ashbel Baldwin was their first rector. He offi-
ciated here as lay reader, being then a candidate for
holy orders, for about a year. On Aug. 3, 1785, he
was ordained deacon by the Right Rev. Samuel Sea-
bury, D.D., the first American bishop. This ordina-
tion, which was held at Middletown, was the first in
this country.

The following is a list of the clergymen who have
been connected with St. Michael’s Church: Revs.
Solomon Palmer, 1754-63; Thomas Davies, 1763-66 ;
Solomon Palmer, 1766, to Nov. 2, 1771; Richard
134

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Moseley, 1772-78; James Nichols, April 20, 1775, to
May, 1784; Ashbel Baldwin, Sept. 9, 1785, to Oct.
28, 1793; David Butler, D.D., Nov. 28, 1794, to Feb-
ruary, 1799; Truman Marsh, Noy. 5, 1799, to Nov. 1,
1829; Isaac Jones (associate rector), Sept. 7, 1812, to
April 1, 1826; John 8. Stone, D.D. (associate rector),
Dec. 26, 1826, to January, 1829; William Lucas (as-
sociate rector), 1829-82; Samuel Fuller, D.D., Octo-
ber, 1832, to July, 1887; William Payne, D.D., April,
1838, to May, 1845; Samuel Fuller, D.D., July 27,
1845, to Oct. 1, 1849; Benjamin W. Stone, D.D., Oct.
8, 1849, to May, 1851; John J. Brundage, D.D., Aug.
1, 1851, to Feb. 1, 1854; James M. Willey, April 8,
1855, to April, 1858; Henry N. Hudson, June 27,
1858, to Nov. 1, 1860; William S. Southgate, Nov. 1,
1860, to Jan. 1, 1864; Rt. Rev. Wm. Stevens Perry,
D.D., Nov. 27, 1864, to May 6, 1869; C. 8. Henry,
D.D., 1870, to Noy. 80, 1878; G. M. Wilkins, Feb. 20,
1874, to Jan. 9, 1879; S. O. Seymour, April 27, 1879,
present rector.

In addition to the gifts of land spoken of above, the

parish has received many interesting and valuable
gifts during its existence. Early in its history it re-
ceived from the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel a number of volumes of ecclesiastical history
and doctrinal theology. Most of them have been
scattered. A few, however, are still in the parish
library. In 1803 the Hon. Ephraim Kirby presented
to the parish a folio copy of the Book of Common
-Prayer and a Bible. These were in use for many
years, and are still preserved. After the second church
was erected, and about 1822, Mr. Solomon Marsh pur-
chased a fine-toned organ and placed it in the church.
In May, 1852, he gave it to the parish, where it was
used till the present one was bought, about fifteen
years ago. In 1857, Mrs. Marsh, widow of the Rev.
Truman Marsh, gave the present rectory and the lot
on which it stands. This was for the use of St. Mich-
ael’s parish, and not for the benefit of the whole so-
ciety.

In 1856, Mr. Hosea Webster, of Brooklyn, who has
always manifested a deep interest in the parish, gave
a thousand dollars, the interest of which is to be used
for the benefit of the Sunday-school. In 1868 the
parish lost a warm friend in the death of the Hon. 8.
P. Beers. For half a century he had been connected
with the parish, and no one has ever devoted more
time and thought to its interests than he did. The
bulk of his property was left by will to the “ First
Episcopal Society.” The income from this source is
divided equally among the three parishes.

Besides these, the parish has received from many.

individuals gifts of less value, but highly esteemed
for the sake of the donors. During the last year a
collection has been made of portraits of former rectors.
By great pains likenesses have been found of all who
have ever been connected with the parish excepting
the Rev. Messrs. Palmer, Moseley, and Nichols. These
have been hung in the vestry-room of the church,

 

where, as a sort of “cloud of witnesses,” they may
seem to their successors as a reminder that “ the night
cometh when no man can work.”

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

“In June, 1790, the Rev. Freeborn Garretson, one
of the ablest and most earnest apostles of Methodism
in America, visited Litchfield on his way from the
Hudson River to Boston.. He was at that time super-
intendent of the Northern District, and in his itiner.
ant journeyings was almost invariably attended by
his colored servant Harry, who was himself a licensed
preacher of no mean distinction, They traveled to-
gether on horseback, apparently vying with each other
in their zeal for the promotion of the cause of their
common Master. On Wednesday, June 28d (as we
learn from Dr. Stevens’ ‘Memorials of Methodism’),
Mr. Garretson ‘rode seven miles to Litchfield, and was
surprised to find the doors of the Episcopal church
open and a large congregation waiting for him. He
discoursed from the words “ Enoch walked with God,”
and believed good was done. He left Harry to preach
another sermon, and went on to the centre of the
town; the bell rang, and he preached to a few in the
Presbyterian meeting-house, and lodged with a kind :
churchman.’ On the same day Mr. Garretson wrote
in his diary:

“tT preached in the skirts of the town, where I was opposed by —,
who made a great disturbance. I told him the enemy had sent him to
pick up the good seed, turned my back on him, and went my way, accom-
panied by Brothers W. and H. I found another waiting company in
another part of the town, to whom I declared, “ Except ye repent ye
shall all likewise perish.” In this town we have given the devil and the
wicked much trouble; we have a few good friends.’

“On his return from Boston, Mr. Garretson again
preached in Litchfield, Friday, July 13, 1790. So far
as I have learned, these were the first Methodist ser-
mons ever preached in this town.

“The Litchfield circuit was organized during the
spring of 1790, and embraced, according to Mr. Ste-
vens, ‘the northwestern section of Connecticut. Jn
May, 1791, the Rev. Messrs. Matthias Swain and
James Covel were appointed by the Conference to
labor in this circuit. Their immediate successors;
previous to the commencement of the present cen-
tury, were Rev. Messrs. Lemuel Smith, Samuel Os-
trander, Philip Wagner, James Coleman, Enoch
Mudge, F. Aldridge, Jesse Stoneman, Joseph
Mitchell, Daniel Dennis, Wesley Budd, Ezekiel Can-
field, William Thatcher, Ebenezer Stevens, Freeman
Bishop, and Augustus Jocelyn.

“On the 21st of July, 1791, the famous Bishop As-
bury preached in the Episcopal church in this town.
In reference to his visit here he wrote,—

“¢T think Morse’s account of his countrymen is near the truth; Dever
have I seen any people who could talk so long, so correctly, and so ser
ously about trifles.’

“There are no records whatever indicating the
progress of this denomination in Litchfield for many
years subsequent to the last of the dates here given
LITCHFIELD.

135

 

The names of the following persons in the grand list
for 1805 are put down as ‘members of the Methodist
Society,’—-viz., Noah Agard, Isaac Baldwin, Ebenezer
Clark, Thomas F. Gross, Elisha Horton, Samuel
Green, Jonathan Hitchcock, Roswell McNeil, Jona-
than Rogers, Daniel Noyes, John Stone, and Arthur
Swan.”

This church was organized Aug. 23, 1836, and a
church edifice erected on Meadow Street. The first
board of trustees were William R. Buell, Benjamin
Moore, William Scoville, Abiel Barber, and George
Bolles.

The pastors have been as follows: Charles C. Keyes,
first pastor; among his. successors were Wm. Dixon,
Wn. B. Hoyt, N. C. Lewis, H. N. Weed, D. Louns-
bury, David L. Marks, Wm..Howard, Joseph Vinton,
Wm. Lawrence, Joseph Munson, —— Chapman, Syl-
vester Smith, J. Taylor, Wm. H. McAllister, Wm. L.
Douglass, F. Cromlish, and Thomas J. Watt, present
pastor.

The present trustees are Leonard Stone, George W.
Thompson, Jacob Morse, David E. Buell, P. H. Cum-
mings, and A. B. Shumway. The church edifice was
erected in 1887, and a chapel has since been added.
Extensive repairs were made in 1866, and others since;

the chapel was repaired and furnished in 1879.
a
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH, BANTAM FALLS.*

This church is an offshoot from St. Michael’s, Litch-
field Centre, and, though a separate ecclesiastical or-
ganization, is included in the First Episcopal Society
of Litchfield. A number of members in the western
part of the town determined on withdrawing from the
society, and accordingly petitioned to be released from
paying taxes, with permission to organize a separate
parish. The petition was granted, and on Nov. 14,
1797, an organization was duly effected under the
name of the Second Episcopal Society of Litchfield,
when officers were appointed consisting of society’s
committee, clerk, and treasurer. A church edifice
was soon afterwards erected, fifty by thirty-six feet,
surmounted with tower and steeple, the interior being
furnished with deep galleries, a high pulpit, a capa-
cious sounding-board, and other ancient appendages.
This building was situated on the height directly
opposite the burial-ground, and was known as the
West Church. Mr. Nathaniel Bosworth contributed
one hundred pounds for purchasing a bell, which
amount was increased by other contributions. The
bell thus purchased bears the inscription, “Fenton &
Cochran, New Haven, 1802.”’}

In June, 1799, the parish applied to reunite with St.
Michael’s, Litchfield, which application was granted,
and articles of union were agreed to on the 10th of
the following September. It was agreed that two-

 

* Contributed by Rev. Hiram Stone.

} An erroneous impression has somewhat extensively prevailed that
this bell was of very ancient date and cast in a foreign country. The
above inscription serves to correct the misapprehension.

 

fifths of the clergyman’s services should be given to
St. Michael’s, two-fifths to the West Church, and one-
fifth to Milton.

The first edifice had become much out of repair, and
at a meeting of the parish on July 21, 1848, it was
voted to take it down and erect a new one, forty-six
by thirty-two feet, in its stead. Work immediately
began, and the new church was opened for service on
Sunday, Dec. 24, 1848. Soon after, at a parish meet-
ing, it was voted to call the church St. Paul’s, by
which name it was consecrated, Nov. 1, 1844, by the
Right Rev. T. C. Brownell, D.D., bishop of the diocese.
The first edifice seems never to have been consecrated.

In 1826 occurred the first practical separation of
the three parishes, when a society’s committee was
appointed for this parish. In 1832 wardens and
vestrymen were first appointed by the First Episco-
pal Society, which manner of appointment has been
continued annually on Easter Monday for the three
parishes. July 20, 1879, Mrs. Mary Ann Wilmot,
widow of the late Lucius Wilmot, died, leaving by
will her new, commodious, and convenient house
as a rectory for St. Paul’s Church. This parish
shares with St. Michael’s, Litchfield, and Trinity,
Milton, the proceeds of a fund given by Mr. John
Davies about the middle of the last century, as also a
later fund donated by Hon. Seth P. Beers. A small
income likewise accrues to the parish from a fund left
many years since by Mr. Nathan Landon.

The present church edifice has been enlarged by
the addition of a chancel, while receiving several
improvements in its interior arrangemeats.

The churches of Bantam and Milton still continue
component parts of the First Episcopal Society of
Litchfield, yet, as independent parishes, they conduct
their affairs in their own way.

The following is a list of rectors or officiating min-
isters: Revs. Truman Marsh, 1799-1810; Isaac Jones,
1811-26 ; John 8S. Stone, 1826-31; David G. Tomlin-
son, 1831-35; Amos Beach, 1836-87 ; Willard Bryant,
1837-40; Emery E. Porter, 1842-43; G. C. V. East-
man, 1843-45; J. D. Berry, D.D., 1846-48; F. D.
Harriman, 1848-50; G. W. Nichols, 1850-51; Asa
Griswold, Jan. 5, to Nov. 8, 1852; Daniel E. Brown,
Jan. 5, 1858-57; John R. Williams, Jan. 5, 1858-60;
J. A. Wainright, Jan. 5, 1860-61; J. D. Berry, D.D.,
Jan. 5, 1862-63; J. D. Berry, D.D., April 24, 1864-66 ;
William L. Peck, April 24, 1866-71; F. A. Henry ;
Hiram Stone, Nov. 1, 1878, to Sept. 15, 1874; G. M.
Wilkins, Sept. 15, 1874, to July 1, 1875; Hiram Stone,
July 1, 1875, present rector.

TRINITY CHURCH, MILTON.t
During the early settlement of Litchfield there were
but few churchmen in this part of the town, but event-
ually a number of families joined the Episcopal
Church. In 1798 an application was made to the
First Episcopal Society, which voted that a chapel

 

t Contributed by Rev. Hiram Stone.
136

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

might be built in the village of Milton. A church
edifice was accordingly raised June 25,,1802, but,
owing to a lack of means, it was only put in condition
for use by way of being covered in and furnished with
benches, in which incomplete condition it remained
until finally completed in 1826. Aug. 18, 1837, it was
consecrated by the Right Rev. T. C. Brownell, D.D.,
bishop of the diocese. The original structure is still
standing. The architecture is of the old style, with
galleries and large windows rounded at the top. It
has been enlarged by the addition of a chancel, and
improved by way of new seats, a stained chancel-
window, and other internal arrangements. In 1848,
Messrs. Garritt P. Welch and Hugh P. Welch pre-
sented the bell which now hangs in the tower.

In 1799 the Rev. Truman Marsh commenced his
rectorship with St. Michael’s Church, Litchfield, when
he promised to preach in Milton one-fifth of the time,
in accordance with an arrangement made on the oc-
casion of reunion of the West Church with the First
Episcopal Society. In 1803 the society voted to di-
vide its services equally between the parishes of Litch-
field, Bantam Falls, and Milton. In 1826 a society’s
committee was for the first time appointed for this
parish, and in 1832 the first appointment of wardens
and vestrymen was made. At present, as also during
a large part of their existence, the parishes of Bantam
Falls and Milton are under the charge of one minister,
who officiates in each on alternate Sundays, thus di-
viding the services between them, each parish con-
tributing an equal amount to his support.

The following is a list of rectors or officiating min-
isters: Revs. Truman Marsh, 1799-1810; Isaac Jones,
1811-26; Ezra B. Kellogg, 1827-28; Harry Finch,
1829-31; David G. Tomlinson, 1831-85; Amos B.
Beach, 1836-37; Hillard Bryant, 1837-40; Emery E.
Porter, 1842-43 ; Samuel J. Carpenter, 184445 ; Isaac
Jones, 1845-47; F. D. Harriman, 1848-50; George
W. Nichols, 1850-51; Asa Griswold, Jan. 5, 1852, to
Nov. 8, 1852; Daniel E. Brown, Jan. 5, 1853-57; John
R. Williams, Jan. 5, 1858-60; J. A. Wainwright, Jan.
5, 1861-62; W. F. B. Jackson, April, 1863, to Sep-
tember, 1863; J. D. Berry, D.D., April, 1864-66; Wil-
liam L. Peck, 1866-71; F. A. Henry; Hiram Stone,
Nov. 1, 1873, to Sept. 15, 1874; G. M. Wilkins, Sept.
15, 1874, to July 1, 1875; Hiram Stone, July 1, 1875,
present rector.

BAPTIST CHURCH, BANTAM FALLS.*

Several years ago an eminent Sunday-school laborer
in Connecticut, to facilitate his work, prepared an en-
larged map of the State, on which he located every
Sunday-school and church in the State, indicating
the various denominations by different colored inks,
such as red, blue, green, etc. He had exhibited this
at a large public meeting, and explained the needs
and peculiarities of the different localities, when he
said, “Gentlemen, I bid you notice these green spots,

 

* Contributed by Rev. H. G. Smith.

 

they indicate the Baptists. And you will notice,”
said he, “ that they.are thickest along the shore of the
Sound and along the principal water-courses, such as
the Thames and the Connecticut. Like the grass, by
whose color they are represented, you perceive they
flourish best in wet places.” This may account for
the paucity of churches of this denomination in the
county. Although it abounds in hills, it also rejoices
in the most extensive sheet of water in the State,—
Bantam Lake,—and close around this, in the old town
of Litchfield, there have been, at different times, three
Baptist churches, all of them small, but large enough
to illustrate the truth of the Sunday-school speaker's
remark,—that they flourish best in wet places. Some-
thing less than a century ago there was a church in
Northfield, and about the time that went down an-
other was started in Footville, South Farms, now
Morris, This was never a flourishing church ; but, if
it did no other work than to prepare the way for two
grandsons of Deacon Pickett to become most success-
ful Baptist ministers, it fulfilled its mission.

From this issued the Bantam Falls Baptist Church,
which was constituted Oct. 31, 1850, with the follow- -
ing members: George Harvey, Mrs. George Harvey,
Ephraim K. Bunnell, Cornelia Bunnell, Samuel
Bronson, Polly Bronson, Christopher C. Palmer, Re-
becca Palmer, Eftrana Canfield, and Eunice Stone.
The first entry upon the records is this:

“Resolved, To adopt the New Testament for our articles, and to be
governed by its directions, precepts, and examples.”

The covenant is substantially the same as that of
the Cornwall Hollow covenant, here given. In 1852
the present house of worship was erected, and the
same year the church was recognized as a regular
Baptist church by a convention of sister churches.
Its pastors have been Revs. Jackson G, Gakun, 1857-
62; C. N. Potter, April, 1868-67 ; J. Fairman, 1867-
71; D. F. Chapman, July, 1871-75; E. D. Bowers,
February, 1876, to May, 1878; H. G. Smith, June,
1878, to the present time (1881).

Its present membership is forty-two, being the
largest number of active members it has ever enjoyed.

Its pastors have always combined with this pastor-
ate the care of the church in East Cornwall, preaching
in each place on alternate Sundays until the present
year, which was opened by the pastor’s preaching in
this place in the morning, in East Cornwall in the
afternoon, and in Cornwall Hollow in the evening of
each Sabbath.

At its organization OC. C. Palmer was elected dea-
con, and, with the exception of a brief absence in the
West, when Enoch Fennell was chosen to the office,
he has occupied that station faithfully to ‘he present,
The history of this has ever been identified with that
of the College Street Baptist Church at East Cornwall.

The Roman Catholics also have a church in Litch-
field, but have no resident pastor.
LITCHFIELD.

CHAPTER XIII.
LITCHFIELD (Continued).

BOROUGIE OF LITCHFIELD.

The Village of Litchfield—Incorporation—First Officers—Presidents and
Clerks from 1818 to 1882—Borough Organization—The Press—The
Weekly Monitor and American Advertiser—The Witness—The Edi-
tors Convicted of Libel—Imprisoned—Political Excitement throughout
Immediate and Distant States —Grand Oration to the Imprisoned
Editor—Excitement in the Town—The Litchfield Gazette—The Litch-
field Journal—The Litchfield Republican—The Miscellany —The
American Eagle—The Litchfield Couuty Post—The Litchfield En-
quirer—The Litchfield Democrat—The Litchfield Sun—The Mercury
—The Democratic Watchman—The Litchfield Republican—The Litch-
field Sentinel—The Litchfield Law-School—The Post-Oftice—Banks—
Savings Society —Insurance Company—‘“ Spring Hill” — St. Paul's
Lodge, No. 11, F. and A. M.—Minerals—Tempernnce in 1789—Slavery
in Litchfield—Bantam Falls—Northfield—Milton—Biographjcal Notes
—College Graduates—Physicians—Lawyers.

At the May session of the Legislature of this State,
1818, the inhabitants of this village presented their
memorial praying for a borough charter. In their
petition they state that “the houses are as contiguous
as they are in many of our cities; that the public
schools, which for many years have been established
in this village, make a great addition ‘to its ordinary
population ; that, on account of their local situation
and compact settlement, they are, as they conceive, in
an unusual degree exposed to injury from fire,” etc.
The application was successful, and the petitioners
and their associates, residing within the limits pre-
scribed, “were constituted and declared to be forever
thereafter a body corporate in fact and in name, by
the name of the ‘Corporation of the Village* of Litch-
field.””’ The powers vested in the corporation were
similar to those of the ordinary borough charters of
this State,—viz., to levy taxes for the purchase of fire-
engines, fire-hooks, ladders, and such other improve-
ments as should be deemed necessary to protect the
village against fires; to order and direct in all matters
relating to side-walks, shade-trees, and the sinking of
public wells and pumps; to restrain cattle, sheep, and
geese from running at large in the public highways;
and to pass such by-laws and regulations, with suit-
able penalties attached, as might, from time to time,
be thought necessary for the attainment of the objects
contemplated in the charter. The officers designated
in the act of incorporation were a president, treasurer,
and clerk (who were in all cases to be chosen by bal-
lot), a collector of taxes, and a number of fire-war-
dens not to exceed ten, together with such other offi-
cers not enumerated as should be necessary to carry
the by-laws and the provisions of the charter into
effect. In case the collector should refuse or neglect
to collect the tax according to the tenor of the war-
rant committed to him, the president must “issue his
warrant directed to the sheriff of the county of Litch-
field, or his deputy, to distrain the sums or rates ne-
glected by such collector to be collected, to be paid

 

* The village of Litchfield was changed to borough of Litchfield by
act of Legislature approved March 21, 1879.

 

137

out of the estate of said collector.” The assessors
were to be appointed by the County Court.

The first meeting of the inhabitants of the borough
under the charter was held on the 17th of June, 1818,
at which the following officers were elected, viz.,
Hon. Frederick Wolcott, president; Dr. William Buel,
treasurer; and Joseph Adams, clerk. A committee
of five was appointed to prepare a code of by-laws for
the borough, viz., Seth P. Beers, Julius Deming, Asa
Bacon, Phineas Miner, and Ozias Lewis. At an ad-
journed meeting holden on the 20th of June, it was
voted to choose a bailiff by ballot, and Dr. Abel Cat-
lin was elected to that office. Benjamin Tallmadge,
Asa Bacon, and Charles L. Webb were appointed a
committee of inspection, and Ashbel Marsh was chosen
key-keeper.

At the regular annual meeting in September, 1818,
Judge Wolcott was re-elected president; Dr. Buel,
treasurer; and Mr. Adams, clerk. Messrs. Roger
Cook, Ambrose Norton, Moses Seymour, Jr., Oliver
Goodwin, and James Trowbridge were chosen fire-
wardens. At an adjourned meeting Asa Bacon, Esq.,
was chosen bailiff; Charles L. Webb, Leonard Good-
win, Jonathan Carrington, and Ambrose Norton as-
sistant bailiffs; and Leonard Goodwin, collector.

The first board of assessors consisted of Erastus Ly-
man, Esq., Gen. Morris Woodruff, and John N. Gunn,
Esq. The amount of the grand list of the borough,
October, 1818, as returned by the assessors, was one
hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine hundred and
thirteen dollars and sixty-five cents.

In 1820 the Hon. Uriel Holmes was elected presi-
dent of the borough. In 1824 he was succeeded by
Dr. William Buel, who held the office for.twelve years.

THE PRESS.

On Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1784, was issued in this town
the first number of The Weekly Monitor and American
Advertiser, printed by Collier & Copp, “in the south
end of the court-house.” It contains only three Litch-
field advertisements, viz., (1) that of William Rus-
sell, stocking-weaver from (Norwich, England), who
announced that he was ready to make “‘ worsted, cotton,
and linen Jacket and Breeches Patterns, men’s and
women’s Stockings, Gloves, and Mitts;” (2) that of
Zalmon Bedient, barber, who offers cash for human
hair, at his barber-shop, “a few rods north of the
court-house in Litchfield;” (8) that of Cornelius
Thayer, brazier, who gives notice that he carries on
business at the shop of Col. Miles Beach, in North
Street, at which shop the jeweler’s and silversmith’s
business “is carried on as usual by said Beach.”

The Monitor was continued for a period of twenty-
two years, for sixteen years of which it had no rival
in the town. It was printed on a sheet about one-
third the present size of the Litchfield Enquirer, with
coarse type and coarse blue paper. A single com-
positor might have set the type in a single day for all
the new matter which was contained in some of the
138

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

weekly issues. Yet it is a most interesting epitome
of the olden times. From it we are able to glean very
many facts and events in the history of this town and
county which are preserved nowhere else. Until
after the advent of the present century both the town
and county were Federal in their politics, and the
Monitor was at once the organ and the oracle of the
Federal party in this region.

In August, 1805, two young printers—Messrs. Sel-
lick Osborn and Timothy Ashley—came to this town
and established The Witness, a violent Democratic
newspaper. The Witness was edited by Mr. Osborn,
who, though a man of talents and energy, was a most
unscrupulous partisan and bitter satirist. Though
there was a formidable minority of Democrats in the
township at this time, Litchfield Hill was the strong-
hold of Federalism. Tallmadge, Reeve, Wolcott,
Deming, Gould, Tracy, Holmes, Allen, Aaron Smith,
Rev. Messrs. Champion and Huntington, and indeed
nearly all the leading men of the village, were Fed-
eralists, and looked upon Jefferson as an infidel and
reprobate. Subsequent to the Presidential election of
1800 (which resulted in the choice of Jefferson to the
Presidency), the partisan sermons and prayers of
Messrs. Champion and Huntington, of the Congrega-
tional Church, had driven several of their church-
members (including Deacon Lewis) to Episcopacy.
On one occasion, after a political sermon from Parson
Huntington, his venerable colleague, Father Cham-
pion, prayed first and fervently for “thy servant the
President of the United States” (John Adams), and
concluded thus: “And, O Lord! wilt thou bestow
upon the Vice-President (Jefferson) a double portion
of Thy grace, for Thou knowest he needs it!’ The
summary withdrawal of so many members caused the
First Church no little embarrassment. A formal ex-
pulsion was proposed ; but some of them occupied high
social positions, and others were nearly allied to re-
maining members. The matter was finally adjusted
by a simple withdrawal of the “watch and fellow-
ship” of the church from the seceders. The feeling
of hostility between Federalists and Democrats was
such that prominent men living in the same neighbor-
hood refused to recognize each other when they met;
Federal ladies refused even to make formal calls at
the houses of their Democratic neighbors; and the
children of Federalists were forbidden to associate
with those of the hated Democrats. Such was the
state of feeling on Litchfield Hill when The Witness
opened its batteries on the ranks of Federalism. At
first its assaults were treated with contempt. Osborn
grew bolder, more bitter, and more personal, gather-
ing up and parading before the public the foibles or
follies (real or manufactured) of the principal men of
the village, against whose honor no word of suspicion
had before been breathed. Charges and insinuations
of hypocrisy and crime were freely blended with the
most scathing ridicule. This was “bearding the lion
in his den.” It was not long before Osborn was in-

 

dicted, tried, and convicted of a libel on Julius Dem-
ing, Esq. Osborn and his partner Ashley were both
subjected to a fine, in default of the payment of which
both were committed to the county jail. Ashlaéy was
soon liberated, and Osborn might have been had he
complied with the terms of the court; but as—as he
himself expressed it—“‘the only alternative offered
him was to have either his body or mind imprisoned,
of course he remained in confinement.” His friends
regarded him as a martyr to his political fidelity, It
was published far and wide through the columns of
the Democratic journals that his health was sinking
from confinement “in a damp and loathsome cell;”
that a maniac charged with murder was thrust into
the same cell with him, etc. On the 4th of July,
1806, a meeting of the Democrats of Litchfield was
held at Phelps’ hotel, at which a committee of three
was appointed “ to repair to the prison and learn the
true situation of Mr. Osborn and his treatment since
his imprisonment, and to report at an adjourned
meeting.” At the adjourned meeting, on the 14th, the
committee reported in substance that they had visited
Mr. Osborn at the jail; that he was confined in the
same room with two criminals, both charged with
capital offenses; that his room was formed of damp and
ragged stone walls, in which the air was impure,
stagnant, and offensive, and so dark that it was diffi-
cult to distinguish one’s features; that his friends
were generally denied admission to his room, and
could only have intercourse with him through the
outer grate of the prison; that his health was failing,
etc. From this date the committee visited the prison
from time to time, and issued their weekly bulletins
through the columns of The Witness. In vain Sheriff
Landon denied the truth of the committee’s original
report. The story of Osborn’s persecutions went
abroad over the land. The Democracy of distant
States held indignation meetings, at which Osborn
was extolled, the Connecticut courts denounced, and
the Litchfield Federalists execrated. At length it was
resolved to have a grand ovation in behalf of Osborn
at Litchfield, and the 6th of August was fixed upon
for the celebration. The great day finally arrived,
and with it came an immense concourse of Democrats
from this and other States. Daybreak was greeted
with the discharge of one gun at the head of North
Street, a responsive discharge on the flag-staff on the
public green, and martial music until sunrise. At
sunrise seventeen guns were fired with martial music.
At eleven the procession moved in the following
order, viz. :

Military, commanded by Maj. Stephen Ranney, Lieut. Swett, United
States officer stationed at Springfield, acting as marshal, Jobn M. Felder
ag adjutant, and Chauncey Hotchkiss as quartermaster, consisting of

Cavalry, commanded by Capt. Carter.
Band of music.
Matross company from Danbury, commanded by Lieut, Ambler.
ss “of this town, commanded by Capt. Bissell.
composed of boys, in white uniform.
Light infantry, commanded by Capt. Shethar.

“ “6
LITCHFIELD.

Infantry, commanded by Capt. Grannis.
e at Lieut. Stone.
= ee Ensign Norton.
‘wo of the Committee of Arrangements.
. Clergy and Orator.

Gen. Timothy Skinner, President of the Day.
Moses Seymour, Esq.,
John Welch, Esq.,
Ozias Lewis, Esq.

Six of the Committee of Arrangements.

Marshals of Connecticut and Vermont.

Collectors of New Haven and Middletown.
Citizens generally.

j Vice-Presidents of the Day.

The procession passed under Osborn’s prison win-
dow with heads uncovered, each saluting the pris-
oner with a passing bow, and the military giving him
a brigadier’s salute. Notwithstanding the hatred
with which many of the Congregationalists regarded
Democracy, the society’s committee had generously
tendered the use of their meeting-house for the occa-
sion. Thither the procession wended. The services
in the church consisted of a prayer by the Rev. Asa-
hel Morse (Baptist), of Suffield ; reading of the Dec-
laration of Independence by Jonathan Law, Esq., of
Cheshire; an oration by David Plant, Esq., of Strat-
ford [since member of Congress and Lieutenant-Gov-
ernor]; and an address by Joseph L. Smith, Esq., of
Litchfield.

Before the arrival of the procession at the church
an occurrence took place which created much ill-feel-
ing and comment at the time. Messrs. Champion and
Huntington entered the church, and were proceeding
up the aisle towards the pulpit, when, according to
Mr. Champion’s statement, he was seized near the
shoulder by Joseph L. Smith, Esq.,a member of the
committee of arrangements, who pulled him around,
saying, “ You have no business here, and must go out
of the house.” Mr. Champion replied that he was an
old man, and wished for liberty to sit in the pulpit,
assuring him that he would make no disturbance.
Mr. Smith grew more boisterous, and the two clergy-
men withdrew. Mr. Smith and his friends published
a very different version of the story; while the Fed-
eralists reiterated that Smith had at first boasted of
the exploit, and declared that he would have called
the military to his aid if it had been necessary in
ejecting the intruders. Mr. Champion seems to have
taken the matter very seriously.

“I was much afflicted,” he wrote, “at being cast out of the house of
God where I had worshipped almost fifty-four years, and could expect to
be there but a few days more. These reflections crowded into my mind
when ejected and retiring from the place where God's honor had dwelt.”

At the annual election in October, 1805, it may be
remarked, not a single Democrat had been chosen to
the Legislature in Litchfield County, and the Feder-
alists had not been backward in taunting Osborn
ahout the “revolution,” which it was said he had
boasted he would produce in this region. At the an-
nual election in May, 1806, the tables had been par-
tially reversed by the election of two Democratic rep-
resentatives from Litchfield by a vote of three hun-
dred and fourteen to three hundred and eight. A

 

139

portion of the Democratic enthusiasm in behalf of
Osborn is attributable to an appreciation of his ser-
vices in producing this result.

As an incident of the celebration, it is mentioned
that during the day a placard was displayed on the
door of one of the principal hotels, bearing the signifi-
cant words, “No DEMOCRATS ADMITTED HERE,”
Some gentlemen from a distance put up, as was their
custom when this way, with an intimate friend who
chanced to be a rank Federalist. He soon inquired if
they had come to attend the celebration ; and on being
answered in the affirmative, he abruptly replied,
“Then you cannot be accommodated at my house.
As old friends, I should have been glad to see you;
as Democrats, I want nothing to do with you!” Such
was the spirit of the times.

When the services in the church were over the pro-
cession was reformed and proceeded to a large bower
which had been erected in the meadow on the south
side of East Street, nearly opposite the jail, where a
cold repast had been prepared by Capt. Phelps.
Seventeen regular toasts were drank, accompanied by
the discharge of cannon and music from the band.
Among them were the following:

“ Justice—May false witnesses, perjured judges, and packed juries be
banished from its courts.”

“Selleck Osborn—Like Daniel in the lion’s den, he is teaching his
persecutors that the beasts cannot devour him.” [Three cheers.]

“ Liberty of the Press—Litchfield Jail its stronghold.” [Three cheers.]

“ The Political Clergy—If there were twenty Gods, perhaps some one
might approve their services; but the one God wants no political pas-
tors.” [Three cheers.] :

“The memory of our departed friend, Ephraim Kirby—Hie virtues
will live while our memory lasts; his merits shall be known to pos-
terity.”

“Litchfield Jail—Our votes will level it as the ram’s horns did the
walls of Jericho.” [Six cheers.]

The Witness complains that the name of Maj. Sey-
mour was stricken from the roll of justices of the
peace for this county by the Legislature (May, 1807)
because of his participation in the 6th of August cele-
bration. :

In June, 1807, The Witness gives the following
summary of the suits against Messrs. Osborn and
Ashley, viz. :

 
  
   

 

“ Pine and costs in libel suit with J. Deming, Esq.... = $346.46
For publishing case of Talmadge & Wolcott vs. Gen ith

comments thereon, fine and costs. 605.98
For slaudering Thomas Collier.... 522.00
(Besides costs uf complaint in favor of Mr. Ashley against

Thomas G. Collier, which complaint the county court dis-

missed.) ——
AB ETeEAte..seesccseerereeesenene seers eneeneses enuesenenssennenerscsseessnesseene $1474.44”

Osborn was not the only man involved in libel suits
in those days. The Hon. Tapping Reeve and Capt.
Thomas Collier, of The Monitor, were both indicted
before the United States District Court at New Haven
for libeling President Jefferson; and the Rev. Daniel
Huntington, of this village, recovered one thousand
dollars from Maj. Babcock, of the Hartford Mercury,
a Democratic paper.

The Witness was discontinued in the summer of
1807, having been published about two years. Sel-
leck Osborn was a native of Danbury, and after leay-
140

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ing Litchfield published The Delaware Watchman at
Wilmington, Del. A volume of his poems was pub-
lished in Boston. He died in Philadelphia in 1826.

The Iatchfield Monitor was discontinued in 1806,
having been published by Mr. Collier for twenty-two
years. Thomas Collier, son of Richard, was born in
Boston, Feb. 20,1760, and died in Binghamton, N. Y.,
1844. On leaving this town he resided for several
years in Troy. In June, 1799, an orphan lad of four-
teen years, named John C. Wright, from Wethers-
field, entered the Monitor office as an apprentice, re-
mained with Mr. Collier until of age, married his
daughter Mary, and for some time published a paper
in Troy.

The Litchfield Enquirer, the oldest newspaper pub-
lished in the county, issued its first number at Litch-
field, June 20, 1826. It was owned and edited by
Stephen 8. Smith, and was then called the Litch-
jield County Post. Dec. 25, 1828, Smith sold the Post
to D. C. McClarey, who conveyed it to Henry Adams
less than a month afterwards, Jan. 22, 1829. Mr.
Adams changed the name of the paper to The Litchfield
Enquirer, and edited it very ably and successfully till
his accidental death, by drowning, in February, 1842.
The Enquirer then went into the hands of Mr. Charles
Adams, a brother of Henry Adams, and an experi-
enced journalist, founder of the New Haven Palladium,
and influential in the politics of this State and of New
York. On Oct. 2, 1845, Mr. P. K. Kilbourne suc-
ceeded as editor,—a position he held for near eight
years following. Mr. Kilbourne was the author of a
valuable ‘“‘History of the Town of Litchfield,” and
assisted Mr. G. H. Hollister very greatly in the prep-
aration of materials for his “ History of Connecticut.”
Mr. Henry W. Hyatt succeeded Kilbourne as editor
of the Enquirer, March 3, 1858, selling out to Edward
C. Goodwin, Sept. 4, 1856, who was succeeded by
Adams & Betts, April 2, 1857, Mr. Adams resuming
the editorial chair, while Mr. Betts was publisher,
On Oct. 18, 1859, Mr. James Humphrey, Jr., became
editor and proprietor of the Enquirer. He was an
extremely bright, caustic writer, and edited the paper
throughout the war till April 18, 1865, when he sold
it to Henry E. Wing and Alexander B. Shumway,
the former acting as editor, and the latter as pub-
lisher. George A. Hickox, the present editor, suc-
ceeded Wing, July 29, 1866, and became sole pro-
prietor in 1869. The Enquirer started as an indepen-
dent paper, and has been such for several years past ;
but in its intermediate period, it was a party paper,—
first Whig and then Republican in politics. Its orig-
inal size was five columns. In 1845, Mr. Kilbourne
enlarged it to six columns. In 1860, Mr. Humphrey
made it a seven-column paper; and, in 1872, Mr.
Hickox added another column, making it about
double the original size. It has always been fairly
prosperous, with a good subscription-list for a local
paper.

The Litchfield Gazette was commenced in J anuary,

 

‘1808, by Messrs. Charles Hosmer and Oliver Good-

win, and was discontinued May 17, 1809,

Isaiah Bunce came to this town soon after, and
commenced The Litchfield Journal, the name of which
was changed to The Litchfield Republican in 1819;
which, in turn, was succeeded by The Miscellany, a
small quarto, in July, 1821. In September, 1822,
Mr. Bunce began the publication of The American
Eagle, which he removed to New Haven in March,
1826. Mr. Bunce was a man of enterprise, and estab-
lished a bookstore, reading-room, and circulating
library, and was for a few years a justice of the
peace.

Nov. 8, 1833, Melzer Gardner, from Hartford, com-
menced The Litchfield Democrat, which was discon-
tinued in September, 1834, Subsequently, while
editing a paper in Richmond, Va., Gardner was
shot on board a steamboat near that city by a man
to whom he had given offense by an article which he
had published.

The Litchfield Sun was started by John M. Baldwin
(a native of this town) in February, 1835, who sold
out to §. G. Hayes, of New Haven, in September,
1837, who discontinued it in April, 1839.

In January, 1840, Charles E. Moss & Co. com:
menced The Mercury, which was transferred to Josiah
Giles in the following August. It was discontinued
some time in 1842. The Mercury was soon succeeded
by The Democratic Watchman, also published by Mr.
Giles, which was discontinued in 1844,

In 1845, J. K. Averill commenced the New Milford
Republican, at New Milford; in September, 1846, he
removed his office to this village, and changed the
name of his paper to the Litchfield Republican. W.
IF. & G. H. Baldwin, Albert Stoddard, and Franklin
Hull successively continued the publication of the
Republican. In 1856 the office was removed to Falls
Village, where it was issued under the name of
The Housatonic Republican, and subsequently dis-
continued.

The Litchfield Sentinel was started about the year
1865, by 8. H. Baldwin, with J. D. Champlin, Jr., as
editor. It was owned successively by Mr. Champlin,
Solon B. Johnson, and J. R. Farnum, and in 1878 the
material was purchased by G. A. Hickox, the present
proprietor of the Litchfield Enquirer.

THE LITCHFIELD LAW-SCHOOL.

This institution, the first of the kind in this country,
was established by Hon. Tapping Reeve in 1784. He
conducted it as sole principal until 1798, when the
Hon. James Gould, LL.D., became associated with
him in its management. From 1820, Judge Gould
conducted the school alone for several years, and was
then assisted by Hon. Jabez W. Huntington. In con-
sequence of the failing health of Judge Gould, it was
discontinued in 1888. The Litchfield Law-School
was a celebrated institution, and at the time of its
close the number of students had been one thousand
LITCHFIELD.

and twenty-four, every State in the Union having
been represented. Of this number fifteen became
United States senators; fifty, members of Congress;
forty, judges of the higher State courts; ten, governors
of States ; five, cabinet officers,—Calhoun, Woodbury,
Mason, Clayton, and Hubbard; two, justices of the
United States Supreme Court,—Henry Baldwin and
Levi Woodbury; one, Vice-President of the United
States,—John C. Calhoun; and several foreign minis-
ters, among whom was Hon. John Y. Mason, minister
to France.
POST-OFFICE, 5

The Litchfield post-office was established in 1791.
The following announcement appeared in the Litch-
field Monitor in January of that year:

POST-OFFICE ESTABLISHMENT.

“The Public, particularly Gentlemen in the Town and Vicinity of
Litchfield, have some time lamented the waut of a regular and weekly
Tntercourse with the City of Hartford, by a Post immediately from this
Town, are respectfully assured that a Post, in conjunction with Mr. Isaac
Trowbridge, the Rider from New York, will start from this Office for
Hartford regularly once a week, commencing on Monday next, the 31st
inst, This Establishment has met the Sanction and Encouragement of
Mr. Trowbridge, and the Undertakers wil be subject to the same Regu-
lations and Responsibility required by the Postmaster General. Conse-
quently, every Duty annexed to the Business will be strictly and point-
edly observed,

“ And that the Public may be better accommodated, and derive a safe
Repository for their letters, &c.,a POST-OFFICE is opened in Collier's
Printing Office, at which Place all Despatches to be transmitted through
the Medium of either Post must be deposited. During the Winter (and
till the lst of May next) the Post from New York will ride once a fort-
night, and arrive on Tuesday Evening, commencing the 5th of the en-
suing month. Those who have Business or Letters are requested to leave
their directions at this office, for New York on Tuesday, for Hartford on
Saturday Evenings, preceding the days of departure, as the Post will
positively start at an Early Hour. Letters will be received at this office
for any part of the United States.

* LITCHFIELD, Jan. 24, 1791.”

The following is a list of postmasters from the es-
tablishment of the office to the present time: Benja-
min Tallmadge, Frederick Wolcott, Moses Seymour,
Jr., Charles Seymour, George C. Woodruff, Jason
Whiting, Reuben M. Woodruff, Leverett W. Wessells,
George H. Baldwin, R. Marsh, and H. E. Gates.

THE PH@NIX BRANCILE BANK

was incorporated in 1814. The following were its offi-
cers until it was discontinued Dec. 15, 1864:

Presidents,—Benjamin Tallmadge, 1814-26; James Gould, 1826-33; Asa
Bacon, 1833-46 ; Theron Beach, 1846-52; George C. Woodruff, 1852-64.

Cashiers—James Butler, 1814-21; Austin Kilbourn, 1821-26; Henry A.
Perkins, 1826-28 ; Charles Spencer, 1828-38 ; Theron Beach, 1838-39 ;
Gustavis F, Davis, 1839-51; Henry R. Coit, 1851-64.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK

was organized Dec. 22, 1864. The first board of di-

rectors were Edwin McNeil, David C. Whittlesey,

Henry W. Buel, Frederick D. McNeil, and Henry R.

Coit. The following is a list of the directors from

the organization to present time:

Edwin McNeil, 1864-75; Henry W. Buel, David C. Whittlesey, Fred-
erick D. McNeil, 1864-81; David E. Costwick, 1866-73; J. Deming
Perkins, 1873-75; Charles B. Andrews, Henry R. Coit, 1875-81.

Presidents,—Edwin McNeil, 1864-75 ; Henry R. Coit, 1875-81.

Cashiers.—Henry R. Coit, 1864-75; George E. Jones, 1875-81.
10

 

141

The capital is $200,000; surplus, Jan. 1, 1881,
$40,000; dividends since the organization to Jan. 1,
1881, $345,000.

THE LITCHFIELD BANK

was incorporated in 1856, and organized in 1857, with
William H. Crossman president, and Edward L.
Houghton secretary. It was discontinued.

LITCHFIELD SAVINGS SOCIETY.

This society was incorporated in 1850 by Seth P.
Beers, Theron Beach, Edwin B. Webster, Josiah G.
Beckwith, George Seymour, Oliver Goodwin, Gustavus
F, Davis, William F. Baldwin, Samuel P. Bolles,
George C. Woodruff, G. H. Hollister, Ozias Seymour,
Charles 8. Webb, Charles Adams, and Jason Whiting.
The first president was George C. Woodruff; vice-
president, S. P. Bolles; secretary and treasurer, G, F.
Davis.

Presidents 1850-53, George C. Woodruff; 1853-56, J. G. Beckwith ; 1856-
62, Jason Whiting ; 1873-78, Edward W. Seymour; 1878, George C.
Woodruff, still in office.

Secretaries and Treasurers.—1850-51, G. T. Davis; 1851-52, S. P. Bolles;

1852-75, H. R. Cuit; 1875, George E. Jones; 1876, H.R. Coit, still in
office.

Regular semi-annual dividends from five to six per
cent. per annum have been paid since organization,
with extra dividends of two per cent. per year from
1867 to 1872.

The present directors are George C. Woodruff,
George M. Woodruff, F. D. McNeil, William H..
Braman, Jesse L. Judd.

Deposits, $715,000; surplus, $31,000.

SPRING HILL,

a home for nervous invalids, was opened in the year
1858 by Dr. H. W. Buel. The design of the home
is to afford the most thorough medical care and treat-
ment, combined, as far as may be, with the family
life. Under this plan the very best results have been
and still are attained. Connected with the home are
some three hundred acres of land, lying just in the
border of the village, and affording ample groumds
for recreation and amusement. A cultivated lady
acts as matron, and accommodations are provided for
from twenty to twenty-five ladies and gentlemen,
under the personal care and supervision of Dr. Buel
himself.

Tue LITCHFIELD Mutual Frre INSURANCE
Company was organized in 1833, with Phineas
Miller president, Leonard Goodwin secretary, and
Oliver Goodwin treasurer.

Tue LItcHFIELD HistoRIcaL SocIETY was or-
ganized in 1856, with Seth P. Beers president.

Tue LITCHFIELD AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY was
incorporated in 1818.

Tue LircHFrenp (New BANTAM) VIGILANT
Socrery was organized in 1828.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ST. PAUL’S LODGE, No. 11, F. AND A. M.

The charter of this lodge was issued by the Grand
Lodge of Connecticut, June 1, 1781, to the following
petitioners: James Nichols, John Watkins, Thomas
Phillips, Eaton Jones, Benjamin Hanks, John Collins,
Noah Blakesley, William Durkee, Daniel Starr, John
Colvill, John Kettle, Josiah Norton, and Adino Hale.
The lodge was organized June 13,1781. The follow-
ing is a list of Masters from its organization to 1881 :

Ashbel Baldwin, 1781-82; Benjamin Hanks, 1782-86; Jonathan Kettle,
1786-88 ; Julius Deming, 1788-90; Isaac Baldwin, Jr., 1790-93;
Ephraim Kirby, 1793-95; John Allen, 1795-98; Ephraim Kirby,
1798-99; Isaac Baldwin, Jr., 1799-1801; Ephraim Kirby, 1801-3 ;
Aaron Smith, 1803-6; Peter Sherman, 1806-8; Aaron Smith, 1808
-12; Roger Cook, 1812-14; Lucius Smith, 1814-15; Elijah Adams,
1815-16 ; Lucius Smith, 1816-19; David Marsh, 1819-22; James Win-
ship, 1822-23; Phineas Lord, 1823-24; Phineas B. Taylor, 1824-28;
Frederick Buel, 1828-31; Heman W, Childs, 1831-387; Samuel Buel
(2a), 1837-48; Stephen Deming; 1843-46; Charles L. Webb, 1846-49;
Phineas B. Taylor, 1849-50; Frederick Buel, 1850-52; Frederick D.
Beeman, 1852-54; David E. Bostwick, 1854-66; Eli D. Weeks, 1866-
68; Alexander B. Shumway, 1868-70; Elbert G, Roberts, 1870-71;
Euson Staples, 1871-73 ; Sammel W. Ensign, 1873-74; William Dem-
ing, 1874-75; Charles H. Platt, 1875-77; Walter KX. Peck, 1877-79;
James J. Newcomb, 1879-80.

MINERALS,

It was thought at one time that the mineral de-
posits in this town were of great value, particularly
copper, and companies were organized for working the
“mine.” All, however, were unsuccessful. P. T,
Barnum was at the head of one of these companies.

TEMPERANCE IN LITCHFIELD IN 1789.

The first temperance organization in this State, and
probably the first in the world, was organized in
Litchfield in 1789, as follows:

“So many are the avenues leading to human misery that it is impos-
sible to guard them all. Such evils as are produced by our own folly
and weakness are within our power to avoid. The immoderate use
which the peuple of this State make of Distilled Spirits is undoubtedly
an evil of this kind. Jt is obvious to every person of the smallest obser:
vation that from this pernicious practice follows a train of evils difficult
to be enumerated. The morals are corrupted, property is exhausted, and
health destroyed. And it is most sincerely to be regretted that from a
mistaken idea that distilled spirits are unecessary to laboring men, to
counteract the influence of heat and give relief from severe fatigue, that
a most valuable class of citizens have been led to contract a habit of such
damgerous tendency, Hence arises the inability to pay public taxes, to
discharge private debts, and to support and educate families, Seriously
considering this subject, and the frowns of Divine Providence in denying
muny families in this part of the country the means of a conifurtable sub-
sistence the present year by failure of the principal crops of the earth, we
think it peculiarly the duty of every good citizen to unite his efforts to
reform a practice which leads so many to poverty, distress, aud ruin.
Whereupon we do hereby associate, and mutually agree, that hereafter
we will carry on our business without the use of distilled spirits as an
article of refreshment, either for ourselves or those whom we employ,
and that instead thereof we will serve our workmen with wholesome
food and common simple drinks of our own production,

* Benjamin Kirby, Archibald McNeil,
Timothy Skinner, Abraham Bradley,
David Buel, I. Baldwin, Jr.,
Julius Deming, T. Reeve,

Benjamin Tallmadge, Collier & Adam,
Uriah Tracy, Tubias Cleaver,
Ebeuezer Marsh, Amos Galpin,

Moses Seymour, Thomas Trowbridge,
Samuel Marsh, 8. Shethar,

James Stone, Solomon Buel,

 

Samuel Seymour,
Daniel Sheldon,
Ozias Lewis,
Lawrence Wessells,
Elijah Wadsworth,
Alexander Catlin,
Reuben Smith,
Lynde Lord,

“ By Necessity and on Principle, in consequence of little experimentand
much observation, I have effectually adopted and adhered to the galu-
tary plan herein proposed during several months past, and am atill re-
solved to persevere until convinced that any alteration will be productive
of some greater good, whereof at present I have no apprehensions whilst
Human Nature remains the same.

“ LITCHFIELD, 9th of May, 1789.

Bryant Stoddard,
Abraham Peck,
Frederick Wolcott,
Nathaniel Smith (2d), -
John Allen,

John Welch,

Arthur Emmons,”

J. STRONG.”

SLAVERY IN LITCHFIELD.

Slavery can hardly be said to have existed in this
town during the present century, and it has for years,
been extinct. In the year 1800 only seven blacks
were accounted slaves, though some born such are
still living. During the eighteenth century, however,
it existed here in a mild form, as it did in other parts
of the State. The records of Wills and Distribution
show that a considerable proportion of the personal
estate of the most opulent of our early settlers con-
sisted of negro servants.

The following document, executed by the first Gov-
ernor Oliver Wolcott, we find on our town records:

“ Know all meu by these presents that I, Oliver Wolcott, of Litchfield,
in the State of Connecticut, in expectation that my negro servant man,
Ceesar, will, by his industry, be able to obtain a comfortable subsistence
for hiniself, and that he will make a proper use of the freedom which I
hereby give him, do discharge, liberate, and set free, him, the said Cesar,
and do hereby exempt him from any further obligations of servitude to
me, my heirs, and from every other person claiming any authority over
him, by, from, or under me. And that my said servant, whom I now
make free, as aforesaid, may be known hereafter by a proper cognomen,
Thereby give him the name of Jamus, so that hereafter he is to be
known and distinguished by the name of Cesar Jamus. As witness my
hand and seal, in Litchfield, Nov. 23, a.p. 1786.

“OLIVER WOLCOTT. [z. s.]

“Tn presence of

“Mary Ann Wolcott,

“FREDERICK Wo.cort.”

During the latter part of the last century the blacks,
in imitation of the whites, chose for themselves a
Governor and other State officials. Their last Gov-
ernor was Will, a resident of this town, whose obitu-
ary appears in the Monitor of Wednesday, March 6,
1793, as follows:

“Died, on Thursday, of consumption, Will, a free negro (formerly
owned Ly Maj. Seymour), governor of the blacks in this vicinity. His
integrity and faithfulness through life will, we hope, entitle him to the
rewards of the good and faithful servant.”*

“ As was the case with the settlers of the New Eng-
land towns generally, the founders of Litchfield re-
garded the subject of education as a matter of primary
importance. As stated elsewhere, one-sixtieth part
of the township (about seven hundred acres) was
originally set apart for the support of schools, In
December, 1725, eight pounds were appropriated from
the town treasury ‘for hiring schoolmasters and
school-dames’ to instruct the children in reading and

 

* Judge Woodruff.
LITCHFIELD.

writing for the year next ensuing, and a like sum was
ordered to be raised by a tax upon the parents or
guardians of the children, to be gathered by the
town collector. Messrs. Marsh, Buel, Hosford, and
Goodrich were chosen a school committee. Two years
later ten pounds were paid out of the public treasury
for the same object, with the proviso that four pounds
of this sum should be given for the support of a
writing-school, and the balance ‘ for teaching of chil-
dren by school-dames,’ from which we are to infer
that the female teachers did not give instruction in
writing. The first reference made by the records rel-
ative to building a school-house is contained in the
doings of a town-meeting held Dec. 28, 1731,—Mr.
Joseph Kilbourn, moderator,—which is as follows:

“Voted to build a school-house in ye center of ye town, on ye Meet-
ing-House Green; und Joseph Kilbourn, Jr., Ebenezer Marsh, and John
Gay were chosen a committee to carry on said work.’”

“ At the same time it was voted to build the school-
house twenty feet square. The school committee were
authorized to hire a schoolmaster, and set up a school
during the succeeding fall and winter.

“Messrs. Jacob Griswold and Benjamin Gibbs were
appointed in December, 1727, to run the lines and
set up monuments ‘ between the school-lots and Pine
Island.’

“The question as to how the school-lands should

be disposed of to the best advantage appears to have
been very difficult to settle. On the 12th of March,
1729, it was voted to sell them for one thousand pounds,
and Messrs. Marsh and Bird were designated to man-
age the sale. Some one, doubtless, called in question
the right of the town to make such a sale, as a week
later the inhabitants, in general town-meeting con-
vened, appointed Mr. Marsh their agent to apply to
the General Assembly ‘for diberty to make sale of the
school-lands in Litchfield.’ The application was un-
successful, but the people soon found a way to evade
the letter of the law. On the 29th of November,
1729, it was ‘voted that the school right in Litch-
field should be leased out for the maintenance of a
school in said Litchfield for nine hundred and ninety-
nine years ensuing.’ Messrs. Marsh, Buel, Hosford,
and Bird, were appointed a committee to lease the
lands accordingly. As if apprehensive that even
this lease might vltimately expire and thus give
their descendants unnecessary trouble, with a far-
reaching glance into futurity, they proceeded to
bind their successors ‘in ye recognizance of ten thou-
sand pounds lawful money, to give a new lease of said
Right at the end of said term of nine hundred and
ninety-nine years if there shall be occasion.’ ”

In pursuance of these votes the committee appointed
for that purpose, on the 15th of April, 1780, leased to
sundry individuals the school right for the time des-
ignated; the grantee paying twenty-seven pounds
annually for eight years for the support of the school,
and the ninth year paying to the selectmen four
hundred and fifty pounds, to be forever kept for the

 

143

support of a school in Litchfield. To the lease was
annexed the following:

“ Postscript— Before signing and sealing, the above-mentioned signers
and sealers agreed, that whoever occupies and improves all the above

land or lands, or any part of them, shall pay all rates or taxes that shall
arise upon them or any part of them during the whole term of the

lease.”

In the year 1867 it was ‘‘ voted to divide the money
for which the school right was sold between the old so-
ciety, the South Farms Society, and the Church of
England in proportion to the list of each part.”

In addition to the law-school mentioned on a pre-
vious page, the following educational institutions
flourished here, all of which are now extinct: Litch-
field Female Academy (incorporated in 1827), the Elm
Park Collegiate Instutute, the Wolcott Institute, and
the Gould Seminary. (For present condition of
schools see Chapter VIII.)

EXECUTIONS.

It is believed that no native of Litchfield was ever
convicted of murder, and that willful murder was
never committed by or upon a white man within the
limits of this town. In 1768 an Indian, named John
Jacob, was hanged for the murder of another Indian.
In November, 1785, Thomas Goss, of Barkhamsted,
was executed for the murder of his wife. In these
days he would have been acquitted on the ground of
insanity. On the plea that his wife was a witch, he
split her head open with an axe. Though at times
apparently rational, he sometimes declared that he
was the second Lamb of God, that he was brother of
Jesus Christ, and that he was the child born of the
woman mentioned in the Revelation of St. John,
“before whom the dragon stood ready to devour the
child;” he forbade his counsel to apply for a reprieve,
declared the sheriff could not hang him, ete. May 8,
1780, Barnet Davenport, aged twenty years, was ex-
ecuted for murder and arson in Washington. Resid-
ing as a laborer in the family of Caleb Mallory, he
entered the sleeping-room of Mr. and Mrs. Mallory
at midnight and beat them to death with a club, and
their little grandchild shared the same fate. After
robbing the house and setting it on fire the murderer
fled, leaving two other persons asleep who perished in
the flames. These persons, it is understood, were ex-
ecuted in Gallows Lane, in this village. Other con-
victions for capital crimes have taken place before the
courts, but these are the only individuals who have
ever suffered the extreme penalty of the law in this
county.

ASSIGNED TO SERVICE FOR DEBT.

Formerly, by a law of this State, if debtors had no
other means to pay their debts they were assigned in
service for that purpose. And it is said to have been
common for poor foreigners, who could not pay their
passage money, to stipulate with the captain of the
ship that he might assign them to raise the money.
Persons so assigned were called redemptioners, and
144

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT,

 

several were so held in service in this town. Among
them was Matthew Lyon, a native of Ireland, who
was assigned to Hugh Hannah, of Litchfield, for a
pair of stags valued at twelve pounds. lyon was
afterwards a member of Congress from Vermont and
from Kentucky. He was convicted under the famous
alien and sedition law, and fined. The fine was sub-
sequently remitted by Congress to him or his heirs.

BANTAM FALLS

is a pleasant village about four miles west of Litch-
field, a station on the Shepaug Railroad, situated on
the Bantam River, which here falls one hundred and
twenty-five feet in a distance of less than three-
quarters of a mile, an excellent site for manufactur-
ing, as, in addition to the great descent of the river,
it has the advantage of Bantam Lake for a reservoir.
This picturesque lake has a superficial area of about
one thousand acres, the outflow being controlled per-
fectly by a dam fourteen feet in width, about half a
mile from the lake. There are several manufacturing
establishments now in operation,—a cotton-mill, a
very complete grist- and flouring-mill, a successful
carriage-factory, also several dams and unoccupied
mill-sites. There are also two thriving stores, one of
which is owned by the postmaster and used as a post-
office. It is connected by telephone with Litchfield,
and the railroad telegraph passes through the village.
With the unfailing water-power, which has stood the
test of the severe droughts and frost of past years, the
inhabitants of Bantam anticipate a future of great
prosperity.

The west side of Bantam Lake has attracted much
notice from visitors by reason of the picturesque views
from the road, which passes along closely hugging the
water. One of Brooklyn’s world-famous divines, who
is also a great traveler, declares that in all his travels
he has seen nothing more lovely than this drive.

The cotton-mill referred to above was built in 1876
-77 by Dorsey Neville & George E. Jones. Its pro-
duction has been doubled since business commenced.
The carriage-factory is the property of Flynn &
Doyle. The flouring-mill belongs to E. McNeill, the
gate at the outlet of the lake being owned and con-
trolled by G. E. Jones.

NORTHFIELD

is a hamlet located in the southeastern part of the
town. It was incorporated as a parish in 1794,

THE NORTHFIELD KNIFE COMPANY
was organized and incorporated in January, 1858, as
a joint stock corporation, the original stock of ten
thousand dollars being taken by some forty workmen,
only a small portion of the capital being paid in at
the start. The company then leased the buildings
and water-power of the Northfield Manufacturing
Company (organized several years previous for the
manufacture of carriages and a variety of other goods,

 

and which venture proved unrenumerative), and in
their factory, then nearly new, commenced the man-
ufacture of pocket-cutlery. John 8. Barnes, a native
of Sheffield, England, was elected president of the
corporation, and held that office for about four years,
Then Samuel Mason, the former secretary, also from
Sheffield, was chosen president, continuing in that
office for about three years, when (in January, 1865)
the management of the business was placed in the
hands of F. H. Catlin, of Northfield, he being elected
president of the corporation, and which management
and office he has had since that time and still retaing,

In 1865 this company purchased the entire property
of the Northfield Manufacturing Company, including
a good water-power, with a fall of over fifty feet,
which they have since greatly improved by the build-
ing of large reservoirs on the two streams whose waters
they control. They have also erected additional fac-
tory buildings, numerous dwellings, and a fine store,
and provided the village with an increased mail ser-
vice. Their cutlery has always ranked high for
quality, and has achieved an enviable reputation. It
received high awards at the Centennial Exhibition at
Philadelphia, in 1876, and at the Paris Exhibition of
1878, is well and favorably known in nearly every
State and Territory of the Union, and has been sold
for export to several foreign countries. The different
styles of pocket-knives kept in stock by this company
number about four hundred, while their exhibit at
Philadelphia comprised about eight. hundred, and
that at Paris about nine hundred styles, The annual
business is about one hundred thousand dollars, em-
ploying about seventy-five operatives, nearly all of
whom are skilled Sheffield workmen, many of whom,
together with their families, the company has brought
over from England.

The present officers of the company are F. H. Cat-
lin president and treasurer, and J. Howard Caitlin

‘secretary.

MILTON

is a hamlet located in the northwestern part of the
town, and was incorporated as a parish in 1795.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES.*

Samuel Adams, a native of Milford and long a resi-
dent of Stratford, came to this village to reside a few
years previous to his death, which took place here
Nov. 12, 1788, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He
had-been a prominent lawyer and judge of the Fair-
field County Court. His widow, Mrs. Mary Adams,
died in this town, Aug. 29, 1808, in the one hundred
and siath year of her age. “She retained,” says the
Monitor, “her memory, reason, and activity remark-
ably until about two years before her death. After
she was an hundred years old she rode on horseback
thirty miles in one day.” She was a daughter of Mr.

 

* Condensed from “ Kilbourne’s History of Litchfield.”
LITCHFIELD.

145

 

Zachariah Fairchild, and was born in Stratford, May
7, 1698; thus having lived in three centuries.

John Allen, a native of Great Barrington, Mass.,
was admitted to the Litchfield bar in 1786, and con-
tinued to reside here as a practicing lawyer until his
death, in the year 1812. He was a representative at
seven sessions; clerk of the House in 1796; member
of Congress from 1797 to 1799; and member of the
State Council from 1800 to 1806. He not only pos-
sessed great powers of mind, but was remarkable for
his imposing presence, having been nearly seven feet
in height, and with a proportionably heavy frame.

John W. Allen, son of the preceding, was born in
Litchfield, but left his native town soon after the
death of his father. Having studied law, he settled
in Cleveland, Ohio, where he became eminent in his

_ profession.

Rey. Horace Agard, son of Mr. Noah Agard, was
born in Litchfield, received a license to preach from
the Methodist Conference, and for some time labored
successfully in his native town. He was subsequently
presiding elder of the Susquehanna and Berkshire
districts. He died Jan. 8, 1850.

Epaphroditus Champion Bacon was born in Litch-
field in 1811; graduated at Yale College in 1838, and
settled in his native town asa lawyer. In 1839 he
was a delegate to and secretary of the National Con-
vention which met at Harrisburg and nominated Gen.
Harrison for the Presidency of the United States.
Mr. Bacon was elected a representative from this town
in 1840, and again in 1841. While traveling in
Europe, he died at Seville, Spain, Jan. 11, 1845, aged
thirty-four years.

Lieut, Frederick A. Bacon, son of Asa Bacon, Esq.,
was born in Litchfield in 1818; entered the navy in
his youth, and was attached to the United States
schooner “Sea Gull,” of the exploring expedition,
which foundered off Cape Horn, May 1, 1839, and
all on board perished. He was twenty-six years of
age.

Gen. Francis Bacon, youngest son of Asa Bacon,
Esq., was born in Litchfield in January, 1820; gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1829; studied law with the
Hon. O. 8. Seymour, and settled as a lawyer in his
native town. With the exception of two or three
years he continued to reside here until his death.
In 1847 and 1848 he was first clerk of the House;
and in 1849 he was elected to the senate of this State.
He was also major-general of all the militia of Con-
necticut. He died in this town, Sept. 16, 1849.

Isaac Baldwin graduated at Yale College in 17385,
settled in Litchfield in 1742, and died here Jan. 15,
1805, aged ninety-five years. He was a representative
at ten sessions, clerk of the Probate Court twenty-nine
years, town clerk thirty-one years, and clerk of the
Court of Common Pleas forty-two years.

Rev. Ashbel Baldwin, son of Isaac Baldwin, Esq.,
was born in Litchfield, March 7, 1757, and graduated
at Yale College in 1776. He was ordained deacon at

 

Middletown, by Bishop Seabury, Aug. 3, 1785, being
the first Episcopal ordination in the United States. In
September following he was ordained priest by the
same bishop. From 1785 to 1793 he was rector of St.
Michael’s Church in this town, and was afterwards
for about thirty years rector of Christ Church, Strat-
ford. He was secretary of the diocese of Connecticut,
and member of the general convention. Mr. Bald-
win died in Rochester, N. Y., Feb. 8, 1846, in his
eighty-ninth year. From his register it appears that
he had preached and performed service about ten
thousand times; baptized three thousand and ten
persons; married six hundred couple; and buried
about three thousand persons !

William B. Baldwin, son of Capt. Horace and
grandson of Isaac Baldwin, Esq., was born in Litch-
field, Jan. 7, 1803, and for more than twenty years
was one of the editors and proprietors of the New
Haven daily and weekly Register.

Amos Barnes, son of Mr. Enos Barnes, was born in
Litchfield. He was an officer in actual service in the
last war with Great Britain.

Lyman Beecher, D.D., was born in New Haven,
Oct. 12, 1775; graduated at Yale College in 1797, and
was ordained pastor of a church in East Hampton,
L. I., in December, 1798, with a salary of three hun-
dred dollars per year. In 1810, at the age of thirty-
five years, he was installed pastor of the First Church
in Litchfield, and remained here in that capacity for
a period of sixteen years. This was, as he himself
states, by far the most active and laborious part of
his life. In addition to his ordinary pastoral services,
he was probably more conspicuously identified with
the establishment of the great benevolent associations
of the day than any other country pastor in New
England. Returning full of zeal from the first
meeting of the American Board of Commissioners
for Foreign Missions in 1812, he called together, in
this village, several clergymen and laymen from vari-
ous parts of the county, who organized the Litchfield
County Foreign Mission Society, the first auxiliary
of the American board. He was active in all the
reforms of that period. He was three times married.

Rev. Henry Ward Beecher was born in Litchfield,
June 24, 1818; graduated at Amherst College in 1834;
was licensed to preach in April, 1838 ; and was settled
as pastor of a church in Lawrenceburg, Ind., in the
fall of the same year. From August, 1839, to October,
1847, he was pastor of a church in Indianapolis, Ind. ;
and since the last named date he has been pastor of
the Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, N. Y.

John Bird, son of Dr. Seth Bird, was born in Litch-
field, Nov. 22, 1768; graduated at Yale College in 1786 ;
practiced law for a few years in his native town; re-
moved to Troy, N. Y., in 1794, and died there in the
year 1806, aged thirty-eight years. He had been a
member of the Legislature of New York, and a mem-
ber. of Congress from that State. Ex-President Van
Buren, in speaking of him, said,—
146

 

“John Bird I did not know personally, but have always taken much
interest in his character and career. He must, according to all accounts,
have been one of the very ablest men in the State, though a very eccen-
tric one. There have been but few men among us who have left behind
them so many racy anecdotes illustrative of their peculiarities.”

His first wife was a daughter of Col. Joshua Porter,
of Salisbury ; his second wife was Sally Buel, daughter
of Mr. David Buel, of Troy, formerly of this town.
He left several children.

Gen. John Ward Birge was born in Litchfield, Jan.
7, 1808, and in his youth went to reside with an uncle
in Cazenovia, N.Y. He received his medical degree
at Geneva College, and was a successful practitioner
in Utica, where, as a surgeon and oculist, he had a
high reputation.

George Beckwith Bissell, son of Mr. John Bissell,
was born in Litchfield, Sept. 12, 1828; entered the
United States navy in his youth. In August, 1846,
he was attached to the United States brig “ Truxton”
when she was wrecked on the coast of Mexico, and
with others was seized and held as a prisoner of
war. On his release he made a visit to his native
town ; but soon rejoined the navy, and for eighteen
months was attached to the scientific department at
Washington. He joined the frigate “Cumberland”
in New York, as sailing-master, on the 31st of August,
and died at the naval hospital in Brooklyn, Sept. 10,
1848, aged twenty-five years.

Lyman Bissell, son of Mr. Hiram Bissell, was born
in Litchfield, Oct. 19,1812; was captain in the United
States army, and paymaster of the New England reg-
iment in the war with Mexico.

John P. Brace was born in Litchfield, Feb. 10, 1798 ;
graduated at Williams College in 1812; and was for
some years principal of the Litchfield Female Acad-
emy, and subsequently of the Hartford Female Semi-
nary. Fora long time he was one of the editors of
the Hartford Courant.

Charles Loring Brace, the celebrated traveler, is a
son of John P. Brace, Esq., and was born in Litchfield,
June 19, 1826. Having graduated at Yale College in
1846 and pursued a course of theological studies, he
spent several years traveling in Europe, as a part of
the fruits of which he has given to the public three
or four very interesting volumes,—viz., “ Hungary in
1851,” “Home Life in Germany,” ‘“ The Norse Folk,”
etc. In May, 1851, during the Hungarian struggle for
independence, Mr. Brace was seized as a spy by the
Austrian authorities and imprisoned at Gross War-
dein; but after a lapse of thirty days he was released
through the intervention of Mr. McCurdy, then Ameri-
can minister to Austria.

Abraham Bradley, son of Abraham Bradley, Esq.,
was born in Litchfield, Feb. 21, 1767, studied law, and
became a judge in Luzerne Co., Pa. From 1799 to
1829 he was first assistant postmaster-general of the
United States.

Dr. Phineas Bradley, brother of the preceding, was
born in Litchfield, July 17, 1769; married Hannah
Jones, of this town, and settled here as a physician

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and druggist. When the office of second assistant
postmaster-general was created by Congress, Dr. Brad-
ley was appointed and retained the position for about
twenty-five years. He was a gentleman of wealth, and
distinguished for his hospitality and benevolence. He
died at his beautiful seat, ‘Clover Hill,” two miles
north of the national capital, in the spring of 1845,
aged seventy-six.

William A. Bradley, son of the preceding, was born
in Litchfield, July 25, 1794, and settled in Washing-
ton, D.C.

David Buel, Jr., was born in Litchfield, Oct. 29,
1784; graduated at Williams College in 1805; settled
as a lawyer in Troy, where he still resides. In 1821
he was a delegate to the constitutional convention of
his adopted State; for some years held the office of
first judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Rens-
selaer County, and in 1842 he was elected a regent of
the State University. From 1829 to 1847, Judge Buel
was a trustee of Williams College.

Rey. Horace Bushnell, D.D., son of Ensign Bush-
nell, Esq., was born in Litchfield in 1802; graduated
at Yale College in 1827, and was a tutor in that insti-
tution from 1829 to 1831. For the last twenty-seven
years he has been pastor of the North Congregational
Church in Hartford.

Julius Catlin, son of Mr. Grove Catlin, was born in
Harwinton in 1799. When he was about one year
old his parents removed to this village, and this con-
tinued to be his home for the succeeding twenty
years, though at the age of fifteen he commenced his
clerkship in Hartford. He became a successful mer-
chant in that city, where he still resides. Many years
ago he was a director of the Connecticut branch of
the United States Bank, and was one of the commit-
tee appointed to wind up the affairs of that institu-
tion, when the parent bank had been crushed by the
veto of Gen. Jackson. In 1846 he was appointed
commissary-general of the State, and subsequently he
held the office of auditor of public accounts. The
President of the United States, in $847, commissioned
Col. Catlin as a member of the board of visitors to the
National Military Academy at West Point. In the
autumn of 1856, Col. Catlin and ex-Governor Dutton
were chosen Presidential electors for the State at
large. At the annual election in April, 1858, he was
chosen Lieutenant-Governor of Connecticut, and was
re-elected.

Putnam Catlin, son of Mr. Eli Catlin, was bora in
Litchfield, studied law with Gen. Tracy, and was ad-
mitted to the bar in this town in 1786. He settled in
Montrose, Pa., and there held the office of judge of
the Court of Common Pleas. He was the father of
George Catlin, the celebrated artist and historian of the
American Indians, who was himself educated in
Litchfield.

John Allen Collier, son of Capt. Thomas Collier,
editor of the Monitor, was born in Litchfield, Nov. 18,
1787 ; settled as a lawyer in Binghamton, Broome Co.,
LITCHFIELD.

147

 

N.Y. He was a member of Congress, comptroller of
the State, commissioner to revise and codify the laws,
senatorial elector for President and Vice-President
of the United States, and delegate to and chairman of
the Whig National Convention of 1848.

Gen. James Collier, brother of the preceding, was
born in Litchfield, May 80, 1789; settled-in the State
of New York, and was quartermaster and acting ad-
jutant at the battle of Queenstown, and participated
in that fight. In 1819 he removed to Steubenville,
Ohio. He was a prominent citizen.

Julius Deming, an eminent merchant of Litchfield,
was born in Lyme, April 15, 1755, and about the year
1781 commenced business in this village. A gentle-
man of remarkable energy and enterprise, he soon
visited London, and made arrangements to import his
goods direct from that city, which, probably, was not
true of any other country merchant in Connecticut.
He was universally recognized by the citizens as the
most thorough and successful business man who has
ever spent his life here. Prompt in his engagements,
scrupulously upright in his dealings, and discreet and
liberal in his benefactions, few men in any commu-
nity ever enjoyed more implicitly the confidence of
all, Mr. Deming had little taste for public life. He
was three times elected a member of the House of
Representatives, and for several years was one of the
magistrates of this county. From 1801 to 1814 he
served in the office of county treasurer. His position
and influence were such that, had he been an aspirant
for political honors, there were few offices within the
gift of the people of this State which he might not
have filled. He died in this town, Jan. 23, 1838, aged
eighty-three years.

Miner R. Deming, son of Stephen Deming, Esq.,
was born in Sharon, Feb. 24, 1810; came to Litch-
field with his parents in 1820, and continued to reside
here for the next sixteen years. In 1836 he removed
to Cincinnati; and in 1839 -he became a resident of
St. Mary’s, Il]. As brigadier-general he was chief in
command of the Illinois State troops during the fa-
mous Mormon war. Gen. Deming died suddenly, of
brain fever, Sept, 10, 1845, while holding the office of
high sheriff of Hancock County.

Col..Fisher Gay, son of John Gay, Esq.. was born
in Litchfield, Oct. 9,1733 ; graduated at Yale College,
and settled in Farmington, where he was long a jus-
tice of the peace and: representative. In the early
part of the Revolution he commanded a regiment of
Connecticut troops sent for the defense of New York,
in which city he died in 1776.

Uriel Holmes, Jr., a native of Hartland, graduated
at Yale College in 1784, and settled in Litchfield as a
lawyer a few years subsequently. He was elected a
representative nine times, was a judge of the Litch-
field County Court from 1814 to 1817, and during the
latter year he was chosen a member of Congress.
While residing in Litchfield he was thrown from his
carriage in Canton, from the effects of which he died,

 

May 18, 1827, aged sixty-two. Judge Holmes mar-
ried a daughter of the Hon. Aaron Austin, and had
three children,—viz., Henry, M.D., a distinguished
physician in Hartford; Uriel, who died July 4, 1818,
while a member of the theological seminary at An-
dover; Caroline, who died young.

Charles P. Huntington, son of the Rev. Dan Hunt-
ington, was born in Litchfield, March 24, 1802; grad-
uated at Harvard College in 1822; settled as a lawyer
in Northampton, Mass.; he filled various official
positions.

Col. Charles Kilbourn, son of Mr. David Kil-
bourn, was born in Litchfield, March 3, 1758; fled
to Canada in the Revolution, and finally settled near
Lake Memphremagog, in Stanstead, L. C., where he
erected mills of various kinds. The locality still
bears the name of Killbourn’s Mills on many English
and American maps. In the war of 1812 he com-
manded a corps of provincial troops known as the
Frontier Light Infantry. He was also for many years
a magistrate, and justice of the Commissioners’ Court.
Col. Kilbourn died in Stanstead, June 19, 1834, aged
seventy-six.

Ephraim Kirby, son of Mr. Abraham Kirby, was
born in Litchfield, Feb. 22, 1757; studied law and
settled in his native town. He was often chosen a
representative; appointed supervisor of the national
revenue for the State of Connecticut in 1801, and
United States judge for the Territory of Louisiana in
1804. While on his way to New Orleans, whither
the duties of his office called him, he died at Fort
Stoddard, Mississippi Territory, Oct. 2, 1804, aged
forty-seven. Col. Kirby married Ruth, daughter of
Reynold Marvin, Esq., and left eight children. He
published a volume of law reports in 1789, the first in
the United States.

Maj. Reynold M. Kirby, United States army, a son
of the preceding, was born in Litchfield, March 18,
1790. For many years before his death he was assist-
ant adjutant-general of the army.

Col. Edmund Kirby, United States army, a brother
of the preceding, was born in Litchfield, April 8, 1794;
entered the army as a lieutenant in 1812; appointed
aid-de-camp to his father-in-law, Maj-Gen. Brown;
served in the Blackhawk, Creek, and Seminole wars ;
was chief of the pay department, and aid-de-camp
to the commander-in-chief during the late war with
Mexico. He died at Avon Springs, N. Y., Aug. 20,
1849, aged fifty-five. On the election of President
Taylor, Col. Kirby was frequently referred to in the
public prints as a probable member of the new
cabinet.

Rey. Ethan Osborn, son of Capt. John Osborn, was
born in Litchfield, Aug. 21,1758; graduated at Dart-
mouth College in 1784, and was settled as pastor of the
Congregational Church in Fairfield, N. J., in 1789.

John M. Peck., D.D., son of Mr. Asa Peck, was
born in Litchfield, Oct. 31, 1789, and became a cele-
brated Baptist preacher in Illinois.
148

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

William V. Peck was born of Litchfield parents
in Cayuga Co., N. Y., where his father, Mr. Virgil
Peck, died during his infancy. When the subject of
this paragraph was three years old his mother re-
turned with him to this town, and subsequently mar-
ried Dr. Abel Catlin, in whose family he was brought
up. After spending about twenty years in this village
he settled as a lawyer in Ohio, and was a judge of the
Supreme Court of that State.

Professor William G. Peck, son of Mr. Alfred
Peck, was born in Litchfield, Oct. 16, 1820; gradu-
ated at West Point, where he was for a few years as-
sistant professor of mathematics. As Heutenant of
topographical engineers in the United States army,
he was associated with Col. Fremont in his celebrated
exploring expeditions. He has since been a professor
in the University of Michigan, and is now professor
of mathematics in Columbia College, New York.
He married Elizabeth M., daughter of Professor
Charles Davies, LL.D.

Samuel Shether Phelps, son of Capt. John Phelps,
was born May 18, 1793; graduated at Yale College
and the Litchfield Law-School, and settled in Mid-
dlebury, Vt. Having been successively a paymaster
in the war of 1812, aid-de-camp to Governor Galusha,
colonel, member of the Council of Censors, member
of the Legislative Council, and judge of the Supreme
Court, he was elected a senator in Congress in 1838,
an office which he held for twelve years. Asa law-
yer and statesman he ranked with Clay, Webster,
Crittenden, and Clayton. Judge Phelps died in 1857,

Col. John Pierce, son of Mr. John Pierce, of Litch-
field, early entered the public service, and rose to the
rank of paymaster-general in the army, and was a
commissioner for settling the accounts of the army.
Though his parents never resided out of Litchfield after
their marriage, Col. Pierce is said to have been born
at the house of his’ maternal grandfather, Maj. John
Patterson, in Farmington. Col. Pierce died in New
York, Aug. 6, 1788. He was a brother of the late
Miss Sarah Pierce, founder and principal of the Litch-
field Female Academy.

John Pierpont, son of Mr. James Pierpont, was
born in Litchfield, April 6, 1785; graduated at Yale
College and at the Litchfield Law-School, and settled
in Newburyport, Mass., as a lawyer. Abandoning
the legal profession, he entered the ministry of the
Unitarian denomination, and was for many years
pastor of the Hollis Street Church, Boston.

Robert Pierpont, son of Mr. David Pierpont, was
born in Litchfield, May 4, 1791; studied law and set-
tled in Rutland, Vt. He was Lieutenant-Governor of
that State and judge of the Supreme Court.

John Pierpont, brother of the preceding, was born
in Litchfield, Sept. 10, 1805; graduated at the law-
school in this town, and settled in Vergennes, Vt.
He was a judge of the Supreme Court of that State.

Albert Sedgwick was born in Cornwall Hollow in
the year 1802; removed to Litchfield in 1830, and

 

continued to reside here for the succeeding twenty-five
years. In 1834 he was appointed high sheriff of this
county, an office which he continued to hold (with the
exception of one term of three years) until 1854, when
he was appointed by the Legislature commissioner of
the school fund of Connecticut.

Horatio Seymour, LL.D., son of Maj. Moses Sey-
mour, was born in Litchfield, May 31, 1778; graduated
at Yale College and at the Litchfield Law-School, and
settled in Middlebury, Vt., where he died a year or
two since. He was a member of the State Council
from 1809 to 1816; and of the United States Senate
from 1821 to 1833. In 1884 he was the Whig candi-
date for Governor of Vermont, but the anti-Masonic
candidate was elected. He was also for a few years
judge of probate. Judge Seymour received the de-
gree of Doctor of Laws from his alma mater in 1847,

Henry Seymour, brother of the preceding, was born
in Litchfield, May 30, 1780; settled as a merchant at
Pompey, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he became
wealthy. Removing to Utica, he died there, Aug. 26,
1837. He was a representative, senator, canal com-
missioner, mayor of Utica, and president of the Far-
mers’ Loan and Trust Company. Ex-Governor Ho-
ratio Seymour, LL.D., of New York, is his son.

Daniel Sheldon, Jr., son of Dr. Daniel Sheldon, was
born in the adjoining town of Washington in 1780,
and during the following year his parents removed to
Litchfield; and here the subject of this sketch con-
tinued to reside until he entered public life. Gradu-
ating at the Litchfield Law-School in 1799, he accepted
a clerkship in the treasury department, and retained
it until the appointment of Mr. Gallatin as ambassador
to France, when he was nominated and confirmed as
secretary of legation to that country. When the am-
bassador was recalled, Mr. Sheldon remained in France
as charge @ affaires until the arrival of Mr. Gallatin’s
successor. He died in Marseilles, April 14, 1828,
aged forty-eight. His funeral was attended by all the
foreign ministers and consuls present in the city, and
the flags of all the American ships in port were placed
at half-mast.

Roger Skinner, son of Gen. Timothy Skinner, was
born in Litchfield, June 10, 1778; became a lawyer,
and removed from this town to Sandy Hill, N. Y., in
1806, where he was elected a representative in 1810,
1811, and 1812, and a senator from 1818 to 1821. In
1820 he was a member of the Council of Appointment;
from 1815 to 1819, United States attorney for the
Northern District of New York; and from 1819 until
his death judge of the United States District Court.
On being appointed judge he became a resident of
Albany, at which place he died Aug. 19, 1825. . He
was an intimate friend of the Hon. Martin Van Bu-
ren.

Richard Skinner, LL.D., brother of the preceding,
was born in Litchfield, May 80, 1778; graduated at
the law-school in his native town, and settled in Man-
chester, Vt., in 1800. He became State’s attorney,
LITCHFIELD.

149

 

speaker of the House, judge of probate, member of
Congress, chief justice of the State, and Governor.
He received the degree of LL.D. from Middlebury
College. Governor Skinner died in Middlebury, May
98, 1833, aged fifty-five.

Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, daughter of the Rev.
Lyman Beecher, D.D., was born in Litchfield, and
married the Rev. Dr. Stowe. She is the author of
“The Mayflower,” “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” ‘“ Dred,
a Tale of the Dismal Swamp,” “Sunny Memories of
Foreign Lands,” etc.

Frederick A. Tallmadge, son of Col. Benjamin Tall-
madge, was born in Litchfield, Aug. 29, 1792; gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1811, and settled as a lawyer
in New York City, his present residence. From
1834 to 1836 he was an alderman; from 1836 to 1840,
a member of the State senate, of which body he was
elected president; from 1840 to 1845 and from 1848 to
1853 he was recorder of the city, and chief justice of
the police court; and from 1846 to 1848 he was a
member of Congress, etc.

Gen. Uriah Tracy, a native of Norwich, and a
graduate of Yale College, settled as a lawyer in Litch-
field in 1780, and here spent his entire professional
life. He was a representative at nine sessions, mem-
ber of Congress three years, and United States senator
eleven years, and rose to the rank of major-general of
militia. He was one of the most brilliant men of his
day. Gen. Tracy died in Washington City in 1807,
and was the first person buried in the Congressional
Cemetery.

Gen. Elijah Wadsworth was born in Hartford, Nov.
14, 1747; settled in Litchfield previous to the Revo-
lution ; was captain in Sheldon’s Regiment of Light
Dragoons during nearly the entire war.

John Welch, son of Maj. David Welch, was born
in Litchfield, Sept. 23, 1759; graduated at Yale Col-
lege in 1778; settled as a merchant in his native town,
and continued to reside here until his death, which
took place Dec. 26, 1845. He was successively a jus-
tice of the peace, representative, senator, member of
the Constitutional Convention, associate judge of the
County Court, and a candidate for Congress. He was
successful in business, and left a large estate.

Henry W. Wessells, son of Dr. Ashbel Wessells,
was born in Litchfield, Feb. 20, 1809; graduated at
West Point in 1838, and entered the army as brevet
second lieutenant. He was actively engaged in the
Creek war, the Florida war, the war with Mexico, and
the late Rebellion. He is lieutenant-colonel in the
regular army, and brigadier-general by brevet.

Oliver Wolcott, Jr., LL.D., was born in Litchfield,
Jan. 11, 1760, and died in New York, June 2, 1833.
He graduated at Yale College, and was successively
comptroller of this State, auditor and secretary of the
United States treasury, judge of the United States
Circuit Court, president of the Bank of America,
president of the Constitutional Convention of Con-
necticut, and Governor of his native State from 1817

 

to 1827. He was one of the most illustrious statesmen
of the early days of the republic,—the intimate friend
and adviser of Washington, Adams, and Hamilton,—
and, for some time previous to his decease, he was the
last surviving member of Washington’s cabinet.

Frederick Wolcott, brother of the preceding, was
born in Litchfield, Nov. 2, 1767; graduated at Yale
College in 1787, and died in his native town May 28,
1837. For more than forty years he was constantly
in public life—as clerk of the courts, judge of pro-
bate, representative, member of the State Council,
senator, etc. No man ever lived in the town who en-
joyed more implicitly the confidence of the public.
There was a dignity and nobleness in his person and
manner which left their impress on all who came
within the sphere of his influence.

Gen. Morris Woodruff, son of Mr. James Woodruff,
was born in Litchfield, Sept. 8, 1777; educated at Mor-
ris Academy, and was bred a merchant. He com-
menced his mercantile life with Messrs. David Leavitt
and Simeon Harrison; and after his connection with
them was dissolved he prosecuted the business chiefly
on his own account for many years. He was through
life much employed as executor, administrator, and
commissioner, in settling estates, and as an arbitrator,
auditor, and committee appointed by the courts. He
was an active and influential member of the church
and ecclesiastical society, and of the community gen-
erally to which he belonged; repeatedly discharged
the duties of various public offices; represented the
town of Litchfield in the Legislature fourteen sessions,
and was a magistrate of the county twenty-six years.
In 1818 he was appointed brigadier-general of the
Sixth Brigade; and in 1824 the Legislature appointed
him major-general of the Third Division. From 1829
until his death—a period of eleven years—he held
the office of a judge of the County Court, and that of
commissioner, which succeeded it; and in November,
1832, he was chosen by the voters of the State at large
an elector of President and Vice-President of the
United States. In all the affairs of life, Gen. Wood-
ruff was distinguished by great activity, energy, per-
severance, accuracy, and fidelity to whatever trust he
assumed. Of high integrity himself, he was stern in
requiring from others observance of its dictates.
Ready to do justice to others; keenly alive to every
sense of wrong; penetrating in his scrutiny into the
conduct and motives of others; convincing rather
than persuasive in his intercourse with men, he im-
pelled their concurrence in his views by producing
confidence in the soundness of his judgment and the
correctness of -his purposes. He was steadfast in his
friendships, and few men retained with equal warmth
the intimacies begun in early years. The associates
of his boyhood were through life his most confiding
and devoted friends. The dependence of his neigh-
bors and friends on him for advice and assistance was
very great; their confidence was never abused, their
reliance never failed; and so his means of usefulness
150 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

among them were large, and his influence extensive.
In his domestic relations he was affectionate and kind,
inflexible in retaining a high standard of both filial
and parental duty, and never failed to show that the
highest good of those who were dependent upon him
was his invariable motive in all his intercourse with
them. Gen. Woodruff was nearly six feet in height,
stout, erect, active, and of more than ordinary physi-
cal strength. Of robust and vigorous frame and
sound constitution, his health was rarely interrupted,
and promise of a green old age seemed singularly cer-
tain. But in the spring of 1839 his system received
a shock, followed by an affection of the liver, under
which he declined, and on the 17th of May, 1840, he
died, illustrating in his dying hour the peace and
consolation of the Christian’s hope and confidence in
the Saviour in whose church on earth he had been
numbered for many years. His remains are interred
in our East burying-ground, where a handsome monu-
ment has been erected to his memory. Gen. Wood-
ruff married Candace, eldest daughter of Lewis Cat-
lin, Esq., of Harwinton. Their children were George
C., who still resides in Litchfield, and is well known
to our readers as a prominent member of the bar of
Litchfield County ; Lucy M., who married Hon. O. 8.
Seymour, of Litchfield, ex-chief justice of Connecticut;
Hon. Lewis B., of New York, late circuit judge of the
Second Judicial District of the United States, embra-
cing the States of New York, Connecticut, and Ver-
mont; Reuben M., M.D., a physician of high attain-
ments, who died young in 1849; James, who died in
infaney.

Clark Woodruff, brother of the preceding, was born
in Litchfield, Aug. 23, 1791, and was educated at Mor-
ris Academy. In 1810 he left his native town, and,
passing down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, he soon
established himself as a lawyer in St. Francisville, in
the present State of Louisiana. For many years he was
reputed one of the ablest, most eloquent, and successful
advocates at the bar; and in the spring of 1828 he
was appointed judge of the Eighth Judicial District
of the State of Louisiana. He also held the office of
State auditor and commissioner, charged with the sub-
ject of public improvements in that State, in which he
took an active interest. He was also a trustee of
Louisiana College. On resigning his judgeship he re-
moved to New Orleans, where he resided until a short
time previous to his death. He departed this life at
his country-seat at Carrollton, on the Mississippi,
about six miles above that city, on the 25th of No-
vember, 1851. Judge Woodruff was a polished,
courtly gentleman, of fine address, pleasing nianners,
and cultivated mind. He married Matilda Bradford,
of St. Francisville, a highly accomplished lady, by
whom he had three children. The only survivor,
Mrs. Octavia Besancon, now lives at Carrollton, at the
late residence of her father.

The following named citizens of Litchfield have
occupied the public stations annexed to their names:

 

Adams, Andrew, chief justice Superior Court.

Allen, Ethan, general Revolutionary army.

Allen, John, representative in Congress.

Allen, John W., representative in Congress, Ohio.

Andrews, Charles B., Governor of Connecticut.

Beers, Seth P., commissioner of school] fund.

Beecher, Lyman, D.D., president Lane Seminary.

Beecher, Edward, D.D., president Illinois College.

Beecher, Henry W., Plymouth Church, Brooklyn.

Bird, John, representative in Congress.

Bradley, Abraham, assistant postmaster-general.

Bradley, Phineas, assistant postmaster-general.

Bushnell, Horace, D.D., pastor and author, Hartford.

Catlin, Julius, Lieutenant-Governor.

Church, Samuel, chief justice Supreme Court.

Collier, John A., comptroller, representative in Cungress, New York.

Dutton, Henry, Governor, judge Supreme Court.

Deming, Julius, commissary Revolutionary war.

Gould, James, judge Supreme Court.

Gould, William T , judge, Georgia.

Gould, George, judge Supreme Court, New York.

Hollister, G. H., minister to Hayti.

Holmes, Uriel, judge, representative in Congress.

Hubbard, John H., representative in Congress.

Huntington, Jabez W., representative and senator in Congress, judge
Supreme Court.

Huntington, Charles P., judge Superior Court, Massachusetts,

Kirby, Ephraim, United States judge, Mississippi.

Lyon, Matthew, representative in Congress, Vermont and Kentucky,

Marvin, Reynold, king’s attorney.

Miner, Phineas, representative in Congress.

Peck, William V., judge Supreme Court, Ohio. ‘

Phelps, Samuel §., judge, United States senator, Vermont.

Pierpont, John, poet, pastor.

Pierpont, Robert, Lieutenant-Governor, judge Supreme Court, Vermont,

Pierpont, John, chief judge Supreme Court, Vermont.

Reeve, Tapping, chief justice Supreme Court.

Sanford, David C., judge Supreme Court.

Sedgwick, Albert, commissioner of the school fund.

Seymour, Horatio, United States senator, Vermont.

Seymour, Origen S., representative in Congress, chief justice Supreme
Court.

Sheldon, Dauiel, secretary of legation, France.

Skinner, Roger, United States district judge, New York.

Skinner, Richard, representative in Congress, chief justice Supreme
Court, Governor Vermont.

Sniith, Joseph L., United States judge, East Florida.

Smith, Truman, representative and senator in United States Congress.

Strong, Jedediah, representative in Congress.

Tallmadge! Benjamin, major Revolutionary army, representative in Con-
gress.

Tallmadge, Frederick A., recorder New York City.

Tracy, Uriah, representative and senator in Congress,

Wolcott, Oliver, representative in Congress, signer Declaration of In-
dependence, Governor.

Wolcott, Oliver, secretary of treasury, United States judge, Governor.

Woodruff, Clark, judge, Louisiana.

Woodruff, George C., representative in Congress.

Woodruff, Lewis B., judge Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, New York,
und United States Circuit Court.

Woodruff, George M., railroad common laws.

Wright, John C., representative in Congress, judge, Ohio.

NATIVE AND RESIDENT GRADUATES, INCLUDING
THOSE WHO HAVE RECEIVED HONORARY DE-
GREES.

The figures indicate the year of graduation. The
+ after the name indicates an honorary degree.
'
1848.—Edward P. and Frederick R. Abbe, Yale, clergymen in Massa
chusetts,

1825.—Elisha S, Abernethy, Yale, lawyer; now resides in Bridgeport.
1760.--Andrew Adams, LL.D., Yale, chief justice of Connecticut.

 

* Born in this town.
LITCHFIELD.

151

 

1791—John Allen,f Yale, lawyer and member of Congress.

1840.—John W, Allen,*} Yale, lawyer of Cleveland, Ohio; member of
Congress.

1795,—Asa Bacon, Yale, an eminent lawyer; died in New Haven in 1857.

1833.—E. Champion Bacon,* Yale, lawyer, logislator; died at Seville,
Spain, 1845.

1838.—Francis Bacon,* Yale, lawyer, senator, major-general.

1850.—Leonard W, Bacon, Yale, present pastor of the Congregational
Church, Norwich. ;

1776.—Ashbel Baldwin,* Yale, formerly rector of St, Michael's, Litchfield.

1810.—Charles A. Baldwin,* Williams, lawyer in State of New York;

died 1818.
1735.—Isaac Baldwin, Yale, lawyer, legislator, clerk of the courts; died
in 1805. ;
1774.—Isaac Baldwin, Jr.,* Yale, lawyer and legislator; died in Pompey,
N. Y., 1830.

1801,—Isaac Baldwin (3d),* Yale, lawyer; died in 1844, Samuel S. Bald-
win,* Yale, lawyer; died in 1854.

1766,—George Beckwith, Yale, pastor of the church in South Farms.

1827.—Josiah G. Beckwith, M.D., Union, a practicing physician in this
town.

1797Lyman Beecher, D.D., Yale, former pastor of the First Church in
this town.

1833.—Charles Beecher,* Bowdoin, pastor.

1822.—Edward Beecher, D.D., Yale, late president Illinois College, au-
thor, etc.

1828,—George Beecher, Yale, died while pastor of a church in Chilli-
cothe, Ohio.

1834.—Henry Ward Beecher,* Amherst, pastor of Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn.

1843.—Thomas K. Beecher,* Illinois, now pastor in Elmira, N. Y.

1833,— William H. Beecher,{ Yale, formerly pastor in Middletown, etc.

1842,—Frederick D, Beeman, Yale, lawyer, and clerk of the courts.

1800,—A mos Benedict, Yale, lawyer; died in this town in 1816.

1846.—Andrew D. Benedict,* Kenyon, Episcopal clergyman.

1847.—Samuel Benedict,* Trinity, late assistant rector Trinity. Church,
New Haven.

1846.—Alfred H. Beers, M.D.,* Trinity, physician in Buffalo, N. Y.

1839.—George W. Beers,* Trinity, former member of the bar, Litchfield.

1786.—John Bird,* Yale, lawyer in Litchfield and Troy, N. Y.; member
of Congress.

1851.—Edward Bissell,* Yale, lawyer in Fon du Lac, Wis.

1849.—Oscar Bissell,* Yale, pastor of a church in Westminster, N. H.

1853,.—William Bissell, M.D.,* Yale, physician in Salisbury.

1833.—Noah Bishop,* Yale, pastor of a church in or near Springfield,
Ohio.

1812.—John P. Brace,* Williams, teacher, author, editor.

1846.—Charles Loring Brace,* Yale, author, secretary Children’s Aid
Society, N. Y.

1850.—Jonathan Brace, D.D.,} Yale, now pastor of a church in Milford.

1843.—John J. Brandagee, Yale, former rector of St. Michael’s, Litchfield.

1812.—Solyman Brown,* Yale, dentist, author, clergyman, New York
City.

1836.—Frederick Buel, Yale, agent American Bible Society, California.

1826.—William P. Buel, M.D., Yale, physician on California steamer.

1844.—Henry W. Buel, M.D.,* physician in his native town.

1805.—David Buel, Jr.,* Williams, of Troy, N. Y., lawyer, judge, regent
university.

1836,—Joshua D. Berry, Middlebury, late president Shelby College, Ken-
tucky.

1832.—Amos B. Beach, Union, late rector St. Paul's, Bantam Falls.

1827,—Horace Bushnell, D.D.,# Yale, pastor of North Church, Hartford,

,author, etc.

1833.—David Butler, D.D.,t Washington, former rector St. Michael’s.

1787,—Joseph E. Camp, Yale, pastor church in Northfield.

1822.—Albort B. Camp,* Yale, pastor in Bridgewater, Ashby, Mass., etc.

1786.—Lynde Catlin,* Yale, merchant, and president Merchants’ Bank,
New York. :

1839.—John Catlin,* Yale, teacher, etc.; resides in Northfield.

1751.—Judah Champion, Yale, second pastor of the First Church in this _

town.
1780,—Amos Chase, Dartmouth, pastor church in South Farms.
1803,—Samuel Church, LL.D., Yale, chief justice of Connecticut.
1844.—John Churchill,*} Yale, former pastor of 2 church in Woodbury.

1718.—Timothy Collins, Yale, first pastor of the First Church in this town.

1758.—Ambrose Collins,* Yale, went a missionary to the Indians, and
died.

1758.—Thomas Davies, Yale, former rector of St. Michael's.

1811.--William Deming,* Yale.

1829.—George C. V. Eastman, Middlebury, former rector of church in
Bantam Falls.

1822.—Samuel Fuller, D.D., Union, late president Kenyon College, Ohio.

1759.—Fisher Gay,* Yale, colonel Revolutionary army ; legislator, magis-

trate.

1791.—James Gould, LL.D., Yale, judge Supreme Court, principal Law-
School.

1827.—George Gould,* Yale, of Troy, N. Y., now judge Supreme Court,
N.Y.

1824.—James R. Gould,* Yale, lawyer; died in Augusta, Ga., 1830.

1816.—William T. Gould,* Yale, judge Court of Oyer and Terminer, Au-
gusta, Ga.

1839.—John M. Grant,* Yale, colporteur in Maryland, etc.

1844.—William H. Guernsey,* Yale, clergyman; died in Savannah, Ga.,
1850. ei

1849.—Luther B. Hart, Union, late pastor Baptist Church, North Norfolk.

1820,—Laurens P. Hickok, D.D., Union, now vice-president Union
College.

1851.—George A. Hickox, Trinity, now a practicing lawyer in this town,
and editor and proprietor Litchfield Enquirer.

1840.—Gideon H. Hollister, Yale, lawyer, clerk of the courts, senator,
foreign minister; deceased.

1784.—Uriel Holmes, Jr., Yale, lawyer, judge, member of Congress.

1816.—Uriel Holmes, Jr.,* Yale, died July 3, 1818, while member Theo-
logical Seminary, Andover.

1784,—Lemuel Hopkins, M.D.,+ Yale, poet, etc.

1794.—Dan Huntington, Yale, former pastor of the First Church in this

town.

1822.—Charles P, Huntington,* Harvard, judge Superior Cuurt, Boston,
Mass.

1806.—Jabez W. Huntington, Yale, lawyer, judge, member of Congress,
senator.

1824,—William P. Huntington,* Harvard, pastor in Massachusetts and
Illinois; artist, etc.

1843.—George J. Harrison, Union, now Congregational minister in
Milton.

1792.—Isaac Jones, Yale, minister of St. Michael’s parish.

1791.—Benjamin Judd, Yale, former pastor in Milton.

1837. James Kilbourn,* Yale, pastor in Bridgewater, Middle Haddam,
and Illinois.

1840.—John Kilbourn, Yale, teacher in State of New York.

1853.—P. K. Kilbourn,*} Union, author of “ History of Litchfield.”

1787.—Ephraim Kirby,* Yale, lawyer, judge, author of “ Kirby’s Re-
ports.”

1844.—William H. Lewis, D.D.,*} Kenyon, rector of Holy Trinity Church,
Brooklyn.

1788.—Daniel W. Lewis, Yale, lawyer, State’s attorney.

1770.—Samuel Lyman, Yale, removed to Springfield, Mass.; member of
Congress.

1783.—Lynde Lord, Jr.,* Yale, died in his native town in 1813.

1812.—Stephen Mason,* Williams, former pastor in Washington.

1748.—Reynold Marvin, Yale, lawyer, king’s attorney; died here July
30, 1802.

1786.--Samuel Marsh,* Yale, lawyer in his native town, and in Norfolk,
Va. Truman Marsh,* rector of St. Michael’s twenty-seven years;
died here in 1851.

1775.—James Morris,* Yale, teacher,
1820.

1803.—James Morris, Jr.,* Yale, tutor University of Georgia; died in
Sunbury, Ga.

1804,—Reuben §. Morris,* Yale, lawyer; died in Utica, N. Y., in 1832.

1838.—Dwight Morris,* Union, lawyer in Bridgeport, judge of probate,
legislator, Secretary of State, etc.

1775,—Benjamin Osborn,* Dartmouth, pastor in Tinmouth, Vt., author;
died 1818.

1779,—Isaac Osborn,* Dartmouth, farmer, teacher, deacon ; died in Litch-
field, 1826. Jeremiah Osborn,* Dartmouth, farmer; died in
Litchfield in 1829,

1784.—Jacob Osborn,* Dartmouth, farmer and teacher; died in Litch-

magistrate, legislator, captain ; died

 

* Born in this town.

 

* Burn in this town.
152

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

field in 1821; Ethan Osborn, Dartmouth, pastor Fairfield, N. J.,
fifty-four years; died in his hundredth year.

1729.—Solomon Palmer, Yale, rector of St. Michael’s; died in this town
in 1771.

1750.—Benjamin Palmer, Yale; died in 1780.

1853.—John M. Peck, D.D.,*+ Harvard, Baptist pastor in Illinois; author;
died 1858, William G. Peck,*f Trinity (also at West Point),

4 Professor of Mathematics, Columbia College, N. Y.

1842.—James Peck,* Union, merchant at La Crosse, Wis.

1807.—Amos Pettingill, Harvard, pastor church in South Farms, 1816-
1822,

1837.—John H. Pettingill,* Yale, District Secretary American Board, Al-
bany, N. Y.

1804.—John Pierpont, Yale,* clergyman in Boston, author, lecturer, poet.

1813 —Charles Perkins, Yale, lawyer ; died in London, Eng., Nov. 18, 1856,
aged sixty-four.

1763.—Tapping Reeve, LL.D., Princeton, chief justice of Connecticut.

1802.—Aaron Burr Reeve,* Yale, lawyer iu- Troy, N. Y.; died in 1809,

1829.—Tapping Burr Reeve ;# died in Litchfield in 1829.

1833,—James Richards, D.D., Union, was principal Elm Park Collegiate
Institute.

1858.—James Richards, Jr., Princeton, Professor Ancient Languages and
Mathematics in Elm Park Collegiate Institute.

1831.—Rollin Sanford,* Yale, merchant in Brooklyn, N. Y.; candidate
for Congress.

1797.—Horatio Seymour, LL.D.,* Yale, lawyer, U. 8. senator from Ver-
mont twelve years,

1824.—Origen S. Seymour, LL.D.,*+ Yale, member of Congress, judge
Superior Court, chief justice of the Superior Court of Errors.

1853.—Edward W. Seymour,® Yale, lawyer. :

1730.—Elisha Sheldon, Yale, legislator and judge ; died in Litchfield in
1779.

1800.—Elisha Sheldon, M.D.,* Yale, died in 1832; buried in Litchfield.

-—. Richard Skinner, LL.D.,*+ Middlebury, Governor and chief justice
of Vermont.

1790.—Aaron Smith, Yale, lawyer, legislator, and merchant ; died in this
town in 1834,

1806.—Lucius Smith, Yale, merchant, colonel in war with Great Britain,
clergyman.

1757.—Reuben Smith, Yale, physician, magistrate, county treasurer ; died
in 1804,

1815.—Truman Smith, Yale, lawyer, member of Congress, U. 8. senator.

1761.—Jedediah Strong,* Yale, member Continental Congress, legislator,
etc.

1823.—John §. Stone, D.D., Union, former rector of St. Michael's.

1838.—Benjamin W. Stone, Trinity. former rector of St. Michael’s,

1857.—Storrs 0. Seymour,* Yale, rector of St. Michael's.

1822.—William Sheldon,* Yale, merchant; died in France in 1826,

1844.—Benjamin L. Swan,} Yale.

1773.—Benjamin Tallmadge, Yale, member of Congress sixteen years.

1830.—Benjamin Tallmadge, Jr.,!{ Yale, lieutenant U.S.N.; died off
Gibraltar in 1830.

1811.—Frederick A. Tallmadge,* Yule, recorder New York City, member
of Congress.

1778.—Uriah Tracy, Yale, lawyer, member of Congress, U. S. senator,
general.

1778.—Joseph Vaill, Dartmouth, pastor in Hadlyme; died 1838, after a
ministry of fifty-eight years.

1824.—Hermon L, Vaill,* Yale, pastor in East Lyme; also Seneca Falls,
N.Y.

1848.—Louis F. Wadsworth,* Trinity, lawyer in New York City, deputy
clerk assembly.

1837.—Charles Wadsworth, D.D.,* Union, pastor Arch Street Church,
Philadelphia.

1795.—Holland Weeks,* Dartmouth, pastor in Waterbury and in Ver-
mont.

1807.—William R. Weeks, D.D., Princeton; died 1848, aged sixty-six.

1778.—John Welch,* Yale, merchant, judge, legislator; died in 1844.

1805.—William Welch,* Yale, captain U.S.A.; died in the public ser-
vice in 1811.

1827.— William H. Welch,* Yale, late chief justice of Minnesota Terri-
tory.

1747.—Oliver Wolcott, LL.D., Governor, signer Declaration of Independ-
ence.

 

* Born in this town,

 

1778.—Oliver Wolcott, Jr., LL.D.,* Yale, Governor, Secretary U. 8, Treas-
ury, ete.
1786.—Frederick Wolcott,* Yale, lawyer, legislator, judge of probate,
1779.—Ezekiel Woodruff,* Yale, lawyer, adjutant Revolutionary army.
1849.—Curtis T. Woodruff,* Yule, rector Episcopal Church in Woodbury,
1825.—George C, Woodruff, Yale, lawyer, legislator, judge of Probate,
member of Congress.
1857.—George M. Woodruff,* Yale, lawyer, judge of probate, railroad
commissioner.
1830.—Lewis B. Woodruff,* Yale, judge Superiur Court, New York City,
circuit judge U. 8.
1809.—Simeon Woodruff, Yale, clergyman, settled at the West.
1£36.—Lucius H, Woodruff,* Yale, teacher in Insane Retreat, Hartford;
died in 1852.
1803.—Samuel Whittlesey,* Yale, pastor at Washington and elsewhere,
1851.—Julius M. Willey, Trinity, former rector of St. Michael's.¢

YALE.

Wm. Beebe, 1873 ; Wm. B. Clarke, 1849; Marshall R. Gaines, 1865; John
T. Hubbard, 1880; T. Ephraim Mower, 1878; D. D. T. McLaughlin,
1834; Allan McLean, 1865; Dickinson W. Richards, 1880; George
Richards, 1872; Wm. R. Richards, 1876 ; George D. Watrous, 1879.

PHYSICIANS.

The following is a list of physicians who have prac-
ticed in this town:

Timothy Collins, from Guilford, the first clergyman and physician in the
town, preached and practiced here from 1721 till his death, in 1777;
Thomas Little, Seth Bird, Daniel Huntington, Phineas Bradley,
Samuel Catlin, Hosea Hulbert, Daniel Sheldon, Phineas Smith,
Comfort Bradley, Partridge Parsons, Robert Catlin, Abel Catlin,
John M. West, Reuben 8. Woodward, Isaac Marsh, Joseph Parker,
William Bucl, Samuel Buel, Alanson Abbe, Manly Peters, Norman
Landon, John W. Russell, Josiah Barnes, Moses A. Lee, Anson Wild-
man, John 8, Wolcott, Reuben M. Woodruff, Charles Vaill, Garry H.
Minor, Benjamin Welch, Jr., Caleb Ticknor, Samuel R. Childs, Wil-
liam Deming, James K. Wallace, George Seymour, A. Sidney Lewis,
Eliada Osborn, David E. Bostwick, Orson Buel (botanic), H. B, W.
Camp.

The practicing physicians at present are as follows:

Henry W. Buel, Willis J. Beach, William Deming, H. E. Gates, J. J. New-
comb, Litchfield ; J. K. Wallace, Bantam; E. L. Blake, Northfield;
Josiah G, Beckwith, Litchfield ; Wm. Porter was here in 1873.

PRESENT LAWYERS.

Origen S. Seymour, George C. Woodruff, Henry B. Groves, George A.
Hickox, Charles B. Andrews, Wm. L. Ransom, George M. Woodruff,
Frank W. Wessells, Dwight C. Kilbourne, Henry H. Prescott, Hu-
ward W. Seymour.

CHAPTER XIV.
LITCHFIELD (Continued).
CIVIL AND MILITARY.

Incorporation of the Town—First Town Officers Elected—Representatives
from 1740-1882—Military History. .

Unper the original grant this section was called
Bantam, and was incorporated as the town of Litch-
field in 1724. The record of what appears to be the
first town-meeting has no date, At this meeting 4
committee, consisting of John Buel and Nathaniel
Smith, was appointed to hire a minister.

 

* Born in this town.

+ The above list to name of Junius M. Willey is substantially as itap
peared in Kilbourne’s “ History of Litchfield.” It is impossible after
such a lapse of time to continue the personal history of each person.
LITCHFIELD.

“The first meeting for the choice of town officers
was held Dec. 1721, and resulted as follows: John
Marsh, town clerk; John Buel, Nathaniel Hosford,
John Marsh, selectmen; William Goodrich, constable
and collector; Benjamin Gibbs and Thomas Lee,
surveyors; Eleazor Strong and Samuel Root, fence-
viewers; Daniel Culver, hayward; Joseph Bird, col-
lector of minister’s rate.

“The only person ‘admitted an inhabitant’ at this
meeting was Mr. Joseph Kilbourn, from Wethers-
field, who had recently purchased one-thirtieth part
of the township,—being the original rights of Messrs.
Mann and Peet.

“On the 6th of February, 1721-22, Messrs. Buel
and Marsh were voted ‘the use of the stream of
Bantam River and thirty acres of land,’ on condition
that they would erect a grist-mill and keep the same
in order; and Messrs. Jacob Griswold, William Good-
rich, and Benjamin Gibbs were designated to lay out
the land for their use.

“On the 8th of the ensuing May, Messrs. Buel,
Marsh, Smith, and Hosford were appointed a com-
mittee, and fully empowered by the town to negotiate
a settlement of the boundary line between Litchfield
and Waterbury with a committee appointed by the
proprietors of the latter town. At the same time
Messrs. Buel and Marsh were directed to petition the
General Assembly, on the town’s behalf, ‘for liberty
to set up a church and society in Litchfield.’

“Tt had been one of the conditions of the several
deeds of conveyance to the original proprietors, that
the grantees or their sons should build a tenantable
house on each home-lot, or division, not less than
sixteen feet square, and personally inhabit the same
by the last day of May, 1721, and for three years en-
suing ; and no one was permitted ‘to leave or dispose
of his share for five years thereafter, without the con-
sent of the first planters.’ This was a wise provision,
growing out of the dependent and exposed condition
of a settlement in the wilderness. Not only was each
individual purchaser expected to encourage the settle-
ment by his personal presence and labors, but his
assistance in planning and executing the various pro-
jects designed for the promotion of the public welfare
was deemed indispensable. His proprietorship in
these ‘ western lands’ was no sinecure, resorted to for
purposes of speculation. He must bear his full share
of the burthens and perils incident to the life of a
pioneer. For divers reasons, several of the first pur-
chasers, as has been intimated, failed to comply with
these terms. On the 8th of June, 1722, in general
town-meeting, it was voted that the following persons
had ‘forfeited their rights to lands in Litchfield by
not performing what they were obliged to in the
articles of the settlement mentioned in the grand
deed,’—viz., Timothy Seymour, Timothy Stanley,
Isaac Judson, Jacob Gibbs, John Stoddard, Nath-
aniel Smith, Paul Peck, John Hart, Philip Bump,
Nathaniel Woodruff, Thomas Griswold, John Bald-

 

153

win, and one of Ezekiel Sandford’s rights. Messrs,
John Buel, Nathaniel Smith, and John Marsh were
appointed a committee to negotiate with the above-
named individuals, with power to ‘ prosecute the fore-
feiture to effect,’ in case the claimants should neglect
or refuse to agree to the terms which might be offered
them. Probably a compromise was effected with most
of the delinquents. Some of them became active and
useful men in the town.

“Tn October of this year the freemen, by a formal
vote, expressed their desire to be annexed to Hartford
County. They also voted that the tax for the support
of the minister and for building the meeting-house
should be laid ‘one-half on the rights, and the other
on heads and stodk.’”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1740-1881.

1740.— Joseph Bird, Ebenezer Marsh, John Bird, John Buel.

1741.—Ebenezer Marsh, John Buel, Samuel Culver.

1742.—Ebenezer Marsh, Jacob Griswold,

1743.—Ebenezer Marsh, Johu Bird, Joseph Bird.

1744.—Ebenezer Marsh, Joseph Bird, Edward Phelps.

1745.—Edward Phelps, Joseph Bird, Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Buldwin,

1746.—Ebenezer Marsh, Joseph Bird.

1747.—Thomas Harrison, Joseph Sanford.

1748.—Ebenezer Marsh, John Bird.

1749.—Ebenezer Marsh, Joseph Bird, Thomas Harrison.

1750.—Ebenezer Marsh, Thomas Harrison.

1751.—Ebenezer Marsh, Thomas Harrison.

1752.—Ebenezer Marsh, Thomas Harrison, Joseph Kilbourn, Benjamin
Webster.

1753.—Joseph Kilbourn, Benjamin Webster, Thomas Harrison.

1754,—Ebenezer Marsh, Benjamin Webster, Thomas Harrison.

1755.—Peter Buel, Benjamin Webster, Ebenezer Marsh, Elisha Shelden.

1756.—Ebenezer Marsh, Peter Buel.

1757.—Ebenezer Marsh, Peter Buel, Elisha Shelden,

1758.—Ebenezer Marsh, Elisha Shelden.

1759.—Jacob Woodruff, Elisha Shelden, Ebenezer Marsh,

1760.—Ebenezer Marsh, Elisha Shelden.

1761.—Ebenezer Marsh, Elisha Shelden, Isaac Baldwin.

1762.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin.

1763.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin.

1764.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin, Oliver Wolcott.

1765.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin.

1766.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin, John Marsh.

1767.—Oliver Wolcott, John Marsh, Ebenezer Marsh.

1768.—Ebenezer Marsh, John Marsh, Oliver Wolcott, Jacob Woodruff.

1769.—Ebenezer Marsh, Abraham Kilbourn.

1770.—David Welch, Abraham Kilbourn, Oliver Wolcott.

1771.—Ebenezer Marsh, John Marsh, Jedediah Strong, Lynde Lord,

1772.—Jedediah Strong, Lynde Lord, John Marsh.

1773.—Jedediah Strong, David Welch.

1174.—Jedediah Strong, John Marsh, David Welch.

1775.—Jedediah Strong, David Welch, Abraham Bradley.

1776.—Jedediah Strong, Abraham Bradley, Andrew Adams,

1777.—Jedediah Strong, Andrew Adams.

1778.—Jedediah Strong, Andrew Adams.

1779.— Jedediah Strong, Andrew Adams.

1780.—Jedediah Strong, Andrew Adams, David Welch.

1781.—Jedediah Strong, Andrew Adams, Bezaleel Beebe.

1782.—Jedediah Strong, Bezaleel Beebe, Isaac Baldwin.

1783.—Jedediah Strong, Bezaleel Beebe, Abraham Bradley, Isaac Bald-
win, Jr.

1784.—Ebenezer Marsh, Isaac Baldwin, Isaac Baldwin, Jr.

1785.—Jedediah Strong, Abraham Bradley, Ebenezer Marsh.

1786.—Ebenezer Marsh, Jedediah Strong.

1787.—Ebenezer Marsh, Ebenezer Benton, Jedediah Strong.

1788.—Ebenezer Marsh, Jedediah Strong, Uriah Tracy.

1789.—Jedediah Strong, Uriah Tracy, Tapping Reeve.

1790.—Evenezer Marsh, Uriah Tracy, Julius Deming.

1791.—Julius Deming, Uriah Tracy, Ephraim Kirby.

1792,—Ephraim Kirby, Uriah Tracy, Solomon Marsh, Bezaleel Beebe.
154

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1793.—John Allen, Uriah Tracy, Bezalee] Beebe.
1794.—Ephraim Kirby, John Allen.
1795.—Ephraim Kirby, John Allen, Moses Seymour, Bezaleel Beebe.
1796.—Moses Seymour, John Allen.
1797,—Moses Seymour, Ephraim Kirby.
1798.—James Morris, Julins Deming, Moses Seymour, Ephraim Kirby.
1799.—Moses Seymour, Ephraim Kirby, John Welch.
1800.—Ephraim Kirby, John Welch, James Morris.
1801.—Moses Seymour, Ephraim Kirby, John Welch,
1802.—James Morris, Frederick Wolcott, Moses Seymour, Ephraim
Kirby.
1803.—James Morris, Frederick Wolcott, Uriel Holmes.
1804.—James Morris, Uriel Holmes,
1805.—James Morris, Uriel Holmes.
1806.—Moses Seymour, Norman Buel, Uriel Holmes, Aaron Bradley.
1807.—Uriel Holmes. Aaron Bradley.
1808.—Aaron Bradley, Aaron Smith, Nathaniel Goodwin.
1809.—Nathaniel Goodwin, Aaron Smith,
1810.—Moses Seymour, Aaron Bradley.
1811.—Aaron Smith, Moses Seymour.
1812.—Aaron Smith, Moses Seymour, Morris Woodruff.
1813.—Aaron Smith, Morris Woodruff.
1814.—Aaron Smith, Morris Woodruff, Uriel Holmes,
1815.—William Beebe, Morris Woodruff, Jonathan Buel.
1816.—William Beebe, Jonathan Buel.
1817.—Jonathan Buel, Ephraim S. Hall.
1818.—Stephen Russell, Ephraim 8, Hall, Phineas Lord.
1819.—John Welch, Phineas Lord.
1820.—John Welch, Seth P. Beers,
1821.—Seth P. Beers, John Welch.
1822.—Seth P. Beers, John Welch.
1823.—Seth P. Beers, Phineas Miner.
1824.—David Marsh, Morris Woodruff.
1825.—David Marsh, Morris Woodruff.
1826.—Morris Woodruff, Reuben Webster.
1827.—Phineas Miner, William Beebe.
1828.—Jabez W. Huntington, William Beebe,
1829.—Phineas Miner, Morris Woodruff.
1830.—Stephen Russell, Morris Woodruff,
183..—Steplen Russell, Truman Smith.
1832.—Truman Smith, Elihu Harrison.
1833.—William Beebe, Asa Hopkins.
1834,—Stephen Russell, Truman Smith.
1835.—Phineas Miner, Elihu Harrison.
1836.—Morris Woodruff, Phineas Lord.
1837.—Morris Woodruff, Phineas Lord.
1838.—Samuel Buel, William Ray.
1839.—Samuel Buel, William Ray.
1840.—Frederick Buel, E. Champion Bacon.
1841.—Frederick Buel, E. Champion Bacon.
1842.— Origen S. Seymour, Enos Stoddard.
1843.—Origen S. Seymour, Enos Stoddard.
1844,—Elisha §. Abernethy, Dan Catlin. ,
1845.—Charles Adams, Dan Catlin.
1846.—David Marsh, George Seymour.
1847.—David Marsh, George Seymour.
1848.—Samuel P. Bolles, William L. Smedley.
1849.—Origen S. Seymour, Christopher Wheeler.
1850.—Origen S. Seymour, Christopher Wheeler.
1851.—George C. Woodruff, Thomas M. Coe.
1852.— Josiah G. Beckwith, William Newton.
1853.—Josiah G. Beckwith, William Newton.
1854,—Frederick Buel, Samuel P. Bulles.
1855.—Philip 8. Beebe, Samuel Brooker, Jr.
1856.—Josiab G. Beckwith, Garry H. Minor.
1857.—Josiah G. Beckwith, Edward Pierpont.
1858.—Henry B, Graves, William Bissell,
1859.—Edward W. Seymour, William Bissell.
1860.—Edward W. Seymour, Daniel Stoddard.
1861,—George H. Baldwin, Jacob Morse.
1862.—Philip 8. Beebe, George A. Hickox.
1863.—George M. Woodruff, Everitt H. Wright.
1864.—E. H. Wright, T. R. Sedgwick.
1865.—George M. Woodruff, D. E. Bostwick.
1866.—George C. Woodruff, T. L. Saltonstall.
1867.—Henry B. Graves, Eli D, Weeks.
1868.—Henry B, Graves, T. Leander Jennings.

 

1869.—J. G. Beckwith, J. B. Hopkins.
1870.—E. W. Seymour, Henry Frisbie.
1871.—E. W. Seymour, N. W. Beach.
1872.—George M. Woodruff, Ransom Newton.
1873.—Julius Deming, Charles D. Wheeler.
1874.—George C. Woodruff, James B. Newcomb.
1875.—William Deming, Garner B. Curtiss.
1876.—William Deming, Henry B. Graves.
1877.— Ili D. Weeks, Henry B. Graves.
1878.—Charles B. Andrews, William Bissell.
1879.—Henry B. Graves, Leverett W. Wessells.
1880.—Gideon H. Hollister, Harry Clemens.
1881.— Origen S. Seymour, Frederick 8. Porter.

MILITARY RECORD."

Jacob Forfe, Ist Art.; eul. April 1, 1862; disch. March 16, 1865.

John K. Gordon, enl. Nov. 30, 1864.

J. Donohue, enl. April 6, 1862.

E. B. Smith, enl. May 20, 1861; pro. to first lieutenant; res. Oct. 26, 1863,

W. Wheeler, enl. May 20, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

E. Buxton, enl. May 20, 1861; must. out Sept. 24, 1865,

W. W. Davis, enl. May 20, 1861; disch. Sept. 25, 1863.

J.P. Nichols, disch. May 22, 1864,

R. H. Tompkins, L. A. Terry], G. W. Wheeler.

C. O. Whaples, disch. Sept. 1, 1862.

C. W. Brewer, enl. April 12, 1862.

W. W. Mathews, enl. April 12, 1862; disch. April 17, 1863.

E. Lyman, enl. Aug. 4, 1863; died Aug. 10, 1864. 5

Henry Wade, 5th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 29, 1864; must. out July 19, 1863,

John Daley, 5th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

H. G. West, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; wounded ; disch. May 18, 1863,

E. A. Alvord, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; wounded; disch. July 19, 1865,

H. 8. Gooley, ith Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; died Aug. 22, 1862.

Charles Gooley, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. Nov. 22, 1862,

William Somers, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

O. Eaghen.

John Rogers, enl. March 5, 1864; disch. April 24, 1865,

O. Dorman, 6th Regt.; enl. July 31, 1863; must. out Aug. 21, 1865.

George Landers, en]. March 3, 1864.

A. Crowe, 8th Regt.; eul. Oct. 10, 1861; disch. Jan. 8, 1863.

George E. Castle, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 14, 1861; disch. Oct. 22, 1865,

M. Castle, died Oct. 17, 1862.

Alfonso Benza, 8th Regt.

Peter Guirard, 8th Regt.

John Moore.

C. L. Cartle, 8th Regt.; eul. Feb. 19, 1864; died Aug. 4, 1864,

I. Cohen, enl. July 29, 1864; disch. June 1, 1865.

James Kelley, eul. Feb. 23, ——.

Edward Wadhams, sergeant Co. E, 8th Regt.; en]. Sept. 25, 1861; re-enl.
as veteran; killed May 16, 1864.

Seth F. Plumb, sergeant; enl. Sept. 5, 1861; killed Sept. 22, 1864.

8. M. Clark, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.

George F. Booth, killed Sept. 17, 1862.

8. B. Fuller, disch. March 24, 1863.

George W. Baldwin, died March, 1862.

F, E. Barber, died Jan. 30, 1862.

W. H. Cable, must. out Aug. 23, 1865,

Charles Culver, must. out Aug. 12, 1865.

R. W. Cook, enl. Oct. 6, 1861; disch. Dec. 15, 1864.

Thomas Mason, Sth Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

W. D. Musson, disch. March 23, 1865,

F, A. Newcomb, died May 14, 1862.

Jerome Nichols, died Oct. 17, 1863.

Charles Perkins, disch. Feb. 14, 1864.

J.T. Peters, enl. Sept. 27, 1861; disch, Dec. 6, 1862.

Alva Sterne, enl. Oct. 10, 1861; disch. Feb. 22, 1863.

L. E. Sweet, enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. Oct. 20, 1862.

John Tompkins, enl. Oct. 10, 1861; died Sept. 7, 1862.

Joseph II. Vaille, eul. Sept. 27, 1861 ; trans. to Invalid Corps, May 15,1864.

William Brady.

C. H. Foster, enl. Feb. 24, 1861.

F. G. Gilbert, enl. Feb. 16, 1864; must. out Dec, 12, 1865.

Charles M. Landa, enl. Feb. 17, 1864.

John McGowan.

 

* For list of Nineteonth Regiment, see Chapter V. For notice of aol
diers’ monument, see Supplement.
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LITCHFIELD.

John Clarke, en]. Feb. 24, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865,

E. Hamma, enl. July 27, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1864.

John Kelley, enl. Feb, 24, 1864; trans. to navy.

John Connor.

James White, 9th Regt.

William Brown, 9th Regt.; enl. April 28, 1864.

J. Bluecher, 9th Regt., enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

J. Johnson, 9th Regt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1864; disch. Dec. 16, 1864.

P. Gaffney, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

James McGraw, 10th Regt.

Charles J. Moore, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864.

George Flyn, 10th Regt.: enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

William Ryne, i0th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

Charles Warren, 10th Regt.; enl. Noy. 23, 1864.

William Moore, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

John Miller, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 21,1864; wounded; died Sept. 18, 1864.

Jos. Martin, 11th Regt.; enl. March 7, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

Charles Barber, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died May 13, 1862.

E. B. Sanford, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; disch. about May 25, 1863.

Frank Wells, first licutenant 13th Regt.; com. Feb. 19, 1862; pro. to cap-
tain; disch. April 24, 1866.

C.C. Fisher, 13th Regt.; enl, Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 20, 1862.

8.8, Tuyler, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; pro. to second lieutenant;
disch. April 24, 1866. :

Charles Thomas, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan, 11, 1862; disch. May 20, 1862.

J. Duffs, 13th Regt. ; enl. Jan. 11, 1862.

A. Bunnell, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Nov. 25, 1865.

William Baker, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; died Sept. 2, 1862.

H. Banker, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 19, 1865.

P. Bunker, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; died May 6, 1865.

William Benedict, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 20, 1862.

C. Birge, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan 11, 1862; disch. Sept. 29, 1862.

And. Bronson, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 1], 1862.

M. Burke, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan, 11, 1862; disch. April 25, 1866.

Charles Catlin, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; died Sept. 2, 1863.

A. Chapel, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; died Feb. 23, 1863.

E, Cogswell, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

E. H, Curtis, 13th Regt.; en}. Jan. 28, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

I. A. Davidson, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Aug. 12, 1865.

Seth Frink, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862.

Loren Halleck, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. July 15, 1862.

W. H. Harris, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan 11, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

P. Herbert, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. April 25, 1866.

8. Herbert, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. April 25, 1866.

L, Johnson, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan 11,1862; disch. May 30, 1862.

J. Kelleher, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; died.

J. M. Kinley, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862.

Henry Mayo, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 20, 1862.

Thomas McGee, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. April 25, 1866.

O. Munger, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 26, 1863.

W. W. Norris, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; pro. to Veteran Reserve
Corps.

Charles Ostrander, 13th Regt. ; en]. Jan. 7, 1862.

George Ostrander, 13th Regt.; en]. Jan. 11, 1862.

W. R. Parker, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862.

C. Parmelee, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

P. Peacock, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 5, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865..

G. J. Pond, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. June 19, 1865.

R. Provost, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. Oct. 5, 1865.

E.S. Richmond, enl. Jan. 11, 1862; killed Nov. 7, 1862.

George Root, enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. April 25, 1866.

E. 0. Thomas, en]. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. April 26, 1866.

George Starks, enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. May 30, 1862.

W. C. Wakefield, enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Sept. 29, 1862.

William Bradshaw, 14th Regt.; enl. June 25, 1862; died June 16, 1864.

T. H. Foster, 17th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; disch. July 19, 1865.

Walter Hale, 20th Regt.; enl. Aug: 18, 1862; died May 3, 1863.

H. A. Barber, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

Monroe Throop, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

W.« H. Bunnell, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1862.

George Davies, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

C. J. Fish, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

Henry Payne, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

Lyman Taylor, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

A. C. Tracy, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

Frederick Nightingale, 25th Regt. ; enl. Oct. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863,

William H. Yemmans, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 9, 1862; disch. July 22, 1863.

 

155

Thomas Redding, 29th Regt.; enl. Feb. 25, 1864; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

A. Ward, 29th Regt.; enl. Feb. 25, 1864; disch, Oct. 24, 1865.

R. Lampman, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 14, 1863,

J. Edwards, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 28, 1863; died March 4, 1865.

C. V. Lampman, 29th Regt.; enl. July 20, 1865; disch. Oct. 24, 1£65.

John Blakeman, Co. F, 1st Cav.; enl. Jan. 5, 1863; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

Charles Deliber, Co. F, Ist Cav.; enl. July 16, 1863; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

M. Deviney, Co. F, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 1, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

Plumb Johnson,.Co. F, 1st Cav.; enl. July 5, 1863; capt. May 5, 1864.

Henry Smith, Co. F, lst Cav.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1863.

Levi H, Hull, Co. I, Ist Cav.; enl. Aug. 3, 1863; disch. Aug, 2, 1865.

Charles Marshall, Cu. I, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; disch. Sept. 10, 1865.

N.H. Burnes, Co. L, Ist Cav.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865,

Charles Black, Ist Cav.; enl. April 26, 1864.

William Carnell, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864.

William Crimple, enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

Nicholas Dimon, Ist Cav.; enl. Noy. 23, 1864.

Jos. Dehaven, Ist Cav. ; en]. Nov. 23, 1864.

Charles Howe, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 29, 1864.

Charles Jones, Ist Cay.; enl. April 26, 1864.

W. Kelley, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 15, 1864.

P, Mackin, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864.

P. Macabe, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

Henry Marsh, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864.

Jule Parrit, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864.

W. Philips, lst Cav. ; en]. Nov. 26, 1864.

P. Rober, Ist Cav.; enl. July 27, 1863.

Jos. Smith, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 25, 1864.

Charles W. Wentworth, Ist Cav.; enl. April 29, 1864.

William Welch, enl. Dec. 2, 1864.

William Arnold, 2d C. Bat.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864; disch. Aug. 9, 1865.

John Davis, 2d C. Bat.; enl. Feb. 24, 1864.

Jos. Hart, 2d C. Bat.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864; disch. Aug. 9, 1865.

W. S. Kimball, 2d C. Bat.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864.

M. B. Lawrence, Co. A, Ist Cay.; enl. Nov. 2, 1861; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

Eli Parmelee, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 2, 1861; disch. April 13, 1863.

Ezekiel Scovill, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. Dec. 26, 1864.

Enos Tompkins, Co. A, lst Cay.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; killed by lightning
July 16, 1862.

James O’Brien, Co. B, Ist Cay.; enl. Oct. 26, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

Frank Parrit, Co. C, Ist Cav.; enl. July 27, 1863; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

F, C. Shumway, Co. C, lst Cav.; enl. April 1, 1863; disch. Aug. 2, 1863.

S. A. Wheeler, Co. C, Ist Cav.; enl. April 1, 1863; disch. June 10, 1865.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JULIUS DEMING.

Julius Deming, an eminent merchant of Litchfield,
was born in Lyme, April 15,1755. He was the fourth
in lineal descent from John Deming, named in the
charter of Connecticut in 1662. Afterserving through
the Revolutionary war as deputy commissary-general
(with the rank of captain of cavalry) under his uncle,
Gen. Epaphroditus Champion, of Colchester, he com-
menced business in Litchfield.

A gentleman of remarkable energy and enterprise,
he soon visited London, and made arrangements to
import his goods direct from that city, which pxob-
ably was not true of any other country merchant in
Connecticut. He is universally recognized by our
citizens as the most thorough and successful business
man who has ever spent his life among us. Prompt
in his engagements, scrupulously upright in his deal-
ings, and discreet and liberal in his benefactions, few
men in any community ever enjoyed more implicitly
156

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the confidence of all. Mr. Deming had little taste for
public life. He was three times elected a member of
the House of Representatives, and for several years
was one of the magistrates of this county. From 1801
to 1814, he served in the office of county treasurer.
His position and influence were such that, had he
been an aspirant for political honors, there were few
offices within the gift of the people of this State which
he might not have filled. He died in this town, Jan.
238, 1838, aged eighty-three years.

GIDEON H. HOLLISTER.

Hon. Gideon H. Hollister was born at Washington,
Conn., Dec. 14, 1817. He graduated at Yale College
in 1840. He was the class poet, editor of the Yale
Lit., and first president of the Linonian Society, then
considered a great honor.

Studying with Judge Seymour, he was admitted to
the bar at the April term of the county court, 1842.
He began practice in Woodbury, but soon removed
to Litchfield, where, in 1843, he was appointed clerk
of the court, a position which he held, a single year
excepted, till 1852. In 1856 he was elected to the
State Senate, where he was largely instrumental in
securing the election of Hon. James Dixon to the
United States Senate, and for many years, during
the time that Mr. Dixon was a power in Connecticut
politics, Mr. Hollister exercised great political influ-
ence in this part of the State. Both sided with An-
drew Johnson in his disagreement with Congress, and
both retired from the Republican party with him.
He was a delegate to the Peace Convention which
met at Philadelphia at the close of the war of the
Rebellion, and in 1868 he was sent as Minister to
Hayti. On his return he lived for several years at
Stratford, practicing law in Bridgeport. He returned
to Litchfield in 1876, and represented the town in the
Legislature in 1880.

Mr. Hollister is best known, no doubt, as the his-
torian of Connecticut. His history, in two volumes,
was published in 1855, and he had designed and partly
written a revision of this work, which was intended
to include the war history of the State, and a volume
of historical sketches of its prominent men. Besides
the “ History of Connecticut,” he had written a novel,
“Mount Hope,” in 1851, and, in 1866, “Thomas 4
Becket, a Tragedy” (a work of unmistakable power),
and other poems. Of the latter some are very beau-
tiful, particularly the “ Phantom Ship,” founded on
incidents actually occurring in the early history of
New Haven, and the “Bride Brook,” also founded
upon an incident of early Connecticut history.

At the bar Mr. Hollister was an uncommonly dex-
terous and forcible advocate, specially adroit in cross-
examination of witnesses. As a natural consequence
he was very powerful with a jury, often winning
verdicts where success seemed hopeless. He was the
most correct of speakers, His mere extempore speech,

 

always clothed in pure and powerful English, was as
elegant and complete in composition as good writing,
Hence he could easily accomplish the difficult feat of
delivering an address part written and memorized
and part extempore, yet so thoroughly fused together,
and so excellent and uniform of structure, that no one
could separate the written from the extempore, nor
detect any flaw at the points of junction. No doubt
his thorough acquaintance with Shakspeare, Milton,
and Tennyson, with Burke and Webster, contributed
largely to the formation of a style of such unusual
excellence, but much was also due to powers and
aptitudes such as nature has bestowed upon few.

Mr. Hollister was a most interesting man in con-
versation. His original way of treating every-day
subjects, of illuminating hard facts with irresistible
flashes of wit, and again of rising without effort into
the higher regions of fancy and poetry, as a hawk
slants up a hundred feet in the air without waving a
wing, gave him atruly wonderful power of fascination
by talk. Nor was he in the least overbearing in con-
versation, as is often the case with good talkers, but
added the force of unfailing politeness to marvelous
powers of persuasion, such as one must have felt to
have appreciated.

In 1847, Mr. Hollister married Miss Mary S. Bris-
bane, a native of Charleston, 8. C., who survives him,
together with one of several children, now a member
of Trinity College, Hartford.

He was a consistent churchman, and a member of
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, He died March 24,
1881.

REV. HIRAM STONE.

The Rev. Hiram Stone was born in Bantam Falls,
town of Litchfield, July 25, 1824. He was the son
of Russell Stone, and grandson of Thomas Stone, a
non-commissioned officer in the Revolutionary war.
His four ancestral lines are traced directly to Eng-
land, one of which is known to extend back to the
thirteenth century. His parents died, leaving him in
orphanage at an early age. Supporting himself by
secular employment, he at length realized the desire,
cherished in his youth, of entering the ministry of the
Protestant Episcopal Church. After several years of
preparatory study in private, he became a candidate
for holy orders in this diocese, and in October, 1851,
entered the Berkeley Divinity School, then in its in-
cipiency, at Hartford, and connected with Trinity
College. Having completed his theological course,
and in the mean time pursuing some studies in the
college department, he was ordained a deacon, Oct.
2, 1853, by Rt. Rev. T. C. Brownell, in Christ Church,
Hartford. The next six months were spent in South
Glastonbury, Conn., as assistant to the Rev. Dr. A.
B. Chapin. In April, 1854, he accepted the charge
of St. John’s Church, Essex, Conn., and on the 19th
of November was therein ordained a priest by the
 

A bpre.
Pir tae
 
LITCHFIELD.

157

 

Rt. Rev. John Williams, assistant bishop. April 10,
1855, he married Miss Wealthy Ann Lewis, of Had-
dam, Conn.

Jn answer to an earnest appeal, he accepted an ap-
pointment from the. Board of Missions, New York
City, as the first accredited missionary to Kansas, his
support being assumed by St. Paul’s Church, New
Haven. Resigning his parish, he left Essex May
12, 1856, for his field of missionary labor, which at
that time was convulsed with civil discord heretofore
unknown to American history. The settlement of
Kansas was just begun, which inaugurated that period
familiarly known as the “border ruffian times.” A
fierce controversy was being urged between the Free-
Soil party of the North and the Pro-slavery of the
South, each desperately determined on supplanting
the other for partisan ends. While on his journey
intelligence was received that the town of Lawrence
had been sacked, throwing the whole Territory into
the wildest alarm. Deeming it not prudent to enter
Kansas in the midst of this scene of tumult and blood,
he took temporary charge of a vacant parish in Wau-
kesha, Wis., and there waited an abatement of hos-
tilities.

In autumn, leaving his wife and chief effects be-
hind, he resumed his route, arriving at Leavenworth
City Nov. 24, 1856. He found things there in the
most dire confusion. Thousands of desperate people
had come to the territory armed with deadly weapons,
every man prepared to take care of himselfand carry
out his purpose. Some had been murdered and others
driven-away, both parties inflicting vengeance with-
out stint as occasion or opportunity offered. Hence
the newly-organized Territory received the very per-
tinent title of “Bleeding Kansas.” In the midst of
these surroundings an organization was effected, Dec.
10, 1856, under the name of St. Paul’s Church. This
was the first Episcopal parish in the Territory, which
at that time extended westward to the Rocky Moun-
tains, and out of which several States and Territories
have since been erected. The wife of the missionary
joined him April 9, 1857. Religious services were
conducted from the outset as opportunities admitted,
sometimes in a business house or private dwelling,
and occasionally in the open air. After considerable
effort a church edifice was erected, and consecrated
Nov. 7, 1858, by Rt. Rev. Jackson Kemper, mission-
ary bishop. September, 1859, Mr. Stone was ap-
pointed post chaplain at Fort Leavenworth, distant
three miles from the city, and, resigning his parish, he
entered upon military service. During the four years
of the war he discharged duty at this outpost, where it
was greatly exposed on the border of a slave-holding
State,

; October, 1865, he attended the General Convention,
in the city of Philadelphia, as a deputy of the Kansas
diocese, Oct. 5, 1866, a son was born, named Lewis
Hiram. June, 1868, by an order from the War

Department, he was transferred to Fort Sully, Da-
11

 

kota, arriving there after a passage of three weeks,
ascending by steamer the Missouri River. Here a
daughter was born, Sept. 28, 1869, named Carrie
Louisa. May 21, 1870, his wife died in garrison, after
a distressing and protracted illness. Soon after this
he went East on leave of absence, at the expiration of
which he was transferred to Fort Totten, Dakota.
Here he remained until June, 1872, when he was
assigned to Fort Wadsworth, Dakota, where he en-
tered on duty. January, 1876, he tendered his resig-
nation, which was duly accepted by President Grant.

Having dissolved his connection with the United
States army, in which he had served for more than
sixteen years, he accepted the charge of St. Paul’s
Church, Bantam Falls, and Trinity Church, Milton,
officiating in each of these on alternate Sundays. He
is still in charge of these churches, residing at Ban-
tam Falls, where he was born, and where his ancestors
lived for several generations.

JOHN P. BRACE.

In losing Mr. John P. Brace, who died in Litch-
field on the morning of the 18th of October, 1872,
aged eighty years, the State lost one of those men
who did, in a quiet way, so much to make Connec-
ticut honored wherever education and intelligence
are respected. His name is revered in thousands of
families throughout the land, as one of the most suc-
cessful teachers this “cradle of instructors” has pro-
duced. Mrs. Stowe—no mean authority on such a
subject—speaks of him in the life of her father as
follows (pp. 534-555) :

“Mr. Brace was one of the most stimulating and inspiriting instruc-
tors I ever knew. Le was himself widely infurmed, an enthusiast in
botany, mineralogy, and the natural sciences generally, besides being
well read in English classical literature. The constant conversation
which he kept up on these topics tended more to develop the mind and
inspire a love of literature than any mere routine studies. The boys
were iucited by his example to set up mineralogical cabinets, and my
prother George (Beecher) tramped over the hills in the train of his
teacher, with his stone hammer on his shoulders, for many delightful
hours. Many more were speut in recounting to me the stores of wisdum
derived from Mr. Brace, who, he told me with pride, corresponded with
gevlogists and botanists in Europe, exchanging specimens with them.
This schvol was the only one I ever knew which really carried out'a
thorough course of ancient and modern history. ... The interest of
those historical recitations, with a professor so widely informed and so
fascinating in conversation as Mr. Brace, extended farther than his class.
Much of the training and inspiration of my early days consisted, not in
the things which I was supposed to be studying, but in hearing, while
seated unnoticed at my desk, the conversation of Mr. Brace with the older
classes. There from hour to hour I listened with eager ears to historical
criticisms and discussions, or to recitations in such works as ‘ Paley’s
Moral Philusophy,’ ‘ Blair’s Rheturic,’ ‘ Alison on Taste,’ all full of most
awakening suggestions to my thoughts.

“Mr. Brace excelled all teachers I ever knew in the faculty of teach-
ing composition. The constant excitement in which he kept the minds
of his pupils—the wide and various regions of thought into which he led
them—formed a preparation for teaching composition, the main requisite
for which, whatever people may think, is to have something interesting
to say. His manner was to divide his school of about a hundred into
divisions of three or four, one of which was to write every week. At
the same time he inspired an ambition by calling for volunteers every
week, and there were some who volunteered to write every week.
158

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“Tremember I could have been but nine years old, and my handwriting
hardly formed, when the enthusiasm he inspired led me, greatly to his
amusemeut, I believe, to write every week. The first week the sulject
chosen by the class was ‘ The Difference Between the Natural and Moral
Sublime.’ One may smile at this for a child nine years of age; but it is
the best account I can give of his manner of teaching to say, that the
discussion he held in the class not only made me understand the subject
as thoroughly as I do now, but so excited me that I felt sure I had some-
thing to say upon it, and that first composition, though I believe half the
words were misspelled, amused him greatly. It was not many weeks I
had persevered in this way before I received a word of public commen-
datiun, for it was his custom to read all the compositions aloud before the
school, and if there was a good point it was sure to be noticed.

“As you may see, our sulijects were not trashy or sentimental, such as
are often supposed tu be the style for female schools. By two years of
constant practice under his training and suggestion, I had gained so far
us to be appointed one of the writers for the annual exhibition, a proud
distinction as I then viewed it. The subject assigned me was one that
had been fully discussed in the school in a manner to show to the utmost
Mr. Brace’s peculiar power of awakening the minds of his pupils to the
higher regions of thought. The question was, ‘Can the Immortality of
the Soul be Proved by the Light of Nature?”

Mr. Brace’s acquirements were vast and multi-
farious. He was fitted thoroughly in the studies of
the three professions—law, medicine, and theology—
and could have entered any one with honor. His
knowledge of ancient and modern history was both
wide and minute. In mineralogy he had made exten-
sive researches and collections; in botany he was a
correspondent of De Candolle and other European
botanists, and his valuable herbarium will be found
a treasure-house of collections. Even in out-of-the-
way subjects of investigation, such as heraldry, astrol-
ogy, the deciphering of ciphers, and composing of
music, he was singularly well versed. But his great
talent and his services were in the comparatively un-
known, but most useful, field of teacher.

Mrs. Stowe, in her novel of “Old Town Folks,” has
pictured some of his methods and himself under the
name of “Rossiter.” His ingenuity, invention, pa-
tience, and vast memory, with his passion for impart-
ing knowledge, made him an unequaled teacher. So
busy was his useful life that he never wrote any
scientific or scholastic work, such as he easily might,
but left his record and work in the minds and lives
of thousands whom he educated, and who still love
his memory.

Mr. Brace was first teacher of the famous acad-
emy of Litchfield, which was for so many years
the leading educational institution for young ladies
in New England, under the superintendence of the
Misses Pierce. Subsequently (in 1832) he became prin-
cipal of the Hartford Female Seminary, which. under
his guidance, became equally celebrated. In these
two institutions Mr. Brace trained many young ladies
who have since become leading women in society,
charities, or literature throughout the land; among
them Mrs. H. B. Stowe, Mrs. Isabella B. Hooker,
Mrs. Cyrus W. Field, Mrs. Cornelius Du Bois, of
New York; Mrs. Wilson, of Brooklyn; Mrs. Marshall
QO. Roberts; Mrs. Bliss and Mrs. Van Lennep, of
Hartford (the missionaries); Mrs. McCullough, the
wife of the United States secretary of the treasury,
and numerous others who became wives of ministers

 

or missionaries. No teacher in the United States has
ever had so many influential and intelligent pupils,
Subsequently to these efforts Mr. Brace entered the
editorial profession, and was for a number of years
the editor of The Hartford Daily Courant. For the
past nine years he has been living in quiet and com-
fort on the old homestead in the village of Litchfield,
enjoying the treasures of his ample library, and the
society of friends and pupils who gratefully remem.
bered “the faithful teacher.” To the last he pre-
served his exquisite feeling for nature; birds and
flowers were his pleasure almost in his dying mo-
ments, and the last names he forgot were the botan-
ical. Even historical dates were remembered by him
when many a personal event had passed from his
memory.

He died in a genial old age, tended with unceasing
care by his devoted wife, and most sincerely mourned
by this community.

The only original literary works that Mr, J. P.
Brace left behind him were monographs on scientific
subjects, and a few poems and works of fiction.

His great work—and one never to decay or pass
away—is in the mental training he imparted to thou-
sands of youthful minds throughout the country,

His first wife was from a family well known in
Maine for talent and character, Miss Lucy Porter,
sister of Mrs. Dr. Lyman Beecher and descendant of
the Hon. Rufus King. By her his surviving chil-
dren are C. L. Brace, J. P. Brace, Jr., and Mrs. J. W.
Skinner. He married again—Miss Louisa Moreau,
of this city. He was also connected through his
sister with the Hon. Charles G. Loring, the late dis-
tinguished lawyer of Boston.

JOHN CATLIN.

John Catlin is of English ancestry, and was born in
Litchfield, Conn., May 28, 1814. His father, Levi,
was son of Thomas, and also was born in Litchfield.
He (Levi) married Anna E. Landon, and had eight
children, John being the fifth. He was a farmer, and
lived three miles southeast of Litchfield village. He
was a Whig in politics, and held several town offices
He was born Nov. 11, 1772, and died Oct. 16, 1841.
Mrs. Catlin was born Jan. 6, 1779, and died Sept. 24,
1868. Thomas Catlin was a farmer, a soldier in the
Revolution, was captain, reared a family, and died
aged ninety-three years. The children of Levi were
Seth, Daniel, Avis, Ellis, John, Achsah, Guy, and
Levi. All save Achsah married and had children.

John Catlin received the advantages of a common
school and academic education, and wrought as 4
farmer during the summer until he was nineteen, when
he determined to delve deeper into learning. He
carried his determination into action, and was grad:
uated from Yale College in 1839. Upon graduation
he began to teach at Northfield, Conn.; then taught at
 
 

 
LITCHFIELD. 159

 

Litchfield, then returned to Northfield and taught a
private school, continuing there several years, work-
ing on the farm during the summer. Giving up
teaching he became a merchant at Northfield, and
continued in trade eight years. He was postmaster
of Northfield many years, and held it under Lincoln’s
administration. In politics he was in early life a
Whig. From the formation of the Republican party
he advocated its principles. He was magistrate for
many years and school visitor. He is director and a
stockholder in the Northfield Knife Company. At
the age of seventeen years he united with the Congre-
gational Church, and is now deacon, which office was
first given him over thirty years ago.

He married, May 19, 1840, Laura, daughter of Sher-
man and Polly (Tompkins) Humiston, of Northfield.
She was a native of that town, and born Oct. 1, 1813.
Their children were Frank H. (now president of North-
field Knife Company), Mary H. (died young), John
Howard (secretary of Northfield Knife Company), and
James P., a farmer on the homestead.

Sherman Humiston, son of John, was born in North-
field, Conn., Sept. 24,1789. He married Polly Tomp-
kins, who was born May 5, 1790. He was a thorough
and successful farmer, and died March 1, 1828. His
wife died Jan. 6, 1860. John Humiston came from
West Haven or vicinity, and was among the very
early settlers of Northfield. He was a farmer. The
first house he built in Litchfield is still standing.

FRANKLIN H. CATLIN.

Franklin H. Catlin, son of John and Laura H.
Catlin, was born in Litchfield, Conn., July 22, 1841.
After fair educational advantages through boyhood,
entered the village store in Northfield as clerk, re-
maining some five years; then attended the Litchfield
Academy a short time, when he entered Eastman
Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., graduating
in May, 1862.

In January, 1868, accepted the office of secretary
of the Northfield Knife Company, which ke held two
years, when he was elected president and treasurer of
the same corporation, taking entire charge of the
business at the most critical period of its history,
since which time his record has been closely identi-
fied with that of this company, and he has continu-
ously held and still retains the office to which he was
then elected.

_ He married, November, 1871, Julia M. Lyman,
daughter of Rufus and Sarah Lyman, of New Hart-
ford, Conn.

Politically is a staunch Republican ; usually, how-
ever, not taking an active part in politics, personal
attention to the extensive detail of the cutlery busi-
ness Jeaving little time for other matters.

 

MYRON OSBORN.

Myron Osborn is of Welsh descent. His great-
grandfather, Benjamin Osborn, came from East
Hampton, L. I., and settled in Litchfield, Conn., with
his family about 1736. He was born in 1692, and
died in 1762. He was a farmer by occupation, and
had much to do in shaping the public mind of his day.
He married Elizabeth , and had the following

 

-children,—viz.: Benjamin, Jr., Samuel, John, Be-

thiah (wife of Ebenezer Beebe), and Rey. Sylvanus,
who was a pastor of a Congregational Church in the
town of Warren for many years; his widow married
Rev. Mr. Day, of New Preston, and became the mother
of Thomas and Noble Day.

Capt. John Osborn, third son of Benjamin and Eliza-
beth Osborn, was born in the town of Litchfield, Conn.;
married Lois Peck, and had the following children:
John, Ethan, Eliada, Heman (died young), Elizabeth,
Rebecca, Anna, and Thalia, all of whom became heads
of families. Capt. John Osborn rendered valuable aid
to the American army during the Revolutionary war.
He and his wife were members of the Congregational
Church. After living an honorable and useful life as
a farmer, he died Jan. 4, 1814, aged eighty-four years,
and his wife died in 1819.

Eliada, son of John Osborn, was born in Litchfield,
Conn., and was twice married.

His children were as follows, viz.: Myron, John,
Rebecca, Elisha M., Nathan L., and Eliada, all of
whom grew to manhood and womanhood, and what
was more remarkable, there was not a death among
the children until after the youngest was more than
sixty years of age. Eliada Osborn was a farmer by
occupation and a man much esteemed. He was for
many years connected with the State militia, and
was known as Capt. Eliada Osborn. In politics he
was a Federalist and Whig. He died at the age of
eighty-seven years, and his wife at eighty years. She
was a member of the Congregational Church.

Myron Osborn, the immediate subject of this sketch,
is the eldest son of Eliada, and was born on the 28th
of September, 1796, hence is at the present time (1881)
in the eighty-fifth year of his age.

Mr. Osborn remained at home on his father’s farm
receiving such educational advantages as the schools of
his day afforded. At eighteen he commenced to work
for one Orin Judd, as an apprentice to the carpenter’s
and joiner’s trade. After three years he began to work
for himself at one dollar a day, and the most he ever
received was one dollar and a quarter a day. One of
the first houses he built was his own, which was erected
in 1822. He used to take contracts to build residences
and other buildings, and many are the substantial
houses in and around Litchfield that are standing
monuments of his superior workmanship. In 1840
he began the manufacture of linseed oil at Bantam
Falls, with Philip $. Beebe, which he followed some
twelve years, since which time he has been engaged
in agriculture.
160

Mr. Osborn has been successful in whatever he has
undertaken. He is hale and hearty, genial, social,
and hospitable. He owns a good farm west of the
village of Litchfield. In politics he is a Republican.
He married Emeline Goodwin, daughter of Capt.
Erastus Goodwin, of South Farms, Conn., Dec. 22,
1824. She was born Sept. 25, 1800. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Osborn are members of the Congregational
Church, and have been a great many years. Their
children are,—(1) Caroline M., wife of George Ken-
ney, of Litchfield; (2) Cornelia, at home; (3) Eliza-
beth, died at six years of age; (4) Julia E., wife of
George William Mason, an intelligent farmer in
‘Litchfield; (5) Eliada G., was a sergeant-major in
Company A, Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
and lost his life in front of Petersburg, March 25,
1865. He left one daughter, Katie Goodwin. His
widow married ex-Governor Charles B. Andrews, of
Litchfield; (6) Myron M., died young.

AMOS BISSELL.

Amos Bissell was born in Litchfield, Conn., July
15,1798. He was the son of Benjamin Bissell, a Rev-
olutionary soldier, who settled in Litchfield more than
a century ago. He had a large family of twelve chil-
dren,—seven daughters and five sons. All the daugh-
ters and four of the sons grew to adult age. He was
an extensive farmer and large land-owner. He died
at the age of seventy-one years.

Amos, the immediate subject of this sketch, spent
his early life on the home-farm, and, after the death
of his father, took charge of the farm and assisted
his mother in the family. At her death the estate was
distributed, and Amos received two hundred acres of
land, near the old home, where he has since resided.
He has added other lands, and now has a large and
fine farm, He was married when twenty-eight years
of age to Lydia Bridgman Hall, daughter of David
Hall, of Litchfield. She died June 12, 1868, aged
sixty-one years, having been the mother of seven chil-
dren, five of whom are now living: Edward is a law-
yer at Fon du Lac, Wis.; William is a physician in
Salisbury, Conn. ; Elizabeth died when a young woman;
Julia is the wife of Dr. Allen, residing in the State of
New York; Lyman died when achild; Dwight, who
occupies the home-farm, and has the principal care
of the family, married Elizabeth, daughter of Sey-
mour Pickett, of Waterbury ; they have three chil-
dren, and have buried one; Mary, the youngest
daughter, is unmarried and lives at home. And now,
after a long and industrious life of more than fatin.
score years, we find this venerable citizen in the en-
joyment of good health and the respect of all. He
has been a consistent member of the Congregational
Church many years.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

THE BISSELL FAMILY.

It is probable that the Bissell family is of Huguenot
descent, many of whom fled from France to England
to escape the persecutions which followed the mas-
sacre of St. Bartholomew in 1572. The family in
England is little known, and has but one coat of
arms, which is of a religious, rather than warlike,
olranaefae. It is thus described in “ Burke’s Complete
Armory”:

“ Bissell, Gu. on a bend, ar.; three escallops, sa. Crest, a demi-eagle
with wings displayed, sa. charged on the neck with an escallop shell, or,”

The family of John, who came to Windsor, Conn,,
is the only one of the name known to have come
to this country. Tradition asserts that they came
from Somersetshire County, England, to Plymouth in
1628.

John came to Windsor, where he first appears in
1640. Here he received the monopoly of the “Scantic
Ferry,” was the first settler on the east side of the
Connecticut River, and the founder of a numerous,
energetic, and honorable: family even to the pres-
ent day.

John Bissell, Sr., died Oct. 3, 1677, aged eighty-
six; his wife died May 21, 1641.

Children,—John, born in England; Thomas, born
in England; Mary, born in England, married Jacob
Drake, 1649; Samuel; Nathaniel, born Sept. 24, 1640;
Joice, married Samuel Pinney.

SECOND GENERATION.

John, Jr., married Izrel Mason, of Saybrook.

Thomas, married Abigail Moore, 1655; setthed on
the east side of the river, and died July 31, 1689.
Children,—Thomas, born 1656; Abigail, born 1658;
John, born 1660; Joseph, born 1663; Elizabeth,
born 1666; Benjamin, born 1669; Sarah, born 1671;
Isaac, born ——; Esther, born 1677; Ephraim, born
1680.

THIRD GENERATION,

Isaac Bissell, born 1673; married Elizabeth Osborn,
May 2,1706; moved to Litchfield and became the
founder of the Litchfield branch of his family ; died
Nov. 6, 1744; she died June 15, 1761. He bought
one-sixtieth part of Litchfield (about seven hundred
acres) for four hundred and fifty pounds; also bought
a lot in North Street for ninety pounds, April 16,
1780, on which he settled in 1780. The “old red
house,” built by him about 1740, was at the time of
its demolition, in 1853, the oldest house in town.
The Congregational parsonage now stands (1881) on
the site of the ‘‘ old red house” built in 1740.

Children,—Elizabeth, born Feb. 4, 1707, probably
died young; Isaac, Jr., born March 9, 1709; Abigail,
born Jan. 16, 1711, carved Thomas Catlin, May,
1732; Sarah, born Feb. 8, 1718, married James Kil-
hourh, Sept. 11, 1733; Joel, born Jan. 1, 1714; Ben
jamin, born July 2, 1717; Roger, born March 2,
 

.
 

AMOS BISSELL
 

DD). i 20tle
 
LITCHFIELD.

161

 

1718; George, born March 24, 1720 ; Joseph, born
Sept. 7, 1722; Zebulon, born 1724,

FOURTH GENERATION.

Zebulon, born 1724, married Abigail Smith; was
a soldier of the Revolution in Capt. Bezaleel Beebe’s
company ;* was taken prisoner at Fort Washington ;
died at Woodbury on his way home, as was supposed
from the effects of poison given to him, previous to
an exchange of prisoners, by the British; was the
oldest man in Capt. Beebe’s company; estate settled
in 1777.

Children,—Zebulon, Jr., born Oct. 3, 1751; Ben-
jamin, born Jan. 15, 1754; Rhoda, born April 5,
1760, married Arunah Blakeslee; Abigail, married
John Landon.

FIFTH GENERATION.

Zebulon, Jr., married Sarah Watkins, Jan. 18,
1774.

Children,—John, born Feb. 10, 1776, married Kate
Marsh, of Litchfield; was a merchant in Utica and
Albany; also built a house in Litchfield, on East
Street, where he resided many years; died in 1856;
had children,—Samuel (deceased), John, and Edward
(lawyers in New York City).

Benjamin, born Jan. 15, 1754, married Esther
Benton, Feb, 21,1779; he died Feb. 28, 1825, aged
seventy-one. She died Dec. 27, 1840, aged eighty-
three.

Children, — Rebecca, born Feb. 9, 1782, married
William Smith, of Chenango, N. Y.; Anna, born
Dec. 14, 1784, married Levi Hoyt, of Cooperstown,
N. Y.; Nathaniel, born Dec. 31, 1786, married, first,
Anna Smith, of Middlebury, Conn.; second, Sarah
Marsh, of Litchfield, and had children,—Erastus &.,
Henry B., Ralph, Frederick, Julia A., and Charles ;
Benjamin married Melissa Post, of Canaan, Conn.,
February, 1822, andhad children,—Oscar, Benjamin,
George, Augustus, Lawrence, and Melissa; Eunice,
born Feb. 10, 1790, died unmarried; Abigail, born
Feb. 19, 1792, married John Griswold, and had a
daughter, Cornelia (married Dr. Charles Vaill) ;
Rachel, born Sept. 18, 1798, married Jonathan North,
of Greene Co., N. Y.; Dotha, born Oct. 18, 1795, mar-
ried John Landers, of Broome Co., N. Y.; Herman,
born Jan. 16, 1797, married Anna Peck, Nov. 30, 1820,
and had children,—Leonard C., David O., Julius (de-
ceased), Harriet, Frances J., Julius (2d); the family
removed to Fon du Lac, Wis.; Amos, born July 16,
1799, married Lydia Hall, March 15, 1827, and had chil-
dren,—Edward, William, Elizabeth, Julia, Dwight,
Mary. Julia married Lyman J. Smith.

 

*It is related of Capt. Bezaleel Beebe, by his son, the late William
Beebo, that in after-years he had many visits from the Revolutionary
soldiers formerly of his company. Many of them, in spending the hours
in visiting with their old captain, would recount the battles, marches,
and imprisonments they had gone through together. While they talked
the tears would roll down their aged cheeks, in telling of the hardships
and privations they had eudured in the camp and marches of that event-
ful period.

 

Henry B. Bissell, son of Nathaniel Bissell, was
born April 10, 1814. He received a common-school
education; married Clarissa M., daughter of Capt.
Samuel Wright, of Milton, Conn., April 7, 1841.

They had nine children, of whom six are now liv-
ing. He is by occupation a farmer. He is a member
of the Congregational Church in Litchfield, and was
chosen deacon May, 1858.

ELIADA KILBOURN.

Eliada Kilbourn is of English descent, and a lineal
descendant of the seventh generation from Thomas
Kilborne (as the name was formerly spelled), who was
the ancestor of all the Kilbourns in Connecticut, and
most of those in other States of the Union and in
Canada. Said Thomas Kilborne was born in 1580,
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and with his
family, consisting of wife, Frances, and children, viz.,
Margaret, Lydia, Marie, Frances, and John, embarked
from London, England, on the 15th of April, 1635, in
the ship “Increase,” Robert Lea master. The family
settled at Wethersfield, Conn. Thomas Kilborne died
previous to Dec. 25, 1640, as appears from the Weth-
ersfield Land Records, Book I., page 135.

SECOND GENERATION.
Sergt. John Kilborne, only son of Thomas and
Frances Kilborne, was born in 1625, consequently was
only ten years of age when he came to America with
his parents. His name appears on the Wethersfield
Records as early as Sept. 24, 1647, and was a land-
holder as early as May 20, 1649. Though history has
neglected to chronicle his deeds, his name, neverthe-
less, appears conspicuous upon the “Old Colonial Rec-
ords” for a period of nearly half a century. He
seems to have been an active, energetic spirit in the
little colony, and to have possessed in no small degree
the confidence of his fellow-colonists. He married
Naomi in 1650. She died Oct. 1, 1659, leaving
three children, viz., John, Thomas, and Naomi. He
then married Sarah ——, by whom he had Ebenezer,
Sarah, George, Mary, Joseph, and Abraham. He
died April 9, 1703, and his wife died Dec. 4, 1711,
aged seventy years.

 

THIRD GENERATION.

Joseph Kilborne, third son of John Kilborne by
his wife Sarah, was born in Wethersfield, Conn., about
1672, and was married to Dorothy, daughter of Dea-
con Samuel Butler, June 4, 1696. She died Aug. 19,
1709, and he married, for his second wife, Hester,
daughter of Jacob Gibbs, of Windsor, June 29, 1710.
By his first marriage he had the following children,
viz., Dorothy, Joseph, Jonathan, and James. By
his second marriage, Benjamin, Hester, Elizabeth,
and Mary. Joseph Kilborne was one of the first set-
tlers of Litchfield, Conn., and one of the founders of
the Presbyterian Church in Litchfield. On the 12th
162

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

of December, 1721, he was admitted an inhabitant of
Litchfield, and on the 17th of December, 1722, he was
chosen a selectman, and on the 26th of December,
1722, he was appointed, with two others, ““A commit-
tee for building the meeting-house.” He filled vari-
ous offices of trust until his death, probably in the
year 1744.
FOURTH GENERATION.

Capt. Joseph Kilbourn (the 2d), son of Joseph Kil-
bourn by his wife Dorothy, was born in Wethersfield,
Conn., July 9, 1700, and emigrated to Litchfield, Conn.,
with his father in 1721, where he married Abigail
Steckwell, Nov. 12, 1723. He held nearly all the
offices of trust and honor in the town, and was a rep-
resentative from Litchfield to the Colonial Legislature
in October, 1752, and in May, 1758. On the organi-
zation of the Episcopal Society in Litchfield, he gave
to said society ‘one-third of an hundred acre lot sit-
uated in South Farms.” He was a farmer, as his an-
cestors had been, and lived one-half mile west of the
village of Litchfield. He died in 1756, having sur-
vived his wife some eight years. His children were
as follows,—Elisha, Benjamin, Jeremiah, Ruth, Sol-
omon, Charles, Catharine, Anna, and Abigail.

FIFTH GENERATION.

Solomon Kilbourn, fourth son of Capt. Joseph Kil-
bourn, was born in Litchfield, March 1, 1736; married
Anna Palmer, April 8, 1756, and died July 30, 1806.
He was a farmer by occupation. His children were
Rachel, Hannah, Jeremiah, Solomon, Anna Olive,
Whitman, and Sibbil (also spelled Sybbel.)

SIXTH GENERATION.

Whitman Kilbourn, third son of Solomon Kilbourn,
was born in Litchfield, Conn., April 12,1772; married
Thala, daughter of Capt. John Osborn, April 7, 1800.
Their children were as follows: Myron, Ethan, Lewis,
Eliada, Amanda, and James. Hisdaughter, Anvanda,
married James B. Peck, of Litchfield. Mr. Kilbourn
was a farmer by occupation and a Whig, or more
properly now (1881) known as Republican, in politics.
He died June 18, 1843, and his wife died May 8, 1865,
in the eighty-ninth year of her age.

SEVENTH GENERATION.

Eliada Kilbourn was born in Litchfield, Conn., Feb-
ruary, 1809. He remained at home with his parents
till their death, when he became the owner of the
“old homestead.” He married Mary Ann, daughter
of Deacon Charles Dudley, of Litchfield, Conn., Nov.
1, 1848, and to them have been born four children,
viz.. Myron E., born Noy. 1, 1844, married and re-
sides in Wisconsin; Charles D., born April 22, 1847 ;
Caroline, born March 25, 1850; and Florella M. A.
born July 5, 1858. Caroline married Frank W. Gris-
wold, a farmer of Goshen; Florella M. A. married
Fremont M. Grunins, a farmer in Litchfield. Mr.
Kilbourn has always been a farmer, and a man uni-

 

versally respected. In politics a Republican, My.
and Mrs. Kilbourn are members of the Congregational
Church in Litchfield. His son, Charles D., has con-
trol of the home-farm, which consists of some two
hundred acres, which is in a good state of cultivation,
In politics he is a Republican, and a member of the
Congregational Church. He married Matilda R. Nor.
ton, of Norfolk, Oct. 4, 1876, and has one son, Harry N,

NOAH GUERNSEY.

Noah Guernsey was a son of Noah Guernsey, who
settled in Litchfield, near Northfield, Conn., at an
early day, and was born on his father’s farm, April 10,
1793. He married Amanda Crosby, May, 1816. She
was born Jan. 29, 1795, and is still hale and hearty,
and retains much of the vigor of youth, though she
is in the eighty-seventh year of her age. Their chil-
dren were William H. (deceased); Julia A., wife of
Guy Catlin (deceased) ; Egbert, a prominent physi-
cian in New York City; Noah (deceased); and Har-
riet (deceased). Mr. Guernsey was a farmer by oceu-
pation, as his father had been before him. He took a
deep interest in political matters, and often held the
more important offices in his town. As a Whig, he
was often a selectman of the town. Mr. and Mr,
Guernsey were members of the Congregational Church.
He died April 16, 1873. He was honest, sober, indus-
trious, and economical. He was esteemed and re-
spected by all who knew him. His widow is residing
with her only living daughter, Mrs. Guy Catlin, about
one mile northwest of Northfield, Conn.

GUY CATLIN.

Guy Catlin, son of Levi Catlin, was born Oct. 9,
1819, on the farm in Litchfield, Conn., where he con-
tinued to reside till his death, Feb. 11, 1861. His
advantages for an education were limited to the com-
mon schools of his day except a year spent in the
Litchfield Academy. On the 23d of May, 1848, he
married Julia A., daughter of Noah and Amanda
Guernsey, of Litchfield, Conn., and to them were bor
Amelia G., a teacher in San Francisco, Cal.; Alice A,
a teacher in New York City; and Austin H., a con
ductor on the New York Central and Hudson River
Railroad. Mr. Catlin was a successful business mal
and farmer, and although he died in the prime of life,
he left his family in comfortable circumstances. He
was a staunch Republican in politics. He was 4
quiet, unassuming man, courteous towards all, and
charitable to those who differed from him. The Cat-
lin family is one of the oldest, as well as one of the
most highly esteemed families in Litchfield, and the
subject of this sketch inherited some of the noble
qualities of head and heart of his honored ancestors.
Wy

 

GUERNSEY.

NOAH
 
 
LITCHFIELD. :

1624

 

HENRY W. BUEL, M.D.

Henry W. Buel, M.D., son of Samuel Buel, M.D.,
who was a practicing physician of eminence in Litch-
field for more than forty years, was born April 7,
1820. In 1840 entered Yale College, and graduated
in 1844, receiving the degree of A.B., and in 1847
the degree of A.M. Immediately after leaving col-
lege commenced the study of medicine, at first with
his father, and subsequently in the offices of Dr. W.
P. Buel and Dr. Gordon Buck, of New York City, at
the same time attending the courses of lectures at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons of that city.
Receiving the appointment of junior walker in the old
New York Hospital he passed regularly through the
grades of junior and senior walker, one year in each;
and finally, after receiving the degree of M.D. from the
college, was appointed house-surgeon at the hospital,
and served the regular period of one year, remaining
also a short time longer in that position, and receiv-
ing a certificate of recommendation from the governors
and surgeons of the hospital. Upon leaving the New
York Hospital, in 1849, was appointed resident physi-
cian of Sanford Hall,.Flushing, L. I., which position
he occupied five years. In 1854 returned to Litch-
field; in 1856 revisited Europe; and in the year 1858
commenced the institution now known as “Spring
Hill Home for Nervous Invalids.” Has been presi-
dent of the Connecticut Medical Society, of the
Litchfield Medical Society, member of the State
board of charities, and was also appointed by Goy-
ernor Hubbard one of three commissioners to ex-

amine into and report upon the need of provision for

the indigent insane of the State.

PAYNE KENYON KILBOURNE, A.M.

Payne Kenyon Kilbourne (son of Chauncey and
Hannah Kenyon Kilbourne) was born in Litchfield,
Conn., July 26, 1815. He was bred a printer, in the
office of the late Nathan Whiting, Esq., long known
as the editor of the Religious Intelligencer, the first
and oldest religious newspaper in the world. At the.
age of eighteen years he commenced writing for the
periodicals of the day, both in prose and verse, and
‘soon achieved a respectable reputation in that depart-
ment of literature. In the spring of 1836, Mr. Storer,
proprietor of The Literary Emporium, offered a series
of prizes for the best tales and poems that should be.
written for that paper. The committee of award:
consisted of Mr. Storer (the editor), David Francis’
Bacon, M.D., and the Rev. Oliver Ellsworth Daggett, '
D.D. Young Kilbourne (though still in his minority)
determined to run his chance of success, and accord-
ingly wrote and sent in an article in Spenserian stanzas,
entitled “New England.” The committee, after due.
deliberation, decided that the best poem presented for’

 

their examination was one written by the Rev. J. H.
Clinch, A.M., of Boston, Mass., and the second best
was that from the pen of the subject of this sketch.
In December, 1837, when but little more than twenty-
two years of age, he became the editor and proprietor
of The New Havener, a weekly literary periodical.
While under his supervision it numbered among its
contributors Prof. Gibbs, of Yale College, Noah Web-
ster, LL.D., Rev. J. H. Clinch, Mrs. Sigourney, and
other writers of established reputation. During the
autumn of 1839 he removed to Philadelphia, but soon
after became associated with Mr. Naudain as joint
editor of The Delaware Sentinel, a large tri-weekly
political journal published in the city of Wilmington,
Del. Here he remained through the “ Harrison cam-
paign,” perhaps the most exciting one in our partisan
annals, and had the satisfaction of believing that his
services were generally acknowledged and appreciated.
In the mean time he had been a frequent and well-
known correspondent of several of the most popular
magazines and literary papers in the Union, in the
prospectuses of some of which his name had been
widely heralded as a “ principal contributor.”

In the summer of 1841, Mr. Kilbourne left Wil-
mington with the intention of seeking his fortune in
the West, but unforeseen circumstances changed his
destination. He soon after became connected with
E. B. Greene, Esq., in the editorship of The New
England Weekly Review, in Hartford, Conn., a paper
which had previously been edited by the celebrated
poets John Greenleaf Whittier and George D. Pren-
tice. In June, 1842, he published a volume of one
hundred and eighty pages, entitled “The Skeptic,
and Other Poems,” which was well received by the
public. “The Iron Horse,” a poem, also from his
pen, soon after made its appearance in pamphlet form.
He remained in Hartford, as one of the editors of The
Review and of The Columbian, until the summer of
1845, when he returned to his native town, and became
the editor and proprietor of The Litchfield Enquirer.

During his residence in Litchfield Mr. Kilbourne
was four or five times elected a member of the board
of education. In 1847 his “ Family Memorial,” an
octavo volume of one hundred and fifty pages, was
published. In February, 1850, he was commissioned
by Governor Trumbull as a notary public; and in
January, 1851, he was appointed and sworn as a
commissioner of deeds for the State of Vermont.
During the year last named his poem entitled “ Ban-
tam” was given to the public in a pamphlet form,
and his “ Biographical History of Litchfield County”’

‘was published in an octavo volume of four hundred

and sixteen pages. On the 24th of August, 1852, he
was appointed by his excellency Governor Bigler, of
Pennsylvania, pursuant to an act of the Legislature
of that State, a commissioner, resident in Connecticut,
with “authority to take the acknowledgment and
proof of any deed, mortgage, or conveyance of any
lands, tenements or hereditaments lying or being in
1623

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the State of Pennsylvania, or any other writing under
seal to be used or recorded therein; with full power
and authority also to administer oaths, take deposi-
tions, and examine witnesses under any commission
emanating from any of the courts of said State rela-
ting to any cause depending or to be brought in any
.of said courts.”
In consequence of too close application to business
_ the health of Mr. Kilbourne ultimately became so
‘impaired that, in March, 1858, he disposed of the En-
quirer office to Mr. H. W. Hyatt.

At the annual commencement of Union College,
N. Y., in August, 1853, the president and trustees of
that institution conferred upon Mr. Kilbourne the
honorary degree of Master of Arts.

In politics Mr. Kilbourne was uniformly recognized
asa Whig. Though the life of a politician was far
from being congenial to his tastes, his position as
editor almost necessarily compelled him to take a
somewhat active part in the contests of the day. He
was often a delegate to Senatorial, Congressional, and
State conventions; frequently officiated as secretary
of these conventions, and on the committees on reso-
lutions; and in March, 1855, he was president of the
American Senatorial Convention which convened at
Winsted, Conn.

In the summer of 1855 he took a trip to the Old
.World. An account of his tour through England and
Wales, in several chapters, was published in the En-
quirer in the summer and autumn of that year, under
the general head of “Rides and Rambles in the
Father-Land.”

Mr. Kilbourne was a member of the Connecticut
Historical Society; corresponding secretary of the
Kilbourne Historical and Genealogical Society ; sec-
retary of the Litchfield County Historical Society ;
corresponding member of the Historical Societies of

' Massachusetts, New York, and Wisconsin; Fellow of
the American Statistical Association; corresponding

member of the New England Puisiorien| and Genea-.

logical Society, etc. Also clerk of the borough of
Litchfield; clerk of the Court of Probate for the dis-
trict of Litchfield; and commissioner of the Superior
Court of Connecticut.

In 1856 he published “ History of Kilbourne Fam-
ily,” one of the earliest and best-arranged genealogies
published; was Governor Holley’s private secretary
in 1857; published “History of Litchfield,” put in
type by himself, in 1859. This publication is a valu-
able contribution to the historic literature of the State,
.and takes front rank among the standard local works
‘of our times.
“History of Connecticut,” vol. ii., gives Mr. Kilbourne
a glowing tribute, closing, “I should have been
unable to do even the little I have done without him,
and am not willing to let this occasion pass with-
out attempting to do him justice : as a genealogist, I
have never seen his superior.” He died July 19,
1859.

Mr. Hollister, in the preface to his:

 

DANIEL SHELDON.

There is no prouder or more enduring personal
record than that of a man who devotes his life-work
to the advancement of a noble profession and the
amelioration of the human race. Such a one is Dr,
Daniel Sheldon, one of the first in date and in medi.
cal skill of the physicians of Litchfield, who enjoyed
in an: eminent degree the confidence and respect of
his fellow-townsmen. He was entirely devoted to
his profession, which he practiced with judgment
and sound common sense, detesting quackery and dis-
liking the heroic treatment. Threatened at one time
of his life with pulmonary consumption, his experi-
ence in his own case indicated a regimen which is
still considered the best, if not the only, method of
dealing with this dangerous disease. His reputation
extended throughout the State and to the city of New
York..

Dr. Sheldon’s cheerful, kind, and disinterested char-
acter made him a ecinedl Sayonilp. All his actions
were directed by a strong sense of duty. He came of
asound Puritan stock, and was educated in those
bracing. Calvinistic doctrines which produced in the
New England of his youth and manhood “a horror
of sin, an.enthusiasm for justice, purity, and manii-
ness.”

Dr. Sheldon was descended from Isaac Sheldon, an
Englishman, who settled in Dorchester, Mass., in 1634,
He was born in Hartford, Conn., Oct. 19, 1750 (0.8).
Like many other New England boys his time was di-
vided between farm work in summer and the gram-
mar school in winter, where he acquired a knowledge
of Latin and Greek. At the age of seventeen he
went to reside with his uncle by marriage, Dr. Bird,
of Litchfield South Farms, and studied medicine.
He commenced practice in Washington, Conn., and
was married in 1777, to Miss Charlotte Judson, of
Washington, by the Rev. Daniel Brinsmade. Mrs.
Sheldon died in 1782, leaving two children. In 1784
he remarried with Miss Huldah Stone. The cele-
brated Dr. Lemuel Hopkins, whose wife was a sister
of Miss Stone, was then practicing in Litchfield. It
was arranged between them that Dr. Hopkins should
move to Hartford, and Dr. Sheldon take his place in
Litchfield. This was in 1784. Dr. Sheldon remained
in Litchfield until he died, in April, 1840, at the age
of ninety, having enjoyed excellent health to the
end,

He had six children, His eldest son, Daniel, Shel-
don, Jr., was secretary of the United States Legation
in France, and Chargé d’Affaires. He died in Mar
seilles in 1828. His second and third sons, Frederick
and Henry, were successful merchants in New York.
His daughter, Mrs. Lucy Beach, still survives him, in
healthy, happy, and honored old age, and resides in
the house he built in Litchfield, and in which she was
born.
 

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LITCHFIELD.

163

 

SAMUEL H. DUDLEY.

Deacon Samuel H. Dudley was born in Litchfield,
June 28, 1804. He is descended from William Dud-
ley, who was an Englishman by birth, and the first of
the family who emigrated to this country. He settled
in Guilford, Conn., in 1639, and died at Saybrook,
March 16, 1684. He was twice married; his second
wife was Mary Stow, by whom he had nine children,
of whom Joseph was born April 16, 1643. He mar-
ried Ann Robinson; they had nine children, of whom
William was born Dec. 17, 1678; married Ruth Strong,
of Lyme, Conn., for his first wife, and Rebecca Fish
for his second. He raised a large family, among
whom was Medad, born Feb. 3, 1724; married Mary
Fowler; they had nine children, one of whom was
Charles, who married Ruth Hart, of Durham; they
had five children, viz., Susan A., Lois, Samuel H.,
Frederick, and Ruth. The mother died Aug. 27, 1808.
Mr. Dudley was again married, to Rhoda Baldwin, of
Washington township; they had two children, Mary
Ann and Charles. Mary Ann is the wife of Eliada
Kilbourn. ~

Samuel H., the eldest son of Charles Dudley, re-
sided with his father in Litchfield, and worked upon
the farm until he was thirty years of age, where he
was married, and settled on a farm near the old home.
His wife died Dec. 22, 1873, leaving three children,
Lucretia, Florence A., and Caroline E.

Mr. Dudley and his wife were consistent members
of the Congregational Church, where he has officiated
as deacon for more than forty years.

HEMAN BEACH.

Heman Beach was born in Litchfield, June 23,
1813. He was the son of Heman Beach, who was
born on Beach Street, in the town of Litchfield, where
the family have lived for several generations. The
Beach family trace their genealogy to their ancestors
who came from England and settled at New Haven
at an early day. ;

Heman Beach, Sr., was a farmer on Beach Street.
He married Clarissa Kilbourn, only child of Appleton
Kilbourn, who was the son of James, and grandson of
Joseph Kilbourn, one of the first settlers of Litchfield
and one of the founders of the Presbyterian Church
in that town. He was admitted an inhabitant Dec.
12,1721 (see biography of Eliada Kilbourn). Heman
Beach was a farmer in Litchfield; his wife died, leav-
ing three children, two of whom are still living, viz.,
Marcia, married James C. Newcomb, a farmer on
the old Kilbourn homestead; Milo is also a farmer.
Mr. Beach was a second time married, to Phebe
Landon, ,

Heman Beach (2d) came on to the place where he
now resides when eighteen years of age, with his
father, who owned the farm. Here he has lived for
fifty years, and is one of the substantial and respected
citizens of his town. He has been three times married.

 

First, to Eliza Thomas. She died Dec. 10, 1849, leav-
ing six children,—Algaman G., Thomas W., Eugene
I., Charles T., Wesley H., Eliza J.,—three of whom are
now living. Mr. Beach was again married, to Minerva
D. Goslee. She died Jan. 29, 1858, aged twenty-four
years. He was a third time married, to Mary K.,
daughter of Daniel Keeler, who came to Litchfield
when seventeen years of age with his father, from
Middlebury, and settled on a farm near the village of
Bantam; their children are Edgar D., Frederick E.,
Oscar D.; and Mary C.*

CHARLES D. WHEELER.

Charles D. Wheeler was born in Stonington, Conn.,
Noy. 18, 1817. He was the son of Christopher and
Orinda (Gallup) Wheeler, who came to Litchfield in
1819, where they raised a large family of nine children,
as follows: Emeline, Christopher P., Eliza O., Charles
D., Emeline Ann, William C., Elizabeth H., Mary
Jane, and David M. The father died Jan. 24, 1858,
and the mother August 27th of the same year. Only
three of the children are now living, viz., Charles
D., Elizabeth H., wife of John Williamson, and Mary
Jane, wife of Jacob Morse.

Charles D. Wheeler was married when twenty-five
years of age to Mary E, Guild, daughter of Albin
Guild, of the fifth generation in this country. The
family trace their genealogy to John, Samuel, and
Ann Guild, who emigrated to this country from Scot-
land in 1648.

Soon after Mr. Wheeler was married he moved
on to the farm where he now resides, and for forty
years has pursued the vocation of agriculture. He
has large and commodious buildings, with such
surroundings as indicate the thrifty farmer. Po-
litically Mr. Wheeler is a Democrat, and has filled
the office of assessor, selectman, and represented his
town in the Legislature in 1873. Mr. Wheeler and
his wife are members of the Episcopal Church. They
have one daughter, Jennie Elizabeth, wife of Isaac
H. Hutchinson. They have two children, Charles L,
and Carrie M.

LEVI COE.

The Coes are of English descent, but very little
is known by the historian of the ancestors in this
country, Thomas was one of the first of the name to
settle in Litchfield County, having come from Middle-
town, Conn. Married and had children, of whom Levi
Coe, Sr., was a son, born in Litchfield, Conn.; married
Deborah McCall and had ten children, viz., Dyer,
Ira, Walter, Emeline, William, Elizabeth, Olive M.,
Levi, Maria D., and Thomas M.; the three youngest
are living, all born on the old Coe homestead in
Litchfield, Conn.

 

* Since writing the above, Mr. Beach was taken suddenly ill and died
March 26, 1881.¢
164

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Mr. Levi Coe, Sr., purchased this farm before his
marriage. He was twice married, but the children
are by his second wife. He died in 1832. Mr. and
Mrs. Coe were members of the Congregational Church.

Levi Coe, son of Levi Coe and Deborah McCall,
was born on the farm now owned by him, Sept. 14,
1810. He has always been a farmer on the old home-
stead, which he bought of the heirs after the death of
his father. His farm consists of some two hundred
acres well improved; the buildings are substantial,
showing thrift and enterprise. He married Lavinia
M., daughter of Samuel and Lavinia (Judson) McNeil,
of Litchfield, May 22, 1838. Their children were
Dwight McNeil, died at twenty-three; Frederick L.,
married Sarah C., daughter of William Norton, and
has two children, Stanley L. and Philip F.; and Fran-
cis M., born Jan. 22, 1852, married Marion J., daugh-
ter of Sherman Platt, of Marbledale, Conn.

Mr. Coe is a Republican in politics. He has been
magistrate of the town several years. Mr. and Mrs.
Coe are members of the Congregational Church in
Litchfield.

Samuel McNeil, son of Isaac, was born in Litchfield,
was a farmer by occupation, married Lavinia Judson,
and had eight children, viz., Isaac H., Lewis J.
(deceased), Louisa B., Lavinia M., Mary Ann, Julia
E. (deceased), Frederick D., and Charles L. (de-
ceased). Mr. McNeil died at sixty-three years of
age, and his wife survived him and died at ninety-
two.

JACOB MORSE.

John Morse, of New Haven, born in England about
1619, emigrated and settled at New Haven, 1639, and
removed to Wallingford, Conn., 1670. John Morse
was one of that noble band who founded the colony
of New Haven. His foresight, courage, and enter-
prise in embarking in the work; his wisdom and pru-
dence; his self-denial, firmness, and perseverance in
carrying it on, are well attested by records when read
in connection with the history of his times and the
privations and trials of his situation. He lived to
‘honor God and do good. Of the time and place of

John Morse’s birth, and the date of his arrival in|

New England, we have no certain information. If he
had attained his majority when admitted a member
of the General Court, 1689-40, he was born as early
as 1619, which would have made him eighty-nine
years old in 1708, when he, as is alleged, removed
from Wallingford. But as his removal at that age is
improbable, and as none of his children or grandchil-
dren are known to have attained so great an age, he
was not probably born earlier than 1622. That he
came unattended by relatives is improbable. Francis
Morse and Christopher Morse, of Boston, were not
improbably his brothers; and John Morse, who mar-
ried into the family of Robert Kaine, of Boston, and
owned a house in Shoe Lane, London, might have

 

been of the same race. Hopkins, Eaton, and Daven-
port arrived in Boston June, 1637,—too intent on
locating at New Haven to listen to proposals from
the General Court to settle in Massachusetts. John
Morse probably came in that company, and a careful
perusal of all the wills of the first planters of New
Haven establishes that fact. He was no common
youth. Without regard to the tradition which makes
him to have been a relative of the father of Bishop
Morse, Sr., he must either have been of high family
or extraordinary precocity. He doubtless arrived at
New Haven in 1638. The first record of him was dated
Feb. 18, 1639-40, when he signed a social compact as
one of the proprietors and planters, and was admitted
a member of the General Court. At this time he
was probably a minor. “ Upon the formation of the
government he took an oath, July 1, 1644, to support
the same.” He resided in New Haven thirty years,
when he went to Wallingford, Conn., and there re-
sided till his death.

John (2), born Oct. 12, 1650, married Martha La-
throp, Dec. 12, 1677. He died March 81, 1717. His
wife died Sept. 21,1719. They resided at New Haven
and Wallingford, Conn.

John (3), born Nov. 10, 1682; died May 14, 1755;
married Elizabeth Hall, Feb. 25, 1708; resided at
Wallingford. His wife died Jan. 17, 1754.

Levi (4), born Dec. 31, 1722; married Martha
Fenn, Jan. 19, 1748-44; resided at Wallingford.

Amos (5), born Nov. 17, 1744; married first to
Betsey Ives, second to Esther Andrews, of Litchfield,
Conn. He died December, 1819; resided at Litchfield,
Conn.

Jacob (6), born March 6, 1792; married Lucretia
Gilbert, December, 1813. She died Sept. 18, 1818,
and he married Harriet Morse, March 14, 1821, and
had the following children, viz., Linus G., Lewis H.,
Lucretia, Jacob, and Albert (deceased). Mr. Morse
was a farmer by occupation and a man much esteemed
by all. He died Nov. 1, 1862.

Jacob Morse, the immediate subject of this sketch,
was born in Litchfield, Conn., Feb. 19, 1827. He was
reared a farmer, which honorable occupation has
been the chief business of his life. He has also
been engaged as a trader in stock. His advantages
for an education were such as the common schools
afforded, supplemented with a few terms at the Litch-
field Academy. On the Ist of April of 1863, he set-
tled in the village of Litchfield, on the place formerly
owned by Julius Deming. In politics he has always
been a Democrat, and as such he has been constable
and first selectman of Litchfield for more than twenty
years, and in 1861 was elected to the State Legisla-
ture of Connecticut. On the 16th of October, 1848,
he married Mary Jane, daughter of Christopher
Wheeler, of Litchfield. She was born Nov. 28, 1825.
Their children are Ella O. (deceased) ; Virginia, wife
of Truman Catlin ; Christopher W., died young; Har-
riet E.; Arthur J.; and Dermont L, (deceased).
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165

 

Mr. and Mrs. Morse are members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, of which he is one of its principal
men and main supporters.

DAVID McNEIL GRANT.

David McNeil Grant was born in the house where
he now lives in Litchfield, Aug. 11, 1812. He is the
representative of one of the pioneer families of Con-
necticut. He traces his genealogy to Matthew and
Priscilla Grant, who came from Scotland on the ship
“Mary and John,” and landed at Dorchester, Mass.,
in 1630. Their descendants were: (2) John and
Mary (Hull); (8) Joseph and Sarah (Cook); (4)
Increase and Ann (Herford); (5) Ambrose and
Hannah (Mason); (6) Charles and Hannah (Mc-
Neil); (7) David McNeil and Caroline B. (Judd).

The first Grants—Matthew and Priscilla—landed at
Dorchester, Mass., but soon went to Windsor, Conn.,
with a colony of Scotch people, where the family
resided for several generations. Increase Grant was
the first of the family to settle in Litchfield County.
He came to Torrington as early as 1730. His son
Ambrose was the pioneer in Litchfield, and settled
in the north part of the town, where he built a large
and substantial residence in 1795. Tere the family
have since resided. He had a family of seven chil-
dren,—five sons and two daughters. His son Charles
succeeded him onthe farm. Charles married Hannah
McNeil. They had four children,—three sons and
one daughter, Harriet Lucretia. She is unmarried,
and resides at the old home with the only surviving
son, David McNeil Grant. He married Caroline B.
Judd in 1860. She died in 1865, leaving two children,
Charles H. and Fanny L.

THE PLUMB FAMILY.

The historian is not in possession of any facts rela-
tive to the history of the Plumb family prior to their
settlement in Litchfield Co., Conn. They are of
Scotch origin, however, and the first of the name in
America of whom we have any knowledge was Ezra
Plumb, who was born probably somewhere in New
England, and was one of the early settlers in Litch-
field County. He had two sons,—perhaps more chil-
dren,—Ezra and Ebenezer.

Ezra Plumb (the second) was born in Litchfield,
Conn.; married Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Wood-
ruff, and hada son, John. Ebenezer Plumb was born
in Litchfield, Conn., Jan. 28, 1747, married Deborah
Griswold, daughter of Elijah Griswold and grand-
daughter of Capt. Jacob Griswold; Deborah was
born May 6, 1746, and died July 2, 1836. They had
a daughter, Deborah. Ebenezer Plumb died Sept. 5,
1829,

John Plumb, son of Ezra, was born in the town.of
Litchfield, Conn., July 4, 1777, and married Deborah,
daughter of Ebenezer Plumb. She was born Feb. 26,

 

1772, in Litchfield, Conn. They had two children,—
viz., Frederick W. and Charlotte. Charlotte married
Asa Slade, of Kent, Conn., and is still living, and is
a widow, eighty-one years of age.

John Plumb was a blacksmith, and a man in mod-
erate circumstances. In politics a Whig. He died
in early manhood, aged thirty-four years, and his wife
died at forty-eight years of age.

Frederick W., only son of John and Deborah
Plumb, was born in the town of Litchfield, Conn.,
Oct. 28, 1801; married Huldah Seymour Landon,
daughter of Capt. Seth Landon, of Litchfield, Conn.
(See history of James Landon, of Salisbury, Conn.,
for history of Landon family.) Mr. Plumb was a
substantial farmer, and at his death left his family in
good circumstances. In politics he was a Republican.
While he always manifested a great deal of interest
in political matters, he never aspired to official honors.
Mr. and Mrs. Plumb were members of St. Michael’s
Church, at Litchfield, Conn., and he was a warden of
the same. Mr. Plumb was a man universally re-
spected. He died Sept. 25, 1877; his wife died July
19, 1854, leaving to her children the legacy of a
Christian character. Their children are as follows,
viz.:

(1) John L., born Dec. 14, 1831, married Lucy
Fields, daughter of Lyman Fields, of Watertown,
Conn., and has five children,—(1) Frederick L., (2)
Anna G., (3) Edward L., (4) Willey S., and (5) John
F. He is a farmer and florist by occupation, and re-
sides on the old Plumb homestead.

(2) Seth F.,.born Aug. 27, 1836, received a common-
school edueation, working on his father’s farm sum-
mers and attending school winters. He taught school
several winters until the breaking out of the great
civil war, when he enlisted as a private in Company
E, Eighth Connecticut Volunteers, July, 1861, and
was with his regiment during their three years of ser-
vice. He re-enlisted with rank of first sergeant, and
came home to get recruits for his regiment. Soon
after his return to his regiment he was commissioned
lieutenant by Governor Buckingham, of Connecticut.
He continued with his regiment, taking part in all the
engagements of the same, until he was killed at Chap-
in’s Farm, Va., Sept. 29, 1864. .

From the Connecticut war record we quote the fol-
lowing:

“One other name I must mention among our honored dead, Our rolls
record him only as an enlisted man, with rank of sergeant; for although
having been commissioned, he had never been mustered as lieutenant.
But fairer character never graced a soldier’s uniform, and he lives em-
balmed in the affections of home and in the hearts of his comrades. He
led in the closing prayer of that last meeting before the fight, and his
Jast words as the column moved for the charge were respecting ‘ that
good meeting’ and the preciousness of Christ to the soldier. Even the
casket in which such a jewel has been carried is prized, and as we write
here in camp, on the burying-ground of Litchfield, Conn., weeping
friends are preparing the grave of our dear comrade, Seth F, Plumb.”

(3) Lemira E., born June 29, 1838, and resides with
her brother William H.

(4) William H., born Sept. 17, 1840. He enlisted
166 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Aug. 9, 1862, in the Litchfield County regiment,
known as the Nineteenth, served three years, and was
honorably discharged with his regiment, July 12,
1865. At the present time (1881) he is a farmer on
the “Old Landon Homestead,” in Litchfield. He
married Emma T., daughter of Ferdinand Buell, of
Litchfield, Conn., and they have three children,
viz., (1) Ida E., (2) Anna B., and (8) Frederick B.

(5) Charles E., born March 17, 1845, married Emma,
daughter of William E, Camp, of Philadelphia, Pa.
They have two children,—William Edgar, born Au-
gust, 1870; Fanny, born September, 1873. He is
engaged in business in Philadelphia.

PHILIP 8S. BEEBE.

Samuel Beebe came to Litchfield in 1721, within
three years of the settlement of the town. In Kil-
bourne’s “History of Litchfield” he is recorded as
one of the forty-seven “first settlers.” From that
time to 1867 one male member, and but one of each
of six successive generations resided there.

Concerning the antecedents of Samuel Beebe, until
recently nothing has been known, and the informa-
tion herein contained came quite by accident in the
way of the writer, and is on the excellent authority of
Lucius M. Boltwood, Esq.

The second volume of the probate records of Hart-
ford* contain the record of the will of John Beebe,
made at sea in the year 1650, with this preamble:

“T, John Beebye, husbandman, late of Broughton tu County of North-
ampton, being by God's good hand, brought on a voyage toward New
England to sea, and there smitten by the good hand of God, so that my

expectation is for my change, yet through mercy as yet in perfect memory
and understanding.”

He names seven children, viz., John, Thomas, Sam-
uel, Nathaniell, Rebecka, Mary, and Jeames, and di-
vides his estate of seventy-three pounds equally
among them, and appoints the four eldest, John,
Thomas, Samuel, and Rebecka, executors, and his
loving friends, William Lewis and John Cole, over-
seers.

The maker of this will died on the voyage, May 18,
1650. His children settled in New London and Ston-
ington, Conn., and from them probably all of the
name in this country are descended.

James Beebe, the youngest son, born about 1641,
married, first, in Hadley,t Mass., Mary Boltwood, Oct.

 

* This book of records has but recently been accessible to the present
generation. It contains the following appended note:

“This volume, after having disappeared for many years, was discovered
by me, in the city of New York, on Friday, the 6th day of December,
1861. Cnas. J. HoapLey.”

} The probate records of Hampshire Co., Mass., show why James wag
separated from the rest of the family. By William Lewis, overseer of his
father’s will, he was apprenticed to Thomas Stanly, of Hartford and Had-
ley, who, in his will, bequeathed five pounds “unto James Beebe, my
servant, to be paid unto him afthe hath p’formed that tyme of service
weh was promised by William Lewis, Senior, that he is to be with me
until he is twenty and five yeurs old.”

 

24, 1667 ; second, in Stratford, Conn., Sarah Benedict,
Dec. 19, 1679. His son by his first wife was Samuel,
who settled in Litchfield, born June 26, 1672, in Had-
ley, Mass., whence he removed with his father before
1678. James Beebe, several years after leaving Had-
ley, resided in Danbury, Conn., where he died in
1728. Samuel Beebe, with Hannah, his wife (of
Danbury), removed to New Milford. They are there
recorded as members of the First Church of that town.
He went to Litchfield by 1721, when the town was
first laid out. The records of the town were kept in
Hartford at the first, and he is there noticed twice,
once as assigned, with others, to the duty of building
the “ West Fort” of the town, for defense against the
Indians, and once as making affidavit in behalf of
Matthew Woodruff, who petitions the Legislature for
the bounty offered for having killed an Indian. He
died between 1728 and 1734.

He had seven children, all born before he removed
to Litchfield,—viz., Mary, born 1699, married Enoch
Buck, of New Milford, whose descendants still live
in that town and Kent; Samuel, born in 1701, settled
in Sheffield, Mass. ; James, born in 1704, married Abi-
gail Culver; John, born 1706, married Sarah Culver;
James and John both removed to Canaan; Sarah,
born 1718; Hannah, born 1714; Ebenezer, born Jan,
8, 1716, in New Milford, and’removed with his father
to Litchfield, to a location near the north shore of
Bantam Lake, near which place his descendants lived
until 1867. He married (1) Rebecca Webster; (2)
Bethia Osborn, daughter of Benjamin and Abigail
(Talmage) Osborn, born in East Hampton, L. 1., Oct.
17, 1722. By her he had three children, viz., Re
becca, Bezaleel, and Ebenezer. Bezaleel married,
July 11, 1764, Elizabeth Marsh, daughter of John
Marsh.

The following sketch of his life is taken from Kil-
bourne’s “‘ History of Litchfield :”

Col. Bezaleel Beebe was born in Litchfield, April
27, 1741, and spent his life in his native town, except
when absent in the service of his country. At the
age of seventeen he enlisted as a soldier in the French
war and marched with Capt. Evart’s company to
Fort George, where he was for some time stationed.
He was afterwards a member of Maj. Rogers’ cele-
brated corps of rangers, an account of whose exploits
was published in London by their heroic commander;
and, with Rogers, he participated in the engagement
which resulted in the capture of Maj. Israel Putnam.
During much of the succeeding year he was stationed
at Fort Miller, under Capt. Whiting. In 1760 he et
listed in a company commanded by Capt. McNeile,
of Litchfield, and continued in the service for three
years. On the breaking out of the Revolutionary
contest he was once more summoned to the field;
having been commissioned as a lieutenant in the first
recruits raised for that service, April, 1779. He forth-
with marched with his company to Boston, and
thence, after a short detention, to Crown Point, where
 

WILLIAM BEEBE
 
WINCHESTER.

167

 

he was transferred to the quartermaster’s department.
In November, 1776, a company of thirty-six picked
men were sent, under command of Capt. Beebe, to
aid in the defense of Fort Washington. Here, on
November 16th, he was taken prisoner, with all of the
garrison of two thousand six hundred men, after a
disastrous conflict in which the British lost twelve
hundred men, and the besieged about four hundred.
The honorable terms on which the garrison surren-
dered were disregarded, and the prisoners suffered in
the prison-ships a cruelty so severe that when, on
December 27th of the same year, an exchange was
effected, only six of Capt. Beebe’s thirty-six picked
men survived the effect of starvation and disease to
return home.

It was this cruelty that led Ethan Allen to make to
Capt. Beebe the well-known remark, “There ought to
be a hell for such scoundrels as Lowrie.” Capt.
Beebe was allowed the freedom cf the city on parole,
and was able to do much to alleviate the sufferings of
his soldiers, but he was detained as a prisoner of war
for nearly a year.

From this time onward he was in actual service
until the spring of 1781, at which time he applied for
and received an honorable discharge, and once more
returned home. He enjoyed in an eminent degree
the confidence and respect of his superiors in office,
as well as of the soldiers under him.

While chief commander of the coast-guard of this
State, he performed the duties and received the pay
of a brigadier-general. A commanding figure and a
peculiar dignity of character and manner, united to
an innate kindness of heart and a courage equal to
any emergency, contributed to render him an efficient
and popular officer.

He was elected a member of the Legislature for the
first time in the autumn of 1781, and several times
afterwards, and was much employed by the Court of
Probate in settling the estates of persons deceased.
He departed this life May 24, 1824, aged eighty-three.

Col. Beebe had six children, viz., Sarah, died un-
married; Elizabeth, married Joshua Garrett; Re-
becca, married Reuben Rockwell, of Colebrook ;
Ebenezer, married Catherine Fair Knox, of New
York, was major United States army ; James, married
Abi McEwen and settled in Winchester; William,
born March 24, 1782, resided at the homestead in
Litchfield, where he died Nov. 18, 1861.

Daring a long life, spent wholly in Litchfield, he
was identified with all its public affairs. He served
it in both houses of the Legislature and in many
offices of trust. By probity of character, strength of
will, and earnestness of convictions, he filled a large
place in the community and in the church, of which
he was a consistent and useful member, and gained
in an unusual degree the confidence and esteem of his
associates. He bore worthily the unblemished name
of his ancestors, and bequeathed it as their chief in-
heritance to his descendants.

 

He married Clarissa Sanford, daughter of Joseph
Sanford, of Litchfield. Their children are:

1. Eliza, married Dr. John W. Russell, and imme-
diately after their marriage removed to Mount Ver-
non, Ohio, where Dr. Russell still (1881) resides.

2. Rebecca, married Alexander Howard, and lived
in Mount Vernon until a short time before her death,
in 1865, at Davenport, Towa.

3. Philip Schuyler, born March 18, 1812, remained
on the homestead in Litchfield until 1866. He mar-
ried, first, Catherine E. Hall, of Newark, N. J., Oct.
10, 1888. She died Nov. 29, 1848, leaving one child,
Harriet, who married Rev. Henry 8. Kelsey. She
died Aug. 4, 1865.

Philip 8. married, second, Lucy Beebe Robbins, of
Canaan, his third cousin. She died April 27, 1876,
at Vineland, N. J. Their children are:

1. Sarah Holley, born Nov. 10, 1848 ; married Moses
Lyman, Jr., of Goshen, and lives at Waverly, N. Y.

2. William, born Sept. 4, 1851, graduated at Yale
College in 1878; married Elizabeth Febiger, of Wil-
mington, Del., June 22, 1880, and lives in New
Haven.

The other children of William Beebe are: Harriet,
died in 1837, unmarried; Olive, married Sheldon W.
Peck, resides in Beloit, Wis.; Clara, married Joshua
H. Darling, of Warsaw, Wyoming Co., N. Y.

CHAPTER XV.
WINCHESTER.

Geographical—Topographical—List of Bpopeletoes of Winchester—Allot-
ment of Lands—Survey, etc.—Indian History—First Conveyance of
Land—First Roads—The Pioneers—Their Locations—Incidents of
Pioneer Life—Initial Events—Reminiscences of Mrs. Swift—The First
Forge—The Pioneer Grist-Mill—The First Saw-Mill—The Revolution
—Names of Soldiers, etc.—Assessment Roll of 1783.

THE town of Winchester lies in the northeast cor-
ner of the county, and is bounded as follows: On the
north by Colebrook, on the east by Barkhamsted, on
the south by Torrington, and on the west by Goshen
and Norfolk. It issituated in the “ Evergreen district
of the State,” and is hilly and mountainous. The
soil is a coarse gravelly loam and well adapted to
grazing. The territory embraced within the limits of
this town was granted by the Colonial Legislature in
January, 1686, to the towns of Hartford and Windsor,
and subsequently, Feb. 11, 1732, by a dissolution of
the partnership between the two towns, it came under
the sole proprietorship of Hartford.

THE PROPRIETORS OF WINCHESTER.

By a law of the General Assembly it was enacted
that the owners of each township should have a cor-
porate existence under the title of ‘“ Proprietors,”
vested with authority “to survey and allot to each
individual his pro rata share according to the lists of
168

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1720 of the land in the township to which he was
assigned.”

The first meeting of the proprietors of this town
was held May 14, 1744, and was organized by choos-
ing William Pitkin as moderator, and Thomas Sey-
mour as clerk and register of deeds.

The following is a list of the names of the original
proprietors, “with the several sums annexed to their

names by which the respective rights and shares of

said proprietors of the township of Winchester afore-
said are to be apportioned and holden, or divided
to and amongst them, their heirs and assigns, accord-
ing as the same is sett and apportioned in the deed
of partition made of that part of those’ lands called
the Western Lands, which was sett out to and among
the inhabitants of Hartford,” viz. :

  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 

William Pitkin, Esq , heirs.
Mr. Richard Lord’s heirs...
Rev. Mr. Thomas Buckingham
William Whiting, Jr.
Peter Pratt........
Nathaniel Jones.
Daniel Smith...
Samuel Burnham..
Thomas Hopkins....
Jacob Merrill’s heirs.
Aaron Couk’s heirs.
Jolin Pratt, Jr.
Jolin Ensign.
William Roberts, Jr.,
Joseph Easton .........

Timothy Phelps’ beirs.
Joseph Keeney...
John Porter..
William Cole
Capt. Thomas Seymour.
Joseph Well’s heirs..
Samuel Church’s heirs..
Stephen Andrus.......

Henry and John Arnold.
Wilterton Merrill..
Thomas Burr......
Col William Whiting.
Capt. Joseph Wadsworth
Mr. John Whiting
John Pellett.
William Will

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Thomas Wells. 79 1
Jonathan Barret! 49
Thomas Pellett... 46
Joseph Keeuey, Jr. 49
Isaac Kellogg.... 48
Richard Olmsted. 13

Jolin Shepard..
Jonathan Olcott.
Ensigu Nathaniel Goodwin
James Ensign.......
Edward Dodd’s heirs.
Thomas Juda’s heirs.
Ebenezer Webster.
Thomas Day’s heir:
James Bidwell’s he
John Skinner...
Joseph Root.
Thomas Meekin’s hei:
Joseph Sedgwick......
Jonathan Burnham.
Richard Goodman...
Caleb Watson........
Lemuel Deming’s heirs..
Obadiah Spencer...

Thomas Dickinson’s heirs..
Aaron Cvok’s heirs...
John Kellogg's heirs
Thomas Burnham, Jr., heirs.

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Richard Gilman 58
Caleb Benton.. 41 1
John Camp's heirs. 2
Rev. Mr. Benjamin Colton + 100
Thomas Burr, Jr. 61 1
Joseph Gilbert .. 53
Samuel Hubbard.. 25
Thomas Hosmer... 193

Richard Burnham, Jr.
Thomas Whaples..
Ephraim Tucker si
John Hazletine..... 21

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William Day..
John Goodwin.
John Williams :
William Pratt.........

Jacob Webster's heir
Mr. John Haynes’ heirs..
John Benjamin, Jr.....

Thomas Burnham's heirs ..
Jonathan Bull...
Jonathan Ashley.
John Bautry......
Caleb B. and Thomas Bunce’s heirs..
Joseph Cook...
David Forbes

James Williams,
Jobn Burnham, Jr
Samuel Burr.....
Joseph Farnswort!
John Butler..........
John Easton’s heirs.
Charles Kelsey...
Samuel Spencer...
Joseph Butler.
John Abby..:

Phebe Russell.
Ozias Goodwin
Ichabod Wadsworth.
Timothy Porter..
John Kilborn..
James Poisson
Jonathan Tayler. 7
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“The next meeting of the proprietors was held at
Hartford, Oct. 8, 1750, which appointed a committee
‘to proceed to and view the lands and make report to
the next meeting, and to warn the Indians not to set
fire on any of the lands upon peril of suffering the
penalties of the law in case they so do.’

“The next meeting, held in January, 1751, voted,
‘That whenever twenty proprietors should signify
their wish to proceed to the settlement of the town-
ship, the clerk should call another meeting.’ The
next meeting, held in October, 1753, appointed a com-
mittee to form a plan for dividing and settling the town-
ship, but without result. More than two years later,
Jan. 22,1756, another committee was raised to view the
lands, survey and renew the boundsand corners thereof,
and to report to the next meeting a plan of laying out
and settling the same. The plan reported and adopted
at the next meeting, November, 1757, was to lay out
two acres on the pound to each of the proprietors in
two divisions, and that Col. Samuel Talcott, Capt.
Thomas Seymour, William Pitkin, Jr., and Mr. John
Robins, Jr., be a committee, before the next meeting,
to adjust and make up the interests of each of the pro-
prietors, for the more speedy settling and laying out
of said two divisions; andin January, 1758, acommittee
was appointed ‘to make and draw a lot for the proprie-
tors, for their precedence and succession in laying out
the two divisions in manner and form following, viz.
By making so many uniform papers as there are to be
allotments, and on each of said papers write the name
of the proprietor to have his share or allotment governed
or laid out by said draft, and in a just and proper man-
ner cause said papers to be drafted out of some cov-
ered instrument, as Providence shall direct, the lots No.
1, 2, 8, etc., in order as they come out, and make a
return thereof to the proprietors under their hands i
and any proprietor owning by purchase or otherwise,
to have all his rights added together in one allot
ment,
WINCHESTER.

169

 

“The committee was intructed to divide the town-
ship into six tiers, running northerly and southerly,
parallel with the eastern line of the township; the
first five to be one mile and six rods wide (including
a reservation for a six-rod highway northerly and
southerly, where it will best accommodate), and the
sixth, or westernmost tier, so broad as to take up the
rest of the land. They were then to begin at the
southwest corner of the township and lay out the lot
first drawn by lines at right angles to the tier lines,
and so proceed northward, in course, as the lots were
drawn (each lot containing one acre to the pound of
the proprietor’s interest), not less than three and a
half miles, unless the next lot will extend more than
three and three-quarters miles northward; and then
begin at the south end of the next tier east, and then
to proceed northward, as in the first tier; and then to
proceed with the third tier east in the same manner.

“Tn laying out the second division the committee
were to begin at the northeast corner of the town-
ship, and lay out the first lot to the same proprietor
who had the first allotment in the first division; and
then to proceed southerly, laying out lots to the pro-
prietors of the corresponding lots in the first division,
in successive tiers, of the same extent southward as
those in the first division were to extend northward.

“Tn the first division the committee were instructed
to locate the rights of Caleb Beach, Landlord Mott
and his son Mott, and of Ebenezer and Joseph Pres-
ton, so as to take into their allotments the lands and
buildings then occupied and improved by them. They
were also to reserve in the second division two mill
lots of six acres each,—one on the Still River, embrac-
ing the Gilbert Clock Company’s works, and the
other ‘The Old Forge Privilege,’ on the lake outlet,
now owned by the Winsted Manufacturing Com-
pany.

“On the fourth Monday of May, 1758, the com-
mittee reported their action, and exhibited a plan of
their survey and allotments of the two divisions to.a
meeting of the proprietors, which was accepted and
ordered to be recorded.

“The third and final division of lands in the town-
ship was ordered in November, 1763, and the com-
mittee reported their laying out of the same Decem-
ber Ist following, which report was accepted and or-
dered to be recorded. The undivided land in the
northwest, or Danbury quarter, was laid out in three
half-mile tiers, and one tier of one hundred rods,
Tunning northerly from the first division lands to
Colebrook line, parallel with the west line of the
town and reaching easterly to the third or western-
most tier of the second division, and allotments of
one acre to the pound were made on a new drawing
of lots beginning at the southerly end of the western-
most tier and proceeding northerly to Colebrook line;
then beginning at the north end of the second tier
and proceeding to the south end; then proceeding
northerly on the third tier, and returning southerly

 

on the one-hundred rod tier to its southerly end.
The remaining allotments were made on the west,
south, and east shores of Long Lake, so as to appro-
priate all the undivided lands of the township, except
a section.about a mile square at the southeast corner
of the township afterwards taken on execution by
parties who had made the ‘Old North Road’ by
order of the General Assembly, and known as the
‘Henshaw Tract.’

“Reservations of six-rod highways were made run-
ning northerly and southerly, ‘ where they would best
accommodate,’ in all the tiers, and located reservations
four rods wide were made easterly and westerly, at
irregular intervals, across the tiers; but the reserva-
tions in the aggregate fell far short of the require-
ments of the town.

“So far as the general plan and mechanical exe-
cution of this survey is concerned it seems excellent.
The tier lines—except a blunder in their bearings in
the first division—were accurately laid out and well de-
fined. The lines of marked trees between the lots
and on the tier lines are still readily found and traced
wherever the primitive forest remains. The centre
bounds, with stones containing the initials of the
original owners, are generally still to be found in sec-
tions outside of the villages. But the system of triple
division of owners’ rights operated very unfairly on
the small proprietors, and this injustice was aggra-
vated by the width of the tiers on which the rights
were laid. This operation may be illustrated by
examples.

“Joseph Root had a proprietary right of one pound
on the list of 1720. It entitled him to three acres of
land. One of these was set to him unless he had sold
his right to some larger proprietor in a strip of land
in the first division one mile long and half a rod
wide; another acre in the second division, of the same
dimensions, and the third acre in a strip half a mile
long and one rod wide. John Camp’s heirs had a
two pound interest, which in like manner was allotted
to them in two detached strips of one rod wide and a
mile long, and a third of two rods wide and halfa
mile long. In this way all the small proprietors
found their allotments made in three detached drib-
lets instead of in one salable plot, and only eighteen
out of one hundred and six proprietors had allotments
in parcels of one hundred acres or more.

“The reservations for northerly and southerly high-
ways could be located within each tier where the
road would best accommodate, but the located reser-
vations for easterly and westerly highways could not
be used unless the nature of the ground was adapted
to a traveled road. As a consequence of this, so hilly
and precipitous is the territory of the town, that
scarcely one of its reservations has been opened for
public travel, and not one in its whole extent. The
result is that probably no town in the State has
afforded as little encouragement to its settlers in the
matter of highways.
170

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“Tn another respect there was a meanness in the
allotment of the land which it is to be hoped is un-
paralleled. It had been the uniform custom of town-
ship proprietors to make a liberal reservation of lands
tu aid the settlers in the support of the gospel and of
common schools. Our stepfathers gave not a rood of
land for support of schools at home or abroad, and as
to religious endowments, they allotted three hundred
acres each to two of their own resident clergymen,
who, not being subject to taxation, could not regularly
come in for their shares of the ill-gotten spoil.*

INDIANS—THOROUGLIFARES.

“The Green Woods section of Litchfield County,
though abounding with game, seems not to hare been
a permanent abiding place of the Indian, save along
the Tunxis or Farmington River on the east, and the
Housatonic on the western border. The Scaticoke In-
dians dwelt along the Housatonic, their chief residence
in Kent. The Weatogues, of Simsbury, crowded out
from the Tunxis valley by the white settlers, took
refuge on the meadows of the Housatonic in Canaan.

“On the east a small tribe, or fragment of a tribe,
probably crowded out of Farmington, took up their
abode in New Hartford, near the gorge where the
Farmington River breaks through a mountain ridge,
which spot was designated by the early settlers as
‘the Kingdom,’ and eventually by the specific name
of ‘Satan’s Kingdom.’

“A portion of this tribe moved up the Farmington
to the foot of Ragged Mountain in Barkhamsted.
Modern wiseacres assert that their council-fire was the
mythical ‘Barkhamsted Light-house,’ of which so
much has been said and so little known. The head
man, or the last man of this tribe, named Chaugum,
lived and reigned to near the close of the last cen-
tury. His descendants in the female line, a race of
bleached-out, basket-making, root-gathering vaga-
bonds, with high cheek-bones and bow-and-arrow
eyes, have continued to dwell on the Ragged Moun-
tain domain and kept up the council-fires until a very
recent period. A daughter of Chaugum married a
runaway servant of Secretary Wyllys, of Hartford.
They settled in the Danbury quarter of Winchester,
and their descendants are the only known representa-
tives of the aboriginal race in this town.

“Not 2 single mountain, lake, or river bears an In-
dian name. The flint arrow-head is occasionally
found on the intervale lands, and in considerable
numbers along the south shores of Long Lake, to-
gether with some other stone implements, indicating
a resort there for fishing and hunting. There was
also a cleared spot around a copious spring of water
on the east shore of the lake, on land of Deacon
Joseph W. Hurlbut, where numerous arrow-heads
have been found.”

The oldest conveyance of land recorded in Win-

 

 

* Boyd's History,

 

chester bears date Nov. 28, 1729, by which John Kil-
bourn, of Hartford, conveys to Jonathan and David
Hills, of Hartford, “all (his) right, title, share, and in-
terest in and to a large Tract of Land, commonly known
as the Western Lands, belonging to the towns of Hart-
ford and Windsor, as it abuts on the Towns of Wood-
bury and Litchfield, west on the Colony Land, north
on the Colony line, and east on Farmington and Sims-
bury, or however butted and bounded.”

The first road through this town was the trail fol-
lowed by the settlers en route to the lands at Goshen,
Norfolk, and Canaan. Where it was located is un-
known, but for a long time it continued to be the
traveled path to the West.

“The General Assembly, at its May session in 1758,
‘being advised that the road or way now often tray-
eled through the towns of Simsbury, New Hartford,
and Norfolk, to and through the northwestern parts
of Canaan, towards Albany, is in many respects ill-
chosen and unfit for use, and that some new and better
road through said towns, or some of them, or the towns
adjacent, may probably be discovered more direct and
convenient, as well for carriages as traveling, to the
great accommodation and benefit of his Majesty’ssub-
jects, and especially in time of war, occasionally tray-
eling or marching, either from the eastern or central
parts of the colony ;’ therefore

“ Resolved, That Col. John Pitkin, of Hartford, Setl Wetmore, of Mid-
letown, Mr. Wells, of Glassenbury, and Col. David Whitney, of Canaan,
be appvinted a committee, as soon as conveniently may be, to repair to
and through said towns (and towns adjacent if need be), and with all
care and diligence to view and observe suid roads now used ; and also,
with the utmost care to explore and find out how and where any other
shorter and better way, in whole or in part, may be practicable, and their

full description thereof, with their opinion thereon, to make report to
the Assembly at their session in October (then) next.”+

“This committee,” says Mr. Boyd, “at the May ses-
sion in 1759, reported a new line of road, not depart-
ing in any instance more than two miles from a
straight line, extending from the court-house in
Hartford to Col. Whitney’s in Canaan, and a plan of
the intervening towns, with the line pricked thereon.

“The Assembly accepted this report, and directed
the committee ‘to lay out and make plain and certain
the said new country road from the mansion-house of
Samuel Humphrey, in Simsbury, to Col. David Whit-
ney’sin Canaan.’ In May, 1760, the committee having
discharged their duty, the Assembly ordered the way
to be cleared and made passable for traveling before
Nov. 20, 1761, by the towns and proprietors of town-
ships through which it ran, and in case of non-com-
pliance by any such towns and proprietors, the com-
mittee was to take such other measures to that end,
at the expense of the delinquents, as would without
fail accomplish the service before May 1, 1762.

“This thoroughfare, known to a former generation
as ‘The North Road,’ and tow almost a myth, had
in its day an importance and renown which justifies

 

t Colonial Records, vol. ix., pp. 94-95.
WINCHESTER.

our detailed history of its origin and progress. Ac-
cording to tradition, it was a wonder of the age that a
direct and practicable route could be found and opened
through the jungles and over the succession of steep
rocky hills and mountains of the Green Woods for
travel, and the movement of troops and munitions
between Hartford and Albany. It soon became, and
continued until 1800, the great and almost the sole
thoroughfare of the colony in the direction of AJbany.
Continental troops passed over it for frontier service.
Detachments of Burgoyne’s army, as prisoners of war,
marched over it to the quarters assigned them.

“There is a tradition that Col. Ethan Allen, while
on military service in the Revolutionary war, pre-
sumed to desecrate the Sabbath by traveling over this
road, instead of spending the day in sacred medita-
tions at the hostelry of Landlord Phelps, or Roberts,
on Wallen’s Hill, or of Landlord Freedom Wright,
further westward, when a little bushy-headed grand
juror of our town emerged from his log cabin on the
roadside, seized the bridle-rein of the colonel’s
charger, and attempted to arrest him as a Sabbath-
breaker. The colonel, sternly eyeing the legal digni-
tary, drew his sword, and flourishing it aloft, irrever-
ently exclaimed, ‘You d—d woodchuck! get back
into your burrow, or I’ll cut your head off? Grand
Juror Balcomb, finding what a Tartar he had caught,
prudently abandoned his captive and retired to his
cabin.

“Tt should not be inferred from the amount of travel
that this road was an Appian Way. On the contrary,
direct as it was, it went up and down the highest
hills, on uneven beds of rocks and stones, and passed
marshy valleys on corduroy of the coarsest hemlock
log texture. Commencing at the North village in
New Hartford, it ran westerly up a steep hill, then
turned northwesterly through the Bourbon region,
crossing the Green Woods turnpike a little west of
the toll-gate; then northerly by zigzags to the top of a
lofty hill; then over Wallen’s Hill, by the northeast
school-house, down to Still River, near Daniel Wil-
son’s; then up Dishmill Hill and onward by the Row-
ley Pond to Colebrook, and onward through Cole-
brook Centre to Pond Hill, in Norfolk, and thence by
Norfolk Centre and Canaan toward Albany.

“ Another bridle-path entered the township from
the vicinity of Burrville and passed northwesterly by
Landlord Mott’s tavern to the south part of Norfolk
before any settlement was made. In 1762 a commit-
tee of the Assembly, previously appointed, reported a
highway along this route, ‘ beginning at a rock about
three rods west of the fore door of the house belonging
to Rev. Mr. Gold in Torringford, and running in a
northwesterly direction a little more than a mile to
Still River, about a hundred rods south of Yale’s mill
(at Burrville), thence in a northwesterly direction, by
Spectacle Pond and Mott’s house, to a stake and
stones in Norfolk line.’

“This was the South road, by which emigrants

 

171

from the southeastern towns wended their toilsome
way to the western townships, in process of settle-
ment. It was so ‘hard a road to travel’ that good
Landlord Burr, living near the Hayden brickyard,
used, as it was said, to detain his traveling guests
until after morning worship that they might have the
benefit of his prayers in aid of their arduous efforts to
get up the old dug-way road, west of Burrville, an
aid greatly needed.

“The first of these roads was for many years the
only way of access from the east to the Winsted
section of the town. By the second, many, but not
all, of the immigrants came into the ‘Old Society.’
Several of the earliest pioneers came in from Torring-
ton and Goshen, at the extreme southwest corner of
the township, and located in Hall Meadow and the

| Blue Street region.”

The first settler within the present bounds of Win-
chester was Caleb Beach, who purchased lands in
May, 1750, and erected the first house in the town.
This pioneer dwelling stood on the east side of the
Hall Meadow road, about one-half mile north of the
Torrington line, and near the line of Goshen.

In the proprietors’ vote of January, 1758, ordering
the survey and allotment of the first and second di-
visions of land, the committee were instructed “to lay
out to Mr. Caleb Beach, or his assignees, his share or
allotment in the division where his house now is, so
as to take in his house, barn, and orchard, if his allot-
ment shall be wide enough to take [them] in.” The
lot set out to him or his assignees under the instruc-
tions is a lot of sixteen and two-thirds acres, within
Lot No. 6, in the first division. He conveyed away
his right to this allotment March 18, 1756, and prob-
ably soon after moved back to Goshen, where he died
Jan. 18, 1760, aged sixty-one years. His will was
probated and recorded in the Litchfield Probate
Court, and contained the following bequests of his
earthly possessions:

“ Imprimis, to my present beloved wife, Hannah, I give and bequeath
one chest and one bed, and one great spinning-wheel, and one double
spinning-wheel, to be her own and at her dispose.

“Item, To my eldest daughter, Sarah Andros, the wife of Elon Andros,
of Wallingford, I give and bequeath to her, out of my estate, but five
shillings; she having received her portion of my estate before.

“Item, To my suns Caleb and Hezekiah Beach, of Goshen, I give and
Dequeath my plough-irons, and drag teeth, and plow-chains, viz.: to my
eldest son, Caleb, two-third parts, and to Hezekiah one-third part, to be

‘their own and at their dispose.

“Item, To my son, Joel Beach, of Torrington, I give and bequeath three
steel traps, with the chains belonging to them, and my shaving-knife, to
be his own and at his dispose.

“Item, To my daughter, Margit Beach, I give and bequeath three
chests, one table, six puter platters and plates, three puter basins, four
puter porringers, one pair of tongs, one fire-shovel and one tramel, one
pair of andirons, one brass warming pan, one brass skillet, a brass ket-
tle, one iron kettle and three irou pots, to be her own and at her dis-
pose ”

Mr. Beach was grandson of Thomas Beach, an
early planter of Milford, son and youngest child of
Deacon John, of Wallingford, and brother of Deacon
John, of Goshen, from whom Beach Street took its
name. He was born at Wallingford in 1699, where
172

he married the first of his three wives. Thence he
first removed to Goshen, and afterwards to Winchester.

Caleb Beach was born at Wallingford in 1699;
died Jan. 13, 1761. He married, first, May 26, 1726,
Eunice Tyler. She died Jan. 10,1733. He married,
second, Oct. 4, 1738, Margaret Thompson. He hada
third wife, named Hannah.

Joel Beach, third son of Caleb, and inheritor of his
traps and shaving-knife, came into the town with his
father at about fifteen years old, and is named as of
Winchester in the record of his first marriage, in
1757. He afterwards lived in Torrington until 1761,
when he purchased his lifelong residence on Blue
Street, a little south of the stone school-house.

He is described by a cotemporary* as “a conserva-
tive of the first water,—conservative in his dress, in
his food, and in all his habits,—six feet four or five
inches high, gaunt and erect, with a pock-marked,
weather-beaten face, large hands and feet, clothed in
butternut-colored coat, vest, and small-clothes, gar-
nished with long pewter buttons, stockings of black
and white sheep’s wool, cow-hide shoes of enormous
size, crowned with a broad-brimmed, round-topped
hat of dubious color; his customs on week-days, Sun-
days, and training-days were always the same, from
early manhood to extreme old age. His fare was
simple, consisting of bears’ meat, venison, and wild
turkey, when game abounded, and beef, pork, and
mutton in after-years, with toast and cider, mush and
milk, and bean porridge as his only luxuries.”

He was, withal, a mighty hunter, never failing to
bring down the deer, fox, or wild turkey with his six-
foot shooting-iron.

He was also a fish fancier, and had stoned up a
tank around a copious spring on the side of the road
in front of his house, in which he kept a speckled
trout of great size. There is another legend that a
neighbor, with a long hooked nose, tinged at the end
with deep red, coming along the road one day stooped
down to drink from the tank. The trout, seeing the
red protuberance as it touched the water, and fancy-
ing it a gaudy insect, sprang upwards and seized it.
The nose recoiled, but too late. The fish was drawn
out of the water, and dropped on dry land. Great
was the rage of the man of the nose for a few
moments, but as he surveyed the poor floundering
fish, and reflected that he had got the worst of it, pity
superseded wrath. Looking around and seeing no
witness of his successful angling, he kindly restored
the fish to the water and went on his way a happier
man for his magnanimous act.

Mr. Beach’s wife was also a dead shot. One day,
near sunset, she discovered a panther in a tree near
the house. Her husband was away, but his loaded
gun was at hand. She seized and primed it, took
deliberate aim, and lodged a bullet in its brain.

Mr. Beach died Nov. 28, 1820, aged eighty-four,

 

* Rev, Abel McEwen, D.D., of New London.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

leaving his original farm neither increased nor di-
minished by a single acre.

Samuel Gilbert, from Coventry, became a land-
owner and resident of the town in 1752,

Ebenezer Preston, from Wallingford, and Joseph
Preston, from Farmington, became owners of an un-
divided right of land in 1754, under which they en-
tered upon and improved a small tract of land adjoin-
ing Torrington line, extending from Blue Street road
eastward to the nortk, and South road in the second
tier, which, under a vote of the proprietors, was
allotted to them in the division of 1758. Here wag
their first dwelling-place. They afterwards lived, in
various parts of the town, to a good old age, leaving
sons and daughters.

Joseph Preston, Sr., died in 1774.

Joseph Preston died in Winsted in 1824, aged
eighty-five. He is believed to have been son to Joseph,
the pioneer. He and his wife, known as “Uncle Joe”
and ‘“‘Aunt Keziah,” lived early in this century in alog
shanty on Sucker Brook. They were a simple-minded
couple, who lived by basket-making and renovating
splint-bottomed chairs. They once lost the day of the
week, and made Sunday a day of labor. They started
for meeting on their old pillioned horse on Monday,
and learning on the way their unintended desecration
of the Sabbath, returned home and spent the rest of
the day in penitential and devotional exercises.

Jonathan and John Preston, father and son, from
Waterbury, were here in 1767.

Samuel Preston, son of Ebenezer, owned and
occupied a part of his father’s land in 1768, and after-
wards, until 1790, lived in the extreme southwest
corner of the town.

THE PIONEER TAVERN.

Landlord Adam Mott, originally from Windsor,
erected his hostelry on the bridle-path that preceded
the old South road as early as 1754. It stood oppo-
site the Hurlbut Cemetery, and on or near the site of
the house of John Neth. The building was neither
imposing nor spacious. Its walls were of unhewn logs,
its roof of hemlock bark, with an opening in the ridge
for the escape of smoke from the capacious stone
chimney which ascended to the level of the garret
floor. The landlord had two strapping boys who
slept under the roof, and occasionally worked off their
superfluous animal force by a wrestling match before
getting into bed. One cold winter night, when the
hearth was all aglow with coals and embers of the
consumed firewood, the boys, in their shirt tails,
grappled for a trial of strength. They struggled long
and vigorously. At length one of them got the dead
lock of the other at the edge of the yawning chimney.
Both of them went headlong down the crater into the
coals and embers in the fireplace. Whether the
fare of the next day was called pork or bear’s meat
tradition does not say. It is:presumable, however,
if it was of the last night’s roast that it was done brown.
WINCHESTER.

173

 

How a tavern could be sustained in this uninhab-
ited region is hard to conceive. Landlord Mott,
however, took courage and made the best of his
business. To an inquiry as to how he succeeded in
retailing his first keg of rum, he replied that he was
doing remarkably well; that hunters, when they came
along, would fill their bottles, and that nearly every
day he bought a glass of tanzy bitters of his wife, and

that she would then buy one of him with the same.

fourpence-halfpenny.
The bark-roofed tavern, in the course of years,
gave way to a red lean-to mansion of the old Windsor

order of architecture, and this in its turn to a pleasant:

modern cottage, drawing its water from the original
well.

Landlord Mott became poor, and died in his native
Windsor. He had children (as appears by deeds on
record): Jonathan, Adam, Jr., Lent, and Eunice,
wife of Aaron Neal, of Farmington, and may have
had others.

Jonathan Mott, son of Adam, Sr., came into the
town with his father, and lived in a house on the
slope of the hill, southeast of the tavern, which has
long since disappeared. He died in 1818, aged one
hundred and three, and was buried at the town’s
charge.

Adam Mott, Jr., succeeded his father in the home-
stead until 1767, and afterward lived west of the old
Everitt tavern. He went to Ticonderoga in 1775, in
Capt. Sedgwick’s company ; served in Capt. Beebe’s
company in 1776, at Long Island, and was in other
service during the Revolution. He removed to Ver-
non, N. Y., in his old age, where he was frozen to
death at the age of about one hundred years. %

Lent Mott, son of Adam, Sr., had land from his
father near the old Everitt tavern, on which he early
resided. He served in the Northern campaign, in
1775, and probably did other service.

Loammi Mott, son of Adam, Jr., married, April 18,
1795, Polly, daughter of Samuel Clark, of Winchester,
and moved with his father-in-law, about 1800, to Stock-
bridge, Mass.

Tra Mott, son of Adam, Jr., owned land on the
Brooks Street road in 1784, and on Blue Street in
1788,

Moses Miller and Joshua Merrills were here prior
to 1758, and owned land on Hall meadow.

William Filley, called in the deed “late of Tor-
rington, now of Winchester,” bought in 1761 seventy
acres of land on Hall meadow, which included the
land and house previously occupied by Caleb Beach,
the first settler. He was drowned in a deep pool
called the tub, in the West Branch, Aug. 8, 1774, aged
thirty-nine.

Deacon Abraham Filley inherited a portion of his
brother William’s estate, and resided in the town
most of his life. In 1772 his homestead was a part
of the Col. Ozias Bronson farm. In 1774 he was of

New Hartford, whence he removed to Winsted and
12

 

had charge of Doolittle’s mill; and afterwards lived
and died in Old Winchester. He is said to have
made a wooden clock with a penknife. In* his later
years he became a maniac, and was confined in a de-
tached building.

Remembrance Filley, brother of William, also lived
here, and served in the Revolutionary war. Thomas
Hosmer, Jr., came into the town soon after 1761.
Cornelius Merry and John Smith, Jr., were also here
about this time.

David Austin, Jr., built and resided in the house
adjoining the pond outlet.

Benoni Hills was born in Suffield in 1701; re-
moved to Durham in 172425; to Goshen about
1740; afterwards to Torrington, and finally to Win-
chester, where he died, “ripe for Heaven,” June 24,
1793, in his ninety-second year. Several years before
his death he selected two rough stones of mica slate,
and shaping them to his liking, engraved in rude
letters on one of them, “Benoni Hills, this is my
house ;” and on the other, Ae eternity, death is
come;” to which is added, “ June 24, 1798, B. H. et.
93.” Working at these stones was the special enjoy-
ment of his leisure hours. He brought them with
him from Torrington, and gave special directions to
have them placed over his grave, where they now
stand, in the old Winchester burying-ground.

Seth Hills, ‘‘ of Winchester,” is grantee in a deed
of Oct. 9, 1765, conveying to him fifty acres bordering
on Torrington, in the third tier, first division, which
he had probably occupied earlier. Mr.’ Hills was
first deacon of the church, and first representative of
the town; a man of hardy constitution, indomitable
energy, sound, good sense, and sincere piety; his in-
tegrity without a stain. He served as wagon-master
in the Saratoga campaign; was present at Burgoyne’s
surrender, and assisted in clearing the field of the
dead and wounded when the battle was ended. He
died at Vernon, N. Y., June 3, 1826, aged nearly
ninety years.

Capt. John Hills was here Dec. 6, 1776, and doubt-
less earlier. He lived in a house that stood in or ad-
joining the Hurlbut Cemetery. He was a gunsmith
by trade, and his shop stood near his house. He sold
his homestead to James Atkins in 1781, and after-
wards removed to Charlotte, Vt., where he died March
15, 1808, aged seventy-six. He was great-grandfather
of Deacon Abel 8S. Wetmore, now a resident of this
town.

Beriah Hills came into the town after 1769, and
lived on Torrington line on the east side of the road,
in the third tier, second division, running north from
Fyler’s. He was for several years appointed “ to read
the psalm” in the old meeting-house, and died March
25, 1778, in his fifty-second year.

Medad Hills, of Goshen, third son of Benoni, a
gunsmith, who made muskets for the State during the
Revolution, was a large land-owner in Winchester, and
resided at one period in the Norris Coe house. He
(

had a son, Hewitt, who came into the town in 1788,
and became one of its most prominent citizens.

Jesse Hills, son of Deacon Seth, lived on the farm
recently occupied by Samuel Hurlbut (second), which
he sold to Elijah Blake in 1798.

Chauncey Hills, second son of Beriah, a noted
stammerer, lived in his father’s homestead bordering
on Torrington line until about 1802, when he sold
out to Luke Case and William Bunnell, and removed
to Litchfield, Herkimer Co., N. Y.

Benoni Hills, oldest son of Beriah, had no real es-
tate during the life of his father.

In 1751, Capt. Josiah Avered, of Woodbury (Beth-
lehem Society), became the owner of undivided lands
in Winchester, and was soon after disabled by the
kick of a horse, and confined to his bed until his death
in 1765. His property being almost exhausted during
his protracted confinement, his widow, Mrs. Hannah
(Hinman) Avered, or Everett, as now spelled, soon
after his death removed with her aged mother and
seven children to the wilds of Winchester while
there were as yet but three families in the central part
of the old society. They stayed in a house on the
farm now owned by Deacon Abel 8. Wetmore until
a clearing had been made and a house erected on their
land about two miles north of the Centre, on the old
South country road, as it then ran toward Norfolk.

REMINISCENCES OF MRS. SWIFT.

“Tt is evident,” says her granddaughter, Mrs. Swift, in her reminis-
cences, “ that my grandmother removed from Bethlehem in 1765; and with
her children came also her mother, Mrs. Mary Noble Hinman, who died
in Wiuchester at ninety-two years of age. The date of her death is not
known. Her grave is on the left hand of her daugliter’s, as you face the
headstone of the latter.

“She is said to have been born in Northampton, and to have removed
to old Milford at the age of sixteen, and that soon afterward, on a Sab-
bath morning, she and her sister went into the forest to collect thorns
with which to dress themselves in order to attend church at New Haven.
This sister was ancestress of President Day.

“ During the severe winters of that period the hungry wolves howled
in the little enclosure of my grandmother's cottage during the nights,
and were seen to jump over the fence when any one opened the dvor.
Many ave the incidents related in my childish ears of the sufferings of
the family during the Revolutionary war, particularly in the ‘hard
winter’ of 1783.

“No grinding could be done at the mill ; snow fell every other day for
six weeks, and the wind and drifting seemed only a continuation of the
storm. Grain and corn were boiled fur family use. Wood was drawn on
the tops of the drifts on a hand-sled by my Uncle Andrew (the youngest
son) on snow-shoes, and received by his sisteis through a window at the
back of the house. My Uncle Noble at this period wasa chaplain in the
army, and my father (Josiah) also away getting his profession, and after-
wards in commund of a company on the Canada frontier.

“During the hard winter a piece of check-woulen fur soldiers’ shirts
was put into the loom, but it was impossible to weave it on account of
the cold; sv it was all wound ont in balls, then doubled (one thread white
and the other blue) and twisted on the ‘great wheel’; and thus prepared,
my grandmother and her four daughters sat in a circle,—enclosed by
blankets suspended from the joists overhead around the high fireplace—
and knitted the yarn into stockings fur the army. One night during
these times my grandmother and her children sat up amid the howlings
of the winter blasts in consultation whether they should break up house-
keeping aud each take care of themselves. After retiring and passing
the remaining night sleepless, grandmother arose in the morning, and
told her family that ‘by the help of God they would keep together.’

“When she was eighty-four years old she often rode on horseback
from her home, two miles, to the village, went to tho store, then stopped

 

174 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

at my father’s to rest, and then rode home alone. She was eighty-nine
at her death.

“During the war my Aunt Diana, one Monday morning, received an
invitation to a wedding just one week from that evening; she must,
therefore, have a ‘new gown,’ The only store in the town was south of
the burying-ground, near Torrington line, nearly four miles distant,
My grandmother rode over the hills to the store, where she found a pat-
tern of chintz which she could have for eleven and a half yards of
checked woolen shirting for soldiers’ wear; but could not buy it with
‘Continental bills.’ The old lady returned about one hour before ‘sun-
down’ and told her story. ‘ We had,’ says my aunt, ‘ wool, cards, wheel,
net, loom, and blue dye all in the house, but not a thread of yarn. That
night, before I went to bed, I carded, spun, washed, and put into the dye.
tub one run of yarn, and so the work went on; the cloth was wove, the
‘gown’ pattern purchased, made up, and worn to the wedding at the
week's end. Ihave often seen this gown; and in 1843 slept under a
bed-quilt, made principally from its remains, in a good state of preserva-
tion,

“On another occasion, years afterwards (within my own memory), this
Aunt Diana, being engaged at her cheese-tub, heard the cry of a chicken
at the open door; looking out she perceived a large hen-hawk pounced
on a poor fowl, her back towards her. With a long cheese-knife in her
hand she sprang lightly furward and sat down over the hawk, took him
by the head and, with her knife, cut it off. ‘Ile acted as if he felt
ashamed when I was doing it,’ she said, when she told me tho story.
Often have I played with its great talons.’

“ Aunt Diana, afterwards wife of Deacon Theophilus Humphrey, of
Canton, was almost ninety-one years old at her death, Dec. 11, 1843, Sho
was remaikable for her piety and taleuts; was educated beyond what
was common at that early period; had spent three years at school in
New London.”

Dr. Josiah Everitt was probably the first physician

in the town. He studied medicine with Drs. Bird, of
Bethlehem, and Hall, of Woodbury, and settled in
Winchester as a physician, living first in the store
building, recently torn down, that stood in front of
Mr. Theron Bronson’s new store at Winchester Centre,
and afterwards, through his remaining life, in the
house now occupied by his son, Noble J. Everitt, a
quarter of a mile south of the Centre. He served as
captain of a company of Connecticut troops in the
Northern army in the first year of the Revolutionary
war. He died, Feb. 5, 1829, aged eighty.
» Andrew Everitt resided with his mother in the old
homestead until her decease, and continued to own
and occupy it until 1809, when he sold it, and re-
moved to Vernon, N. Y., where he died.

Jonathan Coe, of Torrington, purchased one hun-
dred acres of land at the south end of the third tier,
first division, lying immediately north of the farm of
Deacon Seth Hills, in 1764, which remained in his
family ninety-nine years. In 1765 he conveyed one-
half of this lot to his son Oliver, and the other half
to his son Robert.

Oliver Coe moved on to the south half of the above
lot at or soon after the date of his deed, and occupied
the same until his death, Dec. 31, 1775, at the age of
thirty-seven. He served in the Continental army,
under Capt. Sedgwick and Col. Hinman, at Ticonde-
roga, in 1775; was discharged November 20th; was
taken sick on his way home near Lake George; pro-
cured a horse on which he reached home November
28th; and was confined to his bed with the camp or
typhoid fever until his death, five weeks afterwards.

Robert Coe settled on the north half of the hur
WINCHESTER. 175

 

dred-acre lot aforesaid, and remained until 1768, when
he sold out to his brother, Jonathan Coe, Jr.

Jonathan Coe, Jr., known as Ensign Jonathan Coe,
moved with his father and mother in 1768 on the farm
until then occupied by Robert Cue, where Jonathan
Coe, Sr., died. He removed to Winsted in 1796, and
resided until near his death in the house afterwards
occupied by Col.N.D. Coe. Ensign Coe may be con-
sidered the father of the Methodist denomination in
the town, having been perhaps the earliest convert
and a consistent and earnest supporter of the order
through his life.

Oliver Coe, Jr., owned and lived on the Henry
Drake farm, near Torrington line, in the second tier,
first division, from 1805 to 1814, when he moved to
Hudson, Ohio, and died there Aug. 14, 1825, aged
sixty-one. He served on several tours of duty in the
Revolutionary war, and on the breaking out of the
Indian war again enlisted for three years, and served
in Gen. Harmer’s campaign down the Ohio, and was one
of seven survivors of Col. Harden’s detachment which
was cut off by the Indians on the headwaters of the
Scioto in the fall of 1791. He also served as military
guard of the surveying party that surveyed the Ohio
Company’s purchase; after which he returned to the
place of his nativity and became a thrifty and wealthy
farmer, enjoying in a high degree the respect and
confidence’ of the communities in which he lived.

Gershom McEwen and family, consisting of Mary,
Sarah, Robert, Samuel, and Gershom, came in to this
town from Stratford, Conn., in 1766, when he bought
of David Austin the farm now owned by Marcus Mun-
sill, about a quarter of a mile south of Winchester
Centre. He was called of ‘‘ Winchester” in 1773.
He owned and occupied land next south of Sylvester
Platt’s farm until his death, Aug. 31, 1794.

Enoch Palmer, from Farmington, came to Winches-
ter in 1767, and lived in the late homestead of Adam
Mott, Jr., which stood on the site of Noble J. Ev-
eritt’s house, next north of the Robert McEwen house,
now owned by Marcus Munsill, until 1773, when he
removed to a farm on the old north country road, near
the Wallen’s Hill school-house, where he died in
1795.

Simeon Loomis was here in 1767.

Aaron Cook, from Torrington, purchased in 1767,
and occupied during his life, the lot at the southeast
corner of the second tier, first division, immediately
north of the Prestom reservation, and lived on the
south part of Blue Street. He died May 19, 1804,
aged fifty-nine.

Eleazer Smith had a child born in Winchester in
1768, but is named of Barkhamsted in a deed of June
22,1770, conveying to him land at the angle of the

old road to Winchester Centre, north of Sylvester.

Platt’s. He built and occupied the old house recently
torn down that stood east of the north and south road,
Opposite the turn westward of the road to the Centre.
In 1791 he sold to Thomas Spencer, Jr., after which

 

his name disappears. He had ten children born in
the town. ig

Noah Gleason, from Torringford, bought a house
and lot of John Smith in 1769, on the east side of Blue
Street, near Torrington line, which he occupied until
about 1776.

Noah Gleason, Jr., owned and occupied land ad-
joining his father, on the west side of Blue Street,
from 1783 to 1787, and afterwards on the Brooks
road.

Daniel Grover, of Stratford, a shoemaker, bought
in 1769 a lot of land at the parting of the Norfolk and
Brooks Street roads, in first tier, first division, which
he occupied, living in a house near N. T. Loomis, until
1785. He had six fingers on each hand, and six toes
on each foot.

Joseph Hoskin, from Torrington, came to Win-
chester probably in 1769, and lived on a road border-
ing on Torrington line, at the south end of the third
tier, first division. He served as trumpeter in the
cavalry detachment that went down from Litchfield
County to Long Island, whose gaunt appearance,
rusty equipments, and pacing horses excited the ridi-
cule of Washington’s army, until their good service
in the battle and retreat from Brooklyn Heights
made them better appreciated. He was a kind-
hearted, jovial man, as was indicated by his lifelong
sobriquet of “‘ Uncle Joe.” He died in Winsted, De-
cember, 1818, aged eighty-two.

Reuben Tucker, from Bolton, bought lands adjoin-
ing Norfolk line on both sides of Mad River in 1769,
on which he resided after 1770 until his death in
1811, at the age of sixty-four. He left a large family
of children, most of whom removed from the town
early. His son, Isaac Tucker, lived in the town as
late as 1880. Mr. Tucker built the first saw-mill on
the site near the Norfolk line, now owned by the

Brooks’. i

Timothy Grover, brother of Daniel, owned land
south of and adjoining Daniel’s, which he occupied
until his death, in 1780.

Capt. Jonathan Alvord, of Chatham, came into the
town in 1770, and lived in a house, long since taken
down, near the northwest corner made by the Dug-
way road where it turns west to Winchester Centre,
until he sold out to Rev. Joshua Knapp, in 1773.

Eliphaz Alvord, Esq., son of Jonathan, above
named, came to Winchester in 1770, and following
the marked trees to the land he had purchased,
cleared and planted a garden and built a log house

‘in three weeks, and then returned and moved his

family and effects to his new home, carrying one
child in his arms and another behind him on one
horse, his wife riding another horse with an infant
in her arms, while their effects were drawn on an ox-
cart. He afterwards built, opposite his first log house,
on west side of the Dugway road, a red lean-to house,
a little north of the line of the road westerly to the
Centre, in which he resided during his remaining life.
176

Both houses have long since disappeared, and no new
structures mark their sites.

He was chosen town clerk at the organization of
the town in 1771, and continued to hold the office,
with the exception of two years, until his voluntary
resignation in 1819. His records are a model of ac-
curacy and penmanship, and the vote of thanks for
his faithful services was well merited. In 1779 he
was appointed the first justice of the peace in the
town, and held the office until disqualified by age,
discharging the duties with equal ability and recti-
tude. Ifin doubt as to the law of any case before
him on trial, he almost invariably went to Litchfield
and consulted Judge Reeve or some other able coun-
sel before deciding the points. His cases were inva-
riably recorded at large, with great precision, and
in perfect legal form, even to the taking of recog-
nizances and administering of oaths. His records
give a better insight to the prevailing habits, customs,
and vices of his day than can be obtained from any
other source.

Warham Gibbs, from Litchfield, came into the
town in 1770, and lived on the east side of a road,
now discontinued, running southerly from Winches-
ter Centfe, by the first meeting-house, to the Luther
Bronson place. The road, the house of Mr. Gibbs,
and the old meeting-house, and all other traces of
civilization in that vicinity, except a few ancient
apple-trees, have disappeared for near half a cen-
tury. Mr. Gibbs was moderator of the first town-
meeting, and the first constable of the town; also
frequently appointed “to assist in reading the psalm”
on Sundays, and to discharge other public trusts and
duties. He went to Ticonderoga and Canada in 1775
and 1776 as lieutenant and captain, and did other
service in the Revolutionary war. He removed from
the town in 1780.

Lewis Wilkinson, from New Milford, with his sons,
Jesse and Levi, came to Winchester in 1770, and lived
until 1773 on the farm on the Brooks road,—after-
wards owned by Abram Andrews,—and afterwards,
until 1784, on the farm on the west side of the Brodks
road recently owned by Nathan Tibballs.

Jesse Wilkinson, son of the above, lived on lands
adjoining his father’s, in a red lean-to house.

Levi Wilkinson, son of Lewis, lived between his
father and his brother Jesse, on the west side of
Brooks road, until 1789.

Samuel AVoimore was born in Middletown, Middle-
field Society, March 18, 1692; married, Tete: 21, 1722,
Hannah Hubbard, bee Tuly 21, 1700. He came to
Winchester at the age of seventy- nine years, in 1771,
and settled with his son, Samuel Wetmore, Jr., on the
farm now owned and occupied by his areat-great-
grandson, Deacon Abel Samuel Wetmore. He died
Dec. 30, 1773, aged eighty-one, and is said to have
been the first person whose remains were deposited
in the Winchester burying-ground.

Dr. Truman Wetmore, married, Oct. 18, 1799, Sylvia

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Spencer, daughter of Thomas; she died March 27,
1800, and in her memory he added the name “Spen-
cer” to his Christian name, Dec. 27, 1800; he married

| (second) Elizabeth Jarvis; she died May 7, 1844, aged

fifty-eight; he died July 21, 1861, aged eighty-seven.
Soon after the death of his first wife he began the
study of medicine, under Drs. Woodward, of Torring-
ton, Moore, of Winsted, and McEwen, of Albany, N.Y.
Receiving his diploma in 1802, he commenced practice
in Vermont, but in 1806 returned to Winchester, and
in the following year, on the breaking out of the
spotted fever in this county, he was the first who
treated it successfully. He was a well-read and suc-
cessful physician of the old school, a poet of local
celebrity, a musical composer (some of his tunes
being still retained in the worship of the churches),
a man of genial humor and tender feelings, and a
chronicler of olden times to whom the compiler is
largely indebted. He continued in practice until the
age of seventy-five. His residence until about 1828
was on the south side of Cooper lane, about half a
mile west of the Centre, and during his remaining life
in the old parsonage house now owned by his son-in-
law, Leonard B. Hurlbut.

David Goff’s name is on the petition for incorpora-
tion of the town, dated Aug. 4, 1767, but it does not
appear that he was ever a land-owner, nor is his resi-
dence ascertainable. He was an early member of the
church, and is occasionally named on the records as
holding subordinate town offices. From an affidavit
of Col. Aaron Austin, accompanying a petition of
Goff for compensation for military service, it appears
that he served as sergeant in Capt. Griswold’s com-
pany, in an expedition to Canada in 1775, and that in

‘1776 he and his son enlisted in the company of which

Austin was captain, and that in the retreat from Can-
ada in that year he was the means of saving the army

” from destruction, by devising and carrying out a plan

of getting the boats up the Chamblee rapids by means
of drag-ropes, with men on the shores to tow them,
instead of carrying them and their freight a circuit of
some miles by land, as had been the custom, which it
was impossible to do without teams, of which the army
was destitute. It appears by the same document that
he was afterwards a lieutenant in the Continental
army. It also appears by Sedgwick’s “History of
Sharon” that he resided in that town during a part of
the Revolutionary period. _

Capt. Benjamin Benedict, from Danbury, was here
in 1771, and was chosen a surveyor of highways at
the first annual town-meeting. He built a saw-mill
on the south side of Mad River, above the bridge,
nearly all traces of which have now disappeared.

Capt. Timothy Benedict, from Danbury, named in
‘his first deed, Timothy Benedict, Jr., bought in 1771
the eastern half of thé lot originally purchased by
Capt. Benjamin Benedict, lying on both sides of Mad
River, and inclosing the Danbury school-house, on
which he resided until his death. His wife, Mrs.
WINCHESTER. 177

 

Lydia Benedict, died in this town Feb. 21, 1824, aged
ninety-five. The land records show that he had three
sons, Timothy, Jr., William, and Joshua, who came
with him to Winchester and to whom he conveyed
portions of his land.

Timothy Benedict, Jr., owned land on both sides of
Mad River east of the highway and running south
from the Danbury school-house, and lived on the east
side of the road, nearly opposite the Danbury bury-
ing ground, until his decease.

Timothy Benedict, son of Timothy, lived and died
(March 29, 1820) on the easterly side of the turnpike
above the toll-gate.

Deacon Nathaniel Dutton came here from Wood-
bury in 1771. He remained two years, and then re-
turned to Woodbury.

Daniel Platt and John Bradley were here in 1771.

Lemuel Stannard, Jr., from Saybrook, is a signer of
the petition for incorporation of the town in 1771.
He was born April 18, 1750.

Abel Stannard, supposed to be the son of Lemuel,
Sr., bought in 1779 a lot lying immediately north of
the Little Pond, and built and lived in a square-roofed
house on the road running along the east side of the
pond.

Lemuel Stannard, Sr., from Saybrook, is grantee, in
1778, of a lot in second tier, first division, near Reuben
Chase’s, which he conveyed to his son William in
1789, describing it as his homestead. In 1796 he is
alluded to in a deed as “Lemuel Stannard, late of
Winchester, deceased.”

William Stannard occupied his father’s homestead
until 1790, when he sold out to Col. Ozias Bronson;
and afterwards owned land in Danbury Quarter, which
he conveyed to his father;in-law, Peleg Sweet, in 1800.

Seth Stannard married, Nov. 18, 1785, Martha
Preston.

Ezra Stannard, son to Lemuel Stannard and Ruth,
his wife, owned in 1793 and 1794 the Humphrey farm,
on the east side of Long Pond, south of the Pratt
farm, which he sold to Levi Ackley and Ozias Spencer.

In 1771 all the inhabitants, with the exception of
some half-dozen families, were west of the old South
country road, a section not exceeding one-sixth part
of the township. The whole population, as stated in
the petition of April 4, 1771, is twenty-eight families
and one hundred and seventy-nine souls within the
society of Winchester, and only four families without
the society and within the town. The “ Danbury
Quarter,” embracing the four half-mile tiers in the
northwest corner of the town, is, as yet, nearly un-
occupied. The four families located without the so-
ciety are on the North country road, at the northeast
corner of the town, and will be again referred to.

The following new inhabitants are found on the re-
cords of this year in Old Winchester Society: Thomas
Spencer, Alexander Leach, John Corey, Levi Bronson,
Roswell Coe, Elisha Smith, Samuel Hurlbut, and Reu-
ben Thrall.

 

Thomas Spencer, from Saybrook, in 1772 moved on
to the farm recently purchased of Bronson and Mun-
sill by Rufus Eglestone, lying north of his homestead,
and bordering on the west side of the Long Pond
south of Sucker Brook. The house which he built
and occupied during his remaining life remained
standing until the winter of 1862-68, and then yielded
to the wintry blasts. He was a prominent man of the
town, and nine of his children became heads of large
and influential families; but of more than twenty of
his descendants now residing in this town not one
bears the name of Spencer. He was born Jan. 16,
1736, O. 8., and died May 1, 1807, aged seventy-one.

John Spencer, oldest son of Thomas, in 1784 bought
of David Austin thirty-nine acres of land in the heart
of the west village of Winsted, embracing all of Main
Street from Camp’s Block southerly and. easterly to
Clifton Mill bridge, and the whole of High Street,
Elm Street, the Green Woods Park, and adjacent
streets. He entered on this purchase, cleared a few
acres, and built a log house, on the flat near the corner
of Elm and Main Streets, before any bridge had been
erected across Mad River at Lake Street, or any road
opened south of the bridle-path now known as Hins-
dale Street. Despairing of ever having access by a
road and bridge to the civilized part of the town, and
unwilling to rear a family in this savage region, he
sold his purchase for three dollars an acre, and bought
a two-hundred-acre farm in Danbury Quarter, lately
owned by Edward Rugg, then a well-populated section
of the town, on which he lived until 1799. He died
in Oneida Co., N. Y., Feb. 14, 1826,

THE PIONEER FORGE.

Thomas Spencer, a millwright by trade, lived until
about 1795 in a house that stood on the east side of
the Dugway road, nearly opposite a road that turns
west to Winchester Centre village. In 1795, in com-
pany with Benjamin Jenkins and James Boyd, he
built the first forge in the town, on the “Old Forge
Site,” on which the grinding works of the Winsted
Manufacturing Company now stand. He also built
a store, in which he traded in company with Hewett
Hills, on the depot grounds of the Connecticut West-
ern Railroad Company, on the north side of Lake
Street; and also the rear part of the tenant-house on
south side of Lake Street, directly opposite the store-
building, in which he lived until his removal to
Vernon, Oneida Co., N. Y., about 1801 or 1802. He
died at Vernon, N. Y., about 1828.

Capt. Grinnell Spencer settled in Winsted, and
first lived on a high hill about one hundred rods west
of the Spencer Street road, adjoining his original
orchard, which can be seen from the west village of
Winsted. About 1808 he built and occupied until his
death the house on Spencer Street road now owned
and occupied by his son-in-law, Amos Pierce. He
improved more than two hundred acres of land as
a dairy-farm, and for many years spent his winters
178

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in Charleston, S. C., as a dealer in cheese. He was
an energetic, public-spirited, warm-hearted man, al-
ways the foremost to turn out and break the winter
roads, to attend upon the sick, or to relieve the misfor-
tunes of his neighbors. He died March 5, 1848, aged
seventy-four.

Alexander Leach, a Scotchman, came from New
Haven to Winchester, and owned a farm in the Dan-
bury Quarter, immediately north of the Edward Rugg
farm. He died in 1777.

Alexander Leach, Jr., lived on the homestead as
late as 1791.

William Leach also lived on the homestead for
many years, and afterwards in other parts of the
town. He served in the Continental army, and drew
a pension. He died, probably, after 1830.

John Corey, from Goshen, owned and occupied in
1772-73 a part of the W. F. Hatch farm on the Little
Pond, and probably soon after left the town.

Lieut. Thomas Hurlbut, immigrant, ancestor of
Capt. Hurlbut, of Winchester, belonged to the first
company that garrisoned the fort at Saybrook in
16386. He served and was wounded in the Pequot
war in 1637; settled in Wethersfield, and is supposed
to have died soon after 1671.

Capt. Samuel Hurlbut, from Newington Society
(Wethersfield), came from Torrington to Winchester,
and first purchased, with his brother-in-law, Levi
Bronson, the Artemus Rowley farm, near Torrington
line, in the third tier, from whence he removed in
1774 to the Centre, and built the red lean-to house
which stood on the site of his grandson’s (Samuel
Hurlbut) present dwelling, where he lived until his
death, March 23, 1831, at the age of eighty-three.
He began the world as a carpenter and joiner; after-
wards became a tavern-keeper, at a period when
“the landlord” stood next in rank after the minister
and merchant, at the same time managing a large
farm and a saw-mill, and in later years engaged with
his sons Samuel and Lemuel in country trade.

Gen. Leonard Hurlbut, oldest son of Capt. Samuel,
lived and died in the house recently occupied by his
son-in-law, William H. Rood, about a mile northeast-
erly from Winchester Centre. He was a large dairy-
farmer.

Samuel Hurlbut, Jr., second son of Capt. Samuel,
went into trade at Winchester Centre in early life
with Chauncey Humphrey, and afterwards, in com-
pany with his brother Lemuel, continued the business
until his death, at the age of seventy-four.

Lemuel Hurlbut, youngest child of Capt. Samuel,
was endowed with a hardy constitution, a manly per-
son, pleasing address, and a sanguine temperament.
His perceptive faculties predominated over his intel-
lectual, and his tastes ran to fine animals and highly-
cultivated lands. Though a large trader, he was
rarely seen at the desk or behind the counter. His
department of the business of the brothers 8S. & L.
Hurlbut was to receive and market the cheese, of

 

which they were extensive purchasers, and to cultivate
and improve their lands.

Stephen Hurlbut, born Dec. 12, 1760, half brother
of Samuel, from Wethersfield, Newington Society,
came into the town about 1782; he bought and settled
on a lot of land south of and near Rufus M. Eggle-
ton’s. He died April 14, 1807, aged forty-six.

Martin Hurlbut, from Wethersfield, came, when a
boy, to live with his half-brother, Capt. Samuel, and
continued to reside in the town until his death, April
5, 1810, at the age of forty-seven.

THE PIONEER MERCHANT,

Deacon Levi Bronson, from Berlin, married, Oct.
25, 1769, Hannah Hurlbut, sister of Samuel, and came
with him to Winchester. He built the Artemus Row-
ley house, in which he lived until about 1795, when
he moved to Catskill, N. Y. A cotemporary says of
him,—

“Mr. Bronson was a large and prosperous farmer, and withal a mer-
chant. His goods for trade he mainly bought of Sheldon Leavitt, of
Bethlehem. He made a large amount of potash. His store was in his
dwelling-house,—the first, and for many years the only, store in the
town.”

Capt. Roswell Coe came from Torrington and bought
a farm in the southwest part of the town, which he oc-
cupied until 1789, when he returned to Torrington.

Elisha Smith, Esq., from Torrington, bought of
Enoch Palmer the Noble J. Everitt place, about a
hundred rods south of Winchester Centre, which he
occupied until 1776, when he sold to Martin North
and returned to Torrington, where he spent his re-
maining life as a farmer and trader, occupying a high
position as a magistrate and representative of the
town.

Reuben Thrall, from Torrington, bought and occu-
pied until his death, May 23, 1777, a farm immediately
north of Roswell Coe’s, in the southwest part of the
town, afterwards a part of the Wade farm. He died
May 20, 1777.

The new-comers of the year 1773 were Abram An-
drews and his sons, Theophilus, Abram, Jr., Daniel,
and Eli, John Austin, Rev. Joshua Knapp, Hawkins
Woodruff, Reuben Miner, and Gideon Wilcoxson.

Capt. Abram Andrews, Sr., from Danbury, bought
a farm of eighty acres, lying north of the old Everitt
house, in the Danbury Quarter, now in part belonging
to Mr. Tibball’s farm, a part of which he occupied
until his death.

TRAVELING TINKER.

Theophilus Andrews, son of the foregoing, is de-
scribed by a cotemporary as ‘(a Yankee dyed in the
wool; by profession a tinker, he traversed the northern
part of the county, with his kit of tools in a pair of
leather saddle-bags swung over his shoulders, mending
brass kettles and molding pewter spoons and buttons.”
He continued his peregrinations as late as 1810, and

afterwards went to live with a son in Central New
York.
WINCHESTER.

179

 

Abram Andrews, Jr., is described by the same co-
temporary as “(a Yankee diverse from ‘ Theof., but of
equal doodle. Both were wiseacres, but neither of
them added more than a cubit to his ten-acre patri-
mony.” He removed to Central New York after
1805.

Ensign Daniel Andrews, third son of Abram, Sr.,
“was a man of sense, energy, industry, and upright-
ness.” He built and occupied until his death, July
20, 1828, aged seventy-nine, the lean-to house a little
east of the Danbury school-house.

Eli Andrews, fourth son of Abram, Sr., lived on a
part of his father’s original farm until his removal to
Central New York after 1801.

Daniel Andrews, son of Ensign Daniel, married
Sarah Platt; she died Dec. 16, 1848, aged seventy-
two; he died Oct. 4, 1854, aged eighty-two.

John Austin bought this year of David Austin
thirty-five acres of land within the present village of
Winsted, and sold the same to John Walter in 1779.

Rev. Joshua Knapp, from Danbury, the recently
ordained pastor, purchased and lived on a lot next
south of the homestead of Eliphaz Alvord, Esq., at
the northwest corner made by the parting of the east
and west road to Winchester Centre, from the north
and south Dugway road.

Hawkins Woodruff bought and lived a few years
on the farm now owned by Frederick Murray, on the
old road from Winsted to Winchester.

Reuben Miner came from New London, was a
blacksmith by trade, and first built a house and shop
near the original meeting-house, from whence he re-
moved in 1775 to the centre of the township, and built
and occupied until his death the old house now owned
and occupied by Joel G. Griswold, on the old road
from Winsted to Winchester. He was a man of earn-
est piety and zeal and an estimable citizen.

Jonathan Sweet first owned the B. B. Rockwell
farm, between the two ponds, and afterwards a tract
of land on Blue Street, adjoining Goshen line.

Gideon Wilcoxson, from Stratford, owned and is
supposed to have lived on land lying north and north-
east of the Little Pond, probably the Daniel Beckley
place. He served in the Revolutionary war, and
died while a prisoner in the Sugar-House in New
York.

The new-comers of this year (1774) were Ozias
Brownson and his sons, Ozias, Jr., Levi (second), Sal-
mon, Asahel, Abijah P., and Isaac; Joseph Frisbee,
Phineas Griswold, Ambrose Palmer, Joel Roberts,
Peter Corbin and his sons, Peter, Jr., and Daniel;
John Videto and his son John, Jr.; Stephen Wade
and his son Amasa; Ichabod Loomis, William Castel,
Benjamin Preston, and Gideon Smith.

Col. Ozias Brownson lived on the farm now owned
by Reuben Chase, about a mile and a half southerly
from the Centre. He was a blacksmith and a farmer,
and is described by a cotemporary as a “ professor of
religion, somewhat fierce and overbearing, industrious

 

and thrifty, abounding in horses. He had children,
—one daughter and six sons. These sons were of
gigantic strength, and the colonel worked the five
oldest to a great profit.” He served as a lieutenant
and captain of militia in several tours of duty during
the Revolution. He died March 12, 1810, aged sixty-
eight.

Ozias Brownson, Jr., built the house at Winchester
Centre now owned by Rev. Frederick Marsh, in
which he lived until 1802, when he sold out to Rev.
Archibald Bassett, and soon after removed to Amster-
dam, N. Y. He married, Jan. 12, 1792, a daughter
(Grace) of Daniel Coe Hudson, of Torrington,* and
called his eldest son George Washington Jefferson, a
name which somewhat dumfounded Parson Robbins
at the baptism. ‘He could build a house, a cart, or
a plow, or any other article of wood and iron. He
worked all day at the anvil or on his land, and jour-
neyed two-thirds of the nights. At length he pulled
up stakes and moved to the German Flats to grow
hemp.”

Levi Brownson, second son of Ozias, Sr. (known as
Levi Bronson, second), owned and occupied until his
death an extensive farm near the southeast corner of
Norfolk, living in the red house near the Norfolk
line. 5

Salmon Brownson, third son of Col. Ozias, lived
and died on the farm now or lately owned by his son,
Luther Bronson.

Asahel Brownson, fourth son of Col. Ozias, lived
and died in the house on Blue Street lately occupied
by Archibald Dayton, now deceased, who married his
widow.

Abijah Peck Brownson, fifth son of Col. Ozias,
lived on Brooks Street, north of Nelson T. Loomis,
until his removal to Vernon, N. Y., about 1800, ‘‘He
was the Anak of the family,—a man of pleasant tem-
perament, and brimful of courage and fortitude.”
Many a strong wild colt did he shoe; many a wild
steer did he yoke; and many a time did he bind his
neighbor, John Lucas, a respectable man, but strong
and occasionally crazy.

Isaac Bronson,t youngest son of Col. Ozias, and
the only one born in the town, built and resided until
his death in the house at the Centre now owned by his
son Theron. He was the largest land-owner in the
town. He was also a trader for many years, and a
large dealer in dairy products from his own farms,
and purchased from others. He was a prominent and
influential man in the town,—a justice of the peace,

 

* The compiler heard Mr. Brownson relate an incident of his marriage
illustrating the customs of that day. On the morning after the wedding
he started from Torringford to Winchester in a sleigh, with his bride and
a two-gallon bottle of rum, and on his way home found the road fenced
up in three successive places, with gatherings of neighbors at each fence
prepared to salute his wife or bottle before allowing him a passage
homeward.

+The “w” was retained in the name of the Winchester Brownsons
until after 1810,—by some of them, as appears by their recorded deeds,
as late as 1825,
4

180

and three times a representative to the General As-
sembly.

Lois, daughter of Col. Ozias Brownson, married,
Dec. 9, 1779, Seth Wetmore, and in advanced life
Maj. Benoni Bronson.

The family of Bronson, once the most numerous
with one exception in the town, has but few repre-
sentatives remaining.

Ensign Joseph Frisbie, from Torrington, first lived
on Lot 6, in the southwest corner of the town, and
afterwards, in 1782, removed to a lot opposite the
original meeting-house, with a saw-mill thereon,
probably erected by him.

Elijah Frisbie, son of Joseph, in 1791 owned the
Silas Hoskin place in Winsted, which he sold to
Benjamin Whiting in 1793, and afterwards owned and
occupied the Samuel A. McAlpin place, about a mile
south of Winchester Centre, until his removal to
Vernon, N. Y., about 1800.

Phineas Griswold, from Wethersfield, lived until
1784 near Torrington line, on the old South country

- road,

Ambrose Palmer, son of Job, of Litchfield, lived on
a part of the John J. Fanning farm, in the Danbury
Quarter, until 1791, when he returned to Litchfield.

Benjamin Preston, from Goshen, lived near the
Widow Everitt place on Brooks Street, in Danbury
Quarter. He was a cripple from his birth, and lived
by making baskets, birch brooms, and splint chair-
bottoms.

Joel Roberts owned and lived on a farm now ab-
sorbed in the B. B. Rockwell, J. G. Griswold, and
Emory Coe farms until his death in 1780,

Capt. Peter Corbin, with his sons Daniel and Peter,
Jr., came from Danbury, and lived on the Asaph
Brooks farm in the Danbury Quarter. His house
stood on the east side of the way, opposite Mr.
Brooks. He removed to Colebrook in 1805, and spent
his remaining life with his son Peter, Jr. He was
captain of the first company of the Alarm Regiment
of Connecticut in 1780.

Peter Corbin, Jr., lived in the old part of the house
of Asaph Brooks, above mentioned, until his removal
to Colebrook, about 1805.

Daniel Corbin lived on a hill, west of Asaph Brooks,
about half way to the house of Lloyd Humphrey, in
Norfolk,

John Videto, a foreigner, came from Danbury, and
lived on the old South country road, next south of
the Widow Everitt farm, until his death, Nov. 29,
1799, at the age of eighty-five years and eighteen
days.

John Videto, Jr., came with and lived in the same
house with his father until his removal to Austin-
burg, Ohio, in 1807, with his son Jasper.

Stephen Wade moved to Branford, where he mar-
ried Maria Abigail Hoadley. He came with his son
Amasa to Winchester in 1774, where they settled on
the farm recently occupied by Isaac Wade, in the

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

southeast part of the town. He died Feb. 8, 1817,
aged ninety-three.

Amasa Wade resided on the same farm until his
death, Aug. 30, 1838.
~ Stephen Wade lived on Brooks Street, Danbury.
Quarter, until his removal to Vernon, N. Y., about
1825.

Amasa Wade lived on a farm adjoining his father’s,
and, in partnership with his brother Isaac, owned and
carried on the tannery afterwards owned by the El-
mores.

Ichabod Loomis migrated to this town from Tor-
rington in 1774, and died July 81, 1785. He lived
on a farm in the Danbury Quarter, lying on a road
parting northeasterly from the South country road, a
little south of the Widow Everitt house.

Thaddeus Loomis lived near Goshen line, north of
the Norfolk road, on land that was afterwards a part
of the farm of Levi Bronson (second). He removed
in 1802 to Salisbury, Herkimer Co., N. Y., where he
was for many years a justice of the peace, and for
four years an assistant justice of the County Court,
He married, May 26, 1789, Lois Griswold, daughter
of Phineas. She died in 1827; he died in Holley,
N. Y., June 14, 1882. :

Capt. Abiel Loomis lived in Winsted, on Spencer
Street, in a house that stood on the site of Widow
Lucy Coe’s residence, until about 1809, when he re-
moved to the farm now owned by William Johnson,
on the Dugway road, in Old Winchester. About1815
he purchased the Dudley tannery in Winsted, and
removed to the house on Main Street next west of
the tannery, where he died Oct. 16, 1818, aged forty-
five.

David Alvord (brother of Eliphaz), from Chat-
ham, came from Torrington in 1774, as appears by
the records of births. In 1776 he: bought the lot on
which the parsonage house of Rev. Mr. Booge was
afterwards erected, on which he lived until 1785.

William Castel, from Ridgefield, owned land and
resided in the old society.

Elijah Castel, son of William, owned and lived on
land south of the Edward Rugg farm in Danbury
Quarter.

John Beach came into town this year from Tor-
rington, and lived on the farm recently owned by
Artemus Rowley, near the south end of third tier,
first division, until 1781, when he returned to Tor-
rington.

The new-comers of 1774 in Winchester Society
were Lemuel Bassett, Daniel Loomis, James Sweet,
Jonathan Sweet, Reuben Sweet, Hezekiah Elmer,
John Miner, and Elisha Wilcoxson.

Lemuel Bassett, from New Haven, first owned sev-
enty-three acres of land, embracing a considerable
portion of Winchester Centre village, which he sold
in 1777, and afterwards bought and lived on a small
lot near Col, Ozias Bronson’s.

Daniel Loomis, son of Ichabod, of Torrington,
WINCHESTER.

181

 

jived on the old country road, immediately north of
his brother Ichabod, and south of Widow Everitt’s.

James Sweet, supposed from Goshen, owned a lot
on Blue Street, north of the stone school-house.

Reuben Sweet owned the lot next south of James
Sweet’s, which he conveyed to Jonathan Sweet in
1777, and moved to Wallen’s Hill in Barkhamsted,
near the first Winsted meeting-house.

Jonathan Sweet owned lands adjoining those of
James and Reuben, and also a part of the B. B. Rock-
well farm, between the two lakes, all of which he
disposed of in 1771 or earlier.

John Miner, from New London, brother of Reuben,
of Winchester, came from Torrington, and settled
and died on the farm lately owned by Emory Coe,
deceased.

Hon. Phineas Miner, second son of John, lived in
the old parsonage of Mr. Booge until his removal to
Litchfield in 1816. He died in Litchfield in 1839.
Mr. Miner, with only a common-school education,
studied law under Judge Reeve, of Litchfield, and
entered on the practice in Winchester in 1798. By
close study and faithful preparation of his cases, as
well as by his ardor in trying them, he early attained
a good standing at the bar, and eventually ranked
among the ablest advocates in the county. He was
by nature unfitted for legal trickery, or for any dis-
honorable act. He repeatedly represented Winches-
ter, and afterwards Litchfield, in the Legislature,
having served in this capacity during eleven sessions.
He was chosen to the State Senate in 1830 and 1831;
was elected a representative in Congress during the
sessions of 1832 and 1833, and was judge of probate
for Litchfield district at the time of his death.

William Miner, third son of John, owned and lived
in the Daniel Murray house, on the Dugway road,
until his removal to Ohio in 1816.

Capt. Elisha Wilcoxson, from Stratford, was here
in 1775.

The new-comers of the year 1776 were Philip Priest,
Daniel Forbes, Martin North and his sons, Martin,
Jr., and Rufus, Truman Gibbs, Joseph Agard, and
Gershom Fay.

In 1777 the following came into the society: Na-
than and Peter Blackman, Samuel Clark, Joseph
Dodge, Timothy Fay, William Fay, James Stevenson,
Joseph Sweet, and Jonah Woodruff.

The new-comers of this year (1778) were Lemuel
Stannard, Sr., Seth Griswold, James Hale, and Wil-
liam Barbour.

In 1779, Elijah Hubbard, Daniel Clark, and Chris-
topher Whiting came.

In 1780 came Stephen Spencer, Simeon Hurlbut,
John Church, Thomas Cannon, Stephen Scovil, Ben-
jamin Woodruff, William Barnstable, and Prince
Negro.

1781.—Elijah Andrews, and his son, Elijah, Jr.,
James Adkins, Isaac Adkins, Richard Coit, Aaron
and Joseph Agard.

 

1782.— Daniel H. Cone, John Deer, Jonathan
Deer, John Marshall, Levi Norton, Samuel Roberts,
Chauncy Smith, Elijah Thompson, and David Ward.
The freemen admitted this year were Reuben Miner,
William Barbour, Jonah Woodruff, and Jonathan
Alvord.

1783.—The new-comers of the year were Benoni
Brownson, William Chamberlin, and William Cham-
berlin, Jr., Jedediah Coe, Timothy Cook, Joseph El-
more, and Joseph B. Elmore, his son, Isaac Filley,
Benjamin Judd, Joseph Platt, Samuel Smith, and Be-
najah Smith, his son, Ephraim Smith, Samuel Stan-
cliff, Josiah Wade, Daniel Ward, Hopkins West, Na-
thaniel White. The freemen admitted this year were
Capt. Peter Corbin, Levi Brownson, David Ward,
Ichabod Loomis, Stephen Spencer, Samuel Smith,
William Fay, David Austin, Jr., John Church, Be-
noni Brownson, and Levi Norton.

1784.—David Gaylord, Samuel Hawley, Didaymus
Shepard, Peleg Sweet.

1785.—Salmon Hawley, Charles Kent, Zeba Mea-
cham, Simeon Moore, Jr., Capt. John Nash, Abra-
ham Nash, Daniel Sandifouk, Nathan L. Wade, Jus-
tus Wright.

1786.—William Keyes, London, a negro.

1788.—Zalmon Benedict, John Benedict, Nathan
Broughton, Ephraim Foot, Roswell Grant, Hewitt
Mills, Jacob Kimberly, Jacob Kimberly, Jr., David
Murray, and Heman Smith. Roswell Grant joined
the Continental army when seventeen years old,
and endured hard service with characteristic forti-
tude. When Baron Steuben was selecting his corps
for special discipline, he passed in front of Grant's
company while on parade. Grant was surprised to
find himself the only man taken from the company,
being, as he said, “such a little nubbin’ of a fellow, I

“had no idea he would take me.” While in the High-

lands, he was posted as guard on one of the bleakest
points in extremely cold weather; the army moved
without recalling him, but he stuck to his post until
relieved two days after. Going to Litchfield in his
advanced life on foot, a neighbor intrusted him with
a letter to be delivered there. He had reached within
amile of his home, after dark, on his return, when he
discovered that he had brought the letter back. He
immediately turned and walked fourteen miles to
Litchfield, delivered the letter, and came home be-
fore daylight the next morning.

1789.—Francis Bacon, John Bacon, Levi Brownson,
David Deers, John Lucas, Deacon Levi Platt, Syl-
vester Platt, Daniel Thompson.

1790.—Isaac Skinner.

1791,—Adna Beach, Rev. Publius V. Booge, Nathan
Brown, Levi Coy, Silas Fyler, Roman Fyler, Theodore
and Russell Goodwin, Capt. Moses Hatch, Simeon
Hatch, Josiah Hull. The freemen admitted and
sworn this year were John Spencer, Elijah Frisbee,
Levi Brownson, Salmon Brownson, Silas Hurlbut,
Roman Fyler, Jonathan Deer, Ezra Stannard, Elisha
182

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Hills, Peter Corbin, Jr., Noah Benedict, Zebina Smith,
Chauncey Mills, Nathan Wheeler, and Benjamin
Wheeler.

1792. John B. Hall, Elind Taylor, Waite Hill.

1793.—William R. Case, Reuben Marshall, John
McAlpine, Jr., Samuel Wheaden, Rufus Crane, John
Joles.

1794.—Maj. Lloyd Andrews, Francis Bacon, David
Bebee, Dr. Nath. Elmore, Gillett Hinkley, Epaphras
Loomis, Deacon Lorrain Loomis, Orange Mott, Daniel
Wells, Erastus Thrall.

1795.—Roger Coe, Joshua Beach, William Crocker,
Phineas J. and Mathew Griswold, Luther Holcomb,
Levi Marshall, Loami Mott, Daniel Phelps, Daniel
Phelps, Jr., John C. Riley, Seth Holmes, Ezra Holmes,
Silas Taylor, D. T. 8. Wetmore, Reuben Tucker, Jr.,
Miles Wilkinson.

1796.—Roger Barber, Ephraim Bowers, Levi Daw,
William Gray, Sylvester Hall, Nathaniel Hoyt,
Deacon Micajah Hoyt, George Kingsbury, David
Strong, Elijah Starkwether.

1797.—Eli Frisbie, Clark McEwen, Stephen Gay-
lord. The freemen admitted and sworn were Daniel
Corbin, Thaddeus Loomis, Daniel Wells, Sylvester
Hall, Asahel Bronson, Asher Loomis, Eli Frisbie,
Israel Douglass, Roger Coe, Amos Tolles, Seth Lucas,
and Daniel Eggleston, Jr.

1798.—Elijah Blake, Elijah Blake, Jr., Jonathan
Blake, Henry Blake, Ithnel Blake, Deacon Allen
Blake, Capt. William Bunnell, Chauncey Humphrey,
Asahel Wells. From 1810 to 1813 he kept tavern in
the yellow store building, recently torn down, that
stood in front of the new store of Theron Bronson.
During the war of 1812 he was connected with the
introduction of British goods to the States from
Canada, a quantity of which were seized at Hartford
as smuggled, thereby reducing him to poverty.

1799.—John Breden.

1800.—Benjamin Wheadon, Eliakim Benedict, Lent
Mott, Jr., Silliman Hubbell, Josiah Cowles, Augustus
Humphrey, Caleb Beach, Arah Loomis, Isaac Wilcox,
Jr.

1801.—Richard Beckley, Roger Cook, Abel Pib-
balls, Nehemiah Bailey. The following new electors
were admitted this year: Abijah Wilson, Jr., Wil-
liam Filley, James Gilbert, Newell Haydon, Eli
Andrews, Levi Daw, Levi Filley, Jonathan Douglass,
Elijah Benedict, Lorrin Sweet, Cyrus Butrick, Anson
Cook, Reuben Rowley, Joseph Ellsworth, Levi Fox,
Joel Wright, Jesse Porter, John C. Riley, Obadiah
Platt, Levi Hoyt, Reuben Scovill, Joseph Mitchell,
Luther Holeomb, Daniel Wilcox, David Holmes,
Ebenezer Rowley, Stephen Knowlton, Samuel Wet-
more (third), Orrin Bronson, Stephen Hart, John C.
Barber, Moses Hatch, Nathaniel Hoyt, Micajah Hoyt,
John Wetmore, Joseph Cook, Isaac Bronson, Chaun-
cey Bronson, Eden Benedict, Joseph Preston, Amasa
Wade, Andrew Pratt, Anson Allen, Lyman Doolittle,
Ozias Spencer, Zenas Wilson, Stephen Hurlbut, Abel

 

McEwen, Levi Coy, Lloyd Andrews, Asahel Morse,
Isaac Wade, Eliphalet Mills, Nathaniel Smith, Wil-
liam Westlake, and William Chickley.
1802.—Mathew Adams, Theodore Bailey, Timothy
Bailey, Ithamar Bailey, James Barton, William
Chickley, Jonas Ellwell, Benjamin Paine, Phineas
Warren (second), Jesse Horton. The freemen ad-
mitted and sworn this year were Deacon Josiah
Smith, Nathaniel Balcom, Michael Grinnell, Silliman
Hubbell, Abel Stannard, Levi Ackley, Gideon Hall,
Asher Rowley, Levi Norton, Jr., John Wetmore, Jr.,
David Coe, Moses Camp, Samuel Camp, Salmon
Treat, Horace Eggleston, Reynold Wilson, Josiah
Apley, Arah Loomis, John Deer, Elijah Starks,
Hawley Oakley, Fisher Case, Rufus Grinnell, James
Henshaw, Ezra Rockwell, Truman Smith, Phineas
Warner, Rufus Holmes, and Roswell Grant.
1803.—John Hamilton, Jupiter Mars, Oliver Smith,
Daniel Rice. The electors admitted and sworn were
as follows: Phineas Reed, Amos Hungerford, Joel
Kimberly, Elisha Kimberly, Samuel Hoadley, Rans-
ley Bull, Ithamar Bailey, Jacob Seymour, Stephen
Wade, Stephen Gaylord, James Barton, William Phil-
lips, Nathan Potter, Timothy Bailey, and Eli Mar-
shall.
1804.—Elihu Everitt, Isaac Jacklyn, Seth Porter,
Isaac Sweet.
1805.—James Beebe, Jared Curtis, Levi Hoyt, Eli-
jah Pinney, Isaac Tucker, Chauncey White.
1806.—Wait Loomis, Daniel Murray, Roger Root,
Roger Root, Jr., Gurdon Root, Asahel Smith.
1807.—Samuel W. Baldwin, Levi L. Hatch, Zenas
Neal, Lancelot Phelps, Sr., Roger Starkweather.
1808.—Asaph B. Brooks, Asher Case, Samuel Cone
and Warren Cone, sons of Daniel Hurlbut Cone,
Erastus G. Hurlbut, Ammi Murray, John Storer, or
Story, George Tuttle. The electors admitted this
year were Elijah Blake, Jr., Jonathan Blake, Joseph

Coit, Jesse Clark, Elisha Rowley, Reuben Baldwin,

Asa Mallory, Lemuel Hurlbut, Eben Coe, William
Miner, Isaac Tucker, John Westlake, and Elisha
Smith.

1809.—Fisk Beach and Noble J. Everitt. The elec-
tors admitted this year were William Chamberlin (2d),
Asher Case, Lyman Strong, Daniel Burnham, and
Roger Starkweather.

1810.—Capt. Eli Richards and William Crum.
The electors admitted this year were Ira Preston and
Riley Whiting.

The following were here prior to 1880: Apollos
Dean, Joseph Eggleston, James Bragg, Dr. Zephania
Swift, Luman Whiting, Moses Drake, Moses Drake,
Jr., Edward Griswold, Phineas Griswold, Jr., Lewis
Hart, Samuel D. Gilbert, Ebenezer Cowles, Joel
Clark, Henry Dayton, Benjamin Phelps, Frederick
Phelps, Jonathan Saxton, Salmon Bail, Jonathan
F. Baldwin, Randall Covey, George Chase, Dudley
Chase, Reuben Chase, Sheldon Miller, Hiram Church,
Samuel Bandle, Willard Hart, Rufus Drake, Harvey
WINCHESTER.

183

 

Ford, John M. Galagher, Archibald Dayton, William
S. Marsh, Daniel Beckley, Norris Beckley, Oliver
Loomis.

THE FIRST GRIST-MILL.

“David Austin’s name first appears as grantee in a
deed from Cornelius Merry, of 1764, in which he is
described as of Winchester. He probably came from
Suffield. For thirty years or more he was, perhaps,
the most prominent and enterprising citizen of the
town. His first residence was on the Pantry lot. In
1769 he purchased the Ensign lot, extending east and
south from the outlet of the Long Pond so far as to
embrace the pond stream and all the village of Win-
sted between Lake Street Bridge and Clifton Mill,
a region then literally a howling wilderness, unap-
proachable by reason of its jagged mountain ridge,
and heavy growth of timber, shrubs, and brambles.
In 1771, he opened a cart-path through the forest,
down to Sucker Brook, and thence over the hills west
of the pond to its outlet, by which he conveyed the
materials for the first grist-mill in the town. This
mill, and a saw-mill contiguous, were erected at the
turn of Lake Street, near the summit of the hill.
The mill stood where the road now runs, a little
northeastward of the Henry Spring Company’s shop;
the road as first opened running down the hill close
to the old white dwelling now known as the Factory
House. The water of the lake was raised some three
feet above its natural level, by a frail dam of hemlock
logs and plank, about three rods south of the present
causeway, and let out by a new channel through a
bulkhead,—the decayed parts of which are still to be
seen in their place,—and conveyed across the road
nearly opposite the old stone-chimney mill-house,
and thence on the east side to the junction of Rock-
well and Lake Streets, and then again turned across
Lake Street and poured on the wheel of the mill.

“This mill was for about twenty years the eastern
terminus of civilized habitation towards Mad River
valley. Mr. Austin’s first residence in Winsted was
in a log house nearest to the pond outlet. He subse-
quently built the stone-chimneyed lean-to house now
known as the mill-house already mentioned. In one
of the rooms he kept a small store of goods, at the
same time personally attending his mill and saw-
mill and his other concerns. A cotemporary says of
him,—

“©The deacon commonly tended his own mill. In times of drought,

when other mills failed, he ran his day and night, and had so disciplined |.

himself that he would turn a grist into the hopper, lie down to sleep on
a bench, with his old turnip watch ticking at his head, and wake at the
precise moment when the last kernel was running out.’ ”

FIRST SAW-MILL.

Sept. 25, 1779, it was “voted that Deacon Samuel
-Wetmore, and the owners of the saw-mill by the
meeting-house, shall have the privilege of the dam by
Capt. Hill’s, as agreed.”

This saw-mill was the first erected in the town. It
originally stood near the county road, at the foot of

 

the hill, north of the burying-ground, and was car-
ried by means of a dam on the east side of the road,
which flooded the meadows east and northeast of the
road. It was probably at this time moved down the
stream to the vicinity of the old meeting-house, in
order to get a better head of water. It was eventu-
ally removed down to the site of the mill and cheese-
box factory recently owned by the McAlpines.

An incident connected with this mill has been
handed down, which pleasingly illustrates the char-
acters of the first two deacons of the Winchester
church. Deacon Wetmore sawed the logs of his
neighbors in regular order, according to their priority
of claim. A certain day was fixed for sawing the logs
of his bosom friend and colleague, Deacon Seth
Hills; but in the morning, before Deacon Hills had
come to draw his logs on to the logway, another neigh-
bor came, who was in pressing and immediate need of
some lumber, and prevailed on Deacon Wetmore to
let him draw in the logs he required to be sawed.
Some of the logs were drawn in when Deacon Hills
arrived. Irritated at finding himself superseded, he
made some sharp remark, which was sharply replied
to by his colleague. Both of them fell from grace to
wrath. “T’ll never draw another log to your mill,”
says Deacon Hills. “And if you do, I’ll never saw
it for you,” says Deacon Wetmore. Other defiant
words were bandied back and forth, until their wrath,
by repeated blowing off, came down from high to low
pressure. Several world’s people were listening to
their unedifying abjurations. A pause ensued. One
of the deacons beckoned the other to follow him.
They retired to a neighboring clump of bushes,
whence the voice of penitent prayer arose. Grace
prevailed over passion, and on returning to the mill,
Deacon Hills assisted in drawing in his neighbor’s
logs, cheerfully postponing his own turn until his
neighbor could be accommodated.

“THE COLD SUMMER.”

The spring of 1816 was cold and backward, and the
summer cold and dry. Frosts prevailed in every
month of the year. The mowing lands yielded less.
than half an average crop. Scarcely an ear of corn
in the town came to maturity. Potatoes were few
and small, and dairy products were as scant in quan-
tity as low in price. Much apprehension prevailed
of a famine winter, which was measurably averted by
a provident planting of turnips when it was per-
ceived that other crops were to fail. This crop was
large, and thereby the lack of hay was partly made
good in wintering such stock as was not killed or sold
off in the preceding fall.

THE REVOLUTION.

The first record relating to the Revolutionary
struggle is under date of 1775, as follows:

“That the troopers be freed from paying anything for their colors.”
“To raise two-pence half-penny on the List of 1775, to purchase a town
184

Stock of powder and lead, and also to pay other necessary charges arising

in the town.”

The following soldiers from this town went to Ti-
conderoga in 1775, in Capt. Sedgwick’s company, Col.
Hinman’s regiment :

Warham Gibbs, lieutenant, Charles Wright, Jr., Adam Mott, Ebenezer
Shepard, Stephen Arnold, Freedom Wright, Nathan Balcom, Haw-
kins Woodruff, John Derby, David Goff, Peleg Sweet, Oliver Coe, Sr.,
William Stannard, Lemuel Walter, Noah Gleason, Jr, Abraham
Wilkinson, Elisha Smith.

Charles Wright and Ebenezer Shepard marched to
the relief of Boston on the Lexington alarm.

Samuel Hurlbut, John Sweet, and Lemuel Stannard served in the Seventh
Regiment in 1775.

Daniel Hurlbut Cone and William Lucas served in Col. Meigs’ regiment
in 1775.

Benoni Brownson served in Capt. Hooker's company in 1775.

Stephen Knowlton served in 5th company, Third Regiment.

Judah West se 8th a8 Second
Gideon Wilcoxson® “ 10th te Seventh “
Shubael Cook ss 4th se Eighth i
Ebenezer Rowley ee 9th iad is be

Nathan Blackman served in Capt. Smith’s company, Lighth Regiment.

David Beebe served in Capt. Smith’s company, Eighth Regiment.

Truman Gibbs served in Maj. Weld’s company.

Benjamin Palmer served in Maj. Weld’s company.

Josiah Adkins served in Capt. Arnold’s company, Wooster’s regiment.

John Arnold served in Capt. Denny’s company, Hosford’s regiment,
in 1776.

William Leuch served in Col. Ducher’s (Fourth) regiment in 1779; also
in Capt. Converse’s company, Seventh Regiment, in 1780.

Lemuel Walter, served in Capt. Alden’s company, Col. Butler's regiment,
in 1780.

Samuel Roberts, served in Capt. Alden’s company, Col. Butler’s regiment,
in 1780.

John Balcom, served in Capt. Alden’s company, Col. Butler’s regiment,
in 1780. :

Daniel Walter served in Col. Swift’s regiment in 1780.

Oliver Coe, Jr., served in Capt. Porson’s company, Col. Butler’s regiment,
in 1780.

Samuel Mott served in Capt. Porson’s company, Col. Butler’s regiment,
in 1780.

Peter Corbin served in Sherman’s company, Eighth Regiment, in 1780.

Daniel Wright “ ee if be *

Ebenezer Coe ee “ “ “ 7 4 ci

The following other men served in the Continental
army prior to 1780, as appears by a certificate of the,
selectmen :

George Hudson, Peabody Stannard, Jonathan Preston, Prince Negro,
John Fay, Stephen Hurlbut, Levi Wilkinson, Stephen Schovil, Adam
Mott, Remembrance Filley, Gershom Fay, William Fay, Timothy
Fay, Seth Stannard, Jesse Wilkinson.

Of these, Remembrance Filley, Gershom Fay, and
William Fay belonged to Capt. Beebe’s Litchfield
company.

Oliver Coe, Jr., and Wait Loomis also served under
Gen. Harmer, in the Indian war in Ohio.

David Austin, Daniel Corbin, and William Leach
belonged to Capt. Medad Hill’s company, enlisted in
1776.

William Stannard served in Capt. Morris’ com-
pany, Bradley’s regiment, in 1781.

Richard Coit served in the Sixth Troop in 1781,
and in various regiments during the war.

David Goff and his son served in the Northern
army in 1776.

“ “

 

* He served in Capt. Beebe’s company in 1776, and died while a pris-
oner of war in the Sugar-House, New York.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The town records refer, in 1777, to “ those who went
out with Ensign Ozias Brownson last April, with
Sergt. Timothy Benedict in August, and with Lieut,
Benedict ;” in 1778, “to Sergt. Freedom Wright,
and John Balcom, Jr., for doing a tour of duty last
year in the Northern army;” in 1780, “to those
men who are or may be detailed with the army
between the Ist day of June last and the Ist of
January next.” In 1781 it was voted to try to get
Dolphin’s son (a negro) “to count for Winchester,”
and “to make application to Gen. Parsons, or some
other general officer, to try to procure a pardon for
Jonathan Preston, on account of his deserting the
army,” and ‘to raise a man to supply the place of
George Hudson in the Continental army.” In 1782
it was voted “to hire the men now called for, for the
guard at Horse-Neck, and to fill the deficiencies in
the Continental army till December next.”

Many other inhabitants, not named in any of the
pay-rolls or votes of the town referred to, are known
to have been in the service.

John Church served in the Canada invasion under
Arnold, and was in the battle at Saratoga.

Deacon Seth Hills served at Saratoga, and was
present at Burgoyne’s surrender.

Joseph Hoskin served as a trooper on Long Island,
and was in the rear-guard at the retreat from Brook-
lyn Heights.

Capt. Moses Hatch enlisted at sixteen, and served
through the war.

A company, of which John Hills was captain and
Ozias Brownson lieutenant, served at New York while
Gen. Putnam commanded in that department.

MUSTER ROLL OF CAPTAIN JOHN HILL'S COM-
PANY.

Capt., John Hills; Lieut., Benjamin Benedict; Ensign, Ozias Brownson;
Sergts., Elisha Wilcoxson, Jonathan Coe, Eliphaz Alvord, Joseph
Frisbee ; Corps., Samuel Hurlbut, Abel Wetmore, Josiah Smith, John
Wright; Fifers, Belah Hills, Levi Brownson; Drummers, Joseph
Dodge, Andrew Avret, John Austin; Privates, Danie] Andrus, Eli
Andrus, Steven Arnold, Joel Beach, Nathan Balcom, Jonathan Bal-
com, John Balcom, Jr., John Beach, Timothy Benedick, Azariah
Bradley, Aaron Cook, Hezekiah Elmer, Remembrance Filley, Daniel
Grover, Zimri Hills, Chauncey Hills, Seth Kellogg, William Kies,
Ichabod Loomis, Samuel McCune, Gershom McCune, Jr., Reuben
Miner, Samuel Preston, Joseph Plat, Philip Priest, William Fay,
Phineas Griswold, Ambrose Palmer, Reuben Sweet, Peleg Sweet,
William Stannard, Reuben Palmer, Lazarus Palmer, Lemuel Stan-
nard, Jr., Jesse Wilkinson, Reuben Wilkinson, Reuben Tucker, Da-
vid Alvord, Lemuel Walter, John Walter, James Stevenson, Richard
Coit, Thomas Spencer, Amasa Wade, Joel Roberts, Timothy Fay,
Steven Hurlbut, Phineas Potter, Preserved Crissee, Abraham An-
drews, Jr., John Austin, Jr., Samuel Mott, Phineas Smith, David
Mills, Daniel Corbin, Simeon Hurlbut, Samuel Roberts, Elijah Castel,
Benjamin Palmer, Silas Filer, Peter Corbin, Jr., Samuel Castel, Moses
Derbye, William Leach, Isaac Filley, John Spencer, Moses Roberts,
Jacob Palmer, Daniel Loomis, Abner Coe, John Church, —— Palmer.

At the annual town-meeting, 1776, in addition to
the routine business, the selectmen were instructed to
provide the camp equipage ordered by the Assembly,
viz., three tents, six pots, and nine bottles or canteens
for the town.

Sept. 25, 1777, it was “voted to provide the articles
WINCHESTER.

185

 

mentioned in the Governor’s proclamation for the
soldiers at the town’s cost, and to give them to them,
viz., to the soldiers,” and “that Gen. Samuel Wet-
more and Sergt. David Austin be a committee to pro-
cure the above-mentioned articles and to take care of
them.” It was also voted that Gershom McCune,

Jonathan Alvord, and Martin North be a committee

to provide for the families of those men that are

enlisted into the Continental army according to the

Act of Assembly.

December 1st, of the same year, Samuel Wetmore,
Gershom Fay, Capt. John Hills, David Austin, and
Jonathan Coe were appointed a committee for sup-
plying the families of such soldiers belonging to this
town, now in the Continental army, with such cloth-
ing and provisions as may be necessary for their sup-
port. :

It was also voted, “that those men that went vol-
unteers to the Northward and Southward shall re-
ceive five pounds each out of the treasury ;” and “that
those men who went with Ensign Brownson last April,
and with Sergt. Timothy Benedict in August, and
with Lieut. Benedict, shall receive five pounds for
going volunteers.”

At a town-meeting, Jan. 18, 1778, the Articles of
Confederation of the thirteen United States were pre-
sented for approval, and by vote on each successive
article were accepted; and thereupon the oath of
fidelity to the State of Connecticut was administered
to those present and certified in the records. The
names of others who took the oath afterwards were
also recorded. We subjoin the names in alphabetical
order, giving the dates of administration only of those
taking the oath subsequent to January 13, 1778.

David Alvord, Eliphaz Alvord, Jonathan Alvord, Abraham Andrews,
Daniel Andrews, David Austin, John Austin, Lemuel Bassett, Joel
Beach, John Beach (Feb. 12,1779), Benjamin Benedict, Timothy Ben-

, edict, Levi Brownson, Ozias Brownson, William Castel, John Church

(July 18, 1782), Samuel Clark, Jonathan Coe, Robert Coe, Roswell
Coe, Daniel Hurlbut Cone (Dec. 2, 1782), Richard Coit, Peter Corbin,
Daniel Corbin, Joseph Dudge, Hezekiah Elmer, Noble Everitt, An-
drew Everitt, Mrs. H. Everitt (Jan. 18, 1782), Gershom Fay, Remem-
brance Filley, Joseph Frisbee, Warham Gibbs, Phineas Griswold,
Bela Hills (Dec. 2, 1782), Seth Hills, John Hills, Benoni Hills, Joseph
Hoskin, Samuel Hurlbut, Rev. Mr. Knapp, William Keyes (Feb. 12,
1779), David Loomis (Dec. 2, 1782), Ichabod Loomis, Robert McCune,
Samuel McCune, Gershom McCune (Dec. 4, 1778), Reuben Miner,
John Miner, Adam Mott, Lent Mott, Martin North, Ambrose Palmer,
Joseph Platt (Feb. 5, 1778), Ebenezer Preston, Samuel Preston, Ben-
jamin Preston, Philip Priest, Chauncey Smith (Dec. 2, 1782), Eleazer
Smith, Thomas Spencer, William Stannard (Dec. 2, 1782), Lemuel
Stannard, Jr., Abel Stannard (July 25, 1782), Lemuel Stannard (March
10, 1782), James Sweet, John Sweet, Jonathan Sweet, Peleg Sweet,
Reuben Tucker, John Videto, Jr., Amasa Wade, Samuel Wetmore,

Abel Wetmore, Elisha Wilcoxson, Jesse Wilkinson, Reuben Wilkin-
son, Jonah Woodruff.

Sergt. Freedom Wright and John Balcom, Jr.,
were allowed five pounds each for doing a tour of
duty the previous year in the Northern army.

It was voted, that if the committee on trial cannot
procure a sufficiency of provisions for the families of
those men who are gone into the Continental army,
the selectmen shall be empowered to lay the matter

 

before the Governor and Council, or Assembly, and
pray them to point out some way for our relief; and
also to pray for a tax on non-resident proprietors to
support the country roads.

Ensign Ozias Bronson, Joseph Hoskin, Samuel
Hurlbut, Roswell Coe, Ambrose Palmer, Samuel
Preston, and Phineas Griswold were appointed a
committee to provide for the families of the soldiers.

ASSESSMENT ROLL, 1783.
WINCHESTER SOCIETY.

 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
  
   
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
    
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Amount of
Names. Taxable Property.

£ 8 d.
Daniel Andrus... 5 60
Abram Andrus. 8 6
David Alvord... ll 6
Theophilus Andrus. 15 O 0
Abram Andrus, Jr.. 26 56 6
Eliphaz Alvord 68 0 0
Tsaac Adkins...... 49 ll 0
Jonathan’ Blackman. 388. 13°«@9
Levi prewneons 59°15 9
Timothy Benedict. 49 7 6
Capt. (Uzias) Brow 98 4 #O
William Benedict.... 26 5 6
Benoni Brownson. 392 «6
Peter Blackman. 40 3 0
Joseph Bown.. -2l 0 0
Lemuel Basset » 6 2 6
Capt. Benedict. -8l 8 6
Timothy Benedict, Jr.. 48 1 6
Joel Beach... oa - 44 0 0
i - 22 8 0
Aaron Cook -51 T 6
Richard Coit 3 8 8
Abuer Cove. 30 3 0
Capt. (Pete 56 16 0
John Church..... 35 1 6
Peter Corbin, Jr. 2k Uu 0
Jedediah Coe... 21 0 #0
Jonathan Coe.. 70 156 O
Samuel Clark... . 30 14 O
Robert Coe... 52 9 9
Samuel Castle. 21 0 0
Daniel Cone and David Ward.. oi TT 3
William Chamberlain... - 25 15 6
Rozel Coe....... . 91 17 6
William Castle - 31 2 0
Timothy Cook 22 16 6
Daniel Clark 29 1 41
Joseph Dodge.. 3 4 6
John Dear and Salmon 50 5 O
Eli Dolphin. 37 14 (OO
Andrew Everi 36 19 O
Hannah Everit. 14 1 6
Joseph Elmer. 42 0
Josiah Everit.. 30 10 0
William Fay 24 10 6
Remb. Filley. 118 6

Isaac Filley.... 27 0 0.
Abraham Filley . 79 1 6
Joseph Frisbie. 51 2 0
Daniel Grover. 23°19 6
Phineas Grisw 47 2 0
Seth Griswold.... 61 0 0
Joseph Hoskins... 39° «7: «26
Stephen Hurlbut.. 20 15 O
Elijah Hubard... zw 15 6
Samuel Hurlbut. 93 17 6
Seth Hills......... 83 6 0
Widow Mary Hiils 5 7 8
James Hale...... “ 29 11 6
Benjamin Jud 17. 2 «0
Seth Kellogg.. 382 ~«0
Ichabod Loomis. 66 13° 6
Daniel Loomis 34 (0~=«O*6
Widow Leach. 2 9 6
William Leach.. 12 15 0
John Marshall 28 «9
Lent Mott...... 32062 ~«6
Gershom McCune, Jr.. 56 1 =O
Adam Mott.... 22 6 6
John Minor... 43 18 3
Samuel McCune. 6 2 6
Gershom McCune. 49 13 6
Robert McCune. 94 19 6
Reuben Minor... 34. (U6
Martin North, Jr 23 17 6
Martin North 49 13 6
Levi Norton 40 8 6
Joseph Platt... 37 6 #6
Benjamin Preston 4 16 0O
Ambrose Palmer.. 51 0 0
Samuel Preston... 1 U0

 
186 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Amount of
Taxable Property.

  

Names, 5 taverners assessed at.....

  
  
 
  
   
  
  
   
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

£ a ad

Ebenezer Preston.. 34 2 0
Moses Roberts. 21 0 90
Samuel Roberts.. 33 2 O
Ephraim Smith.. 22 0 0
Ephraim Smith (deaf).. 19 13° «0
Samuel Stanclift. 0 lw oO
Eleazer Smith... 3z 19 «6
Lemuel Stannard.. <2 3 7
Abel Stannard. 28 2 0
Chauncey Smith. 25 13° 6
Samuel Smith. 14 15 3
Stephen Spencer. wat 8 8
Thomas Spencer. 69 13° 0
William Standard. -20 10 6
Reuben Tucke: .45 18 0
Elijali Thomson.. 42 4 6
John Videto.... «28 16 6
Jonah Woodruff.. . 386 17 6
Nathan White. 38 (0 6
Daniel Walter.... . 23 0 0
Christopher Whiting. -48 O 9
Samuel Wetmore... «61 0 9
Elisha Wilcoxson, etd oT 49
Abel Wetmore. 47 0 0
Amacy Wade... .60 17 9
Lewis Wilkinson 23 7 38
Jesse Wilkinson.. . 27 18 3
Levi Wilkinson .. .24 12° 0
Hopkins West.. .46 0 0

Total, Winchester Society.. £4242 14 10

WINSTED SOCIETY.
Amount of

Names.

David Austin, Jr
David Austin...
Elijah Andrews.
Nathan Bulcam,

  
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
   
   
   
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
 

 

Jonathan Balcam + 28
John Balcam...... + 43
Samuel Clark (2a)..

Uzal Clark. 28
David Crisse. 73
Silas Dunbam. 25
Jesse Doolittle.. a 54
Abijah Fuller. au

Comfort Goff.
Samuel Hayden..
Abel Hoskin...
Stephen Knowlton.
David Mills.....
Phineas Potter.
Lazarus Palme
Reuben Palmer...
Eleazer Porter..
Enoch Palmer..
Benjamin Palmer
Samuel Stanclift..
Elisha Spencer.

Simeon Rogers....
Eb Rowlee
Zebulon Thomson...
Henry Walter.....
Freedom Wright.
John Wright...
Charles Wright.
John Wright, Jr..
John Walter ....
Lemuel Walter.
David West

 

Total, Winsted Society

+. £1425

Taxable Property.
£

The list was made up of the following items:

£
- 18

 

  

134 polls from 21 to 70 years, A
40

 

“  & W6to2l «
122 oxen, 4 years old or ae at,
271 cows and steers, 3 years old or upwards, at
100 steers and heifers, 2 years old or upwards, at
peg ae lyear oy at
120 horses, 3 years old and upwards, at..
6 # 3H “ “ at..

  
  

Rate lyear . “ <o at..
154 swine, at...weee
28 smokes or fire-place, at.
92

at.

  
   
 

 

586 acres a plow-lands, at..
1027 “  meadow-lands,

51 “bog meadow-lands, at..
409 «bush pasture-lands, at..
12219 “  timber-land, at...

COSCSSCOCHREN SHDN URS

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CHAPTER XVI.

WINCHESTER (Continued).

Pioneers in Winsted Society—Manufacturing Interests—The Winsted
Bank—The Hurlbut Bank—The Hurlbut National Bank—The First
Nationa] Bank—The Winsted National Bank—The Winsted Savings
Bank—The Mechanics’ Savings Bank—St. Andrew Lodge, No. 64, F.
and A. M.—Meridian Chapter—Tyrian Council—Orion and Union
Lodges, I. 0. of 0. F.—Temperance Organizations—Palmer Post—
Knights of Pythias—Libraries—Early Schools—The Winsted Herald—
The Winsted Press—The Winsted News—Post-Office Difficulties—List
of Old Inhabitants—The Borough of Clifton—The Borough of Winsted
—Incorporation—First Officers Elected—Wardens from 1858 to 1881—
Burgesses from 1858 to 1881—Clerks, Treasurers, and Biailiffs from
1858 to 1881—Water-Works—Fire Department, etc.—Population of
Town from 1756 to 1880.

“THe opening of the old north road was soon fol-
lowed by a settlement in the northeast corner of the
town, distinct and distant from the earlier settlement
in the southwest section, to which our attention has
thus far been directed. Long Lake and the mountain
ridges extending from its north end to Colebrook
line effectually separated these communities from each
other until near the close of the last century, when
the improvement of the splendid water-power along
the Lake Stream and at the Still River Falls gradu-
ally drew settlers to the intermediate region. The
Winsted settlement began some twenty years later
than that of the old society. The records show but
four resident land-owners there in 1771, when the
town was incorporated, and none of their names are
found on the petition for the incorporation.”

The following is a list of the early settlers, etc., of

the borough of Winsted, commencing in 1770:
. Lieut. John Wright, from Wethersfield to Goshen
in 1740, came thence to Winsted, it is believed, in
1769 or 1770, and settled, with his large family, on the
northeast side of the old North road, near Colebrook
line, on the site of the homestead now occupied by
Edward and Edwin Rowley. His title of lieutenant
is said to have been acquired during his service in the
French war. He had sons,—Samuel, Moses, David,
and John.

Charles Wright, son of John, Jr., probably came
from Goshen to Winsted about 1775, and lived near
his father until his removal in 1801 to Jefferson Co.,
N.Y. He served as sergeant in Capt. Sedgwick’s
company on the northern frontier in 1775.

Capt. Freedom Wright became a land-holder in
1777, and lived and kept a tavern in the house, now
burned down, recently owned by Albert Kelsey and
wife, in the same neighborhood with his father and
WINCHESTER.

187

 

brothers.
company.

A daughter of John Wright, Sr., named in his will,
married Elijah Rockwell, Esq., first justice of the
peace, and town clerk of Colebrook, and was the
grandmother of John T. Rockwell, of Winsted.

Ebenezer Shepard, from Goshen, in 1771 bought
lands bordering on Colebrook line, on the road to
Colebrook, by way of Nelson Beardsley’s, on which
he lived until 1775, when he sold out to David Cris-
sey, and moved into Colebrook. He served in Capt.
Sedgwick’s company on the northern frontier in 1775.

John Balcom, Jr., from Mansfield, Windham Co.,
came into the town this year; he owned and lived on
a lot of land east of Still River, nearly opposite the
Horace Rowley place, and lived in a log house on the
hill adjoining Barkhamsted line.

1772.—John Balcom, Sr., is named of Winchester
in a deed of this year, conveying to him Lot 10, second
division, next south of the Daniel B. Wilson farm.

Jonathan Balcom, son of John, Sr., lived on Wal-
len’s Hill, between Roswell Smith’s and Joel Meade’s.

Nathaniel Balcom, son of John, Sr., lived on the
homestead of his father until 1813 or 1814, when he
removed to Wayne Co., Pa.

Elias Baleom was here in 1774. In 1776 he had
some interest in the mill-lot, and the corn-mill, saw-
mill, and dwelling-house thereon, which he quit-
claimed to Stephen Chubb, of New Hartford.

Jacob, Joseph, and Elias Cabit, sons of Elias Bal-
com, were baptized in the Winchester church in
November, 1775. The former is said to have carried
on horseback the earliest mail between Hartford and
Albany.

Nathan Balcom died Aug. 7, 1808, aged eighty-four.

1778.—John Austin, Abel Hoskin, Josiah Smith,
Truman Smith, Josiah Smith, Jr.

1774.Stephen Arnold, Zebulon Shepard, Phineas
Potter, Sheldon Potter, Daniel Potter.

1775.—David Crissey, Preserved Crissey, Israel
Crissey.

1776.— David Mills, Chauncey Mills, Eliphalet
Mills, Daniel Mills. :

1777.—Ensign Jesse Doolittle and sons, Jesse, Jr.,
Zerah, and Lyman, Samuel Hayden and sons, Seth
and Moses, John Darbe, or Derby, Henry Walter
and son John, Daniel Walter, Ira Walter, Ebenezer
Rowley, Jr., Asher Rowley.

1778.—Barzillai Clemons, Cyrenus Handee, Uzal
Clark, Stephen Knowlton, Jr., Simeon Rogers, Abi-
gail Fuller, Elisha Spencer, Ozias Spencer, Ranney
Spencer, Elisha Spencer, Jr.

1782.—Eleazer Porter, Samuel Clark, Timothy
Cook.

1783._Silas Dunham, Comfort Goff, Elisha Mal-
lory, Amasa Mallory, Elisha Mallory, Jr., Asa Mal-
lory, Comfort Stanclift, Samuel Stanclift, John Sweet,
Zebulon Thompson, David West, Jr., Judah West.

1788-91.—Nathaniel Russell, Daniel Russell, Ben-

He was a soldier in Capt. Sedgwick’s

 

jamin Russell, Giles Russell, Hamlin Russell, Benja-
min Wheeler, Sr., Benjamin Wheeler, Jr., Othniel
Brainard, Jr., Seba Brainard, William Case (of Bark-
hamsted), Nathan Hoskin, John Jopp (a native
of Sterderton, Scotland), John Jopp, Jr., Nathan
Wheeler, Anson Wheeler, Esq., Capt. Zebina Smith,
Deacon Elisha Smith, Miles Smith, John Shaw (a
Hessian soldier from Burgoyne’s army, captured at
Saratoga), John Shaw, Jr., Charles Barnes, John
Allen, John Allen, Jr., Jesse Filley, David Holmes,
Isaac Wheeler, Hezekiah Woodruff, Jr., Luke Hart,
Selah Hart, Stephen Hart, Samuel Hart, Moses Darbe,
Benjamin De Wolf, Daniel De Wolf, Eleazer Kellogg,
Caleb Munson, Jr., Norton Wright, Deacon Shubael
Cook, Urijah Cook, Reuben Cook, Anson Cook,
Lieut. Jonathan Dunham, Deacon Michael Grinnell,
Salmon Treat, William Waterman, Jr., Daniel Eg-
gleston, Jr., Daniel Eggleston, Sr., Lewis Miller, Shel-
don Miller, Daniel Marshall, John Burton, Thaddeus
Fay, Ezra Griffin, Theodore Hoskin, Roswell Hoskin,
Solomon Palmer, Jonathan Rogers, Joseph Loomis,
Jonathan Coe.

1792.— Jenkins & Boyd, the pioneer manufacturers
of Winsted, came into the society this year, and
erected the first scythe-factory in the State, and the
third in the country, on the site of the Winsted Manu-
facturing Company’s East Village Works. About
1795, in company with Thomas Spencer, Jr., they
erected the first forge for making bar-iron in the
town, on the lake stream, opposite the grinding-shop
of the Winsted Manufacturing Company. In 1802
they erected another scythe-factory on the site of the
Winsted Hoe Company’s shop, near the corner of
Lake and Meadow Streets. Benjamin Jenkins, of the
above firm, was born Oct. 15,1765. He came to Win-
sted in 1792.

James Boyd came to Winsted, with his brother-in-
law and partner, Benjamin Jenkins, in 1792, having
previously learned from him the scythe-maker’s trade
at New Windsor, his native place. He first lived in
asmall house that stood on the west side of North
Main Street, nearly opposite the parsonage-house of
Rev. James Beach, which was built by him and his
partner in 1795, and jointly occupied by them until
1802. He then built and moved into the house on
the east side of Main Street, West village, opposite
Munro Street, now owned by John T. Rockwell,
where he spent his remaining life, and died Feb. 1,
1849, aged seventy-eight years. In 1803 he dissolved
partnership with Mr. Jenkins, taking for his share the
joint property of the firm in the West village. In
1808 he built a forge and saw-mill on the water-power
opposite the Clarke House, now owned by the New
England Pin Company. In 1822 he built a drafting-
and forging-shop in rear of the Beardsley House, and
in 1828 he rebuilt the “ Upper Forge,” on the lake
stream, above Hulbert’s present iron-works. He also
built, in 1816, the old iron-store on Main Street, next
north of Dudley’s brick block.
188

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Deacon John Lee, Ephraim Scovill and son Reuben,
Capt. Abijah Wilson, Capt. Zenas Wilson, Reynold
Wilson, Abijah Wilson, Jr.

1793.—Levi Ackley, Epaphroditus Bligh, Israel
Douglass, Benjamin Whiting, Jr., Guernsey Goff,
Enoch Goff, William Merriam, Joseph Mitchell, An-
drew Pratt.

1794.—Thomas Boyd, Ananias Dearthick (a Baptist
preacher), James Frisbie, Godfrey Jones, Joel Lucas,

‘Zacheus Munsill, William A. Stone, Daniel Brown,

Absalom Griffin, Timothy Cannon, David Collins,
Samuel Cummins, Josiah Curtis, James Eggleston,
Horace Higley, Asher Loomis, Seth Lucas, Truman
Seymour, Amos Tolles, Elisha Lewis.

1796.—Levi Barnes, Jehiel Burr, Eli Fox, Levi
Fox, Dr. Aaron Moore, Gideon Hall, Nathan Rose,
Samuel Westlake, Samuel Westlake, Jr., William
Westlake, John Westlake, Thomas Westlake, Ran-
dail Shattuck, Oliver White, Oliver White, Jr., Asa-
hel Miller, Joel Miller, Timothy and William Soper
(father and son), Daniel Wilcox, Frederick Eggleston,
Samuel and Moses Camp, Moses Camp, Sr., Aaron
Marshall, Daniel White.

1798.—Merritt Bull, Cyrus Butrick, Joseph Cook,
son of Aaron and Lydia, and a native of the town, is
on the list of this year as a resident of the old so-
ciety. In 1809 he bought the Aaron Marshall place,
on the Pratt road, where he afterward dwelt until his
death, Oct. 11, 1814, aged thirty-nine. Jonathan
Douglass, brother of Israel, owned, from 1798 to 1801,
a part of the Kinney farm, on Spencer Street road,
and lived on the west side of the road, not far from
Amos Pierce’s residence. Capt. George Frasier, a
Scotchman, is on the tax-list of this year as a resident
of Winsted. He was a trader near the Wallen’s Hill
school-house for a few years, and probably for the
most part resided over the line in Barkhamsted. Levi
Norton (2d), Elihu Rockwell, Reuben Rowley, oldest
son of Ebenezer, and a native of the town, is on the
list of this year. In 1801 he became owner of the
portion of the East village bordered by the Holabird
property on the north, Still River east, Main Street
south, and Oak Street west, which he exchanged in
1802 for a farm in the northeast corner of the town,
recently owned by Joel Mead, now deceased, on which
he lived until his removal to Hitchcockville in 1847,
where he died, May 2, 1851, aged seventy-four. Joel
Wright, Joseph Holmes, Rufus Holmes, Willard
Holmes.

The settlers for 1799 were Isaac and Mary Bellows,
Roswell Marshall, Charles Osborn, Nathaniel. Parks,
Theodore Smith, and Henry Sanford.

The new-comers of this year, 1800, were Bissell
Hinsdale, Philemon Kirkham, Josiah Apley, Elijah
Benedict, Nathaniel Smith, Solomon Lemley, Jacob
Lemley, William Davis, Gedeliah Chase.

Philemon Kirkum, Esq., attorney-at-law, came from
Norfolk to Winsted in 1800, and built a house on the
site of Weed’s Block, which was burned down March

 

25, 1853. He soon sold this house to Bissell Hins-

dale, and in 1807 he built the original house on the
lot next north of the Congregational chapel, which
was taken down by Dr. Welch to make room for his
present dwelling. In this house he lived until his
removal to Norton, Ohio, in 1814. He was a native
of Guilford, Conn., served for four or five years in the
Revolutionary war, afterwards studied law with Au-
gustus Pettibone, Esq., of Norfolk, and was in due
course admitted to the Litchfield bar. :

1801.—Ezra Rockwell, Jacob Chamberlin, Aaron
Loomis.

1802.—Col. Hosea Hinsdale, Col. James Shepard,
Jesse Clark, Nathan Wheeler Clark, Salmon Bur,
Jacob Seymour, John Phillips, Thomas R. Bull, Tim-
othy Persons, Alpheus Persons.

1803.—Samuel and Luther Hoadley, brothers. They
were for ten years prominent and highly-esteemed
business men, and by their ingenuity and enterprise
contributed largely to the growth and prosperity of
the village. Samuel retired from business on his ap-
pointment as major of volunteers in the war of 1812.
He was promoted to a colonelcy. Hawley Oakley.

1804.—Erastus Burr, Roswell Burr, Halsey Burr,
Luke Hayden.

1805.—Reuben Baldwin, Eliab Bunnell, Andrew
Walter.

1806.—Rey. James Beach, Capt. Ezekiel Woodford
and son Erastus, Romanta Woodford, Ezekiel Wood-
ford, Lester Woodford, Benjamin Barber Woodford,
Erastus Sterling Woodford, Lucius J. Woodford,
George Woodford, Joseph T. Cumming, Samuel
Rowley, Jr., Benjamin Johnson, Bemsley Carpenter,
Elizur Hinsdale, Elam Rockwell, Daniel Burnham,
Joseph Miller.

1807.—Benjamin Skinner, Capt. Lemuel Clarke,
Lucius Clarke, Jasper Grinnell, David Tallmadge,
Eben Coe, Deacon Elisha Smith.

1808.—Dr. Lyman Strong, Hermon Munson.

1809.—Deacon James H. Alvord.

1810.—Jesse Byington, William Goucher, Joshua
Hewitt, Isaac Johnson, Selden Mitchell, William
Murray, John Rohrabacher, John Storer, Riley
Whiting.

Settled from 1811 to 1821—Andrew Brusie, Russell
Page, Charles ©. Caul, Eleazer Hawley, John Malt-
bie, Darius Turrell, Samuel Williams, Daniel Albro,
Nathan Champion, William Green, Christopher Lyon,
George Sage, William Caul, David Marble, Joseph
W. Hurlbut, Dr. Henry Noble, George Roberts, Hor-
ace Reynolds, Samuel Bartlett, James C. Cleveland,
Lewis McDonald, Joel Miller, Dr. Luman Wakefield,
Lucius Clarke, Alpha Rowley, Halsey Bailey, Silas
Burton, Orrin Cleveland, Shubael Crowe, Reuben
Hall, David Munson, -Ansel Shattuck, Sheldon Kin-
ney, Capt. Stephen Fyler, Harry Bishop, Leveritt
Bishop, Seth Bishop, Jehial Coe, Willard Holmes,
Henry B. Crowe, Riley Smith, Chester Soper, Whee-
lock Thayer, Daniel G. Tuttle, Jesse Williams, Nisus
WINCHESTER.

Kinney, Silas Hoskins, Elias Rowley, Nelson Wilson,
Norman Spencer, Stephen Rowley, Horace W. House.

1822.—Elisha A. Morgan, William O. Talcott,
M.D., Oliver Loomis, Alanson Loomis, Henry L.
Gaylord, Luman Hubbell.

Among the more prominent inhabitants of the soci-
ety not already named who came in during this decade
(1880 to 1840) were Orentus Bronson, James Birdsall,
Elliot Beardsley, George Taylor, Dr. James Welch,
James Humphrey, Asa Parke, Alvin Gilbert, Am-
brose Whiting, Horatio L. Wetmore, Anson Foskett,
David N. Beardsley, Elisha Kilborn, William G.
Batcheller, Caleb J. Camp, Seth L. Wilder, Normand
Adams, Willard 8. Wetmore, John G. Wetmore, and
Chester Wentworth.

THE WINSTED BANK

was organized Nov. 20, 1848, with the following board
of directors: George Dudley, William S. Holabird,
Warren Phelps, Reuben Cook, William L. Gilbert,
James Humphrey, and Everit Bevins. The officers
were as follows: Presidents, George Dudley, from or-
ganization until Dec. 2, 1862; Elliot Beardsley, until
Nov. 18, 1865, when he was succeeded by Henry Gay,
who officiated until Aug. 21, 1867. Cashiers: E. 8.
Hamilton, to Sept. 3, 1850; William H. Hill, until
Oct. 8, 1850; John C. Tracey, until Oct. 27, 1854;
William H. Teller, to March 4, 1856; Henry Gay,
until Dec. 7, 1863; Rufus E. Holmes, to Oct. 31, 1864;
George Dudley, Jr., until Aug. 21, 1867. Closed.

THE HURLBUT NATIONAL BANK.

The Hurlbut Bank, of which this is a successor, was
organized March 28, 1854, with the following board of
directors: William H. Phelps, Lemuel Hurlbut, C. J.
Camp, E. A. Phelps, Abraham Alvord, John K. Shep-
ard, and Gorman Adams. The first president was
William H. Phelps, who remained as such until his
death, Aug. 27,1864. He was succeeded by Rufus E.
Holmes, who officiated until Jan. 19, 1874, when he
was succeeded by William L. Gilbert, the present in-
cumbent. The first cashier was George Alvord, who
officiated until Nov. 28, 1856, when he was succeeded
by Rufus E. Holmes, who in turn was succeeded by
George W. Phelps in 1863. Mr. Phelps resigned Nov.
1, 1865, and Warren Phelps was chosen his successor.
Jan. 24, 1866, Charles B. Holmes was appointed cash-
ier, and officiated until June 27, 1874, when he was
succeeded by Henry Gay, the present incumbent.

The present board of directors is constituted as fol-
lows: William L. Gilbert, George Dudley (deceased),
Edward Camp, Elias E. Gilman, J. H. Norton, C. B.
Hallett, and R. E. Holmes. The original capital was

$100,000, which was increased to $205,000, Sept. 16, |

1857. It was organized as a national bank in July,
1865. Surplus, Dec. 2, 1880, $102,500.
THE WINSTED NATIONAL BANK

was organized March 15,1879. The first officers were
John G. Wetmore, President; Henry C. Young,
13

 

189

Cashier, with the following board of directors: John
G. Wetmore, Henry C. Young, Thomas M. Clarke,
Orlow D. Hunt, Lyman W. Case, Augustus H. Fenn,
Charles Alvord, and George H. Alvord, all of Win-
sted, and George W. Beach, of Waterbury, Conn.

The present officers are John G. Wetmore, Presi-
dent; Thomas M. Clarke, Vice-President ; and Henry
C. Young, Cashier. The present board of directors
are John G. Wetmore, Thomas M. Clarke, Henry C.
Young, Orlow D. Hunt, Lyman W. Case, Charles
Alvord, of Winsted, George W. Beach and Lewis
Beardsley, of Waterbury, and Solomon Sackett, of
Colebrook, Conn.

The bank was organized with a capital of $50,000,
with authority to increase to $250,000.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF WINSTED
was organized in 1879 with the following directors:
David Strong, Lyman R. Norton, Francis Brown,
Franklin Moore (deceased), Charles B. Hallett, George
S. Burnham, and Elias E. Gilman. The present (1881)
directors are the same, except I. B. Woodruff in place
of the late Franklin Moore. The first president was
Elias E. Gilman, and the first cashier Frank D. Hal-
lett. They are the present incumbents. The capital
of the bank is $50,000.

THE WINSTED SAVINGS BANK

was incorporated in June, 1860. The corporators
were George Dudley, William H. Phelps, Elliot
Beardsley, C. J. Camp, Warren Phelps, Moses Camp,
E. 8. Woodford, John Boyd, Lucius Clarke, Lyman
Case, John G. Wetmore, T. M. Clarke, William L.
Gilbert, N. Adams, Roland Hitchcock, Gideon Hall,
Edward A. Phelps, George D. Wadhams, Dwight E.
Williams, E. Grove Lawrence, Willard Gaylord, and
Theron Bronson. The first officers were Warren
Phelps, President; Moses Camp, Vice-President ; Ly-
man Baldwin, Secretary and Treasurer.

Warren Phelps was president from the date of incor-
poration to July, 1862 ; Moses Camp from 1862 to 1874;
John T. Rockwell from 1874 to 1878; John Hinsdale
was elected to that position in 1878, which office he
now holds. Jyman Baldwin was secretary and treas-
urer from the date of incorporation to the time of his
death, in 1874; Lorenzo M. Blake from 1874 to 1875;
George S. Rowe was elected to succeed him in 1876,
and is the present incumbent. The present amount
of deposits is $854,000; surplus, $60,000. The first
deposit was made by Jane Bartholomew, of Goshen,
Conn., the amount being $76.

TIE MECHANICS’ SAVINGS BANK
was organized in 1875, with the following officers:
Normand Adams, President; Thomas M. Clarke,
Vice-President; Elias E. Gilman, Treasurer; Wil-
liam L. Gilbert, Harvey B. Steele, Charles B. Hallett,

| Joseph H. Norton, Harvey L. Roberts, Directors ;

William L. Gilbert, Warren Phelps, T. M. Clarke,
J. G. Wetmore, Elias E. Gilman, H. B. Steele, J. H.
190

Norton, C. B. Hallett, David Strong, N. Adams, Reu-
ben Rockwell, John Hinsdale, J. R. Cooke, Roland
Hitchcock, G. W. Phelps, C. H. Blake, H. L. Rob-
erts, H. A. Bills, I. B. Woodruff, H. P. Lawrence,
Delos Stevens, Timothy E. Williams, Trustees.

The present (1881) net deposits are about $300,000,
and the total deposits have been about $400,000.

ST. ANDREW’S LODGE, F. AND A. M., No. 64,

was chartered in the spring of 1828, with the follow-
ing officers: Josiah Smith, W. M.; Hosea Hinsdale,
8. W.; Wheelock Thayer, J. W.; Elisha Smith,
Treas.; James M. Boyd, Sec.

The first lodge-room was fitted up in the old acad-
emy building, now a tenant-house, immediately north
of Forbes’ cabinet establishment, on Main Street,
West village.

In 1858, on application to the Grand Lodge of
members of St. Andrew’s Lodge, its charter was re-
stored, new officers were appointed, and work was
resumed in Woodford’s original brick block, which
was burned down March 25, 1853, and the lodge was
removed to the Clark & Wetmore store, then standing
on the site of the Clarke House. This store was
burned down in 1856, and the furniture, jewels, re-
galia, and all the records of the lodge were consumed.
The lodge was reopened in Chamberlin’s store, now
owned by John M. Burr, and thence, in the same
year, was removed to Weed’s brick block, and thence
to Woodford’s new block.

The present officers of the lodge are as follows: Ste-
phen P. Goodsall, W. M.; Edwin 8. Beecher, S. W.;
D. P. Kilbourn, J. W.; Rev. G. W. Stanley, Chap. ;
Henry H. Drake, Treas.; Wm. A. Warner, Sec.;
Sylvester F. Rowe, 8. D. ; F. J. Kilbourn, J. D.; Harry
Howe, 8. Stew. ; Florin Benedict, J. Stew. ; John Van
Ostrum, Tyler.

MERIDIAN CHAPTER, No. 15, ROYAL ARCII MASONS,

was early located at Canaan, and its charter was re-
voked by the Grand Chapter in 1839. It was rein-
stated at New Hartford in May, 1848, but not reor-
ganized. It was transferred and reorganized at
Winsted in May, 1857, occupied the same hall with
St. Andrew’s Lodge.

The present officers are as follows: Edward G.
Wallis, H. P.; Frederick M. Cooke, K.; Stephen P.
Goodsall, 8.; Edwin M. Platt, C. of H.; Dwight
Phelps, T.; Henry H. Drake, Sec.; A. P. Balch,
P.S.; L. McDermont, R. A. C.; Hugh Shepard,
M. of 3d V.; 8S. B. Horne, M. of 2d V.; J. F. Lin-
coln, M. of lst V.; J. A. Bushnall, 8. S.; W. W.
Weaver, J. S.; Rev. G. W. Stanley, Chap.; J. Van
Ostrum, Tyler.

TYRIAN COUNCIL OF ROYAL MASTERS, No. 31,

-was chartered and installed in 1858, and has occupied
the same hall with the preceding orders.
The present officers of the council are Edwin M. |

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Platt, T. I. M.; E. A. Nellis, I.D. M.; F. M. Cooke,
I. P. C.; Benj. Lawrence, Treas.; Dwight Phelps,*
Sec.; L. D. Hart, C. of G.; John F. Peck, C.; E.§,
Beecher, Stew.; Rev. G. M. Stanley, Chap.

MAGNOLIA CHAPTER, No. 16, 0. E. S.,

was organized by dispensation Feb. 24, 1875, and the
Grand Chapter O. E. 8. of Connecticut granted a
charter Oct. 14,1875, and appointed Charles J. York,
W. P.; Abbie A. Fyler, W. M.; and Mariam R,
Drake, A. M. The following members have been
elected to said offices:

1876.—C. Lyman Norton, W. P.; Abbie A. Fyler,
W.M.; Mariam R. Drake, A. M.

1877.—C. Lyman Norton, W. P. ; Mariam R. Drake,
W.M.; Annie E. 8. Hatch, A. M.

1878.—C. Lyman Norton, W. P.; Mariam R. Drake,
W.M.; Delia M. Streeter, A. M.

1879.—Henry H. Drake, W. P.; Harriet F. St.
John, W. M.; Delia M. Streeter, A. M.

1880.—Jenison J. Whiting, W. P.; Delia M.
Streeter, W. M.; Ellen A. Nellis, A. M.

The present officers are Edward M. Platt, W. P.;
Ellen A. Nellis, W. M.; Roxie M. Granger, A. M.;
Carrie A. Granger, Sec.; Mariam R. Drake, Treas, ;
Ida Kilmer, C.; Ella Platt, A. C.; Hattie B. Rosset-
ter, A.; Estella J. Plamb, R.; Etta D. Horne, E.;
Alice E. 8. Peck, M.; Ruth C. Benedict, E.; Lydia
J. Miller, W.; Salvenah E. Granger, C.; John B,
Riggs, 8. The chapter has a membership of ninety.

The Odd Fellows have also had two lodges in this
village, both extinct; these were “Orion Lodge”
and “ Union Lodge.”

There have been several temperance societies; all
of which are now extinct. Among these was the
“Winsted Temperance Society,” organized Aug. 16,
1829, with the following members: Rev. James
Beach, Solomon Rockwell, Asaph Pease, Willard
Holmes, Salmon Burr, Austin Crane, Norman Palmer,
William 8. Holabird, Anson Cook, James H. Alvord,
Lyman Case, Sidney Munson, Horace E. Rockwell,
Erastus Woodford, Josiah Smith, Leumas H. Pease,
and Eleazer Andrews. Accessions of members were
rapidly made from month to month until, in 1836,
there were enrolled two hundred and ninety-seven
males and two hundred and sixty-eight females. Other
organizations were the “ Winsted Total Abstinence
Society” and the “ Washington Society.”

PALMER POST, No. 33, GRAND ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC, '

was chartered March 11, 1869, with the following

members: Samuel B. Horne, Frederick L. Pond,

David W. Coe, Salmon A. Granger, Benjamin F.

Marsh, Robert E. Horne, Charles L. Hewett, Whelock

 

* Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge; present Grand High Priest and
Worthy Grand Chaplain; Past Worthy Past Grand Master of Grand
Council.
WINCHESTER.

T. Batcheller, John J. Horne, Jeffrey Skinner, Wil-
liam F. Hilton, Paul McLocklin, Joseph H. C.
Batchelder. The first officers were Samuel B. Horne,
Post Commander; Charles L. Hewett, Senior Vice-
Commander; Stephen W. Sage, Junior Vice-Com-
mander; Ralph Lina, Adjutant; David W. Coe,
Quartermaster; William H. Lewis, Jr., Chaplain;
Paul McLocklin, Sergeant-Major; Joseph H. C.
Bachelder, Quartermaster - Sergeant; W. A. Wads-
worth, Officer of the Day; William C. Dennen, Of
ficer of the Guard.

The present officers are Charles L. Hewett, Post
Commander; Lucius Bissell, Senior Vice-Commander;
‘Darwin C. Andrews, Junior Vice-Commander; John
W. Fordyce, Adjutant; Benjamin F. Marsh, Quarter-
master; Henry L. Roberts, Surgeon ; Henry W. Baker,
Chaplain; Robert A. Cutler, Officer of the Day ; Tru-
man Hyde, Officer of the Guard; Jeffrey Skinner,
Quartermaster -Sergeant; John H. Thurman, Ser-
geant-Major.

Total members mustered, one hundred and twenty-
six. Of the original charter members but two have
died, Pond and McLocklin.

UNITY LODGE, No. 35, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS,

was chartered May 238, 1873. The first officers were
Past Chancellor Commander, W. H. C. Batchelder ;
Chancellor Commander, B. F. Marsh ; Vice-Chancel-

lor Commander, F. J. Northrop; Prelate, J. L. Tatro; |

Master of Exchequer, H. M. Calder; Master of Fi-
nance, Ralph Hinman; Keeper of Records and Seals,
S. R. Hinsdale; Master-at-Arms, George M. Brad-
ford; Inner Guard, E. C. Dearborn; Outer Guard,
William H. Thorp.

The present officers are Past Chancellor Commander,
George Jessup; Chancellor Commander, Samuel B.
Horne; Vice-Chancellor, Hugh Shepard; Master of
Exchequer, Stephen Crossman; Master of Finance,
William B. Phillips; Keeper of Record and Seal,
Charles Rowland; Master-at-Arms, John Stacker;
Inner Guard, Gustave Newman; Outer Guard, Henry
Leversedge. ;
LIBRARIES.

There was a library in the old society prior to 1845;
there was also one kept in the office of Solomon
Rockwell & Brothers. In 1808 one flourished in the
west school district. ‘The Winsted Historical and
Theological Library” was organized by the Congre-
gational Society about 1810. In 1812 one was
organized by some young men in the West village
and kept at the house of Col. Hosea Hinsdale. The
East village organized one in 1820, and the Methodist
church subsequently formed one which was longer
lived than any of its predecessors. All of the above
are now obsolete.

BEARDSLEY LIBRARY, WEST WINSTED.

In 1874, Mrs. Delia R. Beardsley appropriated ten
thousand dollars to the founding of a public library

 

191

in West Winsted. This amount was committed to a
board of seven trustees, selected by herself, who were
to expend five thousand dollars for books and maga-
zines during the current year, invest the remaining
half of the donation, and thereafter use the income
derived from it for replenishing the library, its affairs
remaining under their supervision. The institution
was opened to the public, with three thousand books,
on the evening of September 15th, by an address from
the late Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D., of Norfolk,
Conn. It is open afternoon and evening, Sundays
excepted, with a librarian in attendance, and has in-
creased to four thousand four hundred volumes.

Mrs. Beardsley furnished rooms in Beardsley Block,
and gave their use for a term of years. Since her
death, in 1878, her family has generously continued
the rooms rent-free. The expenses are paid by tickets
of membership. While permanently benefitting the
people of the village, Mrs. Beardsley designed this
library to be also a memorial of her late husband,
Deacon Elliot Beardsley, and placed a portrait of him
in the rooms.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

The first recorded action in reference to schools is
found under date of Dec. 17, 1773, the year of Rev.
Mr. Knapp’s settlement; it was voted ‘‘to raise two
pence on the pound of the rateable estate for the sup-
port of schools in this [First] Society.” It was also
voted “that the north district begin at the house now
owned by Medad Hills, and contain all the north
part” (of the society), “that the west district contain
all the inhabitants on the west road from the crotch
of the paths and all west,” and “the east district to
contain all the rest of the Society ;” “that the money
raised by the tax be divided according to the list, and
that Warham Gibbs, Reuben Thrall, Ebenezer Pres-
ton, Seth Hills, Oliver Coe, Samuel McCune, Benja-
min Benedict, Abram Andrews, and Daniel Platt be
school committee; that money [raised?] in each dis-
trict be laid out in each district as shall best accom-
modate the same, if it shall be laid out in the year;
if not laid out in the year, to be returned to the society
treasury.”

Jan. 6, 1774, it was voted “to reconsider all the
votes that have been passed in this meeting concern-
ing schooling.” Here the matter rested, so far as tax-
ation and the organization of school districts was con-
cerned, until Dec. 2, 1777, when it was voted “to raise
two pence on the pound on last August list, to sup-
port schools,” and Deacon Seth Hills, Ensign Ozias
Brownson, Philip Priest, Eliphaz Alvord, Capt. Gibbs,
Phineas Griswold, Lieut. Benedict, and Eleazer
Smith were appointed school committee.

Whatever may have been done pursuant to these
votes, there is no record of their repeal, and at the
annual meeting in 1778 similar votes were renewed,
and a rate of sixpence on the pound was granted, and
a collector in each district appointed to collect the

same.
192

We have no means of ascertaining when or where
the first school-houses were erected, or what teachers
were employed, or for what length of time; but we
have reason to suppose that schools were first opened
in private houses by voluntary associations, and that
these were aided, but not wholly sustained, by tax-
ation.

The next action appears on the society records in
1786, when a new school district was organized, “ be-
ginning at Torrington line, by a stream called the
Branch, and to extend up said Branch so far as that
an east line will include Capt. Elmer [now Widow
Norris Coe], from thence down y® country road, in-
cluding Doctor Everitt [now Theron Bronson], John
Nash, and all on the north side of said country road,
and to include Phinehas Griswold’s, from thence
south to Torrington line,” and Jonathan Coe and Levi
Brownson were appointed district committee. This
description is not very definite, but probably is in-
tended to designate the district which built about
this time the ‘Two-Chimney School-house,” that
stood, until burned down, in a southeast direction
from the burying-ground.

In 1788, on the petition of Eliphaz Alvord and
others, another district, to be called the Second Dis-
trict, was organized, beginning on Long Lake, at the
mouth of Sucker Brook, and extending up said brook
to the north end of the third tier, first division (near
the Dugway School-house), then to the northwest
corner of the tier, then southerly along its west line
to the southwest corner of the Gershom McCune, Jr.,
(late Sylvester Platt’s) lot, thence easterly along his
south line, direct to Long Lake, and thence northerly
along the shore thereof to the mouth of Sucker
Brook. :

In January, 1790, we find the following appoint-
ment of district school committees:

Samuel Clark, who lived in the Daniel Murray
house, for the northeast district, which embraced the
east part of Danbury Quarter, and extended south to
Mr. Clark’s.

Andrew Everitt, who lived in the old Everitt house,
for the northwest district, embracing the principal
part of Danbury Quarter.

Amasa Wade, for the southwest district, embracing
the territory west of Branch Brook, nearly as far
north as the Norfolk road.

Capt. Joseph Elmore, for the southeast district, em-
bracing the centre and the southern portions of the
society, lying west of Branch Brook, and southwest
of Sucker Brook.

Capt. Elisha Wilcoxson, who lived in the William
Johnson house, for the second or Sucker Brook dis-
trict.

In 1798, by vote of the town, a new district was es-
tablished, partly out of Winchester Society, and
partly out of Winsted Society, the boundaries of
which were directed to be placed on file in the town
clerk’s office, but, as no such file is to be found, its

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

limits cannot be ascertained. It probably embraced
the northern half of the present Sucker Brook dis-
trict, and extended easterly to the Austin Mill, or
Mad River, in Winsted. The committee were Deacon
David Austin, Levi Norton, and John Miner.

In 1792 another district was formed, embracing
essentially the territory of the present West Winsted
district, there then being no village in existence, all
the inhabitants living on the Coe and Spencer Street
roads to Colebrook, the two roads there diverging from
the original school-house, which stood on the site
of the present West Winsted school-house, and was
burned down about 1808 or 1809.

In the records of Winsted Society, under date of
Dec. 27, 1784, we find a vote that the districts set off
for schooling by a committee chosen for that purpose
be established according to their doings, but no rec-
ord of the districts so established is to be found.
Oct. 5, 1785, a tax of “one penny halfpenny” on the
pound was laid for the “use of schooling,” but was
reconsidered and annulled at an adjourned meet-
ing on the 26th of the same month, Dec. 8, 1788,
Ebenezer Rowley and Ensign Eleazer Kellogg were
appointed school committee. No further reference to
school matters is found until Dec. 8, 1794, when it
was voted to divide the society into school districts,
and a committee was appointed for that purpose, who
reported Jan. 12,1795. The report was accepted and
placed on file, but not recorded, and the file is not to
be found. ;

The following are extracts from the early reminis-
cences of Mrs. Nelly M. Swift, daughter of Dr. Jo-
siah Everitt, born in 1786, which illustrate the school
customs and mental culture at the period referred to,
from which we extract her notice “of the great day
of examinations and exhibitions, when eight district
schools assembled in the large, unfinished meeting-
house, in the winter of 1798-94 :”

“The reading and spelling of the schools occupied the forenoon, and
the afternoon was devoted to dramas, comedies, orations, etc, One cor
ner of the church was inclosed in curtains, and each school took its turn
behind the scenes to prepare for their special exhibitions ou the stage.

“ The late Deacon Levi Platt was the teacher of the school to which I
belonged. Well do I remember the directions given by him to the little
girls as to dressing their hair for exhibition, viz.: the night previons
our mothers were to wet our heads with home-brewed beer, and our hair
was to be combed and braided very tightly before going to bed; in the
morning, the last thing after we were dressed for the exhibition, the braids
were taken out, and the hair lay in waving lines all over our shoulders.

“Among the variety of things he taught us was the practice of spell-
ing a whole sentence all together, or more particularly the first class,
The sentence to be publicly spelled was ‘Abominable Bumble Bee with
his tail cut off;? but Mr. Platt thought best to shorten it to ‘ Abominable
tail cut off’

“Tmagine, if you can, in soberness, a large, thoroughly-trained school
class spelling or chanting before the assembled families of the town, in
this wise :

“tA there’s your A,

“«* B-0O— there's your Bo, and your A-bo.

“eM-J— there’s your Mi, and your Bo-mi, and your A-bo-mi.

“*N-A— there's your Na, and your Mi-na, and your Bo-mi-na
and your A-bo-mi-na,

“«B-L-E~  there’s your Ble, and your Na-ble, and your Mi-nw-le,

and your Bo-mi-na-ble, and your A-bo-mi-na-ble. +
WINCHESTER.

193

 

“*T-A-I-L— there’s your Tail, and your Ble-tail, and your Na-ble—
tail, and your Mi-na-ble-tail, and your Bo-mi-na-ble-
tail, and your A-bo-mi-na-ble-tail.

“°C_U-T— _ there’s your Cut, and your Tail-cut, and your Ble-tail-
cut, and your Na-ble-tail-cut,and your Bo-mi-na-ble-
tail-cut, and your A-bo-mi-na-ble-tail-cut.

we O-F-F— there’s your Off, and your Cut-off, and your Tail-cut-off,

and your Ble-tail-cut-off, and your Na-ble-tail-cut-
off, and your Mi-na-ble-tail-cut-off, and your Bo-mi-
na-ble-tail-off, and your A-bo-mi-na-ble—tail—cut
—off.’

“In the afternoon each school had its oration, poem, dialogue, comedy,
or tragedy. One of our dialogues was called ‘ Old Gibber,’ in which the
late Abel McEwen, D.D., of New London, took the part of Old Gibber;
his wife was Charity Bronson. Oliver Marshall, Seth Hills, Joseph Cvit,
and myself had parts.

“First Scene-—Old Gibber and his wife talking about the war; wife
stirring the hasty-pudding; daughter Betty (nyself) setting the table;
John, the son, just home trom the war, etc.

“ Another scene is a bar-room, with such talk as we may suppose would
take place there during the war of the Revolution. “

“The boys of this period were remarkable for their successful imitations
of every kind of business.

“The late Samuel Hurlbut, Sr., was justice of the peace. Samuel
Stanley (son of Dr. Everitt’s third wife, who died young) was a lawyer, also
Sylvester Griswold. Lemuel Hurlbut was constable, etc. Mock courts
were held in my father's long kitchen. Writs, attachments, and execu-
tions were all made out in due form. A statute book of laws was com-
piled, specifying a great variety of things contrary to law, for which cul-
prits would be arrested, tried, and punished by imprisonment for so many
hours, etc. Witnesses were summoned, examined, cross-examined, and
impeached, etc.

“A newspaper was edited and published weekly by Samuel Stanley,
before mentioned. It was ruled in columns, had editorials, news, anec-
dotes, advertisements, etc. These boys, at that time, were none of them
over twelve years old !”

For the present condition of schools, see the Gen-
eral History.

THE WINCHESTER INSTITUTE.

In 1856-57 the late Samuel Hurlbut, Sr., had a
partial plan for endowing a literary institution in this
place, but died without making any provision for it.
Soon after, Theron Bronson, Esq., took up the matter,
and besides contributing liberally himself, collected
considerable money from others. With these funds
and his own private property Rev. Ira Pettibone
erected the building known as the Institute, at an ex-
pense of nearly $10,000. It was first occupied for
school purposes in the spring of 1860, and was for-
mally set apart for educational uses in September of
the same year, with an appropriate address by Rev.
Dr, Eldridge, of Norfolk, and other suitable services.

For some years it was successfully managed by Mr.
Pettibone as a boarding and day school, with a large
attendance of pupils. Afterwards it was controlled
by his son, Col. Ira W. Pettibone, who had previously
been associated with him in the school. Col. Petti-
bone graduated at Yale College in 1854, was colonel
of the Tenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and
resigned in November, 1862. He remained at Win-
chester until 1871, when he became a professor in
Beloit College, where he continues to the present
time. His successor was J. Walker Macbeth, A.M.,
a graduate of Edinburgh University, who, after two
or three years, was succeeded by James Cowles, A.M.,
a graduate of Yale College in 1837. He continued

 

teaching until 1877, when he removed from town, and
since that time no school has been kept up. In 1869
the private ownership in the Institute building and
grounds was purchased by Mrs. Jonathan Blake and
her daughter, Mrs. Mary Ann Mitchell, and by them
given to seven trustees and their successors “ for the
purpose of sustaining, carrying on, and maintaining
a seminary of learning similar to the institute now
and heretofore carried on in the conveyed premises,
and to possess all the powers necessary for that pur-
pose.”

TITE WINSTED PRESS.

THE WINSTED HERALD
was established in 1853, making a creditable début
as a six-column folio on the 14th of May of that year.
For the first five years of its existence its title-page
bore the caption of Mountain County Herald, which,
at the commencement of the sixth volume, was
changed to that it now bears.

The Herald was founded by Thomas M: Clarke and
Stephen A. Hubbard, and for eight months was pub-
lished by them under the firm-name of Hubbard &
Clarke. In February, 1854, Mr. Clarke withdrew
from the paper to accept the editorship of a new
weekly journal (Zhe Leader) just at that time estab-
lished at Bridgeport. The editorial tripod he vacated
came into the possession of Mr. Edmund C. Stedman,
then a youthful but promising journalist, but who
at that time was comparatively unknown in the liter-
ary world. For fourteen months the Herald was pub-
lished by Hubbard & Stedman, at the end of which
time Mr. Clarke returned to Winsted and became Mr.
Stedman’s successor, and from that time until the fol-
lowing July the names of Hubbard & Clarke appear
as publishers. At that date Mr. Hubbard (the present
well-known managing editor of the Hartford Courant)
retired from the paper to engage in other business,
and for the following ten years,—until November,
1865,—Mr. Clarke was sole editor and proprietor, when
he sold his establishment to a new joint-stock corpo-
ration known as the Winsted Printing Company. The
new organization called to the editorial department
Theodore F. Vaill, of Litchfield, who had just sheathed
his sword after a three years’ service in the war of the
Rebellion as adjutant of the Second Connecticut
Heavy Artillery, popularly known as the Litchfield
County Regiment. Mr. Vaill presided over the col-
umns of the Herald nearly ten years, until his death,
which occurred in February, 1875. He was succeeded
by his brother, J. H. Vaill (the present editor), who
since 1868 had been in charge of the business depart-
ment of the paper. In 1876 an additional chair was
set in the sanctum, which for about two years was
acceptably filled by F. H. Giddings,—his entree in the
journalistic arena,—from whence he was called to edi-
torial service on the Springfield Republican, and later
to the Berkshire Courier and Paper World.

The Heradd started out on its career as a six-column
folio, With its twenty-fifth issue it was enlarged to
194

seven columns, which size it retained until December,
1866, when it was again enlarged, this time to eight
columns. Its press, however, refused to properly
print a sheet of that size, and after an eight months’
trial the former size of seven columns was adopted.
At the opening of 1874, a new and larger press having
found its way to the Herald office, the paper was again
enlarged, this time to a nine-column folio. A year
later, Jan. 1, 1875, still another enlargement was un-
dertaken, the style being changed from four to eight
pages, six columns to a page. This form and style
was continued until April, 1880, when the Herald re-
turned to its former more generally acceptable size
and style,—an eight-column folio.

During recent years the Herald has been the medium
of a greater amount of local news (of which it makes
aspecialty) than any other paper in the county, having
probably a larger corps of regular local correspond-
ents than any paper in the State. Though nominally
Republican in politics, it pays but little attention to
political matters, except during regular campaigns,
believing that the best and most acceptable service
it can render is in the dissemination of local intelli-
gence and the discussion of matters chiefly of local in-

terest.
THE WINSTED PRESS.

The first number of the Winsted Press bears the date
of July 5, 1873. The paper was started by Henry A.
Bills, a politician, and Lucien V. Pinney, a journey-
man printer, and was published by the firm of Bills
& Pinney until the early part of October of that
year, when Mr. Pinney bought Mr. Bills’ interest in
the concern, and, as editor ‘and proprietor, has con-
tinued the publication of the paper up to the present
writing (January, 1881). The Press began its career
as a Democratic paper, its Democracy being defined
by the Democratic State Central Committee of Con-
necticut, but at the close of the year 1874 the paper,
though still adhering nominally to the Democratic
party, began to show signs of apostasy to Democracy
as defined by the State Central Committee, and to ad-
vocate what was afterwards known as the “ greenback
doctrine,” —i.e., government paper money as against
bank paper currency, Mr. Pinney defending himself as
a Democrat in so doing by the action of certain of the
Western Democrats at the time. As the probability
of the adoption of the greenback policy by the Demo-
cratic party of the nation diminished, the advocacy
of that policy by the Press increased in earnestness,
until it became the leading feature of the paper.
With one exception, this was at that time the only
journal published in New England in pronounced
opposition to national banks and “hard money.”
The Greenbackers of the State held their first conven-
tion at New Haven on the 9th of March, 1876, and
organized a third party, putting a State ticket into
the field. Mr. Pinney was placed in nomination for
Secretary of State, a nomination which has been ac-
corded him at each successive State convention since

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

that time, and the Press pulled down its Democratic
flag and hoisted the Greenback banner, under which
it is still sailing, having given vigorous support to
two Greenback candidates for the office of President
of the United States,—Peter Cooper (whom its edi-
tor, as delegate from Connecticut, helped nominate at
Indianapolis, Ind.), in 1876, and James B. Weaver, in
1880. The paper has been very free in the discussion
of religious subjects, and by its pronounced opposi-
tion to the prevailing Christian sentiment of the time
and locality has earned the reputation of being “the
wickedest paper in Connecticut,”’—a distinction of
which its publisher seems rather proud than other-
wise. It is peculiar in its frequent disregard of public
sentiment, and its apparent inclination, other things
being equal, to take the unpopular side of public
questions, rather than the side which has commended
itself to public favor. Started as a five-column
quarto, the Press was, after the first year, changed to
an eight-column folio, in which form it is still pub-
lished every Thursday, at the original office, in a
building on the corner of Main and Bridge Streets,
opposite the Clarke House, Winsted.

THE WINSTED NEWS

was started in 1874 by Mr. Henry A. Bills, and has
had a wide circulation throughout this vicinity as the
leading Democratic paper of the county. In Septem-
ber, 1880, it was purchased by W. A. McArthur,
formerly editor and proprietor of the Ludlow (Ver-
mont) Tribune, and a native of Salisbury, Conn. Un-
der his management it has lost none of its political
character, and has devoted more attention to local and
vicinity news, making it more valuable as a family
paper. After its change in proprietors the office was
removed to North Main Street from its old stand on
the Flat, and has since been known as the Times and
News, each village now having a post-office and a
newspaper. It is an eight-page quarto, and has a cir-
culation of about twelve hundred.

POST-OFFICE TROUBLES.*

In 1833, on application of inhabitants of the West
village, the General Assembly granted a borough
charter to comprehend the part of the borough of
Winsted lying west of the second tier line. Conser-
vatism again took the alarm, and at the first meeting
for choice of officers a ticket was elected not favora-
ble to the objects contemplated by the charter. A
small tax was laid for purchasing a fire-engine and
organizing a fire company. Payment of the tax was
refused by some of the tax-payers, and there was not
found sufficient vitality in the corporate body to en-
force the payment. The bantling had a paralyzed ex-
istence of two or three years, and then expired. Its
primary object was to secure an efficient fire organiza-
tion, but behind this there was a plan for securing 4

 

* From Boyd’s History.
WINCHESTER.

195

 

second post-office in place of the original office, which
had been recently transferred to the East village, the
two villages being then distinct communities, sepa-
rated from each other by a wide space of land not
then obtainable for building purposes.

In this connection a sketch of post-office changes,
and the almost perpetual dissensions growing out of
them, which have given to our community an evil
fame, seems appropriate as an element of our history.
Indeed, to ignore them would be like performing the
play of Hamlet with Hamlet himself left out.

‘There was a time, strange as it may seem to the
present generation, when the Post-Office Department
was conducted without reference to party politics ;
when the postmaster-general was not a cabinet officer;
when the ruling question in the appointment of a
deputy postmaster was, is he honest, capable, and
acceptable to the community? when the best in-
terests of the public and of the Department were the
sole considerations applied to questions of location of
offices. These principles were recognized and acted
on not only in the days of Washington and Jefferson,
but onward through the administrations of Monroe
and the second Adams.

About 1806 the only post-office in Winchester was
held by a zealous Democrat, in the Widow Hall house,
on the turnpike beyond the eastern border of the pres-
ent borough of Winsted. The West village had then
become a business centre, and also more central to the
whole town than any other point on the mail-route.
On a representation of these and other considerations
to Postmaster-General Granger, a removal of the office
to the West village was ordered, and a high-toned
Federalist was appointed to the place of his Demo-
cratic predecessor.

It is a rule, with scarcely an exception, that when
rival villages exist in close vicinity each to other, a
feeling of jealous rivalry grows with their growth, and
if they are both within the same post-office delivery
this feeling is liable to become highly intensified. To
this rule Winsted has been no exception. Prior to
and during the war of 1812 the Federal element pre-
dominated in the West village and the Democratic
in the East. Efforts were made from time to time to
change the politics of the postmaster and the location
of the office, without avail until the resignation of
the Federal incumbent in 1830, when, on an ex-parte
hearing of an application from the East village, an
unexpected appointment was made, and the location
of the office transferred to that section. A second-
class earthquake could scarcely have produced a
greater sensation. The West village at once sent a
deputation to Washington, accompanied by a Hart-
ford Times editor, and, on a second ex-parte hearing,
the Department ordered the office to be reopened in
the West village; but it could not be made to stay
there. Within six months, on another ex-parte hear-
ing, the department ordered it back to the East vil-
lage. Remonstrances flowed in so thickly that in

 

about a year an oily-tongued official, rejoicing in the
name of Barnabas Bates, was sent to investigate the
case. Nearly three days were devoted by him to a
public hearing of the contending parties. He re-
ported to the Department, in substance, that both
parties ought to have it, but as they could not, it had
better be located at an intermediate point, half a mile
distant from each village centre, where next to no-
body then wanted it, and, as a consequence, it rested
in the East village until after the Harrison campaign,
when, under a new postmaster, it again returned to
the West village, leaving a branch office for receiving
and delivering letters in the East. Two years after,
under Capt. Tyler’s accidental reign, the office went
back to the East village, and the branch office to the
West, and so continued through the administration
of President Polk.

By this time the nomination of postmasters within
a congressional district had by usage become the
unquestioned prerogative—not to say perquisite—of
the sitting members. Our member acted honestly and
wisely by obtaining the establishment of a new office
in the West village, and leaving the old office where
it then happened to be, and appointing two new post-
masters. With this arrangement the land had rest
for some years, but in the mean time each village
had encroached on the intermediate vacant space.
The Naugatuck Railroad was opened in 1849, and the
two villages became one. But this one village had
three sections instead of two,—the East, the West,
and the Flat. The Flat, being the central point and
the railroad terminus, naturally looked to a speedy
preponderance over the other sections. A consoli-
dated post-office seemed easy of attainment. Senator
Dixon, like Barkis, “was willin’” and ready to help
by “ways that are dark and tricks that are vain,” and
Representative Hubbard was befogged, and, like a
thunder-clap in a clear sky, the announcement came
that the West office was defunct, and the East office
was transferred to the Flat. Fearful was the indig-
nation of the outlying East- and West-enders. Their
reciprocal heart-burnings, the growth of a half-cen-
tury, dissolved into thin air. The whilom combatants
became loving friends, and turned their combined bat-
teries upon the new victor. The Department, finding
itself in a quandary, sent another political seer, named
Nehemiah D. Sperry, to look into the matter, and see
what was expedient to be done in the premises, Ne-
hemiah heard the parties publicly and privately, by
daylight and with a dark lantern. He, too, got into
a quandary, and betook himself to secret negotiations
and quack nostrums. The result was a restoration of
the two offices, a very imperfect healing of the new
sore, and a general impression that Nehemiah was a
wonderful negotiator. The two offices remained as
they were until a new muddle grew out of the manip-
ulations of a defeated candidate for Congress in the
Fourth: District, who got the Republican nomination,
but could not get votes enough to elect him. His
196

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

successful Republican colleagues, sorrowing for his
defeat, conceded to him the bestowment of the post-
offices in the district. The people, it seemed, were
not suited with his nominations for the post-offices,
and a delegation of them went to Washington and
had a hearing before Postmaster-General Creswell,
who appointed two meritorious soldiers to the places.
“Tt would be a wrong conclusion to draw,” Mr. Boyd
continues, ‘from this detail of sectional squabbles,
that our community is wholly given up to them, or
that the feelings engendered are very deep or bitter.
The question at once settled, general good feeling is
soon restored, and the combatants return to their
business, and, with accustomed energy and cordiality,
unite in promoting unsectional measures of improve-
ment or benevolence.”

HIGHLAND PARK.

Though hardly within the province of a merely
historical and biographical work, a distinguishing fea-
ture of Winsted, Highland Park, demands notice here,
since it is not only a remarkable spot in the topogra-
phy of the county (everywhere picturesque when less
than grand), but, touched by the hand of landscaping
art, is a rich testimonial of the march of the estheti-
cal in taste among the severe, practical progeny of
the old, still severer Puritan stock which settled
Litchfield County, and to whom, as agriculturists,
fell the duty of delving out a living among the for-
ests, and from rocks covered with but little fertile soil,
and who could not afford to indulge to much extent
whatever of the love of the beautiful they may have
possessed.

The Park is the glory of Winsted, the resort in sum-
mer days of throngs of its people, and is surpassed in
wild and varied beauty, and in the grandeur of the
views from its summit, by but very few spots, if any,
in the whole country. Landscape artists find here
choice pictures for the pencil and brush which re-
mind them of the most recherché places among the
Adirondacks, the White Mountains, the Alleghanies,
and the Blue Ridges of Virginia. “There is every-
thing here which the lover of wild and beautiful na-
ture need have, or might think he would like, except
marine scenery, and that would add but little to the
grandeur one beholds from Mount Case,” is the testi-
mony of an artist of extensive travel and national
celebrity ; and it well expresses the general delight of
tasteful people who visit this spot, and, though the
Park has been open to the public only since the
summer of 1879, vast numbers of people from all parts
of the land have visited it. It covers, with its imme-
diate adjuncts, several hundred acres of forests, open
and picturesque grounds, formerly pastures, etc., sur-
mounted by Mount Case (so named in honor of the
memory of its once owner, and the former owner of
the domain of the Park proper, the late Dr. Lyman
Case, a leading and greatly-esteemed citizen of Win-
sted), from the top of which, some fourteen hundred

 

feet above the level of the sea, the eye surveys a vast
territory of remarkable mountain peaks and pictur-
esque valleys. Well up the mountain-sides of the
Park excellent carriage-roads have been made, and
everywhere through the forests (or “ woods,” in New
England vernacular) romantic footpaths have been
opened and graded, and here and there vistas cut with
an exquisite art-hand, making delicious effects and
surprises. The forests of the Park contain a great
variety of trees, singularly tall, beautiful, and umbra-
geous, and in consequence of that variety present in
the autumn a wonderful blending of gay colors,
heightened in effect by the deep green of hemlocks,
which everywhere abound in groves, groups, and in
single majesty. Great aggregations of bowlders (some
of them of huge size), massive ledges, tall, perpendicu-
lar cliffs, flowing springs of pure water, and acres of
ferns (of fourteen species) are some of the important
features of this charming tract of land. This park
lies mainly in the town of Winchester, but partly in
the borough of Winsted, its northern gate being only
about six rods distant from the tracks of the Nauga-
tuck and Connecticut Western Railroads, making it
easy of access from Bridgeport and Hartford, and is
provided with dancing platform, ladies’ parlor, various
“retreats,” etc., for the pleasure and comfort of pic-
nicers and tourists, together with an astronomical
tower on Mount Observation. It is expected that in
time a considerable portion of it will be covered with
summer cottages, most delightful sites for which it
contains in great number. Winsted is singularly
blessed in its park, so adjacent to its business centres.
It requires but a few minutes to withdraw from the
busy village, with its humming factories and bustling
railway stations, into the cozy nooks of beautiful
groves and forests. The great rocks, cliffs, and peaks,
and the pathways of the Park have all been given
classic and romantic names, and upon the top of a
giant ledge, called, from its shape, ‘‘ Tarpeian Rock,”
is posed a neat log cabin, which can be seen from
some twenty miles distant, and overlooks a delightful
valley, in which lies the eastern portion of the village
of Winsted. Within the cabin is fitted up with ap-
propriate taste, and contains many rare curiosities
and relics, and, with its books, is the rustic summer
“library” of the tasteful proprietor, and, in fact, pro-
jector and artist of the park, Mr. Lyman W. Case, a
middle-aged gentleman of rare powers and extensive
culture in science and literature, and withal, formerly
a professional man, an able lawyer in New York, an
honor to his native town, and one of those rare men
of disciplined tastes and catholic hearts of whom too
few are found in any part of the world, and who
would richly merit a high place in the history of the
county for his public spirit in opening Highland.
Park, and the unsurpassed taste and skill which he
has displayed in developing it, without consideration
of his accomplishments as a scholar and polished man
of the world.
WINCHESTER. 197

 

LIST OF OLD INHABITANTS. females, were over ninety, two were eighty-nine, three

The following is a list of inhabitants in the town in |. Were eighty-eight, one was eighty-seven, three were
1880 over seventy years of age, for which we are in- | Cighty-six, three were eighty-five, two were eighty-
debted to the Winsted Herald : four, four were eighty-three, four were ecighty-two,
five were eighty-one, eight were eighty, five were
.75 | seventy-nine, nine were seventy-eight, eleven were
‘73 | Seventy-seven, fifteen were seventy-six, thirteen were
ma seventy-five, ten were seventy-four, twenty-two were
. 74 | seventy-three, nineteen were seventy-two, fifteen were
. 74 | seventy-one, and eighteen were seventy.
a Of the above list six at least have died since the
- 7 | enumeration was made.
. 74 There were two hundred and sixty-four persons
73 | between the ages of sixty and seventy, and one hun-
‘43 | dred and one less than one year old.
B The most numerous family is that of Carroll, forty-
73 | eight; while the Smiths number forty-six, the John-
73 | sons forty, and the Whites thirty-eight. The most
73 | common Christian name is Mary, of which three are
73 | two hundred and twenty-four. The names of Orpha,
73 | Sarepta, Abigail, and Polly are apparently running
73 | out. Of the six Pollys the average age is sixty years.

.. 95 | Martha Roberts..
94 | Mary. McCarthy.
91 | Hilamond Fyler.
-- 90 | Mary Dute......

.. 89 | Catharine Quigley.
» 89 | Anuie M. Norton
. 88 | John McAlpine..
. 88 | Polly Leroy....
88 | Silas Hurlbut..
87 | Lucy Chase.....
86 | Norris Beckley.
86 | James Craigh..
86 | Sophia Wheelo
85 | Orpha Ward.
85 | Lois Derry...
85 | Emeline Catlin
84 | Noah Barber.....
84 | Sophronia Dolphin.
83 | Lavinia Welch..
83 | James Welch.
83 | Electa Dudley.
83 | Thomas C. Davis
82 | Peter Bullis ..
82 | Adam Shoars
82 | Amelia Davis.
82 |) Emily W. Case..
81 | Isabella Bartlett.
81 | Normand Adams...
8L | Charlotte Reynolds..
81 | Abigail Phelps ..
81 | Bennett Palmer
80 | William C. Phelps.
80 | Lawrence Steger..
80 | William L. Gilber

Diadema Camp..
Roxalana Murray.
Mary Richards.
Sophia Brown...
Chester Wentworth.
Mary Crocker...
Betsey Hall...
Jeremiah Carey.
Chester Bancroft...
Prusha Culver...
Abi P. Roys
Alva Nash..
Warren Phelps.
David Lewis.....
Miranda F, Holmes.
Mary Evers .....
Eben Johnson
Charlotte Austin...
Lloyd Humphrey:
Abigail Hall.....
Julins H. McCoy..
Judson Wadsworth
Miles Davis ..
Anna K. Shep
Abijah Watson ..
Margaret Watson
Roswell Smith..
James Newman
John Boyd...
Polly Spencer..
Amos Beecher..
Abigail Loomis.
William Newton.
Maria Corbin...
Reuben Chase..
Lucy Cleveland.
Henry Ward...
Catharine Ray.
Electa Chase ...
Huldah Marshall
Joanna McCarthy...
Mortimer McMahon.
Sally Thorpe.
Elvira Coe..
Mary Poole
Fannie Bissell..
Tra Pettibone.
Sarah Olmsted.
Austin Maloney.
Anna Knapp...
William F. Hatch..
Jennette Stillman...
Julia Shea...
Ruby Phillips..
Deborah Strong..
Hannah Burnham.
Luman Catlin....
Hannah Andrews..
Harvey Wakefield.
Mary Thompson.
Mary Rouse.....
Selinda Bradley.
Mary Maloney
Maria Lewis.
George Taylor
Harriet Ford...
George Dudley.
Candice Catlin.
Elisha Capron.
Joel Todd...
Amos Pierce
Horace Rowley..
Sally Rowley.
Lucy Smith.
Lavina Hall ...
McPherson Hubbell.
Joanna Hanley..
Roswell Perry.
Polly Root...
Hiram Root..
Caroline Law
Hannah Murphy
Mary Keegan.....
Samantha Phillips.
Marilla Palmer..
Bridget Downs...
Charles L, Norton.
Daniel Wilson.......

  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
 
  
   
 
  

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
   
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
   
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 

 

3B THE BOROUGH OF WINSTED.

73 | The borough of Clifton, which comprised what is
80 | Sarah Eggleston 72 | now known as West Winsted, was incorporated in
80 | Adelaide Wilson 72 | 1832. This municipal organization was succeeded in
Cee ~ | May, 1858, by the present borough of Winsted, which
72 | embraces the East and West villages and the Flat.

72 The first borough-meeting was held Aug. 2, 1858,
43 | when the following officers were elected: Wm. H.
a Phelps, Warden; Rollin L. Beecher, Edward Camp,
- 72] John T. Rockwell, Charles Cook, Charles B. Weed,
72 | John G. Wetmore, Burgesses; John Hinsdale, Clerk
“45 | and Treasurer; Caleb P. Newman, Bailiff.

79 | Emily Taylor.
79 | Mary Baldwin
79 | Daniel S. Allen.
78 | John Wing....
78 | Laura Wilson.
78 | Clarissa Wadsworth.
78 | Catharine McGuire.
78 | Maria Hart....
78 | Emeline Watson..
. 73 | Sally Humplrey..
. 78 | Sarah Goodsell.
. 78 | Ann Horne....
77 | Eliza P. Hewitt. .
. 77 | Philo G. Sheldon..
77 | Mary Platt..
77 | Ira T. Neal.
. 77 | Charles L. Norton..
. 77 | Harry Brooks....-
. 77 | George W. Streeter.
. 77 | Orson B. Eldridge
. 17 | Sophronia Catlin.
. 77 | Bliza Capron..
. 17 | Bli Barnes..
. 76 | Julia M. Coe..
. 76 | Edward Camp..
. 76 | Catlin Bills...

 

“a WARDENS.
7 The following is a list of wardens from the incor-
71 | poration of the borough to 1881:

7.) Wm. H. Phelps, 1858-61; John G. Wetmore, 1862-65 ; Chas. Cook, 1866-
71 68; Elias E, Gilman, 1869; Wm. C. Phelps, 1870; James A. Bush-
TL nell, 1871; Ilarvey B. Steele, 1872; Mortimer BE. Dutton, 1873-74 ;
nm David Strong, 1875-76; Alex. Waters, 1877-78; Wilbur F. Coe,
71 1879-80.

uy BURGESSES.

71 | Rollin L. Beecher, 1858-61, 1867-68, 1871 ; Edward Camp, 1858-62; John
go T. Rockwell, 1858-62, 1864; Chas. Cook, 1858-65 ; Chas. B. Weed,
10 1858-63, 1865-68; John G. Wetmore, 1858-61, 1871-73; Wm. H.
70 Phelps, 1862-64; Chas. B. Hallett, 1862; James R. Alvord, 1863-66 ;
70 Elias E. Gilman, 1863-66; Thomas Watson, 1863-66; Albert N.
70 Beach, 1865 ; Hiram Perkins, 1866-73 ; Chas. Alvord, 1866 ; Wheelock
70 T, Batcheller, 1867-70, 1873-74 ; James A. Bushnell, 1867-70; David
du 8. Miller, 1867; Chas. 8. Norton, 1868; Francis Brown, 1869-71 ;
10 Ralph H. Moore, 1869-74; Samuel W. Pine, 1869-70; Rufus E.
70 Holmes, 1871; Henry G. Colt, 1872-73 ; Sidney F. Dickerman, 1872-
i 73; Timothy Hulbert, 1872; George Dudley, Jr., 1874-75; Timothy
70 P. Skinner, 1874-75 ; David Strong, 1874; Wm. V. Barclay, 1874-76,
70 1879-80; Elizur B. Parsons, 1875-80 ; Joseph Pettit, 1875; Jeffrey
20 Skinner, 1875; Hiram P. Lawrence, 1876-79 ; Samuel Greer, 1876-
78; Willard S. Wetmore, 1876; Burrall B, Pinney, 1876; James G.
5 j . Woodruff, 1877-78 ; Orlow D. Hunt, 1877-78; Wilbur F. Coe, 1877-

By the foregoing list it ss that of on: Cee 78; Samuel 8. Newton, 1879; Lawrence McDermont, 1879-80; Ed-
hundred and seventy-six persons in the town on the ward H. Welch, 1879; Lucien V. Pinney, 1880; James T, Morgan,

Ist of June last over seventy years of age four, all 1880 ; Chas. B, Andrews, 1880.

 

. 76 | Emily C. Hopkins.
. 76 | Whiting Miner.
. 76 | Annie Miner.
. 76 | Lucy Loomis.
. 76 | B.B. Rockwell.
. 76 | Wilbur Richards.
. 76 | Kate Roach.....
. 76 | Hiram Perkins.
. 76 | Ann Price.....
. 76 | Elijah Morse.
. 7 | Elvira Miller
. 75 | Abel H. Snow..
. 75 | Edwin Absom..
. 75 | Asahel M. Rice
. 75 | Sophia Duguet..
. 75 | Samuel §S. Beach.
. 75 | Rollin L. Beecher.
. 75 | Lucy A. Wetmore..
.. 75 | Edwin Halsted......

 

 

 

 
198

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

CLERKS AND TREASURERS.

John Hinsdale, 1858-66 ; Wm. B. Phelps, 1867-68; H. Hungerford Drake,

1869-81.
BAILIFFS.

Caleb P. Newman, 1858-60, 1862, 1867-70; Lamphier B, Tuttle, 1861;
Dennis W. Stevens, 1863-65; Alex. T. Thompson, 1866; Stephen W.
Sage, 1871-80.

WATER-WORKS.

The first move towards the construction of water-
works was an instruction to the warden and burgesses
“to ascertain whether the borough has a right to draw
water from Long Lake; whether the amount taken
through a six-inch pipe would be prejudicial to the
manufacturing interests of the borough, and, if it
probably would be so prejudicial, whether a reservoir
of sufficient capacity to meet the wants of the bor-
ough might not be constantly filled by the waste
water of the lake.” A petition was presented to the
General Assembly, in 1860, for power to take water
from Long Lake or the Little Pond, which was
granted. The preliminary survey was made in 1860
and 186]. The works were constructed at a cost of
one hundred thousand dollars, and at present there
are ten miles of pipe. The supply is drawn from a
beautiful sheet of water known as Long Lake, lying
partly within the westerly bounds of the borough.

The first election of water commissioners was held
Aug. 1, 1860, when the following were chosen: Ly-
man Case, John T. Rockwell, and Wm. L. Gilbert.
The present commissioners are H. Hungerford Drake,
M.D., Edward E. Culver, John E. Pine.

From 1872 to June, 1879, the works were under the
supervision of Dr. H. Hungerford Drake, under whose
supervision the improvements of strengthening the
embankments, removing the two bridges which stood
over the waste-weir and substituting the combination
waste-weir and roadway, and reconstructing the bulk-
head were made.

The fire department was organized Nov. 17, 1862,
and the borough was divided into four districts. The
first fire-warden was Francis Brown. His assistants
were John W. Rowe, Hiram Perkins, and L. C. Pal-
mer. The present organization of the department
consists of four hose companies.

The police court was established in 1864, and the
first bailiff was Caleb P. Newman.

POPULATION.

The following figures give the population of the
town at the time specified : 1756, 24; 1774, 839; 1781,
688 ; 1800, 1368; 1810, 1466; 1820, 1601; 1830, 1766;
1840, 1667; 1850, 2179; 1860, 3550 ; 1870, 4102 ; 1880,
5085.

 

CHAPTER XVII.
WINCHESTER (Continued).

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.*

WooDEN-WARE.—The saw-mill was, of course, the
first utilization of water-power in this as in most
other primitive communities. The location of the
earliest of these has already been noted. Besides
supplying the home demand for lumber, they early
turned out a limited supply of white-wood boards
and clap-boards, which were sledded over winter
snows to Hartford and other distant towns. White-
ash sweeps, oars, and materials for ship-blocks were
also got out and carried to Hartford and Wethersfield
for up-and-down river navigation of the Connecticut,

Dish-mills for making wooden bowls, trenchers,
and mortars followed as accessories to the saw-mills,
They used up the slabs from the saw-mill logs by
cutting them into disks, which were centred and
turned in coarse lathes to the convex surface of the
outer dish. With a curved turning-tool, the outer
dish was separated from the disk, and then smaller
ones were turned off successively until the disk was
exhausted. The slabs from which these disks were
made were wider and thicker than were taken from
logs when lumber increased in value. The trenchers
and mortars were turned by a similar process. The
maker or peddler of these articles packed them into
a strong bed-tick, in which they were carried on the
back of a horse, along the narrow bridle-paths, to
the earlier-settled towns, where they were bartered
for ‘‘store-pay.” At least four of these mills were
located along the lake stream, and as many others in
various parts of the town, in the last century, two of
which—one at the Meadow Street crossing of the
lake stream, and the other opposite the old lean-to
mill-house on Lake Street—were in operation as late
as 1805,

Cheese- Boxes, Scale-Boards.—Early in this century
John McAlpine erected and carried on a shop on the
stream at the foot of the burying-ground hill, in Old
Winchester, for making scale-boards, used for sepa-
rating cheeses from each other when packed in casks
for distant markets. As he enjoyed a monopuly of
the manufacture in the centre of the dairy region of
Connecticut, the demand for his article was extensive
until the practice of packing each cheese in a sepa-
rate box was adopted. This change necessitated the
manufacture of round boxes, with covers, of sizes
fitted to the various diameters and thicknesses of the
cheese. This mode of packing went into vogue be-
tween 1820 and 1830, and was universally adopted
as early as the latter year. One of the earliest man-
ufacturers of this article in Winchester was Silas H.
McAlpine, whose shop on the Naugatuck branch is
believed to be still in operation. Another establish-
ment on Hall meadow, now owned by Nelson D.

 

* Condensed from Buyd’s History, with additions to the present time.
WINCHESTER.

199

 

Ford, has been and is still in operation. These
works were built in 1845 by Harvey Ford, father of
the present proprietor, who ran it about ten years,
and then put it into the hands of his two sons, one or
both of whom have conducted the business until the
present time. For the first five years there were from
ten thousand to fifteen thousand boxes made up each
year; since then some less, with variation from year
to year, At present, and for the past few years, in
addition to the cheese-box business, there is quite a
business done in the saw-mill in coarse lumber. An-
other establishment was carried on in Winsted by
Cook & Bacon, from 1842 to about 1846, in a shop
adjoining the lake stream saw-mill.

Grist-Mills.—The two early grist-mills of the town
have been already noted. The first was built by Da-
vid Austin in 1771, near the lake outlet; the second,
supposed to have been originally built by Elias Bal-
comb about 1776, stood on the west side of Still
River, immediately south of the stone bridge. It
was owned and operated for many years by Ensign
Jesse Doolittle, and was carried off by a flood about
1800, and was rebuilt by Samuel and Luther Hoad-
ley about 1844.

Both these mills had three run of stones and were
carried by permanent water-power. The Austin mill
was rebuilt by the Rockwell Brothers about 1810, and
was finally burned down and abandoned in 1835.
The Hoadley mill was abandoned by.Riley Whiting
about 1825, and the brick-clock factory (burned down
in 1870) was erected on its site.

The Clifton mill was erected by Case, Gilbert &
Co. about 1836, and was operated as a grist-mill until
about 1869.

Three or more feed-mills have come into existence
within a few years: one owned by John G. Wetmore,
opposite the Clarke house, another owned by Wing
Persons, on Lake Street, and a third owned by Fred-
erick Woodruff, on North Main Street.

Scythe- Works.—Until the closing part’ of the last
century the scythe was, in this country, strictly a
hand-made tool, wrought out in smiths’ shops by
sledge and hammer, and ground on a stone turned by
a hand-crank, or hung on the shaft of a flutter-
wheel, without gearing or other appliances. The
Harris family, of Pine Plains and Salisbury, learned
the trade of a negro slave purchased by their imme-
diate progenitor from a former master who had taught
him the trade.

The first establishment in the country for welding,
drawing, and plating the scythe under trip-ham-
mers by water-power, and grinding it on a geared
stone, was erected by Robert Orr, of Bridgewater,
Mass., during or after the Revolution. The second
establishment of this nature was erected by Col.
Robert Boyd, near the west bank of the Hudson,
between New Windsor Landing and Newburg before
1790. Benjamin Jenkins, from Bridgewater, was
foreman, and James Boyd, of New Windsor, was an

 

apprentice in these works. They became brothers-
in-law, and in 1792 came to Winsted and erected the
third establishment in the country on the site of the
‘Winsted Manufacturing Company’s present works on
Still River. In 1802 they built another establishment
on the site of the Winsted Hoe Company’s plating-
shop on Lake Street, and soon after separated, Mr.
Jenkins taking the original works on Still River,—
from whom they have passed by successive convey-
ances to the present owners,—and Mr. Boyd taking
the Lake Street works, and carrying them on, indi-
vidually or with partners, until near the close of his
life, in 1849.

The Winsted Manufacturing Company was chartered
May 6, 1835. The annual production at beginning of
business was about five thousand dozen scythes, but
the present annual production is ten thousand. Thirty-
three men are employed. The present officers of the
company are John T. Rockwell, President; Joseph
H. Norton, Agent and Treasurer; and Allen H. Nor-
ton, Secretary.

The presidents of the company have been as
follows: Aug. 22, 1835, Theron Rockwell; 1848,
Evert Bevins; Sept. 29, 1851, Rufus Holmes; Sept.
26, 1853, Charles Reynolds; Sept. 24, 1855, George
Dudley ; Aug. 28, 1865, E. Grove Lawrence; Aug. 26,
1867, William L. Gilbert; Aug. 31, 1880, John T.
Rockwell.

Merrit Bull, an early apprentice of Jenkins &
Boyd, erected a scythe-shop in 1802 or 1803, on the
site of the present stone-shop, at the crossing of the
lake stream by Meadow Street, which he managed
until his death, in 1824, when the works went into the
hands of S. & M. Rockwell, and formed the starting-
point of the large and prosperous establishment built
up and managed by the successive firms of Rockwell
& Hinsdale, Hinsdale & Beardsley, Elliot Beardsley,
and the Beardsley Scythe Company. This company
was incorporated July 12, 1851, and the following
were the first officers: Francis Brown, President ;
Elliot Beardsley, Agent, Secretary, and Treasurer.
The present officers are Philo G. Sheldon, President ;
Edward P. Wilcox, Agent, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Number of hands employed, thirty-five; capacity per
month, one thousand dozen; value of annual product,
sixty thousand dollars.

Halsey Burr, an apprentice of Mr. Jenkins, built
a scythe-shop in 1814, near the site of F. Woodruff
& Sons’ feed-mill, on North Main Street, which he
carried on in a small way until a few years before his
death.

In 1831, Wheelock Thayer, previously a partner
and acting manager in the scythe business of James
Boyd & Son, erected the scythe-works on Mad River,
now owned by his daughter, and carried on by the
Thayer Scythe Company.

The process of manufacturing scythes has been from
time to time greatly improved by the invention of new
machinery. The first of these in date and importance
200

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

was aspring die, with attachments to the trip-hammer
for holding the back and setting down and smoothing
the web of the scythe,—a very slow and laborious
process when performed with the hand-hammer. The
next improvement was, by a series of light tilt-ham-
mers, to shape and finish the point; the next was a
machine for turning and finishing the heel; another
was for spinning the straw rope for binding up the
scythes in dozen packages, by a machine similar to the
Dutch wheel and flyer for spinning linen. Most of
these improvements have originated in Winsted.

Scythe-making was—with the exception of wooden
ware—the earliest factory work carried on in Win-
sted, and has been uninterruptedly prosecuted to the
present day, little impeded or accelerated by protec-
tive tariffs. The three establishments now in operation
have a capacity for making two hundred and fifty
thousand scythes per annum, and rarely fail of turn-
ing out that number.

Bar Iron and Blistered Steel—Bar iron had been
made directly from the brown hematite ores of Salis-
bury, Kent, and Amenia from time immemorial. In
Litchfield County bloomery-forges stood on most of
the available water-courses in nearly all the western
towns. They furnished iron for three rolling- and
slitting-mills,—one in Canaan, another in Litchfield,
and the third in Washington, where the iron was
rolled and slit into rods for nail-making. These mills
worked up only a small portion of the iron manufac-
tured. Besides domestic uses of all kinds, it was
largely made into anchors, which were sent to the
seaboard.

Nearly all of these bloomeries, and all of the slit-
ting-mills, have long since disappeared; and their
sites would mostly be forgotten did not the cinder-
heaps and imperishable charcoal-brays indicate their
location.

In 1795, Jenkins & Boyd, in company with Thomas
Spencer, Jr., erected the first forge in Winsted, on the
water-power of the Lake Street grinding-works of
the Winsted Manufacturing Company.

In 1803 the Rockwell Brothers removed and put up
their Colebrook forge on the site of Timothy Hul-
bert’s present iron-works on the lake stream.

In 1808, James Boyd erected another forge on Mad
River, immediately opposite the Clarke House; and
in that or the following year the Rockwell Brothers
built another forge on the lake stream, below and
adjoining the Connecticut Western depot grounds.

In 1811, Reuben Cook, in company with Russell
Bunce and Charles Seymour, of Hartford, built the
old Cook forge on Still River, where the axle-works
of R. Cook & Sons now stand.

All of these forges manufactured refined bar iron
from the best quality of Old Salisbury Ore Hill pig
iron, for the supply of the United States armory at
Springfield, which required the best iron the country
could produce. If there was the slightest defect in

the quality, the finished gun-barrel would reveal it by :

 

defective polish or failure to stand the proof of a
double-test charge. Only a limited portion of the
iron made could be brought up to these crucial tests
by the best-skilled workmen. Iron of a slightly in-
ferior grade was required for scythes, wire rods, and
fine machinery. A still lower grade answered for the
ordinary uses of country blacksmiths,

In the process of refining, the cinders drawn off
through the tent-plate retained a percentage of iron
nearly equal to the ordinary hematite ores. This was
worked over in a chafery or bloomery fire, and pro-
duced a strong coarse iron, which was worked into
tires, axle and crow-bar patterns, and plow-moulds, or
into heavy shafting, saw-mill cranks, etc. Each forge
had in connection with it a drafting-shop, with lighter

hammers, to draw down the bars into rods and shapes

of all kinds in demand, and especially to work up the
refuse iron by welding to each piece an equal layer of
blistered steel, and drawing the united masses into
sleigh-shoes.

The iron and scythe business constituted the staple
manufacturing business of Winsted until near 1840,
when the government had settled its policy of import-
ing its gun-iron from Norway; the English had intro-
duced better and cheaper iron of every form and size
than heretofore; when the puddling process of iron-
making had grown up in more favored localities;
when wood and charcoal had advanced in price, while
transportation of raw material and manufactured ar-
ticles—always a heavy burden—could no longer be
endured. Under all these discouragements the iron
manufacture rapidly died out. The lower Rockwell
forge on the lake stream was converted into a scythe-
shop about 1845. The Boyd forge, opposite the Clarke
house, breathed its last about the same time. The
upper forge on the lake stream lingered on until
about 1850. The middle forge on the lake stream
was sold by Elliot Beardsley to Timothy Hulbert in
1858, and was changed into a forge for puddling scrap-
iron, and is now conducted by the Hulbert Iron Com-
pany. The Cook forge, on Still River, about 1850
confined its operations to working scrap-iron into
axle-drafts for finishing in the Cook Axle Company’s
works, of which the forge became a component part.

The consumption of bar iron in Winsted, instead of
decreasing with the decadence of its home manufac-
ture, has steadily increased. The new brands of Nor-
way iron were found cheaper and better for scythes,
hoes, and other articles than the costly home-made re-
fined iron, and came into general use in our hardware
manufactures, The scythe manufacture increased.
The hoe manufacture was introduced, and soon con-
sumed more iron than the whole scythe interest had
required in 1880, and other new hardware manufac-
tures took the place of the iron-forge.

Blistered Steel—The first cementing steel-furnace
in Western Connecticut was erected before 1800, in
Colebrook, by the Rockwell Brothers, under the su-
pervision of Mr. Jencks, an ingenious iron and steel
WINCHESTER.

worker from Taunton, Mass., which has been perpet-
uated to the present time, though rarely operated of
late years. It was found that the Salisbury iron was
deficient in the ingredient, whatever it is, that pro-
duces an edge-tool quality in steel. The steel pro-
duced has an elastic quality, fitting it for carriage-
springs, hay- and manure-forks, and similar articles,
and before 1850 was largely used for these manufac-
tures, and likewise for sleigh-shoes and for general
blacksmith work. Since 1850 the steels made from
Swedish and Russian irons have nearly superseded
the domestic irons, except those recently made from
spathic ores.

The second steel-furnace in this region was put up
early in this century by Col. Abram Burt, in Canaan,
Conn., and continued in operation but a few years.
The third was erected in Winsted by James Boyd &
Son, in 1832, on the site of Thompson’s bakery, south
side of Monroe Street, adjoining the bridge. It was
designed for converting their own iron into steel,
which they were then largely supplying to fork-man-
ufacturers; but was soon abandoned by reason of in-
ducements held out by the Colebrook concern, making
it more advantageous to have their iron converted
there than to do it themselves.

Cut Nails—Shingle-nails were cut from old hoops
and headed by hand for the First Congregational
meeting-house in 1800. The cutting-machine is sup-
posed to have been worked by hand. Another ma-
chine for cutting shingle-nails from hammered strips
of iron, by water-power, was started by James Boyd
about 1808, and soon abandoned.

In 1810, Jesse Byington rented water-power from
the old Jenkins scythe-shop proprietors, and erected
a nail-factory a little south of the Winsted Manufac-
turing Company’s scythe-works, in which he used a
newly-invented machine for cutting nails more accu-
rate and uniform in size than by the old hand ma-
chines, but without heading them. Before and during
the war of 1812 he employed more men as cutters and
headers than were employed in any other branch of
business in the place. After the return of peace, in
1815, and the introduction of the combined cutting-
and-heading machine, Mr. Byington’s business broke
down, and has never since been resumed in any form.

Axes.—Axe-making as a trade, distinct from other
smith-work, was introduced here by Elizur Hinsdale
in 1804 or 1805. He first had his shop on Lake Street,
near the lake outlet, and in 1806 erected a shop on
the site of the Foundry and Machine Company’s
works, which he subsequently enlarged to a trip-
hammer and grinding-works adapted specially to his
business, which he prosecuted until near the close of
1819, when he failed, and the business was aban-
doned.

About 1828, after the Collins axe-factory went into
operation at Collinsville, Nathaniel B. Gaylord, then
owner of the old Jenkins scythe-works, entered into
the business of axe-making under the supervision of

 

201

Marcus Morgan, an original worker in the Collins
establishment. Mr. Morgan soon after purchased the
works and prosecuted the business until 1832, when
he sold out, and the Winsted Manufacturing Company
now occupy the premises.

Tron Wire.—In 1812, Samuel and Luther Hoadley
and James Boyd erected a wire-factory on the west
wing of the clock-factory dam, the first, or one of the
first, erected in the country for breaking down iron
wire from the rod and drawing it down to any size
from a half-inch to a hair’s diameter. The rods, of
the very best Salisbury iron, were hammered down to
a half-inch square, and then rounded by trip-hammer
swaging-dies, and then, after successive annealings,
were drawn down by “rippers,” as they were called,
to a size whence they could be further reduced by a
continuous drawing around an upright block. It was
the ripping operation, by self-acting pincers seizing
the point of the wire at the plate, drawing it about
eighteen inches, then letting go and sliding back and
taking a new hold at the plate, and drawing another
length, which was then new in this country. At that
period there were few, if any, rolling-mills in the
country that rolled out round rods suitable for wire-
drawing.

The business was profitable, and was vigorously
prosecuted until the close of the war, when foreign
competition paralyzed it, and compelled its abandon-
ment.

Leather—In the last century, the regular shoe-
maker—as distinguished from the cobbler and cat-
whipper—was also a tanner. He had his vats, under
cover, in or out of doors, in which he tanned his own
and his neighbors’ skins, and made them into boots
and shoes on the same premises with his tan-vats. Of
these tanneries there were in the last century three
or more in Old Winchester, to which the traveling
currier periodically resorted, and curried, or smoothed
and softened, the sides of leather when taken from the
vats. The oak bark, then solely used for tanning, had
its outer surface shaved off, and was then pounded or
crushed under a heavy circular stone attached to a ten-
foot shaft, stationary at one end, and rolled round a
circle by a draft-horse, the bark being distributed
along the circular track, and kept there by a man or
boy with a rake. Two of these, owned respectively
by the Wade and Blake families, continued in opera-
tion, by water-power and modern improvements, until
about 1850. Both are now abandoned. There was a
like establishment in Winsted, erected and owned by
Elias Loomis, at the close of the last century, at the
foot of ‘ Dish Mill Hill,” where the Woodruff tannery
now stands, which was abandoned many years before
the present works were erected.

About 1800 it was practically ascertained by trial
that hemlock bark possessed the astringent and other
properties requisite for tanning, and, in consequence,
the business was thenceforward conducted on a larger
scale in the Green Woods region.
202

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Col. Hosea Hinsdale and Col. James Shepard came
to Winsted in 1802, and erected a large tannery on
Spencer Street, where now is the fish-pond of Eugene
Potter. The business was successfully prosecuted
here by Col. Hinsdale until 1851, when he sold out
to J. 8. and J. T. Rockwell, and the business is now
conducted by the latter.

In 1807, Col. Shepard sold out his interest to Col.
Hinsdale, and, in company with Asahel Miller, erected
the original tannery, on the site of the present tannery
of George Dudley & Son. This establishment was
owned and managed successively by Shepard & Mil-
ler, Abiel Loomis, and Alanson Loomis, until pur-
chased by George Dudley in 1832.

In 1820 another tannery was erected by Horace Ran-
ney, at the corner of North Main Street and the Cook
bridge, taking its water-power from the west wing of
Cook’s dam, which was successively owned and man-
aged by Ranney & Hawley, Norman Spencer, Jona-
than K. Richards, Charles B. Hallett, and others, and
was abandoned as a tannery in 1857.

In 1821, Horace Ranney erected another tannery,
on the site of the present Woodruff tannery, on North
Main Street, now owned by George Dudley & Son,
which was successively managed by Lewis & Foster
until 1834, by James A. Ayrault until 1841, since which
it has been owned and managed by Frederick Woodruff
until his sale to Dudley & Son, it having during his
ownership been carried away by a flood, and after-
wards rebuilt and enlarged.

The tannery business of Winsted has, since 1850,
been confined to preparing sheep- and calf-skins for
book-binding and similar purposes, and has become
one of the prominent branches of our manufactures.
The skins are imported from England, after having
been split into two or more thicknesses, salted, and
packed in hogsheads ready for the vat. The bark is
finely ground in a mill in the second story of the
building, and passed to a large receiving vat, where it
is soaked in water until the tanning principle is ex-
tracted, when the liquor or tea, as it is termed, is drawn
off into a line of receiving vats, and the exhausted
bark is thrown out. A paddle- or flutter-wheel is fixed
over each vat, and connected by gears with a line of
shafting propelled by water-power. A sufficient num-
ber of vats are filled with the hemlock tea; the right
number of skins are thrown into each vat, and the
flutter-wheels are set in motion and operate on the
surface of the liquid, creating a current which keeps
the skins in constant movement, and perfects the tan-
ning process without hand-labor. The tanned skins
are then smoothed, trimmed, assorted, and packed for
market, the whole process requiring less than three
weeks’ time.

This branch of business was originated in Winsted
by George Dudley, before 1850, in the works he pur-
chased from Alanson Loomis in 1832. In 1853 he re-
built and enlarged his works, and added two three-
story buildings for dyeing the skins when tanned. In

 

company with his son, George Dudley, Jr., he subse-
quently purchased the Woodruff tannery on North
Main Street.

In 1851, J.S. & J. T. Rockwell, previously engaged
in this branch of tanning in Colebrook, erected the
four-story tannery on the site of the Hinsdale prem-
ises. These works are now owned by John T. Rock-
well.

Woolen Cloths.—Joseph Platt is believed to have
been the first clothier in the town. He built a
clothier’s shop and fulling-mill in the Danbury Quar-
ter between 1783 and 1787. The establishment had a
brief existence. It is not mentioned in any deed on
record, and its precise locality is unknown.

The first clothier in Winsted was Mr. Daniel
Marshall, whose shop stood on Lake Street, as it
then ran, nearly opposite the house at the corner of
Lake and Rockwell Streets, and the fulling-mill in
the rear on the lake stream. Mr. Marshall died in
1794, and Daniel Wilcox became the owner until his
sale of the premises to the Rockwell Brothers, in 1813,
A carding-machine was added to the establishment
about 1804. The Rockwell Brothers, in 1818, erected
additional buildings, and began the manufacture of
broadcloths and satinets. The business was enlarged
and vigorously prosecuted during the continuance of
the war of 1812, and moderately thereafter until 1830,
in the hope of making it a paying business, but with
doubtful success. In 1835 the works were burned
down, and never rebuilt.

About 1816 another clothier’s works was erected
by Ansel Wilson, on the site of the Strong Manufac-
turing Company’s new factory. Chester Soper pur-
chased this establishment about 18380, and a few years
after erected a woolen-mill on the premises, in which
he manufactured broadcloths until about 1838. The
works were afterwards carried on by John Thornton
and others until 1845, when the woolen business
was abandoned and the building afterwards used for
making joiners’ tools.

Another clothier’s works, built about 1814 on the
Naugatuck branch in Old Winchester, and carried on
by Alva Nash and others until 1828, when it was
converted into a woolen-mill for making broadcloths
and satinets by John M. Galagher, who failed within
a few years, and was succeeded by Isaac Bird, who
continued the making of satinets until the establish-
ment went into the hands of the Winchester Centre
Manufacturing Company, in 1854. This company
confined its operations to making woolen knitting-
yarn until the establishment was burned down about
1860, and was never rebuilt.

The Home Manufacturing Company, a joint-stock
concern, was organized in 1846, and the same year
erected the factory building on Mad River now o¢-
cupied by the New England Pin Company, and went
into the manufacture of broadcloths and doeskins.
It labored under the disadvantage of having no stock-
holders acquainted with the business, and was unfor-
WINCHESTER.

tunate in selecting overseers of the manufacturing
department. No profits were realized, and in 1850
the concern was wound up. The establishment was
sold to Anson G. Phelps, who operated it, in connec-
tion with his woolen-mills at Wolcottville, until 1852,
when it was purchased by the Hartford Pin Com-
pany.

Not one of the foregoing enterprises proved success-
ful, and most of them ended disastrously.

The William L. Gilbert Clock Company.—The man-
ufacture of clocks, of which this establishment is an
outgrowth or enlargement, was commenced here in
about 1807, by Riley Whiting, for the manufacture of
wooden clocks, for which Connecticut was formerly
so famous. The manufacture of brass clocks was
begun in 1825. The first company organized was that
of Clarke, Gilbert & Co., then William L. Gilbert &
Co., later the Gilbert Manufacturing Company, and
the present company, the William L. Gilbert Clock
Company, which was organized in 1871 with a capital
of one hundred thousand dollars, with William L.
Gilbert president, and I. B. Woodruff secretary and
treasurer.

In 1871 the works of the company were destroyed
by fire, but by the energy and enterprise of the pro-
prietors they were immediately rebuilt. The reputa-
tion of the goods of this house was such that the
demand required more extensive facilities for their
production before the works were destroyed by fire;
consequently, availing themselves of the opportunity
of making improvements in rebuilding, the new
premises were much enlarged, making them more
commodious and far better adapted for the desired
purpose. The establishment is supplied with all
modern improvements, and is complete in all its ap-
pointments. They manufacture a large variety of
clocks, and at present are making a specialty of fine
regulators, set in elaborately and richly-carved cases.
The clocks produced by this company are unexcelled,
for beauty of design, style of finish, quality of ma-
terial and workmanship, and real merit as time-
keepers. The salesrooms of the company are located
at New York City, Chicago, Ill., and Glasgow, Scot-
land, and are under, the management of Mr. George
B. Owen, who has been connected with (and in-
terested in) this business since 1866. Mr. I. B.
Woodruff, the secretary and treasurer, has been con-
nected with and closely identified in the management
of the business since 1851, a period of thirty years,
during which the factories have never been closed
except for purposes of inventory and repairs.

Cards.—At the beginning of the war of 1812, two
establishments for making hand- and machine-cards
were started, one by Coe, Miller & Co., in the Shepard
& Miller tannery, and the other by the Hoadley
Brothers, in their grist-mill. Both companies used
one set of machines for cutting and bending the teeth,
and another set for pricking the leather, and the teeth
were inserted in the leather by children at their homes.

 

203

Other machines shaped and turned the handles, on
which the hand card-leathers were fastened by tacks.
Two causes put an end to this branch of manufacture,
—one, the return of peace in 1815 and the influx of
cheaper cards from England, and the other, the inven-
tion by Mr. Levi Lincoln of a combined machine,
which in one operation pricked the leather, cut and
bent the teeth, and stuck them through the pricked
leather.

Wagons and Cuarriages.—There were, doubtless,
wheelwrights and wagon-makers in Old Winchester
at an early day, but the compiler has no knowledge
of them. Randall Covey had a wagon-maker’s shop
at the Centre from 1817 to 1821.

Joseph Mitchell was probably the first wheelwright
in Winsted. His house and shop, now torn. down,
were directly opposite the residence of Sheldon Kin-
ney, on Main Street. He made cart-wheels and bodies
from the beginning of the century, or earlier, to about
1830.

Selden Mitchell, son of Joseph, above, made light
wagons in the basement in rear of the Kinney house
above mentioned from 1809 to about 1820.

In 1818, Shubael Crow and Ebenezer R. Hale
erected a carriage-maker’s shop on the site of John T.
Rockwell’s tannery, in which wagons and chaises were
made until after 1830 by Crowe & Hale, Crow & Ban-
dle, Henderson & Ball, and others,—the premises hav-
ing been used from 1823 to 1826 for manufacturing
pails, tubs, and keelers by Hinsdale and Dimock.

Wagon-making was subsequently carried on in
Winsted by James Hermance from 1838 to his death,
in 1840, and by G. W. Gaston from 1849 onward to
1872.

In 1851, Walter & Son erected a large carriage-shop
on the corner of Elm and Centre Streets, which has
since been managed successively by Erwin M. Walter,
Uriah 8. Walter, W. H. Stickney, and Franklin Lin-
coln, and is now owned and managed by Joseph F.
Lincoln.

In 1856 the Winsted (joint stock) Carriage Com-
pany was organized, and carried on a large business
in Southern wagons and buggies until the opening of
the war of the Rebellion, occupying the old Soper
woolen-factory. In 1866 the company was reorgan-
ized with a reduced capital, and Marcus Bird, Walter
Stickney, Wm. 8. Holabird, and others as stockhold-
ers, and was wound up in 1867.

The Gillman Carriage Company was organized
with a capital of twenty-five thousand dollars in 1867,
and purchased the factory property of the Winsted
Carriage Company; and soon after, on the burning
down of the factory building, erected a spacious es-
tablishment on the same site with facilities for a large
business. This establishment was burned down in
1870, and the operations of the company were thereby
suspended.

Another carriage establishment was erected on
Case Avenue in 1870 by Walter Stickney, Bennet
204

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Paimer, and Wilbur W. Green, with capacity for a
large amount of work. It is now conducted by Wil-
bur W. Green.

An oil-mill was erected by Bissell Hinsdale, on Mad
River, a little west of the Clifton Mill works, about
1816, which was worked only a few years, and was
removed before 1830.

The spring steel hay and manure forks were intro-
duced as a substitute for the coarse and clumsy articles
previously in use soon after the war of 1812. They
were made here in numerous small shops by handi-
craftsmen, no machinery save the sledge and hand-
hammer, propelled by muscular arms, being used.
Large quantities were made, not only for supplying
the country stores, but for the New York and Phila-
delphia markets. The three Browns,—Orrin, Harris,
and Isaac,—Oliver White, Julius Weaver, and others
were engaged in this business. Establishments grew
up in other places in which the tilt-hammer came into
use for drawing out the tines, which made the hand-
labor operation unremunerative, and the business was,
in a great measure, abandoned here about 1850.

Foundries.—The casting of iron clock bells was be-
gun in Winsted by the Hoadley Brothers, about 1810,
as a secret process, in a detached building, from which
outsiders were rigidly excluded. The skilled founder
of the establishment ran away after some two years’
service, In 1812, Nathan Champion commenced the
same business in the Jenkins scythe-shop, that stood
on the Strong Manufacturing Company’s premises,
and afterwards built a shop near the Winsted Manu-
facturing Company’s works, in which he made other
small castings.

In 1834, Nathaniel B. Gaylord erected a foundry on
the site of the Strong Manufacturing Company’s
works for casting stoves, plows, gears, and general
custom-work, which he operated until 1846, after
which it was carried on a short time by Calvin But-
ler, of Canaan, and was then abandoned.

In 1847, Taylor & Whiting erected a foundry in
connection with their machine-shop, now owned and
operated by the Winsted Foundry and Machine
Company, which is now the only establishment in
the borough.

In 1858, John Boyd erected another foundry for
large castings in connection with his machine-shop,
adjoining Lake Street bridge, on Mad River, which
was discontinued in 1854.

Machine-shops.—In 1831, George Taylor erected the
original building of the present Foundry and Ma-
chine Company’s establishment on Main Street, for
making woolen machinery as a specialty, and doing
general job-work in that line. Two years later he
associated with Ambrose Whiting as a partner, in the
name of Taylor & Whiting. They did a large busi-
ness in carding-machines and spinning-jacks for
some twenty years. After the retirement of Mr.
Whiting, in 1857, the concern was organized as a
joint-stock company, with the name of The Winsted

 

Foundry and Machine Company, by which the busi-
ness is still carried on.

In 1823, James Boyd and James M. Boyd began
making saw-mill cranks, mill spindles, and various
other branches of heavy forging in a shop then built
on the west side of Mad River, in rear of the Beards-
ley house. To this business James Boyd & Son added,
in 1830, the making of finished coach-axles and mill-
screws. In 1851, after the death of Mr. James Boyd,
the junior partner erected the present machine-shop
on the site of the old shop, for the purpose of enlarg-
ing the mill-iron and axle business of the old firm,
and in 1853 built the foundry last referred to as an
appendage to the establishment. The works were
purchased by the Clifton Mill Company in 1857, and
were a few years after employed in the manufacture
of monkey-wrenches. Wing Person’s feed-mill now
occupies the site.

Reuben Cook, deceased, the head of the firm of R,
Cook & Sons, began making iron in 1811, on the site
now occupied by the axle-factory, and had for a time
associated with him the late Russell Bunce and
Charles Seymour, of Hartford. The iron used was
made from the red or hematite ore from the mines at
Salisbury, Conn., which mines were worked during
the war of the Revolution. The pig iron was hauled
across the county thirty miles to Winsted, where it
was made into refined iron, which was carried thirty
miles farther to Springfield, Mass., where it was made
into guns. About one-third of the entire product,
not being quite fine enough for gun-barrels, was made
into tires, crowbars, sleigh-shoes, plow-molds, and
mill-cranks.

In 1825, over half a century ago, Mr. Cook began
making axle-drafts. At that time the arms were
forged eight-sided by a trip-hammer with a straight
die, and were nade round as nearly as possible by the
blacksmith who bought them. He continued making
drafts in this manner until 1832, when he began to
swage the arms of the axle round under the hammer, «
and was the first to adopt that improved method. In
the same year he built a shop in addition to the forge
already in use, and made mill-irons, cranks, etc. The
business increased moderately, and improvements
were continually made, and in 1839 the present firm
was organized and the axles were entirely finished on
the premises. This makes the firm the oldest in the
country that is still doing business without change of
name, The works have been twice destroyed by fire,
once in 1852, and again in 1871, but were immediately
rebuilt.

The firm of R. Cook & Sons has always endeavored
to keep up with the times as its founder had done from
1811, when but a very young man he started in busi-
ness against very sharp competition from other parties
in the same town, who have long since gone out of
business life, and some of whom are deacesed.

Charles Cook was the inventor of the case-hardened
wrought iron pipe-box, the first ever made, and it is
WINCHESTER. 205

now used with great success for extra fine carriage
axles.

Carpenters’ Tools——About 1828, Samuel Boyd en-
gaged in the manufacture of steel hoes and shovels,
and erected the original buildings of the Clifton Mill
Company works on the south side of Mad River. He
also manufactured in these buildings nail-hammers,
socket-chisels, and draw-shaves until 1888, when the
business was discontinued.

The Winsted Hoe Company.—In 1852, John Boyd,
Louis R. Boyd, and Daniel B. Wheelock began to
manufacture planters’ hoes for the Southern market
in the brick scythe-works at the corner of Lake
and Meadow Streets. It was a new business and
encountered serious difficulties, one of them being
the anti-slavery proclivities of the first and third
partners, of which the Southern customers were duly
notified by competing manufacturers. The obnox-
ious partners withdrew from the concern, and it
became a decided success under the name of “The
American Hoe Company.” The hoes became the
leading article in the market. They were sent to
England and duplicated as to the style and finish by
English manufacturers, but their work proved inferior
in working quality.

The establishment was enlarged by the erection of
grinding and polishing works on two other water-
powers, and in 1855 employed more hands than any
other concern in the borough. The business was pro-
secuted with much energy and fair success until the
breaking out of the Southern Rebellion in 1861. The
war closed the market, and so closed the shops. They
remained closed until peace returned in 1865, when
Mr. T. M. Clarke—who for twelve years previously
and from its commencement, with one short interrup-
tion, had edited and published the Winsted. Herald
—organized the Winsted Hoe Company, and as its
president and principal manager revived the business.
Under Mr. Clarke’s management the business has
been largely increased by the addition of new
branches,—more especially the manufacture of edge-
tools,—and in the extent of its business and in finan-
cial strength the Winsted Hoe Company now ranks
among the first in Litchfield County.

The T. C. Richards & Co. Hardware Manufacturing
Company is also located in West Winsted. This is
one of the representative institutions of the town, and
is under the efficient management of Mr. T. C. Rich-
ards,

Bolts and Nuts.—The Clifton Mill Company, soon
after the purchase of Samuel Boyd’s works on the
south side of Mad River, engaged in the manufacture
of nuts‘and washers, and about 1855 added carriage-
bolts and nuts to its other manufactured articles, add-
ing for that purpose the three-story building on their
premises, and also the Boyd machine-shop at the foot
of Lake Street. On the purchase of their works by
the Winsted Hoe Company, the nut and bolt manu-
facture was discontinued.

14

‘the name of “The Empire Knife Company.”

 

Another carriage-bolt manufacture was started on
the premises of R. Cook & Sons by Franklin Moore
and Edward Clarke about 1867, which is still in
active and successful operation, under the ownership
and management of Alfred E. Moore, son of Franklin
Moore, deceased.

Table Cutlery —In 1852 the “ Eagle” works, a joint-
stock company with a capital of twenty-five thousand
dollars, was organized and put in operation under the
supervision of Albert Bradshaw, an English cutler,
in a brick factory building on the lake stream, adjoin-
ing the Connecticut Western depot grounds. The
business not proving successful, operations were sus-
pended about 1854, and in 1856 the establishment was
purchased by Rice, Lathrop & Clary, under whose
ownership the brick factory building was burned
down, and a smaller wooden building was erected on
its site; and soon afterwards the auger-factory build-
ing on Mad River, near the corner of Main and Coe
Streets, was purchased. This building was burned
down and rebuilt about 1866. Mr. Clary died in
1861, and Mr. Rice retired from the concern in 1862.
George F. Barton came in as a partner with Mr.
Lathrop in 1864, and retired from the partnership in
1872, leaving Mr. Lathrop the sole owner.

Pocket Cutlery—In 1853, Thompson & Gascoigne
(Englishmen) carried on a small pocket-cutlery busi-
ness in the factory of the Eagle Company, which was
soon after taken up by Beardsley & Alvord, and grad-
ually enlarged and made profitable. In 1856, they
built their cutlery-works at the lake outlet, and have
since transacted a large and prosperous business in
In
1880 the concern was moved to the present site, for-
merly occupied by the table-cutlery establishment of
William P. Lathrop.

In 1854, C. F. Clark, an Englishman, started a
pocket-cutlery concern in the attic of the Cook axle-
factory, which was taken up by Horace Phelps, and
after a trial of one or two years was abandoned.

Augers.—The Winsted (joint stock) Auger Com-
pany was organized in 1853, with a capital stock of
ten thousand dollars, and immediately after erected
the factory on Mad River, near the corner of Coe and
Main Streets, at a cost beyond their capital. It was
managed inefficiently by men unacquainted with the
business, and was wound up before 1860.

Pins.*—In 1852, Erastus 8. Woodford, J. B. Terry,

) and others organized ‘The Hartford Pin Company”

(joint stock), and purchased of Anson G. Phelps the
woolen-factory building on Bridge Street, opposite the
Naugatuck Railroad depot grounds, and began making
pins the same year. The company at once came into
conflict with the Howe Pin Company, of Birmingham,
in respect to a patented sticking-machine for sticking
the pins on paper, which impeded operations until

 

* Wor history of New England Pin Company, see biography of John
G. Wetmore, Esq.
206

the question of infringement was settled by litigation
in the United States Circuit Court. In 1857 the fac-
tory property and machinery of the company became
the property of James R. Keeler, who conveyed the
same to “The New England Pin Company,” organ-
ized in May of the same year, and composed of said
Keeler, Hector Armstrong, C. O. Crosby, and John
G. Wetmore, stockholders, and with a capital of one
hundred thousand dollars.

The Wyoming Pin Company was organized in March,
1880, with Mr. T. 8. Carroll president and secretary.
The manufacture of pins was commenced in Sep-
tember, 1880. The establishment was burned in Jan-
uary, 1881, and started again in March following.
The factory employs twenty-two persons, and has a
capacity of one million and eighty thousand pins
daily. Mr. Carroll is also the manufacturer of a
champagne tap, upon which he has a patent now
pending.

Steel Fire-Irons.—Benjamin and Edward Woodall
(Englishmen) began making, of highly polished steel,
shovels and tongs and other fire-irons, about 1850;
and in 1854 organized the “ Winsted Shovel and
Tongs Company,” under the agency of Justus R.
Loomis; they bought the Halsey Burr scythe-shop
and water-power, and erected the factory building
now used as a feed-grinding mill by Frederick Wood-
ruff, on North Main Street. The concern lacked
capital, energy, and business skill, and was closed up
about 1857.

The Winsted Plane Company, organized in 18651,
entered on the manufacture of joiners’ tools in the
old Soper woolen-factory building, and continued
until about 1856, when it became insolvent and was
wound up.

The Clifton Lumber Company was organized in 1854,
and erected the building near the Naugatuck depot,
now occupied by the Winsted Printing Company, for
planing lumber and manufacturing doors, sashes, and
blinds by steam-power. The concern was wound up
in 1857,

Another company or partnership, consisting of
Ralph H. Moore, Franklin Moore, and others, in
1872 erected a factory on Case Avenue for making
plated spoons and other plated articles. This estab-
lishment was destroyed by fire in 1873.

The Borden Condensed Milk Company, consisting of
Gail Borden, Theron Bronson, and Elhanan W. Tyler,
was organized in 1863, and purchased the factory
building near the Naugatuck depot, now occupied by
the Winsted Printing Company, in which they con-
densed milk until 1866, when, not finding the loca-
tion favorable for the business, the concern was
wound up.

The Henry Spring Company, located at West Win-
sted, was organized at New Haven in 1869, and its
location was transferred to Winsted in April, 1870,
and the grinding-shop on Lake Street, erected by the
American Hoe Company, was purchased by the Spring

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Company, and its machinery placed therein. The
spring made by them is a patented article, combining
equal strength and elasticity with springs of other
manufacture of a third more weight, and are in con-
stantly-increasing demand for light buggies and car-
riages.

The Winsted Paper Box Manufactory, R. L. Preston
proprietor, is the only institution of the kind in town,
and greatly merits its present success. The manufac-
ture of tin-, brass-, and copper-ware is also carried on
extra,

The Winsted Gas Company was organized Oct. 15,
1860, with a capital stock of twenty thousand dollars,
nearly half paid in, and directors were appointed as
follows: George Dudley, Erastus 8. Woodford, Moses
Camp, Elliot Beardsley, Caleb J. Camp, Jabez Al-
vord, John Hinsdale, James R. Alvord, and Henry
Gay.

The directors chose the following officers: Moses
Camp, president; Erastus 8. Woodford, secretary ; and
Henry Gay, treasurer.

A small gas-works was erected in 1861 on Prospect
Street, and continued with varied success until April,
1874, when the company was reorganized with a
capital of sixty thousand dollars, the old works
abandoned on Prospect Street, and new fire-proof
brick works erected on Case Avenue, and main iron
pipes relaid, much larger than before; also extended
to the East village (so called), and through North Main
Street to Cook’s.

The directors elected at the reorganization in 1874
were Henry Gay, George Dudley, Caleb J. Camp,
Edward R. Beardsley, Edward Clarke, J. M. Loweree,
Harvey L. Roberts, Henry G. Colt, George W.
Phelps.

At a directors’ meeting, held April 24,1874, Henry
G. Colt was elected president, and Sidney F. Dicker-
man secretary and treasurer. The same efficient offi-
cers have continuously had charge of the works since
its reorganization; but time’s changes have necessi-
tated changes in the board of directors, which in May,
1881, are as follows: Henry G. Colt, H. H. Tibbals,
Edward R. Beardsley, Sidney F. Dickerman, Henry
Gay, Rufus E. Holmes, T. F. Rowland, Harvey L.
Roberts, and Edward Clarke.

’

CHAPTER XVIII.
WINCHESTER (Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

First Congregational Church, Winchester—First Congregational Church,
Winsted—Second Congregational Church—Methodist Episcopal Church
—St. James’ Church—St. Joseph’s Church—The Women’s Christian
Temperance Union.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WINCHESTER CENTRE.
The “Society of Winchester,’ which was practi-
cally the Congregational Church, was incorporated in

1768. Under the act of incorporation a society meet
WINCHESTER.

ing was ‘held June 29, 1768, and the following votes
passed :
“Vouted, That John Smith should be Moderator for sd. Meeting.
«That Seth Hills should be Clark for sd. Sosiety.
That all free agents be lawful voaters,
That Thomas Hosmer should be fust Commety man for sd.
Sosiety.
William Filey sec24 Commety man for said Sosiety.
Seth Hills be third Commety man for sd. Sosietay.
That the Sosiety will except 74 pounds of the tax yearly.”

Sept. 20, 1768, at an adjourned meeting, it was

“Voated, That the meeting on the Saboth should be continued att John
Hills til December next.”

“That the Sisiety will aply to the Association for advice.”
Oct. 13, 1768,

“YVoated, That ye Society wil wait til Week after next for Mr. Mills.”
“YVYoated, That the Comity shall try for Mr. Pitkin proid Mr. Mills don’t
com.”

At the annual meeting, first Tuesday of December,
1768, Thomas Hosmer, Seth Hills, and John Hills
were chosen society committee; Seth Hills, clerk;
and Thomas Hosmer, treasurer; and the committee
were instructed to apply to Samuel John Mills to
supply them.

At the annual meeting, Dec. 28, 1769, the privilege
of voting extended to “all free agents by vote of a
former meeting, was confined to all the inhabitants
that are of age ;’’ and after choice of committee, clerk,
and treasurer, the following additional appointments
were made: “John Hills, corester; Abram Filley,
corester; David Austin, to read the Psalm; Beriah
Hills, to assist to read the Psalm.”

And it was voted

“That our anuel meeting shall be warnid by the Commity by setting
up a paper on a post by the Meeting-House at least eight days before ye
meeting, telling the place and time of day.”

Atthe annual meeting, Dec. 11, 1770, after appoint-
ment of officers, the sweeping of the meeting-house
was set up to the lowest bidder, and bid off by Jesse
Wilkinson at five shillings and sixpence for the year.
The expenses of the year were reported to be sixty
pounds four shillings and threepence, and of the years
1768 and 1769, sixty-nine pounds eight shillings and
ninepence, and the meeting adjourned to the first
Monday of March, 1771, at which adjourned meeting
it was

“Voted, That we will send a petition to the Assembly next May for
tound privileges.”

“Voted, That we will send a Petition to the assembly next May for a
Tax for the Settlement of a Minister and building a Meeting-House.”

“Voted, That Beriah Hills and Warham Gibbs shall assist in reading
the Psalm.”

“Voted, That John Hills and Abram Filley shall sett the Psalm.”

The first mention of a meeting-house in the infant
society is made in a vote in 1769, already quoted. No
record is found referring in any way to the building of
this sanctuary ; nor is any traditionary account of its
erection, or by whom it was erected, discoverable.
No tax was laid to pay for it, and no building com-
mitte was appointed to superintend it.

On the 20th of September, 1768, it was voted that the

 

207

Sabbath meeting should be held until the next Decem-
ber at John Hills’ house, which stood near the Hurl-
but Cemetery; then follows, in December, 1769, the
vote requiring notices of society meetings to be placed
on a post by the meeting-house. These votes would
indicate 1768 as the year of its erection. It stood on
the slope of a hill, on the west side of a road long
since discontinued, coming up from the Luther Bron-
son house, and passing immediately in front of the
houses of Marcus Munsill and Noble J. Everitt, to
Winchester Centre. It was a low, steep-roofed build-
ing, thirty feet long and twenty-four feet wide, with
nine-feet posts, covered with wide rabbeted boards
one inch thick. It stood on a side hill above the road,
the rear resting on the ground, and the front supported
by sections of chestnut logs, three to four feet in diam-
eter, lying diagonally under the corners. A hugechest-
nut butt, set up perpendicularly at the front door, with
a series of steps cut crosswise of the timber, gave ac-
cess to the ground-floor. Opposite the door was the
pulpit or rostrum, three to four feet high. The seats
were rough planks or slabs with legs at the ends in-
serted in auger-holes. Originally there was no floor
overhead, but as more room was required to accommo-
date the worshipers, joists were inserted in the cross-
beams, and boards laid down loosely for a floor, except
on a space of nine feet square over the rostrum. This
was the gallery. Access was gained to it by a plank
ladder outside, at one of the ends of the building, as-
cending to a door in the gable. The interior was
neither ceiled nor plastered.

“SABA-DAY HOUSE.”

“Near this church edifice there appears to have
been another religious building peculiar to New Eng-
land in the last and early in the present century,
called a Sabbath-day house, or, as spelled in the
one of the two instances in which it occurs in our re-
cords, a ‘Saba-day house.’ It is first mentioned in a
vote of temporary adjournment of a society meeting
in December, 1761, probably by reason of the extreme
cold in the meeting-house. The second mention of it
is in the survey of the road formally laid out and estab-
lished in 1772, along the line of the bridle-path which
had previously been the only means of access to the
meeting-house, in which two prominent landmarks are
‘a birch-tree near a saw-mill, then N. 18 E. to a Sab-
bath-day house.’ Such buildings were erected by indi-
viduals living distant from places of worship for the ac-
commodation of their families before and during the in-
tervals of worship in the inclement weather of winter.
They were generally long, low buildings of two apart-
ments, with a fireplace in each attached to one chim-
ney. Asupply of fuel was provided in the fall. Some
member of the family or families owning those apart-
ments went forward early on the Sunday morning
and made up the fires, and the rest of the parties
followed in such season as to thoroughly warm them-
selves before going into meeting. Atthe intermission
208

they returned to their rooms, warmed themselves,
and such homely fare as they had brought with
them, ate their dinners, discussed the morning ser-
mon, and returned to the afternoon exercise, at the
close-of which they again warmed themselves at the
fires, and returned to their distant homes.”

The church proper—as an ecclesiastical body—was
organized by Rey. Mr. Roberts, of Torrington, and
Rev. Ammi R. Robbins, of Norfolk, Oct. 80, 1771,
with the following members: Widow Mary Loomis,
Widow Hannah Averit, Dinah, wife of Wm. Filley,
John Hills, Seth Hills, Adam Mott, Abiah Mott, Lent
Mott, Abraham Filley, Robert Macune, Joseph Pres-
ton, Mary Preston, Amy, wife of Joel Beach, and
Elizabeth Agard.

“After ye Church was gathered ye following persons were admitted
members in full Com™. with the Church, viz.: David Austin, Mary
Austin, Mary Wilkinson, Mary Goffe, Mercy Filley.

“The Church then proceeded to and made choice of Robert Macune
to be the Moderator or Clerk of this church.

“ Attest,
“Natul, Rogerts, Pastor of ye Ch., Torrington,
“A.B, Ronoins, Pastor of Ch., Norfolk.”

The following members were added to the church
prior to the ordination of its first pastor, in 1772:
Noy. 3, 1771, Warham Gibbs and Eunice, his wife,
by profession. Jan. 19, 1772, Ebenezer Preston, by
letter from the church at Torrington; Martha Pres-
ton (his wife), by letter from the church at Harwin-
ton; Eliphaz Alvord, by letter from the church at
Chatham; Esther Alvord (his wife), by letter from
the church at Chatham. Feb. 10, 1772, Capt. Jon.
Alvord, by letter from the church at Chatham ; David
Goff, by profession. July 26,1772, Samuel Wetmore
and Anna, his wife, by letter from Middlefield;
Simeon Loomis, by profession.

The records of the society show that endeavors
were made, both before and after the gathering of the
church, to secure a permanent minister. Mr. Peter
Starr, afterwards the lifelong minister of Warren,
was invited to preach, on probation, in July,1771. A
Mr, Hale was employed four ‘“ Saboths” ; a Mr. Potter
was invited, on probation, in September, 1771, and in
case he did not come, a call, on probation, was voted to
Mr. Judson; and it was also voted to have Dr. Bel-
lamy, of Bethlem, and Rev. Mr. Robbins, of Norfolk,
act for them in hiring a candidate “that they think
will sute the society.” Sept. 30, 1771, it was left
“with the comity to hire a candidate as they shall
think best; but not to hire one that is determined not
to settle.” Oct. 31, 1771, the committee was directed
to ‘apply to Mr. Jonson to supply us six Saboths.”
Feb, 18, 1772, it was voted “that the society will give
Mr. Sam" Jonson amedeat call for a settlement,”
February 17th following, the committee were directed
to apply to Mr. Brooks to supply for three Sabbaths ;
and on the 31st of March following, an application
was voted to Mr. Napp to supply for six Sabbaths,
and the committee was directed to go or send after

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

him. July 10th following, “Mr. Napp” was applied
to to preach twelve Sabbaths on probation.

Sept. 23, 1772, it was voted “that the society will
give Mr. Joshua Napp a call for a settlement in the
ministry amongst us;” and a settlement was proposed
of two hundred pounds, payable in installments, and a
salary beginning at thirty-five pounds, and increasing
five pounds annually until it should reach sixty-five
pounds, which was modified so that it should increase
in proportion to the increase of the grand levy until
it should reach sixty-five pounds. He was ordained
Noy. 11, 1772.

The ministers have been as follows: Joshua Knapp,
1772-89; Publius V. Bogue, 1791-1800; Archibald
Bassett, 1801-6; Frederick Marsh, 1809-51; James
H. Dill, 1846-51; J. W. Cunningham, 1852-54; Ira
Pettibone, 1857-66; Arthur Goodenough, present
pastor.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

In tracing the settlement of the Winsted section of
the town, we have thus far made no mention of the
Ecclesiastical Society of Winsted as an organized
body. Its religious services up to this period were
mainly held beyond the eastern border of the town.
Its first meeting-house was there erected, and the first
minister there ordained and settled. Its original
members were residents along the old North country
road and its vicinity, and a larger portion of them in
Westchester and a considerable number in Barkham-
sted.

To modern Winsted, its origin and growth, its
struggles and dissensions prior to 1801, would seem a
myth, did not its quaint old records avouch the reality
of its history. These records begin with a society meet-
ing lawfully warned and held March 17, 1778, at the
dwelling-house of John Balcom, by a warrant granted
by Matthew Gillett, justice of the peace, dated seven
days earlier. Of this meeting John Wright was chosen
moderator and Eleazer Kellogg clerk ; Isaac Kellogg,
Josiah Smith, and John Balcom were appointed com-
mittee-men ; and it was voted that the annual meet-
ings of the society should be holden on the second
Monday of December annually, and that warnings
therefor should be set up at Austin’s mill, Abram
Callers’ shop, and at the crotch of the road that goes
from John Wright’s to Lemuel Walter’s, twelve days
before such meeting. Another meeting, held Septem-
ber 15th of the same year, voted that the money paid
to Mr. Porter and to Mr. Ausbon for preaching, and
also the money due Mr. Balcom for boarding Mr.
Ausbon, should be paid out of a tax when collected.
At the annual meeting of this year it was voted “that
a meeting be warned to see if this society are a mind
to be made a distinct town.” The same subject was
brought up at various subsequent meetings, but no
definite action appears to have resulted.

At the annual meeting in 1780 the matter of locat-
ing and building a meeting-house seems to have been
first agitated, and it was voted “that we will git the
WINCHESTER. 209

 

original plans of Winchester and Barkhamsted, and
apply to Cornal Shelding to find the middle of this
society, and if he cant by them give us the senter,
then to measure the bounds of this society, the said
Shelding to measure, and that this society will pay
the cost to Cornal Shelding for doing the business for
said society, and that Lieut. John Wright to see the
bisness done.” The subject was resumed May 24,
1782, when it was voted “that we do try to agree to
pitch a stake for a meeting-house,” and ‘that we
apply to the next county court for a committee to
pitch a stake for our meeting-house,” and “that we
nominate Esq. Asaph Hall, of Goshen, Maj. Jiles
Pettibone, of Norfolk, and Esq. Ensign, of Hartland.”
In December, 1792, Col. Sheldon was substituted for
Esq. Ensign on this committee, and at a meeting,
Aug. 25, 1783, it was voted “ to establish the stake for
our meeting-house where it now stands pitched by
Col. Shelding, Maj. Pettibone, and Esq. Hall, and
that Ensign Jesse Doolittle shall go and make re-
turns to the honorable county court of our voting the
establishment of our meeting-house stake.”

This looked like an auspicious beginning of the
constructive work of the society, but the appearance
was deceptive. A meeting was called, Dec. 22, 1783,
“to see if the society will go on to bild our meeting-
house where the stake now stands,” and the question
was decided in the negative. On the 2d of February,
1784, it was voted “that we chuse a comitte to go and
view the society and se if we can’t pitch a stake for
ourselves ;”” and December, 1784, it was voted “to go on
and build a meting-house at the stake pitched by the
committee,” the house to be forty-five by thirty-five
feet and a suitable height for galleries; and a tax of
sixpence on the pound was laid for defraying ex-
penses. This again looked hopeful; but at a meet-
ing in January, 1785, the hopeful project was knocked
in the head by a vote “ that all the bisness voated” in
the previous meeting “be holy set aside consarning
bilding a meeting-house in this society.”

On the 9th of May, 1786, another committee, con-
sisting of Capt. Josiah Smith, Nathaniel Russell, En-
sign Jesse Doolittle, Othniel Brainart, Capt. Robert
Whitford, and Sergt. Reuben Sweet, pitched a stake

at the west end of Jonathan Sweet’s lot, where it was.

voted by more than two-thirds to build the house. In
June following it was decided to build a house fifty
by forty feet, with height in proportion, and that an
agent be sent to the county court to get the stake
established. Again the project was nullified by a
vote of Sept. 4, 1786, “that we will not send an agent
to the county court.”

Another stake-pitching committee was appointed
Sept. 25, 1786, which seems to have performed its
duty. In October following it was voted “ that this
meeting be adjourned to the place where the commit-
tee have prefixed for to build a meeting-house;” and
it was there “ voted, by more than two-thirds, that we
will bild a meeting-house where the committe have

 

pitched the stake.” Although this vote of more than
two-thirds was solemnly taken on the very ground
prefixed by the committee, yet subsequent records
show that the stake would not yet stay pitched. But,
before tracing these measures to a final result, it is
fitting to advert to other occurrences in the history of
the society.

Up to 1786 preaching was had at irregular inter-
vals, and no, money raised by taxation for its support.
Individuals seem to have advanced money, and to
have found difficulty in getting it refunded. The so-
ciety, in 1780, voted “to make up the sink of money
due individuals for advancements, according to Con-
gress scale.’ In 1782, May 14th, it was voted to hire
preaching, and “that the committe do advise where
to apply for a candidate,” and that Lieut. Josiah Smith
be appointed to read the Psalm on Sabbath-days,
and that E. Kellogg read the Psalms when Lieut.
Smith is absent.

In 1788 it was voted to have preaching in the sum-
mer, and in the fall a tax of seven pounds was voted
“to be applied for the youse of supporting singing.”
A committee was also chosen “ to regulate the sing-
ing in this society on the Sabbath-day, and to intro-
duce such tunes as they shall think proper to be sung
on Sabbath-days;” and it was also voted that preach-
ing should continue during the winter.

It might be inferred that, with preaching summer
and winter, and the support and regulation of singing
under the supervision of three choristers, and a com-
mittee to introduce tunes proper to be sung on the
Sabbath, harmony and concert of action might have
been promoted ; but stakes could not be pitched and
voted on so often without moral friction. Heart-
burning and dissensions prevailed to such a degree
that in October, 1785, a mutual council, consisting of
Rev. Messrs. Taylor, of New Milford; Canfield, of
Roxbury ; Huntington, of Middlebury; Belden, of
Newington; and Smalley, of New Britain, was called
to advise with the church and society in regard to the
subsisting difficulties. The records fail to show the
result, if any was reached. Harmony, in any event,
was notrestored. Meetings were frequent, and contra-
dictory in action. Votes passed at one stage of a
meeting were not infrequently voted down before ad-
journment, and the doings of one meeting were undone
by another. The meetings were often protracted into
the night, and unfair advantages taken in carrying
measures at a late hour that could not be accomplished
in a full meeting. To correct some of these irregu-
larities a standing rule was adopted about this time,
“that no vote should be put after sunset for the futer,
except the business so drive them that they find it
necessary, and passed a vote to continue the same
before sunset.” Another vote required ‘that all ac-
counts against the society shall be brought to the an-
nual meeting yearly, or shall be forfeit for the futer,
except it be made to appear that it could not be done.”

The following votes illustrate the way of doing busi-
2190

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ness in committee of the whole, under the new rule,
and show an example of thoroughness worthy of all
imitation :

“Voted, Elkana Phelps £1 11s. 4d. for boarding Mr. Fowler eleven sab-
baths.

“Voted, Eleanor Kellogg, £9 6s. 0d. for the youse of his house.

“Voted, Enoch Palmer for boarding ministers and house room for hold-
ing meetings sabbath-days, £1 9s.

“Voted, Elisha Mallory for boarding Mr. Beach 1 week, 4 days, 12s.

“Voted, Capt. Josiah Smith, for boarding Mr. Hitchcock and other
ministers 314 weeks and keeping their horses, £1 6s. 3d.

“Voled, Ensign Doolittle for going to Torringfurd to get Mr. Edmund
Mills to preach hear, 3s.

“Voted, Samuel Hayden for holding meetings in his house for 28 Sab-
baths, £2 2s.

“Voted, That’ those that board ministers in the summer season, and
keep their horses, for the future be allowed 7s. Gd. a week.”

The pitching of stakes for a meeting-house having
been played out in 1786, it was thought best to defer
the building of a meeting-house and to settle a min-
ister; and accordingly, at the annual meeting of the
year, it was “ voted, by more than two-thirds, that we
give Mr. Parsons a call in order to a settlement.” It
was also voted to give him a salary of forty pounds a
year, and the use of two hundred pounds as a settle-
ment. A committee was also appointed to purchase
a place or settlement for the use of the minister of
the value of about two hundred pounds, to be holden
as the property of the society.

The church having united with the society in a call
to Rey. Stephen Parsons to settle with them in the
gospel ministry, his reply was laid before the society
on the 12th of March, 1787; whereupon it was voted
to settle Mr. Parsons agreeable to his “ Ritten Answer,”
which is as follows, viz.:

“March ye 11th, 1787.
“To the Church and Society of Winsted, wishing grace, mercy, and peace to
be multiplied unto you.

“Having taken into consideration the call you gave me to settle with
you in the work of the Gospel ministry, as it appears to me a matter of
great importance that I am lead by the Spirit of God in the right way
to promote the general cause of God in the world, I thought it my duty
to give you some idea of my present profession and principles respecting
Christian fellowship and connection with churches.

“ As to my profession, it is what is called in this State a strict Congre-
gationalist, and my connections are with the ministers and churches of
that denomination, which appears to me the nearest to the rule given in
God’s Word of any within the compass of my acquaintance, on which
account I can by no means renounce my connection with them. Yet I
could heartily wish the wall of partition between the different denomi-
nations was broken down, that all the true friends of Christ were united
in one army, under the glorious captain of our salvation, against the
kingdom of Satan, the prince of darkness, Wherefore, I think it my
duty to maintain and cultivate liberal sentiments and hold fellowship
with all those who appear to practice and love the truth; and if I was to
receive an ordination, 1 should choose to apply to a number of ministers
of different denominations, not exceeding that of my own,

“If the church and society in this place can receive me on these prin-
ciples, and there is a prospect of their being united, so that I may bo
useful in this part of the vineyard of Christ, and at the same time pro-
mote the general good of mankind, it appears to be my duty to comply
with your call, Otherwise, I have no desire to be received by giving up
my principles or renouncing my connections. I close with subscribing
myself yours to servo in the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

“STEPHEN Parsons,”

Why this acceptance of the call did not result in

the settlement of Mr. Parsons does not appear. It
may have been frustrated by a conflict of views be-

 

tween the candidate and the consociation in regard to
church order and fellowship. It only appears on
record that the church and society, on the 18th of
April, 1787, voted ‘‘to continue the call to Mr. Par-
sons to settle with us in the Gospel ministry.”

The parsonage lot, which, a few years after, became
a subject of fatal contention, was purchased at this
time, and a tax was laid to provide the first payment
therefor, and a parsonage-house was soon after erected
thereon, and so far finished as to serve as a place of
worship until a meeting-house should be located and
erected. It stood east of Barkhamsted line, at the
intersection of road from the clock-factory with the
old country road, was occupied successively by Rey.
Mr. Woodworth, Moses Haydon, Isaac Brown, and
others, and was torn down many years ago.

The location of a meeting-house site was again at-
tempted this year (1787). A stake was pitched, and
the society voted that they “be agreed to build,” etc;
but no building was built, and no further steps were
taken in that direction until 1791.

The records during this interval show the progress
of events and the nature of the business transacted.
A better knowledge of the law of stake-pitching and
other ecclesiastical matters was provided for by the
purchase of a society Jaw-book and a quire of paper,
“to keep accompts on.” The law-book was ordered
to be kept two months at David Anstus’, two months
at Nathan Wheeler’s, two months at Othniel Brai-
nard’s, two months at Sergt. Jonas Weed’s, two months
at Enoch Palmer’s, and two months at Zebina Smith’s;
and other regulations were adopted for a general dif-
fusion of legal knowledge. An application to the
Assembly was voted for a land tax, “to better enable
us to pay for the parsonage lot, and to build a meet-
ing-house;” and then a vote was passed “that we
will build a meeting-house if we can be agreed ona
place.”

In August, 1791, Rev. Ezra Woodworth preached
in the society as a candidate, and a sharp negotiation
soon followed with reference to his settlement. No
little diplomatic skill was found requisite to adjust
the terms. Mr. Woodworth wanted an absolute con-
veyance to himself of the parsonage lot-as a part of
the bargain. A large portion of the society, on the
other hand, were strenuously opposed to alienating
the property to a minister, whose long stay with them
would be very precarious. The minister carried his
point, and on the 7th of November the society decided
to make the conveyance, in accordance with his de-
mand, and the compact was completed. On the 15th
of December a committee was chosen to proceed with
the ordination, and the 18th of January, 1792, was
assigned for the ill-omened ceremony.

In the mean time, deep trouble in regard to the hard
bargain of Mr. Woodworth with the society was daily
becoming more manifest. Six days before the ordina-
tion a meeting was called, and a committee appointed
“to go and see if Mr. Woodworth will make any alter-
WINCHESTER.

211

 

ations as to his settlement or not,” and another com-
mittee was appointed “ to appear before the ordaining
council, and oppose the opposition, if any there be,
against his ordination.” Four days after, another
meeting was called “to see if the society will make
any alterations as to giving our society farm as a set-
tlement to Mr. Woodworth,” and a committee of six
was appointed to converse with him, and agree on
some different plan of settlement.

The interview resulted in the following change of

terms, committed to writing :

“ Whereas, there is a dissatisfaction in some porsons’ minds in the pro-
posals made to Mr. Woodworth in respect to his settlement, and in order
to form « better union, propose to exchange the terms of the same, as
follows, viz.: to except of the yuse of said farm as a parsonage with the
house and barn, said farm to be appraised by indifferent men when he
receives the same, and also when he resigns the same, and the better-
ments, if any there be, to be allowed to him or his heirs, and the property
to be kept good, to be as a settlement in the room of receiving the property
of said farm as in the former plan; the vallew of said former proposals of
settlement being made equal thereto, to be determined by the judgment
of indifferent men, to be paid in neat cattle in the spring, or fat cattle in
the fall, as agreed on, and the salary to remain as in the former proposals.

“Ezra WoopwoortH,
“Naty. Crowe,
“ELKENA PHELPS.

“Wittram Moore.
“ Dated Winsted, January 16, 1792.”

This agreement removed all hindrance to the ordi-
nation, which took place on the day appointed. Had
the agreement been adhered to in good faith, it is more
than probable that harmony would have been restored,
and that the faithful ministrations of a pastor valuing
the souls of his flock more than their fleeces would
have strengthened the walls and enlarged the borders
of this feeble Zion.

Mr. Woodworth, now invested with the pastoral
office, had a field for eminent usefulness. An invio-
late adherence to the terms of adjustment effected two
days before his ordination was a dictate alike of policy
and duty; but he and his adherents seem to have
thought otherwise. A meeting of the society was
called, April 6, 1792, which voted to reconsider the
prior vote of January 16th, by which the tenure of
the society parsonage lot was changed, and that Mr.
Woodworth should be put into possession of the same,
according to the terms first agreed on.

The society, though hitherto divided as to the loca-
tion of their meeting-house, seems to have acted har-
moniously in other matters; and nearly all were of the
standing order; but this breach of faith on the part
of the minister and his adherents produced irreme-
diable discord. Certificates of withdrawal began to
be handed in by seceding members, most of whom
connected themselves with the infant Methodist and
Baptist churches in the vicinity. Endeavors were
made to recall members already withdrawn, and to
prevent others from withdrawing, by an offer of the

Ininister to relinquish a portion of his salary for the
five coming years, but without avail. Secession went
on until many of the best and ablest. members of the
church and society had identified themselves with
other denominations.

 

Notwithstanding this debilitated and distracted
condition of the society, the adhering members re-
sumed the project of locating and building a meeting-
house, as the only means of sustaining their position.
They voted, Sept. 14, 1792, not to build at the stake
established by law, wherever that might have been,
and “to see if the sosiaty will Be willing to Bilda
meeting-house at the senter of the land of the sosiaty,
allowing those things that ought to be considered to
draw from the same its due and proper weight ;” then
followed a vote to build on “‘a certain nole of land at
the west end of Mr. Woodworth’s land, as near the
town line as the ground will admit of;” and then a
committee of nine men was appointed to pitch astake
and apply to the Assembly to establish thesame. The
committee thus appointed reported to an adjourned
meeting, October 2d, as follows:

“ To the Inhabitants of the Society of Winsted, convened at the usual place
by us the 2d day of October, 1792:

“ Whereas, we, the subscribers, being appointed a Com. at the last special
meting to fix a Stake on a Sertain Spot of Ground near the town-line,
so-called, on the Rev. Mr. Woodworth’s lot, at the most convenient spot
to erect a meating-house for the inhabitants of said society near the town-
line, in consequence of our appointment, we, on the above said 2d day of
October, repaired to said place, and after taking into the moste mature
and Deliberate consideration all those matters and circumstances that
ought to be considered according to the best information gained and our
ability, we are of opinion that the Sartain spot of ground is situated
near the heighth of said nole upon said lot, or near the south end to Beach
Stake and Stones cast up, to be the most convenient and commodious
place for the same, and have fix the above said stake and stones,
and marked the same on the particular spot of ground which we have
established for said purpose, the day and date above certifyed by us, the
day and date above.”

This lucid report was, by vote, “excepted,” and
measures were taken to get the place established by
the Assembly. Measures were also taken to ascertain
the size and length of timber required, and to see
how cheap they could get some man to build the
house, and a tax of a shilling on the pound was laid.

The beech stake, now planted, marked, reported,
and accepted, was destined to stand. A day was fixed
for the people to meet for the purpose of finding stone
and laying the under-pinning. It was also voted that
the people will find cake and cheese by free donation
for refreshment at raising the meeting-house.

At this stage of the proceedings another attempt
was made to conciliate ‘‘those of the society that
think themselves agreaved as to giving away the
society’s farm,” etc., by submitting the matters of
grievance to arbitration; but no conclusion was
reached. The meeting-house was raised, covered in,
and floored in season for the annual meeting, Nov.
25,1798. It stood on the south border of a grove
near the east-and-west road, between the late resi-
dence of Harris Brown, deceased, and the old country
road. It was fifty feet long, forty feet broad, and two
stories high, without tower or steeple, a very unpre-
tending and short-lived sanctuary. No traces of it
now remain except a large stone horse-block. It was
sold’ and taken down when the present house of
worship was first erected. Some of its timbers were
wo
—
Lo

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

worked into the original building of the East Village
Hotel.

The doings of the society have now been brought
down to 1798, a period of fifteen years. It took
twelve years of controversy to locate a meeting-house,
and it might have required a dozen years more had
not the intervening contest about the settlement of a
minister led to the withdrawal of some twenty mem-
bers. The unfinished church opened its doors to a
congregation small in numbers, disheartened by long
dissensions, and unable to sustain the burdens they
had assumed. The records of the following seven
years indicate the quiet of exhaustion rather than the
prevalence of Christian graces. Taxes were more
easily laid than collected. New names from time to
time appear on the records, but the accessions brought
no element of strength to the society as then consti-
tuted and located, for the new-comers were mainly
from the Still River valley, now filling up with set-
tlers interested in a transfer of the meeting-house to
their vicinity.

Patient endurance of the burden of supporting a
grasping minister had its limit. At the annual meet-
ing in 1797 it was voted “to choose a committee of
five to treat with Rev. Mr. Woodworth, to see what
measures can be come into on account of the burthen
the society is under as to paying his salary, and
whether he is willing for a dismission or not.” This
vote was followed by another in December following,
“to choose a committee, with power to agree with
Rev. Mr. Woodworth on his dismission, and that said
committee allow no more than the society’s former
contracts.” This committee arranged with the pastor
that the existing connection should be dissolved at
the expiration of the year, and that the society should
pay and confirm all contracts with Mr. Woodworth,
and what should be found due him to be paid or
secured by notes of hand on demand. It was also
voted to call a dismissing council on the 9th of Janu-
ary, 1798. The result of this council is not recorded,
but the dismission took place at or near the date
specified. Mr. Woodworth was afterwards settled at
Whitestown, near Utica, N. Y., for several years. His
subsequent history is unknown.

In January, 1799, Rev. Salmon King, after preach-
ing as a candidate for settlement, received a call,
which he declined, and in October following a call
was voted to Rev. Noah Simons, but was not ac-
cepted.

About this time Rev. Aaron Kinney was employed,
and continued to supply the pulpit for four or five
years.

Hitherto the old North road had been the great
thoroughfare of travel for the adjoining region, and
a large portion of our inhabitants had settled along
its borders, on Wallen’s Hill, and northwestward to
Colebrook line, and the location of the meeting-house
best suited their convenience. But near the close of
the century the water-power of the Still River and

 

Mad River valleys began to attract manufacturers to
those secluded and comparatively inaccessible reg-
ions. The Green Woods turnpike, a shorter and far
more level line of travel than the old road over the
hills, was opened in 1799. It at once diverted all the
long travel from the hill road, and opened a direct
access to the valleys. Hamlets grew up around the
Doolittle and Austin mills, The Wallen’s Hill meet-
ing-house ceased to be central, and it became apparent
that the young and energetic new-comers of the val-
leys were soon to assume the lead, and take the direc-
tion of society affairs out of the hands of the dispirited
and exhausted champions on the old country road.

In July, 1799, a vote was carried for building a new
meeting-house by subscription, in one year from the
Ist of October then next, where Capt. Charles Wright
and others had that day pitched a stake, and on the
7th of October following, Col. Hezekiah Hopkins, of
Harwinton, Esq. Elisha Smith, of Torrington, and
Maj. Jeremiah Phelps, of Norfolk, were appointed to
advise as to the location, and at the annual meeting
following it was decided to build the house where
this committee had put a stake and stones, if the
County Court should establish the same.

These brief votes embrace all the preparatory meas-
ures recorded in reference to building the present
house of worship in the East village of Winsted, and
the evirtual extinction of the ancient régime on Wal-
len’s Hill. New men, not identified with old contro-
versies, took the lead, and effected an entire renovation
of the society.

The new meeting-house was raised, covered in, and
floored in 1800, and in this condition was used for
worship until its final completion in 1805. The funds
originally subscribed and contributed not being ade-
quate for its completion, application was made to the
Legislature for a lottery in aid of the enterprise.
There were at the same time two other like appli-
cations from the societies of Preston, in New London
County, and Canterbury, in Windham County, and a
joint lottery was granted to the three societies. They
were jointly represented in the management of this
gambling scheme, and the details were so arranged
that the two drawings were allowed by the Winsted
society to be made in Preston and Canterbury, in con-
sideration of some equivalent advantages conceded to
Winsted. As a result of these arrangements, the two
eastern societies failed to realize any profit, while
Winsted secured about six hundred dollars. With
this sum, and additional subscriptions, the interior of
the house was finished and the building painted in
1805.

The pulpit of the new meeting-house was first sup-
plied by Rev. Aaron Kinney, who had been for a few
years previous the minister in charge at the first
meeting-house on Wallen’s Hill. He continued his
labors two or three years, and then removed to Alford,
Berkshire Co., Mass. Several candidates were then
successively employed for brief periods, the last of
WINCHESTER.

213

 

whom was Rev. James Beach, who received a pastoral
call, and was ordained on the Ist day of January,
1806, with a salary of three hundred and fifty dollars
a year, and an advance of funds to purchase a dwell-
ing, repayaple in installments from year to year. His
pastorate continued until his dismission, in 1842.

Mr. Beach was succeeded by Rev. Timothy M.
Dwight, who, after supplying the pulpit until Feb-
ruary, 1844, received a call for settlement, which he
declined; soon after which Rev. Augustus Pomeroy,
after supplying the pulpit for two or three months,
received a nearly unanimous call to the pastorate,
and was presented to the consociation for approval
and installation in June following. After along and
searching examination on the question of approval,
it was found that there was a majority of one in the
united body sustaining his examination; but on ana-
lyzing the vote it appeared that there was a majority
of two of the lay delegates sustaining, and a majority
of one of the clerical members of the body non-sus-
taining, the examination. By one of the rules of the
body, in case of non-concurrence of either the clerical
or lay delegates,—although there should be a majority
of the whole,—in case of a call for the application of
this rule, the candidate should be rejected. The call
was made by a lay member, and the synodal body re-
fused to install the candidate.

Mr. Pomeroy continued to supply the pulpit for
about a year after this result, near the end of which
the church dissolved its connection with the conso-
ciation, and the call for his settlement was renewed
on the 19th of November, 1844, but the majority in
his favor being essentially reduced, he declined ac-
ceptance, and withdrew to another field of labor. We
state the facts of this case in the briefest possible
form, without note or commentary, save that the
grounds of objection to Mr. Pomeroy were doctrinal
rather than personal, and that his Christian char-
acter was unquestioned.

After Mr. Pomeroy several other candidates filled
the pulpit, the most prominent of whom, and the
longest incumbent, was Rev. John D. Baldwin, after-
wards member of Congress from the Worcester dis-
trict, Massachusetts. After his departure, Rev. Ira
Pettibone, from York Mills, N. Y., was employed,
called, and settled early in 1846. He continued his
pastorate until measures were taken for the formation
of asecond Congregational church in the West vil-
lage, when he resigned, and engaged in teaching at
Cornwall. His resignation was not occasioned by
discontent or dissension in the congregation.

In 1858 fifty-one members of the church, residing
in the West village, were regularly dismissed in order
to form themselves into a new church. They were
immediately thereafter organized as “ The Second
Congregational Church of Winsted.”

In February, 1854, Rev. Henry A. Russell, a gradu-
ate of Yale Theological Seminary, was called and
ordained to the pastorate of the First Church, and

 

continued his ministrations until his resignation and
dismissal, Aug. 25, 1858.

On the 30th December, 1859, Rev. James B. Pierson
was called; and the call was unanimously renewed in
May, 1860, and he was ordained November 14th
following. His ministrations continued until his
dismission in March, 1862.

Rev. M. McG. Dana, now pastor of the First Con-
gregational Church, Norwich, supplied the pulpit
from May 11, 1862, until Dec. 25, 1864; and during
the intermediate time a call for settlement was tend-
ered him, which he declined.

In January, 1867, a call to the pastorate was tend-
ered Rev. —— Walker, and accepted by him, but was
not consummated by installation. He supplied the
pulpit until April, 1869. Rev. H. E. Cooley after-
wards supplied the pulpit for one year, ending Sept.
1, 1870.

On the 15th of October, 1870, Rev. Thomas M. Miles
was called, and on the 10th of November following was
installed as pastor. He was dismissed in 1879, and
was succeeded by the present pastor, Rev. Timothy
J. Lee. The present deacons are David Strong and
Hubert P. Wetmore.

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized Jan. 18, 1854, with the
following members: James R. Alvord, Elliot and
Delia (Rockwell) Beardsley, Lyman and Rebecca C.
(Mather) Baldwin, John and Jerusha (Rockwell)
Boyd, Ellen W. Boyd, Susan M. (Ashley) Birdsall,
Desire (Knapp) Camp, Miranda N. (Goodwin) Camp,
James and Eliza A. (Wright) Cone, John and Harriet
A. (Watson) Cone, Willard and Miranda (Frisbie)
Holmes, Betsey (Shepard) Hinsdale, Mary P. Hins-
dale, Julia (Whittlesey) Holly, Timothy and Ruth L.
(Kelly) Hulbert, John and Amanda M. (Alvord)
Hinsdale, William F. and Emeline (Baldwin) Hatch,
Sally (Palmer) Jaqua, Silas C. and Maria Johnson,
Miranda (Hoskins) Loomis, Sarah A. Loomis, Phelps
H. Parsons, Elizur B. and Mary A. (Catlin) Parsons,
William 8. and Ellen A. (Griswold) Phillips, Lucy
S. (Jaqua) Roberts, James and Lavina M. (Hub-
bard) Welch, Joel J. and Laura E. (Walter) Wilcox,
Sophia (Goodwin) Westlake, Reuben and Nancy
(Wheeler) Baldwin, Mary M. Holmes, Martha E.
Beardsley, Clarissa (Treat) Rockwell, Harriet A.
(Burt) Rockwell, Elizabeth H. Rockwell, Mary
(Beach) Camp, Climena (Foskett) Gaston, Lucy A.
(Jennings) Wilkins, Jerusha T. (Bonfoey) Jaqua,
Jennison J. and Sarah J. (Spaulding) Whiting, Jud-
son Wadsworth.

Until the completion of the church edifice service
was held in Camp’s Hall, a period of three years and
eight months. On the 10th of March, 1856, the so-
ciety’s committee were authorized to purchase a site,
and Thomas Watson, John Boyd, and Moses Camp
were appointed building committee. The house was
dedicated Sept. 16, 1857, free from debt.
214

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

In July, 1859, Elliot Beardsley, Thomas Watson,
John T. Rockwell, and Samuel L. Andrus were chosen
a committee, and instructed to proceed, as soon as
possible, to erect a building suitable for a lecture-
room. It was raised and covered during the autumn
and completed the following year (being furnished by
the ladies), at a cost of two thousand dollars.

Nov. 15, 1859, the bell, weighing two thousand one
hundred and ninety pounds, and costing seven hun-
dred dollars, was put in position. On the morning of
Feb. 10, 1860, by a severe gale, the spire was blown
over, carrying the bell with it, and one-third of the
roof was crushed in by its fall. Nearly a year was
occupied in making repairs and in building the pres-
ent spire, at a total cost of about three thousand dol-
lars. The chuch was re-entered for worship Jan. 6,
1861.

In July, 1864, Edward R. Beardsley, on behalf of
numerous subscribers, reported that two thousand
dollars had been raised to purchase an organ, and
asked permission of the society to place it in the gal-
lery. It was dedicated on the first Sabbath of Janu-
ary, 1865. The parsonage was purchased May 28,
1864, for two thousand five hundred dollars.

March 10, 1878, the society voted to make extensive
repairs upon the church, chapel, and parsonage, re-
sulting in the frescoes and carpet of the former and
the comfortable and enlarged accommodations of the
latter, at a cost of about four thousand dollars. The
whole expense, thus far, of the lots, buildings, and
improvements, is not far from thirty thousand dollars.

Deacons.—Jan. 26, 1854, Elliot Beardsley and John
Hinsdale were chosen deacons. The former served
until his resignation, March 20, 1856, and on the 3d
of April following Thomas Watson was elected, and
held the office until Dec. 81, 1874. Dec. 6, 1869,
Everett C. Holmes and Aaron T. Case were chosen.
Dec. 31,1874, George M. Carrington was elected to
fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Mr.
Watson,

Pastors.—The first pastor, Rev. Charles H. A. Bulk-
ley, was installed on Tuesday, Dee. 6, 1854. After a
pastorate of four years and four months he was dis-
missed, April 5, 1859.

An interval of two years occurred, after which the
second pastor, Rev. Hiram Eddy, was installed, on
Wednesday, Jan. 9, 1861. In June, 1861, he was
granted leave of absence for two months to accept the
Governor’s appointment of chaplain in the Second
Connecticut Volunteers. He was taken prisoner at
Bull Run, suffered severely in rebel prisons at Rich-
mond and elsewhere for more than a year, and at
length returned to his pulpit, which had been supplied
in his absence by the society and neighboring minis-
ters for the benefit of his family. His pastorate of
four years and eight months was closed by his dis-
mission, Oct. 16, 1865. Eight months later the third
pastor, Rev. Charles Wetherby, was installed, on the
14th of June, 1866. After a pastorate of five years

 

and four months he was dismissed, Oct. 18,1871. For
a year and four months following the church was
served by Rev. M. B. Angier and others, until the in-
stallation of the fourth pastor, Rev. L. H. Hallock,
Feb. 18, 1878.

The offerings of the church for benevolent objects,
during the twenty-one years of its existence, amount
to about thirty thousand dollars.

The present officers, Dec. 31, 1880, are as follows:
Pastor, Rev. L. H. Hallock, installed Feb. 18, 1873;
Deacons, Everett C. Holmes, George M. Carrington,
John Hinsdale, Samuel B. Forbes; Secretary and
Treasurer, John Hinsdale.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.*

It is now nearly one hundred years since the first
Methodist preachers entered Litchfield County. Litch-
field circuit, which embraced a wide extent of terri-
tory, first appears in the Conference Minutes in the
year 1790. The eloquent Freeborn Garretson was the
presiding elder, and the preachers of the circuit were
Samuel Wigton and Henry Cristie. The first preach-
ing by Methodist preachers in the Winsted valley
was probably a few years earlier than 1790, and as no
private houses in those days were opened for the
itinerants, it is likely that here, as elsewhere in New
England, the first sermon was preached in the open
air. But the seed thus sown bore abundant fruit, and
a Methodist Church was organized, and was in active
operation several years before the existence of any
other church organization in Winsted. In those days
the country round about was a wilderness, and the
manufacturing wealth of Winsted only included two
saw-mills, a forge, a grist-mill, and a factory for turn-
ing wooden dishes and bowls, The first store-keeper
was Elisha Lewis, and the first hotel was built by a
Mr. Wheeler, and kept by him till the year 1800.

The first meetings of the Methodists were held in
private houses of the members; then the red school-
house on Spencer Street was employed, and in 1807 a
lot near the school-house was purchased from Merit
Bull, on which was erected the first Methodist church
in Winsted. The edifice was raised and completed
under the direction of Col. Samuel Hoadley as chief
builder. That first church, the scene of many
spiritual triumphs and a Bethel to many noble men
and women, was found sufficient for the wants of the
community till 1884, when it was outgrown by the
steadily-increasing society, and the present large and
commodious church was built on Main Street.

In the early days Methodism was an unwelcome in-
truder among the pastures of Congregational ortho-
doxy in New England, and Litchfield County was not
an exception. The following extract, taken from the
church records of the Winsted Methodist Church, not
only throws light on the spirit of those times, but also
refers to the early connection of the celebrated Coe

 

* Cortributed by Rey. J. Pullman.
WINCHESTER.

family with Methodism: ‘‘The first Methodist meet-
ings were held in private houses, and were largely
attended by young people, often to the grief and scan-
dal of their parents. Jehiel Coe, now in his seven-
tieth year, relates that at one of those meetings
Jonathan Coe, Jr., was happily converted, but his
good mother was offended at his joining the Meth-
odists. For her sake, and that the family might be
able to hear and judge for themselves, it was planned
that the next Methodist service should be held in the
house of the young convert. At the meeting Jona-
than’s grandfather, both aged and blind, sat as a wor-
shiper and listened to the sermon. At the close of
the sermon the old man rose and said, ‘This is a man
of God.” The mother was soon after converted and
joined her son, and she was followed by other mem-
bers of the family. The Coe house from that time
became the home of the itinerants, and the family in
its rapidly-multiplying branches became firm and
active supporters of the rising Methodist Church.”

The Winsted Methodist Church has had the ser-
vices of many of the most eminent preachers of its de-
nomination, among whom the following may be men-
tioned: Jesse Lee, Freeborn Garretson, Daniel Os-
trander, and Nathan Bangs as presiding elders, and
Aaron Hunt, Laban Plark, Charles Sherman, Daniel
Smith, Davis W. Clark, Seymour London, and Eben-
ezer Washburn as pastors.

The present condition of the church is one of pros-
perity. There are two hundred and fifty members
and a flourishing Sunday-school, of which Charles J.
York is superintendent. The parsonage is a commo-
dious and elegant home for its pastors. The church
also has a fund which aids in meeting current ex-
penses.

Among the prominent members of the church at
present are Edward Manchester, C. J. York, L. C.
Colt, C. S. Foster, Lucius Griswold, S. A. Granger,
A. H. Snow, P. G. Sheldon, Eugene Potter, George
White, and J. E, Dean. Rev. Joseph Pullman is the
pastor.

ST. JAMES’ CHURCH.

The first stated worship of the Protestant Episcopal
Church in Winsted was begun in 1847, by Rev. H.
Frisbie, and some funds were then raised for a church
edifice. During the following year arrangements
were made for building a church, and a location was
agreed on. The present Episcopal church was soon
after contracted for, and was completed in October,
1848; and on the 27th day of that month the parish
of St. James was legally organized by choice of Rev.
Jonathan Coe, Jr., rector; James R. Coe and Uriel
Spencer, Jr., wardens; and Dr. John L. Wakefield,
Hon. William §. Holabird, and Alexander Durgin,
vestrymen. The church was consecrated the same
autumn. Rev. Jonathan Coe, Jr., was succeeded in
1854 by Rev. James W. Coe, who officiated for one
year. In 1856, Rev. James R. Coe, brother of the
first rector, was chosen rector, and officiated as such

 

215

until 1860, when he was succeeded by Rev. David H.
Short, who remained about two years, after which the
parish was for some time supplied by Rev. J. D.
Berry, D.D., of Litchfield. In 1866, Rev. William
H. Williams was chosen rector and served two years;
and was succeeded by Rev. William H. Lewis, Jr.,
who remained until May, 1870, when Rey. D. P. San-
ford took charge of the parish. .The present rector is
Rey. G. M. Stanley.

ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH.

Boyd, in his “Annals of Winchester,” states that
Roman Catholic worship was instituted in Winsted
in 1851 by Rey. James Lynch, who resided at Bir-
mingham, in New Haven County, and occasionally
visited Winsted. Mass was celebrated ‘in the school-
house of the west district. Such was the inaugural
step of what is now an extensive observation of
Catholic rites over a large portion of Litchfield
County, with Winsted asa centre. In 1852 land for
the site of a church was secured (the spot now occu-
pied by St. Joseph’s Church), the most prominent site
in the borough of Winsted (eastern portion). In the
same year (1852) Rev. Thomas Quinn, a native of
Nova Scotia, and then a recent graduate of the Roman
Catholic theological seminary at Fordham, N. Y.,
entered upon pastoral duties at Winsted, and com-
menced the erection of St. Joseph’s Church. Father
Quinn was a man of fine gifts as a preacher and
orator, and soon made himself felt in the community,
and pushed on the work of church building rapidly,
enlisting more or less aid from Protéstant parties.
Being appointed in 1853 to a more important field,
he was succeeded in that year by Rev. Philip Guillick,
a man of great resolution and of unusually fine talents
as a persuasive preacher, who had already, through
his remarkable successes, won the distinguishing so-
briquet of “the great church-builder” among the
priesthood far and wide. Father Guillick completed
the building of the church under great difficulties,
soliciting funds for it in various parts of the diocese
of Hartford (which then included Connecticut and
Rhode Island), and in New York.

Rev. Thomas Hendrickson, now bishop of Provi-
dence, succeeded Father Guillick in 1854, but was
transferred in 1855 to Waterbury, whereupon Rev.
Richard O’Gorman succeeded him in the pastorate of
St. Joseph’s. In 1856, Rev. Lawrence Mangan suc-
ceeded Father O’Gorman, and the former was suc-

‘ ceeded in 1860 by Rev. Daniel Mullen, who on the

breaking out of the war of the Rebellion was trans-
ferred to the chaplaincy of the Ninth Regiment Con-
necticut Volunteers. In 1861, Rev. Philip Riordan
was appointed to the pastorate of the church, and re-
mained in charge till 1864, when Rev. Father Leo da
Saracena, of the order of St. Francis d’Assisi (and
who had succeeded the Rev. Mullen as chaplain of
the Ninth Regiment), was appointed to the pastorate
by Bishop McFarland.
216

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

During the various pastorates above mentioned, the
Catholics of the towns of Litchfield, Goshen, Torring-
ton (Wolcottville), Norfolk, Colebrook’s River, in
Connecticut, and New Boston, Mass., had been more
or less frequently, and finally regularly, served from
St. Joseph’s. On the advent of Father Leo a some-
what new order of things was established, and, while
the towns mentioned continued to receive the same
service from Winsted, St. Joseph’s was still more
thoroughly administered. Father Leo began at once

to distinguish his administration by greater labors for .

his parish than had been bestowed upon it before.
He purchased additional lands, adjoining the site of
St. Joseph’s, with buildings thereon, which were con-
verted into a school-house and residence for the sisters
of the third order of St. Francis, by whom a school was
organized, a large number of children being in attend-
ance. In 1866, after further purchase of land for his
order, the erection of a large brick building was com-
menced for the St. Francis Literary and Theological
Seminary, the church itself being conveyed to the
order by Bishop McFarland in November, 1866. In
the same year Jands to the north of the church, known
as “the Grove,” a beautiful wooded spot, was pur-
chased, in order to erect thereon the now comely and
artistic brick structure known as the Convent of St.
Margaret of Cortona, in which an academy for fe-
males is now conducted by the Franciscan sisters.
The convent, monastery, and church occupy a com-
manding position, and are seen from all portions of
the town. The Rev. Fathers now (1881) in charge of
the theological seminary and the church are Very
Rey. Father Leo da Saracena, late Provincial Su-
perior of the Franciscan order in the United States,
and President of St. Bonaventure’s College, in Alle-
gany, N. Y.; Rev. Father Edward Agoudi, O.8.F.,
of the Roman States, Italy ; and the Rev. Bernadine
McCabe, O.8.F.

Since the advent to Winsted of the Franciscan
order of Friars, a handsome Gothic church has been
erected and a fine cemetery laid out in Litchfield; in
Goshen a new church has been built, and the church
in Norfolk rebuilt and enlarged ; in Wolcottville the
church has been enlarged and a parochial residence
bought, and a cemetery laid out; in the same a new
parish established. The mission work at Colebrook
and elsewhere is still vigorously prosecuted.

THE WOMEN’S CHRISTIAN TEMPERANCE UNION

is a praiseworthy organization of leading ladies of
Winsted, devoted to the temperance cause. Its pres-
ent officers are as follows: President, Mrs. 8. B.
Forbes ; Vice-Presidents, Mrs. Henry Gay, Mrs. Abel
Snow, Mrs. Clarke Strong; Secretary, Miss Mary L.
Catlin; Treasurer, Mrs. M. A. Abbott,

 

CHAPTER XIX.
WINCHESTER (Continued).

Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—
Documentary History—List of Senators—Representatives—Judges of
Probate—Town Clerks—Sclectmen—Military Record.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

Tue town of Winchester, consisting of the societies
of Winchester* and Winsted, was incorporated in May,
1771, and July 22, 1771, the first town-meeting was
held, when the following officers were elected: War-
ham Gibbs, moderator; Eliphaz Alvord, town clerk;
Jonathan Alvord, Seth Hills, and Samuel Wetmore,
Jr., townsmen ; Robert Mackune, treasurer; Warham
Gibbs, constable; Abram Filley, grand juryman;
Oliver Coe, Noah Gleason, and David Goff, surveyors
of highways; Josiah Averit and Joseph Hoskin,
fence-viewers ; Beriah Hills, David Austin, and Jona-
than Coe, listers; Robert Mackune, leather-sealer;
Adam Mott and Benoni Hills, tything-men.

“ Voted, That David Austin’s cow-yard be a pound for the present,

Voted, That a Maple-tree near the Meeting-House shall be a sign-post.

David Austin chosen Key-keeper.”

Names of settlers not a few appear on the land
records who, after a short buffeting with hardships
and discouragements, retired from the forbidding
field, and large numbers of others fled to the rich
lands of Western New York as soon as they became
accessible. Among those who participated in the
organization of the town, as far as it is possible to
ascertain, were the following: Jonathan Alvord, Eli-
phaz Alvord, David Austin, Josiah Avered, Benjamin
Benedict, John Bradley, Oliver Coe, Jonathan Coe, -
Aaron Oook, Nathaniel Dutton, Abram Filley, Noah
Gleason, Warham Gibbs, David Goff, Thomas Hos-
mer, Jr., Seth Hills, Beriah Hills, Benoni Hills,
Joseph Hoskin, John Hill, Simeon Loomis, Robert
McEwen, Adam Mott, Adam Mott, Jr., Ebenezer
Preston, Enoch Palmer, Daniel Platt, Lemuel Stan-
nard, Reuben Tucker, Samuel Wetmore, Jr., John
Wright, Jr., Jesse Wilkinson, Lewis Wilkinson.

BOCUMENTARY HISTORY.

In 1774, “It was put to vote whether Lent Mott should be an inhab-
itant of this town, and it was voted in the negative.”

“It was put to vote whether Widow Sarah Preston should be an in-
habitant of this town, and it was voted in the negative.”

“Tt was put to vote whether Benjamin Preston should bean inbabitant
of this town, and it was voted in the negative.”

“Winchester, October 9th, 1786, This may certify that Ihave received
from the Society’s Committee in full all that was due me from the So-
ciety, from the beginning of the world to the year 1782.

“Witness my hand, Josuua Knapp.”

1791 ro 1801.

“ Voted, That the selectmen be directed to take charge of Remembrance
Filley, and conduct with him as they shall think most for his comfort,
and will be least expensive to the town, whilst he remains in his present
state of delirium, either to set him up at vendue to the person who will
keep him the cheapest, or dispose of him in any other way which may
appear to the selectmen moré convenient, and for such time as they may
think reasonable, and on the cost of the town.”

 

* Winchester Society was incorporated in 1768, and Winsted Society in
February, 1778.
é WINCHESTER. 217

The record then states that ‘Ensign Bronson bid
off Remembrance Filley at eight shillings per week,
for two weeks, and at ten shillings for two weeks
after,” and “Samuel Wetmore (second) bid him off to
keep him two weeks, at ten shillings per week.” In
this case the step may have been necessary and justi-
fiable, by reason of the want of lunatic asylums at
that early day. Another vote of the same meeting
shows that the auctioning of paupers had not yet
been fully adopted. It was voted

“That Daniel Loomis take the oversight of building the house of Ben-
jamin Preston, and inspect the labor done, and the stuff provided for
said house, and make return to the selectmen.”

As a specimen of the economical spirit of the town
we extract the following:

“ Voted, To sell the two Congress Laws and Kirby’s Reports. Ensign
Coe bid off one Congress Law, at ten shillings, Samuel Wetmore (second)
bid off second Congress Law, at six and ninepence. Hewitt Hills bid off
Kirby’s Reports, at thirteen shillings.”

“ Voted, That not any person whatever, who shall do any service for
the town the present year, shall be allowed to receive any reward there-

for until he shall exhibit his account before the next annual town-
meeting, and have his account allowed by said meeting.”

Another, j

“To examine into the debts due to and from the town, and make out
an exact statement of accounts respecting the town’s debts and credits,
and lay the same before the next town-meeting.” ;

The society this year voted a tax of threepence on
the pound, to enable the meeting-house committee to
procure glass and nails; to be paid in beef, cattle, or
pork, or flaxseed, or one-quarter of it in butter or
cheese, at the current market price, or in cash ata
deduction of ten per cent.

The tax-list shows that there were four licensed
taverns in the town in 1795, to wit: Samuel Hurlbut,
in the house that stood at the Centre, on the site now
occupied by the house of Samuel Hurlbut; John
Miner, in the house, between Winsted and Winches-
ter, lately owned by Mrs. Almira Coe; Zerah Doo-
little, in the old Pease house, that stood where North
Main Street now runs, nearly in front of the house of
Isaac B. Woodruff, in Winsted ; and Freedom Wright,
in the Kelsey house, lately burned down, near the
small pond on the old North country road.

The assessments of trades and professions this year
(1797) were: Josiah Everitt and Joseph B. Elmore,
physicians; Fyler & Marshall and Holmes & Riley,
traders; Samuel Hurlbut, tavern-keeper; Lloyd An-
drews and John McAlpine, joiners; Roger Barber,
blacksmith ; Amasa Wade and Daniel Wells, tanners
and shoemakers,—in old society. Isaac Wheeler and
Freedom Wright, taverners; Hine Clemmons and
Wait Hills, blacksmiths; Jenkins & Loyd, scythe-
makers; Asher Loomis, tanner, John Sweet and
Chauncey Mills, millers,—in Winsted.

“ Voted, That every goose found in the highway, if any person shall
take up such goose and drive the same to the owner, or to pound, shall
be entitled to receive two cents for each goose or gander.”

“Voted, That none that shall do business for the town, in the town
the year ensuing, shall have any wages therefor, except one meal of vict-
uals a day.”

 

“a

SENATORS.

Elliot Beardsley, 1853; James Beebe, 1836-37; John Boyd, 1854; Lucius
Clarke, 1846; Samuel W. Coe, 1850; George Dudley, 1863; Gideon
Hall, Jr., 1847; Harry B. Steele.

  
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
    
 
  
 
  

 

 

 

 

REPRESENTATIVES.*
Name. First. Last. No.

Adams, Matthew.. + 1818 1831 5
Adams, Normand.. 1851 1
Alvord, Charles. 1861 1
Alvord, Eliphaz 1787 =-1811_ 11
Andrews, Dauiel.. 1833 1
Andrews, Harvey.... 1858 1
Batcheller, Wheelock F 1880

Beardsley, Elliot. 1863 1
Beebe, James.. 1819 1826 3
Beecher, Rollin L 1846 1864 2
Benedict, Benjamin. . 1787 1817 7
Bidwell, John W. 1855 1
Bird, David. 1852 1
Birdsall, James. 1859 1
Bills, Heury A.. 1874

Blake, Jonathan.. 1851 1
Boyd, James... 1804 1819 5
Boyd, John... 1880 1835 2
Bronson, Isaac.. 1823 1832 3
Bronson, Isaac A. 1866 1
Bronson, Theron. 1849 1
Bronson, William B .. 1857 1
Brownson, Ozias.. 1783 1784 3
Brown, Francis. . 1867 1
Bull, Merrit.. 1817 1817 2
Camp, John. 1844 I
Camp, Moses.. 1865 1
Case, Lyman. 1839 1
Chase, Dudley.. 1854 1
Clarke, Thomas M.. 1857 1
Cleveland, George B.. 1867 1
Cleveland, James 0 1834 1
Coe, Jonathan, Jr 1822 1828 «44
Coe, James R 1845 1
Coe, Norris. 1838 1839 2
Coe, Roger. 1814 1815 3
Coe, William G 1859 1865 2
Cummings, J. T.. 1809 1
Drake, Rutus . 1836 1837 ° 2
Dudley, Georg 1847 1
Dudley, George 1881

Dutton, Mortimer 1875

Fanning, John J. 1863 1
Ford, Nelson D... . 1878

Fyler, Florimond D 1872 1
Gaylord, Nathaniel B 1816 1818 2
Gay, Henry.. 1875

Gay, Henry 1876

Gay, Henry 1877

Gay, Henry... 1879

Gilbert, Alvin.. 1851 1
Gilbert, William L. 1848 1868 2
Gilman, Elias E.. 1866 1
Greer, Samuel. 1876

Hall, Gideon, Jr.. 1838 1860 4
Hatch, Washingt 1844 1
Higley, Horace... 1799 1806 G
Hills, Huet.. 1792 «17944
Hills, Seth... 1781 1793
Hinsdale, Bissell 1815 1815 2
Hinsdale, Hosea. 1821 1
Hinsdale, Theodore.. 1837 1
Hoadley, Samuel... 1811 1
Holmes, Joseph.... 1808 1814 6
Hubbard, Stephen A. 1855 1
Hurlbut, Samuel... 1791 1810 17
Hurlbut, Samuel 1835 1
Hurlbut, Stephen 1856 1
Hunt, Orlow D 1873

Jenkins, Benjamin 1803 =: 1804 2
Loomis, Oliver... 1834 1
Marsh, Joseph M. 1871 1
McCune, David.. 1791 1
McCune, Robert. 1781 1797 9
Miller, Joseph... 1829 1
Miner, Phineas..... 1809 «1816 6
-Moore, Ralph H 1871 1
Moore, R. H... 1870

Munsill, Marcus 1847 1
Nash, Alva... 1829 1830 2
Nellis, Edwa és 1881

Pettibone, lra W.. 1868 1
Phelps, Daniel.. 1818 «18282
Phelps, Warren. 1862 1
Platt, Sylvester.. 1860 1
Roberts, Harvey L 1871 1
Clarke, Thos. M. 1874 i

Rockwell, Alpha..

 

% Previous to the adoption of the constitution of 1818, two sessions of
the Legislature were held in each ycar,—in May and October.
OF LITCHFIELD ‘COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

 
  
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
   
 
 
 
  
 

218 HISTORY
Name. First. Last. No.

Rockwell, John T... . 1869 1
Rockwell, Solomon. . 1820 1
Rowley, Artemas.. . 1853 1
Russell, Giles... . 1810 1816 3
Russell, Nathaniel.. 1801 1
Sheldon, Philo G.. 1850 1
Smith, Asahel.. . 1827 1831 2
Smith, Elisha. 1856 1
Smith, Heman.. 1795 = 1800 8
Smith, Zebina.. 1798 1802 2
Spencer, Grinnell. 1824 1
Strong, David... 1872 1
Steele, Harvey B.. 1873

Steele, Harvey B.. 1879

Taylor, George.. 1853 1
Thayer, Wheelo 1833 1s
Tolles, AmoS........ 1812 1812 2
Wakefield, Luman 1826 1827 2
Waters, Alexande: 1878

Watson, Thomas.. 1864 1
Welch, James... 1852 L
Wetmore, Abel S.. 1848 1
Wetmore, John G. 1862 1
Wetmore, Seth..... 1799 1802 4
Wheelock, Daniel B 1849 1
White, George... 1861 1
Whiting, Riley.. 1818 1832 2
Wilder, Seth L.. 1858 1
Wilson, Abijah. 1798 1802 2
Woodruff, Frede 1870 1
York, Chas. J. 1869 1

 

York, Chas, J.
York, Chas. J.

COLLEGE GRADUATES.

Rev. Noble Everett, Yale, 1795; Abel McEwen, D.D., Yale, 1804; George
Baldwin, Yale, 1811; John Boyd, Yale, 1821; Theodore Hinsdale,
Yale, 1821; Edward Rockwell, Yale, 1821; Rev. Samuel Rockwell,
Yale, 1825; Ira W. Pettibone, Yale, 1854; Edward R. Beardsley, Yale,
1859; Rev. John B. Doolittle, Yale, 1863; Rev. Juhn W. Alvord,
Oberlin; Rev. Harmon E, Burr, Oberlin; Rev. Orrin W. White,
Oberlin; Hiram Wilson, Wesleyan University ; John C. Holabird,
Wesleyan University; Rev. Jonathan Cve, Wesleyan University;
Seth Church, Wesleyan University; Charles F, Wetmore, Trinity;
James B. Wakefield, Trinity; Rev. Leumus H. Pease, Williams,
1835; Rev. Henry B. Blake, Williams, 1841; George M. Carrington,
Williams, 1861; Benjamin W. Pettibone, Amherst, 1860.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.

The first person who enlisted in this town under
President Lincoln’s first call for troops during the
late Rebellion was Samuel B. Horne. This is also
said to have been the first regular enlistment in the
State of Connecticut. He served oui his three
months’ term, and in October of the same year en-
listed as a private in Company E, Eleventh Infantry
Volunteers; was chosen a sergeant, and rose by pro-
motion to first lieutenant and captain; was in
twenty-five battles and skirmishes, and was three
times wounded, and at the end of his three years’
term served as provost-marshal of the Eighteenth
Army Corps to the end of the war.

The following other Winchester recruits enrolled
themselves in the squad that formed the nucleus of
Infantry Company B, first organized in this town:
Abram G. Kellogg, Caleb P. Newman, Francis T Brown, Mason Atkins,

Daniel Bellows, George Bellows, Jr., Henry Bradley, Frederick W.
Daniels, Edward E. Day, Charles 0. Dennen, Rubert Dempsey, Fer-
nando Gale, Westley Gale, Dennis Glynn, Charles Harris, Samuel B,
Horne, George L. Leonard, James McCauley, Charles C. Potter,
Charles Presber, Henry Roberts, William H. Strong, Juel G. Thorpe,
Charles Vogel, Hubert A. Warner, and Henry Williams.

Two other squads of recruits having been now en-
rolled in New Hartford and Canton, together with six
individuals from Norfolk, two from Barkhamsted, and
one each from Colebrook, Salisbury, Woodbury, and

 

Harwinton, they were all united with the Winchester

squad as Company B of the Second Infantry, under

Abram G. Kellogg, of Winchester, as captain, and

Charles W. Morse and Charles Warren, of New Hart-

ford and Canton, as lieutenants.

The spirit of enlistment had hardly been aroused
when Company B was transferred to New Haven,
Simultaneous with its departure, the enrollment of
another company was called for and opened, and was
filled with the éite of the young men of the town
inasingle week. The company was organized as Rifle
Company E, Second Connecticut Infantry, with the
following rank and file from Winchester:

Captain, Sherman T. Cooke ; first lieutenant, Wheelock T. Batcheller; sec-
ond lieutenant, Charles E. Palmer; first sergeant, Jeffrey Skinner;
sergeants, James N. Coe, Charles L. Hosford, Lucien B. Wheelock;
corporals, George L. Andrews, Alanson D, Bunnell, Edward Didsbury,
Jacob T. Brown; musician, Hicks Seaman (?); privates, Antoine
Albert, Hyppolite Bluet, Albert M. Beach, Edwin Beach, Ira C. Bailey,
Decius C. Bancroft, Gustave Bernhardt, James M. Burton, Victor Clau-
det, Chauncey D, Cleveland, Daniel S. Coe, David W. Coe, William
8. Cooper, Samuel A. Cooper, William Couch, Chauncey §. Crittenden,
John M. Dennan, James Dennan, Edgar V. Doughty, Burton B,
Evitts, Philip D. Fisk, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Salmon A. Granger, Leon-
ard 8. Harris, William F. Hatch, Jr., Nelson Hodges, William 8,
Holabird, Benjamin F. Hosfurd, George Hoskin, Orson Howard,
James N. Latham, Frank B. Marsh, Lorenzo Martin, Alexander Mc-
Guire, Milton T. Moore, Augustus Nevins, Leander Packard, George
W. Pendleton, Charles H. Pond, Frederick H. Presber, James Price,
Hiram C. Roberts, William E. Snediker, Orlo S. Smith, Charles H.
Stewart, Platner 8. Sweet, George M. Van Oustrom, Herbert L.
Veber, Arthur Wadsworth, Joseph Watson, Thomas Welch, John P.
Wilbur, Marcus J. Whitehead, John Wheeler, and James G, Wood-
ruff.

Company E, on its departure for New Haven on
the 25th of April, received an ovation in all respects
similar to, but on a larger scale than, that given to
Company B on the 21st. It was emphatically a town
company, while Company B wasa contribution of three
towns. More than halfof them were mechanics, about
one-fourth were farmers, and the remainder, in about
equal proportions, were clerks and laborers. Germany
had six representatives, Ireland three, and England
one. With the exception of Private James M. Burton,
who died of diphtheria at New Haven hospital on the
day after mustering in, not a death occurred in the
company during its term of service.

A large portion of the officers and soldiers of these
companies, from time to time, re-enlisted into other
regiments, and were largely promoted to higher grades.
Among them were the following:

George L, Andrews, corporal, Co. E, 2d Inf., to sergeant, Co, F, 28th Conn.
Tof.

Mason Adkins, private, Co. B, 2d Inf, to first sergeant, Co. E, 2d Heavy
Art.

Antoine Albert, private, Co, E, 2d Inf., to private and veteran, Co. G,
12th Inf.

Wheelock T. Batcheller, first lieutenant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to major, 28th Inf,

Jacob T. Brown, corporal, Co. E, 2d Inf., to corporal, Co. B, 12th Inf.;
killed at Cedar Creek.

Francis T. Brown, sergeant, Co. B, 2d Inf, to captain, Co. E, 11th Inf.

Daniel Bellows, private, Co. B, 2d Inf., to corporal and veteran, Co. E,
7th Inf. ’

George Bellows, Jr., private, Co. B, 2d Inf, {o private and veteran, Co.
E, 7th Inf.; mortally wounded at Hampton, Va.

James N. Coe, sergeant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to first lieutenant, Co. I, and cap-
tain, Co, H, 2d Heavy Art.
WINCHESTER. 219

Daniel S. Coe, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to second lieutenant, Co. E, 7th Inf.

David W. Coe, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., and detailed clerk to Gen. Tyler
and Maj.-Gen. Keyes, U.S.A.; enl. on U. S. frigate “Sabine,” and
served as executive officer's clerk.

William S. Cooper, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to corporal, Co. E, 2d Heavy
Art.

Frederick W. Daniels, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to sergeant, Co. E, 2d Heavy
Art.; killed at Cold Harbor, Va. ‘

Robert Dempsey, private, Co. B, 2d Inf., to first lieutenant, Co. E, 7th
Inf.; killed at Olustee, Fla,

Salmon A. Granger, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to first lieutenant, Co. E, 2d
Heavy Art.

Charles E. Hosford, sergeant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, Co. D, 11th Inf.

Benjamin 8. Hosford, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, Co. D, 2d Heavy
Art.; killed at Cedar Creek.

George Hoskins, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to private, Co, F, 28th Inf.

Orson Howard, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, 9th N. Y. Heavy Art.;
killed at Petersburg, Va.

Samuel B, Iorne, private, Co. B, 2d Infantry, to sergeant, lieutenant,
and captain, Co. F, 11th Inf.

George L. Leonard, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to private, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art.

Benjamin F. Marsh, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to corporal, Co. F, 28th Inf. ;
lost an arm at Pott Hudson.

Milton T. Moore, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to sergeant, Co. F, 28th Inf.

Caleb P. Newman, first sergeant, Co. C, 2d Inf., to first lieutenant, Co. F,
28th Inf.

Frederick 0. Peck, private, Co. D, 2d Inf., to private, 22d Mass. Inf.;
twice wounded at Gaines’ Mill, Va.

Charles E. Palmer, second lieutenant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, Co. E,

7th Inf.; died at Hilton Head, S. C.

Leander Packard, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to private, Co, E, 11th Inf.

Hiram C. Roberts, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to sergeant, Co. E, 11th Inf.;
killed at Sharpsburg, Md.

Henry L. Roberts, private, Co. B, 2d Inf., to sergeant, Co F, 28th Inf.

Jeffrey Skinner, first sergeant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, Co. E, 2d Heavy
Art.; pro. to major and lieutenant-colonel, same regiment.

Orlo §. Smith, private, Co. E, 2d Inf., to first lieutenant, Co. I, 2d Heavy
Art.

Lucien B. Wheelock, sergeant, Co. E, 2d Inf., to captain, Co. F, 28th Inf.

Marcus J. Whitehead, private, Co. E, 2d Infantry, to private, Co. E, 2d
Heavy Art.

John Wheeler, private Co. E, 2d Infantry, to sergeant Co. F, first and
second lieut. Co. G, 2d Heavy Art. ;

The first regiment of cavalry was originally a bat-
talion consisting of four companies, recruited in the
fall of 1861, and about a year after was increased to
a full regiment of twelve companies. The following
Winchester men are found on its rolls:

Company A, Frank Parkant and Geo, L. Leonard; Company D, Wm. C.
Wakefield; Company E, James G. Ferris aud Nelson Proper; Com-
pany F, Michael Finn and John Gloster; Company K, Burton B.
Beach; Company M, John Rose.

Unassigned substitutes—Wm. Clancey, Michael Calahan, James Flynn,
James H. Gaunon, Hugh Gray, Wm. Garson, Charles Hull, John
Harris, Charles Earne, Richard Mooney, John Schmidt, Julius
Thorne, Thomas Daley, Peter Dunn, James Taylor, and Augustus
Weiss.

Of these, Julius Thorne alone died in the service.

The Fifth Regiment Infantry was organized in June,
1861, and went into service July 29 following ; fought
at Winchester, Cedar Mountain, and Chancellorsville,
Va.; Gettysburg, Pa.; Resaca, Dallas, Marietta,
Beach Tree Creek, and Atlanta, Ga.; Chesterfield
Court-House, 8. C.; and Silver Run, N. C.; and was
mustered out with distinguished honor July 19, 1865.
On the rolls of this regiment we find the following
names of Winchester men:

Harlan P. Rugg, corporal in Co. 1; wounded at Cedar Mountain; pro. to

captain; must. out July 19, 1865.
Robert Arnold, killed at Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862.

 

Joseph Hermandy, must. out July 19, 1865.
William Murray, disch. Feb, 23, 1865.
Robert St. Clair, must. out July 19, 1865.

During the month of September, 1861, a quota of
sixteen Winchester men and about twenty men from
other towns in the county of Litchfield were recruited
under the auspices of Second Lieut. Charles C.
Palmer, late of Company E, and on the 7th of Sep-
tember, 1861, were mustered into Company E, Seventh
Infantry, commanded successively by Col. Alfred H.
Terry and Col. Joseph R. Hawley. Of this company
Lieut. Palmer was appointed captain, and Robert

Dempsey, late private of Company B, second lieu-
tenant.

The Winchester men in this regiment were as fol-
lows :

Captain, Charles E. Palmer; first lieutenant, Robert Dempsey; second
lieutenant, Daniel 8. Coe; corporals, Daniel Bellows and John G.
Rowley ; privates, George E. Andrews, John Biederman, Albert Bur-
dick, George W. Daniels, Charles Gilbert, Charles L. Hewitt, Sterling
D. Milliman, James A. Pease, Patrick Quigley, Henry H. Rowley,
James Tencellent, all of Company E.

Captain Palmer, an unassuming young man of delicate training, de-
veloped in his first campaign the highest soldierly qualities by strict and
cheerful performance of duty, and kind attention to the wants and com-
forts of hismen. But it was not until he came into command of Com-
pany E that his endurance and bravery were fully tested. In the siege
and capture of Fort Pulaski he commanded Battery Lincoln ; and in the
report of the bloody battle of Secessiunville he was highly complimented
for bravery and coolness. Soon after this hard-fought but unsuccessful
battle he died from exposure and exhaustion. From Colonel Terry’s let-
ter to his parents, now bereaved of their last child, we quote as follows:

“At the time of the action on James Island he was so ill that, under
ordinary circumstances, he would not have been in command of his com-
pany; but prompted by the devotiun to duty which always distinguished
him, he led his company to the field, and gave to it and the regiment a
splendid example of courage and firmness under most trying circum-
stances. The noble purity and uprightness of his nature and his emi-
nently soldierly qualities had endeared him to us all, and had led us to
look forward to a brilliant future for him; and we mourn his loss, not
only as ours and yours, but as a loss to the country which he served so
faithfully.”

In answer to a letter to Gen. Hawley from Palmer
Post inviting him to the decoration ceremonies at
Winsted, dated May 11, 1872, he writes as follows:

“The uame of your post awakens my recollections of that noble sol-
dier and man, Capt. Palmer. Never shall I forget that it was his ex-
treme fidelity to duty that cost him his life. He ought to have gone to
the hospital, but would not leave the field. Well I remember his coun-
tenance as I walked by the stretcher that carried him dying on board
the steamer.” :

Lieut. Dempsey was wounded in the shoulder June 1, 1862; returned
home on furlough while disabled ; rejoined his regiment in the fall,
and was killed at Olustee, Fla., Feb. 24, 1864.

Private Charles Gilbert, noted on the muster-rulls as from Canton, had
his home resideuce in Winchester, where he was born and raised.
Conscientious as well as patriotic motives induced him to enlist.
His brothers had families, and he was single, and he felt it his duty
to represent them in the service. He was a most worthy man and a
good soldier; was wounded in the head and leg at Secessionville,
§. C., tuken prisoner on the field, and carried to Charleston, where
he died of his wounds in the hospital, July 9, 1862, aged twenty-
nine. He was a son of Samuel D. Gilbert, deceased, late of Win-
chester.

Private George Bellows served in Company B, Second Infantry, and after
honorable discharge at the end of the term, enlisted in Company E,
Seventh Infantry, Sept. 7, 1861; re-enlisted a veteran, Dec. 22, 1864,
and died uf wounds received at Hampton, Va., Oct. 28, 1864. He
was son of George Bellows, Sr., of Winchester, and died unmarried.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Private Albert Burdick, Company E, died of fever at Beaufort, S. C.,

July 29, 1862.
Private John Biederman, re-enlisted a veteran Dec. 22, 1863, and was
killed Oct. 13, 1864.

All the other members of this company were hon-
orably discharged or mustered out at the end of their
terms,

In the Eighth Regiment, recruited at Camp Buck-
ingham, Hartford, which fought at Newbern, N. C.,
Fort Macon, N. C., Antietam, Md., Fredericksburg,
Fort Huger, Walthall Junction, Fort Darling, Peters-
burg, and Fort Harrison, Va., we find the names of
two Winchester men,—Mathew Whifler, private,
Company A, and John C. Cooley, corporal, Company
C, re-enlisted veteran,—both mustered out at the end
of their terms.

In the Ninth (Irish) Regiment we find the name of
Chaplain Daniel Mullen, at the time of his appoint-
ment pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Win-
sted, a young man of literary culture and earnest
patriotism, who served at Baton Rouge and Chacka-
loo Station, La., and Deep Bottom, Va. He was com-
pelled by ill health to resign on the 26th of August,
1862. He was succeeded as chaplain by Father Leo
da Saracena, O.8.F., the present pastor of St. Joseph’s
Church, and President of St. Francis’ Literary and
Theological Seminary.

It is not to be inferred, from finding no other names
of Winchester Irishmen on the rolls of this regiment,
that the foreign citizens were wanting in patriotism,
for the names of Winchester men in other regiments
abundantly show that in proportion to our population
Irishmen, Germans, and Englishmen are amply rep-
resented.

On the roll of the Tenth Regiment the only name
of a Winchester man is that of Col. Ira W. Pettibone,
who was commissioned as major; served in the bat-
tles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, N. C., and was
successively promoted to lieutenant-colonel and col-
onel. The climate of North Carolina debilitated him
to such a degree that he was compelled to resign, and
he was honorably discharged in November, 1862.

The Twelfth Regiment of Volunteer Infantry was
recruited at Camp Lyon, Hartford, under command
of Col. Henry C. Deming; was attached to Butler’s
division, and sailed from New York for Ship Island,
Mississippi Sound, Feb. 24, 1862. It followed the
naval armament, under Farragut, up the Mississippi,
and witnessed the bombardment of Forts Jackson
and St. Philip; followed the armament up to New
Orleans, where it landed and garrisoned the city on
its forced surrender, Col. Deming assuming the office
of provisional mayor. It was encamped for a time
at Baton Rouge, and was afterwards engaged in active
service in Louisiana. It bore a conspicuous part in
the siege of Port Hudson, after which it returned to
New Orleans, and in July, 1864, embarked for For-
tress Monroe, and in August following joined Sheri-
dan’s army in the Shenandoah Valley, and partici-

 

pated in the battles of Opequan, Fisher’s Hill, and
Cedar Creek, after which, it having been reduced to
a skeleton by losses in battle and by disease, and by
expiration of the term of service of a large portion
of its men, it was reorganized under Lieut,-Col,
Lewis, and continued to serve in Virginia until its
muster out in August, 1865,

Only six Winchester men belonged to this regiment,
as follows:

Dr. John B, Welch, second assistant surgeon, who died of scarlatina, on
shipboard, at Ship Island, Feb. 13, 1862.

Dr. John R. Cumming, appvinted second assistant surgeon in place of
Assist. Surg, Welch, was promoted to surgeon, and was mustered out
at Savannah, Ga., Aug. 12, 1865.

Private Solomon R. Hinsdale, Co. A, appointed quartermaster-sergeant ;
promoted to second lieutenant; resigned Aug. 9, 1862, on his ap.
pointment as assistant-paymaster in the navy, after which he served
on the Mississippi flotilla above Vicksburg, until prostrated by fever,
aud compelled to resign by impaired health.

Sergt. Jucob T. Brown, Co. C, killed at Fisher’s Hill, Va., Sept. 19, 1864,
While giving water from his canteen to a wounded lieutenant of an
Iowa regiment, on the battle-field, he was shot in the abdomen bya
rebel sharpshooter, and died three hours after. He was a model of
physical manhood ; a kind-hearted, unassuming man, and a consist-
ent member of the Methodist Church, esteemed by his comradés ag
a conscientious Christian soldier.

Private George W. Eggleston, Co. C, enlisted March 2, 1864, and was
mustered out at Savannah, Aug. 12, 1865.

Private Wm. H. Pool, Co. C, enlisted Feb. 24, 1864; discharged at New
Haven, April 29, 1865..

Private John W. Vaughn, Co, C, enlisted Feb. 24, 1864; mustered out at
Savannah, Ga., Aug. 12, 1865.

Second Lieut. John W. Hurlbut, of Co. G, resigned June 6, 1862.

A squad of ten Winchester men composed a part of
the rank and file of Company D, Eleventh Regiment
Infantry, consisting of

Charles L. Hosford, first lieutenant; Levi L. Dayton, corporal ; privates,
Frank 8. Pease, Lewis Dayton, Edward S. Fleming, Charles Hull,
George Kinney, Daniel Lotheringtun, William H. Slack, and Albert
M. Tuttle.

Another squad of twelve men composed a part of
Company E of the same regiment, consisting of

Francis T. Brown, first sergeant; Samuel B. Horne and Hiram C. Rob-
erts, sergeants ; William T. Page, Jr., and John K. Twiss, corporals;
privates, George Allen, William E. Cogswell, James Dudley, Erastus
Eggleston and Rufus Eggleston (twins), Andrew M. Hurlbut, Le-
ander Packard.

The following Winchester men of this regiment
were killed or died in the service:

Private Lewis Dayton, Co. D; killed at Sharpsburg (Antietam), Md.

Private Wm. H. Slack, Co. D; died of wounds (loss of an arm) received at
Newbern, March 22, 1862.

Private Albert M. Tuttle, Co. D; killed at Cold Harbor, Va, June 5,
1864,

Serg. Hiram C. Roberts, killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

Corp. William T. Page, Jr., wounded at Antietam, Sept. 17; dich. for
disability Oct. 25, 1862.

Corp. John K. Twiss, Co. E; wounded and taken prisoner at Drury’s
Bluff; died of wounds at Richmond, May, 1864.

Private Wm. F. Cogswell, Co. E; killed at Antietam, Sept. 17, 1862.

The promotions of Winchester men in this regh
ment were as follows: ;

Sergt. Francis T. Brown, Co. E, to captain,

Sergt. Samuel B. Horne, Co. E, to captain.

Lieut. Charles L, Hosford to captain, and in command as senior officer
of the regiment at the termination of the battle of Autictam.
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WINCHESTER.

On the rolls of the Thirteenth Regiment, organized
at New Haven, Nov. 25, 1861, which participated in
the engagements of Georgia Landing, Irish Bend,
Port Hudson, Cane River, and Mansara, in Louisiana,
and Winchester, Fisher’s Hill, and Cedar Creek, in
Virginia, the names of four Winchester men are found,
viz:

Second Assist. Surg. Lucius W. Clark.

George Losaw, private, Co. D; re-enl. veteran; trans. to Co. B; must.
out April 25, 1866.

Charles Daniels, private, Co. F; pro. to second lieutenant; res. Jan. 8,
1864,

Edward Skinner, private, Co. G; re-enl. veteran; trans. to Co. D; must.
out April 25, 1866.

On the rolls of the Sixteenth Regiment is the name
of Elliot Flemming, of Winchester, a private in Com-
pany G, killed at Antietam, Sept. 16, 1862.

The Nineteenth Infantry Regiment, afterwards re-
organized as Second Regiment Heavy Artillery, was
raised and organized as one of the five county regi-
ments under the call of Lincoln, on the Ist of July,
1862, for three hundred thousand men.*

The names of Winchester men in this company
originally enlisted, amounting to sixty-two, are as fol-
lows:

Captain, Jeffrey Skinner ; first lieutenant, Benjamin F. Hosford ; second
lieutenant, Chester D. Cleveland (of Winsted Society); sergeants
Orlow J, Smith, Salmon A. Granger, George White, Henry Skinner,
Wm. S. Cooper, Stephen W. Sage, Mason Adkins, Frederick W.
Daniels, Charles A. Reynolds; musicians, Wilson B. White, Myron
Ferris; wagoner, Alfred G. Bliss; privates, James R. Baldwin, Ed-
ward Beach, Patrick T. Birmingham, Almeron Bunnell, Edward F,
Carrington, Philip D. Carroll, Frederick M. Cook, Alfred Comins,
Robert A. Cutler, Henry A. Dayton, Adam J. N. Dilley, Edwin
Downs, Lewis Downs, Bernard W. Doyle, Birdsey Gibbs, George N.
Gibbs, James A. Green, Manwaring Green, William Hall, Luther W.
Hart, Timothy A. Hart, Willard Hart, Geo. W. Hurlbut, William 8.
Hurlbut, William R. Hubbard, Asa Humiston, Alonzo J. Hull, Henry
C. Kent, Walter Martin, Herman P. Moore, Henry Overton, Joseph
Pettit, Charles Henry Pine, Jerome Preston, Theodore Robbins, Ed-
mund B, Sage, William Seymour, Lucius §. Skinner, John Smith,
Prosper W. Smith, Philip Stabell, Darwin S. Starks, John M. Teeter,
Hubert A. Warner, Marcus A. Whitehead, Warren M. Wood, Julius
‘Woodford, Wallace M. Woodruff.

To these were added, by subsequent enlistment, the
following Winchester men who died in the service, or
were honorably discharged or mustered out:

Ernest A. Basney, Robert J. Balcroft, Samuel U. Brew, Henry Clarke,
Wells Clark, Benjamin G. Carman, David Durand, Jared P. Evarts,
Mathew Fitzgerald, Patrick Keegan, Jacob Le Roy, Julius Rogers,
Henry J. Reynolds, William H. Rowe, Edward Rugg, Edward E.

Rowe, Philip Shelley, Henry Van Duesen, William Warner, Erastus
Woodworth, Henry Wenzell.

The killed and mortally wounded were as follows:

At Cold Harbor: Col. Elisha 8. Kellogg, Sergt. Frederick W. Daniels,
Musician Myron Ferris, Privates James R. Baldwin,t Alfred Comins,

 

* See Chapter V.

+ Among the names on the foregoing list were James R. Baldwin and
Henry C. Kent, who were in the assault at Cold Harbor, and were never
seen afterwards, They were doubtless killed, and the remains buried
during some of the following nights by fatigue-parties, who could carry
nO lights without drawing the fire of the rebel batteries in close vicinity
of the battle-field. Private Baldwin was son of Mr. Ezra Baldwin, of
Winsted ; youthful and cheery, tenderly reared and religiously educated,
beloved of his parents and comrades.

16

 

221

Lewis Downs, Birdsey Gibbs, James A. Green, Willard Hart, Alonzo
J. Hull, Henry C. Kent, Walter Martin, John M. Teeter, Jared P.
Everts,—14 of Co. E; to these add Albert M. Tuttle, Co. D, Eleventh
Regiment,—15,

Al Cedar Creek: Capt. Benjamin F. Hosford, whose remains were brought
home for interment.

The following members of the regiment were
wounded, but not mortally, in the service:

At Cold Harbor: Privates Edward Beach, Philip D. Carrol, William Sey-
mour, Marcus A. Whitehead, Ernest Busney, Samuel N. Brew, Jacob
Le Roy, Julius Woodford, Henry Wenzell. fi

At Cedar Creek: Maj. Jeffrey Skinner, Corp. Wm, S. Cooper.

The following-named men (privates) died in the
service:

Manwaring Green, Oct. 17, 1864, by railroad accident.

George W. Hurlbut, at Fort Worth, Va., March 27, 1863,

William 8S. Hurlbut, at regimental hospital, Oct. 25, 1863.

William R. Hubbard, at regimental hospital, Aug. 4, 1864,

Jerome Preston, at regimental hospital, Oct. 24, 1863.

Darwin S. Starks, at regimental hospital, Aug. 23, 1863.

Mathew Fitzgerald, prisoner of war at Salisbury, N. C., Jan. 6, 1865.
Julius Rogers, at regimental hospital, Sept. 21, 1864.

Edward E. Rowe, at Warren Station, Va., March 27, 1865.

Julius Woodford, at regimental hospital, Jan. 30, 1865.

The heroic Col. Elisha S. Kellogg, who commanded
the regiment at Cold Harbor, and there fell at the
head of his men, though a resident of Derby on en-
tering the service, subsequently removed his family
to the society of Winsted, and his remains lie buried
in the South Cemetery under an appropriate monu-
ment.

The final contribution of Winchester men for the
service was made to the Twenty-eighth Regiment of
nine months’ infantry, consisting of the major of the
regiment, a captain, two lieutenants, and fifty-nine
enlisted men. The regiment encamped at New Haven
until Nov. 18, 1862, when it embarked for Pensacola,
Fla., and there remained inactive until ordered to
join Gen. Banks’ army, and, after harassing marches
in Louisiana, was actively engaged in the assault on
Port Hudson, June 14, 1863, sustaining a loss of fifty-
nine killed, wounded, and missing. The regiment
was mustered out of service at New Haven, Conn.,
Aug. 28, 1863.

The names of the Winchester men in the regiment
were:

Wheelock T. Batcheller, major; Lucien B. Wheelock, captain of Co.
F; Caleb P. Newman, first lieutenant; Jabez Alvord, second lieu-
tenant; sergeants, George L. Andrews, Silas H. McAlpine, Milton
T. Moore, and Henry L. Roberts; corporals, B. Frank Marsh, Wm.
A. Wadsworth, Wm. Couch, Chas. H. Moore, and Joseph H. C Batch-
elder; privates, Columbus C, Wright, Saml. C. Barber, George Bul-
croft, Chas. Baldwin, Edward Camsell, Henry P. Cook, Peter Coe,
Jas. Dugan, Geo. N. Dewey, Henry Detert, Cornelius Dayton, Chas.
Decker, Lucius Eggleston, Geo. W. Elmore, Paul Forcier, Correll T.
French, Edward Finn, Mathew M. Fitzgerald, Claudius W. 8. Foster,
John E. Garrett, Ward Grant, Saml. E. Griffin, Wm. Hague, Charles
N. Hollister, George Hoskin, Edward B. Kinney, Ralph Lina, Charles
Maddra, Harvey Moore, George R. Moore, Silas Moore, Elbert Man-
chester, Thomas Morris, James E. Maddra, James McDermott, Wil-
liam N. Pierce, George L. Pease, John Partridge, Elam E. Richardson,
William H. Rowe, David R. Rankin, Stephen Scott, Frank 8, Turner,
Lyman Terrill, Cassius Watson, Howard 8. Wheeler, William 8.
Woodford, Mark H. Wheeler, Henry C. White, and Michael Hag-
garty, of Company H.
222

The following deaths occurred in the service:

Private Columbus C. Wright, died at Brashear City, La., May 23, 1863.

Private Samuel C. Barber, died on the Mississippi.

Private Charles Madara, died at Great Barrington, Mass., Aug. 23, 1863.

Private Cassius Watson, died at Brashear City, La., May 23, 1863.

Private Mark H. Wheeler, killed at Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863.

Private Howard 8. Wheeler, died soon after reaching home, of disease
contracted in the service.

Private Michael Haggarty, of Co. H, died of wounds received at Port
Hudson, Aug. 12, 1863.

The following Winchester men served as officers of
the First Regiment Louisiana Colored Engineers :

Willard S. Wetmore, first lieutenant and quartermaster.
Edward Hewitt, first lieutenant.

The following Winchester men served in the navy:

Marcus Baird, ensign and acting sailing-master, Gulf Squadron.

David W. Coe, executive officer’s clerk, United States frigate “Sabine.”

Solomon R. Hinsdale, assistant paymaster on the Mississippi flotilla,
above Vicksburg.

Henry Overton, transferred from Second Heavy Artillery to the United
States navy.

Ansel Rowley.

The following is a list of soldiers of the town who
died in the service:

Robert Arnold, corporal, Co. I, 5th Inf.; killed at Cedar Mountain Ang.
9, 1862.

Jacob T. Brown, sergeant, Co, C, 12th Inf.; killed at Fisher’s Hill Sept.
19, 1864.

James M. Burton, private, Co. B, 2d Inf.; died in hospital at New Haven
May 13, 1861.

George Bellows, Jr., private, Co. E,7th Inf.; mortally wounded at Hamp-
ton, Va., Oct. 19, 1864.

James R. Baldwin, private, Co. E,2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Har-
bor June 1, 1864.

Samuel C. Barber, private, Co. F, 28th Inf.; died of fever on the Missis-
sippi River,

Albert Burdick, private, Co. E, 7th Inf.; died at Beaufort, S. C., July 29,
1862.

John Biederman, private, Co. E, 7th Inf.; died Oct. 13, 1864.

Alfred Comins, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864,

Wolcott Cook, private, Co. K,2d Heavy Art.; died at City Point, Va.,
June 16, 1865,

William F. Cogswell, private, Co. E, 11th Inf.; killed at Sharpsburg,
Md., Sept. 17, 1862.

Frederick W. Daniels, sergeant, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold
Harbor June 1, 1864.

Robert Dempsey, lieutenant, Co. E, 7th Inf.; killed at Olustee, Fla., Feb,
20, 1865.

Lewis Downs, private, Co, E, 24 Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor June
1, 1864.

George C. Downs, private, Co. C,13th Inf.; died on the Mississippi Sept.
13, 1863.

Lewis Dayton, private, Co. D, 11th Inf.; killed at Sharpsburg, Md., Sept.
17, 1862.

James Dolphin, private, Co. G, 14th Rhode Island Col. Art.; died at
Plaquemine, La., Aug. 5, 1864.

Lucius B. Eggleston, private, Co. F, 28th Inf. 3; died at Memphis, Tenn.

Jared P. Evarts, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864.

Myron Ferris, musician, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864.

Elliott Fleming, private, Co. G, 16th Inf.; killed at Sharpsburg, Md.,
Sept. 16, 1862.

Mathew Fitzgerald, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; died uw prisoner at
Salisbury, N. C.

Birdsey Gibbs, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor June
1, 1864,

James A. Green, quartermaster-sergeant, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art.; mortally
wounded at Cold Harbor.

Manwaring Green, private, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art. ; killed by railroad ac-
cident Oct. 17, 1864. i

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Charles Gilbert, private, Co. E, 7th Inf.; died of wounds in Charleston,
8. C., July 9, 1862,

Benjamin F. Hosford, captain, Co. D, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cedar:
Creek Oct. 19, 1864.

Willard Hart, private, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor June
1, 1864,

George W. Hurlbut, private, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art.; died at Alexandria,
Va., March 27, 1863.

William 8, Hurlbut, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; died at Fort Worth,
Va., Oct. 25, 1863.

William R. Hubbard, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; died at Fort Worth
Feb. 28, 1864.

Asa Humiston, private, Co, E, 2d Heavy Art.; mortally wounded at Ope-
quan, Va., Sept. 19,1864; died Sept. 21, 1864. 5

Alonzo J. Hull, private, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864.

Lewis Hazzard, private, Co, G, 29th Col. Inf.; drowned at ‘Plaquemine,
La., Oct. 5, 1865.

Michael Haggarty, private, Co. H, 28th Inf.; mortally wounded at Port
Hudson Aug. 12, 1863.

Davis Hart, private, Co. A, Mass, Inf.; killed at Fredericksburg, Va.

Henry C. Kent, private, Co, E, Second Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 1, 1864.

Walter Martin, private, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Harbor:
June 1, 1864.

Charles E, Palmer, captain, Co. E, Seventh Inf.; died at James’ Island,
8. C., July 7, 1862.

Jerome Preston, piivate, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; died at Alexandria,
Va., Oct. 24, 1863,

Hiram Roberts, private, Co. E, Eleventh Inf.; killed at Sharpsburg, Md,
Sept. 17, 1862. :

Edward E. Rowe, private, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; died at Petersburg,
Va., March, 1865.

Julius Rogers, private, Co, E, Second Heavy Art.; died at Petersburg,
Va., Sept. 21, 1864.

William H. Slack, private, Co. D, Eleventh Inf.; mortally wounded at
Newbern, N. C., March 22, 1862.

Darwin S. Starks, private, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; died at Alexandria,
Va., Aug. 23, 1863.

John M. Teeter, private, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; killed at Cold Har-
bor June 1, 1864.

Albert M, Tuttle, private, Co. D, Eleventh Inf.; killed at Cold Harbor
June 3, 1864.

John K. Twiss, sergeant, Co. E, Eleventh Inf.; died at Richmond, Va,
May 1, 1864.

Julius Thorne, private, Co. M, First Cav.; died at New Haven Dee.
14, 1864,

Jobn B. Welch, assistant surgeon, Twelfth Inf.; died at Ship Island Feb.
13, 1862.

Howard S. Wheeler, private, Co. F, Tweuty-eighth Inf.; died of scurvy
at home after muster out.

Mark H. Wheeler, private, Co. F, Twenty-eighth Inf.; killed at Port
Hudson, La, June 14, 1863.

Julius Woodford, private, Co. E, Second Heavy Art.; died at Alexandria,
Va., Jan. 30, 1864.

William S. Watson, private, Co. K, Second Heavy Art.; died at Alexan-
dria, Va., Aug. 28, 1863.

Columbus C. Wright, wagoner, Co. F, Twenty-eighth Inf.; died at Brash-
ear City, La., May 23, 1863.

Cassius Watson, private, Co. F, Twenty-eighth Inf.; died at Brashear
City, La., May 23, 1863.

From the foregoing data we gather, as the effective
force of Winchester men, regularly mustered and en-
gaged in the military and naval service, and honorably
discharged therefrom, three hundred and _ fifty-two
efficient men, thirty-four of whom re-enlisted for sec-
ond terms of service early in the war, and twelve or
more re-enlisted as veterans after three years of sel-
vice. To these are to be added not less than seventy-
five substitutes, purchased by the town authorities in
the bounty-jumping shambles, who never resided in
the town, and whose names it would be superfluous to
 
WINCHESTER.

223

 

give. Of this class full forty deserted,—most of them
immediately after receiving their bounty; twenty were
unassigned or not taken up on the rolls; and a small
number were killed, or honorably discharged at the
end of their terms of service, and are named among
the effective men.
SUMMARY.
Whole number of effective men

 

  

Men enlisting and serving second terms.. 46
Deserters, bounty-jumpers, and “ dead bea 5
473

The pecuniary outlay of the town in bounties, ex-
penses of filling quotas, and aid of soldiers’ families,
as appears by the accounts of the selectmen, was as
follows :

 
 

 

1861.—Paid volunteers and their families... $851.63
1862,— ‘“ expenses of filling quotas. 492.59
“ bounties on enlistments... 6,500.00

1863.— “ bounties and expenses of. filling quotas... 16,110.00
1864.— “ w+ 16,481.05
1865.— “ ss ee - » 14,233.45
1866.— “ “ of Mi 300.00
1867.— “ ss ne s 2.53
$54,977.25

The individual contributions, as far as ascertained,
were as follows:

Balance of cash raised in 1861 by citizens for purchase of ma-
terials for soldiers’ uniforms, and for support of their fum-

 

    

ilies, and not refunded by the State. $676.14
Cash paid by individuals for filling quota in 1864 664.42
Bounties of $10 each to 100 men by Elliot Beardsley: 1,000.00
Bounties paid by other citizens (estimated) 2,000.00

 

 

$4,340.56

A large amount of hospital stores, clothing, bed-
ding, provisions, and cash were furnished by female
societies, only a portion of which can be ascertained,
by reason of the imperfect records made of the same.
We compile from such records and memoranda as
have been preserved the following items:

 
  
  

 

Making up 103 uniforms from materials paid for by the pa $412.00
ee 112 shirts (cloth furnished) 84,00

200 Tinen havelocks........escssesses ceereeee 100.00
Sent to Christian Commission 16 boxes a

bedding, and hospital stores, valued a’ 688.18
Cash, proceeds of tableau exhibition.. 252.50
To Sanitary Commission, hospital arti 476.39
To Mrs. Harris, superintendent of hospitals, Philadelphia, hos-

pital articles and stores.

 
  

To Freedmen’s and Refugee Aid Societies.
To Soldiers’ Aid Society
To soldiers in Connecticut regiments 96 barrels and 15 boxes

vegetables, provisions, and StOTeS...........csseessecersessareeeneeres

635,00
$4,600.98

The above articles, estimated below their value, and
comprising an infinite variety, were mainly furnished
by one of our two female organizations. Of the num-
ber and value of articles supplied by the other society
we have obtained no statement, but may safely esti-
mate them at $2081.21; and so estimating them, we
have the following summary of town expense:

ToWD @XPeNSeS......eeessecececeneeees «+ $48,977.25

 
  
 

Cash items by citizens of the tow 4,340.56
. Clothing, bedding, hospital stores,
West Winsted Soldiers’ Aid Society... 4,600.98

 

Similar articles furnished by other societies and individuals

(estimated)... 2,081.21

$60,000.00

Grand total ecccsssssacscacasscessossssoesevedessossroaneressnossecesess

The contributions furnished by the female society
above named are specified with great particularity

 

and precision, and are largely made up of the most
valuable and indispensable articles of clothing and
bedding, the cost of materials worked up- and paid
for in cash making a large part of their estimated
value.

One item of hospital stores, nowhere enumerated,
was the product of ninety-five bushels of blackberries,
which were gathered in one day, mostly by females,
on a proposition of Gail Borden, Esq., that he would
convert into jam all the blackberries so gathered in
one day, at the condensed milk-factory owned in part
by him, the sugar and cans being paid for.

——_—__-~top.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEORGE DUDLEY.

George Dudley was born at Bloomfield, Conn., Sept.
17, 1808 ; married, at Winsted, April 28, 1831, Electa,
daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Sheldon) Camp, and
died at West Winsted, Sept. 11, 1880.

Mr. Dudley began life poor. A trivial incident
fixed his residence in Winsted in 1822, where, after a
few years as a shoemaker, he became a tanner, in the
line of bookbinders’ leather. From a small begin-
ning his business grew until, at the time of his death,
he was the owner of four tanneries in constant and
successful operation. Without early advantages, he
had anative executive ability, which, with his strict
integrity, unquestioned honesty, and untiring indus-
try, enabled him to build up and maintain a large
business and accumulate a considerable property.
His residence of fifty-eight years in Winsted covered
much the larger part of its history, with which Mr.
Dudley was closely identified, a large part of which
he was, and no man commanded more universal re-
spect.

He assisted new manufacturing enterprises not only
by money subscriptions, but in the unpurchasable
commodities of kind, hearty interest, words, and
counsel.

As member of the board of directors, and for thir-
teen years president of the first bank in town, twice
postmaster, member of both branches of the Legisla-
ture, Presidential elector, corporator of the Savings
Bank, director of the Hurlbut National Bank, and
director of the Connecticut Western Railroad Com-
pany, he both proved his willingness to share in the
burdens of society and showed his hold on the confi-
dence of those who had important interests to be
cared for.

His wish not to have the particulars of his bene-
factions published shall be respected here, but it is
due to his memory that it should be known that he
was a frequent, open-handed, liberal giver. Being a
man of large sympathies, he heartily enjoyed oppor-
tunities to do public or private good with his money.
224

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

The same characteristics appeared in reference to
his relations with his employees, many of whom were
unusually long in his service, frequently becoming in-
dependent in their circumstances; serving him faith-
fully and well, they were standing examples of the
possibility of harmonious and satisfactory relations
between employers and employed.

An ardent and impulsive man, Mr. Dudley was
hearty and outspoken in his dislike of measures his
judgment did not approve; but his opposition was al-
ways manly, never crafty or underhanded. No one
could doubt his position on any current question of
interest.

He was equally interested in the welfare of the
church; was a constant attendant,—nothing but ill-
ness ever detaining him from the regular services of
public worship, in support of which, during the later
years of his life, he was always foremost.

His death left a large gap.

His name is honored, his memory cherished, at
home and abroad by a wide circle of acquaintance,
and it will be many years before his place in Winsted
is made good,

JOHN BOYD.

John Boyd was born in Winsted, Conn., in 1799.
May 17, 1831, he united in marriage with Emily Web-
ster Beers, daughter of Elias and Jerusha Fitch Beers.
She was born in New Hampshire, in March, 1805, and
died Nov. 25, 1842. He was married a second time
Dec, 10, 1848, to Mrs. Jerusha Rockwell Hinsdale,
widow of Theodore Hinsdale, and daughter of Solo-
mon and Sarah McEwen Rockwell. Mr. Boyd grad-
uated at Yale College in 1821, studied law, and was
admitted to the bar of New Haven County in 1825.
He has ever been an active and influential citizen,
prominent in the councils of the county and State. He
was a member of the General Assembly, Lower House,
in 1830 and 1835, county commissioner in 1840, ’49, and
750, town clerk 1829-83, 1837-41, and from 1855-77.
He was judge of probate for fifteen years, until dis-
qualified by age in 1869. In 1854 he was elected
State senator, and from 1859 to 1861 was Secretary of
State of Connecticut. He was an active business
man, and from 1827 to 1850 was a member of the
manufacturing firm of J. Boyd & Son. From 1850 to
1853 he conducted the business as sole proprietor.
Although engrossed in the multifarious duties of an
active business and public career, Mr. Boyd has found
time to indulge his taste for literary and genealogical
pursuits, and a few years since compiled and pub-
lished an elaborate history of Winchester, which is an
invaluable contribution to the historic literature of
the State, and takes front rank among the standard

local works of our times.* Mr. Boyd is a man of
Sane GT

* From his interesting work much of the history of Winchester con-
tained in this volume was compiled, for which the author is under
special obligations.

 

firmness, integrity, and marked strength of mind, and
is now enjoying his otium cum dignitate within the
limits of the beautiful village, which he has seen ex-
pand from a small hamlet to a thriving town of trade
and manufacture.

DR. JAMES WELCH.

Dr. Welch was born at Norfolk, Conn., Jan. 7, 1807,
in the house now occupied by his brother, Hon. W.
W. Welch, M.D. This house was built in 1800 by
his father, the elder Dr. Benjamin Welch, and for
more than eighty years has been the home of some
Dr. Welch.

Trained up in an atmosphere of medical practice,
educated by study with his father and older brothers,
Hon. Asa G. Welch, M.D., of Lee, Mass., and Dr,
Benjamin Welch, of Salisbury, he took the prescribed
course at the Berkshire Medical Institute, at Pittsfield,
Mass., and graduated there in 1830.

For a few months after receiving his diploma Dr.
Welch was located, in the practice of his profession,
at Sandisfield, Mass., but in 1831 removed to Win-
sted, and, except an absence of about five years, while
associated in practice with his brother, Hon. Asa G.
Welch, M.D., at Lee, Mass., he has been an active
physician in this town until the present time, with a
prospect of years of usefulness still before him. It
should be said that his removal to Winsted resulted
from a meeting of some prominent gentlemen of that
place to consult in regard to a physician. After free
conversation, it was decided to ask Dr. Welch to settle
in the village. The next day Lucius Clarke, Esq.,
went to Sandisfield, and had an interview with Dr.
Welch. The consequence was the doctor came to
Winsted, and has been a leading physician for fifty
years, having done an extensive consulting business
in the county. It is worthy of note that the doctor,
his four brothers, and their father were all practicing
physicians within an area of thirty-five miles, and so
often met in consultation.

In the winter of 1880-81, in recognition of half a
century of hard work among them, and as an expres-
sion of good will to Dr. and Mrs. Welch, a few of his
friends took occasion to present to the doctor an
elegant Elgin watch, a gold hunting-case, with all
the modern improvements, as a souvenir.

Dr. Welch was married, May 18, 1831, to Miss La-
vinia M. Hubbard, of Salisbury, and the golden wed-
ding anniversary was appropriately observed in 1881,
Mrs. Welch has borne the burdens and perplexities of
a country physician’s wife with unwavering energy
and cheerfulness, and her ready sympathy and tact
have always been a help to her husband and his
patients in difficult places.

Six children were born to them,—one promising
daughter, who died in childhood, and five sons,—of
whom but three survive, viz., James H., Esq., so long
a druggist at Apothecaries’ Hall; Dr. William C., of
 

1 elieh Sa
A,
SitJ20, LL
 
 
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.
WINCHESTER.

Norfolk; and Dr. Edward H., associated with his
father in practice. Another son, Dr. John B., a young
man of sterling worth, was assistant surgeon of the
Twelfth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and died
at Ship Island, Feb. 13, 1862, aged twenty-four years,
in circumstances peculiarly trying to his friends.

Dr. Welch has long been a consistent member of
the Congregational Church, and has been unusually
regular in his attendance upon its public service.
With his wife, he was among the original members of
the Second Church when organized in 1854.

The doctor was a Whig, and then a Republican, in
his political sympathies, and, though not devoting
much attention to politics, has always been influential
in these matters. While decided in his sentiments
and straightforward in his course, he has so tempered
his utterances by his kindness of heart and good
sense as to win the respect and affection of many of
different views.

In a word, Dr. Welch is surely deserving of the
title of the “beloved physician.” Of unvarying cheer-
fulness, quick to discriminate in regard to character,
of remarkable memory of names and incidents, of
ready sympathy and special tact, slow to speak ill of
any, thoroughly acquainted with so many families in
this and adjoining towns through several generations,
perfectly at home in his profession, and to an unusual
degree keeping abreast with the times, he has given
to the community a standard of attainments with
which every coming physician for years must be
compared.

JOHN WELCH BIDWELL.

John W. Bidwell, now a leading physician in the
village of Winsted, was born in South Tyringham,
Berkshire Co., Mass., Oct. 20,1824. He was educated
at the celebrated private school of the late Alexander
Hyde at Lee, and at the Norfolk Academy. Having
decided upon the medical profession as a life-work,
he commenced his studies with his uncles, Drs. Asa
and James Welch, then leading physicians and sur-
geons at Lee. For four years he continued his studies
with diligence and attention at this place, and then
passed some time with Dr. Benjamin Welch, of Lake-
ville, in this county, who was distinguished as a sur-
geon. He also studied for a brief period with Dr.
William Welch, of. Norfolk. He attended one course
of lectures at Woodstock, Vt., and graduated at the
Berkshire Medical College at Pittsfield.

Dr. Bidwell commenced practice in Lee, where he
remained one year; and in 1849, during the mining
furore, went to California as surgeon to a government
train. He was in Portland, Oregon, when there were
but twenty buildings on the site of that now flourishing
city. He located on Feather River, Cal., and engaged
in mining, which he continued with success three
years, when he longed for his native New England
hills, and in the spring of 1852 came to Winsted and

 

225

formed a co-partnership with Dr. James Welch for
the practice of his profession. After practicing with
Dr. Welch a number of years he retired from the part-
nership, and has since continued the practice alone
and with great success. His huge and lucrative prac-
tice and the present proud position he occupies among
the physicians of this section have not been attained
without a struggle. He is not only prompt in the
discharge of his professional duties, but is a thorough
student, keeping abreast with the marvelous progress
which has characterized the realm of medicine for the
past twenty years.

June 2, 1868, he married Alice J. Hart, of Bark-
hamsted, a granddaughter of Dr. Amos Beecher, a
prominent physician in the town. They have one
child, Alice Louise.

Dr. Bidwell is a Republican in politics, and repre-
sented the town in the Legislature in 1855. In relig-
ious matters he is a Congregationalist and a member
of the Second Church of Winsted.

ELLIOT BEARDSLEY.

Deacon Elliot Beardsley was born in Monroe,
Conn., Dec. 26, 1801, son of Elliot and Abigail (Pat-
terson) Beardsley. He moved from South Britain
to Winsted in 1840, and engaged in business, in com-
pany with Theodore Hinsdale, and after the death
of the latter became sole owner of one of the largest
manufacturing establishments in the society, and
managed it with consummate ability during his re-
maining active. life. Reticent and deliberate by na-
ture and habit, he minded his own business entirely,
yet had an eye on all that was going on around him,
and participated influentially, though quietly, in public
affairs. No man in the town was more looked to for
advising and giving a direction to all measures for
public interest, and none more respected for purity
of life, religious example, and earnest patriotism. He
was one of the first office-bearers of the Second Con-
gregational Church, a director and president of the
Winsted Bank, a representative of the town, and
senator of the Fifteenth District, in the State Legis-
lature, and held various other offices. The war of
the Rebellion opened near the close of his active life,
and no citizen of the town exceeded him in energetic
and persistent efforts to aid the Union cause. He
died Jan. 19, 1871.

WILLIAM H. PHELPS.

Prominent among the leading bankers of this State,
and one of Winsted’s most enterprising and honored
citizens, was the late William H. Phelps, who was
born in Colebrook, April 5, 1818. He married, May
28, 1840, Lucy C., daughter of Dr. Luman Wakefield.
His first business transactions were at Riverton, ina
country store, where he remained a short time and
then removed to Winsted, and went into the mercan-
226

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

tile business with Normand Adams at East Winsted.
He continued there about three years and then re-
moved to Chicago, and became a member of a large
mercantile firm, and was eminently successful. After
a number of years he returned to Winsted, and was
the first president and organizer of the Hurlbut
National Bank, and remained as such until his death,
Aug. 27, 1864. Mr. Phelps manifested a lively in-
terest in municipal affairs, and was the first warden
of the borough of Winsted. He was a Democrat, and
attended the Episcopal Church. He was in all re-
spects a thorough business man, active, energetic, and
upright. Two children survive him,—George W.
Phelps, of this village, and Elizabeth N., wife of Ed-
ward L. Soule, of Boston, Mass.

Upon the death of Mr. Phelps, the directors of the
bank, by vote on record,—

“ Resolved, That we are fully sensible of the loss to this institution of
an able financier, whose faithfulness and diligence in managing the af-
fairs of the bank are fully apparent in its success, and the character it
has sustained at home and abroad for its soundness and prosperity.

“We also feel deeply his loss in common with this community, as an
honest and capable adviser, a genial companion, and highly-esteemed
citizen.”

The Winsted Herald under date Aug. 26, 1864, in
speaking of Mr. Phelps, said,—

“ Although made aware through these columns of the grave nature of
his illness, it was with difficulty that our community could be made to
believe, still more to realize, last Monday morning, that Mr. William H.
Phelps was to be no more with us except as a sleeper in the church-
yard.

“The Hurlbut Bank of this village was started some ten years ago,
mainly through Mr. Phelps’ instrumentality, and it has been under his
sole management, and singularly successful to the present time.

“In this institution he rapidly added to a reputation already high as a
financier; and he thus became by degrees a counselor to almost all who
have had moneys to invest, throughout a wide region.

“In this relation he took pleasure and felt an honorable pride. To
his credit, be it said, the relation was never abused.

“For his advice he asked nothing, and, however trivial the applica-
tion, it was met with uniform kindness and attention.

“The woman, anxious for the security of her single hundred, was
treated with patience and consideration no less than the affluent posses-
sor of thousands, and his assistance was even more cheerfully bestowed.

“Tn his bank management, though oft quoting and generally adhering
to the principle that ‘a bank is not a benevolent institution,’ he was
uniformly liberal, and the Hurlbut Bank, while it has been richly pro-
ductive to its stockholders, has always enjoyed the favor of the com-
munity as a public benefit.

“As a citizen, the deceased was a man of genuine public spirit, and
had he found a co-operative disposition in other citizens equally afflu-
ent, he would have done much for Winsted.

“The beautiful park in our East village is a monument to his energy
and liberality. He has made repeated (but vain) efforts to bring about
the incorporation of a cemetery association suited tu the necessities and
reputation of the town.

“Tn the school project which came near succvss last winter, and fell
through only in consequence of lamentable apathy and causeless hos-
tility, he was a prime mover. And so we might mention many other
public enterprises to which he lent a hearty sympathy; and that he did
not go forward alone in them is a mark of good judgment, and not
blamable. Had the usual term of life been allotted him, we kpow of
our own private knowledge that the proofs of his public spirit would
have been still more conspicuous, Socially, the subject of this inade-
quate notice had no vices,—not many were his faults. A varied reading,
the cultivation of travel, happy facility at quotation, and ready wit, en-
grafted upon an exceedingly social nature, rendered him the choicest of
companions,

“Success always attracts admirers ; but the immense concourse which
followed to their burial the remains of William H. Phelps on yesterday

 

were not merely fascinated acquaintances,—they were friends, fastened by
holy ties; and the blow which severed them plunges a large community
in deep and abiding sorrow.

“Mr. Phelps was the son of Dr. Lancelot Phelps, of Colebrook, and
brother to Judge Phelps, of Essex, in this State. He was born in Cole
brook in April, 1818. He commenced life as a clerk with Alpha Sage in
his native town, soon after went into mercantile business for himself in
Hitchcock ville, removed to Winsted, and from 1846 to 1848 carried on
business with Normand Adams. In 1848 he went to Chicago asa partner
in the extensive house of Corley, Wadsworth & Phelps. In 1851 returned
to Winsted, and in 1854 assumed the position in the Hurlbut Bank which
he continued to hold until his death.”

JOHN G. WETMORE.

There is no prouder or more enduring personal
record than the story of a self-reliant, manly, and sue-
cessful career. It declares that the individual has
not only understood his duty and mission, but ful-
filled them. The following biography is highly sug-
gestive of these facts.

John G. Wetmore, now a leading manufacturer
and capitalist of Winsted, Conn., was born in this
town April 27,1817. He was educated at the com-
mon schools, and first embarked in business as a mer-
chant with the late Lucius Clarke, on the site of the
Clarke House. He was also at one time extensively
engaged as a builder. He subsequently commenced
the manufacture of woolen goods, and finally the
manufacture of pins, which he has continued with
great success to the present time.

The present flourishing New England Pin Com-
pany, of which he is the owner and manager, was or-
ganized in 1854 with Mr. Wetmore as general man-
ager. It started with but few machines, and those of
an old style and of but little value. At this time
large quantities of pins were imported, and what was
done in this country was monopolized by the Ameri-
can and Howe Pin Companies, for the reason princi-
pally that they held the only patent for sticking pins.
Mr. Wetmore determined to invent a new machine for
this purpose, and after two years of constant applica-
tion, and an expense of twenty thousand dollars, he per-
fected a machine which would do the work of ten of
those owned and operated by the old companies. From
this time the New England Pin Company made rapid
strides. It purchased from time to time various com-
panies, among which were a New Jersey company, &
Boston company, the Empire Pin Company of Co-
hoes, a Montreal company, the last purchase being
the Pyramid Pin Company, a large establishment lo-
cated at New Haven. The establishment is furnished
with all the modern improvements, and has a capa-
city for the manufacture of ten million eight hundred
thousand pins daily.

Mr. Wetmore is a public-spirited citizen of enlarged
views, and has been untiring in his efforts to build up
that portion of the town known as the “ Flat,” or
what might more properly be called the “ Centre Vil-
lage,” which is the northern terminus of the Nauga-
tuck Railroad. In 1872 he erected the Winsted
 
‘GILSNIM ‘

o

“NNOD

 

FHYOWLIM (9 ‘(PIO FINIAGSIY

vil)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
WINCHESTER.

227

 

Opera-House, one of the finest and most complete in
all its appointments in the State. It has seven pri-
vate boxes, and a seating capacity of twelve hundred.
Mr. Wetmore also erected and owns the fine brick
building west of the Clarke House, known as the Wet-
more Block.

Politically Mr. Wetmore was formerly a Whig, and
is now a Republican. He has held various offices
when doing so would advance the interests of the
town. Has been selectman, was one of the first offi-
cers of the borough, was warden of the borough in
1862, 63, 64, and ’65, and was a member of the Legis-
lature in 1861 and ’62.

Jn 1878 he organized the Winsted National Bank,
was chosen its president, and is the present incum-
bent. The bank is located in the Opera-House Block,
in a portion built expressly for that purpose, and is in
all respects a complete banking office. —

Mr. Wetmore is descended from Thomas Wetmore,
who came from the west of England to Boston, Mass.,
in 1635, in the eleventh year of the reign of Charles
I., and was among the early settlers in the Connecti-
cut Colony. His father, John Wetmore, was born in
Winchester in October, 1780, and Dec. 20,1802, united
in marriage with Huldah, daughter of Thomas Spen-
eer. He died in 1828.

Oct. 8, 1841, he united in marriage with Eliza
Frisbe Rosseter, of Harwinton, Conn. She died March
9, 1847. Nov. 1, 1848, he married Eliza Phebe,
daughter of Col. Roswell Lee,* of Springfield, Mass.
They have one child, Eliza R., wife of J. E. Spaul-
ding.

Mr. Wetmore’s life has been one of steady and ac-
tive devotion to business, and his great success has
een the natural result of his ability to examine and
readily comprehend any subject presented to him,
power to decide promptly, and courage to act with
vigor and persistency in accordance with his convic-
tions.

 

 

WILLIAM L. GILBERT.

William L. Gilbert was born in Litchfield, Conn.,
Dec. 30, 1806; son of James and Abigail (Kinney)
Gilbert; the former a native of Woodbridge, the
latter of Washington, Conn. Until he was twenty-
two he spent his time mainly on the farm with
his father, attending in the winter the district or
select schools of the time. From that age he became
actively engaged in business. Beginning absolutely
without capital, and having no friends or wealthy
relatives to fall back upon, his first venture was in
company with a brother-in-law in Bristol, Conn.,
where they made parts of clocks for one of the heavy
clock firms there. He ran in debt for the three hun-
dred dollars he first put into the business. It goes
without saying that his beginnings were humble.

 

* Col, Lee was superintendent of the United States armory at Spring-
field from June 1, 1815, to August 25, 1833.

 

Not until three years had gone by did this young
firm consider themselves competent to manufacture
a whole clock. Then, with a new start in the adjoin-
ing town of Farmington, they became regular clock-
makers, and bringing to this business industry and
good management, of course prosperity followed.

In 1835 he returned to Bristol, where, with other
partners, he did a large and increasingly successful
business, until he took up his permanent residence
in Winsted in 1841, at which time he with others
purchased the Riley Whiting clock-factory.

With a number of different partners at one time
and another, and with branches in other places from
time to time, the business has been prosecuted at
Winsted as headquarters with a constantly increas-
ing vigor and energy until the present time. Through
all the various changes in the style of the firm Mr.
Gilbert has been the leading member, and more or
less responsible in the management of the business.
In 1866 a joint-stock corporation, The Gilbert Manu-
facturing Company, was organized, and carried on
the business with largely increasing prosperity until,
after fifty years of service, the works were burned, in
1871. Rebuilding in the most approved style was at
once entered upon, and with a special charter from the
State, the William L. Gilbert Clock Company now
continues the business. Of both the latter organiza-
tions Mr. Gilbert was naturally the president, and to
both he has given his best efforts. The present cor-
poration is, and for years has been, much the largest
single industrial establishment in the place. For it
and its predecessors the subject of this sketch has
never ceased to feel the special interest which one
gives to his first love. While active and useful else-
where, the clock company has yet been his pet and
pride, and to its success he has always contributed a
large measure of prudence and sagacity, although for
some of the last years the more immediate manage-
ment has fallen to others. In the course of between
fifty and sixty years the business, like nearly all
others, has become revolutionized. Brass wheels have
succeeded wooden ones; division of labor has made
it possible to produce the several parts with much
greater exactness, cheapness, and variety ; styles have
changed from the long seven-foot instrument, whose
solemn tick is now most eagerly sought by a host of
collectors, through an infinite number of varieties to
the little affair scarcely larger than a watch. Markets
are no longer found by the traveling Yankee peddler
selling directly to final purchasers, but from head-
quarters at New York and elsewhere the entire globe
is supplied to a greater or less degree with Connecti-
cut clocks. This revolution comes easily within the
compass of Mr. Gilbert’s lifetime, and to its progress
he has given his share of aid, especially by two jour-
neys to the Old World to promote markets there for
the goods of his firm.

In 1867 the Winsted Bank at West Winsted closed
its business, and was succeeded by the private bank-
228

ing firm of Gilbert & Gay, the partners being the
subject of this sketch, and the former president of the
bank. A large banking and Western loan business
was built up by the new firm, which continued until
the election, in 1874, of Mr. Gilbert as president
(which position he still holds), and Mr. Gay as cashier
of the Hurlbut National Bank. This closed their
private banking business, but their Western loan
business continues to be carried on at the Hurlbut
National Bank, and has grown to large proportions.

Beside the banking and loan business, Mr. Gilbert
has been interested in a number of enterprises having
a greater or less connection with the growth and wel-
fare of the place. He has lent his aid where it would
do good to struggling enterprises having in them
elements of promise for building up the place of
his adoption, and perhaps a fair return for capital
invested.

Mr. Gilbert was an earnest friend from the start of
the Connecticut Western Railroad, from Hartford to
Millerton, N. Y. While in the Legislature of 1868
he gave his best efforts to securing its charter, and on
the organization of the company he became a director
and its treasurer, which positions he has held through
various changes in the company’s organization. Al-
though not a lucrative pecuniary investment, the road
has been and is invaluable to the towns along the line,
which are greatly indebted to the efforts and capital
of Mr. Gilbert, and those like him, for the measure
of prosperity they now enjoy.

Allusion has been made to Mr. Gilbert’s presence
in the State Legislature. This has twice occurred,
in 1848 and 1868. He has not been an office-seeker,
nor given his time to politics. Besides the position
named he has been postmaster of Winsted. A Whig
at first, he gave his adhesion to the Republican party
when that organization was formed, and has been its
steady supporter ever since.

In 1835, Mr. Gilbert became the husband of Cla-
rinda K. Hine, of Washington, Conn., who died in
1874, None of their three children lived till 1860. In
1876 he married, as a second wife, Miss Anna E.
Westcott, of New London, Conn.

Mr. Gilbert, at the age of seventy-four, holds his
health and vigor to a remarkable degree. His habits
are simple and regular, his wants few, his life frugal,
He has always been a temperance man in principle
and practice. In connection with strict, careful, and
methodical attention to business he has developed a
capacity for managing and controlling affairs and men
that has secured him a large property, and fairly given
him a place in the front ranks of the active business
men of his native county.

ELIAS E. GILMAN.
Elias E. Gilman was born in West Hartland, Conn.,
Dec, 22, 1815. He remained on his father’s farm until
eighteen years of age, when he went to Torringford,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Conn., and began an apprenticeship at the carriage.
making business. After remaining here about five
years he returned to his native town and established
a carriage manufactory, which he conducted until
1854. In that year Mr. Gilman came to Winsted,
and three years later, in 1857, became the agent of
the Winsted Carriage Company. He managed this
business until 1864, when it was closed out, and in
1867 a new carriage company was formed, called the
Gilman Carriage Company, of which he was the agent
until its property was destroyed by fire a few years
later.

Mr. Gilman has ever been an active business man,
and every interest looking to the welfare of the town
receives his earnest support. He was one of the in-
corporators of the Mechanics’ Savings Bank in 1875,
was also its first treasurer, and has held that position
since. He has also been president of the First
National Bank of Winsted since its incorporation in
1879, and is a director in the Hurlbut National Bank
at West Winsted.

He is a Republican in politics, and has been called
to various official positions within the gift of his
townsmen. He was appointed postmaster in his
native town in 1847, and held that position six years,
In Winsted he has officiated in the various town
offices: assessor, board of relief, town treasurer, war-
den, and burgess of the borough, and in 1866 repre-
sented the town in the General Assembly. He was
also elected judge of probate in 1871, and is the
present incumbent. His popularity and the esteem
in which he is held by the people generally was
strikingly illustrated at the last election of judge of
probate, where he was nominated by both parties.
He is a consistent Christian; is a member of the -
Congregational Church, and has been over forty years.
He is prominently identified with church matters; is
a deacon in the First Congregational Church of Win-
sted, and also officiated in the same capacity in the
church in his native town.

July 4, 1888, he united in marriage with Charlotte
Hudson, a native of Torringford, Conn., who died in
October, 1852. In January, 1854, he married Sarab
Coe, of Wolcottville, Conn.

Although Mr. Gilman has been successful in the
various walks of life, he has gained nothing by mere
luck, but everything by well-digested plans and the
intelligent appreciation of his energies to the end in
view. In social life he is gentlemanly and affable; is
a ruling spirit in the church, and one of Winsted’s
most honored citizens.

JOHN HINSDALE. ‘
The subject of this sketch is a descendant in the
seventh generation from Robert Hinsdale, who was
one of the founders of the church at Dedham, Mass,
in 16388. His father, Col. Hosea Hinsdale, was born
at Berlin, Conn., Feb. 15, 1775, and March 2, 1798,
 

ee ae
Harvey B. STEELE, the subject of this sketch, is a noble
representative of an honorable profession, which ranks
among its devotees the leading and progressive spirits
of the age. That man who devotes his life-work to the
advancement of a noble profession or to the amelioration
of the human race well deserves the pen of the chroni-
cler of passing events; and such a one is Dr. Stecle,
who for over thirty years has practiced in Winsted, and
is one of the leading physicians of the State. He was
born in New Britain, Conn., Feb. 22,1827. He studied
his profession in Hartford, and in 1846 received his
diploma and commenced practice in this village, where
he has since remained.

Notwithstanding the multifarious duties incident to
an active professional career, he has devoted much of
his time to the public service, having been honored by
his fellow-citizens with various official positions for
which his qualifications so eminently fithim. He was
postmaster at West Winsted under Presidents Pierce
and Buchanan. He was a member of the General As-
sembly in 1878, of the Senate in 1874-75, and again of
the Assembly in 1879-80. He took a prominent position
in both the House and Senate, and in 1873 was chair-
man of the House committce on finance, in 1874 of the
Senate committee on corporations, in 1875 of cities and
boroughs, and in 1879 on humane institutions, and en-
grossed bills, the latter one of the most important and
laborious in the House. His popularity was strikingly
illustrated in 1874, when he received a large majority for
senator in a district strongly Republican, his opponent
being the Hon. John T. Rockwell, one of the leading
Republicans of the State. Dr. Steele is a public-spirited
citizen, ever alive to the best interests of the town. He

 

 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

has been warden of the borough; also interested in the
organization of Company I, of the Fourth Regiment of
Connecticut Militia, which was named in his honor the
“Steele Guards.”’ During the late Rebellion he was sent
by the anthoritics of the town to the battle-field of Fred-
ericksburg, and was indefatigable in his efforts in admin-
istering to the wants of the wounded in that sanguinary
struggle. Ever ready to respond to the call of duty, he
has won an enviable position in the hearts of the people
of his adopted town as well as in that noble profession
to which he has devoted his life-work. He has also
taken a lively interest in Masonic matters, and is one of
the best informed members of the fraternity in this
section. He was initiated in St. Andrew’s Lodge, July
2, 1851, and in 1854 was chosen its Master. He joined
Meridian Chapter in 1859, and was High Priest of the
chapter, 1860-61. Business outside of his profession has
also claimed a portion of his time. He was a director
in the Hurlbut National Bank, is a present trustee in
the Mechanics’ Savings-Bank, and was associated with
Col. Batcheller in the manufacture of scythes at Winsted,
and was also interested in the Eagle Scythe Works at
Riverton for ten years. April 80, 1861, he united in
marriage with Mary Mather, a native of this town, who
died in 1872.

Dr. Steele is every ready in debate, being a fluent and
forcible speaker. He is Democratic in politics, and an
able exponent of the underlying principles of that
ancient and honored organization. Possessed of a genial
and kind nature, affable in his intercourse with his fel-
lows, with a personal character above reproach, he 18
esteemed and honored as a private citizen no less than
as an able physician and skillful surgeon.
 

Henry Gay, cashier of the Hurlbut National
Bank, was born at Salisbury, in this county,
April 5, 1834. He entered as clerk the store
of Robert B. Mitchell, in that town, in the year
1848, where he remained four years. He was
then employed in the Iron Bank, at Falls Vil-

lage, for two years. In 1854 he removed to

Winsted, where he has been constantly con-

 

nected with the banking institutions of the
town. May 20, 1857, he married Charlotte E.,
daughter of the late Deacon Thomas Watson.
They have one child, Mary W. Mr. Gay is
now in the prime of life, and has held many
offices of honor and trust, and is untiring in

the performance of the duties which devolve

upon him.
 

ing ty HE Hall & Sons 13 Hos

 
 

BALDWIN.

LYMAN
WINCHESTER.

229

 

united in marriage with Elizabeth Shepard, a native
of Hartland, Conn., who died Jan. 25, 1861.

Col. Hinsdale came from Berlin to Winsted in 1802.
He was a tanner by trade, and had made arrangements
to begin the world in Western New York, but the
discovery at that time made of the tanning properties
of hemlock bark changed his plans, and he came here
to avail himself of the abundance of this material
found in our forests.

In addition to the tanning business, he was largely
engaged in public affairs. He was for several years
a deputy, under Sheriff Landon, who prided himself
on his selection of a staff of not only able, but portly
and fine-looking assistants, thereby sustaining the
dignity of the county magistracy.

He closed his public life with the presidency of the
Litchfield County Temperance Society, which he filled
with punctuality and ardent zeal for seven or eight
years,

His social qualities were of a high.order. His ac-
quaintance with men of the county and State was
extensive, and his memory of events accurate in a
remarkable degree. At ninety he could recall an
acquaintance or event of early days with the readi-
ness of ayoung man. He was a reading man, well
posted in all current events. In person and manner
dignified; fluent and attractive in conversation ; he
was the chronicler and patriarch of the village, the
last of the generation of men who laid the foundations
and controlled the destinies of our community. He
died Oct. 21, 1866, aged nearly ninety-two-years.

Johu Hinsdale was the seventh child of Col. Hosea
and Elizabeth Hinsdale, and was born in Winsted,
May 10, 1817. He was educated at the common
schools, and at the New Britain High School, of
which Elijah Burritt, brother of Elihu Burritt, the
learned blacksmith, was principal. In about the year
1833 he went to Hartford as clerk in a mercantile es-
tablishment, but the memorable panic of 1837 threw
him out of employment, when he came to Winsted
and commenced the mercantile business on his own
account. This proving unsuccessful, he went into the
shop of the Winsted Foundry and Machine Company,
and learned the trade of a machinist. He subse-
quently entered the employ of the old firm of
Beardsley & Alvord, where for three years he re-
mained as an efficient and trusted clerk. In 1848 he
secured the agency for this section of a number of the
leading fire insurance companies, and succeeded in
building up one of the largest and most lucrative
agencies in the State. He retired in 1871, and was
chosen president of the Winsted Savings Bank in
1878, a position which he still holds. Though not
seeking official distinction he has discharged faith-
fully the duties of many positions which have been
literally thrust upon him by his fellow-townsmen,
such as selectman, assessor, board of relief, water com-
missioner, clerk and treasurer of the borough, etc.
He is a Republican in politics. He was a selectman

 

during the trying times of the Rebellion, and the
people still remember how faithfully and disinterest-
edly he served their interests. He is a man of first-
class business ability and sound judgment, and has
been called upon to settle various estates of deceased
persons, bankruptcy estates, etc.

Mr. Hinsdale is a leading Congregationalist, and
was one of the original members of the Second Con-
gregational Church, and has been a deacon since its
organization, in January, 1854. He has also been
clerk and treasurer of the church since its organiza-
tion, and has kept an invaluable statistical record.
In 1877, Mr. Hinsdale was appointed by the Confer-
ence a delegate to the National Council of Congrega-
tionalists held in Detroit, Mich.

Aug. 81, 1841, he united in marriage with Amanda
Malvina Alvord, daughter of Deacon James H. and
Lucy Cook Alvord, who was born Aug. 20, 1821, and
their family consists of two children,—Mary Elizabeth,
wife of Robert R. Noble, of Williamstown, Mass., and
John Alvord, who is a student at, Phillips Academy,
Andover, Mass. Mr. Hinsdale is a public-spirited
man and one of Winsted’s most honored citizens.

LYMAN BALDWIN.

Lyman Baldwin, the honored subject of this memoir,
was born in Winsted, April 12, 1810. He learned the
machinist’s trade, and for many years was an employee
in the Winsted Foundry and Machine Company shop,
and subsequently became one of the owners and the
manager of the establishment. He continued in this
business until about the year 1852, when the Winsted
Building Association was organized, and he was in-
stalled as its manager. The business of this associa-
tion was subsequently closed, and Mr. Baldwin became
the first treasurer of the Winsted Savings Bank, and
officiated in that capacity with marked ability until
his death, which occurred Dec. 23, 1874, aged sixty-
four years. In addition to other positions which he
held, he was also a director in the Hurlbut National
Bank for about twelve years. He held various town
offices, and was a pronounced Republican.

He married Rebecca C. Mather, who was born in
Darien, Fairfield Co., Conn., April 16, 1814. Their
children were Charles and Sarah G., both deceased.
The former was born May 10, 1851, and died on the
9th of the following September. The latter was born
July 14, 1852, and died Nov. 10, 1874.

Lyman Baldwin inspired all with whom he came
in contact with unbounded confidence in his common
sense and uncompromising integrity. He was a thor-
oughly practical man, possessing an indomitable will,
and when once his plans were formed was diligent
and resolute in their speedy and complete execution.
He was an energetic, methodical, and faithful busi-
ness man, and one of Winsted’s most honored citizens.
230

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

DAVID STRONG.

David Strong was born in East Hampton, Conn.,
Aug. 17, 1825, and was educated at the common
schools in his native town. He worked on his father’s
farm during the summer, while the winter seasons
were spent at school. He was also more or less em-
ployed in the bell-factories in East Hampton, which
village at that time was, and is now, the leading bell
manufacturing centre in the United States. He spent
two years with N. 8. Markham, a hoe manufacturer,
occasionally traveling for the sale of the goods. Sub-
sequently he taught school several seasons, and during
one winter traveled as a book salesman through Mary-
land, Virginia, and one winter in the West.

In 1856, Mr. Strong formed a copartnership with
Alexander H. Markham, under the firm-name of
Markham & Strong, in the business of silver-plating
bells for the bell manufacturers at East Hampton. In
the following year they commenced the manufacture
of coffin tacks and screws of white metal, then much
used by undertakers, and soon after added thé manu-
facture, in a small way, of the most common kind of
coffin-handles. At the opening of the war of the Re-
bellion, Clark Strong, only brother of David, returned
from Fulton, Mo., and assumed the active manage-
ment of the factory while David took the management
of the farm.

In August, 1862, both David and Clark volunteered
to serve nine months in the Twenty-fourth Connecti-
cut Volunteers, and the factory interest was then left
in care of A. H. Markham. David held commission
of first lieutenant in Twenty-fourth Connecticut Vol-
unteers, and Clark was adjutant of same regiment.
David had command of his company (C) for about
four months, covering the time of the siege and fall
of Port Hudson. Clark received a severe wound at
Port Hudson on the 8d day of the siege, the 27th of
May, 1868, which unfitted him for service during the
remainder of his term; were both mustered out of
service at Middletown, Oct. 1, 1863, David returning
to the farm and Clark to the factory.

In 1865, David Strong opened trade with under-
takers by samples, buying the goods of Markham &
Strong, which proved to be a growing business.

In January, 1866, arrangements were made for
moving to Winsted. A joint-stock company was
formed there, and D. Strong was authorized by that
company to buy the Markham & Strong business, and
itwas done. The joint-stock company took the name
of The Strong Manufacturing Company. The original
stockholders were Wm. L. Gilbert, Normand Adams, A.
L. Weirs, David Strong, Clark Strong, C. B. Hallett,
J. H. Norton, Ezra Baldwin, and Theophilus Baird.

The stockholders met Feb. 1, 1866, and elected as
directors William L. Gilbert, A. L. Weirs, C. B. Hal-
lett, J. H. Norton, and Normand Adams, to hold until
the second Monday of June following, and these
directors elected William L. Gilbert president, C.
Strong secretary, and A. L. Weirs treasurer.

 

Jan. 14, 1867, first annual meeting of stockholders
re-elected board of directors without change, The
directors re-elected William L. Gilbert president, and
Clark Strong secretary and treasurer; only change
being in treasurer. In 1868 and 1869 there was no
change in officers.

In 1870, N. Adams, J. H. Norton, Henry G. Colt,
David Strong, and C. Strong were elected directors ;
N. Adams was elected president, C. Strong agent, and
H. L. Roberts secretary and treasurer.

In 1871, D. Strong, C. Strong, H. G. Colt, H. L,
Roberts, and J. T. Morgan were elected directors, and
D. Strong was made president, C. Strong agent, and
H. L. Roberts secretary and treasurer.

In 1872 no change in directors was made, but it was
now voted by mutual understanding to consolidate D,
Strong’s business with that of the Strong Manufac-
turing Company, he having continued up to this time
mailing his sales to undertakers, buying his hardware
of the Strong Manufacturing Company, and making
burial robes and shrouds, coffin-linings, etc., and em-
ploying traveling agents.

In 1873, L. C. Colt was made a director, and other-
wise there was no change in the management. 1874
brought no change in directors or management, except
the president. D. Strong was appointed acting agent
to relieve C. Strong, on account of his failing health.
In 1875, in consequence of impaired health, C. Strong
resigned as agent, and D. Strong, acting agent for
year previous, was elected agent, which was the only
change for the year. There were no changes until
1877, when H. G. Colt was elected to succeed D.
Strong. Mr. Coltis now agent, and has been since his
first election in 1877, and he had for three years pre-
viously the full control and care of the traveling
agents and of purchases of all material. H. L. Roberts
has been secretary and treasurer since his election in
1870. L.C. Colt has had charge of orders received
and shipping and invoicing goods since 1874. J.T.
Morgan has had the superintendence of the manufac-
turing in the hardware department since 1874. Clark
Strong continued to fail in health from the time he
retired from business in 1873, and he died at Winsted,
July 15, 1878, this being the only death of any one
connected with the company. He leaves ason, Lester
C. Strong, now twenty years old, and actively engaged
at the factory, and a daughter, younger.

The subject of this sketch was married Nov. 4,
1852, to Frances A. Daniels, of Chatham, who died
March 24, 1856, Sept. 14, 1857, he united in mar-
riage with Maria C. Colt, of Torringford, Conn. She
died Feb. 2, 1865. He subsequently married Emerette
L. Colt, of Torringford, a sister of Maria C., Hemy
G., and Luman C. Colt, and their children living are
Frederick C., Herbert G., and Homer D. Mr. Strong
attends the Congregational Church, and, politically, 8
a Republican. He is a public-spirited citizen, and
has done much to advance the interests of Winsted.
He is a stockholder and director in the First National
 

Ons
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

SAMUEL WARD COE.

Samuel Ward Coe was born in Winchester, Conn., June 10,
1805. He was a lineal descendant of, and eighth in line from,
Robert Coe, born in Suffolkshire, England, in 1596, and who
came to New England in 1634, settling successively at Water-
town, Mass., Wethersfield and Stamford, Conn., and Hemp-
stead, Newtown, and Jamaica, L. I.

Jonathan Coe, great-grandfather of Samuel W., purchased
lands in Torrington in 1764, which remained in the family
ninety-nine years. He was one of the first settlers of Torring-
ton, and came to Winchester when old, dying there, aged eighty-
four years, His son, Jonathan Coe, Jr., known as Ensign
Jonathan Coe, moved with his parents, in 1768, to the farm
until then occupied by Robert Coe, where Jonathan Coe, Sr.,
died. He came to Winsted in 1796, and resided there until
his death. He married Eunice Cook, and died Aug. 1, 1824,
Ensign Coe may be considered the father of Methodism in
Winchester, being, perhaps, the very earliest convert, and its
consistent and earnest eupporter through life. David Coe, his
son, was born Feb. 11, 1781, on the above-mentioned place,
and married, March 15, 1804, Prudence Ward, who died Feb.
23, 1823, aged forty-two years. He afterwards married Esther
Wright. He died June 12, 1834. He was also an earnest sup-
porter of the doctrines of his church and an active worker in
its cause. He had five children, of whom Samuel W. was
oldest. About 1830, S. W. engaged in trade in Winsted, in
company with Luman Hubbell and E. 8. Woodford, and con-
tinued this business until his death. He married Abigail B.
Sanford, Aug. 16, 1831; she died Dec. 23, 1838. He was mar-
ried, May 10, 1841, to Julia M. Starks. Mr. Coe was an ener-
getic, positive man, of strong convictions, and fine personal
appearance, standing about six feet high. He was interested
in public matters and always identitied with the interests of
Winchester, filling many and important positions of trust. He
was justice of the peace from about 1830 until his death, and

 

every one having a difference with another seemed to come to
him; and as a peace-maker he was unexampled, and was the
one above all others chosen in an arbitration. IIe was town
clerk from 1833 to 1837, and from 1841 to 1851. Ile was judge
of Probate from 1843 to 1850, and State senator. He was very
popular with all classes; but it was not the popularity caused
by subservience, for no man was more marked in his relentless
opposition to all wrong. He was a fluent extemporaneous
speaker, and did good service hy his speeches in all good causes.
He was an Abolitionist in those days when it demanded unusual
courage and devotion to principle to be one. He was a temper-
ance worker when temperance was comparatively a new thing,
and in both of these, as well as in laboring for his church, he did
good and faithful service. From early manhood he was a faith-
ful member and office-holder of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
In social relations and in his family he was kind, affectionate,
and beloved, and never was a case of suffering brought to his
notice that did not have his utmost efforts for relief. Possess-
ing many good qualities and a winning magnetism, he wielded
a powerful influence all through his life, and at his death, Sept.
20, 1868, he was universally mourned.

His children by his first wife were Charles Betts, cashier for
the Rubber Clothing Company, of New York City; he married
Carrie E. Alvord, and has one son. David Ward, a merchant
in Winsted; married Phebe Brasie. His children by his second
wife were Fanny Abby; married George D. Pitkin, of East
New York Shoe Company; they have five children. Wilbur
Fish, merehant in West Winsted; he has been warden of Win-
sted for the past two years, was two years aide-de-camp on the
staff of Governor Andrews, is a prominent Freemason, member
of lodge, chapter, and council of Winsted, and was Master of
St. Andrew’s Lodge in 1876 and 1877; he is also prominent in
military matters. He married, in 1868, Gertrude M. Royce, of

Waterbury, Vt.
WINCHESTER.

231

 

Bank of Winsted, and also in the Winsted Real Estate
Company ; was a representative to the Legislature in
1872; has been selectman of the town, and was twice
warden of the borough of Winsted.

FRANKLIN MOORE.

A record of the men conspicuous in Winsted affairs
during the growing and lively period between 1860
and 1880 would be sadly incomplete with Franklin
Moore omitted from it. His portrait is given here-
with. Sharp-cut and angular in every feature, he
was more so in every trait of his character. But, such
as he was, Winsted was merrier while he lived and
drearier when he died.

Mr. Moore was born, and rather roughly cradled,
in, Colebrook, Conn. Later, his father, Salvenus
Moore, built and resided upon the Judge Lyman
place, in Pine Meadow, Conn. Later still, when
Frank was but a little fellow of six to seven years,
the father sought to better the family fortunes by re-
moval to the distant State of Alabama. The father
was a mechanic of considerable skill, and should have
been successful almost anywhere, but his inclinations
were somewhat roving, and soon, with pocket empty
and wife suffering from malarial disease, he was again
on the slow journey—for this was before the railroad
era—backward to Connecticut. The journey was full
of hardship for the little family,—full indeed, for the
mother died and was buried by the way. The father
soon found solace in a second wife, but Frank, mean-
while, was turned over to such nurture as was afforded
in the farm-house of Mr. Nelson Moses, a distant
relative, on a bleak flank of Canaan Mountain, in the
southern part of the town of Norfolk. We are told
that “a contented mind is a continual feast.” Lucky
for Frank if this be so, for no other feasting had he.
The tiller of these New England hills gets brave les-
sons in frugal and patient living, and these have
their value; but they are lessons to which we rarely
wish to go back, and which we graduate from with
most fervent thanksgiving.

Some four or five winters at the south middle dis-
trict school of Norfolk supplied Frank with his equip-
ment of book-learning, and as many summers of
plowing, and hoeing, and chopping, and digging,
satisfied all his farming aspirations. They were
enough, and one day he made out his own graduation
papers, said no farewells, but disappeared from the
social world of Goshen North and Norfolk South.
His reappearance, now at fifteen to sixteen years of
age, was in Plymouth, Conn., where he bettered his
lot, to his notion, by an engagement of twelve to
fourteen hours per day in a woolen-mill for the poor
wages of board and clothes; and it is presumable that
a single Saratoga trunk would have contained the
whole wardrobe at the close of the engagement.

Later, controlled doubtless by natural but uncon-

 

fessed yearnings toward the home of his boyhood,
Frank sought and found employment in the then
woolen-mill in Winsted, which he left at about the
time of his majority to enter the employment of the
Clifton Mill Company,—first in the manufacture of
nuts and washers (of iron), a business subsequently
enlarged to comprehend the carriage-bolt manufac-
ture. Here Frank’s tremendous energy and ready
skill soon took him to the foremanship of the shop.
Now his services began to be appreciated, now he
began to carn a man’s wages, and now those frugal
principles, bred on the Norfolk farm, were put in
practice. During those earlier years never man
worked harder; never man lived more economically ;
never man bent soul and body to the task of earning
and saving more wholly. There is an old saying,
carved deep in a dead language, “ daborare est orare,”
to labor is to pray. This was the young man’s style
of prayer. He dreamed of no luck, he waited for no
dead men’s shoes. He simply worked and saved.
He had somehow conceived that money was a good
thing to have,—no matter whether money was power, or
honor, or content,—it was a good thing to have. And
he wrought resolutely, and manfully, and honorably.
He came to Winsted at twenty without a shilling;
he died thirty years later sole owner of one of the
largest industries in Western Connecticut, and left to
his family a generous property.

And now, what further? Was Mr. Moore a philan-
thropist, benevolent, and one who sought to connect his
name with multitudinous charities, small and great?
Nothing of the sort. There was no mawkishness, no
sentiment in him. He wanted no sympathy, but
scorned it. And he gave none. But he did what
was better than to squander thousands in undeserved
charities. He showed just what a man, any man, may
do in this blessed New England who has the will to
work. Every dollar Franklin Moore died possessed
of he fought for and won with his own toil-strength-
ened arm; and he left to the mewling crowd whose
life is one long grumble at poor luck, a royal proof
of the old saw, that “Heaven helps those who helps
themselves.”

We have remarked that Mr. Moore was an angular
man. He was, and every angle and facet as bright
and keen as the diamond’s. The way of the world is
to mlass men into parties for political purposes, into
churches for church purposes; the greater the mass
the greater the momentum, when in motion, and the
stronger the blow when an obstacle is met. But this
massing of men takes off all their edges and angles
and corners, and rubs and rounds and smooths them
into mere cobblestones,—all alike, alike valueless. But
Frank (there is something endearing in this “ Frank,”’
by which the world all called him) was no cobble.
He was himself always, individual, clear, and distinct
as a light-house on a level shore. The attritions of
life sharpened his angles: they failed to obliterate.

‘Discrediting utterly the dogmas of the churches,
232

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

he scoffed with a heartiness which, while it shocked,
almost gained men’s respect. A cheerless, unhelped,
unfathered life like this, in youth, teaches, irresisti-
bly, sometimes, a self-reliance which dethrones all
other help or care. He enjoyed society, for he was
the merriest of men; but he acquired no position by
fawning or obsequiousness. Among his comrades
and chosen associates he held his place by divine right
at the front in every encounter of wit,—the readiest,
and keenest, and shrewdest tongue among them
all. His drollery was his own, inimitable; and when
he gave it vent, no matter if a graveyard were his
audience, it had to laugh. But beneath the fun was
shrewd insight into the ways of men, the keenest dis-
section of motive, the profoundest analysis of char-
acter. Woe to the masquerader in honor, virtue, or
religion when Frank Moore “ went for his scalp”!
But he had higher qualities than these. Oratorical
powers he had, which, with his other gifts, and a dif-
ferent sphere, would have paved his way to eminence.
He was masculine, rugged, strong, and keen withal,
in every manifestation of intellect and character.
Higher culture in those earlier years might have
made for him a more public and eminent career, but
without it his life was a success, which may encour-
age every young man, however orphaned, unfriended,
unschooled, and poor.

Mr. Moore was born in Colebrook, Conn., in the
year 1827, and was buried in the “New Burial-
Ground” in Winsted in the spring of 1879. His
wife, who survives him, was Maria Roberts, of North
Colebrook ; and she, with their only living son, Alfred
E., who came to his majority a few weeks after his
father’s death, continues the business which the hus-
band and father so prosperously and profitably built
up and left to them.

CHARLES COOK.

The subject of this sketch, a leading manufacturer
in Winsted, and one of the oldest in the State, was
born in Winsted, Oct. 15, 1815. He was educated at
the common schools, and began life as a member of
the firm of R. Cook & Sons, iron and axle manufac-
turers, the firm being composed of Reuben Cook and
his two sons, Charles and John R. This business was
commenced in 1811, and the firm is the oldest in the
country that is still doing business without change of
name. (For detailed history of this establishment
see history of Winsted, elsewhere in this work.)

At the beginning of business the firm employed about
eight men, and at the present time forty are employed.
They use in the manufacture from forty to fifty tons
of iron per month, thirty to forty tons of which is
bar iron. They have received various awards for the
superior excellence of their goods, the last being from
the International Exhibition at Sydney, Australia.
Shipments are made throughout the country, and

 

they have lately (February, 1881) received an order
for axles from Henzada, British India.

Sept. 28, 1838, Charles Cook united in marriage
with Mary Jane Lewis, of Suffield, Conn., and has

 

one son living, Rollin Hillyer. Politically he was an
Old-Line Whig, has lately voted the Republican ticket,
and attends the First Congregational Church in Win-
sted. He was warden of the borough of Winsted in
1866-68. Mr. Cook is an enterprising, public-spirited
mun, and has been active in all measures tending to
advance the interests of Winsted, or the locality in
which he resides.

EUGENE POTTER.

The subject of this sketch, who is now a leading
manufacturer in the village of West Winsted, was
born in the town of Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn,
Aug. 7, 1838, where he remained until six years of
age, when he removed with his parents to Millerton,
Dutchess Co., N. Y. He was educated at the common
schools, and at the age of eighteen came to this town
as clerk for the old firm of Beardsley & Alvord. Here
mained with this firm until 1861, when he removed to
Lexington, Mich., and entered the establishment of
Woods, Nims & Co. as a clerk, in which capacity he
officiated until 1869. He then established himself in
the mercantile business in Lexington, under the firm-
name of Potter & Wixson. Their store was destroyed
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

BA bast

JosEPH H. Norton was born in Tolland, Mass.,
March 29, 1814. Like many of the leading
business men of to-day, he was reared on a farm
and educated at the common schools. At the
age of fifteen years he engaged as a farm laborer,
and worked six months, for the meagre compen-
sation of six dollars per month, for his uncle.
He subsequently, for four seasons, tended a card-
ing-machine and made linseed oil, in East Otis
village, with an uncle, Joseph Hunt. In 1835
he went as clerk in the store of Lucius Gibbs,
at East Otis, where he remained but a short
time, and then entered the employ of Isaac Mil-
ler, of West Granville, as a salesman throughout
the country for silverware and jewelry, receiv-
ing as compensation one hundred and fifty dol-
lars per year. The following year he was paid
four hundred and eighty dollars. He subse-
quently traveled one year for another firm, and
finally went into the same business for himself,
which he conducted until December, 1841, when
he purchased the mercantile establishment of
Pomeroy & Norton, at New Boston. He con-
ducted this business about sixteen years with
marked success. While here he served as select-
man, assessor, and for a number of years was
postmaster. Having been solicited by a number

 

of the leading business men of Winsted to come
here and take the management of the Winsted
Manufacturing Company, he finally accepted.
Sept. 4, 1862, entered upon his duties as agent,
secretary, and treasurer of the establishment,
which positions he has held to the present time,
except that of secretary, his son, Allen H., having
been secretary for the past few years. This is
one of the largest scythe manufactories in this
country, and it is not too much to say that its
present prosperity is largely due to the excellent
management of Mr. Norton. He is a director
in the Hurlbut National Bank, and has been
for years; is also a director in the Mechanics’
Savings-Bank, and president of the Winsted
Real-Estate Company.

Politically he is a Republican, and was for-
merly a Whig. He attends the Congregational
Church.

March 7, 1849, he united in marriage with
Maria L. Hawley, a native of Sandisfield, Mass.
They have had two children, one son and a
daughter,— Allen H., secretary of the Winsted
Manufacturing Company, and Mary A., deceased.

Mr. Norton is a public-spirited citizen, and
has done much to build up and advance the
interests of the village of Winsted.
 
 
 
WINCHESTER. 233

 

by fire in 1871, whereupon Mr, Potter closed out the
business and returned to Winsted, and in the year
1874 commenced the manufacture of sewing silk, under
the name of the Winsted Silk Company, which is now
in successful operation, and is the only industry of its
kind in this manufacturing town. It employs fifty
persons, and has capacity for the manufacture of
about fifteen thousand six hundred pounds annually.
Mr. Potter is one of the progressive young business
men of the town, and, in addition to the manufactur-
ing of silk, is also interested in the Empire Knife
Company and the Beardsley Scythe Company.

Oct. 18, 1868, he united in marriage with Sarah H.,
daughter of the late Elliot Beardsley. A son, Law-
rence W., was born April 4, 1871. Mrs. Potter died
May 2, 1871.

Sept. 15, 1875, Mr. Potter married Florence Breck-
enridge, and they have a daughter, Louise E., born
Feb. 17, 1877. Politically he is a Republican, and a
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

WILLIAM FRANKLIN HATCH.

William Franklin Hatch, son of Capt. Moses Hatch
of Revolutionary fame, was born March 4, 1801, at the
south end of Long Lake. He received a common
and academic school education, both at home and
abroad. He hada decided musical talent, both vocal
and instrumental. When quite a young man was the
originator of the first band of music organized-in
town, consisting of seventeen pieces, he playing the
most difficult instruments. Some twenty years

“He boomed the big drum on training days
And led the Sabbath song of praise.”

He was also pupil in the first Sabbath-school organ-
ized in town, and in after-years an earnest superin-
tendent, who first carried it successfully through the
winter season.

Mr. Hatch married, Sept. 20, 1882, Miss Emeline
Baldwin, of Winsted, when he purchased and settled
on a farm in Winchester Centre, where he remained
a few years, then sold and purchased the “ Little
Lake Place,” near Winsted, where under his system-
atic and thorough cultivation he brought it to a con-
dition to receive the first premium at the agricultural
fair. He was long regarded a leading agriculturist
of this region ; was for many years secretary and treas-
urer of the Greenwoods Agricultural Society. In the
best and most numerous varieties of choice fruit he
took the lead. Cheese was also a specialty. He was
the first to introduce the manufacture of English
cheese in this country, which took high rank in the
markets, selling twenty-seven cents per pound; when
common, only ten cents. "In every department of
agriculture he endeavored to excel, thus elevating the
standard of agricultural science. Mr. Hatch was the
founder of the ice business in Winsted, which he suc-
cessfully conducted as a wholesale and retail dealer
for nearly thirty years, and still has an interest in it.

 

In politics he is a staunch Republican; never seek-
ing office, still, he has been chosen to fill many offices
of trust, and has discharged these duties with credit
to himself and satisfaction to all. Mr. Hatch has
been associated with all temperance movements from
his youth to the present time, and has never used
tobacco in any form. Mr. Hatch is a consistent
Christian, ever foremost in all movements tending
to advance the moral and religious interest of the
town. He has been a member of the Second Church
of Winsted since its organization; previously of the
First Church. Married (2d) Miss Elizabeth Eells, of
Clinton, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1871.

Kind and considerate in all his intercourse with
his fellow-citizens, retiring in his disposition, punc-
tual and accurate in all his dealings, possessed of a
strong mind, mature judgment, and decided piety,
these, combined with energy and great perseverance,
gained for him a handsome competency, which now
at even-tide, in the full enjoyment of all his faculties,
blessed with the comforts of a happy home, where
loving hands minister to him, and the universal
esteem and respect by which he is held by the people
of his native town, make his last days his best days.

TIMOTHY HULBERT.

Timothy Hulbert was born in Paulet, Vt., Nov. 2,
1817. Soon after his parents removed to Crown Point,
N. Y., where they remained until young Hulbert was
four years of age. From this time until he was fifteen
years old he lived with an uncle, Mr. Benjamin Bate-
man, a resident of Rutland, Vt., receiving the advan-
tages of a common-school education only.

While yet a mere lad—at the age of fifteen—he
commenced working in the forge of Allen Panfield,
at Crown Point, where he remained three years, and
then went to Sutherland Falls, Vt., where he stayed
about one year in the forge owned by Mr. Slawson, of
Rutland. He then located in South Lee, Mass., where
he remained about ten years, and then came to New
Hartford, in this county, and two years later to Win-
sted, where he remained in active business until his
death, which occurred June 15, 1873.

Upon his removal to Winsted he established himself
in business in a forge standing on the present site of
R. Cook & Sons’ axle-works, and a year or two later
in the forge now owned and operated by the Hulbert
Tron Company.

In 1838, while residing at South Lee, he united in
marriage with Ruth L. Kelley, of Brandon, Vt., and
their family was as follows: Laura J., Sarab L., Lu-
cinda §., Walter, and Robert S. Mr. Hulbert united
with the Congregational Church in his eighteenth
year, and remained a devoted member of the church
until death. He was a man of scrupulous integrity,
and was a consistent Christian. Politically he was a
Republican.

He always labored to advance the moral and re-
234 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
| services to an aunt, Mrs. Col. N. D. Coe, who then

ligious as well as the material interests of Winsted,
occupied the home farm now owned by himself. In

and was one of the most active and earnest workers

in the cause of temperance.

The following tribute to the memory of this worthy
citizen appeared in the Winsted Herald: “ Probably
no man,” says the Herald, “that ever lived in this
town has commanded a larger or more justly deserved
esteem than he whose death we are this week called
on to record. A prominent business man among us
for twenty years past, his name had come to be a syn-
onym for honesty,—not that selfish honesty which
contents itself with a mere compliance with human
law, but that inward and real integrity which is en-
joined by the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose
disciple he professes to be. Active in the cause of
temperance, contributing not only of his money, but
also of his labors and example, in every good work,
his life has been a continual blessing to his fellow-
men, and his record is on high.”

EDWARD MANCHESTER.
The subject of this sketch was born in Tolland,
Mass., Jan. 30, 1831. He was reared on the paternal
acres in Tolland, and was educated in his native town

EDWARD MANCHESTER,

and in Winsted. He was one of the first who at-
tended the school in the basement of the Episcopal
church, which was conducted by his uncle, the Rey.
Jonathan Coe, then rector of the parish. This was a
school cf considerable celebrity at the time.

He was reared in the ennobling occupation of farm-
ing, and in 1857 came to Winsted and engaged his

 

the following year, in company with his brother
Elbert, he opened a grocery and meat market on the
site of the present store of Mr. Barnes. These brothers
continued here about one year, when they purchased
the farm mentioned above, then in possession of their
aunt, and soon after Elbert sold his interest to Ed-
ward, who has since remained there, gradually in-
creasing his possessions, until now he is the owner of
five hundred and forty acres of excellent land lying
contiguous to the thriving village of Winsted. He
became from the first a progressive agriculturist, and
has kept abreast with the rapid strides made during
the past twenty-five years in agricultural science. He
makes a specialty of milk, and of the manufacture of
a superior quality of butter.

Mr. Manchester has ever manifested a praiseworthy
interest in all matters tending to elevate the religious,
moral, and educational interests of the town, and all
just measures for the advancement of the welfare of
the people generally have found in him an earnest
supporter. He is a leading member in the Methodist
Church in Winsted, has been steward a long time,
and is at present a trustee. A strong temperance
man from youth, he has fought rum at every step.
Politically he is a Republican.

March 16, 1859, he united in marriage with Mary. -
Jennie Grant, a native of Norfolk, Conn., who was
born July 1, 1839, and their family has consisted of
four children, viz., Wilbur Grant, born July 29,
1860; George Elbert, born July 12, 1862; Harry
Grant, born Jan. 21, 1868; Irving Edward, July
18, 1870; and Randall Coe, Oct. 7, 1876. He died
Aug. 28, 1877.

PROSPECT HILL DAIRY AND CREAMERY FARM.
This celebrated farm includes five hundred and
forty acres of land, and lies directly north of the vil-
lage of West Winsted. It supports at present a herd
of seventy-five milch-cows, besides horses and other
stock. The cattle are chiefly Ayrshires, and it is the
opinion of the proprietor, after a long and careful ex-
perience, that the Ayrshire for dairy purposes is best
adapted to the hilly lands of Northwestern Connecti-
cut; however, since the establishment of the creamery
on the farm the number of Jerseys has been increas-
ing. The soil isa rich gravelly loam, with clay sub-
soil, and is adapted to fruits, grass, and cereals. The
apple yield in 1880 was over three thousand bushels,
The proprietor of the Prospect Hill farm is Edward
Manchester, whose ancestors first purchased it in 1788,
so that it has been in the family for nearly a century.
Mr. Manchester is a gentleman who unites scien-
tific agriculture to practical experience and hard
labor.
The history of this farm is a large and interesting
chapter of the history of Winsted. At the beginning
of the century it was owned by the great-grandfather

 
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WINCHESTER. 236

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of the present owner, Ensign Jonathan Coe, known
as the father of ‘ Methodism” in Winchester, a man
noted for the sturdiness and integrity of his character.
That he refused to pay ‘“‘the priest tax,” as it was
called, for the support of the Congregational Church
pastors, and had his cows sold at auction as a penalty,
and that he lodged and fed forty guests at “‘ Quarterly
Meeting of the Methodists,” were events typical not
only of the man but of customs and laws long since
passed away. His home was the hotel of Methodists,
and especially of Methodist preachers, in those early
days. On one occasion, when an aged man, he gath-
ered about him his descendants to the number of
seventy-two, and, after having sumptuously fed them
at the farm-house, they marched, two and two, old
and young, to the Methodist church, where a sermon
was preached to them by the celebrated and eccentric
Billy Hibbard.

Daniel Coe, son of Ensign Coe, was the next owner
of the farm, to whom succeeded his son, Col. N. D.
Coe. On June 6, 1859, it was purchased by its present
owner, Edward Manchester, who is grandson of Dan-
iel Coe, and one of whose chief pleasures is that the
old homestead, now looking younger and finer than
ever before, is still a resort for Methodists and Meth-
odist preachers.

Daniel Coe was a local preacher in his denomina-
tion, and was noted for the humor and pathos of his
sermons and exhortations.

The Manchester family is of English origin, the
surname being a doca/ one, and derived from the city
of Manchester, England. The first representative in
this country was Thomas, who was an inhabitant of
New Haven in 1639, the year following the “ plant-
ing” of the colony. Thomas afterwards, in 1643, settled
in Portsmouth, R. I. (on the island of Rhode Island),
where he raised a family of four boys and two girls.
Of the former was William, born 1654, who, before
the breaking out of King Philip’s war, or about
1676, had removed across the‘ bay easterly into the
present town of Tiverton, R. I., but at that time be-
longing to Massachusetts, and being within the juris-
diction of Plymouth Colony. In 1679-80 he was one
of eight “ proprietors” who purchased a tract of land
containing some four hundred thousand acres of Plym-
outh Colony. William was a man of considerable
prominence, having filled positions of responsibility
and trust of civil and religious natures. His descend-
ants settled in Fall River and Taunton, Mass., and in
Little Compton, R. I., which adjoins Tiverton on the
south. At Little Compton, March 23, 1757, was born
John, sixth in descent from Thomas. While a young
man he removed to Tolland, Mass. In 1780 he mar-
tied Phoebe Steadman, of Newport, R. I. She was
the daughter of Samuel Steadman, whose brother,
Thomas, married Mary Perry, daughter of Benj.

erry, who was great-grandfather of Commodore
ive Hazard Perry, of Lake Erie renown. Wm.
anchester (5), father of John (6), born 1734, mar-

 

ried Mary Irish, of Little Compton. She was daughter
of John Irish, who married a sister of Col. Benjamin
Church, who was prominent in King Philip’s war.
John (6) raised a large family, boys and girls, and
died at Tolland, 1888, aged eighty-one years. He
was buried at Colebrook River, Conn., adjoining Tol-
land. His second son, Shadrach, the seventh in de-
scent from Thomas (1), was born at Tolland, 1798,
and is the father of Edward, of Winsted. He mar-
ried Clarissa Coe, born 1807; she was daughter of
Rey. Daniel Coe, born 1783, and is the eighth in de-
scent from Robert Coe, who was born in Norfolk,
England, 1596. He emigrated to America at the age
of thirty-eight, and settled in Watertown, Mass., and
later was a resident of Stamford, Conn., having also
lived at Wethersfield. The line from him to Clarissa,
mother of Edward, is as follows: Robert (1), John
(2), John (8), Robert (4), Jonathan (5), Oliver (6),
Jonathan (7), Daniel (8), Clarissa (9), Edward (10).
The Manchesters are of tough, hardy stock, many of
them having lived to be upwards of eighty years of
age, and Edward, born 1695, was one hundred and
two at time of death; his wife, Anna Williston,
ninety-five.

THERON BRONSON.

Theron Bronson was born March 20, 1809, in Win-
chester, Conn., in the southwest part of the town,
upon a farm which has belonged to the family for
eighty years. His father, Isaac Bronson (still spoken
of as “ Esquire” Bronson by the older people), was a
native of Winchester, and after a lifelong residence
in the town died in 1849, in his seventy-fourth year.
He was an influential citizen, and the largest land-
owner in the town. After he was seventy years of
age he made a public profession of religion, and
united with the Congregational Church. His grand-
father, Col. Ozias Bronson (or Brownson, as then
spelled), a native of Farmington, Conn., settled in
this town in 1774, was eleven years selectman, and
for three years represented the town in the General
Assembly. “He served as a lieutenant and captain
of militia in several tours of duty during the Revolu-
tion,’ and was often appointed to attend to public
business in various ways. After a life of industry,
energy, and thrift, he died in 1810, aged sixty-eight
years. He had been a member of the Congregational
Church in Winchester for thirty-five years, and it is
worthy of remark that, of something over five hundred
members of that church since he united with it, more
than thirty have been his lineal descendants.

In politics Col. Bronson was a Federalist.

Mr. Bronson’s maternal grandfather was Hewitt
Hills, for more than twenty years a prominent farmer
and trader in the community, and one of a family of
peculiar excellence, specially valued in the early
history of Winchester. Mr. Hills was an energetic
236

man, of fine appearance, of unusual ability and shrewd-
ness, a little given to change, but generally successful
in his undertakings, and never yielding to discourage-
ments.

Sprung from such sturdy stock, Theron Bronson
seemed to inherit and personify the best traits of
both families, and was, in the true sense of the word,
a representative man. His educational advantages
were such as the common schools of his time afforded,
yet he was a successful teacher for many years. He
was large-hearted, clear-headed, frank, and hospi-
table, a friend to be trusted, and an adviser to be de-
pended on. Cheerful and sanguine always, it seemed
to be a principle with him that if no way to success
could be found one could be made, and he could
make it. ,

In trade, in stock-dealing, and in the purchase and
shipment of dairy products, he so managed as to
benefit those who dealt with him as well as gain a
competence for himself. In every work for the public
good he was the first to enlist, and gave unsparingly
of time and money for its accomplishment. To his
energetic and judicious leadership was largely due
the success of the Winchester centennial celebration
in 1871.

In middle life he became personally interested in
the subject of religion, and united with the Congre-
gational Church in 1851. As was to be expected, he
carried his whole-heartedness into his religion, was
regularly at the prayer-meeting, consistent in his life,
never aiming at publicity, and liberal in his benefac-
tions, for many years paying one-fifth or more of the
minister’s salary in his own village. His religion bore
the stamp of unswerving integrity.

He represented the town in the State Legislature
in 1849, and was for twenty years a justice of the
peace. With a mind of unusual:acuteness and dis-
crimination, and an early taste for the study of law,
as well as from the experience gained in extensive
and varied business operations, he became thoroughly
versed in legal forms, and was in the habit of perform-
ing gratuitously a large amount of such work in the
community, and was always the friend and trusted
adviser of those in trouble.

He was a Democrat until Lincoln’s administration,
at which time, believing that the interests of the
country demanded it, he voted with the Republican
party, and afterwards until his death, Jan. 20, 1878.

He was married July 7, 1841, to Maria R. Munsill,
of Torrington, Conn. Their children are Edward
H., born July 31, 1842; Henry T., born Jan. 1, 1845,
died Noy. 25, 1866; Wilbur M., born June 9, 1848;
Maria Louisa, born Jan. 31, 1853, died Feb. 28, 1856 ;
Elliot B., born Aug. 7, 1858; Carrie M., born Jan.
17, 1863.

Wilbur M. married Susan 8, Nash, June 9, 1880.

Business of sons: dealers in lumber, dairy produce,
stock, ete.

We copy from the Winsted Herald the following:

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

“Died at Winchester Centre, on the 20th of J: anuary,
1873, Theron Bronson, Esq., aved sixty-three years,

“Mr. Bronson, by birth, ancestry, lifelong residence,
and active business, has been identified with all the
interests of the town, and especially with those of the
parish of his residence.

“With activity, energy, and endurance rarely
equaled, he embarked in business at an early age, and
prosecuted it in various forms, with increasing ardor,
until the very close of his useful and exemplary life,
As a farmer and stock-dealer he became by far the
largest land-owner in the town, while as a trader and
produce-dealer he contributed largely to the pros-
perity of the community around him. His manly
form and cheerful visage are indelibly impressed on
the memory of a wide-spread circle of friends and
acquaintances.

“When to these characteristics are added a kind and
generous heart and liberal hand, unquestioned in-
tegrity, large public spirit and private benevolence,
and a pure Christian life, we have a man whose mem-
ory will be greatly cherished, and whose loss will be
deplored long after his mortal remains shall have
mingled with kindred dust.”

HENRY HUNGERFORD DRAKE.

Henry Hungerford Drake was born Feb. 21, 1888.
He studied medicine with Harvey B. Steele, M.D., of
Winsted, in 1851, ’52, and ’63, attending lectures at
the Eclectic Medical College, Cincinnati, Ohio, in
1854; was with Dr. Steele from July, 1854, to Octo-
ber, 1858. Has been mail-messenger, assistant post-
master, book-keeper for various manufactories, insur-
ance agent, clerk and treasurer of the borough of
Winsted since May, 1869, and water commissioner
since May, 1872, and elected in May, 1881, for the
fourth successive term of three years. Had the
entire charge of the water-works for more than six
successive years to June, 1879. Has held the office
of registrar of voters since the office was created in
1860, and was re-elected school visitor October, 1880,
for three years, besides various other local positions
of trust. May 18, 1862, he married Mariam Roberts,
who was born in Colebrook, Conn., Sept. 7, 1840.
They have two children,—George F. and Anna B.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE.

William Lawrence,son of Grove Lawrence, formerly
of Litchfield County, was born in Paris, N. Y., Jaa.
28, 1801. His father died when he was four years old;
he was then adopted by an aunt, the wife of Joseph
Battell, who lived at Norfolk, Conn., and was engaged
in the mercantile business. His adopted father took
him into the store when quite young, and he soon be-
came a partner. On the 18th of August, 1830, Mr.
Lawrence married Caroline Rockwell, of Winsted.
sl .
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LAWRENC
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RESIDENCE OF L.S.NASH , WINCHESTER, CONN.
BARKHAMSTED. 237

 

He continued in the store until 1848, when, owing to
ill health, he was obliged to give up his business, and
removed to Northampton, Mass., where he remained
until his death, which occurred Feb. 22, 1867. Mr.
and Mrs. Lawrence had brought into their family by
adoption a nephew, William Lawrence Baker, aged
one year, born at Amherst, Mass., Oct. 5, 1889. Ata
proper age he joined the regular army as second lieu-
tenant, and soon became by promotion first lieutenant.
He was in active service during the late war, and fell
at the battle of Antietam, on the 17th of September,
1862.

CHAPTER XxX.
BARKHAMSTED.*

EARLY HISTORY.

‘THE territory now embraced in Barkhamsted was
included in the “ Western grant,” made by the colony
of Connecticut in trust to the towns of Hartford and
Windsor in 1686. After the division of these lands
between the colony and the proprietors of Hartford
and Windsor, in 1726, by a partition deed between the
two towns, dated February, 1732, Barkhamsted, Tor-
rington, West Harwinton, and Colebrook fell to the
share of the Windsor patentees. Barkhamsted, which
contained by estimation twenty thousand five hundred
and thirty-one acres, was divided among one hundred
and eight tax-payers of Windsor on the list of 1720.
The town was named Barkhamsted by an act of the
General Assembly in May,. 1732, and in January,
1733, the proprietors held their first meeting at ‘tye
old society meeting-house in Windsor,” when Henry
Allyn was chosen proprietors’ clerk.

_ During the summer.of 1733 a committee of four
was sent from Windsor to view the land, and to lay
out the first division into home-lots. This division
lay between the branches of the river, and eastward
as far as Simsbury bounds, with one tier of lots west
of the west. branch of the river, the proprietors reserv-
ing two fifty-acre lots near the centre of the town and
Mast Swamp. These lots were drawn by the proprie-
tors in July, 1733, in the proportion of one acre to
the pound on each man’slist. Atthesame time high-
ways were laid out, one, ten rods wide, between the
branches of the river, beginning at the line between
Barkhamsted and New Hartford, about one hundred
and twenty rods eastward of the West Branch, run-
ning northward to the boundary of the’ township.
From this highway several others were laid out east
and west. There was also a highway four rods wide
next to the Simsbury line, and reservations for high-

 

* By Capt. Henry R. Jones, United States army, retired.

+ There has been much question as to the origin of the name. The old
spelling was “ Berkhempsted,” and the theory has been advanced that
some of the Windsor proprietors may have come from the English town
of that name.

16

 

ways along the banks of the river branches. The old
North country road over Wallen’s Hill was cleared
through Barkhamsted in 1760, the Farmington River
turnpike between 1780-90, and the Greenwoods turn-
pike in 1800.

The new township was a source of expense and
trouble, and but little revenue, to its proprietors for
forty years. Lands found few purchasers, and the
country was too rugged and barren to invite settlers.
The principal matters taken up in proprietors’ meet-
ings during this interval were the prosecution of
trespassers convicted of cutting, felling, disposing of,
or carrying away wood or timber, and the defense of
the border line against encroachments from Simsbury,
in which Barkhamsted made common cause with New
Hartford. The committees who attended to these
matters were paid by sales of timber or undivided
lands of the proprietors, and the highways were cleared
by sales of the timber growing thereon, funds in the
treasury being low.

In 1753 the remainder of the lands in the township
were divided, exclusive of the convenient mill-priv-
ileges, which were to be disposed of separately, and
drawn by the original proprietors or their heirs, in
the same proportion as the first division. Mast
Swamp, and other spruce timber-land of equal value,
was a division by itself, in which every proprietor had
a share. The same year the proprietors appointed
Stephen Chub agent to petition the General Assem-
bly to annex Barkhamsted to Hartford County.

A tract of land remaining in the last division after
every proprietor had drawn his proportion was divided
into five lots of fifty acres each, and sold or leased for
nine hundred and ninety-nine years to pay the com-
mittee and other charges.

In 1792 a committee was appointed to sell or lease
for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, or a shorter
term, all mill-places belonging to the proprietors,
“after said sail hath been advertised in Hudson &
Goodwin’s newspaper three weeks.”

EARLY SETTLERS.

It has been the received opinion that Pelatiah Al-
lyn was the first white settler in Barkhamsted, and
the date of his settlement has been fixed at 1746.
Careful study of the records of Barkhamsted and New
Hartford proves that this must be accepted with some
modifications. Pelatiah Allyn, of Windsor, deeded
to his son Pelatiah lands in Barkhamsted as early as
1789, but the first mention of Pelatiah Allyn as being
“of Barkhamsted” is in 1751, when he is so designated
in an appointment from the proprietors at Windsor.
The records of New Hartford show that Pelatiah Al-
lyn was a payer of poll and land taxes in that town
from 1743 to 1755. He married, in 1750, Sarah Moody,
of New Hartford, and his first child was born and
baptized in that town. The probabilities seem to be
that he came from Windsor to view his new estates
soon after they were deeded him by his father, but,
238

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

thinking it a lonely outlook for a home, settled him-
self in New Hartford, and cleared his plantation in
Barkhamsted, just across the line, at his leisure, build-
ing himself a hut for occasional shelter, not removing
thither with his family until 1756, when his name
disappears from the New Hartford lists. He owned
several hundred acres, extending from the East to the
West Branches of the Tunxis, much of which he re-
ceived as compensation for attending to the Barkham-
sted interests of the proprietors at Windsor. He lived
just across the line from New Hartford, on the farm
now owned by the heirs of John Cruess; he died in
1783, aged seventy. His son Pelatiah, born in New
Hartford in 1755, died in 1815, and is buried in the
Centre burying-ground.

Stephen Chub purchased lands in Barkhamsted in
1748, and soon after occupied them, as his name is
mentioned in 1747 as being “of Barkhamsted,” pre-
vious to that of Pelatiah Allyn. He removed to New
Hartford in 1755, when he purchased lands on Town
Hill, and worked at his trade of a blacksmith.

Israel Jones, from Enfield, is credited with having
settled in the northeast part of the town in 1759,
where his descendant, Deacon Edwin P. Jones, now
lives. Stephen Chub having previously removed to
New Hartford, the historic claim may with propriety
be sustained,—that Israel Jones was the second per-
manent white settler.

There seems to have been some flaw in the early
titles and leases given to settlers, as in 1788 a com-
mittee were especially appointed to adjust claims and
proprietors’ accounts. Israel Jones’ earliest deed and
lease on record bear date of 1771, twelve years after
his accredited settlement in the town, where he must
have made immediate purchases or lease of land, as
he was a man of comfortable means, and an excellent
citizen, identified with promoting the interests of the
town until his death, in December, 1798. He was
buried in the East Hartland graveyard.

Prominent among other early settlers were William
Austin, Jonathan King, and John Norton, from Suf-
field; Amos Case, from Simsbury; John Ives, from
Hamden; Daniel, William, and Gad Rexford, from
New Haven; Joseph Shepherd, from Hartford; and
Joseph Wilder, from East Haddam.

Most of these settled on Centre Hill; those who
followed came from various places throughout the
State, and were thinly scattered over the different
portions of the town. s

Much of the unhappy spirit of discord which pre-
vailed in church and town affairs in after-years was

doubtless due to this fact,—that the first settlers were
linked together by no ties of blood or association,

Simon Baxter, who bought and sold large tracts of
land in the town, was a resident of Barkhamsted for
a few years; he was a Tory, and during the Revolu-
tionary war joined the the army of Burgoyne.

Thomas Goss, who was executed at Litchfield for
the murder of his wife in 1785, was a resident of

 

Barkhamsted, where he purchased land as early as
1762. :

In 1771 there were but twenty families in town,
In 1774 the inhabitants, who had increased to about
forty families, besides ‘sundry young men who were
freeholders,” petitioned the General Assembly that
they might be incorporated and granted town priyi-
leges, that they might give better encouragement to
the interests of religion, education, and good order,
and have authority to suppress vice and immorality
in their midst. This petition was negatived, and the
town was not incorporated until 1779.

In 1780 the following memorial was presented to
the General Assembly, which so graphically sets forth
the poverty of the struggling town that it is given
herewith, having been copied from the State archives
at Hartford :

“ To ye honorable General Assembly now sitting :

“The memorialists of ye inhabitants of Barkhampstead humbly
showeth, That your memorialists have been called upon by order of
your honors to make return of their lista,

“ Whereas they beg leave to observe that said Town has been but lately
and is now but thinly settled, that ye inhabitants are in general very
poor and low, and many of them have neither land or stock of their own,
but live entirely upon hire, both as to land and cattle, which yet they are
obliged to put into ye list. That said land is very rough and heavy tim-
bered; that ye whole amount of their list is but small, a very consider-
able part of which arises from wild land. That said town (with a small
part of Winchester) is constituted into two distinct societies, in which,
by reason of ye poverty of the inhabitants, there is neither minister,
meeting-house, nor school-house, That they are now about to build
meeting-houses, etc., and settling ministers. That they have been, and
still are, at great expense in purchasing and making necessary highways.
That most of said inhabitants are in ye younger part of life, and have
numerous families of small children, which is as much as they can possibly
do to support. That there is not more than one man in said Town who
can be said with truth to be aforehand, and he is greatly burdened by
liberally relieving ye necessities of ye needy aud distressed, That the
circumstances of said inhabitants are such that they are not only unable
to bear a part of ye public taxes, but even to pay their own internal
taxes, without distressing their families, and especially as there is not,
nor ever has been, a sufficient quantity of grain raised in said Town for
ye use of ye inhabitants. Wherefore they humbly pray your honors to
excuse them from ye payment of any State taxes for ye present, ur in
some other way grant them relief, and they, as in duty bound, shall
pray, etc.

“Dated at Hartford this 24th day of October, 1780.

“JosepH WILDER, Agent.

“In the Lower House—The prayer of this memorial is granted and
liberty of a bill in form, etc.

“ Test—W. WILLIAMS, Clerk,

“Concurred in the Upper House.

“ Test—GEoRGE WYLLYS, Sec.”

Accompanying this was a true list of the polls and
estate of the inhabitants of the town:

 

 

£& ad.

Tota) of residents ......... eee 3100 1 7
«non-residents... a 260 2 0
Sum total of foregoing list...... ibaie spe caatacnana wee 8351 0-7

James WEED, J. Mo Listers.”
E11 Hoicoms,

“Test {

Resolution excusing them passed both houses, Oc-
tober, 1780.
DESCRIPTIVE.
Barkhamsted is bounded north by Hartland, east
by Canton and Granby, south by New Hartford, and
west by Winchester. It is five miles in extent from
BARKHAMSTED.

239

 

north to south, and about eight miles from east to
west, as surveyed for Clark’s map of Litchfield County
in 1859. The surface of the town is rugged and
mountainous, intersected by two high granite moun-
tain ranges, some of the steeps and declivities of which
are inaccessible. Much of the soil is stony and unfit
for tillage, but along the streams are fertile meadows,
and some excellent farms have been by enterprise
cleared on plateaus and elevated ground. There are
no mineral productions of any note; small quantities
of iron ore and strata of limestone have been discov-
ered within the town. The forests were the primeval
wealth of the town.

Wild animals—wolves, bears, panthers, and cata-
mounts—found coverts and lurking-places on the un-
frequented mountain-sides. Rev. Osias Eels, the first
minister in town, in a letter to Rev. Benjamin Trum-
bull, the historian (dated 1805), from which some val-
uable information has been gathered for this sketch,
mentions a stone hunting-lodge in the northeast part
of the town, built by huntsmen to protect them in the
night from wolves and bears. Panthers and cata-
mounts have been killed in the town at a comparatively
recent date.

INDIANS.

There was never any permanent settlement of the
Tunxis Indians in Barkhamsted, though there is no
doubt that occasional raids were made upon the early
settlers in the southern part of the town by those res-
ident in New Hartford. Apocryphal stories have
been told of Pelatiah Allyn’s early adventures with
Indians, and of bloody contests between hostile tribes
within the town, which will not bear investigation,
and have an extremely thin foundation even in tradi-
tion. About a mile south of the present village of
Riverton was formerly a small settlement of the Nar-
ragansett Indians. They are said to have gone thither
about 1779, and purchased two hundred acres of land.
Here was the famous Barkhamsted light-house, con-
cerning which much that is purely imaginary has
been said and written. Perhaps the most authentic
account of the origin of the “ light-house” is found in
the following extract from the centennial address of
Mr. William Wallace Lee, a native of Barkhamsted,
who has devoted much study to historical matters,
and has had the best of opportunity for such study :

“James Chaugham was a Narragansett Indian, a native of Block
Island. While yet a young man he adopted the manners and customs of
the whites, and came to Wethersfield, where he married a white woman,
Molly Barker by name, who had been disappointed by parental authority
interfering to prevent a union with the man of herchoice. She gave out
that she would marry the first man that offered, white or black. .
Isuppose they were married about 1740; they left Wethorsfield, came
over to Farmington, followed up the Tunxis River until they found a
resting-place on the flat about a mile south of Riverton, on the east, or
rather northeast, side of the river, and there made a clearing and reared
quitea family. . Chaugham died about 1800, and his wife in 1820,
the latter being understood to be one hundred and five yearsold. Chaug-
ham’s children moved from this vicinity at an early age.* He was a good

 

* We do not think Mr. Lee meant that all of Chaugham’s eight chil-
dren removed, for their descendants, by the names of Wilson, Elwell, and
Jacklin, were long residents of this vicinity.

 

citizen, and lived an honest life. The talk about his being an Indian
chief in paint, with plumes, tomahawk, and scalping-knifo. is all bosh.

“A poor road, as were most of them then, led past Chaugham’s dwel-
ling; the river was forded below his house, at the south end of the plot,
and again at the north end. When the Farmington River turnpike was
laid out, it went past his log house. New Hartford was the end of the
route, and the stopping-place for the night. Coming from the north, the
stages would pass by his door along in the evening, especially in the fall
of the year. The drivers would recognize it at once, and so, knowing
how much farther they had to go, fell into the habit of using the terms,
‘Weare within four miles of port,—there is the light-house.’ This phrase
was taken up by the traveling public, as well as the townspeople, and
carried far and wide.”

From a letter of Mr. Lee is gathered an account of
the Indian burying-ground in Barkhamsted :

“ Just a little to the south of the old light-house site, where the turn-
pike makes a sharp bend, on the left hand above the road, is a small
plateau or table-land, where is buried Chaugham, with some forty or fifty
of what were known as the ‘ Light-house’ tribe. There are no monuments,
but a few rough stones to mark the graves. It was quite heavily over-
grown with young pines, but within the past few years they have been
cut off, and the Indian burying-ground now looks bare and desolate,”

CHAPTER XXI.
BARKHAMSTED (Continued).
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

Tue first mill-privilege utilized in Barkhamsted
seems to have been on Morgan River, near Pleasant
Valley. In the old proprietors’ book it is recorded
that a meeting was called in May, 1761, among
other purposes, “To see if the Proprietors will give
liberty to any of the Proprietors to set up a saw-mill
upon Morgan River, either by sale of the place or by
alease for any certain number of years.” At this
meeting it was voted to lease out this mill-place “ for
the space of eleven years from the time of leasing,
which must be accomplished within six weeks.”
Capt. Benjamin Griswold and Henry Allyn were ap-
pointed a committee to lease out said mill-place for
said term. When this mill-place was actually leased
and the mill built does not appear, but a saw-mill has
been in operation there since the memory of man.
Somewhat earlier than the year 1800 a saw-mill upon
this site was owned by Pelatiah Allyn and Asa Gilbert,
of Barkhamsted, and Jonathan Marsh, of New Hart-
ford. Whether this was the mill built under the
original lease is not certain. It is probable that it
was a second mill. Years later it was rebuilt by Capt.
Alanson Merrell, Uriel Spencer, and Edward Marsh,
but it is said the wheel and power were never as good
as the previous one. This mill was formerly used to
a great extent by New Hartford people. To the
above Elias Root succeeded in the ownership. The
property is now owned and occupied by E. A. Rogers,
who came from Tyringham, Mass., in 1877, purchased
the property, and immediately commenced the manu-
facture of hay-rakes. This industry is carried on in ad-
dition to the general saw-mill business, which is con-
tinued. ‘Mr. Rogers employs five hands, and turns °
240

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

off three thousand rakes per annum, which he exports
to different portions of Europe and Australia. This
is still considered an excellent water-power.

But a few rods below this establishment is Cannon’s
forge, the hammers of which are now kept tripping
by the fourth generation from the original founder.
About the year 1812, Elijah Cannon came from South-
wick, Mass., and built the house that is now, with its
surroundings, called the Cannon homestead. In 1814
he built a trip-hammer shop, located near the mouth
of Morgan River, for the manufacturing of axes,
scythes, and edge-tools of every description. In 1836
his son, Elijah C. Cannon, became interested in the
business, which partnership continued until 1850,
when they dissolved, the son purchasing the forge
property, and continuing the business solely upon his
own account. In 1848 he built himself the house
now standing near the old site. This house is still
owned and occupied by his widow.

At the time of the dissolution of partnership be-
tween Elijah Cannon and his son, Mr. Cannon the
elder built another dam and shop about twenty rods
above on the same stream, and near the house built
by him in 1812. Here he continued the old business
until he died.

At the lower forge Elijah C. Cannon was succeeded
by his son, E. Dwight Cannon, who had been em-
ployed by his father in the trade. In 1869 the latter
purchased the upper forge property and homestead,
and now continues, assisted by his son, the manufac-
ture of crow-bars, sleigh-shoes, light bar iron, and
steel. The lower shop and privilege have been pur-
chased by the Greenwoods Company of New Hart-
ford. The property having been rendered nearly
valueless as a water-power by the raising of the dam
of the latter company, a mile and a quarter below, the
shop has been abandoned, and has gone to ruin.

Abouta mile above the mouth of Morgan River, on
the West Branch of the Farmington River, a saw-mill
was built by Eben Woodruff in 1814. Mr. Woodruff,
who came to Pleasant Valley about this time, was a
religious man, and has been called the father of Meth-
odism in that locality. He was a very long-bodied
man, and people used to say he was taller when he
sat down than when he stood up. He continued
the saw-mill for many years, and then sold out to
Julius C. Pratt.

This saw-mill and property was purchased by Al-
bert Baker, of Canaan, in 1852. Mr. Baker imme-
diately added to the saw-mill a large shop, and com-
menced the manufacture of doors, sash, and blinds.
The old saw-mill was continued about three years
after Mr. Baker purchased the property, when it was
taken down, and in its place has been built another
shop, rendered necessary by the continual increase of
business. In 1867, Mr. Baker took into partnership
his two sons, George A. and John I., and continued
the business under the firm-name of A. Baker & Sons.
They now employ from six to eight men. Noy. 29,

 

1880, in the shop, John I. Baker was instantly killed,
While engaged in turning out an oval moulding, the
rapidly-revolving block upon which he was at work
flew into pieces, a section of it striking him in the
face. His death was a sad blow to his family and the
community.

About a mile farther up the river is situated the
little hamlet of Youngsdale. In the year 1800,
Joshua Youngs, of Farmington, purchased a tract of
timber-land on both sides of the Farmington River,
about midway between the north and south bounda-
ries of the town; adjoining lands were bought by him
and his heirs until the tract contained some six hun-
dred and fifty acres. His three sons, Thomas, Con-
stant, and John, came into possession upon the de-
cease of their father, holding it in common and undi-
vided, and receiving very little income from it, until
1836, at which time Daniel and Constant Youngs,
sons of Constant, then deceased, and grandsons of the
first-named purchaser, removed from Farmington and
located upon the tract, about one mile north of the
bridge at Pleasant Valley. Here they constructed a
dam across the river, and built a saw-mill and shop,
for the purpose of preparing the timber for market,
making, among other things, shingles, bedsteads, chair
stock, stock for plate-locks, clothes-pins, etc., employ-
ing several men. In 1848, their brother, Edward J.,
commenced the manufacture of saw-handles in a part
of the shop, employing six to eight men. In 1861
Constant sold his interest in the business to his brother
Daniel, and afterwards removed to Norfolk, where he
died (drowned) in 1879. In 1858, Daniel and Edward
J. Youngs put their businesses together under thefirm-
name of D. & E. J. Youngs, and have occupied the
premises until the present time, having extended their
business, using not only timber from their own land,
but buying largely from others.

Seth H., Hart, and Cornwall Doolittle, natives of
Wallingford, came to Pleasant Valley from Middle-
town in November, 1830, and built the carriage-factory
in that village. They were mechanics themselves,
one being a blacksmith, one a painter, and the other
a wagon-maker, and knew how to do every branch of
the business. At first they employed but five or six
men, yet these, with themselves, and all working ff
teen hours for a day’s labor, were able to turn off a
large amount of work.

April 6, 1860, the buildings of this establishment
were destroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt on 4
larger scale, and business continued. Business was
now driving, and more than twenty men were em
ployed. A large amount of the product of this manu-
factory was sent West and South. Seth H. having
died in 1858, the remaining brothers continued the
business thereafter, under the firm-name of H. & C.
Doolittle, until early in 1869, when they sold out to
John H. Markham, of New Hartford.

Mr. Markham continued the business three or four
years, when he made an assignment, and the busines
Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

AN

 

 
BARKHAMSTED.

241

 

has never been revived. The property is now owned
by the Greenwoods Company of New Hartford, and
remains unoccupied. By raising the dam of the latter
company, in 1878, the power became very much im-
paired, and may be considered of no great value as a
water privilege.

The village of Riverton until the year 1866 was
known as Hitchcocksville, deriving the latter name
from Lambert Hitchcock, who came from Cheshire in
1818. Before this time the locality had been known
as “the forks of the river.” Mr. Hitchcock first
started a turning-lathe in a saw-mill where Ward’s
paper-mill now stands. At this latter he turned out
chair materials, which he took to Charleston, 8. C.,
put together, and sold them. The next year he re-
turned, built a two-story shop twenty-five by thirty-
six feet, and a dam about thirty rods above the
present dam. Near the dam he built a small turning-
shop, where he turned and sawed chair materials,
which were put together, finished, and painted in a
two-story shop which stood near the main street. He
now employed from ten to fifteen hands, and the
place began to be called “ Hitchcock’s Mill,” the name
by natural habit becoming Hitchcocksville. Busi-
ness increased continually until 1825 and 1826, when
he built the large brick shop now occupied by Ste-
phens & Co., and employed from ninety to one hun-
dred men, women, and children. In 1829, Mr. Hitch-
cock made an assignment of his property, but com-
promised with his creditors, and, with Arba Alford,
continued the business under the firm-name of Hitch-
cock & Alford. Afterwards, Josiah H. Sage having
taken an interest, “Co.” was added to the firm-name.

April 1, 1848, Alfred Alford and Sage bought out the
business, Mr. Sage selling out in 1845 to Mr. Alford,
who continued as sole proprietor until 1848, when the
whole establishment was destroyed by fire.

The brothers Arba and Alfred Alford immediately
rebuilt, and formed a joint stock company known as
“The Alford Company,” and continued manufacturing
chairs until Jan. 1, 1853, when the “ Phenix Com-
pany” was formed, and the property was converted
into a plane manufactory. Oct. 23, 1861, Alfred Al-
ford bought out the Phenix Company, and continued
the business alone until 1864, when he sold out the
entire establishment to Stephens & Co., rule manu-
facturers, of New Hartford.

This business was started in 1854 by L. C. Stephens
and his sou, D. H. Stephens, at Pine Meadow, Conn.
Five years later, in 1859, the business was removed
to New Hartford, Conn., where it was conducted suc-
cessfully until 1864, when it was taken to Riverton,
Conn., where-it has since been carried on and largely
extended. The old firm of L. C. Stephens & Co. made
first-class goods from the start. Both parties were
thorough mechanics and inventors, and introduced a
variety of labor-saving machines that displaced hand
labor, and their goods took a leading position in the
market at once, which they have since maintained.

 

For many years the senior Mr. Stephens divided
his time between the factory and the markets, and,
being an able man of pleasing address, as well as of
strict integrity, influenced large sales, and made hosts
of lifelong friends among the business men of the
country. His death occurred in 1871.

L. C. Stephens was the inventor and patentee of the
useful rule called the “Combination Rule,” which
embraces a substantial brass-bound foot-rule, a square,
plumb, bevel, inclinometer, and drafting scale. This
rule is necessarily costly, but has met with a good
sale. An old man, now eighty-three years old, has
derived from the sale of this instrument support for
himself and wife for fifteen years. He was one of the
old dry-goods jobbers of Boston forty years ago, but
misfortune overtook him, and, having no relatives to
aid him in his old age, he has, as he says, “ been kept
from suffering for the necessaries of life by the sale of
this instrument, which he believed was designed by
Providence to sustain him in his declining years.”

The present proprietor, Mr. D. H. Stephens, became

- sole owner of the business in 1861, since which time he

has designed a great number of labor-saving machines,
many of which are models of elegance and utility.
Much of his machinery is complicated and costly,
and is, almost without an exception, the product
of his brain. He has done what can hardly be said
of any other manufacturer, for, in addition to manag-
ing the details of a constantly-increasing business at
home and abroad, he has, as already said, not only
designed but made all drafts and patterns for the
fine machines that are at work in the various depart-
ments of the factory with his own hand, and had them
constructed under his personal supervision on the
premises. Many of them are patented.

Boxwood, of which rules are made, is imported from
Turkey, Russia, Persia, and India.

It is a dense, fine-grained wood, and susceptible of a
good finish. Brass, German silver, and ivory are used
in the construction of rules.

The business is comparatively limited when com-
pared with many branches of the hardware trade, and,
in consequence of the introduction of so much labor-
saving machinery, the market is frequently glutted
and prices are low. Who would think that a well-
made folding-rule, two feet long, one inch wide, and
accurately graduated into inches and eighths and six-
teenths, could be sold in quantities for ninety cents,
and even less, per dozen? When this firm began
business, in 1854, the price paid for making this rule,
not including the cost of material, was as much as it
now brings, and yet the workmen make as good wages
now as then. It is impossible to go into the details
of rule manufacturing in a short article. Every rule
undergoes thirty or forty operations in course of con-
struction, and must when finished be exactly United
States standard, and in this establishment all goods
that do not come up to a certain standard of excel-
lence are condemned. The goods made by this firm
242

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

are everywhere recognized as standard goods. They
are sold in all parts of the country and Canada, and
many are exported.

About the year 1827, Edwin Sturgiss, of Lee, Mass.,
came to the village and engaged in the marble-cutting
business, which he carried on a number of years.
The business has been continued by different ones in
succession until the present time, Warren Alford
being the present proprietor. In its best days this
establishment has turned out as much as six thousand
dollars in work per annum.

John Ward and his two sons came to Riverton in
the year 1836 and built a large calico-print works.
Although their factory was just over the Barkhamsted
line in the town of Hartland, it was nevertheless within
the village, and is identified with its interests. This
concern manufactured from two hundred thousand to
three hundred thousand dollars worth of goods per
year, and employed a large number of hands. In
1851 the firm dissolved, and the business of calico-
printing ceased, the property passing into the hands
of Michael Ward. From 1851 very little was done
with the property until 1878, when the sons of Michael
Ward, under the name of Ward Brothers, commenced
here the manufacture of paper, making at first about
one ton of fine manilla paper daily, but, with in-
creased facilities, are now able to make double that
quantity. They receive and ship about two thousand
tons of raw and manufactured material yearly.

The scythe-shop in the southern end of the village
was built by Williams & Burbank, of Winsted, in
1849. They failed in 1851, when the property was
bought by Ezra Doolittle, Michael Ward, Hiram Good-
win, and others. Soon after the purchase of the
property a joint stock company was organized and
called the “ Eagle Company,” the organization being
perfected July 30, 1853, with a capital of fifteen thou-
sand dollars, since increased to twenty-five thousand
dollars. The capacity of the works in 1853 was two
thousand dozen scythes annually. In 1869 the works
were rebuilt and enlarged to their present capacity,
which is eight thousand dozen scythes, corn-knives,
hay-knives, and grass-hooks annually.

The officers of the company consist of a board of
directors, viz., Hiram Goodwin, M. Ward, E. Bevins,
J. Gould; Hon. Hiram Goodwin is president, and
Lorin A. Cooke secretary, treasurer, and general agent.
H. Goodwin and M. Ward have been in office con-
tinuously since the organization of the Eagle Company
in 18538. The products of this company are sold to
the jobbing trade throughout the country. The goods
manufactured are of an excellent quality. The power
used is chiefly water from Still River, but to provide
against contingencies a steam-engine of about fifty
horse-power has been put in, which, with an American
turbine-wheel forty-eight inches in diameter, drives
the works. The stock used is of Norway iron and
English cast steel, imported expressly for the Eagle
Company. The shipping-point is Winsted, four miles

 

distant, and the annual tonnage of the company is
about nine hundred tons.

The grist-mill directly opposite the Eagle Company’s
scythe-works was built by Whitfield G. Munson.

It proved unprofitable to him, and the property,
after passing through several hands, was purchased
by Joseph Gould, the present owner, who has con-
ducted it successfully for about fifteen years. It is
said to be one of the best grist-mills in all this section.

After a saw-mill, the next thing to be thought of by
a pioneer settlement is a grist-mill. The first intima-
tion of a grist-mill in Barkhamsted is a reference in the
old proprietors’ records to a grist- and saw-mill owned
by Pelatiah Allyn, which stood adjacent to land leased
to him by Capt. Israel Jones and Henry Allen, a
committee appointed for this purpose in 1772. Itis
recorded, previous to this, that a committee was ap-
pointed to lease out fifty acres, upon which was lo-
cated ‘“‘a convenient mill-place.” This was to be
leased out to the highest bidder, who would give
bond for one hundred pounds to oblige himself to
set up a good grist-mill upon said lot within two
years, providing “ that if said mill shall not be kept in
good repair for the space of one year at one time, the
leased premises to revert back to the lessor again.”

The latter offer does not appear to have been ac-
cepted, but the former lease to Pelatiah Allyn for
nine hundred and ninety-nine years seems to have
remained in force, and the saw-mill and grist-mill
kept up. This was located at the old privilege, about
one hundred rods below William Tiffany’s present
mill, on Beaver Brook. The old mill is said to have
been standing forty years ago and used as a turning-
shop. /

Tiffany’s present mill was built in 1840. It was
carried off by a freshet some twelve years ago, and
immediately rebuilt. This is one of the leading saw-
mills in the town; to it is attached a grist-mill and a
land plaster-mill.

One of the most important mill-places in the town
is that on the East Branch, for many years known as
“Munson’s mill.” Here a grist-mill was in operation
for a long period, and connected with it a saw-mill.
Its origin appears difficult to trace to a certainty,
though in 1783, at a proprietors’ meeting held in Wind-
sor, Capt. Pelatiah Allyn, Capt. Israel Jones, and
Henry Allyn were appointed a committee to lease out
a mill-place on the East Branch of the river for a term
not exceeding fifteen years. This was undoubtedly
the Munson’s mill site; both grist- and saw-mill are
still in successful operation.

Another saw-mill is still running on Morgan River,
about half-way from New Hartford to Winsted, o2
the Albany turnpike. This mill was originally built
about 1819, and has passed through several hands.

Some eighteen years ago a saw-mill was built in
Riverton, near the Eagle Scythe-Works, which is still
in operation and known as Hart’s mill. Several
other small saw-mills are running in the town.
BARKHAMSTED. 243

=

 

At different times there have been in the town sev-
eral tanneries in active operation. Mallory’s tannery,
on Albany turnpike, near the Winchester line, was suc-
cessfully carried on for a series of years. There was
at one time a tannery in North Hollow, another on
Centre Hill.

Bricks have also in former years been manufactured
in town, but these enterprises, like the many saw-
mills, have gone to decay.

In its early days Barkhamsted was heavily timbered
with pine, spruce,.oak, hemlock, maple, beech, and
chestnut. Ship-builders came from Hartford, Wind-
sor, and other port towns for masts for their vessels,
and other ship timber. The many streams afforded
abundant mill-privileges, and saw-mills were running
night and day for years before the town was incorpo-
rated. In this way the forests have been stripped
from the lands, which could be more profitably de-
voted to timber-raising than any other purpose. As the
forests disappeared the saw-mills became useless, and,
although there have been in the town some forty of
these mills in active operation, but about half a dozen
are now in existence.

CHAPTER XXII.
BARKHAMSTED (Continued).

RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS AND CHURCHES.

WHEN a colony of pioneer settlers have succeeded
in building houses, or dwelling-places of any descrip-
tion, they immediately set about organizing them-
selves into a religious society, and make preparations
to build a house in which to meet for divine worship.
Exactly when the early settlers of Barkhamsted first
held religious meetings seems uncertain, but in a
letter written by Rev. Ozias Eells, the first settled
pastor in the town, to Rev. Benjamin Trumbull, D.D.,
the historian, dated Dec. 30, 1805, Mr. Eells says,
“The first church that was formed in the town was in
Barkhamsted. That was April 20,1781.” Undoubt-
edly religious meetings were held in the houses of the
inhabitants earlier than this date; but how much
earlier it seems Rev. Mr. Eells was unable, after care-
ful inquiry, to find out.

This letter, just referred to, and which will be fre-
quently quoted in the present sketch, was written by
Rev. Mr. Eells at the request of Dr. Trumbull, who
was then preparing his “‘ History of Connecticut,” and
who, for information relative to the different towns of
the State, wrote to clergymen and other intelligent citi-
zens who would be likely to know and willing to give
reliable information for the purpose. The original
letter is now in Yale College library, among the Trum-
bull papers, and was copied by the writer through the
courtesy of Mr. Addison Van Name, librarian.

In 1788 the proprietors in Windsor voted to give to

 

the society of Barkhamsted the use and improvement
of the proprietors’ lot lying on or near Centre Hill, on
which the stake for the meeting-house is now set, to
be used and improved in such a manner as the society
shall see fit for the use and benefit of the first min-
ister that shall settle in the work of the ministry in
said society, and his successors in the ministry, except
so much as may be necessary to build the meeting-
house upon, and a place for a burying-yard and
parade-ground.

There was some controversy about the location of
the first church. The stake was first pitched on the
corner opposite the house then owned and occupied
by Col. Israel Jones, and in this place, now the garden
of W. E. Howd, the first graves were made, thinking,
of course, the meeting-house would be erected there.
As late as 1846 the graves were plainly traced, but
now the plow has obliterated all trace of them, and
truly “the dead forgotten lie.” The spot upon the
hillside west was, however, fixed upon, and the pro-
prietors’ lot donated in the vote already quoted was
designated as the “meeting-house lot,” and is so
marked in the old chart of the town, now rapidly
going to destruction in the town clerk’s office.

The inhabitants of the northeastern portion of the
town were dissatisfied with this change in the loca-
tion of the meeting-house and withdrew, and, as
Rev. Mr. Eells states, “about a mile and a half or
two miles square was set off to East Hartland
society.” ;

In 1784 the work of building the meeting-house

-was commenced. It was an immense structure for

so poor a town; there were not men enough in the
society to raise it. Help came from Granby, Sims-
bury, New Hartford, and other towns to lift the mas-
sive timbers of white oak. As soon as it was covered,
and for eight years thereafter, it was used in an unfin-
ished condition for religious worship, loose boards
placed upon rude benches being the only seats.

In 1792 a determined effort was made to complete
the edifice, and to raise funds to accomplish this re-
sult a subscription-paper was circulated. This sub-
scription-list is still in existence, and is a curiosity in
its way. We herewith subjoin it:

“Whereas our meeting-house in Barkhamsted society, not being at
this present time as yet not comfortable to meet in for Divine worship,
and it being in the minds of some of the inhabitants to forward the fur-
therance towards the completion of the said house by subscription,
Therefore we, whose names are hereunto set down, with the number,
quantity, or measure of each particular specie annexed to his name,—
weatber-boards, clap-boards, window-frames, glass, nails, hinges. It is
always to be understood the timber to be taken from the minister's lot,
so called, on which the house standeth. And we, and each of us, as our
names are set down with the specie annexed, there to do, upon the truth,
fidelity, and trust of a faithful mind, promise to deliver the particular
specie, as annexed to our names, at the said meeting-house, to the satis-
faction of the committee appointed for that purpose, by the first day of
July next coming.

“ Dated at Barkhamsted, Nov. 12, a.p. 1792.

“Tsrael Jones, Jr., 4 pound 10 shillings; Solomon Newell, 4 pound 10
shillings; Pelatiah Allen, 2 pound 10 shillings (in boards); Ephraim
Munson, 2 pound 10 shillings (in boards); Asa Jones, 2 pound; Josiah
H. Hart,2 pound 10 shillings (in sashes); Joel Rexford, 2 pound 10
244

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

shillings (in boards); James Rexford, 2 pound (in boards); Benjamin
Jones, 2 pound (in boards); Aaron Hart, 1 pound 10 shillings (in boards) ;
John Merrell, 2 pound (hooks, nails, etc.); Jonathan Wilder, 1 pound
(in labor); Caleb Hough, 1 pound 10 shillings (in labor); Jehial Wilcox,
10 shillings (labor); Richard Adams, 10 shillings (labor); Amos Allen,
4 pound 10 shillings (labor) ; John Rockwell, 6 shillings (labor); Wait
Munson, 3 pound (in team-work); Nathaniel Collins,1 pound (in labor) ;
Charles Preston, 3 pound (in sawing); Charles Tuttle, 1 pound (in labor) ;
Jonathan Johnson, 1 pound (in labor); John Ives, 2 pound (in neat
cattle); Levi Tiffany, 2 pound (in team-work); Ezra Case, 2 pound.”

Then the house was completed, and finished in good
shape. From the recollections of those who wor-
shiped in the old meeting-house, the following de-
scription has been obtained. The house was square
and plain, though the worshipers seem to have had
aspirations towards a steeple, as in 1828, and again in
1835, unsuccessful efforts were made to raise money
by subscription to affix such an appendage. A
chimney was built about 1835, as is indicated by a
vote appointing a committee to “secure the stove-
pipe.” This innovation received much opposition
from the older members of the society.

The meeting-house fronted the south, and stood
within what is now the extreme southern portion of
the burying-ground, which was enlarged after the
house was removed. There were three sets of double
doors, which led into the audience-room, one set each
on the south, east, and west sides. There were on the
south side nine windows, two on each side of the
door and five above. On the east and west sides were
five windows, one on each side of the door and three
above. On the north or pulpit side were three win-
dows, a large one in the centre and a small one on
each side. The pulpit was large and high, and was
reached by steps from the west side; a plain board

seat was back of the desk for the minister’s accom- ,

modation. On each side of the pulpit were two pews;
the one next the stairs was appropriated to the use of
the minister’s family. In front of the pulpit was the
deacon’s seat, with its hanging table. There were
three aisles. On each side the broad aisle were six
square pews, with seats on three sides. There were
two pews on each side of the east and west doors, and
two pews on each side of the south door. The stairs
were in the southeast and southwest corners. Over
each flight of stairs was a large square pew. These
were appropriated to the use of colored worshipers.
The galleries ran around three sides of the building.
These were protected from the gaze of the congrega-
tion below by a “ breastwork,” into which were driven
nails for the singers to hang their hats and bonnets
on. Front seats in these accommodated the singers,
who were all moved into the front gallery in 1823.
About this time a bass viol was introduced into the
choir to lead the singing, which greatly scandalized
some of the older members of the congregation, who
plainly inveighed against “ fiddlin’ in mectin’.” Seats
and pews in the rear of the galleries were occupied
by boys and girls old enough to sit away from their
parents.

After 1816 the experiment of selling the pews was

 

several times tried, but the old custom of “seating
the house according to age and property” was again
adopted after each year’s trial of the modern system,
and the minister’s salary was raised by levying taxes,
which, judging from the church records, were ex-
tremely hard to collect.

Jan. 24, 1787, Rev. Ozias Eells was ordained min-
ister over the church. He remained in this pastorate
until his death, which took place, according to the
inscription on his tombstone in the old Centre bury-
ing-ground, May 25, 1818, in the fifty-eighth year of
his age, and twenty-ninth of his ministry. ,

Rev. Mr. Eells’ successors were as follows: Rey,
Elihu Mason, installed March 2, 1814, dismissed
April 24,1816; Rev. Saul Clark, installed Jan. 18,
1819, dismissed February, 1829; Rev. William R,
Gould, installed Sept. 25, 1832; Rev. Reuben §,
Hazen, installed May 17, 1848.

Very soon after the settlement of Rev. Mr. Hazen,
the question of a new meeting-house began to be
agitated, meetings were frequently called, and various
resolutions were passed and rescinded. The society
seemed to be divided into two factions, one in favor
of repairing the old house or taking it down and re-
building on the same spot, the other in favor of
changing the location. The matter was hotly agi-
tated for nearly two years. Subscriptions were circu-
lated by both parties. Finally it was agreed thata
committee from both parties should take two papers
and circulate, allowing those interested to subscribe
such amounts as they saw fit towards repairing the
old house or rebuilding on the same ground, or to-
wards building a new house upon the hill-west of the
old site. The latter scheme was the more successful,
and finally it was agreed by certain members of the
society that they would go forward and build a new
meeting-house. This was done, and the. present
meeting-house on Centre Hill is the result, Those
who were devoted to the old place, adjoining the
ancient burial-place, resolved not to join in this move-
ment, but continued to worship in the first meeting-
house as long as it continued a shelter from the
weather; but when the roof had gone to decay, and
the entire house needed repairing, it was finally
abandoned. Meetings were held for a while in the
Universalist church in the Hollow, but the society,
weak at best, could not keep up without the support
of those who had seceded. The old edifice stood, 4
sacred landmark of the past, until October, 1865, when
it was purchased by the agent of the Greenwoods
Scythe Company, in New Hartford, taken down, and
its old timbers now form the frame of the scythe-shop
warehouse in that village, purchased for the purpose
on account of their immense strength.

The new society was organized July 31, 1846, and
named the “ First Orthodox Congregational Society
of Barkhamsted.” Thirteen articles of association
were adopted, and the roll consisted of thirty-three
original members. The slips in the new meeting:
BARKHAMSTED.

245

 

house were first sold Aug. 22, 1845, until the follow-
ing March Ist. The house had been commenced the
fall before, and completed about this time. The Rev.
Reuben S. Hazen, who had come from the old into
the new church, remained until 1849, when he was
dismissed.

No regular pastor was settled over the church after
Rey. Mr. Hazen until March, 1861, when Rev. John
Elliott was ordained; he remained until January,
1863. Rev. H. N. Gates, from April, 1863, to Dec. 11,
1866 ; Rey. John R. Freeman, from Sept. 16, 1868, to
Sept. 12,1871. From the last date the pulpit has
been supplied by Revs. Henry Gidman, P. T. Holley,
and A. B, Peffers, until May 4, 1881, when Rev. J. B.
Clarke was ordained.

As early as 1787 there was an Episcopal society
well established in Barkhamsted, for on Christmas
Day of that year Rev. Jonathan Marsh, of New Hart-
ford, delivered a sermon in Barkhamsted “ before the
Episcopal society and others convened on that solemn
occasion,” which sermon was published at the re-
quest of his hearers. The society must have been in
existence some time before that, probably as early as
1784,

The church in the Hollow, which is still in very
good condition, was built by the Episcopalians about
1816. It was but partially finished at that time. The
ground was deeded for the purpose by Robert Wil-
cox to the society. The society was at that time
feeble, and unable to finish the building, or to sup-
port a minister; in fact, no rector was ever regularly
settled over the church. The house being unfin-
ished inside, the congregation for years sat on rude
benches.

In 1834, by an agreement entered into at a meeting
of the Episcopalians, the Universalists, of whom
there were a considerable number in town, were per-
mitted to repair and finish the church, and to own the
building and property, in common with the Episcopal
society, in proportion to the amount of expenses of
repairs as compared with present valuation of church
property, fixed upon by a committee of appraisal ap-
pointed at said meeting. The property was appraised
at two hundred and seventy-five dollars. The Uni-
versalists added steeple, bell, and fitted the church
into good shape for religious exercises.

The Episcopalians have continued to hold service
in this building from time to time, but not regularly.
The Universalists have held meetings more regularly,
and have employed ministers, generally for a year at
atime. Revs. R. O, Williams, James Shingley, W.
A. Stickney, W. A. Loveland, and others have at
intervals acted as pastors of the church.

The Episcopal Church at Riverton was founded
March 2, 1829, with a membership of thirty. It was first
called the “ Union Church,” which name was changed
to “St. Paul’s” in 1876. The first clergyman was Rev.
Mr, Blaisdel, who remained four years. He was suc-
ceeded by Rev. W. H. Frisbie, who remained until

 

1849, Since the latter date there were no regular
services in the church until 1872, when Rev. Carlos
Linsley took charge, and remained until 1880, At
the present time the rector at Winsted officiates at
one service every Sunday. July 4, 1879, being the
fiftieth anniversary of the laying of the corner-stone
of the church, a semi-centennial celebration was held.
This church, the old church at the Hollow, and a
small society at Pleasant Valley now constitute a
mission circuit, supported by the Litchfield arch-
deaconry.

Aug. 27,1834, there was a Methodist. Episcopal class
organized at Riverton, with seventeen members. A
church was built in 1840, and the society continued
prosperously until about 1869; the house was torn
down ten years later.

The First Congregational Church of Riverton was
organized April 19, 1842, with fifty-three members. A
meeting-house was built the following summer, and
the Rey. Luther H. Barber, of Canton, was ordained
Oct, 28, 1848, the new church being dedicated the
same day. Rev. Mr. Barber remained as pastor of
the church until March 26, 1861, when his resigna-
tion was accepted and he was dismissed. He was
the only pastor ever regularly settled over the church.
Several acting pastors have been employed by the
society, among whom was Rev. Winthrop H. Phelps,
of Monterey, Mass., who left the charge to accept the
chaplaincy of the Second Connecticut Heavy Artil-
lery during the war. The society has been self-sup-
porting since the first few years of its existence, when
it received aid from the Home Missionary Society.
It now has about the same number of members as at
its organization.

In 1845-46 a Baptist Church and ecclesiastical so-
ciety was organized in Pleasant Valley, and a neat
house of worship was erected. Rev. George B. Atwell
became settled pastor in December, 1846, and Hart
Doolittle was elected deacon. The church at this time
numbered twenty-six. In 1847 the church gained ac-
cessions, and for several years continued to grow and
prosper, although its membership never exceeded sev-
enty-five. In 1858, Rev. J. J. Bronson succeeded Elder
Atwell as pastor. In 1859 the members who resided in
New Hartford formed a separate organization, known
as a “Branch of the Pleasant Valley Baptist Church.”
The original church, although reduced in numbers
and strength, still retained its vitality, and Rev. T.
Wrinkle succeeded to the pastorate, and was ordained
in June, 1861. He remained but a few months, and
the church was left without a pastor until 1865-66,
when the remaining members united with the New
Hartford branch, the house of worship was removed
to that place, and the Baptist Church of Pleasant
Valley became merged in that of New Hartford.

The Methodist Episcopal church edifice of Pleasant
Valley was built in the years 1847-48, the funds hav-
ing been raised within the society. The first organi-
zation of the class and society is uncertain, but it
246

must have-been some years before the building was
erected. There were about thirty original members.
During the summer of 1880 the church was thor-
oughly renovated and repaired, about eight hundred
dollars having been expended for this purpose. The
society has been under the direction of a preacher,
appointed by the Conference, or presiding elder since
it was constituted. It belongs to the New York East-
ern Conference. Its present membership is about
forty. The present pastor of this church is Rev.
—— Moffat.

The brick Methodist Episcopal church on Wash-
ington Hill was built about the year 1830. The
society has been able to support preaching only at
intervals. This church has at the present time a
membership of about sixty.

From the letter of Rev. Mr. Eells the following in
relation to ecclesiastical matters is quoted:

“There is in Barkhamsted society one hundred and fifty-five heads of
families or ratable persons, as taken from the list, who are Congregation-
alists, thirty-seven Churchmen, ten Methodists, and five Baptists.
There is but one meeting-house. In Winsted society there are the
same denominations, but qnite a few Churchmen, more Methodists and
Baptists, the exact number Iam unable to learn. There has been no
sectaries ever ordained in thistown. The-Church of Christ in Winsted
was formed in the winter of 1783. The Rev. Aaron Woodworth was
ordained to the pastoral charge of that church Jan. 18, 1792, and in six
years from that day he was dismissed and preached his farewell sermon.
They were mutually agreed in the dismission, and the cause assigned was
they were unable to support him.”

The First Ecclesiastical Society of Winsted had its
birth on Wallen’s Hill, along the line of the old North
country road. Many of the members of the society
were residents in Barkhamsted, and the first parson-
age and meeting-house were built just over the line
in this town, the former in 1787, the latter, after much
dissension and many “ stake-pitchings,” in 1798.

The Wallen’s Hill meeting-house was sold and
taken down in 1800, and one in East Winsted was
built. Boyd’s “ Annals of Winchester” gives a graphic
account of the early history of this society.

CHAPTER XXIII.
BARKHAMSTED (Continued).

CIVIL AND MILITARY.

THE town of Barkhamsted was incorporated in
October, 1779. If records of the early proceedings
of the inhabitants were ever kept, they must have
been lost, as we can find no account of town votes
previous to 1806. We cannot, therefore, give the
names of all of the first officers of the town.

Joseph Wilder was the first justice of the peace,
and for many years the only one. He came to the
town from East Haddam about 1771. He was a man
of extensive power and influence. One of his de-
scendants, now living in the town, has a quantity of

his private and public documents (cases tried, etc.),

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

handsomely filed, in a good state of preservation,
He died leaving a numerous posterity, many of whom
have since filled positions of trust and honor in the
town.

At the first meeting of the proprietors of Barkham-
sted, held at Windsor, Jan. 1, 1732-33, Henry Allyn
was chosen clerk, and we find no record of any change
in the office until 1772, when, at a meeting of the pro-
prietors, March 28th of that year, it was voted that
it would be more advantageous to the proprietors to
have a clerk residing in the town of Barkhamsted,
and accordingly Pelatiah Allyn was chosen. In 1795
Matthew Allyn was chosen proprietors’ clerk, and we
find nothing on the subject subsequent to that time,

The first town clerk seems to have been chosen in
1790, when Israel Jones, Jr., took the office, and con-
tinued until 1811. The following have since held
that position :

1811-24, John Merrill; 1824-30, Joseph Wilder ; 1830-35, Amos Beecher;
1835-51, Merlin Merrill; 1851-53, E. N. Ransom; 1853-55, James
Tiffany ; 1855-60, E. N. Ransom; 1860-68, Sheldon Merrill; 1868-49,

A. E. Merrill; 1869-72, Dwight S. Case; 1872-81, William E. Howd;
1881, Sheldon Merrill, the present incumbent.

Lambert Hitchcock, the founder of the village of
Hitchcocksville, who was so actively connected with
the business interests of the town from 1818 to 1843,
was chosen senator of the Fifteenth District in 1840,
and re-elected in 1841. He held other offices of trust.
Hon. Hiram Goodwin, the only lawyer known to have
settled in the town, was senator of this district in
1862, and again in 1864, in which year he was chosen
president of the Senate pro tem. Judge Goodwin
went to Riverton in the fall of 1830. He is a native
of New Hartford, where he studied law with William
G. Williams, Esq. He also studied at the law-school
at Litchfield. Locating in this village at the age of
twenty-two, he has remained until the present time.
As a gentleman of the old school, as a citizen and
lawyer, he is widely known, beloved, and honored by
all who know him.

REPRESENTATIVES TO LEGISLATURE.

The town was first represented in the General As
sembly, October session, 1796, by Israel Jones, Jr,
and Pelatiah Allyn.

1797.—Israel Jones, Jr., Pelatiah Allyn, Joseph Wilder, Samuel Hayden.
1798.—Joseph Wilder, Pelatiah Allyn, Isaac Jones, Jr.
1799.—Israel Jones, Pelatiah Allyn.

1800.—Israel Jones, Ephraim Munson.

1801.—Ephraim Munson, Pelatiah Allyn, Calvin Cone.
1802.—Israel Jones, Pelatiah Allyn, Ephraim Munson.
1803-4.—Pelatiah Allyn, Israel Jones,

1805.—Pelatiah Allyn, Israel Jones, John Merrill.

1806.—Israel Jones, Pelatiah Allyn.

1807.—Pelatiah Allyn, Robert Willcox, Robert Whitford.
1808.—Pelatiah Allyn, Israel Jones,

1809.—Pelatiah Allyn, Medad Munson,

1810.—Robert Willcox, Pelatiah Allyn, Gideon Mills, Jr.
1811.—Robert Willcox, Gideon Mills, Jr., Samuel Munson.
1812.—John Merrill, Moses Hayden, Joseph Hayden.

1813.—John Merrill, Josiah M. Hart, Moses Hayden.
1814.—Pelatiah Allyn, Moses Hayden, John Merrill, William Taylor.
1815.—Luke Loomis, Moses Hayden, Oliver Mills, Samuel Hayden.
BARKHAMSTED.

247

 

1816.—Josiah H. Hart, John Merrill, Moses Hayden, Oliver Mills.
1817.—Moses Hayden, Oliver Mills, Samuel Munson, Amos Beecher.
1818,—John Merrill, Oliver Mills, Zophar Case, Zalmon Howd.
1819.—Zophar Case, Salmon Howd.*
1820.—John Merrill, Josiah Smith.
1821.—John Merrill, Elijah Jones.
1822.—Salmon Howd, Samuel Munson.
1823.—Samuel Munson, Elijah Jones.
1824-25.—Jesse Ives, Elijah Jones.
1826.—Samuel Munson, Zophar Case.
1827.—Jesse Ives, Amos Beecher.
1828.,—Henry Allen, Lester Loomis.
1829.—Elijah Jones, Mathew Allen,
1830-31.—Mathew Allen, George Merrill.
1832,—Lester Loomis, Joel Tiffany.
1833.—Mathew Allen, Joel Tiffany.
1834.—Mathew Allen, Lambert Hitchcock.
1835.—Elijah Jones, Chester Wentworth.
1836.—Hiram Goodwin, Elijah Jones.
1837.—Hiram Goodwin, Daniel Sanford.
1838.—Daniel Sanford, Merlin Merrill.
1839.—Merlin Merrill, Garry Upson.
1840.—Garry Upson, George Cornish.
1841.—Alexander Cleveland, Timothy Hayes.
1842.—Jehiel Case, Anson Wheeler.
1843.—Warren Phelps, Richard A. Doolittle.
1844.-Warren Phelps, Daniel Youngs.
1845.—Not represented.

1846.—Sanford Allen, Hiram Burnham.
1847,—Samuel W. Pine, Linus Bliss.
1848.—Edward Camp, Salmon Howd.
1849.—Alexander P. Cleveland, Abiel Case.
1850.—H. Case, Arba Alford.

1851.—Orville Jones, Ezekiel Hays.
1852,—Constant Youngs, Alfred Alford.
1853.—George Merrill, James Tiffany.
1854.—Lauren Smith, Emerson S. Cornish.
1855.—K. J. Youngs, G. Kellogg.
1856.—Cornwall Doolittle, Erasmus N. Ransom.
1857.—B. W. Johnson, Horace Case.
1858.—Abner Slade, G. W. Merrill.
1859.—Chester Dowd, Owen Case.
1860.—Hart Dovlittle, Philamon Perry.
1861.—Ruel 0. White, Watson Giddings.
1862.—Rufus Cleveland, M. Hoyt Hayes.
1863.—Jesse Dutton, Asa L. Demming.
1864.—George D. Demming, J. W. Atwater.
1865,—H. N. Gates, Lemuel Richardson.
1866.—Lauren Smith, Ruel S. Rice.
1867.—Charles B. Stevens, Edwin P. Jones.
1868.—Albert Baker, Sheldon Merrill.
1869.—Dr. A. E. Merrill, Calvin Aldrich.
1870.—Harvey B. Stannard, William H, Payne.
1871—Lemuel Hurlbut, Hiram C. Brown.
1872.—Dwight 8. Case, Abram Kilbourn.
1873.—Augustus Smith, Samuel H. Case,
1874,—Elisha Payne, Monroe Hart.
1875.—Delos H. Stephens, Frank A. Case.
1876.—Ruel S. Rice, Frank M. Butler.
1877.— William E. Howd, Edwin E. Case.
1878,—William Tiffany, Byron 0. Hawley.
1879.—Arba Alford, Frank A. Case.
1880,—Cornell H. Tiffany, Henry P. Lane.
1881,—Leander Plant, George O. Clark.

In the year 1779 the town of Barkhamsted, then
being a part of Farmington District, was annexed to
the Probate District of Simsbury. In the year 1825
the towns of New Hartford and Barkhamsted were
taken from Simsbury Probate District, and together
constituted the Probate District of New Hartford, and
so remained until 1833, when Barkhamsted was made

 

* After the adoption of the constitution, in 1818, the regular October
session was discontinued.

a separate probate district. By direction of the Gen-
eral Assembly of 1834, the records of the New Hart-
ford Probate District from 1825 to 1838 are to be kept
in the probate office for the District of Barkhamsted.
Since Barkhamsted became a distinct probate dis-
trict the judgeship has been held by the following
incumbents:

1833-26, Launcelot Phelps; 1836-38, Amos Beecher, Jr.; 1838-46, Jesse
Ives ; 1846, Amos Beecher, Jr.; 1847, Hiram Goodwin ; 1848-50, Leis-
ter Loomis; 1850, Amos Beecher ; 1851-54, James Eggleston ; 1855-
57, George Merrill; 1857-61, Daniel Youngs; 1861-63, James Tiff-
any; 1863, Daniel Youngs; 1864-66, Merlin Merrill; 1866-70, Ed-
ward J. Youngs; 1870, and now in office, Daniel Youngs.

Rev. Mr. Eells, in mentioning the names and con-
dition of the early settlers of the town, says,—

“It was not before the year 1774 they had gained such a settlement as
to be called upon for military duty. The first military company was
formed Oct, 1774, and Mr. Pelatiah Allyn was chosen captain, and Israel
Jones lieutenant.”

The excitement which led to the Revolutionary
war had now grown to great magnitude, and all able-
bodied men were required to perform service in the
army. The following extracts from Mr. William Wal-
lace Lee’s centennial address show the state of feel-
ing at that time:

“After the sacking of Danbury by the British in 1777 the feeling
against the Tories was so intense that many of them left their homes and
settled in more remote localities, and six of these families came to Pleas-
ant Valley, in Barkhamsted; they were Gregorys, Weeds, Taylors (two
families), Wildmans, and Holcombs. A bitter feeling existed towards
them by the soldiers and their children during and after the Revolution-
ary war, and no indignities were too great to be heaped upon them.
They would find their corn cut while in silk, their potatoes pulled while
in blossom, trees mutilated, fences torn down, etc. Of all their descend-
ants, only a few, those of Abner Taylor, remain in Connecticut. After
the surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga a portion of his army was marched
through this town en route for Boston, but many deserted along the route
and remained in the country. Among them were three, Shaw, Thorne,
and Miller, who settled on a by-road near West Hill Pond. After the in-
corporation of the town, in 1779, the prospect became more prosperous;
it was evident that the colonies were not to be conquered, and many were
the settlers who came to the town,—the Newells, Collins, Humphreys,
Bakers, Pikes, Rices, Cases, Andrusses, Mosses, etc., among them being

“Lieut. Gideon Mills, from Simsbury, whose oldest daughter, Ruth, was
the mother of John Brown, of Harper’s Ferry fame.”

Herewith is given a list of soldiers from Barkham-
sted who fought during the war of the Revolution:

Lieut. Gideon Mills (grandfather of John Brown), Lieut. Abner Slade
(served also in French and Indian war), Lieut. Abiel Hoskins, Abner
Slade, Jr., Solomon Humphrey, Thomas Wilder, Solomon Newell,
Asa Gilbert, Cyprian Barker, Nathaniel Collins, William Taylor (at
battle of Monmouth), Daniel Burwell (was held prisoner in New York
by British), John Frazier (at battle of Saratoga and surrender of
Burgoyne), Martin Moses, Ashbel Moses, David Lee (stood guard
over Maj. Andre the spy), Samuel Rice, Humphrey Case, Jude Rob-
erts, Nehemiah Andruss, Amasa Malory (at defense of New Haven
when captured by British in 1779), Samuel Pike, James Pike, John
Pike, John Ives, Wait Munson, Medad Munson, David Squier, Wait
Rice.

WAR OF 1812,

Jesse Ives, Enoch Burwell, Joseph Burwell (served at New London),
James Eggleston (played the fife at battle of Sackett’s Harbor), Jesse
Markham, Elijah Cannon, Stephen A. French, Newberry Merrills.

MEXICAN WAR.
Capt. Justin Hodge, Culvin Ford, Thomas Shaw.

For many years after the Revolutionary war the

 

military spirit prevailed throughout the colonies,
248

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

especially in Connecticut. The Twenty-fifth Militia
Regiment was made up from this locality and flour-
ished late in the last century and early in this. For
a number of years Col. Israel Jones, of Barkhamsted,
commanded this regiment, he having previously
passed through the various other grades from captain
up. He died in 1812, and was buried in the old
Centre burying-ground.

As late as 1850 the militia law was very strict;
every able-bodied man between the ages of eighteen
and forty-five was required to perform military duty.
The Rifle Company of Winsted and the Grenadiers
of New Hartford were partially composed of Bark-
hamsted men. The Light Guard of Riverton, with
its showy uniform, was one of the model companies
of the State. It was made up almost entirely of men
from that village, and commanded by Capt. Justin
Hodge, who afterwards served in the Mexican war,
and in the war of the Southern Rebellion from the
outbreak until the disbandment of the volunteer
forces after the surrender at Appomattox. Capt.
Hodge entered the service as quartermaster of the
First Connecticut Volunteers, April 23, 1861, imme-
diately after Fort Sumter was fired upon, and from
that position was promoted into the United States
Quartermaster’s Department, from which he was dis-
charged as lieutenant-colonel at the close of the war.
Other Barkhamsted men did brave service during
this war, notably Capt. Edwin R. Lee, of the Eleventh
Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, who was killed at
the battle of Newbern, N. C.

The old artillery company of fifty years ago, which
belonged to the Twenty-first Regiment, was made
up in a great measure from Barkhamsted men, sev-
eral of its captains being from this town. At “gen-
eral training” this company, with its gay uniform,
was greatly admired. After these independent com-
panies came the regular militia, whose lack of drill

and of uniformity of dress gave them a ridiculous ap-

pearance and the name of “ rag-toes.”’

During the war of the Southern Rebellion Bark-
hamsted patriotism was aroused to its utmost inten-
sity. Meetings were held frequently, and patriotic
resolutions were passed. Bounties were voted to
those who would enlist in the army or navy, and
everything was done to aid the government in sub-
duing its enemies. During the year 1862, when the
government was greatly in need of troops, and some,
whose sympathies for the Union cause were not so
great as their instinct of self-preservation, were taking
themselves off to Canada to avoid being called upon
for service in the army, the inhabitants of the town, at
a special meeting,

“ Voted, Whereas a most dangerous and alarming epidemic, which,
though manifesting itself in numerous and divers forms in different sub-
jects, is still traceable in most cases to the protean cause of an enormous
and rapid increase of the white liver, has recently broken out, and is
rapidly spreading, not only through our own town, but over this entire
section of the State, threatening, if not speedily checked or suppressed,

the total extinction of our entire able-bodied white male population be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-five,

 

“And whereas it is believed that the adoption of prompt Sanitary
measures are necessary, and will speedily check, if not entirely suppress,
the further progress of said distemper, be it therefore

“ Resolved, That the selectmen be directed to publish in the Winsted
Herald the names of all persons who have, or shall present to them, any
certificate of exemption from liability to perform military duty, together
with the specified cause for which such certificate was granted,”

BARKHAMSTED VOLUNTEERS OF THE SOUTHERN REBEL.
LION OF 1861.

Justin Hodge, lieutenant, regimental quartermaster, Co. F, Ist Regt.;
enl. April 23,1861; pro. to A. Q. M.

Alfred Alford, Co, B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

John White, Co. 'B, 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1861.

George W. Burwell, Co. A, 1st Squad. Cav.; enl. Aug. 8, 1861.

Jerome Manchester, Co. A, lst Squad. Cav.; eul. Aug. 12, 1861,

Albert E. Merrill, Co. A, Ist Squad. Cav.; enl. Aug. 8, 1861.

Lyman Doolittle, Co. K, 1st Squad. Cav.; enl. Dec. 29, 1863,

Charles Behr, Co. B, Ist Squad. Cav.; en]. Oct.1,1864.

Benjamio F. Chatfield, Co. E, 1st Squad. Cav.: enl. Oct. 7, 1864,

Peter Karr, Co. M, Ist Squad. Cav.; en]. Nov, 14, 1864.

William Allen, Ist Squad. Cav.; eul. Nov. 7, 1864; unassigned recruit,

Thomas O'Neil, Ist Squad, Cav.: en). Nov. 26, 1864; not taken upon rolls,

William Stuart, lst Squad. Cav.; end. Nov, 1, 1864; uot taken up on rolls,

Henry Smith, Ist Squad. Cav.; enl. Nov. 30, 1864; not taken up on rolls,

Thomas White, Ist Squad. Cav.; en]. Oct. 6, 1864; nut taken up on rolls,

Robert Wilsgn, Ist Squad. Cav.; eul Nov. 23,1864; not taken up on rolls,

Johu King, Co. A, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 6, 1864.

George Il]menser, Co. B, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Sept. 1, 1863.

Daniel McGrath, Co. D, 1st Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 4, 1864.

James Marshall, Co. F, lst Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 4, 1864.

George A. Root, Co. K, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 23, 1861.

Shelden L. Rice, Co. K, lst Heavy Art.; en]. May 23, 1861.

Bradley D. Lee, 1st lieutenant, regimental quartermaster, 2d Heavy
Art.; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; pro. to capt. A. C. S. March 22, 1864,

Winthrop H. Phelps, chaplain, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. May 4, 1863,

George C. Curtis, Co. C,2d Heavy Art. ; enl. Dec. 19, 1863.

Chester D. Cleveland, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; second
lieutenant; pro. to major.

Edwin S. Beecher, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 1, 1862.

Anthony B. Gurnsey, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 29, 1862

Charles A. Hart, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.

Henry A. Rexford, Co. E, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug, 21, 1862; killed at
Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.

Ruel 8. Rice, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 14, 1862.

Walter H. Denning, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862.

Henry H. Griffin, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 18, 1862.

Alfred C. Alford, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 28, 1862; killed in action,
Sept. 19, 1864, at Winchester, Va.

Charles Burr, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; en]. Aug. 7, 1862.

William Burke, Co, F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Sept. 2, 1862.

Wayne B. Castle, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; en]. Aug. 15, 1862.

William H. Tiffany, Co. ¥, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.

Orville B. Tiffuny, Co. F, 24 Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; pro. to
second lieutenant.

Timothy B. Cannon, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl, Jan. 5, 1864.

Franklin Andress, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 30, 1862; killed st
Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864.

Noah Hart, Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 21, 1864.

Jeremiah Jennings, Co. I, 5th Inf.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Franklin J. Atwater, Co. B, 6th Inf.; enl. Sept. 12, 1861; died Aug. 1,
1863, of wounds received at Fort Wagner.

James Dunn, Co. B, 7th Inf.; en]. Nov. 15, 1864.

Joel W. Oakes, Co. H, 7th Inf.; enl. Feb. 16, 1864.

Perlin F. Rust, Co. C, 8th Inf.; enl. Oct. 7, 1861.

James E. Pelton, Co. C, 8th Inf.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861 ; wounded at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862. .

Elijah White, Co. C, 8th Inf.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed at Antietam,
Sept. 17, 1862.

William A. Smith, Co. FE, 8th Inf.; enl. Sept. 1, 1863; killed at Chapin’s
Farm, Sept. 29, 1864,

George Baker, 8th Inf.; enl. Oct. 5, 1864.

Clayton H. Case, Band, 10th Inf.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861. ’

John Murphy,.Co. E, 10th Inf.; enl. Sept. 30, 1861.

Henry B. F. Root, Co. E,10th Inf.; enl. Sept. 30, 1861.

Edwin R, Lee, captain, Co. D, 11th Inf.; enl. Nov. 26, 1861; Kcilled at New-

 
BARKHAMSTED.

bern, N. C., March'14, 1862. He was buried on the banks of the
Neuse River, and afterwards brought North and buried at Pleasant
Valley. He was a young man of talent and a gallant soldier.

Francis Roza, Co. E, 11th Inf.; enl. Nov. 14, 1864.

Isaac Elwell, Co. I, 12th Inf.; enl. Feb. 24, 1864.

Joseph Elwell, Co. I, 12th Inf.; enl. Feb. 24, 1864; died December, 1864.

Theron Barbour, Co. D, 13th Inf.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861.

Orville A. Root, Co. D, 13th Inf.; enl. Dec, 30, 1861.

William H. Tucker, Co. D, 13th Inf.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862; died Dec. 6, 1865,

Ellsworth Case, Co. E, 13th Inf.; enl. Feb. 27, 1862.

William Kinsella, Co. K, 13th Inf.; enl. Sept. 29, 1864.

Andrew Walter, Co. K, 13th Inf. ; enl. Sept. 24, 1864.

Julius F, Searle, Co. E, 14th Inf.; enl. Aug. 26, 1863; died Feb. 23, 1864,

Elisha 8. Booth, Co. F, 14th Inf.; enl. July 24, 1862; died Jan. 5, 1863,
of wounds.

Franklin B. Davis, Co. A, 16th Inf.; enl. Aug. 14, 1862.

Thomas Murray, Co. I, 16th Inf.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864.

Abel P. Beers, Co. K, 25th Inf.; enl. Aug. 29, 1862.

Nathan Coe, Co. G, 27th Inf.; enl. Sept. 10, 1862.

Augustus Eggleston, Co. G, 27th Inf.; enl. Sept. 11, 1862.

Henry E. Cleveland, Co. F, 28th Inf.; enl. Aug. 23, 1862.

James W. Staunis, Co. F, 28th Inf.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862.

George H. Goodwin, Co. F, 28th Inf.; enl. Aug. 29, 1862.

Myron N. Hubbard, Co. F, 28th Inf.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died May 6,

"1863, at Fort Barrancas, Fla.

Warren Alford, Co. F, 2d Heayy Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; pro. to first
lieut. ; wounded Sept. 19, 1864.

Henry B. Lee, Co. F, 7th Inf.; enl. Sept. 9, 1861; pro. to second lieut.;
killed Aug. 16, 1864.

CHAPTER XXIV.
BARKHAMSTED (Continued).
MISCELLANEOUS.

OF schools Rev. Ozias Eells, in his letter to Dr.
Trumbull, says,—

“There are ten school districts in the town and part of two more,—one
in East Hartland part, two and two halves in Winsted part, and seven in
Barkhamsted, There is no academy in the town.”

There are at the present time (1881) ten school
districts in Barkhamsted,—viz., 1, Centre; 2, Centre
Hill; 3, Washington Hill; 4, Northeast; 5, South;
6, South Hollow; 7, North; 8, Green; 9, Riverton;
10, Pleasant Valley; 11, Mallory. Besides these,
there are several part districts,—i.e., portions of this
town set off to districts in other towns.

The Centre school-house, as it was originally built
in 1821, was a two-story building. The lower room
was finished immediately, and the first school was
taught by Dr. Knapp, of Hartland. The school-
room was filled to overflowing with scholars of all
ages from four to twenty. It was decided to com-
plete the upper room for a select school. The neces-
sary funds were furnished by the principal men of the
district, who were called “ the proprietors of the upper
room.” This ‘upper room,” as it was familiarly
called, was also intended for religious meetings, sing-
ing-schools, and such other purposes as were deemed
fit by those interested. The “upper room” was com-
pleted in 1824, and dedicated. Rev. Cyrus Yale, of
New Hartford, preached the dedication sermon, an
original hymn was composed for the occasion by Mrs.
Deacon Sanford, of the northeast part of the town.

 

249

The first school was taught in the “upper room” in
the winter of 1824 by Rev. Saul Clark. For a num-
ber of years this select school was well supported, and
students from Yale and Amherst Colleges were en-
gaged as teachers. Some of those teachers are still
spoken of by their former pupils in grateful remem-
brance, viz., Dunton, Stevens, Marsh, and Schneider.
This school was called the “grammar school.” In
the autumn of 1875 the house needed repairs, and it
was thought best to take away the lower room and
convert the upper room into a district school-house,
which was accordingly done, and the house as it now
stands is neat and comfortable. For several years a
select school was taught in Pleasant Valley by Rev.
George B. Atwell. Of libraries Rev. Mr. Eells says,—

“There is a public library in Barkhamsted, consisting of seventy-five
volumes, and formed in the year 1797, There is another in Winsted
society.”

About 1836 there was a public library established
in the village of Riverton. It was well kept up for six
years or more, but finally became scattered, and was
sold off at auction.

Northern Star Lodge, No. 58, F. and A. M., now
located in New Hartford (Pine Meadow), was organ-
ized in the town of Barkhamsted in the autumn of
1820. Its charter, which is signed by Oliver Wolcott,
then Grand Master, as well as Governor, of the State of
Connecticut, is dated May 10, 1820, and bears the names
of twenty-seven (27) charter members. Its first W. M.,
or presiding officer, was Dr. Amos Beecher. Alvin
Squier and Drayton Jones were its first Senior and Ju-
nior Wardens respectively. The lodge in its early days
held its meetings at the public-house of George Mer-
rills, at the Centre, near the old meeting-house. In
those days the meetings were held in the daytime,
usually in the afternoon. Sometimes the meetings
were held in Riverton and New Hartford, for the con-
venience of its members who lived in those villages.
The declaration of the Masons of Connecticut, which
was issued in 1832, against the Anti-Masonic warfare
was signed by sixty-six of the members of Northern
Star Lodge. The lodge then had jurisdiction over
Barkhamsted, Hartland, and New Hartford. It was
removed to New Hartford in 1850. Its present pre-
siding officer is Martin Wilcox. Application was
made by the writer to the present secretary of the
lodge for the date of its organization and the names
of its charter members. The secretary replied that
the lodge would not authorize him to give the desired
data. The information was therefore obtained else-
where. On the rolls of this lodge for the past sixty
years are the names of some of the most honored men
within the limits of its jurisdiction.

Dr. Amos Beecher, who was -born in the town of
Wolcott, Dec. 8, 1772, studied his profession in South-
ington, and from that place, where he married his
wife, Mary Lewis, came to Barkhamsted in 1798.
Here he remained in the practice of medicine until
Jan. 4, 1849, when he died. He is buried in the old
250

Centre burying-ground. Dr. Beecher was a promi-
nent man in this town, aside from his prominence as
the only physician. At one time he was tax collector
for four towns. For a short time before Dr. Beecher
settled in Barkhamsted there was a Dr. Kincade
located there.

In Riverton the first physician was Dr. Thaddeus
K. De Wolf. He was succeeded by Dr. F. B. Gra-
ham, from Canton. The latter died in 1854, since
which time there was no physician in the village
until 1878, when Dr. L. M. Crosier located there and
has established a successful practice.

The two principal streams, which flow entirely
through Barkhamsted, from north to south, are known
as the East Branch and West Branch. They come
together in New Hartford, something less than two
miles south of its northern boundary near its eastern
boundary, and form the Tunxis River, sometimes
called the Farmington. Kettle Brook flows down
Washington Hill, and empties into East Branch some-
what south of the middle of the town. This brook
takes its name froma rock about half-way up the hill,
which resembles a kettle. This rock is supposed to
have been used by the Indians in pounding or pulver-
izing their corn. Roaring Brook, which empties into
East Branch a little below Munson’s mill, takes its
name from the sound it makes coming down among
the rocks. Morgan River finds its héad at the outlet,
at the extreme northern end, of Lake Wonksunk-
munk, or West Hill Pond. How it obtained its
name is unknown. The Centre and Centre Hill are
so named from the fact of their being centrally lo-
cated in the town. A line drawn from the northeast
to the southwest and another from the northwest to
the southeast corner of the town will cross each other
at or very near the old Centre burying-ground.

Washington Hill was formerly known as Horse
Hill. The name was changed, it is said, about the
time the brick church (Methodist Episcopal) was
built, at the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Coe of Winsted,
who first preached in that church. Wallen’s Hill was
named after Daniel Wallen, of New Hartford, who
owned a large tract of land in that locality. The
Bourbon District comprised the southwest corner of
the town, near Lake Wonksunkmunk. How it de-
rived its name is not known. Ratlan comprises the
southeastern corner of the town, and extends into
North Canton. The roads in that locality are hilly
and stony. The origin of its name is uncertain.
Beach Rock is an imposing object some distance to
the left or west of the South Hollow Road. Its peak
appears inaccessible from the road, but it is said the
early settlers of the town used its level, broad top as a
threshing-floor, upon which, with horses and cattle,
they trampled out their grain. Two brothers by the
name of Beach are said to have settled near this rock,
hence its name. The rocky ridge running north from
Pleasant Valley to Riverton, on the east side of West
Branch, is called Ragged Mountain.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Winsted was named from the first syllable of Win-
chester and the last syllable of Barkhamsted, the old
Winsted ecclesiastical society being made up from
portions of the two towns. The island in the upper
portion of Pleasant Valley was formerly called Sugar
Meadow, it being heavily timbered with sugar maples,
The Connecticut Western Railroad, which has about
three miles of track in Barkhamsted but no station,
was built in 1871. No other railroad touches the
town. There are at the present time four post-offices
in Barkhamsted, viz., Barkhamsted, Riverton, Pleas-
ant Valley, and Centre Hill.

In the earliest days of the town the freemen held
their town-meetings in barns, houses, or other con-
venient places. After the meeting-house was built,
for many years freemen’s meetings and town-meet-
ings were held within its sacred walls, until the Centre
school-house was erected, when the ‘upper room”
was used for such purposes. Not until 1867 did Bark-
hamsted have a town-house. In that year the small
town building, a few feet west of the new Centre
church, was erected.

In the year 1867 the General Assembly passed an
act dividing Barkhamsted into three electoral districts,
to accommodate the electors of the town in voting at
electors’ meetings. By this act the electors within
the first district are required to vote at Barkhamsted
Hollow or Centre, the electors within the limits of
district number two to vote at Pleasant Valley, and
those of district number three at Riverton.

This arrangement, of course, does not affect the
voting at town-meetings, where the inhabitants all
meet at the town-house, and choose officers and pass
such votes as are deemed necessary to the welfare of
the town for the ensuing year.

At the first census of the colony of Connecticut,
which was taken in 1756, Barkhamsted is enumerated
at 18. As this was the year in which the first white
persons made permanent settlement, these 18 must have
included either Indians or trespassers, probably both.
In the census of 1774 the town is credited with a pop-
ulation of 250.

Emigration to the West from this town commenced
years ago. As early as 1810, Barkhamsted had a pop-
ulation of 1500, and continued to increase until 1850,
when there were more than 1700 inhabitants. The
census of 1860 gives the town a population of 1272,
and that of 1870, 1440. The enumeration of 1880
showed the following facts: Whole number of persons,
1300, of whom 26 were colored; 651 were males, and
649 females; 21 were over eighty years of age. The
town had 7 ministers, and 1 lawyer and 1 doctor, al
manufacturing establishments, 292 dwellings, 318
families; tilled land, 1287 acres; meadow and
pasturing, 11,888 acres; woodland, 4868 acres; un!m-
proved land, 1576 acres; hay cut previous year, 3442
tons; shelled corn raised, 6824 bushels; oats, 2064
bushels; rye, 1030 bushels ; potatoes, 13,882 bushels;
apples, 24,105 bushels ; tobacco, 24,725 pounds; wood
BETHLEHEM. 251

 

cut, 5252 cords; lumber sawed in the six saw-mills,
500,000 feet.

The first bridge across the West Branch was di-
rectly in the rear of the Henry Lee place, half a mile
above Pleasant Valley. This bridge was carried off
by a freshet about 1800. The site was then abandoned,
and a new bridge was built just north of where the
Pleasant Valley bridge now stands. The first bridge
across East Branch was a few rods above the present
oné, near the Beecher dam. The iron bridge at Riv-
erton was built in 1875, carried away by the great
flood of Dec. 10, 1878, and rebuilt during the summer
and fall of 1879. Bridges have always been a source
of great expense to the inhabitants of Barkham-
sted.

Sept. 10, 1879, the town of Barkhamsted celebrated
its one hundredth anniversary. An immense throng
of its sons and daughters and friends assembled to
take part in this centennial. The services were held
at the Centre meeting-house. Hon. Hiram Goodwin
was president of the day. Mr. William Wallace
Lee, of Meriden, a native of the town, delivered the
historical address, and Judge Monroe E. Merrill, of
Hartford (also a native), delivered the oration. Mrs.
Emma C. (Carter) Lee wrote a poem, which was read
by her husband, Prof. S. H. Lee, of Oberlin College,
Ohio. A poem was also read by Elisha W. Jones, of
Winsted (a native). Addresses were delivered by
Revs. L. H. Barbour and Lemuel Richardson, and
Walter S. Carter, Esq., of New York (a native). The
opening address was delivered by Hiram C. Brown,
Esq., of Riverton. A bountiful collation was spread
under the trees between the church and town-house,
at which the entire throng was regaled. The chief
marshal of the occasion was Mr. Frank A. Case. A
mounted escort of fifty men, commanded by George
T. Carter, led the procession, which consisted of citi-
zens on horseback, in carriages, carts, and every va-
riety of vehicle, ancient and modern. Letters were read
from many natives of the town who were in remote
localities, among whom was Mr. Samuel Jones, a
grandson of Capt. Israel, who was born in Barkham-
sted, June 29,1781. He was then living in Wayne,
Ashtabula Co., Ohio. The celebration was admirably
arranged, and successfully carried out in every par-
ticular. It was a day long to be remembered with
pride by the citizens of Barkhamsted.

Before closing this sketch the author desires to ex-
press thanks to all who have so kindly aided him in
procuring facts, among whom are the following, who
have put themselves to a considerable trouble to help
the work along: Hon. Hiram Goodwin and Hon.
Daniel Youngs, of Barkhamsted; Mr. William Wal-
lace Lee, of Meriden, to whom the people of the town
owe so much for his unselfish, unremunerated labor in
preparing the first connected record of the town’s his-
tory, and from whose admirable historical address
many of the facts and frequent quotations in this
sketch are taken; Rev. J. B. Clark, and Messrs. Shel-

 

don Merrill, William E. Howd, Alfred Alford, and
John F. Simmons, Miss Harriet Atwell, Mrs. Lyman
Hart and daughter, Miss Mary L. Hart, of Barkham-
sted; Mr. Charles J. Hoadley, State librarian at
Hartford, through whose courtesy much information
has been obtained from the State archives; and to
Mr. Addison Van Name, librarian of Yale College.

The writer is conscious that the sketch is imperfect
and incomplete, and regrets that he could not have
had more time and space in which to have prepared
a more finished production.

CHAPTER XXV.
BETHLEHEM.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Grant—The Indian Purchase
—The Survey—The First Settlements—The Pioneers—Petitions for
“Winter Privileges’—Incidents—Prices of Provisions in 1747—Ec-
clesiastical History—Congregational Church—Christ Church—Meth-
odist Episcopal Church—Bethlehem Library Associations—Physicians
—The “ Great Sickness” of 1760—Civil and Military History—Organi-
zation of Town—Officers Elected—Town Clerks—Selectmen from 1787
to 1881—Representatives from 1787 to 1881—Present (1881) Town Offi-
cers—Military Record.

Tus town is located in the southern part of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Morris, on the east by Watertown, on the south by
Woodbury, and ‘on the west by Washington. The
town is hilly, but the soil is fertile and well adapted
to agricultural pursuits.

The grant of lands in this town was made in 1703,
purchased of the Indians in 1710, and surveyed in
1728, but was not divided among the proprietors until
1734. The pioneers of the town located on the road
extending east and west, a short distance north of the
present centre of the town.

Prominent among the first settlers was Capt. Hez-
ekiah Hooker, of Kensington, Conn., a descendant of
the celebrated Rev. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford.
He was accompanied by his sons, Hezekiah, Jr., and
James. From what is now the town of Woodbury
came Reuben and Josiah Avered, Francis and Joshua
Guiteau, Caleb and Ebenezer Lewis, Isaac Hill, Jr.,
Isaac Hotchkiss, Nathaniel Porter, and Samuel Steele.
John Steck came from Farmington, and Thomas and
Ebenezer Thompson from Litchfield, and Ephraim
Tyler from New Cheshire.

The settlement of the town did not increase rap-
idly. Four years after the first settlement the number
of families numbered only fourteen.

In October, 1738, the inhabitants petitioned for
“winter privileges,’ and asked that they might be
relieved from paying taxes for the repairing the meet-
ing-house in the old town; in 1839, from parish taxes,
and that they might be set off as a distinct society,
etc. These petitions were signed by Hezekiah Hooker,
John Steel, Nathaniel Porter, Francis Guiteau, Caleb
Lewis, Joseph Clark, Josiah Avered, Ebenezer Lewis,
252

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

C. Gibbs, Jonathan Seley, Edmund Tomkins, Isaac
Hill, John Parkis, Reuben Avered, Ephraim Tyler,
Caleb Wheeler, Ebenezer Thompson, Beriah Dudley,
and Seth Avered. The prayer of the petition was
granted, and the town was incorporated and named
Bethlehem.

The first settlers were hardy, enterprising, self-de-
nying men, well qualified to endure the hardships of
pioneer life. The women, as well as the men, went
on foot, or on horseback, through a trackless wilder-
ness, guided by marked trees. In the midst of the
first dreary winter their provisions gave out, and the
inhabitants were obliged to thread their way through
the pathless forest to the old settlement (Woodbury)
for food. It is related that Samuel and John Steele
went to Farmington with a hand-sled for corn to sus-
tain the little settlement. The prices of provisions in
1747 were twelve shillings per bushel for wheat, nine
shillings for rye, and seven shillings for Indian corn.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

As stated above, “ winter privileges” were granted in
October, 1738. On the 2d of the following month Rev.
Joseph Bellamy commenced his labors among this
people, and he doubtless preached the first sermon
ever delivered in this society. The society was or-
ganized in October, 1739, and March 27, 1740, the
church was organized with the following members:
Joseph Bellamy, Jonathan Filley and wife, John
Steele and wife, Joseph Clark and wife, Jonathan
Munger and wife, Ephraim Tyler and wife, Thomas
Thompson and wife, Ebenezer Thompson, Caleb Lewis
and wife, Nathaniel Porter and wife, Francis Guiteau
and wife, Ebenezer Lewis and wife, Isaac Hotchkiss
and wife, Josiah Avered and wife, Reuben Avered and
wife, Hezekiah Hooker, Jr., and wife, James Hooker,
Samuel Steele and wife, Isaac Hill and wife, Joshua
Guiteau and wife, and five females.

In 1740 the society voted to build a meeting-house,
which was completed in 1744. The first services held
by Dr. Bellamy were in a barn. In 1764 the little
settlement had increased to about one hundred tax-
payers, and on the 4th of January of that year it was
voted to build a new house of worship. February
28th it was voted “to begin, and go on moderately,
and little by little”’ May 24th, Samuel Jackson,
Archibald Kasson, and Lieut. John Steele were ap-
pointed a building committee. The church was to
be “sixty by forty-three feet, and just as high as ye
Meeting-House in ye old Society.” Three years later
the society voted “to have the mecting-house raised,
and to give each man four shillings per day that shall
raise ye Meeting-House, they find all but Rhum, and
their wages shall go towards their Meeting-House
Rates.” Among the votes of the society we find one
to “seat the new Meeting-House and dignify its
Pues;” one to purchase a “good decent bell and a
Lightning-rod ;” also, “that the singers may sit up

 

Gallery all day if they please, but to keep to theig own
seat, the men not to infringe on the women’s pues,”

The third and present church edifice was built in
1836.

List of Pastors.—Joseph Bellamy, from 1740-90,
Azel Backus, 1791-1813; John Langdon, 1816-25,
Benjamin F. Stanton, 1825-29; Paul Couch, 1829-34,
Fosdiec Harrison, 1835-50; Aretus G. Loomis, 1850-
59; Ephraim Wright, 1861-65; George Banks, 1866-
74; S. Fuller Palmer, 1875-79; William E. Bassett,
1879, present incumbent.

The present deacons are Joshua Bird, William R,
Harrison, and Theodor? Bird.

CHRIST CHURCH.

Christ Church parish, Bethlehem, was organized in
1806, at the house of Mr. George Bloss, Carmel Hill,
by the Rev. Daniel Burham, D.D. The members
were Christopher Prentis, Benjamin Hawley, John
Speney, Leverett Judd, Abel Hard, Glover Skidmore,
Ebenezer L. Thompson, Samuel Bloss, Reuben Tin-
ker, Samuel Blackman, Daniel Skidmore, Henry Jack-
son, Amos Lake, David Polford, and B. T. Lake,
Services were holden in the district school-house in
Bethlehem Centre until the erection of the present
church edifice, which was built in 1829, and conse-
crated by the Right Rev. Bishop Brownell, Sept. 28,
1835.

List of Rectors.—Revs. Russell Wheeler, J. D. Wel-
ton, Isaac Jones, Joseph Scott, John Dowdney, Wil-
liam Watson, F. W. Snow, Isaac H. Tuttle, Jonathan
Coe, William H. Frisbie, J. 8. Covell, J. D. Berry,
N. W. Munroe, James R. Coe, John N. Marvin, F.
D. Holcomb, D.D., A. N. Lewis, J. A. Welton, J, B.
Robinson, present pastor.

The present officers (1880) are as follows: Wardens,
G. G. Smith, George S. Guild; Vestrymen, Samuel
L. Bloss, James Allen, Amos C. Lake; Clerk, Leman
A. Guild.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first act to permanently establish Methodism
in Bethlehem was the forming of a class of thirteen
persons, Sept. 1, 1858, at the house of James Rudman,
by L. W. Abbott, then preaching at Watertown,;
Conn. L. W. Abbott was appointed to Bethlehem at
the Conference of 1859, holding services at the town-
house. Over ninety children were gathered into the
Sunday-school, and the membership increased to
thirty-eight in full and twenty probationers. July
4, 1859, the first meeting for the appointment of a
board of trustees was held, and Ralph Munson, George
Guernsey, Harlow Judson, and Bernard Brisie were
appointed. Sept. 19, 1859, it was voted to build a
house of worship and provide’a parsonage property.
May 15, 1860, the church was raised, and was dedi-
cated November 14th of the samefyear.

The following is a list of the pastors: S. W. Ab-
bott, D. Osborn, Spencer Bray, W. Goodsell, E. L.
 

ey
ry

Uh
le

 

Mi
=

 

RESIDENCE OF JAMES ALLb,
 

 

 

 

IN, BETHLEHEM CONN.
BETHLEHEM.

Bray, Ira Abbott, J. H. Crofoot, C. 8. Dikeman, A.
McNichol, J. 8. Haugh, and S. Kristeller.

The present officers are as follows: Pastor, S. Kris-
teller; Trustees, James Wheeler, John D. Waldron,
Ralph Munson, David Doolittle, Jonathan Wooten,
W. H. Taylor; Superintendent of the Sabbath-school,
Samuel Allen.

Present church membership, 87 in full; proba-
tioners, 13.

THE BETHLEHEM LIBRARY ASSOCIATION*

was organized March 16, 1857, with fifty-four mem-
bers, each of whom paid the sum of two dollars as a
condition of membership. Upon the subsequent pay-
ment by others of a like sum, it has now a member-
ship of one hundred and thirty-two. Its meetings
are held in the town-hall monthly, for the drawing of
books, the reading of which, for one month, is offered
at auction at two cents each volume, subject to higher
bids.

At the first meeting for drawing books it had eighty-
six volumes; at the close of its first year, one hun-
dred and forty ; at the close of its twenty-third year,
—March, 1880,—it had on its catalogue eleven hun-
dred and seven volumes. Since its organization it
has received for membership, biddings, fines, and
lectures the sum of fourteen hundred and thirty dol-
lars and three cents. All moneys received are de-
voted to the purchase of new books, and the biddings
at the monthly meetings—which have averaged
about fifty dollars per year—are its main reliance.

The only compensation given any official is to the
secretary, who during his term of office has his books
free, if not bid for above two cents.

The first officers of the association were Theodore
Bird, President; Joshua Bird, Secretary and Libra-
rian, Henry W. Peck, Treasurer; Rev. A. G. Loomis,
John C., Ambler, Abraham Beecher, Executive Com-
mittee. The first members were Arvil Morris, Maria
T. Humphrey, Henry W. Peck, George 8. Guild,
Lewis U. Guild, John Towne, Jerome B. Strong,
Henry Davis, Rev. A. G. Loomis, Theodore Bird,
Abraham Beecher, E. O. Hubbard, George M. Kar-
son, Joshua Bird, D. B. Jackson, Samuel L. Blois,
F, D. Prentice, John C. Ambler, Leman A. Guild,
Benjamin T. Lake, Frederick Jackson, P. M. Crane,
H. C. Hill, M. 8. Todd, Martha P. Karson, Adam C.
Karson, Samuel Wellman, W. R. Harrison, Samuel
Allen, D, L. Thompson, Stephen Hayes, William B.
Ames, Gideon Allen, Emily Bloss, C. C. Parmelee,
James W. Thomas, James Allen, Jr., Leverett P.
Judd, William Munson, W. F. Carpenter, A. 8. Jud-
son, H. N. Lake, Norman Lake, Edward Cowles,
Ralph Munson, Harry Jackson, E. E. Prentice,
Hermon Skidmore, Sheldon Jackson, Sidney Peck,
D. E, Doolittle, Henry C. Spencer, Francis E. Jud-
son, and Horace Fenn.

 

* Contributed by Henry W. Peck.
17

 

 

253

By the sale and transfer of rights, nearly every
family in the town is now supplied, at small cost,
with good reading of every kind, and in such abund-
ance as may be desired, from the Bethlehem Library
Association, and it is believed that the plan is the
best ever devised for the use of small communities.

PHYSICIANS.

Probably the first physician in this town was Dr.
Zephaniah Hull, a native of Cheshire, Conn. He
came here about the year 1750, and died in 1760, the
same day with his wife, during the “ great sickness.”

Titus Hull, son of the above, was also a practicing
physician in this town for a time. In 1805 he re-
moved to Danbury, and subsequently to New York
State.

Benjamin Hawley commenced the practice of his
profession in this town some time prior to the Revo-
lution. He died in 1818.

Physicians since Dr. Hawley have been as follows:
Parlemon Fowler, Conant Catlin, Lyman Catlin, Al-
gernon §. Lewis, Loomis North, Gaylord Bissell,
Henry Davis, Seth Hill, M. V. B. Dunham, Franklin
Booth, Henry Kurrmann, 8. H. Huntington, and Ed-
ward Kurrmann.

Dr. D. B. Hurd, a native of this town, a former
practitioner in Montgomery, Ala., who for the past
thirty years has resided here, died in 1881.

Dr. E. Osborn, a botanical physician, located here
in 1860, and continued until 1879.

THE “GREAT SICKNESS.”

During the month of November, 1760, a fatal sick-
ness prevailed in this town. Thirty-four persons
died. They were first taken with a cold, and then
a malignant pleurisy set in and carried them off.
Among others who died were Dr. Hull, his wife, and
two children, and a young man,—all out of the same
house. The doctor and his wife were buried in one
grave. Soon after these deaths, and while others
were sick in the house, one Deacon Strong, going by,
raised a flock of eleven quail, which flew over the
house and dropped in the garden. Immediately after
three rose and flew into the bushes, but the other
eight were picked up dead, and in one hour after be-
came putrid, and were buried. The air in the parish
was said by doctors and others of judgment to have
been different from the air in towns and parishes
round about it. Some were inclined to call it the
plague, or something of that kind.

Bethlehem is a small town, with an average length
of four and one-half miles, and a breadth of four
miles. Its inhabitants are mostly engaged in agri-
cultural pursuits. There is one carriage manufactory,
one woolen-mill, one store, and blacksmith-shops and
saw-mills to accommodate the public. The land is
rolling but fertile, being very suitable for fruit-grow-
ing. There is a library in the town of nearly twelve
254

hundred volumes, which is well patronized, making
an intelligent community. In the southeast part of
the town is Nonneway Falls, a beautiful cascade in a
romantic glen, deriving its name from an Indian chief
of that name whom tradition claims had his wigwam
on the banks of the stream below the falls. It is now
quite a place of resort., A female boarding-school
has recently been established there, which bids fair
to become a success. There have been in times past
schools which have gained quite a notoriety. At one
time John C. Calhoun, of South Carolina, was a pupil
in this town. Rev. Benjamin Meigs, a native of this
town, was a missionary to Ceylon for forty years.
Mr. Burton, for many years connected with the mis-
sion in Liberia, was also a native.

“ Resolved by this Assembly, Those Inhabitance of the Town of Wood-
bury that live within the limits of said society of Bethlehem, be and they
ave hereby incorporated into a separate and distinct Town by the name
of the Town of Bethlehem and that the bounds and limits, shall be the
same as the present bounds of the Society of Bethlehem with the same
rights Powers, privileges and franchises of every kind in other towns
in this State by law now have and enjoy. Excepting only that they,
be restricted to One Representative only in the General Assembly.
And that said Town of Bethlehem shall hold their first Town Meeting
at the Public Meeting house in said town on the 20 day of June next
at two O’Clock in the Afternoon and that Oliver Parmlee Esq of said
Bethlehem, be and he is hereby authorized and empowered to cause
said meeting warned and shall receive the votes of the inhabitance for
Moderator and shall preside as moderator until a moderator shall be
chosen at which meeting said town of Bethlehem, shall have liberty to
choose all their town Officers who shall be invested with the same powers
as similar Officers in uther towns by law have, and shall continue in
Office until others be chosen in their stead.

“A true copy of Record Examined Ly George Wyllys, Secretary of
State.”

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting assembled June 20, 1787.
Daniel Everett was chosen Moderator; Moses Haw-
ley, Town Clerk ; Robert Crane, Capt. Enos Hawley,
and John Wheeler, Selectmen; Ebenezer Bird, Town
Treasurer; Gideon Atwood, Constable and Collector
of Taxes; and Nathan Ranney, Constable. The
meeting then adjourned to June 26, 1787.

TOWN CLERKS.

Homer Skidmore, 1853-54; Henry W. Peck, 1855-61; Homer Skidmore,
1862; George C. Stone, 1863; Henry Davis, 1864-66; George C.
Stone, 1867; Abraham Beecher, 1868-72; Henry W. Peck, 1873;
Franklin Booth, 1874; George C. Stone, 1875-81.

TOWN-HOUSE.

Land was purchased for the site of a town-hall in
1838. Jerial Hayes contracted to build the same,
but, failing to complete it in the time specified, a
building committee was directed to cause the same
to be completed by June 1, 1840.

SELECTMEN FROM 1787 TO 1881.
1787.—Robert Crane, Capt. Enos Hawley, John Wheeler, Ebenezer Bird.
1788,—Robert Crane, David Camp, Ebenezer Perkins.
1790-91.—Ebenezer Perkins, David Leavit, Jr., James Kasson, Jr.
1791-92,—Same as 1790-91, with the addition of M. Hawley.
1793.—D. Leavit, Jr., J. Kasson, M. Hawley.
1794.—Dayid Leavit, Jr., David Ambler, David Bellamy.
1795.—No record.
1796-1800,—Robert Crane, Friend Clark, George D. Kasson.
1801-3.—Friend Clark, George D. Kasson, John Steel (2d).
1804-8.—Friend Clark, George D. Kasson, Nehemiah Lambert.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1809.—George D. Kasson, Nehemiah Lambert, Nathaniel Hawley.
1810.—Same, with the addition of Jonathan Smith.
1811-12.—Nehemiah Lambert, Nathan Hawley, Jonathan Smith.
1813-15.—_Nehemiah Lambert, Nathan Hawley, Nathan Burton,
1816,—Nathan Hawley, George D. Kasson, Samuel Bloss,
1817-18.—Nathan Hawley, George D. Kasson, William Kasson.
1819-20.—George D. Kasson, William Kasson, Benjamin T. Lake,
1821-22.—Sheldon C. Leavit, Joseph H. Bellamy, Phineas Crane,
1823-24,—Sheldon C. Leavit, Joseph H. Bellamy, Samuel Bloss,
1825,—Joseph H. Bellamy, Samuel Bloss, Levi Thompson.
1826-28.—Levi Thompson, Joseph Ambler, Adam C. Kassou,
1829.—-Sheldon C. Leavit, Joseph Ambler, Adam C, Kasson.
1830.—Minot Smith, James Allen, Phineas Crane.
1831-32.—Minot Smith, James Allen, Jerial Hayes.
1833.—Minot Smith, Nathan Jackson, James Allen,
1834,.—James Allen, Levi Thompson.

1835.—Levi Thompson, Noble Allen.

1836-37.*—Noble Allen, Jerial Hayes.

1838,—Noble Allen, Jerial Hayes, B. T. Lake.

1839-42.—Minot Smith, James Allen, Bennett Warner.
1843-44.—Minot Smith, Nicholas Moss, George L. Bloss.

1845. Abraham Beecher, George L. Bloss, David M. Cowles,
1846.—Abraham Beecher, George M. Kasson, E. L. Thompson,
1847.—Abraham Beecher, Edwin L, Thompson, George L. Bloss,
1848.—Abraham Beecher, George L. Bloss, Abner Allen.
1849-50.—Abraham Beecher, Marvin S. Todd, H. W. Peck.
1851.—Marvin 8. Todd, Henry W. Peck, John C. Ambler.
1852.—Marvin S. ‘odd, Homer Skidmore, George M. Kasson.
1853-54.—Marvin S. Todd, Sidney Peck, Joshua Bird.
1855,—Marvin 8. Todd, Sidney Peck, Clark C. Guild.
1856-58.—Marvin S. Todd, Sidney Peck, Henry Catlin.
1859.—Marvin S. Todd, Henry Catlin, Phineas Crane.
1860.—Henry Catlin, Phineas Crane, Samuel L. Bloss.
1861.—Henry Catlin, Phineas Crane, Walter B. Lake.
1862.—Henry Catlin, James Allen, Abraham Beecher.
1863-64.—Abraham Beecher, James Allen, Edwin L. Thompson.
1865.—Abraham Beecher, Edwin L. Thompson, Samuel L. Bloss.
1866.—Samuel L. Bloss, Edwin L. Thompson, David W. Ames,
1867-68.—Samuel L. Bloss, Benjamin T, Lake, Allen Smith.
1869-70.—Samuel L, Bloss, Benjamin T. Lake, George C. Guild.
1871.—Henry Catlin, Warren N. Taylor, Theodore Bird.
1872.—Theodore Bird, Ralph Munson, John Trowbridge.
1873.—Nehemiah L. Bloss, Lewis G. Sherman, Jonathan Wooten.
1874-75.—Nehemiah L. Bloss, Jonathan Wooten, George S, Guild.
1876.—Amizi D. Bacon, Henry C. Hill, David W. Ames.
1877.—Amzi D. Bacon, Theodore Bird, George 8, Guild.
1878.—Amzi D. Bacon, Henry Catlin, Theodore Bird.
1879.—Henry Catlin, Warren H. Taylor, Marvin S. Todd.
1880.—Henry Catlin, Marvin S. Todd, Theodore Bird.

Grand list, 1880, $453,152.

The present town officers are G. C. Stone, Town
Clerk; Henry Catlin, Marvin 8. Todd, and Warren
H. Taylor, Selectmen; Jonathan Wooten, Town
Treasurer; Benjamin T. Lake, Town Deposit Fund
Treasurer.

LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES.

1787, David Ambler; 1788, David Ambler, David Camp; 1789, David
Camp, Capt. Jonathan Smith ; 1790-91, David Ambler; 1792, David
Ambler, Oliver Parmelee ; 1793, David Ambler ; 1794-96, David Bel-
lamy ; 1797, Oliver Parmelee, David Bellamy ; 1798, David Leavitt,
Jr., David Bellamy ; 1799, David Leavitt, Jr.; 1800, David Leavitt,
Jr., David Bellamy; 1801, David Leavitt, Jr, Alexandria Kasson ;
1802, David Bellamy, David Leavitt, Jr.; 1803, David Bellamy, Nehe-
miah Lambert; 1804-5, David Bellamy; 1806, Nehemiah Lambert,
David Bellamy; 1807, David Bellamy; 1808, Nehemiah Lambert,
David Bellamy; 1809, David Bellamy; 1810, Samuel Church, Jr.,
David Bellamy ; 1811, George D. Kasson, Samuel Church, Jr.; 1812,
Nehemiah Lambert; 1813, George D. Kasson, Leveritt Judd; 1814,
Samuel Church, Jr., Leveritt Judd ; 1815, Nehemiah Lambert, Shel-
don C. Leavitt; 1816, Nathan Hawley; 1817, Sheldon 0. Leavitt,

 

* In 1837 the election was held upon the 26th of September, and not
the fore-part of December, as heretofore.
 

ALLEN SR.

J A Ww

 
BRIDGEWATER.

Nehemiah Lambert; 1818, Nehemiah Lambert, Joseph H. Bellamy;
1819,* Joseph H. Bellamy; 1820, Sheldon C. Leavitt ; 1821, Joseph
HH. Bellamy; 1822, Sheldon C. Leavitt; 1823, Nathan Barton, Jr.;
1824-25, Sheldon ©. Leavitt; 1826-27, Joseph H. Bellamy; 1828,
Sheldon C. Leavitt; 1829-31, Nathan Jackson; 1832, Minot Smith ;
1833, Nathan Jackson; 1834, Nathan Hawley ; 1835, Isaac S, Wads-
worth; 1836, James Allen; 1837, Jerial Hayes; 1838, Noble Allen;
1839, Nathan Hawley ; 1840, no choice ; 1841, Charles A. Bloss; 1842,
Abraham Beecher; 1843, Gideon Allen; 1844, Nicholas Moss; 1845,
George T. Bloss ; 1846, Bennett Warner; 1847, Nicholas Moss; 1848,
Marvin S. Todd ; 1849, Edwin L, Thompson ; 1850, Sidney Peck; 1851,
James Allen, Jr.; 1852, James Allen; 1853, Henry W. Peck; 1854,
Benjamin T. Lake; 1855, William A. Hayes; 1856, Henry Catlin;
1857, Leonard L. Hotchkiss; 1858, L. H. Guild; 1859, Sidney Peck ;
1860, Samuel L. Bloss; 1861, Marvin S. Todd; 1862, Henry W. Peck;
1863, Marvin S. Todd; 1864, Abraham Beecher; 1865, Edwin L.
Thompson; 1866, Henry Davis; 1867, Henry J. Martin; 1868, Henry
Catlin; 1869, Marshall E. Beecher; 1870, Warren H. Taylor; 1871,
Gideon D. Crane; 1872, George S. Guild; 1873, Marshall E. Beecher;
1874, Richard W. Bacon; 1875, Henry C. Hill; 1876, David W. Thomp-
son; 1877, Herbert S. Jackson; 1878, David W. Thompson; 1879,
George C. Stone; 1880, David H. Judd; 1881, Francis E. Judson.

THE REVOLUTION.

The following vote of the society of Bethlehem
illustrates the spirit of the people in 1776:

“We the subscribers in Bethlehem, Considering the great Danger we are
in from our unnatural Enemies do voluntarily Ingage to Equip our-
selves as soon as we can with a good Gun, Sword or Bayonet, and Caterage
Box for any Especial Emergency, for the Defense of our Invaluable

Rights and Privileges and Promise to support the same with our Lives
and fortunes as witness our hands the 18th day of July a.p. 1776.”

This agreement was signed by Capt. Andrew Mar-
tin and forty-four others.

MILITARY RECORD.

The following is the list of those who entered the
late Rebellion credited to this town:

Charles and Levi Baldwin, E. Burke, A. W. Burr, Joseph Boyce, Felix
Clary, William B. Crane, Francis Dugan, John Duffee, William
Flynn, John Ferry, Isaac Foot, Michael Garrey, James H. Gilbert,
John Hogan, Henry J. Hubbard, John Hayden, Patrick Howard,
Daniel Hunt, John Jorie, Oliver Johnson, Alexander D. and E. N.
Kasson, Louis Le Blanc, A. J. Lownsbury, Peter Monagher, Richard
McGee, Jr., Thomas McBride, Olin Nash, Dexter A. Harson, B. and
John K. Northrup, James Oswald, Patrick Rourke, Theodore Stewart,
Abram B, Polles, George Williams, Philip L. Waldron.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

JAMES ALLEN.

The Allen family have been identified with the
history of Bethlehem for more than a hundred years.
Amos Allen, the pioneer, came from Woodbridge and
settled in the southwest part of the town, where he
raised a family of six children, five sons and one
daughter. He was a large land-owner, and gave to
each of his sons land, upon which they settled, in the
immediate neighborhood. James Allen was the old-
est son by a second wife. His land was adjoining the
old home on the south. His father died when he was
nineteen years of age. When twenty-one he was mar-

 

* Under the constitution.

 

255

ried to Clarissa Way. Their children were Abner,
Amos, James, George P., and Jabez. Mr. Allen was
aman of good judgment and strict integrity, and he
enjoyed in a large degree the confidence and esteem
of his neighbors; was a Democrat in politics, and
often called to fill town offices, and was a selectman
for many years, and frequently chosen administrator
of estates and guardian of minor children. He repre-
sented the town in the Legislature in 1836 and in 1852.
He was also a soldier in the war of 1812, for which
his widow received a pension. He died in 18658, in
his sixty-fourth year. His wife died March 10, 1881,
at the advanced age of eighty-two years.

Mr. Allen received but a small farm from his father,
to which he made additions until he had two hundred
and eighty acres, upon which he built a good and sub-
stantial house, now the home of his third son, James,
Jr., who received the home-farm from his father, and,
like him, has added other lands until he has some four
hundred acres of land, with large improvements and
fine buildings (a view of which may be seen in this
work). Heisone of the most substantial andsuccessful
farmers in his town, and has held several town offices,
and represented the town in the Legislature in 1851.
He married Betsy L., daughter of George W. Peck,
and granddaughter of Deacon Calvin Peck, who came
to Sharon when a young man, where the family still
reside. Their children are Frank P., who is in the
lumber business in Georgia; Charles M., is a hard-
ware merchant in Waterbury ; J. Edward, is a farmer
in Bethlehem ; and Henry M., lives at home.

 

!
CHAPTER XXVI.

BRIDGEWATHER.

Geographical — Topographical—Incorporation of Town—First Town-
Meeting—Officers Elected—List of Town Clerks—Representatives from
1857 to 1881— Ecclesiastical History — Congregational Church—St.
Mark’s Church— Methodist Episcopal Church— Baptist Church—
Roman Catholic Church—Grand List, 1881—Military Record.

Tris town lies in the southwestern part of Litch-
field County, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by New Milford, on the east by the town of Roxbury
and New Haven County, on the south by Fairfield
County, and on the west by Fairfield County and the
town of New Milford. Its surface is hilly, but is well
adapted to agricultural pursuits. Tobacco raising
forms a leading occupation of the inhabitants.

The early history of this town is interwoven with
that of the mother-town, New Milford, and will be
found detailed in the history of that town elsewhere
in this work.

INCORPORATION OF BRIDGEWATER.

Bridgewater formed a portion of New Milford until
May, 1856, when it was set off as a separate town. It
was known as the “ Neck.”
256

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

The first town-meeting was held July 14, 1856, with
Charles H. Sanford as moderator. The following offi-
cers were chosen: Sherman Peck, Glover Sanford, and
Roswell Morris, Selectmen ; Charles H. Sanford, Town
Clerk; Peter Wooster, Treasurer; Eli Sturdevant,
Constable and Collector; Burr Glover, Burr Mal-
let, Samuel F. Clark, and John Keeler, Constables;
Nelson D. Trobridge and Addison Beardsley, Grand
Jurors; Samuel R. Clark, Henry C. Knight, and J.
G. Randal, Tithingmen; Charles Leavenworth and
Alva Warner, Haywards; David Wooster, Gauger;
Harley Sanford, Sealer of Weights and Measures;
James M. Phippeney, Packer; William P. Bennett,
Sexton; J. Platt, Burying-ground Commissioner;
Henry B. Young, Pound-Keeper; Peter Phippeney
and 8. W. Treat, Fence-Viewers; Horace Judson,
Register.

TOWN CLERKS.

The following is a list of town clerks from the organ-

ization of the town to 1881:

Charles H. Sanford, 1857-59; G. R. Warner,* 1860-62; Austin H. Gillett,
1862-69; Henry H. Du Bois, M.D., 1870-74; G. R. Warner,} 1875-81.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1857 TO 1881.

1857, Hiram Keeler ; 1858, Homer B. Sanford; 1859, N. D. Trowbridge;
1860, John Peck; 1861, R. J. Livingston; 1862, F. 8. Sanford; 1863,
Smith R. Weeks; 1864, George Beardsley; 1865, Eli Sturdevant;
1866, Glover Sanford; 1867, Alonzo Barnum; 1868, G. R. Warner;
1869, Austin H. Gillett; 1870, Daniel Keeler; 1871, Sherman Peck;
1872, Burr Mallett; 1878, Edgar L. Peck; 1874, Darwin Keeler; 1875,
Bence B. Beach; 1876, Marcus B. Mallett; 1877, John Keeler; 1878,
Jeremiah G. Randall; 1879, James H. Keeler; 1880, George W.
Morris; 1881, Amos Northrop.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Inasmuch as the history of the Congregational
Church and Society was for a long time almost the
history of this section of the old town, it will be given
in extenso :

The first ecclesiastical society in Bridgewater was
organized in the year 1803. Up to that year it was a
part of the first society in New Milford. At the ses-
sion of the General Assembly in said year action
was taken upon the petition of Truman Minor e¢ al,
to be set off as a district society, on ‘“‘account of the
inconveniences which they suffer by continuing a part
of the New Milford Society.” The petition bears date
“ April 30, 1808,” and was granted. The limits of the
society, as specified in the act of the Legislature, were
the same as those of the present town of Bridgewater.
Those seem to have been based originally upon what—
as to its northern boundary—was known as the
“established military lines in said Neck” (probably
the limit of a company of the militia.)

Simultaneously with the organization there was
pledged by a subscription a fund amounting to two

 

* Mr. Warner resigned, and Levi M. Warner was appointed.

+ Vice Gillett, resigned.

} Condensed from a historical discourse delivered in Bridgewater,
July 9, 1876, by Rev. J. B. Doolittle.

 

thousand five hundred and seventy-seven dollars, “ the
interest of which shall be paid annually, and carefully
applied to the support of an able and discreet minister
of the gospel in said society.” Much of the fund
subscribed was never paid, and during the first thirty
years the interest was but partially collected. Lega-
cies have from time to time been added, but consider-
able sums seem to have also been lost. The last
legacy—one thousand dollars—was from the estate of
the late Lyman Smith.

The first meeting of the society was on Nov. 17,
1803, at the house of John Canfield. At a meeting
held Feb. 1, 1804, it was voted “that we will lay a tax
of five mills on the dollar for the benefit of the society,
to be payable by April 1st.” Jeremiah Canfield was
appointed collector of said tax. At the same meeting
it was voted “that the society committee be empow-
ered to hire a minister, and lay out as much of the
money to be raised by the tax as they think for the
good of the society.” Also “that we will purchase
pine lumber for the purpose of building a meeting-
house.” Also “that Eli Smith and Benjamin Mead
be appointed a committee to purchase said lumber.”
By a vote passed Dec. 27, 1804, their purchase was
rejected, and no advance seems to have been made
until the end of 1806, December 16th, at which time
a committee of nine, of which Benjamin Mead was
chairman, was appointed to pitch a stake at the cran-
berry pond ‘for the meeting-house.” They were re-
quested to attend to the business “ on Thursday next
at two P.M.” This seems to have been done satisfac-
torily, for on Jan. 8, 1807, they voted that “we will
build a meeting-house in this society with a steeple,
this present year, on or near the place where the stake
is now pitched, south of the cranberry pond, on James
W. and Sally Smith’s land. Said house to be raised
and closed.” The building committee were Eli Smith,
David Merwin (2d), and Andrew Miner.” The same
committee was to set a price on the lumber bought,
and also upon “all kinds of labor by the day.” The
price fixed upon for the first three months of that
year was three shillings and sixpence per day (about
sixty-two cents), and seven shillings for a four-catile
team.”

The frame of the present edifice is the one which
was put up at that time, but the house has been re-
modeled twice. It seems to have been built in the
plainest manner. The first covering was of shingles
and not painted. This we infer from the fact that on
Oct. 10, 1807, they voted “to paint the steeple, all
above the deck floor, and the trimmings of the house.”
The building does not seem to have been completed
before 1810.

The pioneers seem to have been fruitful in expe-
dients for meeting and conquering financial difficul-
ties, for, near the close of 1807, they appointed Andrew
Miner, as agent of the society, to petition the Legisla-
ture for a lottery to finish the house. .

In the early part of 1817 the meeting-house was
BRIDGEWATER.

257

 

struck by lightning. This was soon repaired. It un-
derwent no further extensive repairs until 1842.

It is a matter of interest to the young to know that
in those early days it would have been considered by
many a positive sin to have a fire in the meeting-
house. Our grandfathers tell us that they used to sit
patiently through two long sermons; and if their
feet became intolerably cold they would knock them
together to stimulate circulation. The ladies have
always in this country been privileged characters.
They used to carry foot-stoves; some of which, of
more recent pattern, may still be found in the slips,
contesting the ground with the modern soapstone. I
find no record of the first introduction of stoves. It
was probably, however, not far from the year 1825.
And probably for some years the stove-pipes formed
a junction in front of the pulpit and thence out
through the roof. The first substitute for a bell was
a large triangle. This in time was replaced by a
bell.

The church was organized Aug. 10, 1809. Its rec-
ords were burned in 1830. It was organized with
twenty-nine members,—nine male and twenty female.
Rev. Reuben Taylor, the first pastor, was ordained
Jan. 24, 1810, and was dismissed April 5, 1815.

From the time of his dismission until Feb. 15, 1824,
the church remained destitute of a preached gospel
and its blessed ordinances, except occasional supplies,
for a few weeks at a time, by itinerant preachers.

For five years succeeding 1824 the church enjoyed
the regular preaching of the gospel for one-third
part of the time by Rev. Fosdic Harrison, pastor of
the church in Roxbury.

Mr. Taylor was settled upon a salary of four hun-
dred dollars. But at the outset he was also given
five hundred dollars as a “settlement.” This was in
accordance with the usual custom of the churches in
the settlement of pastors. This money was given
him upon the condition that, “ Provided he leaves the
society within the term of ten years, and the fault
shall be his, he shall refund to the society in propor-
tion as he has not tarried that length of time.” On
March 6, 1815, he was notified that his “ resignation
would be accepted.” He therefore saved his two
hundred and fifty dollars.

Mr. Taylor built and occupied the house which is
known as the Lyman Smith place. The magnificent
shade-trees around it, set out by him, are his most en-
during material monument. He also set out the or-
chard east of the house. He purchased the trees of
a Mr, Sturdevant, who was to take his pay in sermons
upon the “doctrine of Election.” Mr. Taylor gave
them a pretty strong one on the following Sunday,
and at the close of it Mr. Sturdevant said: “ Mr. Tay-
lor, we will call the tree account square.”

The period of the early history of this church was
characterized extensively in New England by the
breaking up of the old denominational monopoly; a
reaction against the “high Calvinism” which had so

 

prominently characterized the “standing order” dur-
ing the last half of the last century.

In 1820 one Mr. Burritt preached here. The only
allusion to him upon the records is the fact that “six-
teen united with the church under him.”

The second settled pastor here was Rev. Albert
Camp. He was probably Dr. Camp’s son, of North-
field. He was ordained and installed Dec. 9, 1834.
The Consociation met at that time at the house of
Stephen Treat,—Mr. Camp’s boarding-place. His
salary, as voted by the society, was three hundred
and sixty-five dollars per year, and three Sundays
vacation. During this pastorate the meeting-house
was rebuilt.

March 10, 1842, the society voted to repair the
underpinning and steeple, put slips in the place of
pews, and cover the building on three sides with pine
siding; also to “paint the outside and inside,” if
sufficient funds can be raised by subscription. J. L.
Miner was appointed a committee to circulate the
same, and Lyman Smith, John Wooster, and Harmon
Treat were appointed a committee to superintend the
work,

During Mr. Camp’s pastorate the parsonage was
built upon land donated by Stephen Treat, but for
interest upon which he was during his lifetime to be
paid thirty dollars annually. The parsonage was
first owned as a joint stock “affair,” but was after-
wards bought in and owned by the society. Beach
Sanford and Daniel Miner were the building com-
mittee. The cost was twelve hundred and thirty-
two dollars and two cents.

A vote of the society, bearing the date of 1830, is
as follows:

“That if Homer Treat will be accountable to the society for seventy-
five dollars, the said H. T. shall have the privilege to solicit subscriptions
from individuals to help him pay the said seventy-five dollars, and he
shall have the privilege of boarding the minister through the year, and
no member of the society shall be allowed the privilege of having a
scholar or scholars to study and recite to the minister during the year,
either directly or indirectly.”

Mr. Camp was dismissed June 6, 1848.

Rev. James Kilbourn supplied the pulpit from
Aug. 18, 1848. He was ordained and installed Feb.
21, 1844, upon a salary of four hundred and fifty dol-
lars, including aid from the Domestic Missionary So-
ciety. He was dismissed July 1, 1850.

Rey. Dillon Williams was acting pastor during the
two years following,—that is, until September, 1852.

The interval between September, 1852, and 1860
found Rev. F. Harrison acting as reserve, while un-
successful efforts seem to have been made to secure a
pastor. There were nine added to the church, of
whom three were by profession; sixteen were dis-
missed.

Among those who occupied the pulpit at times are
the names of H. H. McFarland and Lester Dorman.

Rev. L. S. Potwin was ordained and installed Oct.
2, 1860, and was dismissed in 1863.

Rev. Henry E. Hart was acting pastor from J uly,
258

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1868, to July, 1866. Rev. Wm. H. Dean commenced
his labors here Noy. 21, 1866, and was installed Aug.
28, 1867. His dismission occurred June 21, 1871.
Simultaneously with his coming there was developed
a revival of considerable power, which resulted in
the largest numerical accession which the church has
ever experienced. During his pastorate a new pipe
organ was put into the church. It cost eleven hun-
dred dollars, and was the gift of Lyman Smith.

Rey. John B. Dgolittle commenced his labors here
July 1, 1872, and was installed on the 16th of October
following.

Mr. Harrison, of Roxbury, from his long familiar-
ity with Bridgewater, and his frequent official con-

nection with this church, is remembered with sin- |

cere affection by all of the older people.

Seven of the sons of this church have entered
the Christian ministry, viz.: Joseph Treat, Wm.
A. Hawley, Levi Smith, Isaac C. Beach, Julius
O. Beardsley (foreign missionary), Philo R. Hurd,
and Albert E. Dunning. The following legacies have
been received by the society: in 1847, estate of Abijah
Beach, $300; in 1849, estate of Stephen Treat, $500 ;
in 1850, estate of Mrs. David Young, $50; in 1873,
estate of Lyman Smith, $1000. Mr. Smith’s legacy
was in addition to his gift to the society of the organ,
before alluded to, at a cost of $1100.

ST, MARK’S CHURCH.*

The first record of any organization of St. Mark’s
Episcopal Society is of a meeting held at the dwell-
ing-house of Jonas Sanford, on Easter Monday, April
23, 1810, at which meeting William Gillett and Ju-
lius Camp were chosen wardens, Daniel Booth, Jere-
miah Platt, and James Jesup vestrymen, William
Gillet reading clerk, Samuel Lockwood, treasurer ;
also David Merwin, Joseph Wheeler, Blackman
Jesup, Jeremiah Canfield, Treat Canfield, Jehiel
Summers, and John Treat were chosen choristers, and
Joel Sanford elected to attend the State convention
within the year.

It appears that no steps were taken at this time
towards the erection of a church edifice, but the peo-
ple received such ministrations as the ministers of
neighboring parishes were able to offer, meeting for
worship at the dwellings of the several church-mem-
bers, but more frequently at the house of Jonas San-
ford. The society continued its existence in this way
until the year 1835, when it had so far increased in
numbers and strength as to warrant the undertaking
of the building of a church edifice, which was accord-
ingly erected in this same year, being located about
one-half mile south of the present village, and
afterwards a public road was laid by the town, past
the church, which led to Southville. This edifice was
used for worship until the year 1859, when the erec-
tion of a second church building, located in the cen-

 

* Contributed by E. Sturdevant.

 

tre of the village, was commenced and completed in
the following year, and was consecrated March 14,
1860, by the Right Rev. John Williams, and continues
in use as the place of public worship by the members
of St. Mark’s Society.

No complete list of ministers can be given from the
first organization to the erection of a church, but
among those officiating are the names of Revs. B,
Northrop, Benjamin Benham, and Joseph S. Covell.

Since 1835 the church has been in charge of the
following named clergymen: Revs. Joseph 8. Covell,
Abel Nichols, George H. Nichols, William Atwill,
Abel Ogden, William O. Jarvis, H. F. M. Whitesides,
Abel Nichols, Merritt H. Wellman, William H. Cook,
James Morton, H. D. Noble, X. Alanson Welton, W.
B. Colburn, D.D., and G. V. C. Eastman, D.D., under
whose charge the church is at the present time.

The present officers of the parish are as follows:
Jeremiah G. Randall, Eli Sturdevant, Wardens; Arza
C. Morris, Albert B. Mallett, Amos Northrop, Vestry-
men; Henry S. Frost, Collector; Arza C. Morris,
Treasurer ; Jeremiah G. Randall, Delegate to Conven-
tion; Eli Sturdevant, Clerk.

THE METHODIST CHURCH.

In his historical address delivered in 1876, Rev. Mr.
Doolittle said,—

“The Methodists also commenced among us, and they, too, have had
their privileged share in promoting the religious work. A large number
of those who originally worshiped with us afterward withdrew, princi-
pally, I think, on accountof doctrinal differences, and united with them.
I think they never had a meeting-house here. They met in different
places. But more recently they have had a flourishing church in South-
ville, where they now have a neat place of worship.”

The Baptists at one time had a church here, but it
long ago became extinct. The Roman Catholics also

at one time had a flourishing organization here.

GRAND LIST, 1881.

18024 dwelling houses

+ $71,115
918734 acres of land... :

  
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
  
 
   
  
 
 

 

 

Mills, stores, and manufactories. 3,170
200 NOVEES......seesesseeeense 8,870
987 neat cattle......... 20,512
Sheep, swine, and poultry.. 482
Carriages and wagons 3,849
Timepieces and jewel 415
Musical instruments. 1,165
oe: en 100
Bank, insurance, and manufacturing stock. 43,511
Railroad, city, and other corporation bonds.. 500
Amount employed in merchandising... 3,225
Investments in mechanical and man
operations. eee 1,120
Money at interest... 19,847
Money on hand aise 100
All other taxable property. 27,360
Ten per cent. additional. 8,337
Added by board relicfu.s.sssssssessess 10,263
$435,269
Deductionsscccvssvissvevsersvesvsccescuccasalscccasiatevencdavexees 17,335
Grand Lists scsiccsssssanscassescueceiovesedesivenciseyoes*scocsunnd GEL 008
Grand list, 1879.. 422,175
eua’s fide va a eaicneiettns dovesulaais sab seeteetdvasdaavars eeeses 34.241

MILITARY RECORD.ft
A. Lecor, 8th Regt.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864.
P. Harvey, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 16, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.
George Peters, enl. Dec. 12, 1864,

 

+ For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.
 
 
BRIDGEWATER.

259

 

D, W. Peck, sergeant, 10th Regt.; enl. Aug. 1, 1861; disch. July 22, 1862.

E. C. Beardsley, 10th Regt.; enl. Aug. 1, 1861; died April 25, 1862.

L. Foulon, 10th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 1864; disch. June 13, 1865,

G. Schneeweiss, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864; disch, Dec. 21, 1865.

J. 0. Beers, 12th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1861; disch. Dec. 2, 1864.

RB. A. Canfield, 12th Regt.; enl. Nov. 22, 1861.

H. M, Payne, 12th Regt.; enl. Nov. 22, 1861; disch. June 27, 1862.

J. Collins, 16th Regt.; enl. March 3, 1864; ordered to navy.

William Doyle, 20th Regt.; enl..March 3, 1864; disch, July 19, 1865,

Henry Hinton, 20th Regt. ; enl. March 3, 1864; disch. July 19, 1865.

A. E, Hamlin, 23d Regt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; died June 2, 1863.

William Wilson, Ist Art.; enl. Nov. 24, 1864,

Eugene H. Duffy, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1863; killed July 20, 1864.

William Kamstler, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. Sept. 1, 1861.

W.H. Armitage, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1863.

Charles Alexander, 5th Regt. ; enl. March 3, 1864; must. out July 19, 1865.

John Carr, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 14, 1863; killed July 20, 1864.

J. H. Guy, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 15,1863; must. out July 19, 1865.

John Youngs, 5th Regt.; en). Aug. 15, 1863; must. out May 27, 1865.

George Harvey, 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 12, 1864; must. out Aug. 21, 1865.

John Dupires, 11th Regt.; en]. March 4, 1864; pro. first lieutenant.

B. Divine, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 1, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

§. R. Thomson, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, 1862; died of wounds Dec. 30,
1862. *

George Clawson, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

Henry Mabie, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

James H. Mabie, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

George Paulscraft, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

George D. Cummings, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 10, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

David Dovoo, 28th Regt.; enl. Oct. 2, 1862.

James McLaughlin, 28th Regt.; en]. Sept. 2, 1862.

John Wixon, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 23, 1862.

W. H. Gregory, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 23, 1862; killed Oct. 27, 1864.

Benjamin Thompson, 28th Regt.; enl. Dec. 23, 1862.

A. G. Dixon, 29th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 23, 1862; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

H. Storms, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 21, 1863; disch. June 19, 1865.

8. Wright, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

T. Francis, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

J. L. Weller, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died July 29, 1863.

Charles M. Booth, first lieutenant, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25,1862; disch.
Aug. 28, 1863.

H. F. Erwin, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Herman Beers, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862.

N.8. Chapin, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

H. Cole, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

J. Garlich, 28th Regt. ; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

M. Langdon, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862.

Frederick Mead, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

Henry Smith, 28th Regt. ; en]. Aug. 23, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

C. E, Woodin, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died July 17, 1863.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GLOVER SANFORD.

The Sanford family date their ancestry back to
Thomas Sanford, a descendant of Thomas de Sanford,
a follower of William, Duke of Normandy, who is
mentioned on the roll of Battle Abbey, Oct. 14, 1066.
Another descendant, Thomas Sanford, came to Boston
in the year 1631, and settled in Milford, Conn., in the
year 1639; died there in 1681. From him the Con-
necticut Sanfords date their ancestry. The subject of
this sketch, Glover Sanford, was the third son of Liffe
and Huldah Blackman Sanford; was born in that
part of the town of New Milford now the town of
Bridgewater, March 8, 1797. His father served seven

 

years in the Revolutionary war, and was present at
the execution of Maj. Andre. He died Dec. 3, 1815.
After the death of his father he apprenticed himself
to his brother, John B. Sanford, in the adjoining
town of Brookfield, to learn the trade of a hatter,
being then eighteen years of age. In 1820 he com-
menced business in the town of Salisbury, Conn. In
February, 1821, he married Betsy Lake, daughter of
Benjamin and Mabel Lake, of Brookfield. In 18238
he returned to his native town, where for a period of
forty-seven years he was engaged in the manufactur-
ing of hats, having associated with him in the busi-
ness-his four sons, Charles H., Homer B., Frederick
S., and Edwin G., upon their arriving at legal age,
which composed the well-known firm of Glover San-
ford & Sons. In 1870 the firm, for want of facilities,
removed their business to Bridgeport, Conn., and in
which he continued until his death, and the business
is still continued under the same firm-name. He ex-
perienced in his business career difficulties that would
have disheartened a man of less resolution and power
of will; but with him to encounter a difficulty was to
overcome. He was self-reliant, persevering, of keen
business foresight, a public-spirited, honorable, and
upright man, ever ready to lend a helping hand to
others. In the affairs of his native town he always
had a lively interest; was twice a representative to
the State Legislature. In politics he was a staunch
Democrat. He was the first postmaster upon the es-
tablishment of a post-office in the town, and held the
same for many years, his first commission being issued
during the administration of Andrew Jackson. He
was one of the original corporators of the Bank of Litch-
field County, of New Milford, now the First National
Bank of New Milford, and a director in the same up
to within a few weeks of his death. He was also one
of the corporators of the town of Bridgewater, upon
its being incorporated a town, in 1856, and one of its
first board of selectmen. His habits of activity kept
him from the infirmities of age, and his mental facul-
ties were in full vigor at the close of his life. He
died May 30, 1878, at the age of eighty-one.

LYMAN SMITH.

Lyman Smith, son of Eli and Huldah Merwin
Smith, was born in New Milford, Bridgewater Society,
now the town of Bridgewater, Oct. 14, 1795, and died
Feb. 8, 1878, aged seventy-eight. He was the eighth
of a family of nine children. His father died when
he was fourteen years of age. He received his edu-
cation from the common schools and the seminary at
Cheshire, Conn. Upon completion of his education
he went to New Haven, and entered the wholesale
grocery store of Elias Hotchkiss, remaining there for
four years. Returning to his native town, he married
Susanna Wooster, daughter of Peter and Betsey Can-
field Wooster, and purchased the house built by the
Rev. Reuben Taylor, the first Congregational minister
260

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

settled in the society, and entered into the business of
farming. In 1825 he went into the mercantile busi-
ness, in which he continued for about thirty years.
He was a director of the First National Bank of New
Milford for many years, and was at the time of his
death. He represented the town of New Milford in
the State Legislature. In politics he was a Repub-
lican, having previously been a Whig. He was an
active member and promoter of the Congregational
Church and society, having donated to the same a
fine organ, and in his will bequeathed to the society
a liberal sum. He had two daughters,—Betsey Ann
Smith, who married Smith R. Weeks, and Susan
Adeline Smith, who married Charles H. Sanford.

JAMES H. KEELER.*

James Harvey Keeler, third son of Stephen B.
Keeler, was born Dec. 23, 1807, in the town of Ridge-

 

field, Fairfield Co., Conn. His father removed in 1813
to that part of New Milford then known as Bridee-
water parish, and which was incorporated as a separate
town in 1856, At the age of eleven years Mr. Keeler
left home to enter upon a life of active and arduous
labor. He received a common-school education, and

 

* By Rev. W. B. Collurn, D.D., who was for many years rector of St.
Mark’s Church, Bridgewater.

 

at the age of seventeen years was apprenticed to a
carpenter, at which trade he worked for some ten
years. He was married to Miss Harriet Skidmore
April 20, 18386. He then purchased and cultivated a
farm for some years, after which he erected a store,
and engaged in the mercantile business for about
seven years, dividing his time between that and agri-
cultural pursuits. He then engaged in the cattle
trade, which he successfully united with farming for
a period of more than thirty years. He now culti-
vates his estate, and, in connection with this, devotes
much attention to the business of buying and pack-
ing tobacco.

Mr. and Mrs. Keeler have been the parents of six
children, of whom three sons died in early life. The
survivors are as follows: Robert, born March 8, 1841,
who married Martha Randall, Dec. 31, 1862 (their
only child is Hattie E., born Oct. 15, 1866); James
H., Jr., born Feb. 4, 1843, who married Rebecca M.
Sanford, Dec. 31, 1863; she died in April, 1872. Mr,
Keeler was married a second time to Kate Erwin, of
New Milford, Jan. 7, 1874. His children are, by his
first wife, Rebecca M., born Nov. 6, 1871, and by his
second, Alice E., born Aug. 6, 1875. The third survi-
vor is Harriet S., born Sept. 3, 1849, and married to Mr.
Frederick A. Peck, Oct. 14, 1867. Their children are
Lois §., born Dec. 15, 1868; De Witt K., born Oct.
25, 1870; Frederick A., born Sept. 16, 1873; and Sher-
man, born Oct. 19, 1877.

Mr. Keeler represented the town of New Milford
in the Legislature of 1856, when Bridgewater was in-
corporated as a separate town. He was elected for
the express purpose of securing the act of incorpora-
tion, and after much laborious effort the desired ob-
ject was accomplished, as we have before stated. He
also represented Bridgewater in the Legislature of
1879. He held a magistrate’s commission for many
years; was for several years in succession a selectman ;
has also been assessor and member of the board of
relief, and has, in fact, filled nearly all the town offices.
He has ever been generous, and personally active in
urging and sustaining every measure promotive of
the public welfare. Every scheme for the moral, re-
ligious, educational, and general welfare of the com-
munity has found in him an ardent and persevering
friend. He has long been a communicant and prom-
inent parishioner of St. Mark’s Protestant Episcopal
Church, and his name, wherever known, is a synonym
for integrity and worth.

It may be interesting to state, in connection with
the above, that Mr. Keeler’s father was born in Ridge-
field, Fairfield Co., May 3, 1778, married Sally Pad-
dock in 1802, and died in Bridgewater, May 9, 1850.
He was the eldest son of Daniel Keeler, who married
Elizabeth Burr, a cousin of the celebrated Aaron
Burr, and who died in 1806.
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MALLETT.

MAROUS B.
BRIDGEWATER.

261

 

HENRY SANFORD.

The subject of this sketch is descended in this
country from Thomas Sanford, who settled in Mil-
ford in 1689. The descent is as follows: Thomas,
Ezekiel, Sr., Ezekiel, Jr., Jaseph, Nehemiah, Sr., and
Nehemiah, Jr.

 

Nehemiah Sanford, Jr., father of Henry Sanford, was
born in 1762, at Redding, Conn. (local name Umpa-
wang Hill), and with his parents (Nehemiah, Sr., and
Elizabeth) removed to New Milford in 1773, and
located in what was known as New Milford Neck,
since incorporated as the town of Bridgewater. He
was the youngest son of Nehemiah, Sr. Enlisted
into the Revolutionary war at the age of nineteen ;
served three months, at which time the war closed.
He was an earnest supporter of the institutions of the
gospel, regular in attendance, etc. April 6, 1786, he
married Hannah Beach, daughter of David Beach, of
Bridgewater. To them were born Robert W., May 10,
1787; Anna, May 31, 1792; Electa, Sept. 11, 1795;
Garry, Aug. 28, 1797; Beach, Aug. 16, 1804; Henry,
Oct. 14, 1806.

Robert W. married Mabel Squires, June 3, 1806;
moved to Rootstown, Ohio, 1819; had nine chil-
dren; lived to be ninety-two; wife still living.

Anna died, unmarried, at the age of forty-nine;
resided in Bridgewater.

Electa married Philo Carter, in Ohio, April 27, 1823;
had five children; died at forty-one.

Garry moved to Ohio, 1819; married Emily Rich-
ardson, 1822; had nine children; died at the age of
forty-seven.

Beach married Lucy Smith, Nov. 15, 1825; moved
to Rootstown, Ohio, 1842; had a family of five sons;
moved to Warren, Wis., 1860; died at sixty-one.

Henry Sanford, the youngest son and child of Nehe-
miah Sanford, Jr., was born Oct. 14, 1806. Educa-
tional advantages were the district school. He was
reared a farmer, and occupies, owns, and tills the
farm once owned by his father and grandfather, Nehe-
miah, Sr.

At the age of twenty-one he identified himself with
the Congregational society, to which he has ever been
a strong supporter, and held many offices. Ever
ready to do his part in anything that would promote
its welfare and sustain the institutions of the gospel.

At the age of twenty-two he married Anna J. Can-
field, daughter of Daniel and Rebecca Canfield, of
Bridgewater, Dec. 4, 1828. Mrs. Sanford died March
10, 1844. Nov. 12, 1845, he married a second wife,
Polly B. Platt, daughter of Simeon Platt, of South
Britain.

By his former wife, Anna J., he had two sons,—
Canfield H., born July 22, 1839, who died in infancy ;
Horace N., born Jan. 4, 1841, who follows the busi-
ness of farming. His educational advantages were
district school, select school, and two years at the
Normal School, New Britain, Conn. During the late
Rebellion he joined the Nineteenth Regiment Con-
necticut Volunteers, Company H, Sept. 11, 1862, and
continued with it three years, until date of muster
out, July, 1865. Received three slight wounds, one
at Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864, under Gen. Grant, two
at Strasburg, Oct. 19, 1864, under Gen. Sheridan.
He was asergeant. Nov. 28, 1867, he married Dora
M. Kasson, daughter of George M. Kasson, of Beth-
lehem, Conn., to whom were born three children,—
Genevieve T., March 18, 1872; Henry C., April 16,
1875; Mabelle F., April 29, 1879. United with the
Congregational Church, Nov. 4, 1860, and has since
been identified in its interest; has been for a number
of years one of its deacons.

MARCUS B. MALLETT.

Marcus B. Mallett, son of Daniel and Eunice B.
Mallett, was born in Trumbull, Conn., March 5, 1809.
He was the eldest of twelve children. He enjoyed
the limited advantages for an education afforded the
children of the New England farmer of those days.
At the age of fifteen years he was apprenticed to his
maternal uncle, Benjamin B. Beach, of Bridgewater,
Conn. Atthe end of the first year, his uncle’s health
having failed, he hired Marcus to Hiram Keeler, his
brother-in-law, who was a carpenter. He remained
with Mr. Keeler until the October before he was
twenty-one years of age, working the next year for
i Amos Williams, of Brookfield, Conn., at the close of

 
262

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

which he purchased a farm of Hiram Keeler, paying
eleven hundred dollars in cash and agreeing to pay a
balance of nine hundred dollars at the expiration of
four years. On the 8th of March, 1831, he married
Sarah, daughter of Stephen B. and Sally Keeler.
This union was blessed with three children,—Sarah E.,
Burr, and Alvira. By industry and economy the
farm was paid for in four years, and he had four hun-
dred dollars besides. Hesubsequently sold this place,
and bought a farm containing seventy acres of Joseph
Bennett, which he sold to Oren Young in 1842. He
is now living on the farm he purchased of his grand-
son, B. Warner. Mr. Mallett’s daughter, Sarah E.,
married Arza Morris; to them were born three chil-
dren,—Gertrude E., Mary A., and 8. Eugenia. His
son Burr married Mary E., daughter of Grandison R.
Warner, Sept. 28, 1856, and she died, four days after
marriage, of typhoid fever, at Earle’s Hotel, New
York. On Jan. 1, 1861, he married, for his second
wife, Emelia C., daughter of Frederick Boland ; their
children are Mary E., Marcus B., Montiville, and
Sarah J. He represented his town in the General
Assembly in 1876, and has held a number of other
offices of trust. Alvira married Levi, son of G. R.
Warner, on Nov. 4, 1861; their children are Reuben
M. and 8. Eugenia.

ROSWELL MORRIS.

Roswell Morris was born in Newtown, Fairfield
Co., Conn., May 27,1795. His father, Amos Morris,
was one of six children, and was born in Bridgeport,
Sept. 28, 1762, and married Eunice Clark.

Roswell Morris was the second of four children,
having two brothers, Levi and Curtis, and a sister,
Martha, all born in Newtown. His parents moved
from Newtown to Bridgewater (then New Milford) in
the spring of 1800, he being then five years of age.
There they lived until 1833, when they moved to Great
Barrington, Mass., where they spent the last eight
years of their lives, only four days intervening be-
tween their deaths. Roswell’s elder brother, Levi,
married Polly H.Smith. His brother Curtis married
Abigail Curtis for his first wife, and Cynthia J. Frink
for his second wife. His sister Martha married Or-
ange Smith. Roswell Morris married Laura Can-
field, daughter of John and Phebe Canfield, Nov. 26,
1818; their children were Cornelia, Caroline, Mary,
and Arza C. Cornelia married Henry B. Young ;
their children were Stanley M., Mary C., Calvert H.,
Frederick A., and Martha C. Stanley M. married
Mary L. Morrell; they had seven children. Fred-
erick A. married Urania E. Buck. Caroline married
Peter Wooster; their children were Laura J., J.
Morris, Charles M.,and Edward R. Laura J. married
Richard G. Randall; they had one child, Jennie.
Mary, unmarried. Arza C. married Sarah E. Mallett;
their children were Gertrude E., Mary A., and §,
Eugenia,

 

The Morrises are of Scotch descent.

Roswell Morris, like many of New England’s sons,
started in life with a capital consisting only of strong
arms, a stout heart, and a good common-school edu-
cation. He set out from his home in Bridgewater
(then New Milford) to seek employment, and jour-
neyed as far as New Jersey, walking much of the way,
He taught school in that State one or two years, then
returned to Bridgewater, and engaged in farming,
working for a time with his older brother, Levi. Af-
terwards he succeeded by degrees in obtaining a farm
a little west of Bridgewater Centre, on which he re-
mained until his death. After locating as described
he did not relinquish teaching, but worked his farm
and taught the Centre school for many winters, doing
most of his farm-work at the same time.

Often after school-hours he would go into the woods
with his team, and draw wood by the light of the
moon.

As a teacher he had the rare faculty of being a boy
with the boys when at play, and master as soon as
inside the school-house. When hardly able to re-
press his mirth he could put on a stern look, and, al-
though inwardly amused at the pranks of a boy, would
give him a look that would seem to pierce through his
jacket.

He was for many years constable in the town
(then New Milford), and often did sheriff’s work, for
which he was well qualified, being strong of frame,
prompt, fearless, of quick perception, and sound judg-
ment.

An anecdote of his youth will serve to illustrate his
character. During the war of 1812 he was plowing
in the field, when his father came to him and repre-
sented that he had been drafted, and was wanted im-
mediately. He replied that he was ready, and quickly
unhitched his team from the plow. His father, see-
ing he was likely to get the worst of the joke, told
him he was not drafted, and asked him to hitch up
his team and go on with his work. He said to his
father, “If you have been trying that game you will
get no more work from me to-day.”

He was always ready to do a neighborly kindness,
either to watch at the bedside of the sick or to per-
form any other personal service. Politically, he acted
with the Whig party as long as it existed, and after-
wards with the Democratic. . He held at different
times most of the offices in the gift of the town (then
New Milford), and was often employed in the settle-
ment of estates.

He was one of the first selectmen elected in the
town of Bridgewater when it was incorporated, and
rendered efficient service in making an amicable set-
tlement between New Milford and Bridgewater.

He celebrated his golden wedding Nov. 26, 1868,
and a large company of his neighbors and friends were
present, with children, grandchildren, and great-grand-
children. On that occasion he was presented with a
beautiful gold-headed cane by his friends and neigh-
 
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BRIDGEW ATER.

263

 

bors. Decided in his opinions, he was not unchari-
table to others. He was for many years a member
of the Episcopal Church, to which he was warmly
attached. He was warden of St. Mark’s for many
years, and held that office at the time of his death,
Sept. 22, 1874.

During the last years of his life he was greatly af-
flicted with rheumatism, and suffered almost constant
pain, yet as long as crutches could help him to the
church he was in his seat.

In the prime of life he was characterized by prompt-
ness, energy, and a will to carry through whatever
he undertook. To sucha man it was hard to find him-
self reduced to a state of helplessness, but he bore it
with a Christian spirit worthy of imitation.

JOHN WOOSTER.

The ancestors of the subject of this sketch were
among the early settlers of New England. His great-
grandfather, Timothy Wooster, settled in New Haven
colony, in what is now the town of Oxford.

As early as 1774 his grandfather, Jabez Wooster,
purchased land in the town of Bridgewater (then
New Milford), and is described in the records as Lieut.
Jabez Wooster, in the fourteenth year of the reign of
George III., King of Great Britain. He seemed to
be searching for mineral lands, and laid out several
tracts on Rocky Mountain, Falls Mountain, and
Wolfpit Mountain, where he dug in several places for
iron ore, but without success. He purchased a home-
stead a little east of the Housatonic River, and about
a mile south of the Great Falls (so called), which he
leased to a company for nine hundred and ninety-
nine years, with the privilege of digging for minerals,
reserving a certain portion to himself if any were
found. He built a house, and followed farming, as
did two generations of the same family after him at
the same place. The house is still standing as it was
originally built, with the back roof extending nearly
to the ground, one of the few left to show the an-
cient style of architecture.

Jabez Wooster had two sons, Peter and Isaac.
Peter Wooster, the father of John Wooster, was born
in 1762. He married Betsy Canfield, Jan. 16, 1787.
He followed farming, as his father had before him
at the same place. He died Sept. 12, 1798, leaving
two children, John and Susannah.

John was born March 27, 1790. He passed his
youth like most country boys, going to district school
and helping on the farm. He nearly lost his life
when a boy, a log rolling on him and making an in-
dentation in his skull, which affected the brain. A
Piece of the skull was taken out, and a silver shilling
placed under theskin to protect the brain, which always
remained there; so it can truly be said that in after-
life he was never without a shilling. He acquired a
good common-school education, and early commenced
teaching school in winter. He soon came to be con-

 

sidered one of the best teachers of his day. As soon
as he became of age he applied all his energies to
redeem his father’s farm, and to buy out his sisters’
claims, farming in summer and teaching school in
winter for many years. He married Jerusha Lock-
wood, daughter of David and Sarah Lockwood, by
whom he had four children,—Mary E., Peter, David,
and Susan.

Mary E. married Harmon Treat, living in Bridge-
water; has six children, viz., Helen J., Julia A.,
Emily A., D. Allen, Susan C., and H. Wooster.
Julia A. married Charles Sanford, living in Roxbury,
Conn. D. Allen married P. Belle Meeker, and resides
in Bridgeport, Conn. The other children are living
with their parents in Bridgewater.

Peter married Caroline Morris, by whom he had
four children,—Laura J., John Morris, Charles M.,
and Edward R. John Morris died Jan. 14, 1856,
aged five years. Laura J. married Richard J. Ran-
dall; died Aug. 29, 1880, and left one child, Jennie.
C. Charles M. is a practicing physician in Tariff-
ville, Conn. Edward R. is in Bridgewater,

David married Emily C. Sherman, by whom he
had three children,—Edward 8., Edith E., and John
S. Edward S. died at the age of two years and nine
months. Edith E. married Rev. George A. Graves,
now at New Canaan, Conn.; has two children, Carle-
ton A. and Bertha E. John S. married Katie A.
Kelley; has one child, Emily S.; resides in Bridge-
port, Conn.

David Wooster’s wife, Emily C. Wooster, died
April 17, 1875. He married, for his second wife, Mrs.
Angie W. Boland, with whom and her son, Frank
W., he is now living, in Bridgeport, Conn.

Susan married Lorenzo D. Sanford; had three
children,—Martha, Mary E., and John W. Martha
died in infancy. Mary E. married Cornelius Blakes-
ley ; resides in Brooklyn, N. Y., and has two children,
Raymond I. and Jennie M. John W. resides with
his father in Bridgeport, Conn.

John Wooster was one who thought much of his
home, and seemed most happy when surrounded by
his family, to which he was strongly attached, and
when enjoying the society of his friends and neigh-
bors, with whom he always lived on the best of terms.
Politically, he identified himself with the Whig
party, and was somewhat active in the councils of
that party in the town of New Milford. He once
represented that town in the State Legislature. In
the prime of life he met with an accident which in-
capacitated him for hard labor on the farm, being
thrown from a wagon and injuring one knee; but he
almost constantly held some public office in the town
which occupied his time, and in some measure com-
pensated for his inability to labor. He was correct
and methodical in business, prompt and punctual to
fulfill all his engagements, and perhaps it is not too
much to say that, in respect to honesty of purpose,
correctness and fidelity in the discharge of public
264

duties intrusted to him, no one in the town of New
Milford had the confidence of the people to a greater
extent than he.

He was assessor many years, and visited every tax-
payer, and wrote out every item of taxable property.
At his decease bushels of lists written with his own
hand were found carefully filed and preserved. He
held the office of constable, and was for many years
justice of the peace. He was selectman for many
years, and was often called the “Old Selectman.”
He often kept the books and accounts of the town,
although living three and a half miles from the vil-
lage, and there was no item of account that could
not be found in its proper place. He was often in-
trusted with the settlement of estates. When Bridge-
water was incorporated as a town he had become ad-
vanced in years, and retired from active politics.

The old Whig party being dissolved, his sympathies
were with the Republican party. He was a firm be-
liever in the doctrines of Christianity, but, for reasons
best known to himself, never united with any church.
He was a regular attendant of the Congregational
Church, of which his wife was a member, and paid of
his substance for its support.

A year or two before his death he left his farm
and went to live with his daughter Susan, at the
centre of Bridgewater, where he died, as he had loved
to live, with his children all around him, May 29,
1858, aged sixty-eight years.

CHAPTER XXVII.

CANAAN,

Geographical—Topographical—The Housatonic Falls—Sale of the Town
—First Meeting of Proprictors—Held at Wethersfield—Name of the
Town—First Settlement of the Town—Names of Pioneers and Gran-
tees—Early Births and Marriages—Ecclesiastical History—Congrega-
tional Church, South Canaan—Congregational Church, Falls Village
—Methodist Episcopal Church, Falls Village—The Iron Bank—The
Falls Village Savings Bank,

TxIs town is located in the northwestern part of
the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by North Canaan, on the east by Norfolk, on the
south by Cornwall, and on the west by the Housatonic
River, which separates it from Salisbury. The surface
of this town is broken and mountainous. The town
is watered by the Housatonic River and its tributaries.

THE HOUSATONIC FALLS.

On this river, below Salisbury, are located the
Housatonic Falls. “The falls are formed by a ledge
of limestone rocks crossing the Housatonic River
obliquely from northwest to southeast; the length of
the ledge is about thirty rods, its perpendicular height
perhaps sixty feet, and its front irregular and broken.
Here in a formidable mass on the western side, and
on the eastern, the water rushes from the rapid torrent

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

above, and descending in every variety of form, with
the mass of foam at the bottom rising in a misty
cloud, and the surrounding scenery, presents a scene
of remarkable picturesque beauty. There are falls and
rapids both above and below the river cataract, but
of much smaller size. ‘The whole descent,’ says Dr,
Dwight, ‘is about one hundred and thirty feet, nobly
arranged and distributed, and comprehending a re-
markable variety of beauty and grandeur,’ ”*

FIRST MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.

The tract of land embraced within the present
towns of Canaan and North Canaan was sold at
public vendue at the court-house in New London,
Jan. 8, 1737-88. The first meeting of these towns
was held at Wethersfield, Feb. 22, 1737-88, with
Capt. David Whitney, of Plainfield, moderator, and
Humphrey Avey, of Groton, clerk. At this meeting
it was

“ Voted, That said Humphrey Avey, said Capt. Whitney, and John
Bebee of Litchfield, Samucl Bryant of Stanford. und Silas Belding of
said Wethersfield, are a committee who are hereby fully Impowered
to Lay out Such part of the Land in said Townships, sold as afore Said,
as they Shall judge Best for the Interest of Said proprietors in Gineral,
and to Lay out to Each proprietor in Equal] part for Quantity and Quality
and Give Surveys of the same under the hands of the major part of said
committee and to Lay out Nessary High ways in Said Town. Not Less
to be Laid out to Each Proprietor than Thirty acres and be Laid out in
one or two parts or parcels for Each Proprietor as said Committee Shall
Think fit und the Avey to have Twelve shillings per Day for his wages
Serving as Committee man and surveyor and the rest of said Committee
to have Eight Shilling per Day for their wages to be paid by said: Pro-
prietors according to their Interest in said Town.”

Also

“Voted, That if any of said Committee Should be Hindered from At-
tending Said Service that in that case those of Said Committee who Do
Attend Shall appoint and employ other persons to Serve in ys room of
Such as Shall be absent in Every thing but Signing the Survey.”

It was also

“ Voted, That Said proprietor shall Draw their Lots by number.”

“Voted, That Said Committee Shall make Such agreement with all Those
Persons who have Trespassed unto Lands in Said Town as they shall
think Best for the Interest of said proprietor in Generall, and hire &
pilot.”

“ Voted, That the Name of Said Town Shall be Canaan.”

“ Voted, That this meeting is adjourned to the Second Wednesday 7
April next at the New Dwelling house of Mr. Peter Hogobourn in said
Town atone of ye clock after Noon; and said proprietors to appear by
themselves or Agent to Draw their Lots and pay Said Committee for y*
Service aforesaid.

“Attest: Humpurey AveY, Proprietors’ Clerk.”

THE SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.

The settlement of the town commenced in June,
1788. Among the first settlers were Daniel and Isaac
Lawrence, John Franklin, and others.

The following names appear in Book I of the town
as grantees of lands: Daniel and Amos Andrus,
James Adams, Charles Burrall, Augustin Bryan,
James Beebe, Silas Belding, Samuel Bryan, Charles
Bulkley, Abigail Belding, John Brower, Elizabeth
Burrows, Timothy Brown, John Beebe, Jonathan

 

* Barber.
CANAAN.

265

 

Bates, Jacob Bunce, Nathaniel Butler, David Bick-
nell, Joseph Beckley, Joshua Belding, Caleb Case,
John Carrier, Benjamin, Samuel, Joseph, Daniel, and
Jsaac Cowles, Elijah Cleveland, John Coon, Josiah
Cleveland, John Camp, Simon Cook, Moses Copley,
Josiah Dean, Zachariah Dibble, Zebulon Deming,
Benjamin Douglass, Jonathan Dearcox, Asa Douglass,
Elizur Dickinson, H. Deming, Christopher Dutcher,
Joseph Eaton, James Egleston, William Edminster,
James Evens, Ephraim, William, and Thomas Fel-
lows, John Franklin, E. Freeman, John Forbes,
Jacob and Elijah Griswold, John Gillett, David
Holly, Abraham Holenbeck, Samuel Hall, John
Hart, Timothy Horsford, Abraham Harris, Gibson
Harris, Peter Hogeboon, Joseph Hinsdale, David
Horsford, Josiah Hurlburt, Nathaniel Howe, Ebe-
nezer Hanchet, Samuel Halloway, Isaac Hinsdale,
Charles Hewitt, Jonathan Hinsdale, Daniel Hancox,
David Holcomb, Joseph Holabut, John Horsford, C.
Hinman, B. Hogeboom, P. Holcomb, Gideon Hunn,
Samuel Jones, Isaac Johnson, Jacob Johnson (heirs),
Joseph, Bey, Martin, and Timothy Kellogg, Isaac,
Daniel, Jeremiah, and Daniel Lawrence, Jr., E. Mayo,
Anthony D. Mills, Jonas March, John Morton, Jacob,-
Asa, and Elisha Merrills, Jonathan and Samuel
North, Ebenezer Norton, James Nichols, Thomas
Orton, John, Abraham, and Isaac Peck, Joseph Prin-
dle, Thomas Pierce, Daniel Phelps, Amis Pierce, Jo-
seph Phelps, Daniel Porter, Joel Prindle, Samuel
Prindle, John Palmer, William Patison, Isaac and
James Pattison, I. Palmer, George Palmer, Thomas
Pattison, Benjamin Phelps, Edward Pattison, Samuel
Robbins, Lemuel, William, and Samuel Robbards, M.
Rood, Jonathan Russel, Z. Robbins, Samuel Robbins,
Josiah Stodder, Andrew, Uriah, Thomas, Samuel,
Simeon, Zebulon, Benjamin Stevens, Isaac Sheldon,
James Slauson, John Sutliff, James Stymson, Z. Scott,
Z. Seymour, P. Smith, Giles Slawter, Nathaniel
Spaulding, Elias Slanter, Benjamin Sedgwick, E.
Thomas, Samuel Priscott, Josiah and Eleazur Whit-
tlesey, Josiah Walker, Elisha Webster, Elizur Wright,
David Whitney, William Warner, William Whitney,
Aaron Webster, Joshua Whitney, Thomas Weeks,
David Waterbury, Joseph Wooster, Thomas Youngs.

EARLY BIRTHS AND MARRIAGES.

The following is a record of a number of the early
births and marriages :

“Noah Holcomb, son to David Holcomb and Sarah, his wife, was Born
Aug. ye 12,1750. And. Stevens, Register.”

“Sarah Holcomb, daughter to David Holcomb and Sarah, his wife,
was Born July ye 26,1747. Entered pr. And. Stevens, Register.”

“Ann Horsford, Daughter To Timothy Horsford and Naniey, his Wife,
Was Born June ye 25, a.p. 1747.”

“Saml. Hide, of Norwich, Married To Azubeh Lawrence, of Canaan,
Oct. the 25, 1750.”

“Ephraim Fellows, Jr., Married to Anne Palmer, of Sheffield, May ye
Il, 1749,”

“John Stevens, Son to Andy. Stevens and Esther, his wife, was Born
Wednesday, ye 19th of October, 1737.”

‘Gideon Lawrence, of Cauaan, murried to Jerusha Richards, of Nor-
follk, the 12th day of Oct., 1749.”

 

“Nehemiah Kellogg, son to Benjamin Kellogg and Elizabeth, his wife,
was born March 4, 1747.”

The first deed of lands in this town was made to
Daniel Lawrence, under date Jan. 4, 1737.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

In Canaan, as well as in nearly all other towns in
Connecticut, almost the first vote of the inhabitants
was in regard to church matters. In December, 1739,
“Josiah Walker, Benjamin Kellogg, and Daniel Law-
rence are chosen a committee to agree with John
Hart to fit his house convenient to meet in on the
Lord’s day.” Under date of April 29, 1740, it was
voted as follows:

“ Voted, That ye town will Build a meting Hows for ye worship of god.”

“ Voted, That ye said meting Hows shall be Built forty fots in Length
and thirty-five futs in width and twenty fots post.”

“ At y® same meting, voted, that s1 meting Howse shall Be Built at ye
East End of ye first ministry Lot by ye Sixth Rod High way that gose
throw y° town.”

“ Voted, At y° same meting, Sam! Prindel, Daniel Lavinia, and James
Beeby and P. Hogoboom, and Silas Belding are Chosen a Comity to Sea
that st Hows Be built and finished.”

In the following May a vote was passed to request
the General Assembly to send a committee to “stake
a place for a meeting-house for ye worship of God.”

Jan. 2, 1744, it was

“ Voted, That ye town will finish our Meeting-House So far as To Build
a Pulpit, to finish ye Body of Seats, leaving a space for Pews to be Built.”

The church was organized in March, 1741, with
Jacob Bacon and wife, and Isaac Lawrence and wife.

The proprietors of the town of Canaan made pro-
visions for preaching the gospel to the first settlers.
From that time down to 1818 ministers were sup-
ported by a tax levied on the town, as for other
purposes. Persons were allowed to pay such minis-
ters as they preferred. Rev. Elisha Webster was the
first minister settled in Canaan. He was settled Oct.
1, 1740, and dismissed Oct. 14, 1752.. It is stated that
Rey. Daniel Farrand was ordained two months prev-
ious to the dismission of Mr. Webster. Mr. Farrand
continued in the pastorate of the church till his death,
March 28, 1808, a period of more than fifty years.

The following is a list of the pastors from the or-
ganization of the church to the present time: Elisha
Webster, 1740-52; Daniel Farrand, 1752, died March,
1803; Charles Prentice, 1804, died May, 1838; Edward
B. Emerson, 1841-43; Harley Goodwin, 1845-54; Isaac
De Voe, 1855-56. Rev. Henry Snyder supplied from
May 1, 1858, to May 1, 1860; Rev. Mr. Dickerman
from May, 1860, to May, 1861; E. Froule Howe, sup-
ply from June 9, 1861, to Dec. 17, 1862, when he was
ordained and installed pastor, dismissed Nov. 12, 1865;
E. N. Andrews, supply, December, 1865, to Septem-
ber, 1867; W. H. Teel, from September, 1867, to
December, 1869; Rev. Joseph E. Swallow, from June
5, 1870, to April, 1873; Edwin Hall, Jr., from Aug. 3,
1873, to October, 1874; N. G. Bonney, from January,
1875, to June, 1876; Joseph A. Tomlinson, from July
1, 1876, to May 1, 1877; D. M. Moore, from May 12,
1878, to present time.
266

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

About the year 1769 the old house of worship was
moved nearly a mile from the old site. It was occu-
pied till 1804, when the present house was built, which
has been several times repaired.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FALLS VILLAGE.*

Thé Congregational Church at Falls Village was
organized Oct. 27, 1858, by the L. N. Consociation,
‘with the following members: Dr. Lemuel H. Aiken,
Deacon Charles Beebe, Mrs. Mary Ann Brewster, Mr.
Oramel King Brinton, Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, Mr.
Elisha Holabird Dean and Mrs. Cherry Ann Dean
(his wife), Mrs. Ann M. Miner, Mr. Uriel Holmes
Miner and Mrs. Caroline Eliza Miner (his wife), Mr.
Warren Walker and Mrs. Philena Walker (his wife).
The first named of these was received from the church
in Norfolk, the others from the church in South Ca-
naan.

The deacons of the church have been as follows:
Charles Beebe and Lemuel H. Aiken were chosen
Nov. 5, 1858 ; Willis Gibbs, in place of Lemuel Aiken
(resigned), Jan. 4, 1861; W. H. Dean and U. H.
Miner (resigned July 13th), Jan. 12,1873; O. K. Brin-
ton, Aug. 31, 1878; J. 8. Lane, Dec. 31, 1875 (re-
signed in 1880); J. D. Egleston, Jan. 6, 1881.

The list of pastors, acting pastors, or stated supplies
is as follows: Rey. Henry 8. Russel, stated supply
from Oct. 27, 1858, to Sept. 1, 1859; Rev. John Ed-
gar, stated supply from Nov. 1, 1859, to June 9, 1863
(was ordained as an evangelist by L. N. Consociation
Oct. 20, 1860, and installed pastor by the same con-
sociation June 9, 1863, and served till Oct. 31, 1865) ;
Rev, L. N. Woodruff, stated supply from November
1, 1865, to March, 1867. The church had no preaching
from March, 1867, to May 2, 1869. From May to Sep-
tember it was supplied by different ministers. Rev.
Henry B. Mead, stated supply from Sept. 1, 1869, to
May 1, 1870; Rev. Joseph E. Swallow, stated supply
from June 5, 1870, to April, 1873. From April to
July supplied by students from Yale Seminary. Rey.
N. G. Bonney began labors July 1, 1873; he was in-
stalled pastor Sept. 17, 1873, and served till May 1,
1876. Rev. Joseph A. Tomlinson, acting pastor from
July 1, 1876, to May 1, 1877; Rev. F. J. Grimes,
stated supply from May, 1877, to May 5, 1878; Rev.
D.M. Moore, stated supply from May 12, 1878, to
Jan. 6, 1880; he was ordained to the work of the
ministry January 6th; acting pastor from Jan. 6,
1880.

The church building was erected in 1859. The
present officers are: Acting Pastor, Rev. D. M. Moore;
Church Committee, U. H. Miner, O. K. Brinton, J.
D. Egleston; Deacons, O. K. Brinton, J. D. Egleston.

THE IRON BANK

was chartered in May, 1847. William H. Walton,
Esq., the first president, was chosen in 1847. His
successors have been Lee Canfield, in 1854; A. H.

 

* Contributed by Rev. D, M. Moore.

 

| Holley, in 1860; W. P. Burrall, in July, 1862; Leon-

ard Richardson, in January, 1863; Augustus Miles,
in July, 1863 ; Geo. W. Peet, in July, 1864. Mr. Ran-
dall, the present cashier, has held that office about
twenty-nine of the thirty-four years of the bank’s ex-
istence.

THE FALLS VILLAGE SAVINGS BANK

was chartered in May, 1854. The charter members
were John Adam, Geo. W. Peet, Wm. 8. Marsh, Dan-
iel Brewster, Uriel H. Miner, Jabez Brewster, David
M. Hunt, Horatio N. Wetherell, Chauncey S. Foster,
and Henry E, Wetherell. The following have been
the officers:

Presidents —John Adam, 1854-56; Wm. M. Bur-
rall, 1856-57; Daniel Brewster, 1857, present incum-
bent.

Secretaries.—Uriel H. Miner, 1854-76; O. M. Brin-
ton, 1876, present incumbent.

Treasurers.— R. M. 8. Pease, 1854-57; A. CO. Ran-
dall, 1857-70; Wm. H. Barnum, 1870-76; M. A.
Dean, 1876-78; U. H. Miner, 1878, present incum-
bent.

The first deposit was made by Samuel Adams, of
Cornwall, May 12, 1855, of fifty-five dollars. The
amount of deposits Oct. 1, 1880, was three hundred
and forty-three thousand dollars.

RELEASE FROM PARISH RATES.

In the early history of Connecticut the Congrega-
tional was the ‘State Church,”—that is, the church
and town were identical, and all the inhabitants gen-
erally were taxed to support the church, and could
only be released from said tax upon certifying their
attendance upon some other form of worship or at
another church. The following are specimens of the
certificates of inhabitants of this town:

“ Canaan, Dec. 4, 1787.
“To the Collector of ministers’ rate or Town treasurer, or whom it may
concern: this may certify that Joseph Kellogg is a professor of the Bap-,
tist Faith and order, and doth attend to worship God in that order, and
hath contributed for the support of the Gospel. This is, therefore, ac-
cording to law to clear him from paying taxes to support the Gospel in

any other order.
“Signed in behalf of the Church,

“ JepaTHAN Gray, Elder,

“ A true copy of the original certificate. a
“Test: ELizur Wnicnt, Society Olerk.

Dec. 8, 1788, Oliver, Benajah, Uriah, David, and
Isaac Dean certified that they also attended “ Baptist

: 2
HEEL: “ CANAAN, Jan. 9, 1790.

“This may certify that Jacob Brown, Jr., belongs to the Episcopal

ei “Tsaao Jounson, C. Clerk,

“ A true copy of the original received for record Jan. 9, 1790."

“This is to certify that William Trafford, of the State of Connecticut
and Town of Canaan, is a standing hearer of the ministers and preachers
of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contributes towards their oe
port agreeable to their order. Given from under my hand this 3d day 0!
February, 1790.

“FREEBORN GARRETTSON, presiding minister in said Church.
“Test: Euizur Ware, Society Clerk

”
“A true copy of the original received for record August 23, A.D. 1790
CANAAN.

267

 

“Canaan, July 22, 1793.
“This may certify whom it may concern, that I, Ruloff Dutcher, have
annexed myself to the Episcopal Society in Canaan, and consider myself

a member of the same.
“Rutorr DurcHer.”

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in about the year 1792
with the following members: Elisha Horton and
wife, Rufus Landon and wife, Aaron Mills and wife,
and Nathaniel Church.

The first church edifice was erected at Battle Hill
in 1798, and present edifice in 1854.

The present stewards are Edward Ward, P. C. Ste-
vens, P. M. Jaqua, O. M. Brinton, 8. Brigner, E. B.
Gillett, Chas. Preston, N. C. White, and J. B. Owen;
Trustees, P. C. Stevens, O. M. Brinton, P. M. Jaqua,
E. Ward, Lee French, E. W. Spurr, G. W. Hall, and
W. G. Kellogg.

The first pastor (1790) was Jno. Bloodgood. The
present pastor is J. Lee Gamble.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

CANAAN (Continued).

Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meetings—Bounty on Rattle-
snake Tuails—Religious Service—The Ringing of Swine—Pounds—
Church Service—Extracts from Town Records—Unwholesome Inhab-
itants—Fire-Locks—Grist-mill—New County—Petition for Bank—
Trouble with Proprietors—Inhabitants Admitted—Bounty on “Squir-
ralls,” ete.—List of Representatives from 1757 to 1881—Military Record.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

Tuts town was incorporated in 1739. The follow-
ing is a copy of a portion of the proceedings of a
town-meeting convened in the early part of Decem-
ber, 1789, which doubtless was the first meeting held
inthe town. The record begins by offering a reward
for rattlesnakes’ tails:

BOUNTY ON RATTLESNAKES’ TAILS.

“At the same meeting, for the In Coridgment of destroying of Ratel-
snakes, that If any person shall kill any Ratelsnake with in the Bounds
of the town of Canaan in the months of March, April, and May, and
bring their tails to ye Select men, shall have twelve pence per tail.
Voted,

“At the same meting David Whitney was Chosen town Clark.
Voted.”

RELIGIOUS SERVICE.

“At ye same meting Josiah Walker, B. Kellogg, and Daniel Law-
Tence are Chosen a Comity to a gree with John hart to fit his house
Convenient to met in on the Lord’s day. Voted.

“This meting is adjornd to the house of Mr. Christopher Ducher’s
dwelling-house on ye nineteenth day of this Instant Desembour, at
twelve of the Clock on siday. Voted.

“ Recorded by
“ BPHRON FELLOWS, town Clark.

“At a town meting Adjorned to ye Houss of Christifer Dutcher one

y°19 of this Instant Decembour, at twelve of ye Clok on s4 Day.”

THE RINGING OF SWINE.

“Voted, That all swine shall be well Ringed that goeth at Large on y*
Comons. Voted.”

POUNDS.

“At y® same meting voted, that their shall be two pounds Bult for y°
use of ye town, the one to be Bulded betwen the River south of holin-

 

bick’s and ye swamp, and the other to be by the Road that goeth a Crost
y® River one the North side, North of Isaac Larence’s, betwen y¢ River
and the road that goeth East by David Whitnoy’s, Voted.”

CHURCH SERVICE,

“At ye same meting voted, that for ye futer, till may Next, that ye
meting on y° Lord’s day shall be one day at y° hows of Isaac Lawrence's,
and the other day at ye hows of Abraham Holinbick’s or Jacob Bacon’s,
as the peopel shall agree with them.

“This meting Is disolved.
“ Recorded by

“EPHRON FELLOWS, town Clark.”

EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS.

The following interesting extracts are from the
town records:

UNWHOLESOME INHABITANTS.

“At ye same meting voted, that Josiah Walker shall request to ye gen-
eral asembly that they will take some spedy Care to prevent unholsom
In Habitence being sent Into ye town of Canaan as agents. Voted.”

FIRE-LOCKS.

“And that also ye Honorabel asembly would Consider our surcom-
stances, Being frontears, and grant to us a Considabel quantity of ye fire
Locks which are at New london, If it be your honers’ pleshur. Voted.

“ Recorded by
“Davip WHITNEY, town Clark.”

GRIST-MILL.

“Canaan, Desember 10, 1740, at a Town meating Lawfully held by ad-
iournment, & is now opened.

“ And it is now voated & agreed that Inasmuch as their is a Conueniant
place for a Grist mill at a place Called ye grate falls, yt ye Inhabitants of
Canaan Do Give & Grante unto Josiah Walker ye Liberty of building a
grist mill at said falls, & ye priuiledg of ye Stream, & ye priuiledg of yo 14
acres of Land adioyning theirto, all Excepting what ye owners of y° saw
mil hath nead of, s1 Walker haueing ye Commanding part of s4 Stream
in a Scarce time of water, prouided that s¢ Walker Shall Build a good
grist mill & Bolting mill at or before ye 10 day of October next Ensuing
ye date hearof, & keep s1 mils in good order, fit for grinding & Bolting.
These priviledges are granted to sd Walker so Long as he shall keep s¢
mills in good repare & wait on his Custimers to grind for them.

“ Allso then voated, that ye Select men, with Jeams Beele, shall be as
a Comity to take obligation of Josiah Walker to build a Grist mill with
a guffichent bonds man. ;

« Algo then voated, that Jeams Beele, & Augustian Bryan, & Silas Beld-
ing Shall be a Commity to alter ye Drift way to ye saw mill at ye Grate
Falls.”

NEW COUNTY.

“ Allso Then voated, that Capt. Dauid Whitney Shall be an agent to
Represent said Town of Canaan at the Generall assembly in may next En-
suing, to Request the Corte to Lay Sum penalty on the Nonrezident pro-
prietors of s¢ tound that may be Sum Benifit to those proprietors that Do
Rezide in Said Tound; and allso Request a New County.

“ Allso Then voated, that their Shall be a Toun Book Bought to Record

Deeds in s4 Toun.
“Entered by me,

“S1nas BELDING, Toun Clark.”

PETITION FOR BANK,

« At a Town Meeting in Canaan, held at ye house of Jonas Marshes, on
y° first Tusday of April, 1742, Being Lawfully Warned & Conveynd.

“Voted, That Capt. David Whitney Shall be Moderator for ye st?
Meeting.

“ Voted, That we will Joyn with the other New Towns in Petitioning
to ye Generall Assembly to Grant us Norfolk, & that they will grant usa
Bank of Money upon Loane.

“ Voted, That Capt. David Whitney Shall be agent in ye Town’s Behalfe
To act In ye affaire abovesd, To Confer with ye other Towns.or their
Agents, and Appear in y¢ Assembly as need may Require.

“Tntred by me,
“ Anpw, Stevens, Town Clark.”

TROUBLE WITH PROPRIETORS.

“Att a Town Meeting in Canaan, Leagally warn’d and Convein’d
April ye 11th, 1743,
268

“ Voted, That Mr Ephraim Fellows Shall Be Moderator for s1 Meeting.

“ Voted, That we will act in ye first Article or Clause in ye Warning
which is Conserning addressing ourselves To ye Generall assembly in
May next Ensuing, for Relief upon ye Difficulty we Labour under by
Reason that the Proprietors of this Town Do not Settle their Rights Ac-
cording to y° Generall Court’s Act in that Respect.

“ Voted, That we will Chuse an Agent To Appear in ye Generall Assem-
bly in May Next, To Address ourselves in ye Consern afores‘,

“ Voted, That Mt. James Bebee Shall be our Agent To Represent our
Difficulty aforesd To ye Generall assembly in May Next.

“ Voted, That we will act In Disposeing of our School Lands By Leas-
ing them out Nine hundrel & Ninety-Nine Years.

“Voted, That Capt. David Whitney, John Bebee, & Uriah Stevens Shall
Be a Committee To Dispose of s¢ School Lands in ye following order.

“ Voted, That Each Lot or Division that are allready Laid out Shall be
leased Single by themselves & y* Undivided Right by Whole Sale.

“ Voted, That ye Comtt that are Appointed To lease out our School
Lands, Capt. David Whitney, John Bebee, & Uriah Stevens, are hereby
Authorized To Lease out the afores? School Lands 999 years To ye Person
Persons that Shall Appear with Sufficiant Suerty or Suertys To ye Ac-
ceptance of the aforest Committee, And will Give ye Most for s¢ Lands,
which Shall be Disposed of by way of vandue, at ye Time and Place ye
afores4 Cominittee shall Appoint for ye Disposing of ye s¢ Lands, and ye
Person or Persons that Shall Bid of s? Lands Shall have ye Priviledge of
y° use of y® Principal Sum of Money he Shall Be Indebted To ye Town
for sd Lands from ye Day of ye Sale of st Lands Five years, Paying Yearly
Lawfull Intrest for ye Sum he owes to ye Town.

“ Voted, That this Meeting Be adjourned Till Monday ye 24 Day of May
next To the house of Ensign Dutchers, in Canaan, at four of ye Clock in

yo After Noon.
“Entred pt me,

“ ANDY, STEVENS, Town Clark,

“Ata Town Meeting Held by Adjournment May ye 24, at 4 of ye Clock
in the after Noon, the Meeting being opened According To 84 ajourn-
ment, Mr’, Fellows, Moder.

“ Voted, That this Meeting shall be adjourned To ye Barn of s? Ensign
Dutchers.

“Said. Meeting is opened at ye Place appointed by ye Moderator, Mr.
Fellows.

“ Voted, That we will Chuse a Committee To Draw up an Accoumpt, as
Near as they Can, of the Charges of ye Inhabitants of this Town have In
Clearing highways, Building Bridges, and all other Charges and Burdens
which we have Born. In Convening the Town, which Propriators which
have not Settled their Rights According to ye Court’s act have not Born
their Part of, whereby the Burden of It we have bin obliged to beare
throw their Neglect.

“ Voted, That M*. Samuel Prindle, Augustian Bryan, & Isaac Lawrence
Shall be a Committee To act in ye affair aboves(, & make their Return To
Mr. James Bebee, who is Appointed our agent to Appear In ye Assembly
in May Instant, To act in ye Town’s Behalfe in ye affair aboves4,

“This Meeting is Desolved.
“Entred pr me,

“Anpy, Srevens, Town Clark.”

INHABITANTS ADMITTED.

“ Voted, That Joseph Kellegg, Lemuel Robards, Zebulum Stevens, Wil-
liam Whitney, Jonathan North, Abraham Harris, William Warner, Josiah
Hurlbutt, Joshua Whitney, and Samuel Jones are admitted Inhabitants
in this Town, To voat and Act in Town Affairs.”

BOUNTY ON “SQUIRRALLS,” Ere.

“Voted, That Any Inhabitant of this Town Killing of Squirralls this
year, and Bringing in their heads To any of ye Select Men of this Town,
Shall have allowed them 4 Pence Per head from ye Town.

“ Voted, That any Inhabitant of this Town Killing and Bringing in
their heads by ye Last of may Next To Kither of yo Sellect Men of this
Town, of Black Birds, Jays, or Wood Peckers, Shall have 3 Pence Per
head allowed them from ye Town.”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1757 TO 1881.

1757.—Col. David Whitney, James Beebe.

1758.—Capt. John Beebe, Capt. Daniel Lawrence, Col. David Whitney.

1759.—Capt. Benjamin Cole, Andrew Stevens, Col. David Whitney, James
Beebe.

1760.—Col. David Whitney, Charles Burrill.

1761.—Andrew Stevens, Charles Burrill, Col. David Whitney.

1762-63.—Col. David Whitney, Charles Burrill.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT...

1764,—Capt. John Beebe, Benjamin Stevens, Col. David Whitney, Jameg
Beebe.

1765.—Benjamin Stevens, Timothy Hurlburt, James Bebee, Capt, Isaac
Lawrence.

1766.—Col. David Whitney, Charles Burrill, Samuel Forbes,

1767.—Benjamin Stevens, Timothy Hurlburt, Samuel Forbes,

1768.—Benjamin Stevens, Oliver Belding.

1769.—Capt. Charles Burrall, Elisha Baker, Capt. Samuel Forbes,

1770.—John Whitney, Capt. Tarball Whitney, Maj. Charles Burrall, Capt,
Samuel Forbes.

1771.—Maj. Charles Burrall, Elisha Baker, Capt. Samuel Forbes,

1772.—Maj. Charles Burrall, Elisha Baker, Capt. John Ensign.

1773.—Capt. John Ensign, Capt. Samuel Forbes, Maj. Charles Burrell,

1774.—Maj. Charles Burrell, Capt. Samuel Forbes, John Watson.

1775.—Asahel Beebe, Capt. Samuel Forbes.

1776.—Capt. John Ensign, Capt. John Watson, Asahel Bebee,

1777.—Timothy Hurlburt, Capt. John Watson, Capt. Samuel Forbes,
Asahel Bebee.

1778.—Timothy Hurlburt, Capt. John Watson, Capt. John Stevens, Col.
Charles Burrall.

1779.—Timothy Hurlburt, Capt. Samuel Forbes, Col. Charles Burrall,

1780.—Timothy Hurlburt, Thomas Fellowes, Jonas Lawrence, Nathan
Hale.

1781.—Capt. Samuel Forbes, Nathan Hale, Col. Charles Burrall, Timothy
Hurlburt.

1782.—Capt. John Watson, Timothy Hurlburt, Col. Charles Burrall,
Nathan Hale.

1783.—Capt. Thomas Hosmer, Capt. Samuel Forbes, Col. Charles Burrall,
Timothy Hurlburt.

1784.—Capt. Thomas Hosmer, Capt. Lemuel Kingsbury, Nathan Hale,

1785-86.—Timothy Hurlburt, Col. Charles Burrall, Nathan Hale.

1787.—Col. Charles Burrall, Nathan Hale.

1788.—Col. Charles Burrall, Nathan Hale, Samuel Forbes, Capt. Charles
Burrall, Jr.

1789.—Capt. Samuel Forbes, Capt. Charles Burrall, Jr., Nathan Hale,

1790.—Nathan Hale, Capt. Samuel Forbes, Charles Burrall.

1791.—Nathan Hale, John Adam, Samuel Forbes.

1792,—Charles Burrall, Nathaniel Stevens, Charles Burrall, Jr, John
Adam.

1793.—Charles Burrall, Jr., Nathaniel Stevens, John Watson, Nathan
Hale.

1794.—John Watson, Charles Burrall, Jr.

1795.—John Watson, Charles Burrall, Jr., John Adam, Jonathan Bur-
rall.

1796.—Nathaniel Stevens, Jonathan Burrall.

1797.—Nathaniel Stevens, Jonathan Burrall, Samuel Forbes, Nathan
Hale.

1798.—Samuel Forbes, Nathan Hale, Jonathan Burrall.

1799.—Nathaniel Stevens, Jonathan Burrall, Samuel Forbes, Elizur
Wright.

1800.—Samuel Forbes, Elizur Wright.

1801.—Samuel Forbes, Elizur Wright, John Hurlbut,

1802.—Samuel Forbes, Elizur Wright, John Elmore.

1803-4.—John Elmore, Jonathan Burrall.

1805.—John Elmore, Elizur Wright, John Adams, Russell Hunt.

1806.—John Adams, John Hurlbut, Seth Andruss, John Webb.

1807.—Azariah Smith, Mariner Rood, John Adam, John Webb.

1808.—John Adam, Azariah Smith, John Webb, Mariner Rood.

1809.—Amos Hunt, John Elmore, John Adam, John Webb.

1810,—John Holabird, Alban Rose, John Hurlbut.

1811.—Samuel Robbins, Calvin Pease, Azariah Smith.

1812.—John Holabird, Calvin Pease, John Elmore, Amos Hunt,

1813.—John Holabird, John Elmore.

1814,—Samuel Robbins, John Elmore.

1815.—Samuel Robbins, John Elmore, Alban Rose, Joshua Cornwall.

1816.—Samuel F. Adam, Joshua Cornwall, Samuel Beckley, Jr., Jobo

Holabird.

1817.—Jabez Brewster, Benajah Douglass, Seth Andrews, Joshua Corn-
wall.

1818.—Jabez Brewster, Nathaniel Stevens, Seth Andrews, Joshua Corn-
wall,

1819.—Samuel Robbins, Ovid Plumb.
1820,—James Fenn, Jabez Brewster.
1821-24.—Asa §, Brewster, Benajah Douglass.
1825,—Asa S. Brewster, Samuel F. Adam,
1826.—Asa S. Brewster, Nathaniel Stevens, Jr.
1827.—William M. Burrall, Samuel F. Adams.
      

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MINER

JOEL
CANAAN.

1828.—Reuben Hunt, Samuel F. Adams.
1829.—William M. Burrall, Nathaniel Stevens, Jr.
1830.—William M. Burrall, Benajah Douglass.
1831.—Eli Ensign, Marvin Tanner.
1832.—Henry Post, Marvin Tanner,
1833.—William M. Burrall, Nathaniel Stevens,
1834.—Leman Church, Henry Post.
1835.—William P. Burrall, Leman Church.
1836.—William P. Burrall, Nathaniel Stevens.
1837.—Chauncey Hosford, John Elmore, Jr.
1838.—Chauncey Hosford, Fitch Ferris.
1839.— William S. Marsh, Fitch Ferris.
1840—Miles Minor, Ruleff Dutcher.
1841—Sidney Ensign, George Hawes.
1842.Sanford P. Stevens, Jesse Dean.
1843.—John A. Gillette, John Watson.
1844.—Charles Lewis, Chauncey Reed, Jr.
1845.—Hiram Holcomb, John Watson.
1846.—Frederick Watson, William P. Burrall.
1847.—Frederick Watson, William S. Marsh.
1848.—Ithami H. Smith, Milo Holabird.
1849.—William Douglass, Milo Holabird.
1850.—William Douglass, George W. Peet.
1851.—Sidney Ensign, William Watson.
1852,—Ensign Church, William Watson.
1853.—Ensign Church, Daniel Brewster.
1854.—G. W. Peet, George Church.
1855.—Jesse F. Millspaugh, E. D, Lawrence.
1856.—Charles Kellogg, Kneeland J. Monson.
1857.—E. 8. Haskin, M. T. Granger.
1858.—William Douglass, George W. Peet.
1859.—Henry E. Wetherell.

1860.—Daniel Brewster.

1861.—Russell H. Wilcox.

1862.—G. W. Peet.

1863.—Hiram Holcomb.

1864,—Daniel Brewster.

1865.—George K. Peck.

1866.—Nelson M. Brown.

1867.—L. P. Dean.

1868.—S. Brigner.

1869.—Lorenzo H. Hakes.

1870.—Henry Sturges.

1871.—Lee P. Dean.

1872,—Robert Wilcox.

1873.—Daniel Brewster.

1874.—Henry Yule.

1875.—Myron M. Dean.

1876.—Jerry D. Clemons.

1877.—Cephas B. Cook.

1878.—Stephen Brigner.

1879.—Samuel W. Bradley.

1880.—Henry Brinton.

1831.—George V. Capron.

Falls Village is pleasantly located on the Housa-
tonic Railroad ; it contains two churches, two banks,
and numerous stores,

MILITARY RECORD.*

C.F. Ormsby, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 2, 1864,

Jos. Smith, lst Cav.; enl. Dec. 2, 1864.

John Miller, Ist Bat.; enl. Nov. 23; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 19, 1863;
disch. June 11, 1865.

B. Potter, 2d Bat.; enl. Dec. 15, 1863; disch. Aug. 9, 1865.

James Murphy, 5th Regt.; en]. March 6, 1864.

William D. Ellsworth, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; died June 10, 1862.

William H. Field, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 14, 1865.

C. B. Mattson, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22,1861; must. out July 14, 1865.

Jas, Richards, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; died March 15, 1862.

J. A. Belden, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch, Jan. 6, 1863.

George Howe, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. July 22, 1864.

Jobn Johnson, 6th Regt.; enl. March 4, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865.

 

* For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.
18

 

269

Joseph Perkins, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 30, 1864.

Charles Rosedale, 7th Regt.; disch. July 20, 1865.

E. J. Barker, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch, Sept. 12, 1864.

FT. J. Brintin, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; died Sept. 17, 1862.

Henry Brintin, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.

R. J. Hunter, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 17, 1864.

J. Doherty, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 30, 1864; disch. July 2, 1865,

P. Hamilton, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 29, 1864; disch. July 2, 1865.

S. Cogswell, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861; killed July 11, 1863.

George Ashmead, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861; must. out July 20, 1865.

George Davidson, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861.

S. Deane, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861; enl. United States army Nov. 14,
1862.

E. Nodine, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861; killed May 16, 1864.

M. RB. Victory, 7th Regt.; onl. Sept. 13, 1861; disch, Sept. 19, 1864.

Patrick Warner, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 2, 1863; disch. Dec, 12, 1865.

George A. Caul, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. July 26, 1862.

J. Keller, 9th Regt.; enl. Dec. 2, 1864; disch. Dec. 24, 1864.

George Taylor, 9th Regt.; enl. March 7, 1864.

R. Moran, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865,

Thomas Harvey, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 10, 1861.

BE. Matson, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

John Murray, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

O. Parmelee, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. March 21, 1866.

A. Scofield, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Nov. 26, 1862.

A. Todd, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 13, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

D. Wickwire, 11th Regt.: enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

L. Hart, 13th-Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died July 9, 1864.

A. G. Williams, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died Nov. 11, 1862.

Peter Billings, 13th Regt.

M. Dean, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. Aug. 5, 1862.

J.M. De Marshy, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. April 25, 1865.

S. W. Erwin, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

E. A. Fuller, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. April 25, 1865.

J. 8. Judd, 13th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 17, 1861; disch. Feb. 14, 1863,

Jos. Parks, 29th Regt.; enl. Aug. 18, 1864; died Nov. 6, 1864.

W. White, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1861; disch. Sept. 19, 1864.

J. McNerny, Sth Regt.; enl. March 8, 1864; disch. Oct. 9, 1865.

David Jones, 8th Regt: ; en). Aug. 12, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.

William Ellison, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 10, 1864.

Nelson ‘Hart, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.

A. Didier, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; killed May 16, 1864.

‘J. Ford, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Nov. 24, 1862.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

URIEL H. MINER.

Uriel H. Miner, youngest son of Joel Miner and
Anna Kellogg, of Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., was
born in the town of Canaan, Conn., Feb. 10, 1819.
His educational advantages were such as the common
schools of his native town afforded till he was four-
teen years of age. During the summer of 1834 and
1885 he taught in the family of Joseph Goddard, in
Goshen, Conn., and during the winters attended the
Askley Academy, at Canaan, Columbia Co., N. YY;
The winter following his seventeenth year he taught
the district school, adjoining the academy, at Canaan,
N.Y. In the spring of 1836 he went to Brookfield,
Trumbull Co., Ohio, and entered the employ of Miner
& Norton as clerk, remained that summer, taught
school at Andover, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, the follow-
ing winter, returned to the employ of Messrs. Miner
& Norton the following spring, and remained with
them till 1840, teaching school during the winters at
270

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Hartford, Trumbull Co., Ohio. At the age of twenty-
one, in the spring of 1840, he returned to his native
town and entered the employ of Charles Hunt, a
prominent merchant and iron manufacturer, who re-
sided at Huntsville, Canaan, Conn. Mr. Miner took
charge of Mr. Hunt’s interest in the firm of Belden &
Hunt, merchants at Huntsville at that time. He re-
mained there three years, till the firm of Belden &
Hunt was dissolved, when he formed a copartnership
with Edmund Belden, under the firm-name of Belden
& Miner, and began business at Falls Village, where
he continued to do business till the spring of 1853,
when they dissolved partnership. In 1845, Mr. Miner
became the agent for the Housatonic Railroad at this
place, and held that position until 1855. In thespring
of 1855 he formed a copartnership with Edwin W.
Spurr, of Falls Village, under the firm-name of Miner
& Spurr, and were engaged in general merchandise
and lumber business. At the end of three years they
dissolved partnership, and Mr. Miner continued in the
mercantile trade till the spring of 1880, when he sold
his interest to George W. Hall. In the spring of
1869 he was appointed administrator on the estate of
Charles Hunt (the man for whom he worked as clerk
many years before), and was thus engaged for nine
years.

The Falls Village Savings Bank was organized in
1854, and Mr. Miner was one of the charter members,
and has ever since been a trustee. He was secretary
of the same till he was chosen vice-president, which
position he continues to hold. In September, 1878,
he was elected treasurer, and holds that position now
(1881). In the spring of 1880 he retired from the mer-
cantile business. In the spring of 1871 he purchased the
farm formerly owned by Deacon Charles Beebe, and
has been engaged in raising some fine Jersey stock.
The northwest corner of his farm was laid out in
building lots, which now form a large part of Falls Vil-
lage, including the depot. In politics he has ever been
a staunch Republican, but not an office-seeker, pre-
ferring the quiet of home to any political honors. He
has been twice married, first to Caroline E., daugh-
ter of Lee Canfield, of Falls Village, Oct. 9, 1848. Of
their five children one only is living, Ellen C., wife of
Milo B. Richardson, of Lime Rock, Conn. She has
two living children, viz., Lucy and Milo. Mrs.
Miner died June 4, 1870, and Mr. Miner married his
second wife, Helen M. Nickerson, of Cornwall, Conn.,
May 24, 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Miner are members of
the Congregational Church at Falls Village, Conn.,
and he is one of its principal supporters. He was
one of the moving spirits in getting a new church
built at Falls Village about 1858, and a new society
was then formed.

His father, Joel Miner (2), was a son of Joel Miner,
who was born in Granby, Conn., and died in Hart-
land, Conn., May 11, 1805, aged fifty-five years. Joel
Miner (2) was born in Hartland, Hartford Co., Conn. ;
resided there till 1814, when he came to Canaan,

 

Conn., and purchased a farm two miles north of
Falls Village, where he continued to reside till his
death, Jan. 10, 1869, aged ninety years. During a
long and temperate Christian life he endeared him-
self to a large circle of friends, and in the full ma-
turity of a life well ripened the Master has gathered
him from earth to His home in heaven.

His children are Nancy K. (deceased), Joel, Whit-
ing G., and Uriel H.

ALMON C. RANDALL.

Almon OC. Randall, son of John Randall and Laura
Beach, was born in Bridgewater, Litchfield Co., Conn.,
Sept. 21,1817. His grandfather, Timothy Randall,
was a native of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., and
settled in Bridgewater at an early day, where he fol-
lowed the occupation of a farmer. He was a soldier
in the Revolutionary war. He lived to the ripe old
age of about eighty-seven years, leaving a family of
nine children, viz., Polly, John, Sally, Samuel,
Smith, Ezra, Allen, Epinetus, and Betsy, all mar-
ried and had children except Epinetus, who never
married.

John Randall, eldest son of Timothy, was born in
Greenwich, Conn., and settled in Bridgewater with
his parents. He was a farmer and brick-maker. He
lived an honest, industrious, unassuming life in
Bridgewater. In politics he was a Democrat. He
married Laura, daughter of Caleb Beach, of Bridge-
water, Conn., and had five children, viz., Caroline
(Mrs. Daniel Bradshaw), of Brookfield, Conn. ; Almira
(Mrs. Oliver W. Phippenny), of Bridgewater, Conn. ;
Almon C., the immediate subject of this sketch ; Flora
(Mrs. Alonzo Barnum), of Bridgewater, Conn. ; Ame-
lia E. (Mrs. Walter B. Peck), of Bridgewater, Conn.
John Randall died at the age of seventy-five years, ,
and his wife survived him till August, 1878, aged
eighty-six years.

Almon ©. Randall received a common-school edu-
cation. He worked on a farm summers and attended
the district school winters till he was fifteen, and
during the two following summers worked out by the
month on a farm, receiving six dollars a month the
first summer and seven dollars a month the second
summer. In the spring of 1885 he entered the em-
ploy, as clerk, of Lyman Smith, a prominent mer-
chant at Bridgewater, Conn., receiving thirty, forty,
and fifty dollars a year respectively. He remained
with Mr. Smith till the spring of 1838, when he be~
came a clerk for William B. Glover, of Newtown,
Conn., and remained a year, when he became a part
ner, receiving a certain per cent. of the profits for his
services. After a few months they took in Charles A.
Peck as partner, under the firm-name of William B.
Glover & Co. Here Mr. Randall remained but a short
time, and after a few weeks entered the employ of
Dunning Babbitt, of Bridgewater, and remained there
as clerk some two or three years, or until his failing
 

tec 0207 VIG LG
 

 

a4
 
CANAAN.

t

health compelled him to resign. During the follow-
ing year he was out of business, on account of his
health.

In February, 1845, he entered the Bridgeport Bank,
at Bridgeport, Conn., as book-keeper and teller. Syl-
yanus Sterling was president, and George Burroughs
was cashier. Here Mr. Randall remained till August,
1849, when he came to Falls Village, Conn., and be-
came the cashier of the Iron Bank. William H.
Walton was president.

Mr. Randall remained till 1853, when he went to
Meriden, Conn., and was there employed as cashier
in the Meriden Bank till the fall of 1856, when he
again engaged in the mercantile business at Meriden,
having Harrison Curtis as partner, under the firm-
name of Curtis & Randall. In February, 1857, he
returned to Falls Village, and became cashier of the
Tron Bank (now known as the National Iron Bank),
and continued as such till Oct. 2, 1880, when he was
elected its president. In politics he is a Republican.

He married Minerva C., daughter of Wait S.
Northrop, of Brookfield, Conn., Jan. 26,1845. Of this
union three children have been born, viz., Carrie M.,
wife of George W. Hall, an enterprising merchant in
Falls Village, Lucy C., and George A. Mrs. Randall
was a lady much beloved by all, of remarkable mem-
ory, and esteemed for her many excellent virtues.
She died Oct. 17, 1878.

Mr. Randall is a member of the Episcopal Church
at Brookfield, Conn., but an attendant at Lime Rock,
Conn.

WHITING G. KELLOGG,

Whiting G. Kellogg, son of Whiting G. and Fanny
(Dean) Kellogg, was born in Canaan, Conn., Aug. 31,
1824. His father was ason of Asahel Kellogg, and
was born in Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y., and at
twelve years of age settled in Canaan, Conn., with his
parents, where some of the descendants of the family
continue to reside.

Whiting G. Kellogg, Sr., was a farmer by occupa-
tion, a man of no small means for one of his day,
beloved and respected by all. He was twice married,
first to Clarissa Belden, and had two children, Asa-
hel and Betsy Ann. His second wife was Fanny,
daughter of Roswell Dean, and to them were born
two children, Emeline and WhitingG. Mr. Kellogg
was a Whig and Republican in politics. He and his
wife were members of the Congregational Church at
South Canaan,Conn. He died Oct. 10, 1865, and Mrs.
Kellogg died Dec. 20, 1875, aged eighty-six years.

The immediate subject of our sketch received a
common-school education. He was a successful far-
mer till 1876, when he settled at Falls Village, where
he has ever since resided.

On the 19th of August, 1850, he married Laura,
daughter of Samuel Beckley, of North Canaan, Conn.
In 1856 he purchased some land near South Canaan

 

271

church, and soon afterwards his father bought a farm
adjoining, and to-day Mr. Kellogg owns an interest in
both farms. In 1880, Mr. Kellogg was made agent
for Hon. Walter A. Wood’s Mowing and Reaping
Machine Company, of Hoosic Falls, N. Y.

In politics he is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Kel-
logg are members of the Congregational Church at
Falls Village. He takes a deep interest in the tem-
perance movement, and in all matters pertaining to
the moral interest of his town. He has one daughter,
Abbie T., born June 1, 1856, adopted into the Kel-
logg family, April 5, 1869.

CHARLES HUNT.

Among the prominent men of Litchfield Co., Conn.,
none are more justly entitled to a place on the pages
of our history than he of whom we write. He wasa
son of Amos and Mary (Lowrey) Hunt, and was born
at Huntsville, Litchfield Co., Conn., Aug. 19, 1803.
He received a common-school and academic educa-
tion. His father was an iron manufacturer at Hunts-
ville, and young Charles was trained in all the details
of the business. Early in life he began business for him-
self, and by his strict attention to the same became
one of the most successful business men in Canaan.
He was in mercantile trade in Huntsville for many
years, besides, he had extensive interests in various
iron companies, among others that of Hunt’s Ly-
man Iron Co., at Huntsville, Conn. ; also an interest
in Washburn & Hunt’s Iron Co., at Jersey City.
He took a deep interest in the Housatonic Railroad,
and had considerable stock in it. He was president
of the same for nearly fifteen years, and resigned
some two years before his death. In politics he was
an uncompromising Republican, but never was an
aspirant for political honors.

He was three times married, first to Lucy Beebe, and
had two children, viz., George B. and Lucy C. His
second wife was Pamela Sedgwick Bates, by whom
he had one son, Charles Sedgwick. His third wife
was Charlotte Russell, daughter of Ely Russell, of
Canaan, Conn.; married Oct. 4, 1849, and to them
was born one daughter, Mary.

Mr. Hunt died Jan. 15, 1869. A friend speaks of
him thus:

“Generosity was a marked trait in his character.
To this all his intimate personal friends bear testi-
mony, and many of his relatives and friends have
had abundant occasions to test it, and none ever
found it to fail, and what he did was done cheer-
fully, and without the least ostentation. He was a
man of almost womanly tenderness of heart, of a
generosity which cheerfully met the claims of all
persons and causes which won his confidence, and
often led him to do more than was consistent with his
own proper interest, and, joined in singular contrast
with this, a carefulness in the management of public
272

trust such as few public men exercise in these days,
and, above all else, of an humble, devout, and earnest
consecration to the service of his Master.”

NATHAN MILLARD.

Ensign Nathan Millard, father of Joel Millard, set-
tled on Cream Hill, in Cornwall, Conn. Joel married
Azubah Sherwood, and had the following children,
viz., Ebenezer Sherwood; Submit, married Henry
Baldwin, and lived in Cornwall; Electa, married
Ithamar Baldwin, and resided in Cornwall; Amanda,
married Kilbourn, or Kilborn, a hatter, and
lived in Litchfield; Melissa; John Walker, went to
New Marlboro’, Mass., and thence to Illinois; Azubah,
married Rood, of Sheffield. Mr. Millard’s second
wife was Mrs. Theodore Norton, and had two chil-
dren, viz., Clarissa and Franklin.

He removed with his son, John Walker, to New
Marlboro’ about 1835, having sold his farm to E. D.
Pratt.

Ebenezer Millard was born in Cornwall, Conn.,
on what is known as Cream Hill, June 6, 1791. His
life was spent on the farm. He married Mary Brad-
ford, daughter of James Bradford, of Cornwall, Oct.
14, 1813. Of this union ten children were born, viz.,
Mary Ann (deceased), Mary Azubah (deceased), Joel
(deceased), William W., the subject of this sketch,
Walker §., James F., Sarah M., Nathan W. (de-
ceased), Emeline, and John B. (deceased), all born in
the town of Canaan, Conn., except the first.

Ebenezer Millard settled in Canaan, on the under
mountain road, southeast of Huntsville, soon after his
marriage, and here he continued to reside till his
death, April 22, 1873. He was considered one of the
best farmers of his day, as hisson, William Wallace, is
now justly so considered. In politics he was a Whig.
Mr. and Mrs. Millard were members of the Congre-
gational Church of South Canaan, Conn. He was
a man esteemed by all, and when he passed away
Canaan lost one of her best citizens. Mrs. Millard
is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-seven years,
and retains her faculties remarkably well for one so old.

William Wallace was born in Canaan, Conn., Sept.
23,1819. He had such advantages for an education
as the common schools of his day afforded. He
taught school several times, commencing when he
was seventeen years of age.

He was reared on the farm, which business he has
continued to follow successfully till the present time.
He owns the old Millard homestead, in Canaan,
where his father first settled, and another good farm
besides. Oct. 18, 1846, he married Olive J., daughter
of Lyman Howe, of Goshen, Conn., and to them haye
been born three children,—viz., Sherwood F., a resi-
dent of Nichols, Iowa; Mary J., wife of William E.
Marsh, and resides at Cleveland, Ohio; William Dis
married, and resides on the old homestead in Canaan.

 

 

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

In politics Mr. Millard is a staunch Republican, and
as such has held the office of selectman. Mr. and
Mrs. Millard are members of the Congregational
Church of South Canaan, Conn., and he is one of its
liberal supporters.

 

MILO HOLABIRD.

Milo Holabird was born, April 9, 1810, on the place
where he now resides, in Canaan, Conn. His grand-
father, Timothy Holabird, born in 1716, a native of
Brimfield, Mass., married Abigail Charles. They
had six children. At an early day he moved to
Canaan with his family, and settled near the present
site of Falls Village. He was a large man, of great
physical strength, and had much influence in the
community. He was a tanner as well as farmer, and
a Federalist in politics. He died in 1810, aged
ninety-four years.

William Holabird was the sixth child of Timothy
and Abigail Holabird, and was born Feb. 9, 1764, in
Canaan. He remained with his father until he be-
came of age, became a farmer, and married, at the age
of twenty-five, Dorcas, daughter of Amos and Han-
nah (Swift) Bird, of Salisbury. Their children were
Amos B., William S., Julia M. (she married Chester
Monson, and had three children), Harlow C., Horatio
N., Harriet E. (she married Garrett Kellogg, of Corn-
wall, and had two children), Milo, Sophia A., and
Lucius H., who died in infancy. Milo and Sophia
are the only ones now living. William Holabird
was selectman, justice of the peace, assessor, and held
other minor offices. He was a Democrat in politics,
and was a staunch supporter of those principles.
Soon after his marriage he moved to the farm where
he made his home for life, and where he died, Dec.
14, 1850. His wife, born Nov. 10, 1771, died May 30,
1849,

Milo was reared on the farm; had such advantages
for education as were given by the common schools
of his youth, supplemented by two terms of academic
instruction, at one of which he studied surveying. As
he was the youngest son, he stayed with his father,
and after his death purchased the interests of all the
other heirs but his sister Sophia, who resides with
him.

Mr. Holabird has always been a Democrat, and had
much influence in Canaan before the division of the
town, and was very prominent in local politics. He
was selectman for seven years, member of the State
Legislature for 1848-49, justice of the peace for several
years, and assessor two years. He strongly opposed
the division of the town, and since that was done has
not taken so active a part in town matters. He is
now hale and hearty, at the age of seventy-two years,
enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, and enjoys the
confidence and high esteem of numerous friends.
 
 

 
 

JONATHAN BATES.
 
CANAAN.

273

 

JONATHAN BATES.

Jonathan Bates, son of Jonathan Bates, was born
in New Haven, Conn., Feb. 17, 1794. His father was
a very successful Baptist minister, and was born in
East Haddam, Conn.; married Mary Morse, and had
‘eight children, of whom Jonathan, the subject of this
sketch, was the second son. His father lived to be
eighty-two years of age, and his mother was about
ninety-three years of age.

Mr. Bates had very limited advantages for an edu-
cation, but by close application to good books, papers,
magazines, etc., has become one of the best-informed
men in Canaan, Conn. Very early in life he was
compelled to work out to aid in maintaining the
family. At eighteen years of age he left home to
seek his own fortune.
the farm, by the day, by the job laying stone wall,—
any way, every way to earn an honest penny. May 9,
1821, he settled in Canaan, Conn., on the farm where
he now (April, 1881) resides. When he settled in
Canaan he kept public-house for some seventeen
years, in connection with farming, since which time
he has been a farmer. He has been a very large and
successful farmer, and to-day, although so very old in
years, sees to his own business. He has cared for
more than six head of cattle himself the past winter,
besides attending to many other farm duties.

In politics he was a Democrat, but of late years has
been a Republican. He has held various offices of
his town. He is very methodical in whatever he does,
and has kept a diary since 1888. His memory is remark-
able for one so old, and-it is a pleasure to talk with
one so well informed. Besides being well posted on

various subjects, he has taken a deep interest in the
study of astronomy, and is considered quite well in-
formed on that subject. He has been three times
married, first:to. Pamela Sedgwick, by whom he had
one daughter, Pamela, who married Charles Hunt,
of Huntsville; they had one son, Charles 8., who was
educated by Mr. Bates, and who became a prominent
literary gentleman, residing in New York City, and
died there in early manhood. Mr. Bates’ second wife
was Eunice Dean, and his present wife is Maria,
widow of William Pendleton, and daughter of Luther
Emmons, of Cornwall, Conn. They were married
March 8, 1869. While he is not a member of any
church, he has ever been very liberal towards all char-
itable institutions, and the poor have in him a good
friend.

REV. PITKIN COWLES.

Pitkin Cowles was born at Farmington (now South-
ington), Conn.,on April 7,1777. He was a direct
descendant, in the seventh generation, of John Cowles,
at one time a member of the General Court of Con-
necticut, who came to Hartford from England in
1640. He was a man of much influence, and one of
the largest land-holders of the colony. Pitkin Cowles |

He worked by the month on |

 

was graduated at Yale College in the class of 1800.
He had astrong bent towards the legal profession, but
before taking any steps in that direction it was the
earnest wish of his father that he should pursue a
course of reading for one year, under the supervision
of the noted Rev. Dr. Smalley. To this he deferenti-
ally assented, and at the end of that period, after due
consideration, decided to commence the study of
theology, under the same reverend preceptor, as also
partly under the Rev. Dr. Charles Backus.

Having accomplished the requisitions to that end,
he was ordained pastor over the Second Congrega-
tional Church of Canaan, Litchfield Co., in August,
1805, an office to which he devoted himself with all
the ardor of his strong, devout, and reverent nature.
To the end of his life no interruption occurred in his
calling, with the exception of a short period during
the war of 1812, when he became chaplain of a bri-
gade under Gen. Elisha Sterling, then stationed at
New London.

While in New Haven, on a visit to his eldest son,
then a student at Yale College, he was seized with
alarming symptoms of illness, and, wending his weary
way to his old home at Southington, surrounded bv
several members of his family, who had been hur-
riedly summoned to his bedside, he soon breathed his
last in the room where he drew his first breath. His
death took place on Sunday morning, at sunrise, on
Feb. 8, 1838, in the fifty-sixth year of his age. His
remains repose in a secluded nook at the “Grove,”
the home to which he brought his bride in the month
of May, 1808. It is not difficult to delineate his
character: frank, open, crystal waters were not purer.
His mind was vigorous and comprehensive. He pos-
sessed remarkable personal and moral courage. His
sympathies were very tender, with a lofty sense of
honor, true and faithful in his friendships, not seldom
practically shown, and his hospitalities unbounded.
His favorite studies were the classics, natural sciences,
and history, in which last, few of his day were so
thoroughly read. In person he was about six feet in
height, of fine physique,—a noble presence; in con-
versation graceful, and, inclined to discussion, a strong
debater in council. In manner he was dignified, and
to all he was courteous. Perhaps no truer example
of ‘the representative New England pastor of the
period could be named. The father of his people,
the shepherd of his flock, under his spiritual guid:
ance rich and poor, young and old took upon them
the impress of his instruction, and the spirit of his
unpretentious piety.
274

CHAPTER XXIX*
COLEBROOKE.

Geographical—Topographical—Towns Patented to Hartford and Wind-
sor—The Controversy—Survey of the Town—Ministerial and School
Lots—Initial Events—Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meet-
ing—Highways—Early Settlers and their Locations—Tho First Death
—The First Birth—The Church Controversy—Ecclesiastical History—
Congregational Church—Representatives from 1796 to 1882—Military
Record.

CoLEBROOK is located in the northeastern part of
the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by Massachusetts, on the east by Hartford County,
on the south by Winchester, and on the west by Nor-
folk. The surface of the town is hilly. The soil is
generally fertile and well adapted to agriculture.

HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE TOWN OF COLE-

BROOK.

The town of Colebrook is one of the seven towns
patented to the towns of Hartford and Windsor by
the colony of Connecticut in A.D. 1729. The means
by which these seven townships came into the hands
of the two towns of Hartford and Windsor may be
known by examining Trumbull’s “History of Con-
necticut,” vol. ii. p. 95. By this it appears that when,
in the reign of James II., Sir Edmund Andruss was
sent over by that tyrant to demand the charter of the
several New England colonies, and Connecticut ex-
pected to lose their charter, the General Assembly
made a grant to the towns of Hartford and Windsor,
in the words following:

“This Court Grant to the Plantations of Hartford and Windsor those
Lands on the north of Woodbury and Mattatuck, and on the west of
Farmington and Simsbury to the Massachusetts line north, to run west
to Husatonic or Stratford River. Provided it be not a part of it formerly
granted tu any particular persun to make a Plantation or village on.”

This grant was made Jan. 26,1686. Hartford and
Windsor subsequently claimed that this grant was
good and valid, while the colony on their part re-
garded the grant as nothing but a plan devised and
adopted at the time to save the lands of the colony
from the grasp of Sir Edmund Andruss, and prevent
his enriching himself and his followers by the sale of
them; that the grant was made in a hasty and incon-
siderate manner, and at a time when the colony was
threatened with the loss of its most valuable rights
and privileges, and paid no regard to the claims of the
towns of Hartford and Windsor. The controversy
respecting these lands between the contending claim-
ants was long and violent, continuing until 1729. In
1724, Governor Talcott, Matthew Allen, and Roger
Wolcott prepared a petition to the Assembly pray-
ing that the controversy might be amicably settled,
and that a committee might be appointed by the As-
sembly for that object. Upon this application, James
Wadsworth, John Brainard, and Hezekiah Brainard
were appointed a committee to examine the claims of

 

* This chapter embraces the unpublished manuscript of the late Reu-
ben Rockwell, contributed by his son, Reuben Rockwell, Esq.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Hartford and Windsor, to receive such propositions ag
should be made to them, and report to the Assembly,
that the difficulties might be settled. The committee,
after laboring on the business for nearly two years,
made their report, upon which the Assembly resolved
that the lands in controversy should be divided be-
tween the colony and the two towns, the colony to
retain the western and the two towns the eastern
division. In pursuance of this resolve the Governor
and company, on the 22d of May, 1729, gave a patent
to the towns of Hartford and Windsor of one-half of
said lands, and about three years after, in May, 1782,
an act was passed empowering Matthew Allen, Roger
Wolcott, Samuel Mather, and other inhabitants of
Windsor to make a partition of the moiety of lands
then patented to the said towns, bounded north on
the line of Massachusetts, west partly on lands be-
longing to the Governor and company and partly on
the town of Litchfield, south partly on the town of
Waterbury and partly on the town of Farmington,
east partly on Farmington and partly on Simsbury
and partly on lands belonging to the Governor and
company. One-half of this tract was granted to Hart-
ford. The proprietors of the towns of Hartford and
Windsor made a partition by a deed executed Feb,
11, 1732, the townships granted to Hartford in the
division being New Hartford, Hartland, Winchester,
and the eastern half of Harwinton; to Windsor,
Torrington, Barkhamsted, Colebrook, and,the western
half of Harwinton. On the 7th of April, 1732, the
inhabitants of Windsor made a division of the three.
and a half towns among themselves to a certain num-
ber of patentees or proprietors, to have and to hold the
same in severalty to them and their heirs forever.
These preparatory measures having been adopted by
the proprietors, the General Assembly passed an act
of incorporation vesting them with all powers neces-
sary for the disposing of said lands and securing them
forever to those who should purchase. The first tract
of land mentioned in the patent is Torrington, said to
contain twenty thousand nine hundred and twenty-
four acres, granted to Matthew Allen, Roger Wol-
cott, Esqs., and to the rest of the proprietors of said
Torrington. The second parcel of land is Barkham-
sted, containing twenty thousand five hundred and
thirty-one acres, to Capt. Thomas Moor, Lieut. Jona-
than Elsworth, and the rest of the proprietors of
Barkhamsted. Colebrook was granted to Capt. Samuel
Wheeler, Mr. Henry Wolcott, and the rest of the
proprietors of Colebrook, said to contain eighteen
thousand one hundred and ninety-nine acres. The
fourth parcel is the western half of Harwinton, con-
taining nine thousand five hundred and sixty acres,
granted to Samuel Allen, Daniel Berrill, and the rest
of the proprietors of Harwinton. It is probable,
though it does not appear on the proprietors’ records,
that the whole of the three and a half towns were
divided to the inhabitants of Windsor on the same
list, as the names of the original proprietors of the
COLEBROOK.

different townships are not the same. The amount of
the list on which the township was divided was £3987
4s, 8d., the quantity of land divided eighteen thou-
sand one hundred and ninety-nine acres, being about
four and three-fourths acres on one pound, or twenty
shillings on the list. The first meeting of the pro-
prietors was held at the meeting-house in the first
society in Windsor, Jan. 30,1732. At this meeting
Capt. Joseph Phelps, Roger Newberry, and Thomas
Allen were appointed a committee to preambulate
with the neighboring towns the town line of Cole-
brook, to view and see the land lying in said Cole-
brook and the form thereof; and it does not appear
that another meeting of the proprietors was held until
May 22,1756, a period of twenty-four years. There
was a meeting Feb. 22, 1748.

The township was surveyed and laid out in 1760
into twenty-nine rights, that being the number of the
original proprietors. Sixty acres was laid out as a
ministerial lot, to be the property of the first orthodox
minister who should be settled or ordained in the
town; one hundred acres as a parsonage for the use
of the ministry ; one hundred acres as a school-lot for
the benefit of common schools, and ten acres as a par-
cel to build a meeting-house on.

The township was laid out in three divisions and
eight tiers. Each proprietor’s number was drawn by
lot, No. 1 beginning at the southwest corner of the
town, then running northward on the first or west
tier to the Massachusetts line,—No. 52 being the north
lot on the first tier—_then turning eastward and begin-
ning the next number at the north end of the second
tier, and running down on said second tier, and pur-
suing that course through the town, the tiers being
two hundred and forty rods in width, except the east
tier, which does not hold that width, especially at the
south end. Ten-rod highways were laid between each
tier, and a number of four-rod highways across the
several tiers. The committee who laid out the town
were Pelatiah Mills, Josiah Phelps (2d), James Rock-
well, Ephraim Wolcott, and Nathaniel Tilley. The
meeting at which this survey was accepted was held
July 16, 1760.

The first settler in the town was Benjamin Horton,
in December, 1765; Joseph Rockwell, from East
Windsor, who arrived with his family Jan. 16, 1766;
Joseph Simons, in February or March following;
Nathan Bass, in April or May of the same year; and
Samuel Rockwell, in February, 1767, the two latter
also from East Windsor. After these, among the
early settlers, were Gideon Horton, Francis and Aaron
Griswold, David Viets, Samuel Mills, Joseph and
Eleazar Bidwell, Hezekiah and William Simons, John
Porter, and David Pinney.

As the inhabitants were not experienced in the
most approved mode of clearing lands and bringing
them into cultivation, and generally poor, and the
whole town one entire forest covered with heavy tim-
ber, its transformation into fruitful fields and well-

 

275

cultivated farms was slow and protracted, though a few
individuals who had property at command advanced
the clearing and improvement of their lands with
considerable activity. The usual mode of clearing
land was to girdle the timber, and on the third year
after girdling to clear off the fallen timber, sow it to
rye, seed it with herd-grass and white clover. The
average crop when well burned over was twenty or
twenty-five bushels per acre. The land when thus
partially cleared produced good pasturage, and, when
moist, good crops of grass for mowing for seven or
eight years, when, the remaining timber being princi-
pally fallen and briers, and other bushes beginning to
overspread the lands, it became necessary to clear and
fallow it, which, when well performed, produced good
crops of wheat and rye. New lands also produced
good oats, potatoes, and turnips, but Indian corn ‘did
not usually succeed and was not a profitable crop.
Though peach-trees flourished, and in favorable situa-
tions soon came to maturity, apple- and other fruit-
trees did not succeed, but generally appeared stinted
and slow in their growth.

Various causes conspired to retard the advancement
of the population of the town; among these were the
high price of land compared with its real value, and
the general inclination of the proprietors to keep
their lands until the prices were advanced, and the
heavy expense of clearing and improving land covered
with timber. It appears by an enumeration or cen-
sus taken Sept. 1, 1776, about ten years from the com-
mencement of the settlement of the town, that the
number of its inhabitants amounted to two hundred
and seven; another census was made in 1782, when
the number was two hundred and seventy-two, and
forty-eight families. The period between these two
enumerations being that of the Revolutionary war
accounts for the slow advance of population in that
period.

The town was incorporated and invested with town
privileges at the October session of the General As-
sembly, 1779. The first town-meeting was held on
the 13th of December of the same year. Though the
town had not arrived to that stage of wealth and
population which had generally been considered
requisite to entitle new towns to a representation in
the General Assembly, and to subject them to the
payment of State taxes, yet the evils and calamities
of the war of the Revolution fell on them, in common

' with their fellow-citizens through the country gen-

erally.

Portions of their militia were frequently called into
the field. Several of their young men served in the
Continental army, and some of their valuable citizens
lost their lives in the war. Those who were opposed
to the Revolution in those times were called Tories;
not a single individual in the town was of that charac-
ter. The civil and prudential concerns of the town
were generally managed with discretion and economy.

The original ten-rod and four-rod highways, where
276

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

not wanted for travel, were exchanged for necessary
roads. The expense for paupers was trifling, so that
the principal town expenses for a number of years
were for building and supporting bridges.

The early settlers deserve much commendation for
their exertions to establish and support schools.
Neighborhood schools were kept up at an early period,
and in 1781 the town was organized into two school
districts. All the inhabitants within two miles of the
south line of the town (except Mr. John Porter, who
was connected with a district in Norfolk) were to con-
stitute the south district, the remainder the north
district, and for several years ten pounds per year were
paid out of the town treasury to each of these dis-
tricts for the support of schools. As the population
of the town increased other districts were formed, and
at the organization of school societies in this State, in
1796, the society was divided into six districts, of the
following names, viz., North, South, Southwest,
Beach Hill, River, and Forge. Three additional dis-
tricts have since been formed, viz., Centre, West, and
North districts. The lot of one hundred acres situ-
ated on the Farmington River, laid out by the pro-
prietors as a school-lot, was sold or leased in 1795, the
interest of which is annually applied for the support
of schools.

When the township was laid out, in 1760, the pro-
prietors’ committee, not knowing exactly where the
colony line ran, made a line which was called the
northern line of the town, to which they laid the lots,
About the year 1795 some of the ancient monuments
made by the committee who ran the line between
Massachusetts and Connecticut in 1717 were dis-
covered, the line from one monument to another
against the town of Colebrook was run, and it was
found that between the northern lots in each tier and
the State line there was unlocated land. Though it
had not been previously known exactly where the
State line ran, yet it was known from the first settle-
ment of the town that there was unlocated land on
the north side of the town, which was called undivided
land. The proprietors, before the town was settled,
granted to Erastus Wolcott, Esq., the undivided land
on the eighth tier, estimated at sixty acres, for build-
ing the first saw-mill in the town, that in the first
and second tiers was also granted to him for some
other consideration. At a proprietors’ meeting held
at Colebrook in 1795, it was voted that the undivided
lands at the north end of the town be ceded over to
the town, be sold, and the principal kept forever en-
tire, and the interest annually arising applied for the
support of common schools in the town. The sum
total of the principal for which these lands sold, to-
gether with the school-lot before mentioned, amounts
to $1712.84, the amount of interest arising on which
annually is $102.77, which, together with the amount
received from the State treasury, has, on an average,
amounted to $375.69 per year. The number of per-
sons between the ages of four and sixteen, as returned

 

to the controller of the State in 1820, was 396, In
1829 the number was 363,

In resuming the history of the town as such, it may
be observed that nothing worthy of special note trans-
pired for several years. The town gradually advanced
in wealth and population until at the session of the
General Assembly, 1794, a resolve was passed requir-
ing the town of Colebrook to transmit to said Assem-
bly at their next session a list of their polls and rata-
ble estate. The object of this order was to ascertain
whether the town had arrived to that stage of advance-
ment in wealth and population that it would be rea-
sonable to call on them for State taxes. The people
did not wish any longer to enjoy this exemption, as in
consequence they had no representation in the Legis-.
lature, and were subject to laws they had no voice in
enacting. They, therefore, chose representatives to
the Assembly, and were first represented in that body
in the October session, 1795.

The number of inhabitants in 1800 was 1004; of
families, 192. In 1810 the population was 1243; i
1820, 1276; and in 1830, 1338. :

CIVIL AUTHORITY IN THE TOWN OF COLEBROOK FROM ITS
INCORPORATION IN 1779 TO 1830.

Elijah Rockwell, 1782-1817; Samuel Mills, 1796 to his death in 1814;
Reuben Rockwell, 1809-35; Nathan Bass, 1815-20; Seth Marshall,
1816-35; Grove Pinney, 1823-25; Lancelot Phelps, 1818-32; Samuel
Whitford, 1823; William 8. Holabird, 1821-24.

SELECTMEN FROM DECEMBER, 1779.

1779.—Samuel Mills, David Pinney, John Porter.

1780-81.—Samuel Rockwell, David Pinney, Samuel Mills.

1782.—Samuel Mills, Samuel Rockwell, David Pinney, John Porter, Ed-
mund Howell.

1783,—Samuel Mills, Samuel Rockwell, John Porter, John Rockwell,
Edmund Howell.

1784.—Sanuel Mills, John Porter, Edmund Howell.

1785.—Samuel Rockwell, Samuel Mills, John Porter, Edmund Howell,
David Pinney.

1786.—Samuel Rock well, Samuel Mills, John Porter, Daniel Eno, Edmund
Howell.

1787.—Joseph Bidwell, Daniel Eno, Isaac Kneeland. >

1788.—Samuel Mills, Daniel Eno, Elijah Rockwell, John Porter, Isaac
Kneeland.

1789.—Edmund Howell, Daniel Eno, Avah Phelps.

1790.—Samuel Mills, Samuel Rockwell, Elijah Rockwell.

1791.—Samuel Mills, Elijah Rockwell, Avah Phelps.

1792.—Samuel Mills, Samuel Blakeslee, Avah Phelps, Elijah Rockwell,
Ephraim Bidwell.

1793.—David Pinney, Stephen Skinner, Samuel Blakeslee.

1794.—David Pinney, Edmund Howell, Reuben Rockwell.

1795.—Samuel Mills, Reuben Rockwell, Grove Pinney.

1796.—Samuel Mills, Reuben Rockwell, Grove Pinney.

1797.—David Pinney, Stephen Skinner, Reuben Rockwell.

1798.—Reuben Rockwell, Nathan Bass, Asa Bishop.

1799,—Nathan Bass, Reuben Rockwell, Moses Wright, Jr.

1800-1.—Grove Pinney, Avah Phelps, Eleazar Bidwell.

1802.—Eleazar Bidwell, Abraham Pinney, Jacob Chamberlain.

1803.—Reuben Rockwell, Frederic Brown, Samuel Blakeslee.

1804.—Reuben Rockwell, Frederic Brown, Asa Bishop.

1805.—Asa Bishop, Nathan Bass, Moses Wright, Jr.

1806.—Nathan Bass, Moses Wright, Jr., Joshua Osburn.

1807.—Asaph Pinney, John Whiting, Samuel Whitford.

1808.—Reuben Rockwell, Seth Marshall, Roger Stillman

1809.—Roger Stillman, Seth Marshall, Ammi R. Robbins.

1810.—Seth Marshall, Selah Trent, John Tyler.

1811.—Reuben Rockwell, Roswell Marshall, Selah Trent.

1812.—John Tyler, Selah Trent, Samuel Cowles.

1813.—John Tyler, Selah Trent, Samuel Cowles.
COLEBROOK.

277

 

1814,—Samuel Cowles, Robert Stillman, Rufus Holmes.
1815.—Rufus Holmes, Elijah Grant, Daniel Stillman.
1816,—Elijah Grant, Daniel Stillman, Grove Pinney.
1817.—Grove Pinney, Samuel Whitford, Reuben Rockwell.
1818.—Grove Pinney, Timothy Babcock, Sheron Rockwell.
1819.—Grove Pinney, Theron Rockwell, Samuel Whitford.
1820.—Grove Pinney, Theron Rockwell, Samuel Whitford.
1821—Grove Pinney, Theron Rockwell, Henry Bass. :
1822.—Theron Rockwell, Henry Bass, Thomas Concklin.

John Wright removed from Goshen to the Bellow’s
place, below Rufus Holmes’, in 1769. He was the
father of John, Charles, Freedom, and Lucy, the wife
of Elijah Rockwell, Esq.
The following is a list of the inhabitants who re-
sided in Colebrook previous and at the commence-
ment of the Revolutionary war, and the time they re-
moved into the town:
1765.—Benjamin Horton and wife: died here.
1766.—Joseph Rockwell, Joseph Seymour, Nathan Bass.
1767.—Samuel Rockwell, Gideon Horton.
1768.—Francis Griswold, Aaron Griswold.
1769.—Samuel Mills, Moses Wright, Hezekiah Simons, William Simons,
David Rockwell.

1770,—David Viets, Samuel Phillips, John Porter, Jacob Ogden, Ebene-
zer Shepard.

1771.—Joseph Bidwell, Eleazar Bidwell, Daniel Hall, David Goodhue,
Joseph Langworthy, Joseph Tainter, Daniel and David Hos-
kins, William Denison, John and James Mead, John Seymour,
Dr. Asa Hillyer and James Hillyer.

1172.—Henry White, David Pinney, Thomas Feax.

1773.—Pelatiah Mills, Andrew Buckingham, Stephen Russell.

1774.—Aaron Simons.

Benjamin Horton, the first inhabitant, removed into
the town in December, 1765, and built a house on the
north side of the road, about forty rods east of J. E.
Hoyt’s (now owned by Joseph Twinge*). Joseph
Rockwell, the second settler, moved into the town
Jan. 16, 1766, and built a house about ten rods south-
east of Rufus Holmes’ (Horace White’s) present
dwelling. With him came his sons, John and Elijah
Rockwell, who were both over twenty-one years of
age, and were considered as among the earliest settlers,
although at that time unmarried. The two houses
above mentioned were the only ones on the road from
New Hartford to Norfolk. Joseph Seymour, the
third, came in February or March, 1766. He lived

. on the bank of Sandy Brook, about ten rods below
the house of Gen. Phelps. Nathan Bass, the fourth,
removed into the town in April or May in the same
year. He lived on or near where his son, Nathan Bass,
Esq., lived (now Eugene Marvin). He died at New
York in 1776, while in the army of the Revolution.
Samuel Rockwell was the fifth, and moved into the
town in February, 1767. The house he first built and
occupied is the back part of the house where his son
Reuben lived, and is the only house remaining which
was occupied by the first settlers (now occupied by
the family of the late Reuben Rockwell, and the
oldest house in the town). Of the above, Benjamin
Horton was from Springfield, Joseph and Samuel
Rockwell and Nathan Bass were from East Windsor,

 

* The names in parenthesis denote present occupants.

 

Joseph Seymour from Windsor. After these were
Gideon Horton, who lived some thirty rods northeast
of J. E. Hoyt’s (Joseph Twinge). Dr. Asa Hillyer and
James, his brother, lived on the same ground now oc-
cupied by the brick house built by Alpha Sage (now
owned by John 8. Wheeler). Asa stayed there but a
short time, but his brother, James Hillyer, remained
until 1778 or 1774. Aaron Griswold lived near the
house where Lucius Holmes now lives (Eugene Bar-
ber). Francis Griswold lived on the north side of the
road, about half-way from L. Holmes’ to the road
that leads to Erastus Seymour’s (cross-road). Samuel
Mills lived near or on the same ground where the
house lately occupied by Arthur Howell stood (now
occupied by Edwin Simons). Moses Wright lived in
a log house near where his son Alvin now lives (Jor-
dan Smith). Hezekiah Simons lived forty rods north
of Abel Bunnell’s house (Elder Thomas Benedict) ;
William Simons where A. Bunnell now lives (owned
by Benedict). David Rockwell lived about thirty
rods south of A. Bunnell, where Bildad Seymour
afterwards lived (Mr. Mahanna). Samuel Phillips
first lived on the Farmington River, where Henry
White since lived (family of Reuben White), eighty
rods southeast of Samuel Whitford’s. David Viets
lived about one hundred rods west of Nathaniel
Coble’s, in the north part of the town, on the road
leading from the Baptist meeting-house to Beach
Hill (Lewis Loveland). John Porter lived on the
Norfolk road, in a log house, a little east of Remas
Coy’s (Harvey Coy). Eleazar Bidwell’s was the
seventeenth family that removed into the town, and
lived on the ground now occupied by the Baptist
meeting-house in the north part of the town. Joseph
Bidwell lived near the North Baptist meeting-house,
on the ground now occupied as a parsonage. Jacob
Ogden lived on the place now occupied by Clark
Roberts (Mr. Lawton). In 1770, Richard Smith,
from England, who had previous to this time bought
and carried on the old furnace in Salisbury,—which
was the only one in the State,—built a forge in this
town, now known as the “ Old Forge place” (Roberts-
ville), which he carried on until the commencement

_of the Revolutionary war, when he, favoring the

cause of Great Britain, returned to England, and never
came back. He left this forge and the furnace at
Salisbury without any agent to take care of them.
The furnace was through the war carried on by the
State of Connecticut, and was used extensively for
casting cannon and ball for the defense of the
country. Mr. Jacob Ogden, from New Jersey, was
employed by Smith as agent to carry on this forge
from 1770 till he left the country, after which Mr.
Ogden carried it on on his own account, and received
the whole avails during the war. At the close of the
war Mr. Jared Zane, an agent of Smith’s, took posses-
sion of it, and soon after sold it to J oseph and Elisha
Buell. The workmen who lived at this place were
William Dennison, John and James Mead, John
278 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Seymour (who was drowned by the breaking of a
flume), Thomas Keax, and probably some others.
Ebenezer Shepard lived where Erastus Seymour now
lives (George Dolittle). Daniel Hall lived in a log
house a little north of the old burying-ground.
David Goodhue lived on the ground where Linus
Bidwell lately lived, west of Osborn Stilliman’s (heirs
of O. Stillman). Joseph Langworthy lived on the
road leading from the saw-mill near Charles Phelps’
to Norfolk, on the east side of the pond, on land now
owned by ©. Phelps, where Thomas Miner afterwards
lived (Horace Phelps). Joseph Tainter first lived on
the old road leading over the hill from Arthur How-
ell’s to Andrew Bailey’s, and twenty rods south of
where he afterwards lived. David and Daniel Hos-
kins lived in the west part of the town, near the house
of Nathan Allen. David Pinney lived about fifty
rods southeast of Ira Whiting’s (premises now owned
by E. S. Preston); Aaron Simons where Samuel
Simons now lives (H. D. Smith). Pelatiah Mills
lived where Samuel Mills, Esq., afterwards lived
(Wesley Root), about one hundred rods north of
Samuel E. Mills. Andrew Buckingham lived oppo-
site Rufus Holmes’, in the house owned and after-
wards occupied by John Rockwell; Elijah Rockwell,
Esq., where his son Theron now lives.

The first person buried in the old burying-ground,
and, it is believed, the first that was buried in the
town, was Lydia Mason Wright, wife of Mr. John
Wright, who lived in the north part of Winchester,
where Samuel Rowley now lives (Rowley family).

Removals——Gideon Norton removed to near Rut-
land, Vt. (he was the son of Benjamin Francis), and
Aaron Griswold and Nathaniel Burn, in 1784, to Johns-
town, N. Y.; Jacob Ogden to Hartford (died in New
Haven); Daniel Hall to Black River in 1800; Wil-
liam Denison to Goshen; Pelatiah Mills to Johns-
town, N. Y., in 1784; Stephen Russel to Neversink
about 1800.

The quantity of land in the town of Colebrook is
not very accurately known. It was estimated in the
original patent to contain eighteen thousand one hun-
dred and ninety-nine acres. Its leng’h from north to
south on the west tier, taking for a data the width of
the lots as originally laid, is five miles one hundred
rods, on the east tier four miles two hundred and sixty
rods, and the average would be five miles and ten
rods. Provided the tiers will hold out two hundred
and forty rods in width, the town would be six miles
and seventy rods east and west. The west line of the
town, and the tier lines, of course, which run parallel
with that line, when the town was laid out in 1760,
was called to run north nineteen degrees east. The
east line, adjoining Hartland, runs south twenty
degrees west, which would make the south line of the
town shorter than the north line. The east tier is
said to fall short in width most at the south end. The
northern line, to which the lots were laid, was not the
colony line. It appears that the committee who laid

 

out the town did not know where the colony line—
which was run in 1717 by commissioners from the two
colonies—ran. They made a line which ran east ten
degrees fifteen minutes south, which was called the
northern line of the town, to which the lots were laid,
Calling the town five miles by six, it would contain
thirty square miles, which, at six hundred and forty
acres per square mile, would make nineteen thousand
two hundred acres ; but, as the lots do not run square
but are diamonding, unless they were overlaid in
width on the tier line, they would fall considerably
short of the quantity of land as contained in the
original survey.

There are in the town the following roads, originally
turnpike roads: Waterbury River road, six miles;
Greenwoods, or Hartford, road, two miles; Hartland
turnpike, six miles; Farmington River road, four
miles; Still River road, three miles; Sandy Brook,
five miles, making in all twenty-six miles.

The traveling highways in the town contain prob-
ably about 420 acres of land. The amount of the
assessment-list for 1829 was $17,100; a tax of five
cents, the usual highway tax, amounts to $855, The
tax for defraying town charges has for several years
been six cents on the dollar, amounting to $1026. From
this sum ought probably to be deducted, for abate-
ments, etc., $100, leaving $926, which, together with
the annual State tax of one cent on the dollar,—which
after the abatements amounts to $150,—will make
$1076, which will make the sum total of town, State,
and highway taxes $1981, besides society and school
expenses. The number of cows contained in the as-
sessment-list of 1829 is 981. Of these probably 50
were not milking cows, leaving 931 milch-cows. The
number of sheep was 3007; of horses, 160; oxen, 221;
and 440 young cattle.

CHURCH CONTROVERSY.

The town was not organized as an ecclesiastical
society until 1786, at which time a tract of one mile
square, taken from Winchester, on which were sev-
eral inhabitants, was annexed to the society. Pre-
vious to this period all society business was trans-
acted in town-meetings. In September, 1780, the
town voted to apply to the County Court for a com:
mittee to set a stake for a meeting-house. Capt. Uriah
Holmes, of Hartland, Col. Seth Smith, of New Hart-
ford, and Giles Pettibone, Esq., of Norfork, composed
the committee. This committee, after viewing the
town, fixed on a place near the dwelling-house lately
owned by the Rev. Chauncey Lee, now owned and oc-
cupied by Mr. Allen Seymour, which was established
by the court according to law. But when the ques-
tion of building was brought forward, the people be-
longing to the southern part of the town began to
manifest a considerable degree of dissatisfaction with
respect to the location, and a desire for another com-
mittee and another trial; and as, after the plan, a
before stated, was legally established, it became neces
COLEBROOK.

279

 

sary to apply to the General Assembly to get the
doings of the court set aside and a new committee ap-
pointed, the southern people were about to press
their petition to the Assembly for effecting this object,
when the northern people, to give them satisfaction
and maintain the peace of the society, agreed to join
in the application for another committee, which was
accordingly voted in town-meeting. This committee
were Daniel Humphrey, of Simsbury, Hezekiah
Fitch, of Salisbury, and John Watson, of Canaan.
This committee, after viewing the town and attending
to the representations of the people, set their stake
near the place where Calvin Sager’s dwelling-house
now stands. Perceiving that the Mill Brook, so called,
was the Rubicon or parting-point which neither party
were willing to pass, it seemed to be their object to
set their stake as near as practicable to the line of de-
markation. The southern people were dissatisfied for
two reasons: first, because it was set north of the
brook; second, because the ground was very unsuita-
ble for 2 meeting-house, several declaring they had
much rather go thirty rods farther north to the place
where the first stake was set than build on a place so
unfavorable. The northern people, though not pleased
with the ground, yet, as they had again obtained one
point considered important in having the stake set
north of the brook, made no objection to the place,
and a committee was appointed and preparations
made for building the house. As a considerable part
of the lands still belonged to non-resident proprietors,
and as the value of lands would be considerably in-
creased by building a meeting-house, it was considered
just and reasonable that the owners of lands should be
taxed to a greater amount than would fall to their
share by a tax raised on the list, in the usual mode of
taxing for other objects. Application was accordingly
made to the Legislature for a land-tax, to be applied
towards building the house, a privilege which had
been usually granted to new towns, and the grant of
sixpence on the one obtained.

The committee proceeded to prepare the foundation
and frame the house, when an opposition on the part
of the southern people was manifested, a meeting
called, and, after much altercation and mutual crimi-
nation, it was voted to postpone for the present raising
the house. The timber was piled, and secured from
injury. The prospects at this time were gloomy; every
appearance seemed to indicate a people ruined by con-
tention, the termination of which seemed more remote
than ever. While these difficulties were prevailing,
sectarian teachers made inroads into the town and
gained proselytes, especially in the northern part, and
from this unhappy controversy may be dated the rise
of the Baptist society in the northern part of the
town, Things remained in this situation for a consid-
able time, when, the excitement having in some meas-
ure subsided, and the evils resulting from the present
state of the society become more and more realized,
some person, perhaps some one inclined to speculating

and hazardous enterprises, suggested a plan which soon
became a subject of general conversation, and, as the
people were heartily tired of the controversy, they
were prepared to listen to any expedient which ap-
peared calculated to terminate their difficulties. The
plan was this, and proposed in terms like the follow-
ing:

“We are none of us pleased with the place now established,—there are
handsome and convenient sites not far distant, both north and south,—and
we and our posterity shall forever regret a result so unwise as to build
the house on a place so unsuitable and improper when good places are so
near; therefore let us affix on two places, one north and the other south
of the brook, the line of separation, and cast a fair lot to decide on which

of the two places the house shall be built, and then forever decide the
controversy.”

Strange as it may seem, a project so novel met with.
almost universal approbation, was adopted, and soon
carried into effect. The plans agreed on were, on the
north part, the place near where the first stake was set,
and on the south part, on the place were Mr. Martin
Rockwell’s house now stands. The lot was drawn,
and fell in favor of the southern place, and measures
were immediately taken to remove the timber and
raise the house. This was accomplished, the house
covered and lighted, the floors laid, and apparent
tranquillity and acquiescence on the part of the north-
ern people appeared for a while to prevail. But it
was not long before it became apparent that the
wound, though in appearance healed, was still fester-
ing, and would soon break out and become more alarm-
ing in its symptoms than ever. The northern people
refused to join in procuring preaching, or in any meas-
ure to build up the society, and, though there was now
a meeting-house, nearly one-half of the people would
not enter the doors. Things continued in this situa-
tion for a considerable time, and the prospects of union
seemed as remote as ever. The northern people were
called on for the reasons of their conduct, and for -
what would satisfy them. The lot they considered an
unfortunate thing, which, in their desire to have some-
thing done to remove the difficulties, they had inad-
vertently agreed to. The direction of two committees
was in their favor, and nothing but chance against
them, and nothing less would satisfy them than the
removal of the house north of the brook.

New actors were coming on to the stage; some of
the southern people began to express their wishes that
the meeting-house was north of the brook, and some
were ready to join in efforts to remove it. The princi-
pal actors among the southern people, tired and worn
out with a fruitless controversy, seemed inclined to
withdraw and let others manage the business as they
pleased. A vote was obtained, in the spring or summer
of 1798, to remove the house north of the brook, the
expense to be defrayed by tax on the society. Prepara-
tions were accordingly made to accomplish this ob-
ject. The plan adopted, after due consultation and
advice, was to remove the house, standing, during the
winter season with oxen. Preparations were accord-

 

ingly made to perform this Quixotic enterprise, and
280

HISTORY ‘OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in the month of February, 1794, the attempt was
made. About one hundred and fifty pair of oxen
were collected, and after the necessary preparation
were fastened to the house, and it began to move ma-
jestically forward; but, there being a small descent
soon to pass, it was found, contrary to the confident
expectations of Capt. Watson, the man employed to
direct and superintend the moving, that it would
move forward with rapidity without being drawn, and
as, in order to proceed, the descent necessary to pass
was much greater, it was judged utterly impracticable
to proceed, and after two days’ labor, the house having
been removed about thirty rods, the project was for
the present abandoned. In the autumn following
another attempt was made, at the expense of sub-
scribers, to remove the house with vessel machinery,
—pulleys and ropes; but after a trial this plan was also
found to be attended with insuperable difficulties.
Tired, worn out, and frustrated with these fruitless
projects, the actors in this business seemed disposed
to sit down and count the cost. The delusions of
party feeling and obstinacy seemed in a measure to
vanish, and sober reason and consideration to resume
their influence, and they were led to inquire whether
the object they were with so much perplexity and ex-
pense pursuing could be accomplished, and, provided
it could, whether the southern people generally would
unite with them in building up the society. Neither
of these questions could be affirmatively answered
with correctness. It was therefore, after due consulta-
tion, agreed to open a negotiation with the southern
people, in order to effect a settlement of the contro-
versy. The overtures submitted were that the house
should be placed on the nearest suitable place to where
it then was, and the expense incurred in the attempt
to move defrayed by the society. A meeting was
called, the agreement consummated, and the house re-
moved to the place where it now stands, and then,
after an unhappy controversy of fourteen years, peace
and union were restored, and all seemed disposed to
join their efforts and aid in building up tbe society.
Measures were immediately adopted to procure preach-
ing. Dr. Jonathan Edwards, who had been recently
dismissed from a parish in New Haven, was applied
to, and commenced preaching here about the Ist of
September, 1795. After he had been with the people
a while they unanimously gave him a call to settle,
and voted him a salary of one hundred pounds per
annum. He accepted the call, and was installed
Dee. 30, 1795. Previous to his settlement a fund was
raised by subscription sufficient to pay the salary for
three years. The ministerial lot of sixty acres
granted by the proprietors to the first orthodox min-
ister would by the terms of the grant have become
the property of Dr. Edwards, but he agreed to acquit
his right to said lot to the society, which was accord-
ingly done. In the year 1797 the society agreed to
sell this lot and lease the parsonage-lot of one hun-
dred acres on a long lease, the principal sum for which

 

said lands sold to be a perpetual fund towards the
payment of the yearly ministerial salary. These lots
were disposed of at auction. The parsonage-lotsold for
$15.57 per acre, amounting to $1553.57; the ministerial
lot for $12.21 per acre, amounting to $732.60; total,
$2286.17, the annual interest of which is $137.17,

The proprietors, at the time they ceded the undivided
land to the town, as previously stated, for the support
of schools, also ceded such part of the original ten-
rod highways as had not been previously exchanged
for roads to the town; and at a town-meeting held
Sept. 21, 1795, the town voted to sell such part of said
highways as should not be wanted to exchange for
roads then laid out, together with that part of the
parade-lot, so called, which was not wanted for a bury-
ing-place, and that the principal sum for which said
lands sold constitute a fund for the support of the
gospel ministry, the annual interest of which to be
divided annually to the several denominations accord-
ing to their respective lists. The amount for which
these lands sold was $1678, the annual interest of
which is $100.68. Of this sum the Congregational
society, on an average, draws about $54, which, added
to the avails of the public lands, as before stated,—viz.,
$137.17,—amounts to $191.17. In addition to this
amount, the society have $100 in the Phenix Bank,
Hartford, which was a grant from the State to the
various religious societies for the support of the gos-
pel; so that the permanent funds amount annually to
$197.17. For a more particular account of the eccle-
siastical society, church, etc., reference may be had to
the society and church records.

During the unhappy and protracted controversy re-
specting the location of the meeting-house, a consider-
able number of the people, principally in the north-
ern and eastern sections of the town, embraced the
Baptist’ persuasion. When they first began to hold
meetings, one Mr. Dunlap, who then resided in Mas-
sachusetts, contiguous to Colebrook, was their preacher,
other elders of that denomination occasionally sup-
plying them, and in 1795 Elder Rufus Babcock was
ordained their pastor, his church and congregation
being composed of people in Colebrook, Norfolk, and
Sandisfield, making a respectable congregation. Soon
after Mr. Babcock’s settlement a meeting-house was
built. In 1828, Mr. Babcock, having arrived to the
age of seventy years, resigned his pastoral office, and
was succeeded by Elder Thomas Larkum.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Colebrook, the last settled town in the State of
Connecticut, was surveyed and laid out by the seventy-
nine original proprietors, inhabitants of the town of
Windsor, Conn., in 1760; and the first permanent
settlements were made in 1765 and 1766. 2 tg

Sixty acres were reserved and laid out as a minis
terial lot, to be the property of the first orthodox
minister settled or ordained in the town; and one
COLEBROOK.

hundred acres as a parsonage for the use of the min-
istry. The first minister, Rev. Dr. Edwards, relin-
quished his right in the sixty acres, and this with the
hundred acres were sold for two thousand two hun-
dred and eighty-six dollars; this sum to constitute a
perpetual fund, the annual interest to be applied
towards the payment of the yearly ministerial salary.
This fund has been increased by the avails of other
lands, granted by the town to the several denomina-
tions, according to their respective lists. Also by the
grant of one hundred dollars from the State to the
various religious societies, for the support of the
gospel. In addition to this, gifts and bequests have
been received from Mr. Luman Barber, Mrs. Lucretia
Hotchkiss, and Mrs. Lucia B. Mitchell, amounting to
two hundred and ninety dollars.

The first ecclesiastical society was organized in
1786. Previous to this the society business had been
transacted in town-meeting. In 1780 the town voted
to apply to the County Court for a committee to set a
stake for a meeting-house. The location designated
was not satisfactory, and after repeated attempts to
effect a compromise, it was not until 1794 that it
found a permanent resting-place and was dedicated
to the worship of God. It was placed on the ground
where Reuben Rockwell’s house now stands, and re-
mained there until 1842, when the church building
now occupied was erected.

The Congregational Church was organized in 1795,
with the following members: Daniel and Elizabeth
Alcox, Anna Rockwell Bass, Epaphras and Margaret
Bidwell, Samuel and Wealthy Allen, John Burr,
Isaac and Elizabeth Carrier, Margaret Chamberlain,
Margaret Eno, Hannab Mather, Elijah Rockwell,
Lucy Wright Rockwell, Hepzibah Pratt Rockwell,
Nathan and Elizabeth Russell, Roger Stillman, Me-
hitabel Hurd Stillman, and Moses and Thankful
Norton Wright.

The following were received in 1798: Huldah Filly,
Hepzibah Merrill, Jemima Seymour, and Mrs. Sarah
Wakefield.

In 1799 the following were admitted: Lucy Hart,
Roger Mather, Mary Mather, Samuel Mills, Kezia
(Filly) Mills, Ebenezer North, Jerusha (Cowles)
North, Abijah Northaway, Olive (Cowles) Northa-
way, Hezekiah Owen, Mrs. Hezekiah .Owen, Elijah
Pettibone, Mrs. Elijah Pettibone, Reuben Rockwell,
Alpha Rockwell, Lucy Rockwell, Jr., Martin Rock-
well, Mary (Burrell) Rockwell, Betsey Russell, Elisha
Sage, Mrs. Elizabeth (Chamberlain) Sage, Bildad
Seymour, Truman Seymour, Mehitabel (Chamber-
lain) Seymour, Appleton Stillman, Sarah (Chappel)
Stillman, Clarissa Stillman, Amos Tolles, Mrs. Amos
Tolles, Susan Tuttle, Chloe Alcox, Polly Norton,
Noah Merrill, Abigail Phillips, Elizabeth Phelps,
Polly Taylor, Abigail (Stanton) Lee.

Many of the early settlers of the town had been
trained under the ministry of Rev. Timothy Edwards,
and his grandson, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, was in-

 

281

stalled as their first pastor in December, 1795. He
remained until 1799, when he was dismissed to become
president of Union College.

He was succeeded by Rev. Chauncey Lee, a native
of Salisbury, Conn. The first twenty-eight years of
the present century, the period of Dr. Lee’s ministry,
was probably the most prosperous in the history of
the town. There were large families of the Puritan
stock, and many accessions to the church. One hun-
dred and five was the result of a powerful religious
revival which occurred in 1815. Dr. Lee was dis-
missed in 1828, and became pastor of the church in
Marlborough, Conn. He spent the last years of his
life with his daughter, in Guilford, N. Y.

Rey. Azariah Clark was installed in 1830.. He was
a native of Southampton, Mass., and had been pastor
of a church in Canaan, N. Y. His ministry in Cole-
brook was terminated by his death in October, 1832.

In March, 1838, Rev. Edward R. Tyler assumed the
pastoral care of the church. He was dismissed in
1836 to engage in the anti-slavery cause, in which he
labored earnestly for several years; after which he
removed to New Haven, Conn., and became editor of
the New Englander. He died not far from 1850.

Rev. Alfred E. Ives, of New Haven, was installed
in 1838. He remained ten years, was dismissed in
1848, and has since that time been pastor in Deerfield,
Mass., and Castine, Me.

Rey. Archibald Geikie was engaged in 1854, and,
though not installed, performed all the duties de-
volving upon a pastor. He was a native of Edin-
burgh, Scotland, and settled in Toronto, Canada,
before his engagement in Colebrook. He left in 1863,
and was for a time in East Granville, Mass. He died
in 1869, at the home of his daughter, in Canaan,
Conn.

Rev. Henry A. Russell became stated supply in
1868, and remained until May 1, 1877, when he re-
moved to Mooers, N. Y.

Rev. Ira Pettibone, of Winchester, supplied the
pulpit the remainder of the year 1877.

Rev. Joseph B. Clarke, of New Haven, became
acting pastor in June, 1878.

The present pastor, Rev. J. W. Hartshorn, was
installed in June, 1880.

The list of officers is as follows:

Pastors.—Jonathan Edwards, D.D., Dec. 30, 1795, to
Jan. 11, 1799; Chauncey Lee, D.D., Feb. 12, 1800, to
Jan. 29, 1828; Azariah Clark, March 10, 1830 (died
Oct. 16, 1832); Edward R. Tyler, March 16, 1833, to
January, 1836; Alfred E. Ives, Sept. 25, 1838, to May
2, 1848.

Acting Pastors, not installed.—Archibald Geikie,
July, 1854, to 1863; Henry A. Russell, 1868 to 1877;
Joseph B. Clarke, June, 1878; J. W. Hartshorn, June,
1880, present pastor.

Deacons.—Moses Wright, 1796-1811 ; Epaphras Bid-
well, 1796-1801; Samuel Cowles, 1801-11; Reuben
Rockwell, 1811-80; Daniel Stillman, 1811-80; Wil-
282

liam Swift, 1830-45; Elijah Grant, 1830-62; Chester
Stillman, 1845-62; Munson Cole, 1862-69; William
F. Grant, 1862-68; George M. Carrington, 1867-69;
James M. Grant, 1868; Lorin A. Cook, 1869-73;
Eugene H. Barber, 1878; of the branch church at
Colebrook River (now extinct), A. Chamberlain, 1834
-57.

A Baptist Church was organized in the southeast
part of the town by persons of that denomination
residing in Colebrook, Barkhamsted, and Winchester,
about 1805, and a meeting-house built about the same
year.

Elder Erastus Doty, who resided in the neighbor-
hood, was pastor for a long time. A new church was
built about 1844, and in 1848 the church reorganized
under the name of the South Colebrook Baptist
Church.

The following pastors have been settled: Elders A.
D. Waters, 1848; Solomon Gale, 1852; J. M. Mace,
1857 ; Edwin Bromley, 1861; George D. Letton, 1866;
Wallace Crocker, 1874; R. H. Maine, 1875; William
Goodwin, 1879, present pastor.

The deacons have been Daniel Deming, 1848-74;
Allen Barnes, 1848-61; Joseph H. Bass, 1861-81;
Giles M. Latuon, 1874-81.

THE NORTH COLEBROOK BAPTIST CHURCH.

The North Colebrook Baptist Church was organized
Feb. 12, 1795. Elder Rufus Babcock was ordained at
that time. The house of worship was built about
1800, near the cemetery. The present house was
built in 1845.

The following pastors have been settled over the
church: Elders Rufus Babcock, Thomas Larcomb,

 

 

Josiah M. Graves, —— McCarthy, —— Doolittle,
Hawley, father of Gen. Joseph R. Hawley,
Zalmon Tobey, —— Miller, Wheeler, Dorin

Wright, J. F. Temple, T. P. Briggs, Thomas Bene-
dict, William Goodwin, D. F. Beebe, R. H. Maine,
Rufus Babcock, D.D., William Goodwin, present
pastor.

The deacons have been Ellrazer Bidwell, ——
Richards, Abel Bunnell, Joseph Taintor, Philo Haw-
ley, Luman Bidwell, Homer Gleason, Amasa Camp-
bell, Jason F. Hitchcock.

METHODIST CHURCH, COLEBROOK CENTRE.

The Methodist Church at Colebrook River was
organized about 1834, and has been supplied with
preachers by the Methodist Conference. Previous to
the organization of the Methodist Church there had
been a branch of the Congregational Church estab-
lished, and preaching four Sabbaths each year was
furnished by the church at Colebrook. A meeting-
house was built about 1810 by Congregationalists,
Baptists, and Methodists, and called the Union Meet-
ing-House, and occupied by each as they supplied
preaching. The Methodists built a church about
1833, and have a flourishing society at the present
time.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

NATIVES OF COLEBROOK WHO HAVE BEEN EDUCATED at
COLLEGES.

Cyrus Babcock graduated at Brown University, Rhode Island; studied
for the ministry ; died soon after being prepared to preach,

Rufus Babcock, D.D., graduated at Brown University; studied for the
ministry; president of a Baptist college in Rhode Island, and algo of
an institution at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.

Chauncey G. Lee graduated at Middlebury College, Vermont; preached
several years in Vermont and Connecticut; died at New Haven a
few years since.

John Jason Owen graduated at Middlebury, Vt.; studied theology at
Andover, Mass.; was appointed secretary uf the Presbyterian Rdu-
cation Society, which office he resigned to take the presidency of
the Cornelius Institute, in New York City, designed to prepare
young men for the ministry. He acquired the title of D.D. from the
University of the City of New York.

Selah B. Treat graduated at Yale College, class of 1824; studied for the
ministry; was elected to succeed the Rev. Dr. Anderson as secretary
of the American Board of Foreign Missions, which office he filled
with singular efficiency till his death, in 1877.

James Watson Robbins graduated at Yale, class of 1822, and from the
Medical Department in 1828; located at Uxbridge, Mass. He was
an expert in botany, and contributed. valuable papers to science;
died at Uxbridge in 1879,

Samuel Rockwell graduated at Yale, class of 1825; studied theology at
New Haven; settled at Plainfield, Conn., afterwards at New Britain;
retired from the ministry; was elected to the State Senate, and to
the Legislature several terms.

Henry Cowles graduated at Yale, class of 1826; studied theology at New
Haven; settled in Austinburg, Ohio, in 1828; was appointed Pro-
fessor of Greek and Latin at Oberlin College, Ohio, in 1835, and of
Biblical Literature in 1840; editor of the Oberlin Evangelist several
years, and published a series of commentaries on the Prophets and
other books of the Bible, and still lives at Oberlin, pieparing other
commentaries,

John Phelps Cowles graduated at Yale, class of 1826; was the valedic-
torian of his cluss; studied theolugy at New Haven; settled at
Princeton, Mass.; appointed Professor of Biblical Literature at Ober-
lin College in 1836, and in 1841 accepted the principalship of the
Ladies’ Seminary at Ipswich, Mass. ‘

Julius Rockwell graduated at Yale, class of 1826; studied law at New
Haven, and established himself at Pittsfield, Mass.; was elected
Speaker of the House of Representatives of Massachusetts in 1834;
elected to Congress six successive terms; appointed United States
senator to succeed Edward Everett, and is now judge of the Superior
Court of Massachusetts.

Charles Rockwell graduated at Yale, class of 1826; studied theology at
Andover, Mass.; was appointed chaplain on the United States frigate
“Potomac”; afterwards was settled at Chatham, Mass., where he
now resides. P

Elijah Phelps Grant graduated at Yale, class of 1830; studied law at New
Haven; began practice at Winsted, Conn.; afterwards removed to
Canton,.Ohio; died in 1874.

James Cowles graduated at Yale, cluss of 1837; chose the profession of
teaching, and has been a successful teacher, and has taught his
pupils to have ideas of their own and do their own thinking.

Joel Grant graduated at Yale, class of 1838; was appointed professor of
a class of midshipmen on board a government ship on a cruise to
Rio Janeiro; afterwards studied theology at New Haven; was settled
at Lockport, Il. He served as chaplain of an Illinois regiment in
the war of the Rebellion; was appointed superintendent of colored
schools for the State of Arkansas; died in 1873.

William H. Gilbert graduated at Yale, class of 1841; studied theology at
New Haven; was settled in Vermont; afterwards in Granby, Conn.;
and subsequently appointed secretary of the Connecticut Bible So-
ciety, which position he holds at the present time.

John Grant graduated at Yale, class of 1845; was tutor at Yale, and after-
wards teacher of a private school in New York City, which was quite
successful ; died in 1878, and buried at Colebrook.

Edward Currington graduated at Yale, class of 1859; studied lawin New
York City; enlisted in the army in 1862; was appointed. major, and
served in Virginia; was ordered to Texas, where he took the colonelcy
of a colored regiment, and was killed, March, 1865, and was brought
to Colebrook for interment.

Alfred Ives graduated at Amherst College, and is now suporintendent of
public schools in Brooklyn, N. Y.
 

 

 

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RESIDENCE OF GEN. E.A. PHELPS, NorRTH CoLEBROOK, Conn.

  
COLEBROOK. ‘

Joel S. Ives graduated at Amherst College; studied theology, and is now
settled at East Hampton, Conn.

Carrington Phelps graduated at Yale, class of 1870; studied law at New
Haven Law-School; commenced practice at Madison, Wis., and is
now located at St. Paul, Minn.

Besides the above-mentioned graduates, several others have taken a
part of the academical studies at college:

Frederick A. Brown.

George Tuttle, lawyer at Warren, Ohio; judge of Circuit Court.

Valentine Chamberlain, lawyer, New Britain, Conn. ; judge of City Court.

Rufus B. Smith, lawyer, Madison, Wis.

Volney M. Simons, Methodist preacher, located at Woburn, Mass.

Henry G. Rockwell, secretary Fish Commission, Washington,.D. C.

William T. Smith, teacher.

Lorenzo M, Whiting, M.D., located at Canton, Ohio.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1796 TO 1881.

1796.—Elijah Rockwell, Samuel Mills.

1797.—Elijah Rockwell, David Pinney.

1798.—Elijah Rockwell, David Pinney, Samuel Mills.

1799.—Elijah Rockwell, Samuel Mills, Reuben Rockwell.

1800.—Arah Phelps, Grove Pinney, Samuel Mills.

1801.—Grove Pinney, Elijah Rockwell, Arah Phelps.

1802.—Grove Pinney, Arah Phelps, Isaac Benedict.

1803,—Grove Pinney, Elijah Rockwell, Arah Phelps, Eleazer Bidwell.

1804.—Grove Pinney, Edmond Howell, Arah Phelps, Elijah Rockwell.

1805.—Asa Bishop, Abijah Rockwell, Samuel Mills, Samuel Blakesley.

1806.—Moses Wright, Jr., Samuel Blakesley, Elijah Rockwell, Reuben
Rockwell.

1807.—Grove Pinney, Asa Phelps, Enos North.

1808,—Asaph Pinney, Enos North, Nathan Bass, Martin Rockwell.

1809.—Nathan Bass, Martin Rockwell, Samuel Mills, Seth Marshall.

1810.—Elijah Rockwell, Seth Marshall, Reuben Rockwell.

1811—Asaph Pinney, John Whiting, Reuben Rockwell, Seth Marshall.

1812.—Reuben Rockwell, Seth Marshall, Martin Rockwell, Frederick
Brown.

1813.—Martin Rockwell, Samuel Mills, Nathan Bass, Seth Marshall.

1814.—Nathan Bass, Elijah Rockwell, Martin Rockwell, Frederick
Brown.

1815.—Roger Stillman, Reuben Rockwell, Nathan Baas.

1816.—Seth Marshall, Nathan Bass, Martin Rockwell.

1817.—Grove Pinney, Lancelot Phelps.

1818.—Asaph Pinney, Rufus North, Timothy Babcock.

1819.—Lancelot Phelps, Enos North.

1820,—Lancelot Phelps, Samuel Whitford.

1821.—Lancelot Phelps, Henry Bass.

1822,—Timothy Babcock, Arah Phelps.

1823.—Thomas Concklin, Asaph Pinney.

1824.—Enos North, Lancelot Phelps.

1825.—Nathan Bass, Arah Phelps.

1826.—Arthur Howell, Rufus North.

1827,—Arthur Howell, Lancelot Phelps.

1828.—Samuel Whitford, Lancelot Phelps.

1829.—Samuel Whitfurd, Arthur Howell.

1830,—Lancelet Phelps, Enos North.

1831.—Sylvester Smith, Abiram Chamberlain.

1832,—Sylvester Smith, Arthur Howell.

1833.—Loren Percival, Arthur Howell.

1834.—Loren Percival, Samuel Whitford.

1835.—Arthur Howell, Charles P. Phelps.

1836,—Samuel Simons, Jr., Gilbert Baxter.

1837.—Samuel Simons, Jr., Dorrance Barber.

1838.—John Manchester, Theron Rockwell.

1839.—Arthur Howell, Clark H. Roberts.

1840.—Edward A. Phelps, Clark H. Roberts.

1841.—Edward A, Phelps, William Manchester.

1842.—Dorrance Barber, William Manchester.

1843,—Dorrance Barber, Milton Smith.

1844.—Rupell Frisbie, Milton Smith.

1845.—BRupell Frisbie, Erastus Doty, Jr.

1846.—Enos North, Erastus Doty, Jr.

1847.—James Cobb, Huntington Persons.

1848.—Job Spencer, L. B. Benham.

1849.—George Austin, Rufus Seymour.

1850.—L, L, Loveland, D. E. Manchester.

1851.—E, A, Phelps, H, W. Pinney.

 

283

1852.—Henry L. Lincoln, Silas Ives.
1853.—T. R. Wolcott, Milton Smith.
1854.—John Spencer, D. C. Y. Moore.
1855.—Richard Slocum, Ralzemon Phelps.
1856.—Milton Smith, Loren A. Cook.
1857.—Reuben Rockwell, Joseph H. Bass.
1858.—Oliver P, Loomis, Horace Skinner.
1859.—Wolcott Deming, Timothy Persons,
1860.—H. 8. Sawyer, Lewis M. Terrell.
1861.—Sterling C. Newton, Harvey Deming.
1862,— Alanson D. Bunnell, 0. J. Hodge.
1863.—Albert Kelsey, George S. Ives.
1864.—H. S. Hamilton, P. Corbin.
1865.—Asa White, Clement Thompson.
1866.—W. S. Bunnell, Hiram Baldwin.
1867.—Reuben Scovel, Harvey Deming.
1868.—Henry S. Sawyer, William M. Yale.
1869.—W. G. Kinney, Jolin S. Wheeler.
1870.—Solomon Sackett, John P. Norton.
1871.—Levi Cooke, 8. G. Hitchcock.
1872.—Lucien O. Bass, Giles M. Lawton.
1873.—Timothy Persons, Hiram Sage.
1874.—Timothy Persons, Hiram Sage.
1875.—Harvey L. Coy, Flavell J. Bushnell.
1876.—Leonard D. Benham, Henry Terrell.
1877.—Timothy Hart, James McCaffrey.
1878.— William G. Kinney, Buritt Roberts.
1879.—John S. Wheeler, Alanson Mead.
1880.—Roswell B. Brooks, John A, Moore.
1881.—William N. Vining, Edwin 1. Griffin.

MILITARY RECORD.*

Samuel E. Gibbs, Co. B, 2d Regt; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

Joseph W. Donnelly, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 16, 1864; must. out Aug.
2, 1865.

Edgar C. Lewis, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 16, 1864; must. out June 13,
1865.

S. Till, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 16, 1864,

John Kline, Co. C, 1st Regt.; enl. Dec. 8, 1864.

Charles Johnson, Co. K, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 9, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

Henry Hamilton, Co. M, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 8, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

James Kinney, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 14, 1864.

John W. Wing, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 9, 1864.

J. L. Ingraham, 1st Art.; enl. Dec. 7, 1863; must. out April 21, 1365.

F, Smith, lst Art.; enl. Aug. 17, 1864; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.

B. B. Beach, Ist Art.; enl. April 12, 1862; must. out Feb. 4, 1864,

H. Britan, 5th Regt.

William Hoffman, 5th Regt.

H. McAddin, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. July 22, 1864.

H. M. Gibbs, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22,1861; disch. July 19, 1865.

William Kerr, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

E. Langan, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Charles Mercheau, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1864,

Edward Higgins, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 11, 1863; must. out July 20, 1865.

C. Dewey, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; must. out July 20, 1865.

Thomas Dobbyn, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.

§. Simons, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864,

M. E. Terrill, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.

George Williams, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch, July 20, 1865.

John E. Gillett, enl. Feb. 23, 1864; disch. Dec. 8, 1864.

David Allen.

R. S. Craig, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 10, 1863; trans. to navy.

C. E. Taylor, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 9, 1863; trans, to navy.

Joseph Vogt, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 11, 1863; disch. July 20, 1865.

A. Collect, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 6, 1863; must. out July 20, 1865.

P. Hyppolite, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 6, 1863; trans. to navy.

P. Larrire, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 9, 1863,

J. Pluyretese, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 5, 1863.

L. L. Parker, 11th Regt.; enl. June 23, 1862; died Nov. 12, 1862.

George Weaver, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 7, 1864; disch, April 25, 1864.

Benjamin Bradley, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

M. Cary, 13th Regt.; enl. Feb. 1, 1862; disch, April 25, 1866.

E, J. Bidwell, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1961; must. out Dec. 12,
1865.

 

* For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.
284 .

John T. Bidwell, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. June 2,
1862.

John Gaunier.

O. M. Mitchell, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861; disch. Jan. 14, 1862.

G. H. Mitchell, Co. ©, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861; disch. June 2, 1862.

J. Parker, 9th Regt.; enl. Dec, 15, 1864.

A.J. Balcom, 11th Regt.; eul. Feb. 24, 1864; died 1864; prisoner.

M. Roach, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

R. E. Corper, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1861; disch. Dec. 31, 1864,

J. Gloster, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 4, 1861; disch, Feb. 28, 1863.

J. North, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch. July 2, 1862.

H. A. Smith, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Leman Pease, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

J. E. Ormsbee, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 10, 1862; died Aug. 10, 1863.

H. L. Allen, 28th Regt.; enl. Ang. 25, 1862 ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Joseph Brown, 20th Regt.; enl. Dec. 14, 1864; disch, July 19, 1865.

H. L. Allen, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug, 28, 1863.

A. Bote, 28th Regt.; enl. Nov. 14, 1862.

G. W. Cook, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died June 24, 1863.

0. 8. Canfield, 28th Regt.; enl. Nov. 14, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

T. D. Lincoln, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 9, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

E. Terrill, 28th Regt.; enl, Aug. 25, 1862.

M. O'Connor, 28th Regt.; enl. Nov. 14, 1862; disch. Nov. 25, 1863.

W. A. Armun, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 7, 1862 : died July 26, 1864.

E. Hickox, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 7, 1863; killed Oct. 27, 1864.

S. Hickox, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 7, 1863; died May 13, 1864.

C. St. John, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 15, 1863; died Nov. 3, 1864.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GEN. EDWARD A. PHELPS.

Gen. Edward A. Phelps, only son of Avah Phelps,
a soldier in the Revolutionary war, was born in the
town of Colebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., March 26,
1808. His father was a native of Harwinton, Conn.,
and settled in Colebrook at an early day. (See his-
tory of Colebrook, by R. Rockwell.) Avah Phelps
married Welthan, daughter of Samuel Mills, of Cole-
brook, and to them were born one son and eight
daughters, all of whom are now (1881) dead except
their son, Edward A., and Catharine, wife of Dr.
William Carrington (deceased), of Colebrook. Mr.
Phelps was a large and successful farmer. In politics
he was a Democrat, and as such was a leading man
in his town, and held various town offices, among
others that of member of the State Legislature. He
was a captain of the State militia for several years,
He died in 1844, aged eighty-four years.

Gen. E. A. Phelps received a common-school edu-
cation, supplemented by four years of hard study at
Capt. Alden Partridge’s military academy, at Middle-
town, Conn. Immediately after his graduation at
Capt. Partridge’s academy, he spent the following
winter.at Litchfield, Conn., studying law under the
well-known eminent judge and lawyer, Judge Gould.
In the spring of 1830, being an only son, he returned
to his native town and took charge of the “old farm”
of some five hundred acres, which is considered the
best in the town, and one of the best in the county.
Gen. Phelps has been the leading farmer of the town
for more than fifty years. His buildings are sub-

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

stantial, a view of which can be seen elsewhere in
this work.

Like his honored father, he is a Democrat. He has
held all the offices in the town to the general satisfag.
tion of his constituents. He was a member of the
State Legislature in 1841, again in 1851. In 1858 he
was a bank commissioner. For several years he was
a director in the Hurlbut National Bank of Winsted,
He has often been a delegate to county, State, and
national conventions. In his younger days he took
a deep interest in military affairs, and held the various
positions from ensign of a company to brigadier.
general of the Sixth Connecticut Brigade, several
times refusing to be promoted above his superiors,
He has been twice married, first to Elizabeth §,
daughter of Henry Carrington, by whom he had three
children, viz., (1) Elizabeth, died young; (2) Edward
A., Jr., a successful wholesale grocer in New York
City; and (8) Carrington, a lawyer by profession, and
a farmer by choice, in Morris, Stephens Co., Minn.

His second wife was Charlotte G., daughter of
John Swasey or Sueaswey, and sister of Capt. Par-
tridge’s wife. They were married at Capt. Alden
Partridge’s, Feb. 6, 1851. She is a member of the
Baptist Church, and he is a regular attendant and
very liberal supporter of the same.

REUBEN ROCKWELL.

Reuben Rockwell was born at Colebrook in August,
1818, and has always resided in the town; was elected
to the Legislature in 1857, and to the State Senate in
1858; was appointed by President Lincoln, in 1862,
assessor of internal revenue for the Fourth District
of Connecticut.

TIMOTHY PERSONS.

Timothy Persons, youngest son of Elihu Persons,
was born in Sandisfield, Mass., Dec. 8, 1820. He re-
mained in his native town until April 9, 1849, when
he removed to Colebrook, where he has since resided.
He has always been an active business man, and until
within a few years has carried on the business of tan-
ning. Mr. Persons has been selected by his townsmen
for various positions of trust and responsibility, and
he justly merits the high esteem in which he is held
by all. He represented his town in the Legislature
in 1859 and 1878, and again in 1874; has also beena
selectman, and is a present justice of the peace, hav-
ing been elected in 1876. On Sept. 10, 1851, he mar-
ried Calista Baxter, of Colebrook, and had two chil
dren,—Dwight B., born May 9, 1853, and Jane C,
born Dec. 2, 1860,—both deceased. Mr. Gilbert Bax-
ter, father of Mrs. Persons, was an active man in the
town; he held various town offices, and was a member
of the Legislature in 18386. He died April 12, 1876,
aged eighty-four years. Mrs, Baxter is still living at
the advanced age of eighty-three.
 
 

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O. PINNEY.

A
COLEBROOK.

JOHN S. WHEELER.

John 8. Wheeler, youngest son of Philander
Wheeler, Esq., was born in Salisbury, March 5, 1830.
His father practiced law at the Litchfield County bar
for a period of thirty years or thereabouts, when he
abandoned this profession to give his attention to
mercantile pursuits, landed interests, and other busi-
ness operations. John S. was educated in the com-
mon and more advanced schools of his native town,
and subsequently enjoyed the benefit, for a term of
years, of private instructions from Rev. Jonathan Lee,
of Salisbury, since deceased, and still later, for a more
brief period, from Rev. George H. Nicholls, then of
Salisbury, now of Hoosic Falls, N. Y. He had two
brothers,—Daniel P., who now resides in the village
of Washington Hollow, Dutchess County, N. Y., and
Benjamin H., who died in Salisbury in April, 1858.
He has two sisters,—Sally A., now residing in Salis-
bury, and Irene J., widow of Ensign Church, Esq.,
late of North Canaan, whose home is in New York
City, but who spends most of her time in foreign and
domestic travel. His mother died when he was about
two years old. A second marriage on the part of his
father secured to him one of the best of step-mothers,
and the faithful, gentle, and affectionate ministra-
tions of his eldest sister in his extreme youth are the
basis of a debt of gratitude to her which he can never
repay. He took sole charge of his father’s store in
Salisbury in 1845, and remained in this position till
the spring of 1850, when he removed to Cornwall
Bridge, to care for and manage certain property
owned by his -father in and near that village, and, in
connection with other affairs, he opened a store,
which was conducted, in the name and style of “ P.
Wheeler & Son,” during a term of nearly six years.
His father’s death occuring in December, 1855, he
was associated one year with his brother, Benjamin
H., in closing the estate, and in October, 1857, he
-located in Colebrook, where he now resides. His
business in this latter location has been that of gen-
eral merchandising, at the stand long known as “ the
Alpha Sage place,” situated midway between the
villages of Colebrook Centre and North Colebrook.
He continued in this occupation till 1875, when poor
health forced him to withdraw. A murderous assault,
made on him one October evening in 1869 by a South-
ern negro for purposes of robbery, and from which
Mr. Wheeler barely escaped with life, was a severe
shock to a naturally frail organization, and no doubt
contributed materially, in its ultimate results, to bring
about a serious and long-continued attack of nervous
prostration, the severity of which could only be miti-
gated by absolute quiet and rest. Happily, he is now
in much improved health, and anticipates, with no
small degree of satisfaction, a renewed lease - of
strength, which may be devoted, at a day not far dis-
tant, to the prosecution of some pleasant, fairly re-
munerative, and enjoyable business avocation. Mr.

Wheeler never seeks official station. A man ofa fair
19

 

285

measure of intelligence and ability, he has received
from the good people of his adopted town repeated ex-
pressions of confidence and good-will, always without
solicitation on his part, and he has endeavored to dis-
charge the trusts confided to him conscientiously.
He represented Colebrook in the Legislature in the
year 1869, and again in 1879. He is now serving as
town treasurer for his seventh year, and as town clerk
for his fifth year. He holds other minor offices, and
served for a long term of years as a justice of the
peace, till he peremptorily declined to serve in this
capacity longer. As town clerk and town treasurer
he is the successor of Hon. Reuben Rockwell, a gen-
tleman of opposite political affiliations, a very su-
perior man, and an exceptionally good officer. This
result Mr. Wheeler does not ascribe to his personal
popularity, nor to any special merit of his own, but
rather to changes in the relative strength of the politi-
cal parties in the town,—changes which he acknowl-
edges he has helped to foster and promote, in his
feeble way, as best he could. Once freed from the cares
belonging to this town, he will try to find what virtue
there may be in otiwm cum dignitate. In politics he
is a Democrat without alloy. When electoral commis-
sions are under consideration, he is a firm believer in
the gospel of “ glorious old Bill Eaton.” He condemns
unsparingly the GREAT FRAUD of 1876, and the un-
warrantable, inexcusable defections and disaffections
among Democrats in the State of New York which
culminated in the defeat of Gen. Hancock in 1880;
but, possessing a buoyant, elastic temperament, he
looks forward to coming years and coming general
elections, and remembers that “truth crushed to earth
will rise again.”

Mr. Wheeler married, May 5, 1855, Elizabeth,
daughter of Philo Kellogg, Esq., of Cornwall. They
have no children.

ASAPH 0. PINNEY. '

Humphrey Pinney, born in Somerset County, Eng-
land, came to America with Rev. John Wareham,
on board the ship “Mary and John,” which sailed
from Plymouth, England, March 30, 1680, and set-
tled in Dorchester, Mass. His son, Asaph Pinney,
was born in Simsbury, Conn., and married Betty
Willcocks; they had four children,—Eliza, Emma,
Asaph O., and Harvey W. He was a farmer and
school-teacher.

Asaph O. Pinney, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Colebrook, Conn., March 9, 1805. He re-
ceived a common-school education. On May 17,
1840, he married Elizabeth M. Phelps; taught school
a number of years, and acted as school-visitor some
years after. He and his wife are at present living on
the old farm where he was born, in Colebrook.
286

SOLOMON SACKETT.

Solomon Sackett, second son of Solomon Sackett,
was born in Sandisfield, Mass., May 24, 18238. He

was reared on his father’s farm, and educated at the
In about the year 1853 he com-

common school.

foto, te

menced traveling as a salesman for Winsted manu-
facturers, which business he continued until about
three years ago. In November, 1847, he united in
marriage with Melissa Fargo, and they have three
children, as follows: Grove, who resides in Chicago,
in the interest of the William L. Gilbert Clock Com-
pany ; George, who has been in the Winsted Savings
Bank for seven years; and Frank, who is employed
by the William L. Gilbert Clock Company. Mr.
Sackett has led an active life, and is one of the sub-
stantial citizens of the town. He is a present select-
man of the town, and was a representative in 1870.

LUCIEN 0. BASS.

Among the pioneers of Colebrook we find the name
of Bass, the first of that name, Nathan, having set-
tled here in 1766. Lucien O., the subject of this
sketch, is the youngest of the following family, chil-
dren af Henry and Jerusha Bass: Sidney H. , Belario,
Elvira, Lucia L., Jerusha, Joseph H., Waren A,
and Lucien O. Lucien O. was educated at the com-
mon schools, and remained on the farm with his
father until 1849, when he went to Summit Co., Ohio,
and served as an apprentice in the machinist business.

 

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

In 1866 he returned to Colebrook, where he has since
resided. Mr. Bass has held various town offices, and
was a representative in the Legislature in 1872. He
and his sisters, Elvira and Jerusha, reside on the old
homestead. Mr, Bass’ father, Henry Bass, died in
1856, aged eighty, and his mother in the year 1869,
aged eighty-six.

WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE.

William P. Lawrence, second son of Pennel and
Laura B. Lawrence, was born in Colebrook, Oct. 31,
1838. He received the advantages of a-common-
school education, and his occupation has been that of
farming and lumbering. Nov. 21, 1860, he united in
marriage with Eveline S., daughter of John Hewitt,
of Winsted, and their family consists of the follow-
ing children: Charles D., Robert W., and Russell J.
Mr. Lawrence is a useful man in the church and
community, having been for a number of years super-
intendent of the Sunday-school connected with the
Congregational Church, and is also the postmaster at
Colebrook Centre. His father, Pennel Lawrence,
died Dec. 8, 1864, but his mother is still living, at
the advanced age of seventy-five years.

LOREN DEWOLF.

Loren DeWolf, the eldest son of Daniel DeWolf,
was born in Winsted, Conn., on Dec. 23, 1792. He
was reared on a farm, and educated at the common
schools. At the age of twenty-five, in 1817, he re-
moved to Hartland, Conn., where he remained nine-
teen years, and then came to Colebrook, where he
has since resided. Mr. DeWolf has ever been an
active and energetic man, ever’ willing to assist all
measures tending to advance the interests of his
adopted town and county. He figured somewhat
conspicuously in military matters, having been en-
sign, lieutenant, and captain in the old militia. He
is a consistent Christian, and for over twénty years
has been a steward in the Methodist Episcopal
Church. March 11, 1817, he united in marriage with
Miranda Osborn, and their family consisted of the
following children: Harriet A., born June 10, 1818,
and Rocelia A., born Feb. 28, 1839. Harriet A. died
in 1836, and Rocelia A. is living with her father in
Colebrook.

LUTHER PHELPS.

Capt. Luther Phelps, son of Daniel Phelps, was
born in Windsor, Conn., May 22, 1781. Soon after
his parents removed to Colebrook, where his father
for a number of years kept a hotel. He was reared a
farmer, and educated at acommon school. March 19,
1816, he united in marriage with Maria Hoskins, of
Winsted, Conn.; their family consisted of two chil-
dren, Elizabeth M. and Martin Luther. Mr. Phelps
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

WILLIAM P. LAWRENCE.
 

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CORNWALL.

died Oct. 11, 1851, and Mrs. Phelps died March 4,
1862. Having been captain of a military company in
Colebrook, he was popularly known as Capt. Phelps.

HARVEY W. PINNEY.

Harvey W. Pinney, the youngest of four children
of Aseph and Betty Pinney, was born in Colebrook,
Dec. 16,1811. His father was one of the early set-
tlers in the town, a farmer, and somewhat noted asa
school-teacher, and particularly as teacher of the
higher branches of mathematics, which at that time
were not a part of common-school education in coun-
try places. His son, Harvey W., the subject of this
sketch, passed his boyhood days on the home-farm,
with the usual experiences of a country lad of the
time, receiving a common-school education. The
father died in the spring of 1835, leaving a moderate
property, mostly in the farm, the care of which de-
volved upon Mr, Pinney and an older brother ; but he
-was not destined to long follow the farmer’s occupa-
tion exclusively. Infatuated.as a boy with the violin,
he had by great perseverance, and under much oppo-
sition from a father who, though a musician and
teacher of singing, entertained a poor opinion of “ fid-
dlers” in general, become quite proficient as a player,
and’eventually abandoned the farm and took up the
profession of dancing-master, furnishing with his

violin-music for balls and parties, and traversing the |

country in a circuit of thirty miles to attend his nu-
merous engagements. Traveling his rounds in a gig
drawn by a white-faced horse (almost as well known
as the driver), with fiddle-box strapped on behind,
Mr. Pinney was one of the best-known men and most
familiar sight of that region. He followed this busi-
ness profitably for twenty successive years, and mean-
time composed many pieces of music, some of which
were published. He was married, Oct. 23, 1850, to
Harriet A. Wakefield, daughter of Hezekiah and
Harriet B. Wakefield, of Colebrook, the fruits of
which union were two sons, Victor Hugo, who died
Feb. 12, 1854, at the age of two ‘and one-half years,
and Lucien Vernette, born in 1858, who at the present
writing (1881) is editor and publisher of the Winsted
Press. In 1851, Mr. Pinney was sent to the State
Legislature by the Democratic party as representative
from the town of Colebrook, and at various times was
elected justice of the peace. He was also postmaster
at Mill Brook (an office in the town of Colebrook)
for about thirty years. Of late years he has lived in
retirement on the accumulations of a prudent, tem-
perate, and industrious life, devoting his time mainly
to such religious studies and meditations as are en-
Joyed by modern infidels, of which class he is one of
the most outspoken, as his occasional contributions to
the public. press too plainly indicate. He was one of
the early converts to modern Spiritualism, and is still

.| its sincere advocate.

 

287

In illustration of his peculiar
independence of character, it may not be out of place
to say that he cast the first ‘ Greenback” vote in Cole-
brook, voting alone, though for perhaps forty years he

‘had voted with the Democratic party at every election.

He lives in Mill Brook, in the southwestern part of
the town of Colebrook. An engraving of his residence
(which during the thirty years that he was postmas-
ter was also the Mill Brook post-office) will be found
on another page.

CHAPTER XXX.
CORNWALL.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indians—“ Tom Warrups”—Sale of
the Town—Its Bounds—The First Meeting of Proprietors—Early Reg-
ulations—The First Settlers and their Locations—Grand List of 1742—
Family Sketches—The old Emmons Tavern—The Whipping-Post and
Stocks.

CoRNWALI lies northwest of the centre of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Canaan, on the east by Goshen, on the south by War-
ren and Kent, and on the west by the Housatonic
River, which separates it from Sharon. The surface
consists mainly of deep valleys and high hills or
mountains, Although one of the most mountainous
sections in the State, its soil is very fertile and pro-
ductive.

The high elevation in the northwest portion of
the town is known as Hough Mountain. South of
this is Rugg Hill, farther south Wallen Hill, and
still farther Power Dale, familiarly known as “ Tary-
diddle.”” Buck Mountain is still below this, the north-
eastern part of which is known as the “Cobble.” The
first hill below West Cornwall, nearer the river, was
called the Green Mountain. South and east of this
lies Mine Mountain, called so from the minerals it
was supposed to contain. Cream Hill, one of the
most beautiful localities in the State, lies in the north
middle part of the town, and receives its name from
the fertility of its soil and its picturesque scenery. A
charming sheet of water, known as Cream Hill Lake,
lies at its foot.

“North from this lake is a high range called Pine
Hill. East of this is the Great Hollow, extending over
four miles nearly north and south ; called in the north-
ern part Sedgwick Hollow, and Johnson Hollow in
the southern. A high and steep mountain range lies
on the northwest of Sedgwick Hollow, called Titus
Mountain.

“The hill up which the road from Cornwall to
Goshen winds is named Bunker Hill, from the resi-
dence on it of Rufus Bunker, an Indian of the Schagh-
ticoke tribe, an old and honest man, whose name is
associated with a more enduring monument than the
pyramids of Egypt. North and easterly of this hill
288

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

is situated Red Mountain, so named from the color of
the oak-leaves in the autumn when touched by the
frosts. Southerly is Clark Hill, so called from a
family of that name who removed nearly one hundred
years since from Hartford to that locality. South-
easterly from Clark Hill is the most elevated land in
the State, lying mostly in Goshen, from the apex of
which is a view of Long Island Sound. This eleva-
tion is called Mohawk Mountain. Southeast of Corn-
wall Plain, forming a part of the same range as Clark
Hill and Mohawk Mountain, lies Great Hill. Three
hundred acres of land given by the General Assembly
to Yale College is located here, and goes by the name
of College land. Bloody Mountain, so named from a
bloody tragedy not enacted there, lies north of the
Old Goshen and Sharon turnpike, northwest from the
centre of the town.

“In the southeast part of Cornwall is a high range
called Woodbury Mountain. West of this, and sepa-
rated from it by a deep gorge, is Dudley Town Hill,
so called from a family of that name among its early
settlers, late the residence of Caleb Jones. North of
this elevated neighborhood is Colt’s-Foot Mountain,
which rises boldly from the beautiful valley, formerly
called Pine Street, then the Plain, where is the pleas-
ant village of Cornwall.

“From the summits of many of these hills exten-
sive and magnificent views are presented, extending
west of the Hudson River, and over a large share of
Berkshire County, in Massachusetts. There are many
other minor hills, the beauty and picturesque appear-
ance of which, to be fully appreciated, must be seen.

“Cream Hill Lake, in the north part of the town,
and Mohawk Pond, in the southeast, and the Housa-
tonic River,—River of the Mountains,—forming the
western boundary, give life and character to the
scenery, which is never perfect without water views.
Small streams are numerous, the most important of
which are the North Mill Brook, having its source in
Cream Hill Lake, and flowing southwesterly three
miles to the Housatonic, with a descent of several
hundred feet; the South Mill Brook, rising in the
hills about Cornwall Plain, and flowing southwest
into the Housatonic; the Hallenbeck, rising in the
Great Hollow, and flowing northwesterly through
Canaan to the Housatonic. These are good mill-
streams, furnishing permanent water-power, but the
Housatonic, in its whole course by the side of the
town, flows rapidly, and might form the basis of active
industry. But a very small part of the power of this
river is yet utilized in any part of its course. These
streams are all fed by abundant, never-failing springs,
so that the name of ‘the sweet water country’ may
more aptly be applied to this township.”

Various mines—gold, silver, plumbago, nickel, iron,
etc.—at different periods have been opened, but have
never been found sufficiently rich to warrant working.
The town is watered by eight streams, tributaries to
the Housatonic.

 

THE INDIANS.

There is nothing of particular interest to record
concerning the aboriginal lore of this section, as there
is no record or tradition that the Indians ever perma-
nently occupied this town, although arrow-heads and
other relics have been found. There was a trail across
the town, and a palisade fort erected for the protection
of the pioneers. Mr. T. 8. Gold, in his “ History of
Cornwall,” says,—

“One evening as James Douglass was on his way to the fort from
Cream Hill, having remained at work later than usual, his family
having gone before, as he was passing through the low land,—Pratt's
meadow,—then covered with a dense growth of timber, in a narrow
foot-path, he discovered two Indians, one on either side of the path,
awaiting his approach. As Mr. Douglass had advanced too. near to re-
treat before he saw them, he assumed a bold and daring manner and
walked coolly between the two savages, who remained without motion,
being overawed by his fearless manner, or out of respect to the courage
displayed, and offered him no molestation.

“They kept constant guard when at work in the fields, and when
James Douglass and his sons were at work his daughters (one my great-
grandmother—T. §. G.) often sat by the loaded guns to give the alarm.

“As arace they have passed away. The older inhabitants still re-
member several families of them, and the bravery of one gains him a
place elsewhere in these records.” 7

The following incident was contributed to that vol-
ume by Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick:

TOM WARRUPS.

“This noble old Indian warrior died in Cornwall early in the present
century, and was well known throughout the township. In his old age
his hair became perfectly white, and his visits to all parts of the town
were frequent and acceptable, while his witty pleasantries were long
remembered. He was of the Schaghticoke tribe, but he became a resident
of Cornwall in his early life. In the Revolutionary war he enlisted into
a company commanded by Edward Rogers, Esq., as captain, of which
Loyal Tanner was lieutenant; this company was in the battle of Long
Island, and shared in all the disastrous resultsin that conflict, and 10 the
perils attending the retreat of the army from New York. Tom was al-
ways spoken of by his surviving comrades as a brave and daring soldier,
ready for every duty and danger required by the service.

“The following anecdote used to be told as illustrating his Indian
character: After the retreat from New York, the company was stationed
on the shore of the East River, and one morning a party of British went
up the river in boats on a foraging expedition, and landed not far from
the Cornwallcompany. Capt. Rogers proposed that the company should
attempt their capture, as the party was small and could probably be
easily taken prisoners, and submitting the proposal to the company,
some favored and others disapproved of it. When the question was
asked Tom, he said, ‘I guess we had better kill what prisoners we now have
before we try to get any more.’ He was celebrated for his ready wit, and
stories of it were often related in the early years of this century.

“Like the generality of his race, he was addicted to intoxication, and
even in the army he was sentenced for that offense to a ride on the
wooden horse in front of the regiment. While being thus transported
on the shoulders of his comrades, Lieut. Tanner asked him if he did not
feel ashamed to be presented to the regiment in that way. ‘ Yes,’ said
Tom, ‘I am ashamed to think that our lieutenant must go on foot while
a poor old Indian can ride.’

“Here is another anecdote: Capt. Jeffers once, meeting him, said,
‘Why, Tom, I was in hopes you were dead.’ ‘Why,’ said Tom, ‘do you
want the widow?’

“Very few among the living can remember him, but his Revolution-
ary services, and the universal kindness with which he was regarded,
render it proper that his memory should be preserved.”

SALE OF THE TOWN.

This town was sold at public auction at Fairfield,
Conn., Feb. 8, 1788, by the committee appointed by
the Assembly, consisting of John Burr, Edmund
Lewis, and Ebenezer Silliman. It was laid out into
CORNWALL.

fifty-three shares, one of which was for the first min-
ister, one for the support of the gospel ministry asa
perpetual fund, and one for the support of schools.
The State glso gave three hundred acres in the south-
eastern part of the town to Yale College. The average
price per acre of these lands in the town was about
twenty cents.

Its bounds were as follows:

“WHEREAS, the said Governor and Company assembled at Hartford,
May, Anno. 1731, Did Order that the Western County Lands on the east
side of the Ousatunuoc River, should be laid out into Townships, and ap-
pointed Messrs. Edmond Lewis, William Judd, and John Buel a Com-
mittee to lay out the same; and whereas, in Pursuance of said Order,
the said Committee laid out the same into Two Townships, one of which
in this survey is called the township of B, now called Cornwall, bounded
as followeth: Running from the southwest corner bounds of A, now
called Goshen, West ninety-two Degrees North, five miles and Seventy-
two Rods, to the Ousatunnoc River, where is marked a white Oak tree,
and set the letters, E. L. W. J. J. B., on said tree, and laid many stones
to it for a monument, at the Southwest Corner of the Township of B.
Then beginning at the White Oak Pole at the Northwest corner of the
Township of A, and run west ninety-two Degrees north, four miles anda
half to the Ousatunnoc River, and made a monument for the Northwest
corner of the Township of B, and the Southwest corner of the township
of C, now called Canaan, it being Three Black Oak trees growing from
one root marked, and many stones laid to them with the letters E. L.
W. J.J. B., set on them, thus the Township of B is surveyed and laid
out, and the lines thereof are set forth by marked Trees and monuments,
and is bounded south on the Township of E, now called Kent, north on
the town of C, east on the Township of A, and west on the Ousatunnoc
River.”

THE FIRST MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.

The first meeting of proprietors was held at Hartford,
Sept. 6, 1738. John Hall, of Fairfield, was chosen
moderator, and Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, clerk.

“One of the conditions required by the proprietors
of Cornwall was that the owner of each right should
erect a house sixteen feet square and seven feet in the
clear, and occupy the same for three years, except in
case of death of the owner. ‘These were built of logs.

“The first meeting of the proprietors of Cornwall
was held at Hartford, in the State-house, on the 6th
day of September, A.D. 1738. Mr. John Hall, of
Fairfield, was chosen moderator, and Timothy Collins,
of Litchfield, clerk, of said meeting. He was sworn
into office as proprietors’ clerk before Capt. Samuel
Chapman, a justice of the peace. The meeting was
adjourned to the house of Mr. Ebenezer Williamson
for a quarter of an hour, where the proprietors met
according to adjournment.

“ At that meeting they voted to lay out fifty acres
of land to each proprietor. Messrs. Benajah Doug-
lass, Joseph Waller, Joseph Kilborn, Joseph Allen,
and Samuel Roberts were appointed a committee to
lay out said lots, also to lay out the highways in Corn-
wall. Each proprietor was to be at the cost of the
survey of his piece of land, and in making the survey
bill,

“ At the same meeting it was voted to divide off an-
other fifty acres to each proprietor by the same com-
mittee,

“Ten shillings per day was voted to each of said
committee from the time they set out from Litchfield,

 

289

they boarding themselves. At this meeting it was
voted to give to Mr. Benajah Douglass twelve pounds
ten shillings for warning the same. The privilege
was granted to Mr. Timothy Collins, and such partners
as he should take with him, of the exclusive right to
any streams on undivided lands for mill or mills, pro-
vided that he shall set up a saw-mill by the 1st of
November, 1739, and he was to have the privilege so
long as he kept a saw-mill upon the stream in good
repair.

‘This first meeting was adjourned to the house of
Ensign Ebenezer Marsh, in Litchfield, on the second
Tuesday of the following November, at 9 A.M.

“At this adjourned meeting Samuel Messenger was
appointed surveyor of the lands of Cornwall, and a
tax of twenty-six shillings was levied on each pro-
prietor to defray expenses of laying out, for the col-
lection of which tax Joseph Allen was appointed.
The lots were laid out and numbered; they were then
divided by drawing for them, in the way of a lottery.
Permission was granted that such as were dissatisfied
with their lots could change them before the next
meeting of the proprietors by paying the expense of
the survey. Messrs: Osborn, Joseph Kilborn, and
Daniel Allen were appointed a committee to make
out the rate-bill on the proprietors for the tax of
twenty-six shillings, before named.

“The highways were to be six rods wide (many of
which, although they may be as long in our day as
our fathers made them, have shrunk wonderfully in
breadth).

“ At this meeting it was voted to lay out a highway
from Litchfield to Cornwall, also from Kent to Corn-
wall. Mr. Messenger was empowered to expend
twenty-five pounds in surveying and opening said
highways, and Messrs. Waller, John Dibble, John
Hall, Samuel Messenger, Daniel Allen, and Joseph
Allen were appointed a committee to lay out and
clear up highways from Litchfield and Kent, as far
as they could for the twenty-five pounds, one-half
of said sum to be expended on each highway.

“This meeting was adjourned to the third Wednes-
day of September, 1789, at twelve o’clock, at the house
of Peter Eastman, in Cornwall.

“These meetings of the proprietors were adjourned
from time to -time, and a division to the amount of
three hundred acres set to each. The one who drew
by lot the first choice was required to take the last in
the following division ; this plan was adopted to equal-
ize the division of property, in which all were equally
interested.

“The names of those who drew in the first and
second divisions were Nathan Lyon, Stephen Burr,
Jonathan Squires, J. Sherwood, James Smedley, James
Dennie,* Reuben Dibble, Nathaniel Spaulding, Sam-
uel Bryant, Joseph Frost, Andrus Truby, Gideon
Allen, Stephen Boroughs, John Dibble, Wm. Gay-

 

* Spelled in different records Dennil, Dennis, Donnil.
290

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

lord, Samuel Roberts, Tim. Pierce, Ebenezer Seely,
Benajah Douglass, Samuel Hall, Peter Eastman,
Thomas Harris, Joseph Kilborn, Samuel Kilborn,
Timothy Collins, Joseph Allen, Daniel Allen, Eli-
phalet Seely, Jacob Patchen, Elizur Seely, Benjamin
Osborn, Isaac Bissel, Samuel Smedly, Ephraim Smedly,
Joseph Waller, Ebenezer Whitlesey, Samuel Butler,
Thomas Ballard.

“Ten of the above had two rights each, and one
three.

“Previous to the allotment of any of these pro-
prietors’ rights, a division of three hundred acres was
set apart and located for each of the three important
objects, viz., first, for a parsonage; second, for the
support of a minister; third, for the establishment
and maintenance of schools.

“Tt was also voted at this meeting empowering the
committee previously chosen to lay out the Mill Brook
land ; to lay out at the mouth of the pond at the foot
of Cream Hill what they shall judge proper for drain-
ing and damming said pond, as a further encourage-
ment of building mills upon the stream that comes
out of said pond.

“Voted, To sequester 30 acres of land on Mill Brook to encourage
building a Mill or mills on said stream to be laid out by the Committee
formerly appointed to lay out the Mill land.

“This privilege of the Cream Hill mill-stream, to-
gether with the sequestered land, was given to Mr.
Mathew Millard, with liberty of damming and drain-
ing the pond and stream flowing out of it, he to build
and maintain a good corn-mill upon said stream by
the Ist of August, 1741, also a good saw-mill by the
same time.

“Myr. George Holloway was chosen clerk in the
place of Timothy Collins.”

Ata proprietors’ meeting held May 8, 1740, it was
voted to petition for town privileges and liberty to
settle an orthodox minister, also to grant a tax for the
settlement of a minister. It was voted to petition for
extension of time for the payment of the rights.

THE EARLY SETTLERS.

The first settler in Cornwall was Mr. Peter East-
man, who came in 1788. It was at his house—loca-
tion not known—that the first proprietors’ meeting
was held in the town. Mr.T. S. Gold, in his valuable
“History of Cornwall,” says,—

Up to the year 1740 there probably were no other
than log houses in this town. About forty of these
rude tenements were erected, usually upon the owner’s
land, and of course scattered very widely over the
different parts of the town. The occupants of the
dwellings we are enabled to learn, to a general extent,
from tradition. Samuel Abbott, ais was from Saw
bury (1792), lived near the alice formerly owned and
occupied by Mr. Birdsey, now owned by Rogers White
(William Stratman, 1877). Daniel and Joseph Allen,
from Litchfield (1740); one lived opposite the house
of Col. Anson Rogers, and the other on the Joel Cat-

lin farm (Harvey Baldwin, 1877). Eleazar Barritt,
from Plainfield, lived near Pangman’s, by Housatonic
River. David Baldwin, from Litchfield, lived on
Great Hill. John Blinn lived south of the Cotter
place, near the Housatonic River. Thomas Ballard,
from Plainfield, lived opposite Noah Rogers. John
Clothier lived near Cotter’s (Shepard, 1877), at West
Cornwall. John Dibble, from Stamford, lived a little
west of the Capt. Miles place, now Edward Kelloge’s
(A. Bennett, 1877). James Douglass, from Plainfield,
settled on Cream Hill. His log house was located a
few rods northeasterly from the late residence of Capt,
Hezekiah Gold, which house he afterwards built about
the year 1750, making this probably the oldest house
‘in town now standing and still occupied. Reuben
Dean was a celebrated hunter and doctor. He lived
| near Chandler Swift’s (Ira Frink, 1877). He was
‘from Norwalk. Woodruff Emmons came from Litch-
field. He lived where Dr. J oseph North lately re-
sided,—north of the residence of the late Carrington
Todd. Nathaniel Green lived near the orchard of
Capt. Miles, north of the ancient burying-ground.
He was from Stamford. Thomas Griffis, from Litch-
field. He lived on Dudley Town Hill, near the resi-
dence of the late Caleb Jones. John and George
t Halloway were from Middlebury, or Pembroke, Mass.
They lived where Mrs. Ithamer Baldwin now resides.
George died in 1750. He built the house used asa
tavern in 1776, kept by Woodruff Emmons, Benja-
min Hough, from New Milford, settled in the north-
west part of the town. Thomas Harris was from
Plainfield. He lived where the late Capt. Elias Hart
resided (George Potter, 1877). Moses Harris, from
Plainfield, lived near the late Capt. Clark’s (William
+ Bennett, 1877). Nathaniel Jewell, from Plainfield.
He lived near the present residence of Mr. Fowler
Bradford. Joshua Jewell, from the same place, lived
on the present Maj. Pierce’s farm. David Jewell,
also from Plainfield, lived near the present residence
of William Hindman, Esq. (Tyler Miner, 1877).
Stephen Lee, from Litchfield, lived on Great Hill.
Matthew Millard, from East Haddam, lived opposite
the residence of the late Oliver Burnham, Esq. Sam-
uel Messenger, from Harwinton, lived near the centre
of town, now Mr. Johnson’s. James Packett, from
Danbury, lived in Great Hollow. Timothy Pang-
born, from Stamford, lived a little north of Mr. Lu
ther Emmons’ place. Benoni Palmeter lived near the »
Baptist meeting-house (Elias Scoville, 1877). Thomas ,
Tanner, from Litchfield, lived on the hill east of the ;
late residence of the Hon. O. Burnham. He was,
‘grandfather of Tryal Tanner. Ebenezer Tyler lived |
‘in Cornwall Hollow, on the Samuel Johnson place.
Jonathan Squires, from Plainfield, lived south of the
residence of the late Riley M. Rexford. Reuben
Squires, also from Plainfield, lived near the late Capt.
Joel Wright’s (T. Wilson, 1877). Phineas Waller
lived near the late residence of Deacon Samuel Ad-
ams (Judson Adams, 1877).

 
CORNWALL.

These are all the residences of the first settlers of
Cornwall, on the list of 1740, that are well authenti-
cated.

In 1744 we find additional settlers :

Samuel Benedict, from Danbury, lived opposite K.
Birdsey’s.

Benjamin Dibble, from Stamford, near Seth Dib-
ble’s farm.

William Joyner, near R. M. Rexford’s, on Cream
Hill.

Amos Johnson, from Branford, near the late resi-
dence of Earl Johnson.

- Thomas Orton, from Litchfield, lived near the Sedg-
wick farm.

Joseph Pangborn, from Stamford, lived near Hart’s
bridge, south of the mill, West Cornwall.

Samuel Robards, from Colchester, lived thirty rods
east of Benjamin Catlin’s (Niles Scoville, 1877).

Patrick Hindman, a foreigner, settled near John
Hindman’s (Tyler Miner, 1877).

Abraham Raymond, from Norwalk.

Joseph Peck lived where Stiles Peck last lived.

In 1748, Jonathan Hurlburt, east of Sedgwick’s.

Jacob Bronson, from Norwalk, near the late Wil-
liam Stoddard’s (Peter Fritz, 1877).

Israel Moss lived where Ezra Taylor lives; was a
merchant.

The list for 1742 is the oldest extant, and a com-
plete copy is here given. It is written on a single
sheet of foolscap paper, having on one page C, I, K,
E, F, D, R, in water-lines, and on the other a large
shield, the design on which is not very plain. Whole
number of polls, 52; horses, 43 ; cows, 52; oxen, 41;
young cattle, 9; swine, 21.

GRAND LIST, 1742.

A—Sam! Abbott, one head, 18; two cows, 6; 23-year olds, 6; one mare,
3; one swine, 1.—34,

Dan! Allen, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, two horses, 12; one
2-year old steer, 2; one yearling heifer, 1; five swine, 5.—46.

Joseph Allen, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, two horses, 12; one
swine, 1.—39.

B.—Elear Barrett, one head, 18; one mare, two cows, 9.—27.

Benj Bissell, one head, 18; one cow, 3.—21.

David Baldwin, one head, 18; one cow, one horse, 6.—24.

John Blinn, one head.—18.

Tho* Ballard, one head, one horse, one cow.—24.

C.—John Clothier, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two horses, 6; two cows,
6,.—38.

W™. Chittester, one head, 18; two horses, one cow, 9.—27.

D.—John Dibbell, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, one horse, 95
one yearling, one swine, 2.—37.

Benj Dibbell, one head, 18; a house lot, 3; one cow, one horse, 6; one
yearling colt, 1; one swine, 2.—30.

James Douglass, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one horse, 3.
—35.

Reuben Dean, two heads, 36; two oxen, 8; three cows, 9; three horses,
9.—62.

E—Woodruff Emmons, one head, 18.

F.—David Frisbie, one head, 18.

G.—Nath! Green, two polls, 36; one ox, 4; one horse, 3.—43.

Thos, Griffis, two heads, 36; two oxen, 8; two cows, two horses, 12.—56.

H.—George Holloway, one head, 18; five oxen, 20; two cows, 6; one
horse, 3.—47,

John Holloway, one head, 18.

Benjan Hough, one head, 18; two horses, one cow, 9; one swine, 1.—28.

 

291

Thom. Harris, two heads, 36; two cows, 6; one horse, 3.—45.

Moses Harris, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one cow, three swine, 6.—32.

Samuell Horsford, one head, 18.

J.—Nath!, Jewell, one head, 16; one mare, one cow, 6.—24.

Joshua Jewell, two heads, 36; two oxen, 8; three cows, 9; two horses, 6 ;
one swine, 1.—60.

David Jewell, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one cow, one horse, 6,—32.

L.—Rich4 Lovejoy, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one horse,
3.—35.

Stephen Lee, one head, 18; one horse, 3.—21= 557.

M.—Mathv Millard, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; three cows, 9; horse, 3.
—38.

Sam! Messinger, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; two cows, 6; one horse, 3;
one 2-year old, 2; three swine, 3.—40.

Peter Mallory, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one cow, two horses, 9; one
swine, 1.—36.

N.

0.

P.—James Pickett, one head, 18; two horses, one cow, 9,—27.

Timy Pangborn, one head, 18; one horse, 3; one cow, 3; two yearlings,
2.—26.

Benoni Palmeter, one head, 18.

R.—Sam! Robards, one head, 18; one cow, 3; one mare, 3.—24,

T,.—Thos Tanner, one head, 18; a yoak of oxen, 8; two cows, 3; one
horse, 3.—42.

Wm. Tanner, one head, 18,

Ebent Tyler, one head, 18.

Uv.

§.—Jonath Squier, three heads, 54; two oxen, 8; two horses, 6; one cow,
3; one swine, 1.—72. :

Reuben Squier, one head, 18; two oxen, 8; one horse, 3.—29.

William Smiley, one head, 18= 406.

‘W.—Phin* Walker, one head, 18; one ox, 4; one horse, 3.—25,

John Young, one head, 18; one cow, 3.—21.

The sum of the several footings..

 

The sum totall of this list made by us,
JONATHAN SQUIFR,
Listers,

Natu! GREEN,
Sam! MEssINGER,

In 1745 there were in the list two less than in 1742,
and three less than in 1744.

In 1748 there were seventy persons in the list, and
the property amounted to £3054 18s. Jonathan
Squier had the largest list of any one in town, being
£109 18s. Matthew Millard stood next, being £99 2s.
John Dibble was next, £93. Next was Thomas Or-
ton, £79 14s. Next was Joshua Jewell, £77. The
next was James Douglass, £68. Several were as low
as £0.

The following record of families is condensed from
Gold’s “History of Cornwall:”

Tur Doveias FAMILY.—One of the most active
pioneers in the settlement of this town was James
Douglas. He came here, in 1739, from Plainfield.
Cream Hill was his lot; it received this name from
the superiority of the soil and the beauty of its scenery.
This name was given to it, as town records show, be-
fore Mr. Douglas purchased. He bought two rights
of Timothy Pierce, of Canterbury, an original pro-
prietor, in 1738, for four hundred pounds; also, he
bought fifty acres on Cream Hill, on which his first
house was built. The fifty-acre lot was purchased of
Jonah Bierce, of New Fairfield, who had bought it of
Nathan Lyon, of Fairfield, an original proprietor.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD

292

COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

James Douglas was brother of Benajah, an original
proprietor in Cornwall, but who settled in North
Canaan, being the ancestor of the Douglas family in
that town, and great-grandfather of the distinguished
senator, Stephen Arnold Douglas.

James Douglas and his wife, whose family name
was Marsh, taught the first school in Cornwall, he
teaching in the winter and his wife insummer. Cream
Hill, before the woodman’s axe was heard there, was
covered with lofty trees of various kinds, the surface
not being entangled with underbrush, as much of the
forest in town was. Mr. Douglas was an energetic
and public-spirited man. He expended much labor
in opening a mine one hundred and twenty feet in
depth for gold. Specimens of the ore were sent to
Boston for analysis, from which small sums in gold
were returned; but the expense of obtaining it was
too great to make it a paying business. Another
mine was wrought for silver sixty feet, with like re-
sults.

He is said to have wintered the first stock in town,—
a horse and yoke of oxen. Heavy snows caught him
unprepared. Deer were abundant; the boiled flesh
made a nutritious soup for the cattle, which, with
browse from the trees felled for the purpose, was their
support. The horse refused both, but ate hair from
the skins, and moss from the trees gathered in
blankets.

Mr. Douglas, about 1748, erected a large two-story
house, which, about two years after its completion,
was unfortunately burned down, and he built the
house now standing on the same ground, which he
occupied till his death. This is supposed to be the
oldest occupied houseintown. Capt. Hezekiah Gold,
son of Rev. Hezekiah Gold, who married Rachel
Wadsworth, granddaughter of Mr. James Douglas,
purchased this property about 1790 of Mr. Joseph
Wadsworth, ason-in-lawof Mr. Douglas. This house
and farm is at present (1877) owned by T. 8. Gold.

Farmers were then their own mechanics. The old
tan-vat, where James Douglas tanned his own leather,
was but recently filled up,—on the bank of the small
stream now called the “ Gutter,” near his house.

Mr. Douglas had three sons and four daughters.
The eldest of the daughters, Sarah, married Capt.
Samuel Wadsworth; the youngest, Eunice, married
Mr. Joseph Wadsworth; another, Olive, married for
her first husband a Mr. Johnson, and after his death,
Deacon Eliakim Mallory. The other daughter, Mary
(or Rachel), married a Mr. Taylor, of New Marlboro’,
Mass. Two sons, William and James Marsh, having
sold their property on Cream Hill, removed to Ver-
mont, where some of their descendants at present re-
side. James Marsh married Rhoda, sister of Judge
Burnham, of Cornwall. The other son, John, died
in 1763, aged fourteen.

In the old cemetery at South Cornwall we find the
tombstones of James Douglas and his wife thus in-
scribed :

 

“ James Douglas, Died Aug. 18, 1785, x. 74,
Mortals Awake
Your time review, think on
Death, Eternity is near.”

“Rachel, wife of James Douglas, died April 23, 1790, x. 78,
Life how short,
Eternity how long.”

THE WapswortH FAMILY.—Rev. Samuel Wads-
worth was a minister in Killingly. He had three
sons, who came to Cornwall about 1740,—Samuel,
Joseph, and James.

Samuel Wadsworth married Sarah, daughter of
James Douglas, and had only one child, Rachel, who
married Hezekiah Gold. By her he received her
father’s farm on Cream Hill, which has passed by de-
scent to the present owner, T. S. Gold. Samuel
Wadsworth died Jan. 2, 1818, aged sixty-six. Sarah,
his wife, died April 16, 1820, aged seventy-seven.

Joseph Wadsworth married another daughter of
James Douglas, Eunice, and had three sons,—War-
ren, Samuel, and Douglas. About 1800 he sold his
farm on Cream Hill to Hezekiah Gold, and removed
to Goshen, Orange Oo., N. Y.

James Wadsworth married Irene Palmer, and had
a son, Deacon James Wadsworth, one daughter, who
married an Ingersoll from Bethlehem, and a second
daughter, who married Hawley Reed, of Cornwall.

Joshua Pierce, the father of Joshua, John, and
Seth Pierce, and of several daughters, belonged to
Pembroke, of Plymouth Co., Mass. He bought the
place now occupied by Maj. Seth Pierce, May 17,
1748, consisting of three hundred and three acres, of
Joshua Jewel. Joshua Pierce was the venerable an-
cestor of the Pierce family. -He was a poor boy, put
out to a hard master, who treated him with much un-
kindness and severity.

Dr. Jonathan Hurlburt came from that part of
Farmington now called Southington, having bought
of Timothy Orton one hundred and twenty acres in
1746. He is thought to have been the first that prac-
ticed medicine in the township. He was also a me-
chanic, and made plows. His son Ozias lived and
died on the same place where his father did, a little
south of the Sedgwicks. His brother Joab lived near
him, and died some years before him. Both are bur-
ied in the old Cornwall Hollow Cemetery.

Mathew Millard, from East Haddam, was one of
the early permanent citizens in Cornwall. He located
and built on the west side of the street, opposite to
the house of the late Judge Burnham. He was one
of the largest land-holders in Cornwall ; was 4 very
respectable citizen, and was authorized to obtain 4
minister at the first town-meeting. Mr. Millard had
but one child that lived to mature age, a daughter,
Achsah. She married Elisha Steele, of West Hart-
ford, called Deacon Steele, who, after the death of his
father-in-law, occupied his house and homestead.

Samuel Messenger, of Harwinton, was one of the
first settlers, a surveyor; a very active and useful in-
habitant. His residence was on the spot where the
CORNWALL. 293

 

Rev. Hezekiah Gold built and lived at the Centre.
Mr. Messenger was here in the summer of 1739. He
bought a whole right of Ephraim Smedley, of Wood-
bury, soon after the sale of the town in 1738.

According to town records, Mr. Messenger’s son
Daniel, who was born March 18 (old style), 1740, was
the first birth of the early settlers of the town. Mr.
Messenger, in four or five years, sold his place to his
brother, Nehemiah Messenger, and he, in 1757, sold to
one Joseph Mather.

George Holloway, from Pembroke, in Massachusetts’
came with his brother John to this town from New
Fairfield in the spring, 1740. He was the most prom-
inent among the first settlers in office, character, and
influence. He was directed by the Assembly to call
the first town-meeting; was a justice of the peace,
first town clerk, captain of the militia, and bore the
title of Dr. Holloway.

John Clothier was one of the first settlers.

Samuel Abbott was one of the early settlers from
Danbury. He located in East Street. He first
erected a log house, and afterwards a large and
commodious residence a few rods southwest of the
house of the late Ebenezer Birdsey., Mr. Abbott was
a very worthy citizen, and for several years a deacon
of the Congregational Church. His children were
Samuel, Abel, Nathan, Seeley, and Daniel, and a
daughter, who married Jesse Jerrods, from Long
sland,

Thomas Tanner, one of the original settlers, came |

from Litchfield, with his son William, being of age.
Thomas settled on the old road east of the Burnham
place, and died there; house since occupied by John;
Kellogg. i

Jethro Bonney and his brother Perez came from
Pembroke, Mass., about 1760. Jethro owned the
Beardsley place, and afterwards the Judson place.
Perez settled on Clark Hill, and had sons,—Perez,
Titus, Asa, and Jairus.

The Burnham place was sold in 1757 by Rev. Sol-
omon Palmer to Noah Bull, of Farmington. Judge
Burnham bought the place in 1792 of Jerrett Ket-
tletop, of New York City.

Oliver Burnham married Sarah, daughter of Noah
Rogers (8d), and had children,—Oliver Rogers,
Franklin, William, Rhoda, married Victorianus
Clark; Mary A., married Rev. A. Judson; Clarissa,
married Alvin North; Emily F., married Rev. John
Clark Hart; Harriet, married Rev. Grove Brownell.

Dr. Russell came from Guilford; sold the Hollo-
way house, in April, 1777, to Salmon, son of Wood-
ruff Emmons.

Ebenezer Sherwood, son of John Sherwood, of
Fairfield, a Baptist minister, and one of the early
proprietors, in 1770 settled on the farm afterwards
owned by Parson Stone, now (1877) the estate of
John C. Calhoun. He died in 1785.

Timothy Cole, from New Milford, married Rebekeh,
daughter of old Sergt. John Dibble, lived south of

Truman Dibble, and died in 1788. He was uncle of
John and David Cole, who came from same town.

Jonathan Squires, an original purchaser of two
rights, was another enterprising pioneer from Plain-
field. In 1739 he settled on Cream Hill, southwest
from Mr. Douglas’ place, on the road (long since
discontinued) leading from Rexford’s to the grist-
mill. He was a man of activity, and was frequently
employed in the public business of the town. But
few of the first settlers were more wealthy than he.
A daughter of his married Mr. Samuel Scovill,
grandfather of Jacob Scovill, Esq. Mr. Squires died
in this place at an advanced age. -

Thomas Rugg, in 1789, came from Woodbury and
built a house on Rugg Hill, near the Housatonic
River. As the “hard winter” set in, he left his wife
and three small children and went to Woodbury to
obtain supplies, expecting to be absent but a few
days. Before he could return there came on a ter-
rific snow-storm, which lasted many days. The scanty
supply of food in the house was exhausted, and one
of the children died from starvation; and they might
all have perished from the same cause had not Mr.
Douglas, living on Cream Hill, went on his snow-
shoes to inquire after them. Finding them in this
suffering condition, he brought them all on his ox-
sled to his house, and kindly cared for their necessi-
ties until Mr. Rugg’s return. This family, disheart-
ened by their afflictions, returned in the spring to
Woodbury.

Amos Johnson removed from Branford to Cornwall
in 1742. He was accompanied by his wife and two
sons, Amos and Solomon.

Amos Johnson (2d) was a captain in the Revolu-
tionary war. He married Elizabeth Pierce, a daugh-
ter of Joshua Pierce. They had twelve children, of
whom nine survived childhood, viz., Amos, Elizabeth,
Timothy, Anna, Lucy, Samuel Pierce, Buckley, Urena,
and Palmer.

Solomon married Eleanor Pierce, daughter of
Joshua Pierce. Their children were Solomon, Elea-
nor, Abigail, Stephen, Seth, Lucy, and David. The
two last named died in childhood. Of the remainder
a number went West, and Eleanor married Col. Ben-
jamin F. Gold. They had several children.

’ Nathaniel Carter came from Killingworth, and
‘bought the Jones homestead of Barzillai Dudley,
4in Dudley Town. In March, 1763, he removed to
| what is now Binghamton, N. Y.

/ John and Benjamin Dibble were brothers, and
' among the first inhabitants of the town. They came
from Norwalk. Benjamin, who was called Dr. Dib-
ble, was a sort of a root or Indian doctor. He had
two sons and several daughters. The sons were Israel
and George. Israel was severely wounded during the
Revolutionary war, at White Plains, rendering him
decrepit for life. He had nine children, sons and
daughters. His youngest son, Seth, lived at his
father’s house, and was an active business man.

 
294

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

George, the other son of Benjamin Dibble, lived to
the age of eighty-four.

Among the early settlers, though not original pro-
prietors, were three brothers, Samuel, Stephen, and
Timothy Scoville,—spelt in the early records Scovel,
—from Saybrook.

Samuel settled where Henry Rodgers now lives,
building a house, probably of logs, just east of the
present dwelling.

Stephen settled where Sylvester Scoville now lives.

Timothy settled just above the Mills place, north
of Frank Reed’s. These three lived and died where
they settled, and are buried in South Cornwall ceme-
tery.

From Stephen descended Levi, who was deaf and
dumb, and Sylvester, his son, who still occupies the
old homestead. Levi was a good farmer, a man of
remarkable intelligence for a deaf and dumb mute,
before they had any of the modern advantages of
education. He had no difficulty in communicating
with his neighbors by natural signs so apt that all
could understand. He was a regular attendant at
church, and, it was said, well knew what the minister
had to say.

Timothy’s children—Ira and Ithamar—moved West.

Samuel had a large family,—two sons by his first
wife, Samuel and Jacob, familiarly known as “ Uncle
Jake.” Both were Revolutionary soldiers, and were
taken prisoners at the battle of Long Island, and con-
fined in the terrible prison-ships, and eventually dis-
missed on parole. When they came home their
clothes were so infested with vermin that they had to
bury them.

Samuel settled on the “Cobble,” and it is said that
when engaged in piling up the stone walls which still
stand there, talking to his four yoke of oxen, he
could be heard at Cornwall Centre and down on Corn-
wall Plain.

A sketch of “Uncle Jake” is given among the
“Heroes of the Revolution.” Many stories of him
are still extant. One time, while watching a redoubt,
a British soldier being in the habit of coming out
and slapping a portion of his person in contempt, he
was appointed, as the best shot in the company, to
put a stop to the performance. He watched his op-
portunity, and had the satisfaction of seeing the sol-
dier keel off the parapet before the slapping process
was half accomplished.

At one time he bet a gallon of rum that he could
outjump the company (the Connecticut), and
won it by clearing thirty-six feet at two hops and a
jump.

Oliver Wickwire came from New London County
before the time of the Revolution. He settled on the
old road, long since discontinued, running northeast
from near Chester Wickwire’s. His nearest neighbor
on the south was James Douglas.

George Wheaton, Esq., came from East Haven,
where he was born, in 1790. He died Nov. 24,

 

 

1865, aged seventy-five. He studied law with Judge
Church, of Salisbury, was admitted to the bar in 1818,
and settled as a lawyer in Cornwall. Mr. Wheaton
was a well-read, exact lawyer, a prudent business
man, and a close reasoner. He was a valuable man
in town affairs, and enjoyed the respect and confidence
of his fellow-citizens.

~ Tue RoGers FAMILY.—The pedigree of this family
is traced back by records in the British Museum to
Thomas Rogers, of Bradford, County of Wilts, ser-
geant-at-law, who died in 1485. He was great-grand-
father of John Rogers, the martyr.

Noah Rogers (8d), with his brother Edward, moved
to Cornwall from Branford in 1760.

Noah Rogers (3d), though relieved from military
duty by defect in one of his eyes, was a volunteer at
the time of the surrender of Burgoyne, and brought
home a British musket as a trophy.

Noah Rogers (4th), born 1766, married Lydia,
daughter of Rev. John Cornwall.

Capt. Edward Rogers was a lieutenant in the old
French war, having received two commissions from
George III., and an officer in the army of the Revo-
lution; more particular mention of him is made in
that record.

Hon. Edward Rogers, oldest son of Capt. Edward,
was a graduate of Williams College; studied law at
the celebrated law-school of Gould & Reeves, of
Litchfield; married Sally Maria Gold, daughter of
Hezekiah Gold; settled in the practice of his pro-
fession in Madison, Madison County, N. Y. He was
a member of the New York State convention for
framing the constitution for that State; was presid-
ing judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Madison
County for many years. Judge Rogers represented
the district in which he lived in the Congress of the
United States.

Col. Anson Rogers was widely known as largely
occupied with public affairs, having held almost every
important office in the gift of his townsmen. He
was drafted in the war of 1812, and served the town
as constable and collector for fourteen years in suc-
cession. It was said of him that “he never served a
writ without making a friend.” He was a zealous
worker to secure the location of the church at North
Cornwall.

Noah and Edward Rogers appear on the town rec-
ords as purchasers of land in December, 1761. The
principal pieces were bought of William Gould:
those near the church in North Cornwall, now owned
by Noah Rogers, and the estate of Anson Rogers, and
a farm of six hundred acres lying in and on both sides
of the Great Hollow ; price twelve hundred pounds.
The family has always been one of the most substan-
tial in town, always reliable in every good word and
work, Several members have received a liberal educa-
tion, and are noted elsewhere, as Rev. J. A. R. Rogers
and Ambrose Rogers, and in the other branch, Hon.
Edward and Hezekiah Gold Rogers.
CORNWALL.

295

 

A family gathering was held Sept. 28, 1864, on the
farm of Noah Rogers (6th). One hundred and
twenty-five members of the family were present.
After dinner, in which all heartily engaged, a his-
torical address was given by Ambrose 8. Rogers, of
New Milford, to whom we are indebted for many of
these facts. Then followed short speeches, anecdotes,
etc. One incident, related by O. Rogers Burnham,
is worthy of preservation :

“The Rev. Nathaniel Hawes, minister of the parish,
became embarrassed, and was intending to sell his
little house, when it was proposed to raise the seven
hundred and fifty dollars he needed by subscription,
in shares of fifteen dollars each. The citizens gen-
erally subscribed one share each; but two young
girls in the bloom and beauty of maidenhood, daugh-
ters of Noah Rogers, had put down their names for
twoshares each. ‘And how,’ he asked, ‘did they ob-
tain the money?’ ‘By keeping school at one dollar
a week! and thirty dollars then was more than ten
times thirty now.’ ”

Anson Rogers said that his father, Edward Rogers,
was a captain in the Revolution, and as the
government script was valueless, he advanced two
thousand dollars in gold to pay his men, which
sum the government had never restored. Revolu-
tionary relics of Capt. Rogers were presented, speci-
mens of the handiwork of the mothers; but more
interesting was a Bible printed in 1575, brought over
in the “ Mayflower.” It had appended a “Book of
Psalmes collected into English meter by Thomas
Sternhold and John Hopkins.”

By intermarriage in North Cornwall the Rogers
blood is mingled in most of the leading families that
now reside there, as the Harrisons, Pratts, Harts, etc.

The Pratt family were among the early settlers.

The family moved to Cornwall about 1780. Among .

the sons was Jasper, the third child, born in 1756, and
Minor, the youngest, born in 1768. These two sons
were the only ones of the family who became perma-
nent residents in this town.

Before the removal from Saybrook, Jasper Pratt
had enlisted from that town, at the commencement of
the Revolutionary war, into the Third Connecticut
Regiment, and served in the army seven years and
three months, or until the close of the war. For
most of the time he was stationed in New Jersey,
guarding the coast from foraging parties from New
York, who were called “Cow-Boys.” In one of these
raids he was taken prisoner, and confined three months
: the city, when an exchange of prisoners released

im.

One winter the regiment was ordered to the banks
ofthe Hudson River. The weather was cold, he, with
others, was scantily clothed, their shoes were miser-
ably poor, and blood from their feet was often left
in their tracks, They suffered severely in that trip,
but they endured patiently to the end that their
country might be free.

 

In those days there lived on the premises now
owned by Harvey Baldwin a man by the name of
Samuel Butler. He came from Windsor, in this
State, about 1775, with a family of several daughters
and one son, Mr. Butler was in infirm health, and
did not live long after coming to Cornwall. It was
not long after Mr. Butler died before his wife was
taken with the smallpox. She died and her remains
rest under one of the old tombstones now standing in
the meadow a short distance west of the North Con-
gregational meeting-house. Three or four other per-
sons, who died of the same disease about the same
time, were also buried there.

Of the daughters, one was married to Ozias Hurl-
burt, one to Simeon Emmons, one to Samuel Dem-
ming; and it so came about that the care of the farm
devolved upon Abigail and Thankful. the two young-
est of the daughters, and they were efficient in work-
ing it. They sheared their own sheep, spun the
wool, and wove it into cloth. They also themselves
sowed the flax, and put it through all the necessary
processes to get it into cloth. They disposed of con-
siderable of their cloth for the benefit of the soldiers
in the army, and took their pay in Continental money.
They afterwards gave one hundred dollars of it for a
sieve. Some of the linen cloth made by Abigail in
those days was more than thirty years afterwards
worn by one of her grandchildren, and was in good
condition. Thankful Butler married a Mr. Fellows,
by whom she had one son, Ephraim. Calvin Butler,
who had a large family, and who owned a large farm
in the northwest corner of this town, and who died
about 1860, was a grandson of the aforesaid Samuel
Butler. Soon after the war closed, Jasper Butler
came to his Cornwall home, which was then on the
south side of the road, opposite to where the founda-
tion of Elias. Scovill’s former blacksmith-shop now
stands, and near the Butler place. The Butler girls
had a hog to kill. They did not understand dressing
pork as well as they did flax, and they employed
Jasper Pratt, then just home from the war, to help do
it. On that occasion an intimacy between him and
Abigail Butler had its starting-point, which resulted
in their marriage in 1785,—“ tall oaks from little
acorns grow.” The Butler property was sold, and
they purchased from Noah Rogers a farm on Cream
Hill, to which they removed. He died Feb. 24, 1833,
aged seventy-seven years.

Chalker married Lydia, daughter of Deacon Noah
Rogers, and had two children,—Russell R.., born Oct.
15, 1816; Helen A., born Aug. 24, 1818, married Ste-
phen Foster, of Morristown, N. J., who died March
10, 1863. She died in 1875.

Chalker Pratt was a man of influence in the com-
munity, ever ready to lend his aid to every good work,
and an active member in the Church of Christ. He
was the agent for the Cornwall Iron Company for a
number of years, until about 1840, when, as the Hou-
satonic Railroad drew near completion, he sold his
296

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

farm on Cream Hill and removed to West Cornwall,
where he had purchased land and erected buildings
thereon, with reference to going into the mercantile
business. He died Aug. 26, 1851, aged fifty-nine.

Russell R. Pratt married Mary E., daughter of John
Cotter. She died May 1, 1849, leaving one child, Har-
riet C., who married Col. C. D. Blinn, of West Corn-
wall, a merchant, now residing in New Milford. The
second wife of Russell R. Pratt was Mary W. Bonney,
of Danbury, Conn., a daughter of Rev. William Bon-
ney, of New Canaan, Conn. He was a native of this
town, and during his early years lived on the prem-
ises now owned and occupied by Edwin White, on
Clark Hill. Russell R. Pratt and Stephen Foster,
under the firm-name of Pratt & Foster, established
a successful mercantile business at West Cornwall in
1841. Upon the death of Mr. Foster, in 1863, the
business was continued by his heirs, and now Mr. R.
R. Pratt and R. P. Foster constitute the firm. Mr.
Foster was a man of pleasing manners, great indus-
try, indefatigable energy, and shrewd in his business
plans. Asa railroad contractor he was the first one
in the construction of the Housatonic Railroad to
break ground north of New Milford, which was done
at the Deep Rock cut, near West Cornwall. The ma-
terial interests of the church had his especial regard.
His death, in the full vigor of life, was a serious loss
to the church and community. Mr. R. R. Pratt, as
an energetic business man, as selectman for seven
years from 1856, as representative in 1858, as deacon
of the church from 1854 to 1871, as superintendent
of the Sabbath-school at West Cornwall since 1860,
has filled, and still holds, a prominent position in the
secular and religious interests of the town.

Widow Brewster came to Cornwall from Stratford
in 1797, with two children,—George, eight years old,
and his younger brother, Nelson. Her husband had
been lost at sea with his vessel, of which he was
owner and captain, three years before.

THE JONES FAMILY.—Caleb Jones died in Corn-
wall, Dec. 9, 1786, aged seventy-four years.

Zachariah Howe Jones, son of Caleb Jones, died
July 31, 1817, aged seventy-two years.

Caleb Jones, son of Zachariah Howe Jones, died
Aug. 8, 1854, aged seventy-two years. Jane Ann,
only child of the above Caleb, was born May 17, 1814,
and was married to John T. Andrew, Sept. 9, 1839,
and resides in the village of Cornwall.

Zachariah Howe Jones removed from Wallingford,
Conn., to Cream Hill, in Cornwall, and owned the
farm since occupied by the late Deacon James Wads-
worth. He afterwards removed to the south part of
the town.

On the 28th of February, 1811, Caleb was married
to Harriet Swift, daughter of Rufus Swift, and grand-
daughter of Gen. Heman Swift, of the Revolutionary
army, the friend and at one time the host of Wash-
ington.

James Beirce, father of Joseph and James, came

 

from Eastern Massachusetts, probably Pembroke,
about 1739, and settled on the old road east of the
Burnham place. He afterwards removed to Cornwall
Bridge. From him the late Peter Beirce, a promi-
nent business man and politician, and James Beirce,
of Cornwall Bridge, are descended.

Ephraim Clark came from England early in the
seventeenth century; his wife came from France in
1740, and they settled in Stratford. He came to
Cornwall and bought most of the hill called, after
him, ‘‘Clark Hill.” He was taken sick with the
measles, returned to Stratford, and died there. His
four sons, David, Hezekiah, Silas, and Uri, settled on
his lands. David had a son, William, who lived on
the place now occupied by his son, William L. Clark.
William was a man highly respected by his towns-
men; had a family of six sons and six daughters,
who grew to maturity. They are now widely scat-
tered, one, William Leavitt, remaining on the old
homestead; has one sun and three daughters.

Deacon Victorianus Clark was the son of Capt,
Nehemiah Clark, and brother of Pierce Clark. They
had no relationship with the other family of Clarks.

Andrew Cotter was a blacksmith by trade, and
emigrated to Cornwall from Haddam, and set up his
shop in North Cornwall.

Henry Baldwin was a Revolutionary soldier from
Saybrook, Conn. He served as a private during the
war, and returned home at its close with one hun-
dred and fifty dollars of Continental money in his
pocket. This soon depreciated in value to such an
extent that he offered the whole sum in exchange for
a bushel of wheat, and was refused. Not discouraged
by adversity, he soon after married Jane Shipman, a
native of the same town, and emigrated to Cornwall,
where he became the tenant of Deacon Noah Rogers,
on the farm now owned by T. 8, Gold, in Cornwall
Hollow.

Dr. John Calhoun, son of Dr. John Calhoun, of
Washington, came to Cornwall in 1792, and in 1804
was followed by his brother, Deacon Jedediah Cal-
houn, who located as a farmer in the southwest part
of the town. Dr. Calhoun was a successful practi-
tioner for forty-six years, and had a numerous family.

John C. Calhoun went as a clerk to Plymouth in
1832, and afterwards engaged there in mercantile
business. In 1846 he went to New York, establish-
ing the firm of Calhoun & Vanderburg. The firm was
afterwards changed to Robbins, Calhoun & Co. Asa
business man he was eminently successful, rapidly ac-
cumulating a handsome fortune; but he was better
known to us as a liberal-hearted Christian gentleman.
His love for the quiet scenery of his native town !n-
duced him to purchase for a summer residence the old
homestead of Parson Stone, in the village of Cornwall,
about 1866. The enthusiasm with which he entered
upon its improvement was only surpassed by his public
spirit and liberality. The adornment of the cemetery
at South Cornwall, upon which he expended one
CORNWALL.

thousand dollars, and for the permanent care of which
he gave one thousand dollars, securely invested, and
the establishment of a town library, with a trust
fund of two thousand dollars for its annual enlarge-
ment, are examples of his judicious use of the prop-
erty committed to his stewardship. He died in New
York, Nov. 26, 1874.

Ebenezer Birdseye, residing in the south part of the
town, had a son, Victory, who received a liberal edu-
cation and became a prominent lawyer, residing in
Pompey, N. Y. He represented his district in the
Congress of the United States, and was appointed an
especial attorney to prosecute the abductors of Mor-
gan. His son, Judge Lucius Birdseye, of New York,
was a graduate of Yale, 1841.

Theodore Ives, brother of Cephas Ives, of Goshen,
about 1800 came from that town, married a daughter
of Noah Rogers (4th), and set up his trade at North
Cornwall.

Rev. Mark Ives, son of Cephas, received a liberal
education, and went as a missionary to the Sandwich
Islands in 1836, and remained there fourteen years,
when, on account of the failure of his health, he re-
turned to this country with his family, and settled as
a farmer in Cornwall.

John Dean was an early settler.

Ensign Nathan Millard, father of Joel Millard, set-
tled on Cream Hill.

Rey. Gurdon Rexford, a Methodist minister, and
his brother, Samuel Rexford, settled on Cream Hill
towards the close of the last century.

Abiel Prindle, who lived near Cream Hill Lake, was
the father of Warren and Joseph Prindle. He also
had two daughters,—Alice, married Mr. Barnes, and
Anna. Warren had sons, Samuel and Harmanus,
who still survive and have families. Joseph and
Anna lived to a good old age, but remained unmar-
ried. Joseph was quite a character in his day. He
was an indulged boy, who played truant, and grew up
a slave to a hard master, even his own ungoverned
passions. In his youth he had some ambition, and
aspired to the study of Latin and to making poetry.
One stanza will suffice:

“Dr. Frank,
He felt so crank,
He danced like a dandy, 0!
He jumped so high
He hit the sky,
And thought he’d got Miss Pangman, 0 !”

Samuel Agur Judson came to Cornwall in 1794,
with his sister, Sarah A., from Old Mill, Bridgeport,
and bought the farm from Mr. Thorp where Harlan
Ives now resides. He had one son, Samuel Wesley,
and several daughters. A few years since he went to
New York to live with his son, and died there in his
eighty-ninth year.

Eli Reed was a native of Fairfield County. He
was a goldsmith in the time of the Revolution, and
resided in Poughkeepsie. He went to New York, de-
signing to remove his family there, but died, leaving a

 

297

widow and six children. Her name was Weed, and
she went back to her friends in Fairfield County,
afterwards removing with one of her brothers to
Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Two of her sons
caine to Cornwall.

Dr. Isaac Marsh was born in 1777, in Litchfield,
where his ancestors had lived. ' His father and grand-
father were also named Isaac. He studied medicine
with Dr. Woodward, of Torringford, but, being of
rather a nervous temperament, shrank from the prac-
tice of the profession.

William Stoddard came from Woodbury, married
Mary Willis, of Cornwall, May 27, 1809, and settled
as a manufacturer and farmer on Pond Brook, one
and a half miles from West Cornwall.

Deacon Eliakim Mallory came from Hamden near
the close of the last century, and settled where Julius
Hart now lives.

The Smiths have never been very numerous in Corn-
wall. Rev. Walter Smith came from Kent in 1819,
and in 1838 went to Ohio.

The Gold family was connected with the earliest
settlement of the State. By these first settlers, for
three generations, the name was spelled Gold, yet for
some reason portions of the family have changed to
Gould, yet most of those holding that name have no
connection with the Golds.*

Rev. Cornelius B. Everest was a son of Daniel Ev-
erest, who lived south of the village of Cornwall. He
was a graduate of Williams College; a faithful and
acceptable preacher.

The name of Harrison has been associated with
Cornwall from the earliest period of its history.
Each generation has well sustained its part in the
history of the town, and they have spread laterally
into many families conspicuous among the present
inhabitants, while their descendants are found in
many of the States.t

John Bradford came to Cornwall from Montville,
New London Co., about 1772; he bought and settled
on the farm now occupied by Fowler Bradford; died
in 1817, about eighty years of age; married Mary
Fitch, of Norwich, Conn.; his children were named
James Fitch, Rachel, Mary, Abigail, Rebecca, and
Eleanor.

James F. Bradford was born May 1, 1767; was ap-
prenticed at the age of fourteen to a tanner and shoe-
maker in Montville, Conn., and served seven years,
and came to Cornwall soon after the expiration of his
apprenticeship.

Coddington B. Crandall came from Goshen about
1826.

Joseph Chandler came from Danbury, Mass., in
1748, and settled where Agur Judson lived in 1845.
He lived to be about ninety years. He had sons,—
Benjamin, who was a blacksmith, went to Fairmouth,

 

* See biography of Hon. T. 8. Gold.
+ For detailed history, see biography.
298 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD

Vt., and was killed at the battle of Bennington. Ab-
ner in 1774 sold his place to Jethro Bonney, and went
to Piermont, N. H. Jonathan lived where Jabez
Baldwin lived, and went to Piermont, N. H. Simeon,
after 1754, lived at New Milford. A daughter married
Ephraim Patterson, brother of Matthew.

The Kelloggs were also early settlers. (See biogra-
phy of Frederick Kellogg.)

The name of Hart seems to be common to several
nationalities. England, Scotland, and Ireland have
their Harts. The origin of the name is not made
known, perhaps from David’s beautiful animal that
panted for the water-brooks. The variety in spelling
is not great; the prevailing is simply Hart, occasion-
ally Hartt, Harte, Heart, Hearte. Tradition has it
that three brothers came to this country early in its
settlement, and the name is prominently connected
with the settlement of various places.

“Honest John Hart,” as he was called, was a son
of one of the brothers, and was a signer of the Decla-
ration of Independence, being a member of the General
Congress from New Jersey.

John Hart, second son of Deacon John, born Octo-
ber, 1714, at Kensington, moved to Canaan, Conn., in
1740, and to Cornwall in 1763, where he became a
large land-holder. He died Dec. 18, 1778, aged fifty-
nine years.

Deacon Solomon, third son, born Oct. 1, 1724,
moved to Cornwall in 1764, making many purchases
of land on the river from Cornwall Bridge to Canaan
line, also largely in the present Hart school district.
He built the large white house which stood near the
present site of Mr. Isaac Marsh’s residence, which was
called Hart’s tavern, and the locality now West Corn-
wall was then known as Hart’s Bridge.

Phineas Hart, of the sixth generation, third son of
Deacon Solomon, born in 1758, did valiant service for
his country in the Revolution. He was a pensioner
of the general government. He married, and lived in
Cornwall, where he had children,—Lot, Solomon,
Mary, Experience, and Jane. He removed West,
where his children remained. He died in Cornwall
in 1428, aged seventy years.

Captain Elias Hart, fourth son of Deacon Solomon,
was born May 11,1759. He was a brave youth, and
when the war for independence came, although scarcely
sixteen years of age, he gave his services heartily to
his country, and through seven campaigns unflinch-
ingly faced the foe and met the privations of war.
One inclement winter, when the smallpox was raging
with fatal effect in camp, he inoculated himself, and
thus came through this fearful scourge in safety. The
inkstand he used after the war was a small metal flask
taken from the enemy at Danbury. He served the
town many years in positions of trust and honor, and
received a pension till his decease, at the age of
seventy-five, in 1834.

Titus, oldest son of Solomon Hart, was born in
Farmington, June 4, 1754; came to Cornwall with

 

COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

his father at the age of ten years. He married Esther
Hand, and lived in a house where Mrs. H. M. Hart’s
barn now stands.

Deacon Hart was largely identified with the religious
interests of the town and Litchfield North Consocia-
tion; aman of strong mind and good sense. H. Mil-
ton was judge of probate, justice of the peace, surveyor,
and in the winter months taught music in various
places in the State. Nathan represented the town in
the Legislature in 1860, and held many positions of
trust in the civil and business affairs of the town; was
also member of the State Board of Agriculture from
Litchfield County, and its treasurer for several years,

Deacon Samuel Adams, of the Baptist Church, came
to Cornwall from New Bedfordin 1800. He first lived
as a tenant in the Hollow; afterwards on Cream Hill,
and finally bought a farm of Nathan Wickwire on
Waller Hill. He enjoyed little opportunity of edu-
cation, but was a man of decided opinions, and well
informed upon all public matters. He served an ap-
prenticeship as a wheelwright at Westerly, R. I. His
father was a captain of a privateer in the time of the
Revolution, and perished while in action, his vessel
being blown up by the explosion of the magazine.

Tue BEERS FAMILY.—England is credited with
being the fatherland of the Beers, and the genealogi-
cal records of the family trace back to the feudal age,
under the name of Beare, which was afterwards writ-
ten Bears, with a coat of arms to correspond.* The
family were represented in the English army during
the reign of Charles I., and received a grant of land
in the north of Ireland for services rendered, and a
branch of the family permanently settled in that
country in 1646. John Beers, the founder of the
family in this country, was accepted an inhabitant of
the town of Stratford, in Fairfield Co., Nov. 25, 1678.
It is supposed he was accompanied by his wife and
four sons.

Matthew Beers, youngest son of Joseph Beers, mar-
ried Sarah Curtis, of Stratford, and left a family,—
Curtis, Silas, Menzis, Otis, Lewis, Lucinda.

Curtis, eldest son of Matthew Beers, was born in
Stratford, March 25,1789. At the age of seventeen
he was apprenticed to the shoemaker’s trade, and three
years after purchased his time, as was customary then,
and engaged to Enoch Curtis to work at his trade in
Darien, Ga., where at the expiration of two years
he opened a boot and shoe store. In the summer of
1812 the store was consumed by fire, leaving him
penniless, and in October, 1812, he came to Cornwall,
and engaged with Capt. Nehemiah Clark in the cur-
ing of leather and the making of boots and shoes.
Married Alice Curtis, of Stratford, Sept. 22, 1817, and
in November of same year purchased, in connection
with his brother Menzis, the house now occupied by

 

(silver);

* The coat of arms are described as follows; Arms argent x
gal

a bear rampant, “sable” (black); canton gules (red); crest oD & ;
lying fipwise (—) “or” (gold); a raven “sable” (black). Motto: an
and forbear.
CORNWALL.

Menzis Beers at Cornwall. For several years they
manufactured boots and shoes for the Southern mar-
ket, a brother, Lewis Beers, taking charge of the busi-
ness in Athens, Ga. In 1822 he purchased a farm
of Luman Hopkins, near Cornwall Bridge, and re-
moved there in 1826, and engaged in farming, which
occupation he followed -until his decease, March 10,
1848. He left a family,—_Job W.C., born July 9,
1818; Henry L., born May 9, 1828; Sarah E., born
Oct, 25, 1825; Victory C., born Sept. 25, 1832.

Henry L. Beers represented the town in the General
Assembly in 1872 and 1876; was selectman for some
years, and held many offices of trust.

Sarah E. married Hiram Pierce, of Thomaston, May
81, 1849; her only daughter married Dr. Edward Brad-
street, and is settled in Meriden.

Victory C. Beers married Sarah C. Harrison, daugh-
ter of Myron Harrison, June 2, 1862, and has one son,
George H., born July 15, 1866. He was for several
years a member of the Democratic State Central Com-
mittee ; represented the Seventeenth Senatorial Dis-
trict in the Senate of 1870; was selected as chairman
of the board of selectmen in 1876.

Menzis Beers, third son of Matthew, was born in
Stratford, July 28, 1795; he permanently settled in
Cornwall in 1817, and engaged with his brothers Curtis
and Lewis in the curing of leather and the manufac-
turing of boots and shoes for the Southern market.
They opened a store in Athens, Ga., under the name
and firm of C. & M. Beers & Co. Married Laura,
daughter of Capt. John Pierce, Jan. 1, 1820, and has
two sons,—John W., born Jan. 15, 1822; Silas C.,
born March 18, 1827.

In 1840, Menzis Beers engaged in the mercantile
business with F. Kellogg, at Cornwall, under the firm-
name of F, Kellogg & Co., which continued two years ;
but in 1842 the firm of J. W. & S. C. Beers opened a
store at North Cornwall for general merchandising
and the manufacturing of gloves and mittens, which
continued with several partners till 1860, when the
business was removed to South Cornwall, under the
firm-name of M. Beers & Sons.

John W. Beers represented the town in the General
Assembly of 1857, and Silas C. was chosen town clerk
and treasurer in 1852, which office he held continu-
ously for fourteen years, and in 1867 he represented
the town in the General Assembly.

Gen. Robert Sedgwick, one of the first settlers of
Charlestown, Mass., was the progenitor of that family
in this country. He was one of the most distin-
guished men of his time, and, according to the record,
“was stout and active in all feats of war.” This was
in Cromwell’s time, and the account of his services
against the French and in other public positions is
very complete. He died at Jamaica, W. I., May 24,
1656. He had five children, one of whom, William,
married Elizabeth Stone, daughter of Rev. Samuel
Stone, of Hartford, and had one child, Samuel, born
1667 ; died March 24, 1735, in his sixty-ninth year.

 

299

THE SHEPARD Famity.—Allen Shepard came to
Cornwall from Newtown, with his family, in 1798. His
son, Eliphalet H. Shepard, was born in Newton, 1789;
married, July 7, 1813, Mary, daughter of Judah Kel-
logg; died Aug. 12, 1865, leaving four children,—
George H., Charles N., who resided in Brooklyn,
N. Y., and died, unmarried, at West Cornwall, July 28,
1876, Elbert, and Harriett.

Elbert, born May 2, 1824, married, May 31, 1846,
Cynthia L., daughter of George Wheaton, and has
one son, George W., born Dec. 25, 1854.

‘Mr. Shepard is a farmer, residing at West Corn-
wall at this time (1878) ; represents the town in the
General Assembly, and has held many offices of
trust. He is a Methodist, and a prominent sup-
porter of that denomination; but his generous dona-
tion to the chapel at West Cornwall, and especially
the gift from himself and his family of the location,
will ever remain as a testimonial of their liberal
Christian spirit.

Eliphalet Shepard was a Methodist, an earnest
worker in that denomination; a man pure and peace-
able, and much respected by his fellow-citizens.

Dr. Joseph North resided north of the Carrington
Todd place, and practiced medicine for many years.
He died Sept. 22, 1848, aged seventy-six.

Darius Webb came from Warren in 1882, as agent
of the Cornwall Bridge furnace, where he remained

. about twenty years.

John T. Andrew, a native of the county of New
Haven, was born July 19, 1811; graduated at Yale,
1839; studied theology in the Yale Theological Sem-
inary, and graduated in 1842 with the highest honors
of his class. Prevented from entering upon his chosen
profession by bronchial disease, after waiting two
years, spent partly in teaching a select school in Corn-
wall, and finding little improvement of his voice, he
turned his attention to agriculture, and in 1847 pur-
chased a farm near West Cornwall, and engaged in
his new calling with great enthusiasm and success.

Woodruff Emmons became the owner of the Hol-
loway house, and kept a tavern there during the Rev-
olutionary war.

THE EMMONS TAVERN.

“One hundred years ago, in the centre of the town
there was a tavern of some notoriety in its day, which
stood near the summit of a high hill, overlooking, in
a southern direction, a wide extent of country, em-
bracing a beautiful valley.

“The building was distinguished by the peculiar
architecture not altogether uncommon at that period
jn the construction of the better class of dwellings.
Large massive scrolls and roses of carved work orna-
mented the tops and sides of the doorways, while the
windows, of six-by-eight glass, were surmounted by
heavy angular projecting caps. The doors were
wrought with curvilinear styles and panels, sur-
mounted also, like the windows, with the angular pro-
300

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

jecting caps. The body of the house was painted a
light red, the windows and doors being trimmed with
white. The large square chimney-top exhibited,
neatly cut in a stone on its front side, the figures
1758, being the year in which the house was built.
Few dwellings at the present day exhibit so elaborate
a finish as appeared in its exterior. The interior was
more plain. The best rooms, however, were finished
with a dark, heavy wainscot, nearly half-way to the
ceiling above, on three sides, while on the fourth the
wood-work covered the whole. A plaster of lime
mortar covered the remaining portions of the walls.
On the chimney side of each of the front rooms there
was a huge fireplace, with a wooden mantel-tree;
in the wainscoting above there was inserted an
immense panel some four or five feet in breadth.
The remaining parts of the house were done with
plain wooden ceilings, leaving the joists, which were
neatly planed, naked overhead. The wood-work was
painted either red or blue; the latter, being considered
the most genteel color, was applied to the two.front
rooms of the first story, the one being used for the
best room or parlor, and the other as the bar-room.
In one corner of the latter was a space six feet square,
parted off by a ceiling four and a half feet high. This
inclosure was called the bar. Around the two posterior
sides of the bar were placed several shelves contain-
ing various articles, of which the most conspicuous

were several square bottles filled with different kinds:

of liquors. One was labeled ‘Old Holland Gin,” an-
other “French Brandy,” and a third “ Orange-peel Bit-
ters.’”’ By the side of these stood drinking-vessels of
various kinds, some of glass and others of pewter. A
large conical loaf of white sugar, inclosed in a thick
dark-purple paper, was also conspicuous, while beside
it stood a large, round, covered wooden box, contain-
ing many broken pieces of the same ready for use.
The furniture of the bar-room consisted of a large
heavy oaken table, composed of a single leaf, one or
two forms or benches, and some half-dozen splint-
bottomed chairs,

“The house here described stood upon a terrace
some three or four feet high, sustained on two sides
by a wall of unhewn stones, the entrance being up a
flight of large stone steps; the side-hill position of
the building rendering this arrangement quite con-
venient. Just exterior to this terrace, and about
thirty feet from the building, stood the sign-post, from
the rectangular bar of which was suspended the
sign.

“In front of this tavern was an open space or com-
mon, sixteen rods in width and forty in length, called
the green; it was nearly destitute of trees, and fur-
nished the ordinary parade-ground for the militia,
and place for town gatherings on gala days or other
public occasions. On the opposite side of the green
from the tavern, and near the northwest corner, stood
the meeting-house, a large and respectable-looking
edifice, where all the inhabitants of the town usually

 

met on the Sabbath. Fronting the extreme southern
part of the common or green stood the parsonage of
the Rev. Hezekiah Gold; about half a dozen other
dwellings completed the centre village.”

WHIPPING-POST AND STOCKS.

“ About six rods from the tavern, and directly in
front of it, near the traveled path, stood a wooden
post about ten inches square and seven feet in height,
placed firmly and perpendicularly in the earth. Near
the ground a large mortice was made through the post,
in which were placed the ends of two stout pieces of
plank, five feet in length, lying edgewise, one to the
other. The under one was made immovablein the post,
while the upper plank was movable up and down by
a hinge-like motion. Between the edges of these
planks were four round holes, one-half of each hole
being cut from each plank; the two half-circles when
joined made an opening of the right size to embrace a
person’s ankles. On the outer ends of these horizon-
tal planks were appended a stout iron hasp and sta-
ples, designed when in use to be secured in place with
a heavy padlock. The fixture here described an-
swered the double purpose of posting warnings for
town-meetings or other public notices, as well as for
a whipping-post and stocks.”

CHAPTER XXXI

CORNWALL (Continued).

Congregational Church, Cornwall—Congregational Church, North Corn-
wall—Cornwall and Sharon Baptist Church—Baptist Church, Cornwall
Hollow—Baptist Church, East Cornwall—Methodist Episcopal Church,
Cornwall Bridge—Educational—The Foreign Mission-School—Cream
Hill Agricultural School—W. U. and Miss L. Rogers’ School—Noah R.
and E. Burton Hart's School—Young Ladies’ Institute—The Alger In-
stitute—Physicians—Cemeteries—Organization of Town—Representa-
tives from 1761 to 1882—Soldiers of the Revolution—Soldiers of the
Rebellion, 1851-65.

ECCLESIASTICAL.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, CORNWALL.

THE organization of this church is co-existent with
the incorporation of the town. The town was incor-
porated in May, 1740, and at the first town-meeting,
held on the first day of the following July, the jirst
vote in regard to the religious welfare of the town,
viz:

“Voted, That the whole charge of Mr. Harrison's preaching amongst

us, together with the charge of bringing him here and boarding him,
we will pay out of the first tax that shall be assessed.”

The Mr. Harrison mentioned had been here for a
short time previously. He was the first preacher in
the town. From whence he came or whither he went
there is no record.

The next vote in this meeting was:

“ Voted, We will send Mr. Millard to agree with a minister, and bring
him to preach amongst us.’
i CORNWALL.

And also,

“ Voted, That said Millard do advise the ministers what sort of a man
to bring to preach amongst us.”

At this meeting it was also

“ Voted, That we think it necessary and convenient to build a meeting-
house,”
which vote was unanimous to a man.

Mr. Millard not being successful in obtaining a
preacher, seven weeks after that first town-meeting the
inhabitants again assembled, 18th of August, and re-
newed their efforts for a minister, appointing a com-
mittee of George Holloway, Joseph Allen, and Na-
thaniel Jewell, to secure, as soon as possible, a
preacher,,to continue to them until the Ist of April,
1741,—that is, for seven or eight months. And this
committee was directed to take the advice of neigh-
poring ministers in the choice of such a preacher. At
the same meeting it was

“ Voted, That we will build a meeting-house for public worship 48 feet
in length and 38 in breadth, and 24 feet between joints.”

Also,

“ Voted, That George Holloway shall be an agent to address the General
Assembly at New Haven, October next, to appoint a committee to state
the place where the meeting-house shall stand.”

Also,

“ Voted, That David Rugg should be the chorister till we agree other-
wise.” : ;

Also,
“ Voted, That. George Holloway shall read the Psalm.”
Also,

“ Voted, That we will meet for public worship at Mr. Samuel Messen-
ger’s house till the town order otherwise.”

When and by whom the church, the articles of
faith, and church covenant were formed are now en-
tirely unknown; nor is it known who were the

members comprising the church. Whether such or- |

ganization was previous or subsequent to their first
minister’s preaching to them cannot be ascertained.

Whether any preacher was employed during the
winter of 1740-41 is uncertain, but the people did not
“ forget the assembling of themselves together” in the
worship of God, and David Rugg continued their
stated leader in singing.

The Rev. Solomon Palmer, of Branford, Conn., ed-
ucated at Yale College, who graduated there 1729,
was in the town in the spring of 1741 as a preacher.

On the first Thursday of March, 1741, the people met
according to an adjournment of a meeting three
months before, and voted to hire Mr. Palmer to
preach to them until the Ast of June as a candidate
for settlement.

Ten weeks after, May 24th, the town met at the
house of Samuel Messenger, and passed the following
vote:

“That, with the advice and consent of the neighboring ministers, we
will call the Rev. Mr. Solomon Palmer to a settlement with us in the

gospel ministry in this place.”
20

 

301

They added to this call:

“That we will give Mr. Palmer the following salary, to be paid in
money equal in silver at twenty-eight shillings per ounce: For the first
year, which is to begin at the day of his ordination, two hundred pounds,
the half of which shall be paid at said ordination; the second year, one
hundred pounds; the third, one hundred and ten pounds; and s0 rise
ten pounds a year till it comes at one hundred and sixty pounds, to be
paid annually so long as he continues in the work of the ministry in
this place.”

Soon after, the town granted Mr. Palmer fifty pounds
additional to his settlement of two hundred pounds.
In addition to his salary and settlement, Mr. Palmer
was entitled to a whole right of land, or what was one
fifty-third share of the town, the amount of which in
land was not far from six hundred acres.

Mr. Palmer was ordained on the second Wednesday
of August, 1741.

The first deacons of Cornwall Church were Jonathan
Harris, who came from Derby and settled on Clark
Hill, near Goshen, and Phineas Waller, who emi-
grated from New Milford, and whose residence was
half a mile northwest from Deacon Nathan Hart’s, on
Waller Hill.

For twelve years and seven months Mr. Palmer re-
mained peacefully with his flock, during which time
the town increased in population very considerably.
No records of the church of those years are extant,

_and no list of church communicants.

In March, 1754, Mr. Palmer declared, on the Sab-
bath, and ‘to the great surprise of all his people, that’
his ordination had no validity, that he was an Epis-
copalian, and that he now renounced his ministry
among them.

There were but few Episcopalians in Connecticut;
a church of that denomination had been existing in

‘Stratford, and in 1722 the Rev. Mr. Cutler, rector of

Yale College, became an Episcopalian. After this
there were a few more added to the number.

It is believed that several of Mr. Palmer’s parish-
ioners were at first inclined to think favorably of his
change of opinion;. but very few only continued so,
for he claimed his land, which was granted to the first
minister, but the people resented the claim as unjust,
for he had deserted his.charge. A lawsuit was com-
menced, but the matter was compromised, he giving
up a part of his demand.

This controversy, it is probable, prevented the estab-
lishment of an Episcopal church in this town, for the
people had held their pastor in high estimation.

‘Mr. Palmer went to England, was there ordained

-as a priest, and sent back as a missionary of the

Church of England. He had an offer of a permanent
settlement at Amboy, N. J., with an ample salary,
but, from the reluctance of his wife to go thither, he
remained in Connecticut. He preached at Goshen,
at New Milford, and itinerated in various parts of the
western section of the State.

Mr. Palmer derived no pecuniary benefit from
leaving his parochial charge at Cornwall, but experi-
enced the contrary.
302

For seventeen months after this defection of the
first pastor the town had no settled minister.

Whether Mr. Palmer took away or destroyed the
records of this infant church, or they were lost by the
careless neglect of others, is unknown; not a scrap of
such history is extant. It is not known whether any
one preached in Cornwall except Mr. Gold until his
installment. This was on the 27th of August, 1755.

The Rey. Hezekiah Gold was a native of Stratford,
a descendant from a family highly honorable, being
a grandson of the Hon. Lieutenant-Governor Nathan
Gold, and a son of the Rev. Hezekiah Gold, of Strat-
ford. His father, who was an evangelical pastor of
the First Congregational Church of Stratford, advo-
cated the cause of the revival of religion first referred
to, and was a friend to Mr. Whitefield and to his asso-
ciates. His son, who became the minister of this town,
was educated at Yale College, where he graduated in
1751. He possessed a superior mind, having talents
comprehensive and penetrating, by which he easily
obtained a thorough knowledge of human nature, and
of course able to acquire much influence with whom
he associated. Until unhappy dissensions took place,
in the latter part of his ministry, Mr. Gold’s influ-
ence among the people and families of his charge was
almost unbounded. In every concern, private and
public, civil, military, and domestic, the advice and
opinion of Mr. Gold was esteemed as highly impor-
tant. During the former and greater part of his min-
isterial labors, a very large assembly gathered at the
house of God on the Sabbath, which stood nearly op-
posite to the house of George Holloway, Esq.,—the
house now owned by Ithamar Baldwin.

The following were the male members of Mr. Gold’s
church, April 8, 1783: Joshua Pierce, Caleb Jones,
Woodruff Emmons, Amos Jones, Edward May, James
Bierce, Joseph Pangman, Jacob Brownson, John
Pierce, John Wright, Jacob Brownson, Jr., Nathaniel
Swift, Zachariah H. Jones, Seth Pierce, Nehemiah
Beardsley, Ralph Grimes, Timothy Brownson, Deacon
J. Kellogg, Ketchel Bell, Lemuel J ennings, Dar.
Everest, Ebenezer Symonds, Thomas Tanner, John
Benedict, Austin Bierce, John Jones, Josiah Stephens,
Seymour Morse, Elias Birdsey, Joel Wood, Amos
Camp. Mr. Gold, the pastor, makes thirty-three.

Pastors.—The following is a list of pastors from the
organization of the church to the present time: Solo-
mon Palmer, 1741-54; Hezekiah Gold, Jr., 1755-90;
Hercules Weston, 1792-1808; Timothy Stone, 1803-
27; William Andrews, 1827-38; Nathaniel M. Um-
ston, 1888-40; Hiram Day, 1844-48; Ralph Smith,
1851-55; Ira Pettibone,* 1854-57; Stephen Fenn,
1859-67 ; Elias B. Sanford, 1869-71; N. A. Prince,
1872-74; Samuel J. White, 1875, present incumbent,

Deacons.—John Harris, Phinehas Waller, Benjamin
Sedgwick, Samuel Abbott, date of appointment un-
known ; Thomas Porter, chosen Oct. 8, 1765 ; Elijah

 

* Acting pastor.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Steel, June 24, 1773; Judah Kellogg, Josiah Hop-
kins, June 20, 1776; Benjamin Gold, Abel C. Carter,
July 9, 1812; Jedediah Calhoun, December, 1819;
Victorianus Clark, March 4, 1831; Henry Swift, Silas
P. Judson, July 21, 1839; Marcus D. F. Smith, Jan.
5, 1855; Robert T. Miner, George H. Swift, Jan. 6,
1867 ; Silas C. Beers, Dec. 18, 1868; Harlan Ives.

The first resolutions passed by the people of Corn-
wall—in town-meeting assembled a.p. 1740—was to
get a minister, and ‘the second was like unto it, viz.:
to build a “ meeting-house.”” In due time the minister
was obtained, and the house was commenced,—I will
not say built: I think it never was built.

In 1745 the town passed a resolution accepting the
house of the builders, so far as the work had pro-
gressed, and ordered that it be set apart to God for
purposes of worship.

The house was only covered with shingles and clap-
boards, and in it the people worshiped, summer and
winter, without fire, except what burned upon God’s
altar. The church was located at Cornwall Centre, a
mile distant from this village.

In 1790 this church was taken down, enlarged, and
put up again in this village, near where the liberty-
pole now stands.

In 1840 or 1841 the old house was torn down
and the present one built.

In 1874 a beautiful chapel was built upon the
grounds upon which the old mission-house of the
American Board once stood.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, NORTH CORNWALL.

This church was organized in the fall of 1780t by.
seceders from the South Church. The first members
were Andrew Young, Phineas Waller, Elijah Steele,
Samuel Butler, Noah Bull, James Douglass, Marsh
Douglass, David Clark, and Hezekiah Clark. Within
two years the following were added, making, in 1782,
thirteen members: Be iah Hotchkin, Noah Rogers
(8d), Ethan Allan, ce Hyatt, Mrs. B. Hotchkin,
Mrs. P. Waller. In 1805 the following were members

| of the church: Noah Rogers, Sr. (3d), Elijah Mal-
‘ lory and wife, Hezekiah Clark, David Clark, Jesse

Hyatt and wife, Nathan Hart and wife, Thaddeus
Cowles and wife, Titus Hart, Ichabod Howe, Silas
Meacham, Mrs. Samuel Scovill, Sr., Mrs. Samuel
Scovill, Jr., wife of Capt. Williams, Clarissa Irene
Rogers, wife of Joseph Ford, wife of Philo Hawes,
Mrs. Silas Clark, Abigail Hart, widow of John Hart,
wife of Asa Emmons, Ira Gleason, wife of Joseph
Hotchkin.

The first pastor was Rev. Samuel Bird, who re-
mained, however, but a few months. The following
is a list of pastors from the organization of the church
to the present time: Rev. Samuel Bird; John Corn-

 

t Condensed from R. R. Pratt’s historical address and Rev. N. Fitch’s
memorial sermon.

} Contributions to Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut gives date of
organization 1782,
CORNWALL.

303

 

wall; Israel Holley, 1795-1801; Josiah Hawes,* 1805-
18; Grove L. Brownell, 1817-18; Walter Smith,
1819-38 ; 8. J. Tracy, 1838-39; Joshua L. Maynard,
1841-52; W. B. Clarke, 1855-59; Charles Wetherby,
1859-66 ; Jesse Brush, 1867-73. Charles N. Fitch, the
present efficient pastor, was installed in 1874. Mr.
Fitch is a graduate of Yale Theological Seminary,
class of 773.

The deacons of the church have been as follows:
Beriah Hotchkin, Phineas Waller, Hezekiah Clark,
David Clark, Titus Hart, Eleakim Mallory, Nathan
Hart, Noah Rogers, James Wadsworth, R. R. Pratt,
E. D. Pratt, T. 8. Gold, Egbert M. Rogers.

The Second Ecclesiastical Society was incorporated
in 1804. The first church edifice was erected on the
site of James D. Ford’s homestead. In 1785 the sec-
ond meeting-house was commenced on the site of the
present school-house at Cornwall Centre. In 1790
the first house was taken down, and rebuilt in the
vicinity of the present church at Cornwall. The
present church was erected in 1826, and Jan. 11, 1827,
was dedicated to Almighty God.

METHODISTS.

The new Methodist church at the Centre was erected
in the year 1839.

Many pious and worthy ministers of the gospel
have preached their one or two years in Cornwall
since the first introduction of Methodism into the
town.

BAPTISTS.

In the summer of 1800, Samuel Wadsworth, son of
Mr. Joseph Wadsworth, then living on Cream Hill,
and a grandson of Mr. James Douglass, was baptized
by a Baptist minister in the Cream Hill Lake. This
ceremony, from its novelty at the time, attracted a
large attendance of people. There may have been
Baptists here at an earlier day, but no accessible rec-
ords furnish data of their existence in this town pre-
vious to the above date. Among the early Baptist
: preachers in-Cornwall were the Rev. Messrs. Bates,

, Fuller, and Talmadge. Elder Fuller, the father of

/, Mrs. Deacon Nettleton, had not a permanent resi-
dence in this town, but often preached at the house
of Capt. Samuel Wadsworth on Cream Hill. He was
peculiarly solemn and earnest in presenting his sub-
ject to his hearers, sometimes exciting to tears even
the children, who would listen to him in breathless
silence. His residence was in Kent, where some of
his descendants yet remain.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.
A small Roman Catholic church was erected at
West Cornwall about 1850.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WEST CORNWALL.
The chapel at West Cornwall was commenced in

 

* Between the pastorates of Mr. Hawes and Mr. Brownell, Rev, Francis

L. Robbins and a Mr. Hawley preached as candidates.

1877, and dedicated Jan. 3, 1878. It was erected at a
cost of four thousand dollars.

CORNWALL AND SHARON BAPTIST CHURCH,}

for upwards of thirty years woven into the ecclesias-
tical affairs of the town of Cornwall, ought not to be
overlooked in this history. The meeting-house, raised
about 1820, in North Cornwall, is still standing (used
as a dwelling, and owned by Hon. T.8. Gold). Its
membership was from forty to sixty in its best days,
and among its pastors we may mention Elders Samuel
Ambler and Asa Talmadge, both of whom owned farms
and supported themselves by that occupation, preach-
ing on the Sabbath purely for the good they might do.
The deacons were Samuel Adams and Elijah Nettle-
ton. The church dissolved about 1848, but was the
father of the church whose history follows this. Many
of the members were, though the property was not,
transferred. The records were burned in a fire that
destroyed the house of Deacon Holmes. But two of
the members are still living, one of whom adds to the
records here given: “Though the books are burned
and the house disused, many names are on a book
that even the conflagration of a universe will not
reach, for whom there was prepared a mansion in the
heavens that ‘ faileth not.’ ”

BAPTIST CHURCH IN CORNWALL HOLLOW.+

On the 13th of November, 1848 (by the advice of
Elder N. E. Shailer and Elder A. D. Watrous, mis-
sionaries under the patronage of the Connecticut
Baptist State Convention), Zebulon O. Lawton, Eliza-
beth B. Lawton, Sarah A. Nettleton, and Jane E.
Nettleton, baptized believers in Jesus Christ, pub-
licly gave themselves to the Lord and to one another,
by His will entering into a covenant. . ,

In the constitution of the church, which was adopted
March 25, 1844, at the house of Leighton Bradley,
they adopted the name of the ‘‘ North Cornwall Bap-

tist Church,” after the old society, a name that seems
afterwards to have been changed by common consent
to Cornwall Hollow Baptist Church.

According to custom among Baptists, a Council was
convened at the house of Ransley Hull, April 17,
1844, “to examine our covenant and declaration of
faith, and (if the Council think best) to give us pub-
lic fellowship as a church.” Sermon by Rev. G. B.
Atwell from Acts xi. 26. ‘

The house of worship, still in good repair, was
built in 1845, and dedicated the same year.

We find that discipline was not: neglected, and from
the following example we judge that churches at the
present time are derelict. After several church-meet-
ings, in which the case came up, but was deferred for
further ‘council and prayer, after two separate com-
mittees had been appointed to confer with the offend-
ing member, we find the following record: “ Heard

 

 

+ Contributed by Rev. H. G. Smith.
304

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

 

the report of the committee appointed to visit
Report accepted. On finding from the com-
mittee that she was neglecting her covenant obliga-
tions with God and the church, and that she at-
tended parties and balls, after mature deliberation,
the church voted to withdraw from her the hand of
fellowship.”

Jan. 1, 1847, a number of members ded others

 

assembled at the house of A. B. Holmes, appointed.

Elder E. Doty moderator, and proceeded to organize
a branch of the Cornwall Hollow Church, and re-
ceived members. By a vote of the parent church
shortly after, these were permitted to become members
on the presentation of their letters.

A sad disturbance seems to have entered the church,
owing to their action in regard to the misconduct of a
previous pastor. A church-meeting was called, com-
posed of all the members “in regular travel at the
time.” Confessions were sought from each as in their
judgment the Lord required, and “they proceeded to
travel onward in the capacity of a church,” though
bearing scars that time refused to heal. The resur-
rection body will come up without them.

In October, 1855, the pastor, Rev. William M.
Simons, and wife and four members, withdrew to
unite, with sixteen other members residing in and
about Falls Village, in forming a separate church.
Shortly after this branch became a church (the record
does not say how long) it was beset by embarrassments,
the minister removed West, and at length the church
gave up the field, selling the property to the Congre-
gationalists, who occupy the place.

The first pastor was Rev. N. E. Shailer, from Feb.
20, 1844, to March 1, 1845. This office he combined
with that of general State missionary, preaching for
them only when providentially in that vicinity. It
was through his instrumentality largely that the
society was formed. In this work he was assisted by
Rev. A. D. Watrous, also State missionary.

The first settled pastor was John P. Barnett, who
was settled April 1, 1845, and was to be “paid two
hundred and fifty dollars for his labors.” From
March 1st to April 1st he was to preach “ for the con-
sideration of five dollars in money and teams to move
his goods from Northeast.” We find also on the
records a document duly signed and countersigned, in
which the above Barnett stipulates, for the specified
sum, that he will “preach for the term of one year,
twice on the Sabbath and once during the week, if
requested by the committee.’ He was dismissed at
the end of the year, and Elder Alfred Gates was
chosen to succeed him. Jan. 18, 1849, we find his
resignation accepted by a vote of the church. He
appears to have been succeeded immediately by Rev.
E. N. Jenks, who was the next pastor, until 1850,
when they saw fit to give “ Elder S. Gate a call, so
long as the church will raise the salary.” That was
not long, as we find at the next annual meeting the
committee was instructed to “supply the desk” the

 

‘| year ensuing. This, however, was fortunately. done

by securing, some time’ during the year, the pastoral
labors of Elder William M. Simons, for we find at the
next annual meeting they voted to continue him as
their pastor. He was a laborious and efficient minis-
ter, and April 27, 1853, a Council ordained him to the
work of the ministry in that place.

From this time onward the records are imperfect,
but from 1854 to 1858 Rev. Thomas Benedict and
Rev. E. Doty appear to have filled successively the
pastoral office. May 22, 1859, George Pay was called
to become their pastor, after ordination, which oc-
curred on the 15th of June. He remained two
years, after which Rev. Charles Y. Swan, Rev. George
B. Atwell, Rev. A. H. Simons, and Rev. Mr. Jones
supplied the desk, but the records are imperfect at
this point. Dec. 28, 1868, the society voted to call
Rev. L. W. Wheeler to the pastorate, which he filled
two years.

From this time forward fifteen years the church
was without a settled Baptist minister, and listened
to the preaching of such men as Providence threw in
their way, sometimes the Congregational minister in
North Cornwall, and more often the Methodist pastor
at North Goshen. During this time no church-
meetings were held, many moved away, some died,
and others connected themselves with neighboring
churches. Their light nearly went out. From a
membership of over a hundred it was reduced to four
or five. Yet it was not to die.

In 1876 missionaries of the Connecticut Baptist
Convention visited the place, which resulted in some
awakening and additions to the church. This was
followed in 1880 by Rev. H. G. Smith, pastor of the
churches in East Cornwall and Bantam Falls, coming
and preaching every two weeks, alternating with Rev.
C. 'N. Fitch, Congregational pastor at North Corm-
wall. Now, 1881, Mr. Smith is acting pastor, preach-
ing in his two oles fields during the day, and in this
place every Sabbath evening.

Before closing this history, there is one man whose
work and worth, in connection with this church,
demands more than passing notice. Deacon A. W.
Lawton was received into membership from the North
Cornwall Baptist Church, dissolved Dec. 12, 1843, and
was “appointed to take the lead of religious meetings
when there is no regular minister present.” Shortly
afterwards he was elected deacon, which office he sus-
tained to the end of his life.

The following extracts are taken from an article
which appeared in the Christian Secretary at the time
of his death:

“DEACON A. W. LAWTON.

“Deacon Amos Wells Lawton died at his residence in Goshen, Wed-
nesday morning, Feb. 16, 1881, in the eighty-fourth year of his age. He
was born in Hopkinton, R.I., May 1,1797. In 1828 he moved to Goshen,
where he resided until his death.

“In the year 1843 himself and wife, with some half-dozen others, joined
in organizing the Baptist Church of Cornwall Hollow, of which he be-
came deacon, and so remained at the time of his death. As the most
CORNWALL.

prominent of the organizers and supporters of the interest, he found and
filled a sphere most useful and honorable. his house beifg the home of
many of the members of the ministry of the Baptist denomination in the
northwestern portion of the State, while many can attest the spirit of
generous hospitality which always dwelt beneath his roof. He was ever
identified with Baptist interests, and took an active interest in the Litch-
field County Baptist Association, of which for many years he was the
treasurer.

“He represented his town in the State Legislature of 1853, and held at
various times most of the offices of trust and responsibility in Goshen,
where the most of the years of his active life were passed.”

COLLEGE STREET BAPTIST CHURCH, EAST CORNWALL.*

This church was constituted in the town of Warren,
Nov. 15, 1787, under the name of the Warren Baptist
Church, with the following members: Benjamin Dun-
ning, Asahel Wedge, Samuel Sturdivant, Truman
Beeman, Ely Dayton, John Lord, Ira Wedge, Salmon
Wedge, Samuel Sturdivant, Jr., Isaac Dunning, Anna
Beeman, Hannah Wedge, Mercy Dunning, Sarah
Sturdivant, Hannah Raynold, Rachel Beeman, Abi-
gail Pratt, Jerusha Thomson, Jemima Cogswell, Abi-
gail Spooner, Anner Sturdivant, Sarah Merriman.

In 1790 the church consisted of eighty members, who
were scattered in the town, Warren, Cornwall, Wash-
ington, Goshen, Kent, and Sharon. Jan. 28, 1798,
eighteen of the members withdrew to form a church
in Sharon. The erection of the first church edifice
was begun in 1850, and on May 81, 1851, a resolution
was passed changing the name of the church to the
College Street Baptist Church of Cornwall. The
church was dedicated June 19, 1857. Among the
ministers who have officiated for the church were
Isaac Root, Dodge, Howard, Beecher, Daniel Bald-
win, Thomas Benedict, L. B. Hart, J. F..Jones, Rich-
ard Thompson, Jackson Ga Nun, C. W. Potter, J.
Fairman, D. F. Chapman. Edwin D. Bowers was or-
dained pastor June 21st, although he had officiated
from the 5th of the previous February. He was suc-
ceeded in June, 1878, by the present efficient pastor,
Rey. H. G. Smith.

METHODIST CHURCH, CORNWALL BRIDGE.

It is impossible to ascertain when this church was
organized. Among the first preachers were James
Coleman, Benjamin Griffin, Samuel Cochran, Billy
Hibbard, E. P. Jacob, J. J. Mathias, Nathan Emory,
and Smith Dayton. Among the recent ministers may
be mentioned Spencer H. Bray, Edward Bray, Benja-
min A, Gilman, H. Q. Judd, Ira Abbott, L. L. Stone,
and Robert Codling. The present (March, 1881) pas-
tor is Rev. William Wake. The church edifice was
erected in 1835. The present board of trustees are
D. W. Manuel, John Hall, Leonard S. Whitcomb,
Wilbur F. Harrison, Sebra Wells, Charles Hall, and
Daniel Winchell.

The present board of stewards are Charles Hall,
Wilbur F. Harrison, D. W. Manuel, and Leonard S.

 

* Condensed from a historical address delivered by William G. Fennell,
Aug. 13, 1880.

 

305

Whitcomb ; superintendent of Sunday-school, W. F.
Harrison.}
EDUCATIONAL.

A foreign mission-school was established in this
town May 1, 1817, the object being for the educa-
tion of foreign youth, to prepare them for becoming
missionaries, schoolmasters, interpreters, and physi-
cians among heathen nations, and to communicate
such information—viz., agriculture and the arts—as
should tend to promote Christianity and civilization.

It was opened under the management of Mr. Ed-
win W. Dwight, who served one year, and was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Herman Daggett. Mr. Daggett offici-
ated six years, and was succeeded in 1824 by Rev.
Amos Bassett, who continued until the school was
abandoned, in 1827. Rev. Henry L. Vail was at one
time-an assistant teacher. —

“The school,” says Mr. T. S. Gold, in his “History
of Cornwall,” “was a decided success, as far as its
original plan was concerned, and was closed because
the opportunities of educating the heathen on their
own ground were opened, thus rendering it unneces-
sary, and from the local opposition produced by the
marriage of two Cherokee Indians with respectable
white girls residing in the town.”

The number of pupils in 1822 had risen to 34, rep-
resenting the leading then known Indian tribes, and
many of the Pacific Islands. Henry Obookiah, a
Sandwich Islander, was a devoted Christian, and gave
great promise of usefulness; but he died, while a
member of the school, Feb. 17, 1818, aged twenty-six.
A tablet erected to his memory in the cemetery at
Cornwall bears this inscription :

“In
memory of
HENRY OBOOKIAH,
a native of
OWYHEE.

“His arrival in this country gave rise to the Foreign Mission School,
of which he was a worthy member. He was once an Idolator, and was
designed for a Pagan Priest ; but by the grace of God, and by the prayers
and instructions of pious friends, he became a Christian.

“He was eminent for piety and missionary zeal, When almost pre-
pared to return to his native Isle to preach the Gospel, God took him to
himself. In his last sickness he wept and prayed for Owyhee, but was
submissive. He died without fear, with a heavenly smile on his counte-

nance and glory in bis soul,
Feb. 17, 1818,
Aged 26.”

Thomas H. Patoo, another converted heathen, is
interred beside him. His monument bears this in-
scription:

“ In
memory of
: Tuomas HammMaTAH Patoo,
a native of the Marquesas Islands, and a member of the Foreign Mission
School, who died June 19, 1823, aged about 19 years.

“He was hopefully pious, and had a great desire to be qualified to be-
come a missionary to his ignorant countrymen. But he died in hope of
a better country. /

“his stone is erected by the liberality of his Christian friends in N.
Coventry, Conn., among whom he first found the Saviour of sinners,”

 

+ For history of Methodist Episcopal Church at Cornwall,see Supplement.
306

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

There were not only Chinese, Japanese, and Portu-
guese, but the Cherokee tribe of Indians was represented
at this school. Two members of this tribe became en-
amored with two of the young ladies of the village,
offered marriage and were accepted. This created a
good deal of feeling, and finally ended in breaking
up the school.

“Cream Hill Agricultural School was established
in May, 1845, by Dr. 8. W. and T. S. Gold, at their
farm on Cream Hill, and continued till April, 1869,
twenty-four years. At the beginning there were but
four pupils, afterwards increased to twenty, the limit
of the school. The object was to unite, with classical
and scientific education, theoretical and practical in-
struction in agriculture,—to encourage a taste for the
pursuits of rural life, to develop and strengthen the
body as well as the mind. The results of the plan
were eminently satisfactory, and we look with pleas-
ure upon our pupils, scattered everywhere, in posi-
tions of honor and usefulness; but especially is the
record of those who, in the opening of their man-
hood, took up arms in defense of their country our
especial delight and pride, while with tender hearts
we recall those who were permitted to offer their lives
a sacrifice that the nation might live.’—T. 8. Goxp.

The Adelphic Institute was opened at North Corn-
wall by Ambrose 8. Rogers in 1847, and continued
until 1860, when it was removed to New Milford, and
conducted until 1876. (See history of New Milford,
elsewhere in this work.)

William C. and Miss L. Rogers’ school was started
by the former in 1852. He was subsequently suc-
ceeded by his sister, Miss L. Rogers. It continued
about two years.

Noah R. Hart and his brother, E. Burton Hart, es-
tablished a boys’ boarding-school in West Cornwall
in 1853. It was discontinued in 1863.

The Young Ladies’ Institute, or “Our Birds’ Nest,”
was founded in 1852 by Mr. H. T. 8. Johnson, a prom-
inent citizen of the town. This school had a success-
ful existence, and says Mr. T. 8. Gold, “The memories
of ‘Our Birds’ Nest’ are cherished by many scattered
here and there in our land as among the brightest
and happiest associations of their lives.”

The Alger Institute was established in 1848, and
named in honor of Charles Alger, of Hudson, N: Y.
It passed through various hands, and was finally
abandoned as a school.

(For present condition of schools, see County His-
tory.)

PHYSICIANS.

Most of those who have practiced medicine in Corn-
wall have been referred to elsewhere. Dr, Hollister,
from Salisbury, resided at the Centre for several years,
about 1880. Dr. John Scoville, after practicing at
North Cornwall for fifteen years, about 1845 removed
to Ashley Falls, Mass., where he now resides. Dr.
Smith, from Kent, practiced at West Cornwall about
1843, and went West. Dr. Edward Sanford, from

 

Goshen, resided at West Cornwall for nearly thirty
years, till 1876, when he bought the residence of the
late Dr. B. B. North, at South Cornwall, and continues
his practice there. Dr. Elias B. Heady is now prac-
ticing at Cornwall Bridge. Sufficient to say of them
that they have been faithful, and generally successful
in-affording such relief to suffering humanity as comes
within the power of the physician to bestow.

In January, 1878, Franklin W. Hall, M.D., from
New Haven, took up his residence at West Corn-
wall as a physician.

CEMETERIES.

The oldest burial-ground used in Cornwall was on
the hill west of the present residence of Ozias Palmer.
Few marked.graves remain, as some bodies have been
removed, and time has effaced the testimonials from
others. Its neglected condition is discreditable.

The cemetery near South Cornwall has been occu-
pied nearly one hundred and twenty years, as we find
tombstones marked 1763, and some may be earlier.
By the liberality of Mr. J. C. Calhoun, assisted by
others, not only has this ground been enlarged and
handsomely laid out, but provision has been made
for its care in the future. Mr. Calhoun left one thou-
sand dollars as a fund, the interest to be annually ex-
pended in the care of the cemetery.

Cornwall Hollow has the old cemetery on the hill,
on the road leading to Goshen, west side, and the new
one, opened early in the present century, near the
Baptist church.

About fifty years since a small burying-ground was
set apart near North Cornwall. This has since been
enlarged. There is another in the southwest part of
the town, near Cornwall Bridge, and still another in
the southeast part, on the old Warren turnpike. A
few stones still standing near the North Cornwall
church mark the graves of some who died of small-
pox. Others who died of the same disease are buried
on the old Wright farm, on the old Sharon and Go-
shen turnpike, where a marble monument marks the
burial-place of Capt. Joel Wright and family.

CIVIL HISTORY.

This town was incorporated in May, 1740. The
following is a list of the representatives from 1761 to
1881:

1761-62.—Thomas Russell, Joshua Pierce.

1763.—Thomas Russell, Joshua Pierce, Amos Johnson.
1764-65.—Thomas Russell, Joshua Pierce.

1766.—Noah Rogers, Heman Swift, Thomas Russell.

1767.—Thomas Russell, Heman Swift.

1768.—Thomas Russell, Elijah Steele, Heman Swift, Thomas Porter.
1769.—Joshua Pierce, Thomas Porter, Thomas Russell.
1770.—Joshua Pierce, Thomas Porter, Heman Swift.

1771.—Heman Swift, Thomas Porter.

1772-73.—Thomas Russell, Heman Swift, Thomas Porter.
1774.—Thomas Porter, John Pierce, Heman Swift.

1775.—Heman Swift, Thomas Porter, Edward Rogers, Johu Pierce.
1776.—Edward Rogers, John Pierce, Thomas Porter, Judah Kellogg.
1777.—Edward Rogers, John Pierce, Judah Kellogg.
1778.—Edward Rogers, Judah Kellogg, Abraham Payne.
CORNWALL.

307

 

1779.—Judah Kellogg, Edward Rogers, Andrew Young.

1780.—Edward Rogers, Andrew Young.

1781.—Mathew Patterson, Noah Rogers.

1782,—John Sedgwick, Mathew Patterson.

1783.—John Sedgwick, Matthew Patterson, Andrew Young, Edward
Rogers. .

1784.—Andrew Young, Juhn Sedgwick.

1785.—John Sedgwick, Matthew Patterson, Heman Swift.

1786.—John Sedgwick, Samuel Wadsworth, Heman Swift, Matthew Pat-
terson.

1787.—Matthew Patterson, Heman Swift, Rev. Hezekiah Gold, Rev. John
Cornwall.

1788.—Rev. John Cornwall, John Pierce, Samuel Wadsworth, Ebenezer
Jackson.

1789.—Ebenezer Jacksou, Samuel Wadsworth.

1790.—John Sedgwick, Ebenezer Jackson.

1791.—John Sedgwick, Dr. Timothy Rogers, Tryal Tanner,

1792.—John Sedgwick, Timothy Rogers, Isaac Swift.

1793.—John Sedgwick, Isaac Swift, Samuel Wadsworth, Tryal Tanner.

1794.—Samuel Wadsworth, Isaac Swift.

1795.—John Sedgwick, Ebenezer Jackson, Isaac Swift, Samuel Wads-
worth.

1796.—John Sedgwick, Isaac Swift.

1797.—John Sedgwick, Isaac Swift, Judah Kellogg.

1798.—Elijah Steele, Jr., Tryal Tanner, John Sedgwick, Judah Kellogg.

1799.—John Sedgwick, Isaac Swift, Samuel Wadsworth, Judah Kellogg.

1800,—Judah Kellogg, John Sedgwick, Samuel Wadsworth.

1801.—Judah Kellogg, Oliver Burnham, Samuel Wadsworth.

1802.—John Sedgwick, Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1803-4.—Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1805.—John Sedgwick, Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1806-7.—Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1808.—Oliver Burnham, John Calhoun, Benjamin Gold.

1809.—Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1810.—Oliver Burnham, Benjamin Gold, John Calhoun,

1811-12.—John Sedgwick, Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham,

1813.—Oliver Burnham, Noah Rogers, Reuben Fox.

1814.—Noah Rogers, Benjamin Gold, Oliver Burnham.

1815.—Noah Rogers, John H. Pierce, Oliver Burnham.

1816.—Oliver Burnham, John H. Pierce, Philo Swift.

1817.—Philo Swift, Oliver Burnham, James Alling.

1818.—Noah Rogers, Philo Swift.

After this the new constitution began to operate,
and the representatives were chosen annually, not
biennially.

1819.—Oliver Burnham, John H. Pierce.
1820.—Oliver Burpham, William Kellogg.
1821.—William Bennet, Samuel Hopkins.
1822-23.—Oliver Burnham, Samuel Hopkins.
1824-27.—Peter Bierce, Benjamin Sedgwick.
1828,—Seth Pierce, Jr., Peter Bierce.
1829.—Peter Bierce, John A. Sedgwick.
1830-31.—George Wheaton, Frederick Kellogg.
1832.—Benjamin Catlin, Frederick Kellogg.
1833.—Benjamin Catlin, Victorianus Clark.
1834.—Victorianus Clark, Philo Kellogg.
1835.—Philo Kellogg, Anson Rogers.
1836.—Caleb Jones, William Clark.
1837.—Caleb Jones, Myron Harrison.
1838,—Caleb Jones, Benjamin Sedgwick.
1839.—John C. Calhoun, Isaac Marsh.
1840,—Isaac Marsh, John R. Harrison.
1841.—John R. Harrison, Frederick Kellogg.
1842-43,William Hindman, Edwin White.
1844.—John Scovill, Jolin E. Sedgwick.
1845.—Edward R. White, Joseph Essex.

 

1846.—Carrington Todd, William Hindman,
1847.—Chalker Pratt, John C. Calhoun.
1848.—John Scovill, Myron Harrison.
1849.—Hezekiah C. Gregory, Reuben Wilcox.
1850.—Amos M. Johnson, Charles Lewis.
1851.—Edward W. Andrews, Isaac Marsh.
1852.—Isaac Marsh, Charles Lewis.
1853.—John R. Harrison, William Hindman.
1854.—Jacob Scovill, Henry Swift.
1855.—Sherman Barnes, Earl Johnson.
1856.—Jacob Scovill, Samuel S. Reed.
1857.—Ralph C. Harrison, John W. Beers.
1858.—Russell R. Pratt, Edward F. Gold.
1859.—Alvin B. Palmer, George H. Swift.
1860.—Nathan Hart, Jr., Rossiter B. Hopkins.
1861.—Dwight W. Pierce, Philo C. Sedgwick.
1862.—Stephen Foote, H. C. Gregory. .
1863.—Marcus D. F. Smith, John McMurtry.
1864.—S. P. Judson, John McMurtry.
1865.—Robert T. Miner, E. Burton Hart.
1866.—Gad W. Smith, Solon B. Johnson.
1867.—Silas C. Beers, H. C. Crandall.
1868.—George L. Miner, Edward Sanford.
1869.—William H. Harrison, M. A. Nickerson.
1870.— William H. H. Hewitt, George C. Harrison.
1871.—Alanson Preston, Niles Scoville.
1872.—Henry L. Beers, Chester Wickwire.
1873.—Virgil F. McNiel, Robert N. Cochrane.
1874.—Luman Harrison, Smith Beach.
1875,—Myron I, Millard, George H. Crandall.
1876.—Henry L. Beers, Ralph I. Scoville.
1877.—William L. Clark, Ingersoll Reed.
1878,—Elbert Shepard, Amos Waterbury.
1879.—Daniel W. Manvel, James A. Cochrane.
1880.—Sebia Wells, James F. Reed.
1881.—Horace C. Hart, Russell Bierce.

SENATORS FROM THE TOWN, BEGINNING IN 1837.

1837-38, Peter Bierce; 1844-45, Philo Kellogg; 1847, Samuel. W. Gold;
1855, George A. Wheaton; 1859, Samuel W. Gold; 1870, Victory C.
Beers. .

MILITARY HISTORY.

SOLDIERS OF THE REVOLUTION.

Phineas Hart was a pensioner. He lived to about
eighty years. When over seventy he walked a jour-
ney in one week of over three hundred miles. He
lived and died at a house on the Canaan road, a little
north of James Reed’s.

Capt. Edward Rogers, the father of Col. Anson
Rogers, was an officer both in the French and Revo-
lutionary wars. He held a captain’s commission
during the latter. He was a man of good judgment,
genial manners, and kindness of heart. His papers,
still in possession of his descendants, show his abund-
ant labors, and, in lack of a complete list of soldiers
furnished by Cornwall, we give a mileage list of his
company, also an alarm list, which is marked as Capt.
Rogers’ company, though the names of other cap-
tains are attached to it. Some erasures and some ad-
ditions on the list as here printed, in different ink,
indicate it as having done duty for some time. This
contains all the names on it:
308 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

An Abstract of the Mileage of Capt. Edward Rogers’ Company, ip the late Col. F. Gay’s Regiment,
"returning at the end of the campaign.

; Miles Dis-
Men’s Names. Discharged at Returning to ian

.- North Castle...
“

&

Edward Rogers, captain...........
Nathaniel Hamlin, lieutenant..
Hezh. Andrews, lieutenant.
Joel Hinman, ensign...
Joshua Parmele, sergeant..
William Avery, sergeant.

Jacob Williams, sergeant.
Simeon Barnes, sergeant...
Timothy Doughty, drummer.
Samuel Darrow, fifer
Timothy Knapp, corporal...
Gershom Dornion, corporal.
Daniel Harris, corporal...
John Denmin, corporal..
Solomon Emmons...
Francis Brown...
Timothy Rowley
Joseph Brown..
Daniel Harrison..
James Wilson..
John White, Sr.
James Sterling.
Ichabod Brown
Benjamin Carrier.
Roswel Fuller..
Aaron Brownell..
Samuel Partridge.
David Whitney...
William Fellows.
Peter Tooley.
Aga Cole.......
Ebenezer Pardee..
Nehemiah Smith

   
  
  
  
  
   

   
 
 
 
  
 
  

 

“:Philipsborough..
--.. Norwalk....
“
-North Castle.
-Norwalk...

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"Norwalk...
-Philipsborough..
-Norwalk......

 

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-North Castle.
“

  
 
 
 
 
 
  
   

  
 
 

 

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

‘North Castle.
“

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‘Norwalk... ‘
-North Castle.

 
 

 

  
 

John Curtice.
Luke Rowland.
Jonathan Blinn
Samuel Franklin.
Elisha Forbe

it
Sows

 

  
 
 
 
  
  
   
 
   
  
 
  
   
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
   
   
 
 
 

  
  

-Dead.
-North Castle.
“

Solomon Reynolds..
-Norwalk...

Simeon Rood...

 

 
 

 

 

 

Andrew Coe... Bet WO OUDUTYaiisessesacnstescctes sseesounted sazsieone sdecedpnsnacnctceceesn sever 5D
David Douglass

Jobn White (2a).. -North Castle.............Sharon eounany TE
Samuel Lameon... -Dead. i

Elnathan Knapp. -Norwalk.......0 .Sharon (Saaudcaswadetasevcauisclscucosssti 60
Daniel Coon..... vb “ -

 
  
  
   
  
 
 

 

 

-North Castle.
Cornelius Hamlin., se :
Thomas Hamlin..
William Robinson
Joel Jackson.
Asa Hamlin...

- Norwalk...
-North Castle.
-Norwalk......
«North Castle...
»Philipshorough
-North Castle.

-Philipsboroug
Norwalk...
-North Castle.

 

 

Peter Pratt...
David Simons.
Gamaliel Pardee.
David Hicock.

eon
MAATTAMOF THM MOMOaAMS a at wR wo

 

 

 

 

Ephraim Herric
Justus Johnson.
Lemuel Gillet.
James Daley....

 

PPP LL LARAHAARAAAO OD PR POR TAN NTT TOTTI TIAA AMARAaAD

 

“Dead.
-In captivity.

 

 

 

 

 

   

William Jakways Norwalk... Caanan 70 5 10
Samuel Sirdam.. ge USL EesacaLUS cue sunetauuauastie ban casneareeueneenes 70 5 10
Isaac Cool i ie ae atays 70 5 10
Samuel Williams OS Gavebus a sweats deetsas daze ssai's eabiddectovSa/sties cocacvaesvesseseé adosuads Ssveu 87 73
A List of the Number and Names of such as are of the | David Lindsly, Jesse Jerrards, 38: in.number..
Alarm List who have their Abode within the Limits of | Semvel Sawyer, epee Nes ai
the Bharth C: Trai : John Millard, Jr., John McHannah, 33
€ Hourth Company, or ain-band, in the Fourteenth | peter Rumer, Samuel Abbott, 38
Regiment in the State of Connecticut : John Carter, Jethro Bonney, _
John Sprague, Abel Abbott, 74 Capt. Rogers’
Col, Heman Swift, Elijah Hopkins, James McClary, company.
Capt. Thomas Porter, Jonathan Crocker, Nehemiah Barsley, CornWALL, 17th March, 1777. pr. JosHua PIERcE,
Lieut. Ebenezer Dibble, Elnathan Patterson, Silas Clark, Captain of the Company.
Lieut. Matt. Patterson, Sherman Patterson, Kitchel Bell, Cart. Rogers.
Ensign Benoni Peck, Hezekiah Barse, Samuel Bassett,
Abraham Payne, Josiah Patterson, John Dibble (2d),

joi he pres-
James Barse, Bamivel Sawxer John Dibble (3d), The subjoined order for teams shows that the p:

Thomas Dean, Sele Abbott, Timothy Cole, sure of military necessity was felt even among our
Hezekiah Carter, Job Simmons, Noah Bull,— hills:
CORNWALL.

309

 

“ These Lines are to Sertify all whom it may Conserne that I the Sub-
scriber was sent by Mr. Isuac Bauldwin A. D. Qt. to Edward Rogers with
a desir for him to Procure ten teams in this Place to transport one Hun-
dred Barrels of flower to Litchfield on next Sabooth Day. If the teams
Cannot be procured no other way they must be pressed.

“pr. Jos, GREGORY.

“CorNWALL, April 9, 1779.”

Gen. John Sedgwick was an officer in the war of
the Revolution. He was superseded by Col. Heman
Swift, which offended him to such a degree that he
resigned his commission and retired from the army.
He was a brave and good officer. For many years he

_ represented the town in the legislature. His energy
at the time of Shay’s Rebellion, in 1787, saved our
county from participation in the affair.

Col. Ethan Allen was the son of Daniel Allen, who
resided in Cornwall, and, though it does not appear
that Col. Allen was born here, yet most of his boy-
hood was spent here, and we rightly claim some share
in the honor which attaches to his name. The resi-
dence of his father was on the corner south of the
North Cornwall church, a large old house, torn down
about 1830.

Gen. Heman Swift came from Kent about the year
1764-65, and settled on the road from Sharon to War-
ren and Litchfield, about half a mile southeast up
the hill from the residence of his son, the late Rufus
Swift, Esq. Early in life he was selected by his fel-
low-citizens for public service, both in a military and
civil capacity. He was an officer in the old French
war, and in the Continental army, having received a
colonel’s commission over Maj. John Sedgwick, which
circumstance created a momentary excitement, and
the major resigned his commission and retired from
the army. But this breach of good feeling did not
long continue. Col. Heman Swift continued in active
service during most of the war of the Revolution.
He was a personal friend of Washington, by whom
he was held in high esteem.

Col. Swift’s early education was very limited. This
circumstance prevented the attainment of as high a
position as otherwise he might have occupied. He
was for many years after the close of the war a member
of the Upper House of the State legislature. He pos-
sessed a noble personal appearance, and during the
later period of his life bore the title of “ General.” .He
died in November, 1814.

_fapt. John Jeffers was a Revolutionary soldier in
“the Continental army against the British and Indians.
The military company which was under Jeffers’ com-
mand, and which he often led to perform feats of
valor, received the gentle appellation of “ Hell-
Hounds.” When in 1812 war was declared by the
United States against England, Jeffers made applica-
tion to a distinguished member of Congress for a
brigadier-general’s commission in the army; but this
request was not granted.

Few, if any, of the distinguished men who have
borne an active part in the transactions of Cornwall
since its first settlement would rank before the Hon.

 

Oliver Burnham, whose late residence still remains,
though in a dilapldated condition, about a quarter of
a mile south of the North Comwall church. His
father, at the time of his death, was a resident of
ream Hill. The son Oliver served, while very
young, as a soldier in the army of the Revolution,
and in consequence of a wound produced at that time
he received a small annuity from the government.
He occupied the place of county surveyor for many
years. For twenty or twenty-five years he represented
the town in the General Assembly, usually in the
House of Representatives, and served one term in
the Senate. He held the office of magistrate until
exempted by age. and served a short time as judge of
the County Court. He was a native of Farmington,
and born on Nov. 11, 1760. When he was fifteen
years of age he enlisted as a soldier in the regiment
of Col. Willis, and went in December, 1775, to join
Gen. Washington’s army, then near Boston. He
served with distinguished credit during many hard-
fought battles; was captured, and thrown into prison
in New York, but finally escaped.

As a politician, Judge Burnham possessed much
shrewdness and tact. For many years he probably
held a greater influence in the affairs of the town
than any other individual. His vigorous intellect
remained unimpaired until he attained about fourscore
years. Although partial to the Episcopal Church, he
was a regular supporter of the Congregational society.
He died in the eightieth year of his age.

Among the residents of Cornwall who took an active
part in the struggle of the Revolution was Jacob Sco-
ville. He served as a private soldier through most of
the war, and in his old age received the benefit of a
pension. He was a single man through his military
service, at the close of which he married a Widow
Emmons, whose first husband died in a prison-ship in
New York. ‘

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

Of the sons of Cornwall who gave their lives for
their country three lie buried in the Hollow cemetery ;
one alone has a monument with this short epitaph:

“MAJ.GEN. JOHN SEDGWICK,
Born in Cornwall Hollow,
Sept. 13, 1813.
Killed near Spottsylvania C.-H., Va., May 9, 1864.”

Any attempt to do justice to the eminent services of
Gen. Sedgwick must of course be a failure. ‘ Among
the distinguished heroes for the maintenance of the
Union none held a more exalted position, or, dying,,
left a purer record on the page of our country’s his-
tory, than Maj.-Gen. John Sedgwick.”

In 1832, in a letter to Gen. Cass recommending
young Sedgwick for an appointment at West Point,
the late Mr. Gold wrote, “I believe, if permitted to
enjoy that privilege, he would do honor to the insti-
tution, and become of some service to his country.”
Would that all our recommendations to public places
could be as well honored. Graduating with honor
310

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in 1887, he was first engaged in the Seminole war in
Florida; the next year, under Gen. Scott, employed
in the removal of the Cherokees to their Western
reservation ; next we find him fighting in Mexico,
under Taylor, Worth, and Scott. Vera Cruz, Cerro
Gordo, Puebla, Churubusco, El Molino del Rey, and
Mexico herself witnessed his valor.

The war of the Rebellion opened while he was on
the frontiers, beyond Pike’s Peak. Called to the Army
of the Potomac, the command of which was twice
offered to him and twice declined, he fought at Fair
Oaks, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the battles of the
Wilderness, till he-met a soldier’s death at Spottsyl-
vania.

Notwithstanding his familiarity with scenes of blood
and carnage, he was as tender as a father of his men;
and though so long in public life, and removed from
the scenes of his boyhood, his love for them, for his
ancestral acres,—for they had memories of which a
soldier and a patriot might well be proud,—his love
for the simple pursuits of husbandry, was as strong as
if he had never wandered from his native vale.

But Gen. Sedgwick was known as one who never
forgot his ancestral home. The adornment of his
paternal acres was his pride, and it was his hope and
ambition to retire from public life, here to enjoy
that quiet which his duties as a soldier prohibited.
The same qualities which made him a good officer
made him a good farmer, and his example and influ-
ence as a cultivator of the soil will be no less enduring
than as a patriot soldier.

In 1858 the old Sedgwick residence, which had been
so speedily rebuilt for his grandfather when it was
burned by the Tories in Revolutionary times, was
consumed by fire. Here Gen. Sedgwick built a noble
mansion for his own occupancy ; but it was a sad day
to his friends and neighbors gathered there, May 15,
1864, to perform the last offices to the patriot dead.

In the same cemetery, with unmarked graves, rest
Harvey Ford and Mr. Read, colored.

In the North Cornwall cemetery we find the names of

Lieut. William H. Coggswell, died Sept. 22, 1864, aged 25 yeurs, 2
months, and 23 days. He enlisted as private in the Fifth Regiment
C. V., June 22,1861, and was promoted in the Second Connecticut
Artillery for gallant services, Sept. 11, 1862. He was in the battles
of Peaked Mountain, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Cold Iarbor,
and Opequan, and died from wounds received in last battle.

Crawford H. Nodine, son of Robert G. and Clara Hart Nodine, died of
wounds received at the battle of Cedar Mountain, Sept. 3, 1862, aged
21.

Capt. Amos T. Allen, Co. C, Eleventh Regiment C. V., only brother of
Susan Brewster, died of wounds received at the battle of Cold Har-
bor, July 6, 1864, aged 25 years. He was engaged in the following
battles: Winchester, May 25, 1862; Cedar Mountain, Aug. 9, 1862;
Fredericksburg, Dec. 12 to 15, 1862; Suffolk, April 24, 1863; near
Suffolk, May 3, 1863; Swift's Creek, May 9, 1864; Cold Harbor, June
3, 1864,

Charles McCormick, born Sept. 15, 1836; died Sept. 17, 1865, from disease
contracted in the service, He was «a member of Co. I, Fifth Regi-
ment C. V., and in the battles of Winchester, Cedar Mountain,
Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, and orderly-sergeant of his com-
pany, under Gen. Sherman, in all battles from Chattanooga to the
surrender of the rebels under Johnson.

 

William Green, died March 29, 1874, aged 46; born in Sheffield, Eng-
land.

Myron Hubbell, died at Alexandria, Va.; Nov. 24, 1862, aged 38,

Edward Barnum, a native of Cornwall, though he enlisted elsewhere,
died in 1875.

Edgar Elias, enlisted in the Eighth N. Y. Regiment, and served through
the war. He died in Cornwall in 1875.

Soldiers buried in the cemetery at Cornwall.

Rev. Jacob Eaton, chaplain of Seventh Regiment C. V. I., died at
Wilmington, N.C., March 20, 1865, aged 32 years; a volunteer in
the war of 1861. A noble Christian patriot.

George W. Pendleton, a member of Co, C, First Connecticut Artillery;
died while in the service of his country, at Washington, D. C., Sept,
11, 1862, aged 22 years. f

Corp. Henry L. Vail, died at Winchester, Va., Nov. 3, 1864, by a rebel
bullet through the neck and shoulder, aged 23.

John Hawver, died Aug. 1, 1868, aged 30.

Philo F. Cole, died Jan. 4, 1863, aged 27.

William R., son of Rufus and Mary S. Payne, died Feb. 20, 1865, aged
33.

William B. North, born June 25, 1835, died March 18, 1866,

Thomas Sherman returned at the close of the war with the Second Con-
necticut Artillery, and died in 1866.

Zina D. Hotchkiss, a member of Co. G, Second Connecticut Artillery,
died in 1875.

The remains of five are buried in the cemetery in the southwest part of
the town.

Albert Robinson, sergeant of Co. G, Second Connecticut H. A., died at
Baltimore, Md., March 26, 1865, aged 33 years.

George Page, killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, aged 25,
A member of Co. G, Second Connecticut H. A.

Lewis Sawyer, died at the city of Washington, Aug. 24, 1864, aged 24
years. A member of Co. G, Second Connecticut H. A.

Horace Sickman, a member of Co. G, Second Conn. H.A., died in Wash-
ington, July 19, 1864, aged 29 years,

Hermon E. Bonney, died at Philadelphia, June 28, 1864, aged 28 years,
A member of Second Connecticut H. A.

I am indebted to H. P. Milford, of Cornwall Bridge,
for the names of Cornwall soldiers in Company G,
Nineteenth Connecticut Volunteers, afterwards Sec-
ond Connecticut Heavy Artillery, with some incidents
of their history. Mr. Milford went as corporal, en-
tering camp at Litchfield, Aug. 21, 1862, and was
quartermaster-sergeant at the time of his discharge,
July 7, 1865.

The following-named men were residents of Corn-
wall at the time of their enlistment:

Edward F, Gold, captain; John M. Gregory, lieutenant, lost an arm at
the battle of Cedar Creek; Gad M. Smith became captain; Henry
8. Dean, wounded at Cold Harbor; Henry P. Milford, Joseph Payne,
killed at Cold Harbor; Myron Hubbell, died of sickness; Albert L,
Benedict, Frederick Butler, Franklin B. Bierce, Jerome Chipman,
Nelson Clark, Philo Cole, died; Josiah B, Corban, Patrick Delaney,
Edward Hawver, wounded at Cedar Creek; Nelson T. Jennings,
George L. Jones, David Kimball, Sydney Lapham, John Lapham,
Elijah C. Mallory, Ralph J. Miner, Henry Peck, killed at Winches-
ter; George W. Page, killed at Cedar Creek; Lucien G. Rouse, died;
Charles R. Swift, Lewis Sawyer, died; Thomus Sherman, Charles H.
Smith, Elisha Soule, killed at Cedar Creek ; Patrick Troy, died from
wounds received at Winchester: Allen Williams, died; Horace Wil-
liams, brother to the above ; Robert Bard.

The following joined the company from Cornwall
as recruits :

Herman E. Bonney, died; Albert H. Bailey, George W. Baldwin, John
Hawver, wounded at Cold Harbor; John Christie, Hubert D. Hux-
Jey, Zinah D. Hotchkiss, Dwight A. Hotclikiss, father and son;
Timothy Leonard, Paschal P. North, died; Nathan Payne, W.S.
Palmer, Frederick J. Pierce, Swift B. Smith, John Tulley, William
White, died; James HW. Van Buren,—this was a boy in the drum
corps; he was wounded in the leg at Winchester, had the limb am-
putated twice, and died of the wound.
CORNW ALL.

311

 

Assistant Adjt.-Gen. Simeon J. Fox has kindly fur-
nished me the names of recruits from the town of
Cornwall from and after July 1, 1863. Those pre-
viously named have been stricken from this list.

FIRST ARTILLERY,
John Swift, Isaac Doughty.

SECOND ARTILLERY.

Newton W. Coggswell, John H. Taylor, Orville Slover, Horace Sick-
mund, William A. Slover, Norman Mansfield, Lorenzo Moseley,
Frederick Saxe, Lockwood Waldron, John R. Thompson, George
Burton, Henry M. Marshall, Sylvester Graves, Charles C, Bosworth,
Patrick Ryan, James Adams.

FIRST CAVALRY.

Michael R. Oates, James McLane, Edward Suter, James Carey, John
Brady, John McCabe, James Flood, William H. Benton, George B.
Clark, William Rogers, Frederick Beam, James Kelly, John Boyd,
John Kelly. :

FIFTH INFANTRY.

Charles McCormick, Tracy A. Bristol, William H. McMurtry, Adam
Coons.

SEVENTH INFANTRY.

Hiram F, Hawver.

EIGHTH INFANTRY.

Charles Dixon, John Williams, Peter Smith, Henry Root, Bennett Smith,
Henry C. Smith, William Petri, Hiram Allen, William Murphy,
Nelson Hart, Charles E. Dibble.

NINTH INFANTRY.
Wm. C. Wilson.

TENTH INFANTRY.
John Martin, Andrew Hall.

ELEVENTH INFANTRY.

Thomas Quinlan, Frederick Krellmer, Francis Ginnetty, Gustave Krall,
James Armit, Joseph Moreav, Charles Marien, Pierre A. Guy.

THIRTEENTH INFANTRY.

.

Eugene Davidson, John McGowan, George Roraback, Henry S. Wright,
Tra A. Davidson, Charles Richmond, Sylvester Titus, James H. Rora-
back.

FOURTEENTH INFAFTRY.

John Buckley, John McGarrick.

1vth Regt., James Mills, James McDermott; 20th Regt., L. T. Drum-
mond, Charles J. Brent; 29th Regt., John Watson, Peter Howard,
Henry Johnson, George H. Green,and John Lepyon. Navy, Charles
Dailey. Substitute, John Mahone.

Alvin H. Hart, sergt. Co. I, 5th Regt. ; pro. to 2d lieut. Nov. 1, 1864.

Horace N. Hart, enl. in Co. I, 8th Regt., Sept. 21, 1861; must. out 1865.

John Mills, en]. at the same time with the above, and died in the ser-
vice. .

Henry Fieldsem, killed.

Edwin L, Nickerson, 15th Regt. Thomas A. Smith, James Wilson, and
Charles Fairchild.

Charles D. Blinn went into the service as captain, and returned as
colonel.

Lieut. Nettleton died at New Orleans.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THEODORE 8. GOLD.

The Gold family was among the earliest settling in
Connecticut. Maj. Nathan Gold came from St. Ed-
mondsburg, England, during the reign of Charles I.,
and was a land-holder in Fairfield in 1649, and in
1658 the purchaser of sixteen separate pieces of land

 

in that town. He was one of the nineteen petitioners
for the charter of Connecticut, granted by Charles II.
in 1662, “which petition was signed by no gentleman
unless he had sustained a high reputation in England
before he came to this country.” His only son, Nathan
Gold, Jr., succeeded him as member of the Council,
and held the office of lieutenant-governor for fifteen
years.

Nathan Gold, Jr., married Hannah, daughter of
Lieutenant-Governor John Talcott, one of the above-
mentioned petitioners. From this union came a
numerous family. One son, Rev. Hezekiah Gold, of
Stratford (Harvard, 1719), had a large family, mostly
daughters, who have had many descendants prominent
in the State. One son, Rev. Hezekiah Gold, of Corn-
wall (Yale, 1751), came to Cornwall as pastor of the
Congregational Church in 1755. He was a farmer as
well as minister, and, using his education to good pur-
pose, he was called “the best farmer in his parish.” His
first wife was Sarah, sister of Hon. Theodore Sedgwick.
They had four sons,—Thomas (Yale, 1778), a lawyer
of Pittsfield, Mass. (a granddaughter was the wife of
Henry W. Longfellow); Benjamin, a large farmer in
Cornwall, whose descendants were so numerous that,
at the death of his wife, they numbered over one hun-
dred.

Benjamin Gold was for many years a deacon in the
First Congregational Church in Cornwall, and held
many offices of trust in the town. Two of his sons,
Stephen J. and Job Swift, were successful inventors.
Five of his grandsons served in the war of the Re-
bellion, viz. :

Edward F. Gold, of Cornwall, son of Benjamin F.,
captain Company G, Second Connecticut Heavy Ar-
tillery.

Henry Martyn Gold, son of H. Sedgwick, was killed
early in the war.

Frank Boudinot, son of Harriet Gold, captain New
York Mounted Rifles, died in consequence of his
horse falling on him; a bold, dashing officer, much
beloved by his men.

Theodore Freelinghuysen Vaill,son of Rev. Herman
Vaill and Flora Gold, adjutant Second Connecticut
Heavy Artillery, wounded near the close of the war;
died of typhoid fever; author of the history of the
regiment, and editor of the Winsted Herald. Joseph
H. Vaill, his brother, present editor of the Winsted
Herald, was an officer in the Eighth Connecticut.

Thomas Ruggles (Yale, 1786), an eminent lawyer
of Whitesboro’, N.Y. He was prominent in politics,
and member of Congress from New York for about
twenty years. He had several children, who sustained
the good record of the family ; Hezekiah, the youngest
gon, was a farmer. He married Rachel Wadsworth,
granddaughter of James Douglas, one of the original
proprietors and first settlers of Cornwall. This branch
of the Douglas family has given many honored names
to the county. He received by his wife a farm, of the
original Douglas land, on “Cream Hill,” where they
312

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

settled, to which he added by purchase. His grand-
son, T. S. Gold, now owns and occupies his estate.

Dr. Samuel Wadsworth (William, 1814), only son
of Hezekiah Gold, practiced medicine for twenty-five
years in New York State and Goshen, Conn., return-
ing to his farm in Cornwall in 1842. In 1845 he, in
connection with his son, Theodore 8. Gold, established
the “Cream Hill Agricultural School.” This was
successfully conducted for twenty-four years. He
was State senator in 1847 and 1859, and Presidential
elector in 1857. Dr. Gold was a thorough student of
medicine and a successful practitioner. He was a
frequent contributor to the medical and other jour-
nals of the day. As an educator, he applied to good
advantage his professional knowledge and ripe ex-
perience. .As a farmer, he early recognized the
necessity of clearing his fields of rocks for successful
agriculture, and in 1823 was the first to attack the
great bowlders that crowded Cornwall farms. The
horse-rake and mowing-machine (in 1857) were first
used in Cornwall on his “Cream Hill” farm. This
was an impossibility in the original condition of the
fields.

He was persistent in his efforts to promote the
social, moral, and educational interests of the com-
munity, and lived to see many of his favorite projects
realized. Improved roads and substantial school-
houses remain as material monuments to his energy
and public spirit. He died Sept. 10, 1869, aged
seventy-five years.

Theodore Sedgwick, only son of Samuel W. and
Phebe (Cleveland) Gold, was born at Madison, N. Y.,
March 2, 1818. He prepared for college at Goshen
Academy, where his father then resided: was gradu-
ated from Yale in 1888, and spent three years after
graduation as teacher of Goshen and Waterbury
Academies, and as student of medicine, botany, and
mineralogy at New Haven.

In 1845 the “Cream Hill Agricultural School” was
established, and was successfully conducted, until
closed in 1866, by Dr. Gold and Theodore. To a
family school the household department is of the
utmost importance, and a reference to this school
would be incomplete without a passing tribute to the
memory of Mrs. 8. W. and Mrs. T. 8. Gold, who by
their kind interest for the comfort and welfare of the
pupils and their self-sacrificing labors secured the
affection of those in their charge,—a remembrance
never to be effaced.

On Mr. Gold’s farm of about four hundred acres it
is probable that more has been done in clearing land
from rocks, and in building heavy stone walls, than
on any other farm in the State during the occupancy
of one person. His favorite work has been the ad-
vancement of the general agricultural interests of
Connecticut. In 1842 he, with others, formed the
“Farmers’ Club of West Cornwall.” He has been
its secretary from the first. He originated the move-
ment in 1850 which resulted in the formation, in 1852,

 

of the “ Connecticut State Agricultural Society,” and
from its organization has held some official position
connected therewith. In 1866, at the establishment
of the “Connecticut Board of Agriculture,” he was
chosen its secretary, which position he yet holds. He
is also one of the trustees of the “ Connecticut Agricul-
tural Experiment Station,” established in 1877. He
was one of the editors of The Homestead, an agri-
cultural paper published at Hartford from 1855 to
1861. Mr. Gold has held the office of deacon in the
Second Congregational Church of Cornwall since
1872.

In public and private life Mr. Gold has shown
untiring energy and ability. By public lectures,
newspaper articles, and personal efforts he has kept
at work in his favorite department. During the past
fifty years the progress of agriculture has been most
gratifying, and it is sufficient honot to any man to
have been a participator and an efficient aid in this
progress. Mr. Gold’s ‘Cream Hill” farm shows this
progress as much as any part of the State. The clear-
ing and drainage of fields, the planting and care of
orchards, the buildings, and, lastly, the roads and
roadsides, all tell of industry, intelligent, patient,
untiring.

In 1864, Mr. Gold, with the other corporators, pro-
cured from the General Assembly a charter for the
“Connecticut Soldiers’ Orphans’ Home.” This was
located at Mansfield, and ‘hundreds of orphan and
destitute children shared its privileges. During the
maintenance of the “Home,” until 1877, Mr. Gold
was its secretary. In 1878, Mr. Gold published a
“History of Cornwall,” an 8vo of 889 pages. He
married, in 1848, Caroline E. Lockwood, of Bridge-
port, who died in 1857, by whom he had five daugh-
ters. Of these three are now living,—Eleanor Douglas
(Mrs. Charles H. Hubbard; of Hartford City, Ind.),
Rebecca Cleveland (Mrs. Samuel M. Cornell, of Guil-
ford, Conn.), and Caroline Simons. He married for
his second wife Mrs. Emma Tracy (Baldwin), also
a descendant of the aforementioned John Talcott.
Their children are Alice Tracy, Martha Wadsworth,
Charles Lockwood, and James Douglas.

Descended from an ancestry of educated and pro-
fessional men (though never forsaking the soil, and
never forsaking rural pursuits), Mr. Gold in choosing
agriculture for a profession has yielded to his inher-
ited tastes, and has only kept apace with the times,
which now demands for the successful prosecution of
agriculture a knowledge more varied and as exact as
is required by the so-called “learned professions.”
When agriculture asserts its demand for educated
men, then we shall have an education for the farm
equal in breadth to that of any other calling, and
then will end the cry, “Why do the boys leave the
farm ?”

Punctuality in every engagement, persistent indus-
try, and honest purpose to do good work, and to do it
well, are leading characteristics of Mr. Gold, and have
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.
 

 

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CORNWALL.

led to.the overcoming of many obstacles, and to a
reasonable degree of success in the many duties con-
nected with tle industrial and moral advancement of
the community in which he has been engaged. ,

THE HARRISON FAMILY.

The family of Harrisons were among the early set-
tlers of the town of Cornwall, Conn., and their de-
scendants are scattered all over the United States,
from Maine to California. We quote the following
from T. 8. Gold’s “ History of Cornwall,” Conn. :

“The Harrisons in the Hollow are the descendants of two brothers,
Daniel and Noah Harrison, who removed into the town from Branford,
in 1763. Daniel lived on the hill, where the Nettletons have since lived,
and he was the father of Daniel, Jr., Joel, and Luther Harrison. He
died when I was very young, and his was the first burial I ever wit-
nessed. Noah Harrison, the younger brother of Daniel, I remember

* very well. He was the father of Heman Harrison, deceased, and of Ed-
mund Harrison, still living at a very advanced age.* The old house
which Noah Harrison occupied is still standing, and it looks as it did
sixty years ago.t Mr. Harrison and his son Heman occupied the farm
on which their descendants now reside. The father, Noah, was distin-
guished for his skill in subduing, taming, and breaking to the yoke wild
young cattle. Noah Harrison lived to a good old age. His son Heman,
whom I have mentioned, was distinguished for his quiet, industrious,
thrifty habits, and seemed to be a timid, bashful man, very seldom speak-
ing when he was in company, and was seldom seen abroad. He died at
a comparatively early age.

“Daniel Harrison, the son of Daniel Harrison, of whom I have spoken,
was aman of marked and positive character, which would make him a
leading man in any circle in which he moved. He seemed to have been

literally born to command, and his right to that precedence was always

acknowledged by his neighbors.

“Those bearing the name have been, with scarcely an exception, free-

holders and heads of families, thus becoming closely identified with the
prosperity of the community where they have resided, building up happy
homes, the secure foundation of the nation. They have been law-
abiding citizens, and such has been their regard for law and the rights
of others that it is doubted if there has ever been one of the name in
this town, or their descendants, indicted for crime. All of those now
residing in Cornwall of the name (except Myron Harrison, in the Hol-
low, who is grandson of Daniel, 2d) are descended from Noah Harrison,
who came to Cornwall from Branford in 1763, in company with Noah
and Edward Rogers. His first purchase of land was a fifty-acre lot, upon
which he built the house now standing near the present residence of
Luman Harrison, where he lived and died in 1823, aged eighty-six. He
was @ man of great resolution, and a great teamster with oxen. It is
said that ‘the crack of his whip could be heard at a mile’s distance.’
During the Revolution a troup of dragoon horses were wintered on his
farm, and from the man in charge Mr. Harrison and others learned to
braid those whip-lashes for which the neighborhood was so famous.

“Noah Harrison married Hannah, sister of Noah and Edward Rogers,

and had children,—Edmund, boru May 1, 1768; Heman and Luman; and
by a second marriage, Hannah, married Elias Hart, and Amanda, married
Oliver Burnham Hart.

“Edmund Harrison, as a pupil of Oliver Burnham, developed a taste
for mathematical studies, and became a farmer of more than ordinary in-
telligence. He ruled his family well, both by precept and example; was
temperate in all things; a strict observer of the Sabbath, and of un-
blemished moral character, and in public and private life bore the title
of an honest man. One of his maxime was, ‘ What is worthy of thy re-
mark remember, and forget the rest.’ His grandson, George C. Harri-
son, enjoyed much of the society of his grandfather in his later years,
and gives many reminiscences of him. In his eighty-seventh year he

 

*Mr. Edmund Harrison died in 1866, aged ninety-eight years and four
months.—T. S. G.

} The brown house, still standing, but unoccupied, near the residence
of Luman Harrison, It is the oldest house in town.—T. 8. G.

 

313

received injuries from a fall which rendered him comparatively helpless
for the remaining eleven years; yet he was always cheerful, and by
reading and conversation kept well informed in the knowledge of pass-
ing events, even to the close of life, Jan. 4, 1867, aged ninety-eight years,
eight months, and four days. His memory held out to the last, and his
apt quotations of poetry, from book and of local origin, enlivened his
conversation. :

“He married Ruth Hopkins, of Warren, and had the following chil-
dren, viz.: Rufus, Noah, Myron, Chandler, Lucretia, John R., Hannah,
and William H.”

JOHN R. HARRISON,

A word in memory of John R. Harrison, who died
at Cornwall on the 81st day of August, 1880, in the
seventy-third year of his age.

The subject of this sketch was born in Cornwall,
Conn., on the 28d day of September, 1807. He was
the fifth son of Edmund Harrison, who died Jan. 4,
1867, at the advanced age of ninety-eight years, and
grandson of Noah Harrison, who came to this town
from Branford, Conn., in the year 1768, and who lived
to the ripe age of eighty-six years.

His early educational advantages were limited, his
only opportunities of instruction being those afforded
by the common district-school of the period. Reared
in a large family, whose parents were in moderate cir-
cumstances, he early learned to labor, and formed the
habits of industry and economy.

Endowed by nature in a marked degree, he pos-
sessed a spirit replete with energetic action, and a
vigorous physical manhood of prepossessing appear-
ance. At the age of nineteen years he entered the
world’s grand arena of conflict, to do and win in life’s
great contest, with no other resources but the strength
of his arm and the power of his brain. With willing
hands, ready to be employed in any honorable occu-
pation, for six years he labored, the winter seasons
being devoted to teaching and mental improvement.

In March, 18383, he married Miss Eleanor Bradford,
of Cornwall, and had the following children: Geo.
C., born May 19, 1840; Catharine, born Aug. 1, 1848,
married Wm. H. H. Hewett, and resides in New
Haven; Wilbur F., born Aug. 22, 1845; and John
B., born Nov. 4, 1848, and resides in Ohio. In the
succeeding October he entered. into the mercantile
business at Cornwall Centre, that being at that time
the location of the Cornwall post-office, and the only
one in the town, excepting one very near the Goshen

‘town line in Cornwall Hollow (there are now six

post-offices in Cornwall). He soon became closely
identified with the business and interests of the town,
and for a period of more than forty years has taken
an active part in its councils, meriting the confidence
and esteem of his fellow-citizens, being often called
by them to offices of responsibility and to the care of
important trusts, both of a private and public nature,
having served the town for seventeen years as select-
man, thrice as a representative in the General Assem-
bly, fifteen years as treasurer of the town deposit
fund, about thirty years as justice of the peace, and
as judge of probate for the district of Cornwall six

years.
314

As an earnest Christian and member of the First
Methodist Episcopal Church in Cornwall, he nobly
honored his profession, He took a very active part
in the erection of the present church in 1839, and
was the last survivor of the building committee or-
ganized for that purpose. In his faithful Christian
life, by precept and example, he has been a pillar in
the church of his choice all those years, and, like a
mother bereft of her children, a bereaved church to-
day mourns over its loss,

In a full age, after a long and useful life, he came
down to his grave “like a shock of corn fully ripe,”
not a cloud or a fear dimming his vision, as, sur-
rounded by his children and grandchildren, who will
long remember his words of parting counsel, he
closed his eyes to earth and passed to the unseen
world.

The funeral obsequies were attended by a large con-
course of relatives and friends on the 2d of September,
1880, at the First Methodist Episcopal church, and
on that calm September afternoon, by loving hands,
his remains were interred in the quiet, beautiful ceme-
tery at Cornwall, where also rest the ashes of his
fathers of two preceding generations.

As a kind father, as a loving and faithful husband,
as a true and sympathizing friend and counselor, as a
Christian citizen, his memory will long be cherished
and revered by the community in which he lived.

Geo. C. Harrison, eldest son of John R. and Eleanor
(Bradford) Harrison, was born in the town of Corn-
wall, Conn., May 19, 1840. His advantages for an
education were such as the common schools of his
town afforded, supplemented by several years at the
“Young Ladies’ Institute,” at Cornwall, Conn., and
one term at Amenia, N. Y. At nineteen years of age
he began teaching, and followed it during the three
following winters. He was reared on a farm, which
honorable business he has continued to follow till the
present time (1881). He now owns some three hun-
dred acres, which is in a good state of cultivation,
situated within one mile of the centre of the town of
Cornwall. His buildings are very substantial; a view
of his residence and surroundings may be seen in
another part of this work.

In politics he is a Democrat, and as such is justly
regarded one of the leading men of the town. In
1867 he was elected town clerk, and held that office
for twelve consecutive years, and at the same time
was elected town treasurer, and continued to hold the
same till the present time. In 1870 he was elected to
the State Legislature, and served one term. In 1876
he was appointed judge of probate of the probate dis-
trict of Cornwall, and held the same position for four
years, and for six years previous was clerk for his
father, who was judge of probate for that time.

On the 21st of February, 1862, he married Mrs.
Rebecca White, widow of Edward H. White, and
daughter of Carrington Todd, of Cornwall, Conn.
Of this union eleven children have been born, viz.:

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Cynthia R., Eleanor H., Geo. E., Charlotte H., Katie
J., John R, (deceased), Ruth, Gertrude, Anna, Mary
M. (deceased), and Mabel.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church at Cornwall, Conn., and he is
one of the principal supporters of the same, Mr,
Harrison has always taken a deep interest in Sabbath-
school work, and he has been either teacher or super-
intendent ever since he was old enough. Mr. Har-
rison, with his interesting family, promises to rival
his ancestors as a citizen worthy of the trust and con-
fidence of his fellows.

MYRON HARRISON.

Myron Harrison belongs to a family that has been
associated with Cornwall from the earliest period of
its history. He was of the third generation in town.
Noah Harrison, grandfather of Myron, came to Corn-
wall from Branford among the earliest settlers in 1762,
Edmund Harrison, father of Myron, was born in Corn-
wall, May 1, 1768. Myron Harrison was born Sept.
25, 1800, and received such educational advantages as
the town afforded at the time. Was apprenticed at
an early age as merchant’s clerk, and at the expira-
tion of his term of service formed a partnership with
Peter Bierce, at Cornwall Bridge, and engaged in the
mercantile business and the manufacture of iron.
For half a century he was well known in most of the
towns of the county for his quick perception and de-
cision, strict integrity, and careful business habits;
was appointed a justice of the peace soon after reach-
ing years of majority, which office he held continu-
ously until debarred by age. Having a natural taste for
questions of law, he soon became a celebrated justice,
and was often appointed by the courts to hear causes.
For years he was called upon to transact most of the
legal business of his section, and was ever found ‘a
careful adviser and safe counselor, and his reputation
for drafting legal papers was such that lawyers hardly
thought it safe to attack them.

His strict integrity and business qualifications called
him in many places of trust and responsibility, all of
which he discharged satisfactorily. During his life
he assisted in the settlement of eighty-six estates.
Was selectman of the town seven years, postmaster at
Cornwall Bridge sixteen years; elected a member of
the General Assembly in 1837, and was re-elected in
1848, serving upon important committees each ses-
sion,—that of corporations in 1837, and railroads in
1848; county commissioner six years, and United
States assistant assessor for eight years. For nearly

‘half a century he was an active and influential mem-

ber of the church at Cornwall Bridge, and was an
example of temperance and sobriety, and was ever
found ready to aid with his whole influence every
good work. Mr. Harrison was a remarkably active, as
well as genial and social, man, of dignified but unas-
 
                                      

          

          

                 

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suming manners, quick at repartee, and always ready
with an anecdote. to illustrate his position and points.
Myron Harrison married Charlotte E. Calhoun,
daughter of Dr. John Calhoun, June 2, 1880. Ralph
C., son of Myron, was born Oct. 22, 1831, married
Juliet Waite, and has three sons; George L. was born
May 5, 1835, and Sarah C. was born Oct. 31, 1840,
and has two sons.

He died Sept. 19, 1872. Ralph C. graduated at the
Wesleyan University and Albany Law-School, and is
now a partner in the firm of Tarbox & Harrison, one
of the leading law-firms of San Francisco. George
L. is general passenger and traveling agent of the
Chicago and Northwestern Railroad; and Sarah C.
married the Hon. Victory C. Beers, and is still living
at Cornwall.

FREDERICK KELLOGG.
The Kellogg family date their ancestry in this

country to 1654, when Joseph Kellogg was made

freeman at Farmington. In 1659 he removed to
Boston. He was a weaver by trade. In 1661 he re-
moved to Hadley, Mass. He was a lieutenant in
Philip’s war, and at the Falls fight he commanded the
Hadley soldiers. He died in 1707, then having four-
teen adult children. Of hissons, John lived at Hadley,
Martin at Hatfield and Deerfield, Edward at Brook-
field, Mass., Samuel at Hartford, Conn., Stephen at
Westfield, Mass., Nathaniel at Hadley and Amherst,
Ebenezer and Jonathan at Colchester, Conn., and
Joseph at Hatfield.

Joseph, the first-named above, seems to be the first
of the Kellogg family in this aountry. There was at
the same time (1654) a Daniel Kellogg at Norwalk,
Conn. He had a large family.

Judah Kellogg, from Colchester, graduated at Yale,
1763, taught school in Stratford, where he married
Mary Tomlinson, an aunt of the late Governor Tomlin-
son; came to Cornwall in 1774, and bought one hundred
and sixty acres of land, with a small house, of Ste-
phen Royce. Here he lived till his death, in 1820,
aged eighty. He represented the town in the General
Assembly the first four years of his residence here,
and was justice of the peace for a long period. Was
deacon of the church. He was chosen clerk in 1776,
and held till 1810. William, his oldest son, succeeded
him as clerk, and at his death Frederick, the fourth
son of William, was chosen to the office, which he
held till 1845, the clerkship having been in the family
sixty-nine years.

William Kellogg had four sons, two of whom died
young. Philo, the eldest son, was a farmer, and owned
and occupied the site of his grandfather J udah. He
was a partner in the firm of P. & F. Kellogg for
twenty years. He represented the Seventeenth Dis-
trict in the senate of Connecticut two terms, and was
a representative from Cornwall two years. He was

 

315

appointed judge of probate at the organization of the
district, and held the office two years. He died in
1862, aged sixty-eight.

Frederick Kellogg, the youngest son of William,
was a merchant; in 1829 he succeeded his father as
town clerk, which office he held uninterruptedly for
sixteen years, and was four times elected to the same
office at various times afterwards. In 1852 he was
appointed judge of probate for the district of Corn-
wall, which office he held, with the exception of two
years, till constitutionally disqualified. In 1841 he
was appointed county commissioner, which office he
held for three years. From 1830 to 1841 he repre-
sented the town of Cornwall in the Legislature four
years. Is still living, enjoying his faculties of both
mind and body, and the fruits of his industry and
frugality.

Frederick Kellogg was married, Sept. 14, 1829, to
Ruth R., daughter of Dr. John Calhoun, of Cornwall.
Four children were the result of the union, viz.: Wm.
F., Chas. C. (deceased), Sarah F., and Mary. Wm.
F. is a wholesale grocer in Chicago,—firm of Kellogg
& Barrett,—and has resided in that city for over
twenty years.

John Kellogg, the second son of Judah, resided in
Cornwall, and died at the age of seventy-seven. He
raised a family of ten children, seven sons and three
daughters. The entire family emigrated to the West-
ern States, viz., Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Kansas,
and have become prosperous citizens.

Lucius, the third son of Judah, settled at Oyster
Bay, L. I., where he became an eminent physician.

EDWIN WHITE. *

Edwin White was born in North Cornwall, Sept.
21, 1806, and is seventh in line from Elder John
White, one of the first settlers of Cambridge and
Hadley, Mass., and Hartford, Conn., and who came
from England in 1632. His father, Elias White, Jr.,
born Dec. 7, 1775, came from Upper Middleton,
Conn. (now Cromwell), to Cornwall. He was a shoe-
maker, and died Aug. 12, 1811, aged thirty-five years.
He married Cynthia, daughter of Capt. Edward
Rogers and Hannah Jackson, his wife. Capt. Rogers
was one of the first proprietors of Cornwall, a lieu-
tenant in the old French wars, and a Continental
officer in the Revolution, and as Continental scrip
was worthless, advanced two thousand dollars in gold
to pay his men, which amount was never restored.
He was an impetuous, active man, a sterling Chris-
tian, and made more of an impress on his town dur-
ing his life than probably any other citizen. They
had four sons,—Comfort (deceased), Edward Rogers,
Edwin, and Elias (deceased). Mrs. White was born
Dee. 8, 1782, and died Sept. 12, 1813.

Edwin White was quite young at the death of his
parents, and was placed with Andrew Cotter, with
316

whom he stayed until he was seventeen. He then
learned the hatter’s trade of Benjamin Catlin, of North
Cornwall, remaining with him until of age. He then
worked for him about another year, when, in com-

 

pany with his brothers, Comfort and Edward Rogers,
he purchased the place now occupied by him in Corn-
wall, and became a farmer. Sept. 13, 1837, he mar-
ried Laura, daughter of Stephen and Abigail (Drake)

Whedon, of Winchester. Their children are Fran-
ces Abigail, Laura Isabella, Edwin Augustine, and
Cynthia Josephine. About 1854, Mr. White bought
the other interest in the farm, and has since resided
there, adding by purchase until he now owns two
hundred and fifty acres of land. He makes a spe-
cialty of manufacturing ‘‘pine-apple” chees¢, and his
work in this is highly spoken of and brings a high
price. Mr, White has held the various town offices,
and represented Cornwall in the Legislature of 1849-
43. He is Democratic in politics, and cast his first
Presidential vote for the electors on the Andrew Jack-
son ticket. He is a worthy representative of the
thrifty New England farmer,—hard-working, pru-
dent, hospitable, and held in high esteem by his
neighbors. He belongs to that old-fashioned class
whose word is as good as their bond, and does not
believe in having a dollar unjustly acquired. Both
My. and Mrs. White have belonged to the Congrega-
tional Church for years, and are now members at
Goshen. Edwin A. is a college graduate, and is now
a law student.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

EZRA DWIGHT PRATT.
The Pratts of Cornwall are descended from Lieut,
William Pratt, who came to America, about 1632,
from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England. — His line

 

runs back to Thomas Pratt, who died in Hertfordshire
in 1539. With one or two breaks, bridged by tradi-

‘tion, the records lead, with almost certainty, to Sir Wil-

liam Pratt, who in 1191 was a favorite officer under
Richard Ceur de Lion in the Holy Land. Lieut.
Pratt accompanied Hooker’s company from Cam-
bridge, Mass., in 1636, to find a home in the Con-
necticut Valley. They settled where Hartford now
stands, and Lieut. Pratt drew lots on what is now
North Main Street in that city. In 1637 he was
one of the expedition which annihilated the Pequod
tribe of Indians, and was for his services voted one
hundred acres of land by the General Court. In
1645 he removed to Saybrook, became a large land-
holder, and for thirteen years represented that town’
in the Legislature. Following his line to the fifth
generation, we find David Pratt, born about 1726.
He married Jerusha Chalker, had nine children, and
removed to Cornwall about 1780. Miner Pratt, born
in 1768 (his son), although quiet and unostentatious,
was a man of untiring energy, sterling integrity, and
active in church, schools, and all public and benev-
olent objects. He married (1795) Mary Ann, daugh-
ter of Deacon Eliakim Mallory, and had four children,
—Harriet (Mrs. D. L. Rogers), Eliakim M., Ezra
Dwight, and Almon Bradley. Miner was a lad of
twelve years when his father moved to Cornwall, and
CORNWALL.

labored hard with him and an older brother on the
new farm. On arriving at age, Miner desired to “go
West,”’—i.e., to New York,—as his brother did, and
offered to sell his interest in the home for a very
small sum; but his father felt so badly, desiring him
to remain and take care of his parents and the home-
stead, that he stayed, became a hard-working farmer,
and was prospered. He died in 1846, full of years
and Christian graces.

Ezra Dwight Pratt was born Nov. 26, 1810; was
educated at common schools; began teaching when
but nineteen years old, and taught winters, with but
few intermissions, until he was fifty years old. He
has always been a farmer, and a successful one. He
married, July 1, 1846, Anna Aurelia, daughter of Dea-
con Ebenezer Rood, of Torringford. Their children
were Mary Aurelia, Dwight Mallory, Harriette J.,
and Hubert Miner. From 1854 to the present time,
with but little intermission, Mr. Pratt has been deacon
of the North Cornwall Church, and by his Christian
character, and the co-operation of his amiable and
benevolent wife, has done much work in its service,
and is justly considered one of its pillars. Their
children show the result of true Christian training.
Dwight M. graduated at Amherst (1876), and is now
an efficient pastor of the Congregational Church at
Higganun, Conn. Blest with a comfortable share of
this world’s goods, this worthy couple have never
considered themselves aught but the trustees of part
of God’s property, and, with a lavish hand, they have
always contributed to the cause of the Master, whether
in the form of missions, education, or church require-
ments. An old acquaintance says of Deacon Pratt,
“The history of North Cornwall Church would be
incomplete without a portrait and sketch of Deacon
Pratt.” Honored by his church, beloved by his family,
and esteemed and respected by his fellow-townsmen,
Deacon Pratt has the satisfaction of knowing that he
has thrown no discredit on the name he bears, and
that his descendants bid fair to keep its character
high.

David Pratt’s third son, Jasper, had, before coming
to Cornwall, served seven years and three months in
the Revolution, was captured by the British, and
endured all the severe privations of a Continental
soldier. He married Abigail Butler, and had three
children,—Hannah, Chalker, and Abigail. Chalker
married Lydia, daughter of Deacon Noah Rogers,
and had two children,—Russell R. and Helen A.
(Mrs, Stephen Foster, deceased). Chalker was a man
of influence, and an active Christian. He was agent
for the Cornwall Iron Company for some years, and
about 1840 moved to West Cornwall, and became
prominent there. He was a careful, methodical
man, and was much esteemed. He died in 18651, aged

‘fifty-nine years. His son, Russell R., born 1816, was

educated for a merchant, and, after some trade in a

small way, with good promise, established in 1841,

with Stephen Foster, the firm of Pratt & Foster,
21

 

317

which had for years a large and successful trade.
This firm became the centre around which all the
business of West Cornwall swung. Pratt & Foster
headed all enterprises of business, all subscriptions
(whether for church purposes or benevolent objects),
bought all things the farmers sold, and sold every-
thing that they wanted. Mr. Foster died in 1863,
and the firm-title was continued until (through the
pressure of the hard times) it was compelled to make
an assignment. Mr. Foster was of pleasing manners,
great industry, and indefatigable energy, and made
many friends. Gold’s “History of Cornwall” says of
R. R. Pratt, “As an energetic business man, as
selectman for seven years from 1856, as representative
in 1858, as deacon of the church from 1854 to 1871, as
superintendent of the Sabbath-school at West Corn-
wall from 1860, he has filled, and still holds, a promi-
inent place in the secular and religious interests of
the town.

ISAAC MARSH.

Dr. Isaac Marsh was born in Litchfield in 1777.
His ancestors had long resided in that town. His
grandfather and father were also named Isaac. He
studied medicine with Dr. Woodward, of Torringford,
but, being of rather a nervous temperament, shrank
from the practice of his profession. He was for a
time a druggist, but temporarily took up the busi-
ness of farming, and finally followed it for life. He
married in 1808, and, in 1820, bought a farm in Corn-
wall of Rev. Asa Talmage, located near the Housa-
tonic. River. This was two miles north of Hart’s
Bridge, now West Cornwall. There was then but one
house at the “ Bridge,”’—the “ Hart House,” standing
on the site of the present residence of Mrs. Isaac
Marsh. Dr. Marsh died in 1829, aged fifty-two years.

Isaac Marsh (4th) was oldest son and last surviving
one of a family of seven children. He was born Dec.
15, 1808, in Litchfield, and came to Cornwall with his
parents. He was educated at public and private
schools in Litchfield and Sharon, and made his home
with his father until he was twenty-six years of age.
After he was of age he was engaged in teaching dur-
ing the winter for several years, teaching seven suc-
cessive winters in what was then called the “ West
District” of Cornwall. Shortly after the formation
of “The West Cornwall Iron Company,” in 1834,
Mr. Marsh entered its employ as clerk, and remained
many years. He was afterwards book-keeper for
Pratt & Foster, merchants at West Cornwall. He
was appointed station-agent for the Housatonic Rail-
road at West Cornwall in 1848-44, and held that
position, first for four years, and afterwards, at differ-
ent periods, as his failing health would admit.

Mr. Marsh was town clerk, and performed labors
of that office, as he did everything, with faithfulness.
He was chosen to represent Cornwall in the State
Legislatures of 1839-40, 1851-52, and discharged that
duty to the great satisfaction of his constituents.
318

He was an earnest and good Christian, although
not connected with any church organization, was an
efficient and valued laborer in the Sabbath-school,
and not found wanting in assisting any good or
charitable object. He was a man of firm convictions,
not swayed about by every popular wave of excite-
ment. Positive in his nature, he carefully considered
everything from the standard of justice, and never
from that of expediency. He was noted for his loyalty
to his friends, and never did malice or suspicion
whisper aught against his integrity. In both public
and private life he was modest and unassuming in his
manner, courteous and gentlemanly in his demeanor,
firm and unflinching in the discharge of his duty, and
energetic and indignant against any appearance of
chicanery or fraud. *

Mr. Marsh married, Nov. 29, 1848, Nancy, daugh-
ter of Ransom and Lydia (Burtch) Smith, of Sharon.
Mr. Smith was son of David Smith, who was born in
Litchfield in 1752; married, in 1774, Sarah North, of
Goshen ; moved to Massachusetts, where his oldest
son, John, was born about1775. His nextson, David,
-was born in Goshen about 1777, and so were Horatio
(who. became a prominent man and State senator),
Ransom, Molly (Mrs. Aaron Cartwright, of Sharon),
and Gad. Gad became a popular Methodist clergy-
man, and died young. Ransom, born Feb. 22, 1782,
‘had a common-school education, and became a farmer,
removing to Sharon, with his father, about 1800. He
married, Nov. 15, 1810, Lydia Burtch, of Goshen, and
-afterwards purchased the place where D. F. Smith
now resides, and resided there until his death. He
‘held various town offices, was a quiet, unostentatious
‘man, firm to principle, and successful in business.
‘He represented Sharon two years in the General As-
sembly of Connecticut. He reared a family of eight
‘children, all born on the same place,—John N. (de-
ceased), Nancy (Mrs. Isaac Marsh), Appleton R.,
Elbert R. (deceased), Mary (Mrs. David 8. Potter, of
Thomaston), Charles C., Martha (deceased), and J.
Ransom. He died June 10, 1857, much regretted.

Mr. Marsh, at the time of his marriage, was em-
ployed in the railroad office at Bridgeport, but re-
moved to West Cornwall as station-agent soon after,
as above stated. In 1847 he built the house where
for over thirty years he and his wife have made their
home, and where she now resides. He died Jan. 29,
1879, and the vacuum caused by his death cannot be
filled by another.

THE NOAH ROGERS FAMILY,

Noah and Edward Rogers appear on Cornwall town
records as purchasers of land in December, 1761.
The principal pieces were bought of William Gould,
and were some of the best in the town. For the past
one hundred and twenty years the Rogerses have been
among the prominent and useful people of Cornwall.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The pedigree is traced back by records in the British
Museum to Thomas Rogers, of Bradford, county of
Wilts, sergeant-at-law, who died in 1485. He was
great-grandfather of John Rogers the martyr.

John Rogers the martyr was born about 1500,
married Adigan Pratt, of Brabant, and had eleven
children,—Daniel, John, Ambrose, Samuel, Philip,
Bernard, Augustine, Barnaby, Susan, Elizabeth, and
Hester. John, the son, married Mary, daughter of
William Leete, of Everden, county of Cambridge.
Thomas, grandson of the martyr, came over in the
“Mayflower,” and was the probable ancestor of the Ro-
gerses of Cornwall, although by the burning of the old
town records of Huntingdon, L. I. (where the first of
the name settled about 1640, after moving from Plym-
outh Colony), a link or two of written testimony is
lacking. Tradition, and the circumstances surround-
ing the possessors of the name, however, conclusively
bridge the chasm, and Thomas was doubtless father
of William, whose son Noah was the first to bear the
name borne continuously for six generations in the
family.

Noah’ and his brother John bought large tracts of
land in Branford, Conn., and removed thither in 1667,
and were among the original proprietors of that town.
Noah! married Elizabeth, daughter of Michael Tain-
tor, a native of Wales. (Mr. Taintor belonged to the
first church organization in Branford, and the church
covenant then signed is in his handwriting.) Their
children were Mary, John, Josiah, Hezekiah, Noah,’
Elizabeth, and Ann. Noah! and Noah? filled various
important positions in the political and religious or-
ganizations of Branford, and served their day and
generation well and faithfully. Their residence in
Branford came to be known as “Noah’s Ark,” their
land, “the Ark land,” and the road by their door,
the “Ark road.” Noah? married Elizabeth Wheeler.
Their children were Abigail, Temperance, Elizabeth,
Rebecca, Noah,? Edward, and Harriet.

Noah Rogers,? born in Branford, Conn., May 8,
1732, married, Oct. 23, 1765, Rhoda, daughter of Dea-
con Daniel Leete, of Guilford (fourth generation from
Governor William Leete), and, with his brother Ed-
ward, moved to Cornwall in 1760, selling their lands
in Branford, and in 1761 purchased six hundred acres
here. Noah Rogers’ was one of the leading men of
the town from his arrival; entered into every enter-
prise for the development and advancement of Corn-
wall with a wonderful enthusiasm and energy. He
built about the first saw-mill, probably started the
first or second grist-mill, and at the same time that
they were in operation had several iron forges also
working. He assisted in road-making, bridge-build-
ing,—in everything where a resolute and indomitable
nature could find expression. He was emphatically
a man for the times, and the impress made by him
upon the town is felt unto this day. Exempted by
loss of one eye from military service, he volunteered
to serve in the colonial army; was present at Bur-
CORNWALL.

goyne’s surrender, and brought home a British musket
as a trophy. Mr. Burnham, in his address at the
Rogers’ gathering, says he also went to Danbury to
assist in repelling the British, and he was probably at
the battle at that place. He was one of the thirteen
original members of the Congregational Church or-
ganized in 1780. Gen. Charles F. Sedgwick, in an
address at North Cornwall, July 19, 1876, thus speaks
of him: “I remember him as a very old man, who
was constant in his attendance at meeting, portly in
his physical dimensions, and regarded as a patriarch
of the parish. He was probably the most wealthy
man in the society, and his benefactions, and those of
his descendants here, have done much to give strength
and stability to the concerns of the parish.” His
children were Sarah (Mrs. Oliver Burnham, married
Oct. 17, 1787), Clarissa Irene (Mrs. Prentice Williams,
of Stockbridge, Mass., married June 8, 1808), Rhoda
(Mrs. Andrew Cotter, married Nov. 11, 1792), Noah,*
Abigail (Mrs. Asahel J. Bradley, of Stockbridge,
Mass., married June 15, 1796), and Amanda (Mrs.
Theodore Ives, married Noy. 22, 1821). He died
Oct. 17, 1810.

Noah Rogers‘ was born in Cornwall, Oct. 18, 1766.
He married Lydia, daughter of Rev. John Cornwell,
for his first wife. Their children were Daniel Leete,
Abigail, Lydia (Mrs..Chalker Pratt, married Nov. 19,
1815), Rhoda (Mrs. Julius Hart, married Jan. 7, 1819),

John, Noah,® Abigail (Mrs. E. M. Pratt, married:

Sept. 14, 1829). His second wife was Elizabeth, daugh-
ter of Hon. John Wilson, of Perth, Scotland. Their
children were Eliza (Mrs. Rev. Augustus T. Norton,
married Nov. 12, 1834), Ambrose S., Amanda (Mrs.
Rev. A. B. Pratt, married Aug. 11, 1841). His third
wife was Mrs. Abigail Whedon, of Winchester. He
died Sept. 28, 1839. He was known as Deacon Noah
Rogers, and was a man of great enterprise, of wisdom,
good judgment, and prudence. He filled at different
times the various offices of the town, represented
Cornwall in the State Legislatures of 1813-15, and
1818. He was a‘man of sterling worth and true
Christianity, and no man living in his day was more
willing to help every good cause, and his plentiful
means were used liberally to that end and the relief
of the suffering. He paid a large share of the cost of
erecting the church at North Cornwall, besides fur-
nishing a large proportion of the timber and lumber,
and always, when there was a lack of funds to pay
the minister’s salary, supplied the deficiency.

Mr. O. Rogers Burnham, in the address above alluded
to, thus speaks of him: ‘‘ We used to call him ‘ Uncle
Noah,’ a man who went about doing good, especially
among the poor. Unostentatious, his benevolence was
proverbial. He was a patriot and a philanthropist.
If there was a poor sick man, woman, or child in town,
he was sure to be at their bedside, and he never went
empty-handed. If he was seen on a cold winter
morning jogging along with a bundle under his arm,
the question was at once asked, ‘Who is sick?” I do

 

319

not hesitate to say that he has done more, directly or
indirectly, for this society than any other man that
ever lived. Look at your beautiful meeting-house!
Who headed the subscription-list with five hundred
dollars cash? It was he. Who gave the grounds?
It was he. Whose groves were ransacked for the best
sticks of timber to build it with? They were his.
Look at your beautiful burying-ground! Who gave
it, regardless of destroying two of the best building
lots in town? ’Twas he. Who fenced those grounds
with trifling remuneration? ’Twas he. I recollect
that my father and he once represented the town to-
gether in the Legislature. I told my father I didn’t
see that ‘Uncle Noah’ made many speeches. ‘No,’
said he; ‘but he made a good member. He worked
hard for his constituents, and always voted right.’ ”’

Daniel Leete Rogers was born in Cornwall, Feb.
18, 1791, and married Harriet, daughter of Miner
and Mary Pratt, Oct. 1, 1816. Their children were
Henry Leete, born Feb. 4, 1819; Daniel Mallory,
born Feb. 28, 1821; Egbert Maltbie, born Feb. 11,
1828, died Feb. 8, 1876; Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Theo-
dore R. Ives), born Oct. 24, 1824; Miner Pratt, born
Feb. 14, 1827, died Jan. 20, 1864; Harriet Cordelia,
born Aug. 7, 1828, died July 10, 1831, and was the
first one buried in North Cornwall cemetery ; Dwight;
Abbie, born Feb. 28, 1834, died Oct. 4, 1874; and
Harriet, born June 13, 1838.

D. L. Rogers inherited his father’s executive ability,
and was frequently called to places of public trust;
he was selectman, etc. He was a model farmer. He
bought a farm which looked the poorest in the town,
and made it, by his diligence, care, and attention, one
of the best. It is now occupied by his son Dwight.
After the death of his father he became one of the
chief supporters of the church, and was ever promi-
nent in good works. Ina letter to Hon. T. 8. Gold,
published in Gold’s “ History of Cornwall,”’ Rev. Wm.
B. Clarke, a former pastor, has these pleasing words:
“ My first acquaintance was with the family of Mr. D. L.
Rogers (‘ Uncle Leete,’ as I became accustomed to hear
him called), where I stayed during casual visits that
preceded my settlement. Later my home was with
his brother, Mr. Noah Rogers.’ Highly as I valued
those men at that time, my experience since has even
enhanced my estimate of their worth. They were
very free from small prejudices, and could be relied
on to do their part liberally when any good cause re-
quired. I remember well one instance, which will
show how well they had maintained a generous spirit
amid the enforced frugality of a farmer’s life. A Mr.
Smith, aman of small means, had a factory for tan-
ning skins, which Mr. John Beers worked up into
gloves and mittens. The tannery took fire one night
and burned down. A company of us rode down the
next morning to the scene of the disaster. After a
few expressions of condolence, Mr. Beers drew up a

subscription-paper, and headed it with one hundred

dollars. ‘This was quite proper, as Mr. Beers’ own
320

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

business was largely dependent on the factory. He
turned to ‘Uncle Leete’ with the question, ‘What will
you do? The answer came, in his deliberate, solid
way, ‘You may copy those figures for me.’ Mr. Noah
Rogers subscribed fifty dollars. A few moments se-
cured the success of the movement, and Mr. Smith was
comforted.” D. L. Rogers died Aug. 11, 1869.

It is curious that the intermarriages of Pratts and
Leetes with the Rogerses in the present generations
have precedents away back in the early English days,
where the same intermarriages are seen. Two of the
children of D. L. Rogers having married with the
Leetes of Guilford, it would seem not inappropriate
to show the character of the family so intermingled
with the Rogerses.

William Leete, of Midlow, Huntington Co., Eng-
land, was bred to the law; was aclerk in the Bishop’s
Court at Cambridge; became a Puritan, gave up his
office, and came to New England in May, 1639. He
was one of the first settlers of Guilford, Conn. (and
his son John is said to be the first white child born
there); was one of the pillars of Mr. Whitefield’s
church; received the highest honors which the colony
of New Haven, and afterwards that of Connecticut,
could give. From 1651 to 1658 he was magistrate of
Guilford, and one of the court of magistrates of New
Haven Colony for years. In 1658 he was chosen Deputy
Governor, which office he held to 1661, when he was
elected Governor. He held this position till 1664,
when New Haven Colony was united with Connecticut.
Upon this union he was elected magistrate, and from
1669 to 1676 held the office of Deputy Governor, at
which time he was elected Governor, which position
he held till his death, April 16, 1683. “For forty
years,” says Dr. Trumbull, “he was magistrate,
Deputy Governor, or Governor of one or other of the
colonies. In both colonies he presided in times of
the greatest difficulty, yet always conducted himself
with integrity and wisdom.” He secreted for sev-
eral days the judges Whalley and Goffe. He left a
numerous family, and his descendents have occu-
pied the highest positions in various parts of the
country.

Henry Leete Rogers married Nancy Clark, Feb. 16,
1842. Their child, William Leete, was born July 29,
1846. Mary E. Rogers married T. K. Ives, May 14,
1845. Their children were Roger Leete, born Jan.
23, 1852; Dwight Williams, born April 8, 1855; Theo-
dore Bradley, born Nov. 18, 1856, died Dec. 8, 1856;
Frederick, born Feb. 21, 1859, died Oct. 8, 1874; Mary
Eliza, born July 4, 1868. Daniel M. Rogers married
Philena Knapp, Jan. 7, 1851. Their children were
Jared Leete, born Noy. 3, 1851, died Sept. 21, 1860;
Daniel Owen, born Feb. 6, 1854; Mary Harriet, born
Jan. 20, 1856; Noah Cornwell, born Feb. 18, 1859;
Sarah Philena, born April 10, 1861; John, born No-
vember, 1866, died 1867. Harriet Rogers married E,
Walter Leete, Oct. 10, 1861. Their children are
Abbie Louisa, born Oct. 20, 1862; Edward Rogers,

 

born Dec. 17, 1864; William Smith, born Oct, 22,
1867; Sarah Talcott, born Oct. 25, 1871.

Dwight Rogers, born Aug. 3, 1832, married Lucy
L. Leete, Dec. 16, 1863. She is seventh in line from
Governor Wm. Leete, the line of descent being Wm.
Leete and Anna ——, John Leete and Mary Chitten-
den, Pelatiah Leete and Abigail Fowler, Daniel Leete
and Rhoda Stone (these were parents of Rhoda Leete,
who married Noah Rogers’), Ambrose Leete and
Miranda Chittenden, Miner Leete and Lucinda Nor-
ton, Edward L. Leete and Sylvia Fowler, who were
parents of Mrs. Dwight Rogers. Their children are
Dwight Leete, born Dec. 11, 1866; Nellie Lucretia,
born Nov. 12, 1868; Harriet Fowler, born Jan. 29,
1872; Miner Pratt, born March 19, 1874; and Sylvia
Abbie, born Nov. 11, 1877.

Mr. Dwight Rogers is truly a representative farmer.
He owns one of the best farms in Cornwall, and his
choice Devonshire cattle are a pleasure to the eyes of
all beholders. By inheritance and his own industry
he is in possession of a fine property. He is an active
supporter of all good works, and worthy the name he
bears. He is, as are nearly all the descendants of
Noah Rogers, a believer in Christianity, and a member
of the church at North Cornwall. He is thoroughly
upright in character, prompt in meeting his business
obligations, liberal to the full extent of his pecuniary
ability, and receives, as he deserves, the esteem and
confidence of the community.

Noah Rogers® was born at Cornwall, May 12,
1808, and was the third son of Noah Rogers‘ and
Lydia Cornwell. He received the advantages of
common-school education. He declined the offer of
a college course, which he felt would naturally have
taken him into some profession. He enjoyed out-door
life, and preferred to remain upon the homestead and
follow the quiet avocation of farm-life. He was very
fond of farm-life, and was never known to regret his
choice. He seemed to have a special regard for each
field through its associations. Previous to his death
there were considerable forests upon his farm, which
were his special delight. He seemed to have an ac-
tual affection for the fine old trees, etc. He had great
respect for his ancestors, and was anxious to honor
them, and endeavored by precept and example to
instill right principles upon his posterity. He was a
man of integrity and large heart, great Christian
charity and liberality. The last act of his life was
one of charity to a neighbor. His hospitality was
proverbial, and-apparently boundless. He was never
more happy than in entertaining his friends, and the
humblest applicant was never turned from his door.
He never sought office, but was selectman for two or
more years; was always found upon the side of right
and the public good. Physically he was aman of
great endurance. He died very suddenly, on the even-
ing of June 23, 1862, without ever having employed
a physician or experienced a sick day in his life. He
married, in 1829, Catharine Rebecca Clark, daughter
 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.
 

SYLVESTER

Sylvester H. Barnum was born April 8, 1803, in Kent,
Litchfield Co., Conn. (This engraving represents him
at fifty years of age.) He was a son of David and
Rachel (Hoyt) Barnum. His father was a son of David,
one of the first settlers of Danbury, and who afterwards
became one of the original three proprietors of Kent,
moving thither in 1752.

David, Jr., was born in Danbury, Conn., and moved
to Kent with his father, and became one of its early
settlers. He had seven children,—Ebenezer, Delilah,
Abigail, Lydia, Sylvester, David, and John, all born in
Kent. In 1811 he removed to New York. Sylvester
was at that time eight years of age, and was bound out
to a farmer of Kent to remain until he was of age.
His life was a hard one; poorly fed, thinly clad, and
worked like a brute, the young lad twice sought refuge
in flight; the first time he was overtaken and carried
back, and the last returned voluntarily and stood his
hardships until released by operation of law. During
the entire thirteen years he received but three months
schooling. "When he became of age he went to see his
sister (Mrs. Martin Cole) at Cornwall. His entire
capital consisted at that time of the not-very-good suit
of clothes on his back. He worked for Mr. Cole and
his brother, on the farm and in the saw-mill, for two
years. There he became acquainted with Lucy Ann
Stone, whom he married June 29, 1826. Her parents
were Eli and Eunice (Crissey) Stone, formerly of Kent.
Mrs. Barnum was born Nov. 22, 1804, in Canaan. Mr.
Stone was born May 16, 1775, and died Oct. 9, 1845;
Mrs, Stone was born May 22,1776. For the first year
after marriage this worthy young couple, commencing
life with nothing, worked at different places by the week
and month to gain sufficient money to provide for house-
keeping. They did this and also earned enough to pur-

H. BARNUM.

chase « small house and two acres of land in what is
now West Cornwall, then Hart’s Bridge. Still working
hard, Mr. Barnum purchased forty acres of land, mostly
woodland, on which he began to make charcoal and
farm in a small way. These avocations he fullowed for
about thirty years. He never kept « place long, but
bought and sold rapidly, making something on each.
At various times he was the owner of three places in
Cornwall, five in Sharon, three in Washington, one in
New Milford, and one in Canaan. During fifty-one
years of married life they moved twenty-five times, and
never but twice to places he did notown. He was careful,
prudent, economizing, and made money. He had an
able, practical wife, who was a true helpmate for him,
and for over half a century they worked together in
harmony, and at their golden wedding, June 29, 1876,
over three hundred guests participated.

Mr. Barnum would never accept public office; shrank
from making himself conspicuous, but had a generous
heart and an open hand, and more than one young man
now grown up received assistance for which they rever-
ence his memory.

He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Sharon, and a liberal supporter of Christian movements
everywhere. Mrs. Barnum has been for years 1 member
of the Congregational Church of North Cornwall.

They had six children,—Elizabeth, Lydia, Louisa J.,
Eli, Delia, Lucy. Mr. Barnum died April 26, 1867,
much respected. At his death but one child, Elizabeth,
was living. She was born in Cornwall, Dec. 9, 1827;
married, April 6, 1847, Lewis O’Cane, of Sharon. They
now live in Canaan, and have four children,—Celia
(Mrs. Wallace Pierce), Luana (Mrs. Chas. Keeler),
Ette, and Louisa J. Mrs. Pierce has one daughter,

 

born in Pittsfield, Mass., in 1871.
 
CORNWALL.

of William Clark, who survives him, and is a woman
of strong, though unostentatious, character.

There were five children,—William Clark, Lydia
Rebecca, Harriet Eliza, Catharine Amanda, and
Noah’.

William C. Rogers was born June 2,1830. He left
his home at the age of eighteen, and went to Eliza-
bethtown, N. J., where he taught school. From there
he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., and was principal of a
public school until 1853. Then he returned home,
and April 18, 1853, married Eliza M. Scoville, daughter
of Jacob Scoville, and established a boarding-school
for young ladies at North Cornwall, which proved
very successful. In 1854 he was offered a position
with the Cornwall Iron Company ; so he left the school
in charge of his sisters and accepted the position of
agent for the company. In 1856 he went into busi-
ness with Pratt & Foster, West Cornwall, where he

remained until 1864. Then he removed to Norwich,~

N. Y., and again engaged in the iron business. He
was also interested in oil speculations in Kentucky,
where he died, Sept. 26, 1867. He was a man of very
genial nature, great popularity, and large executive
ability ; was a man of Christian character ; was super-
intendent of Sunday-school, etc.; stood high in the
community. Had children,—Isabel M., born at West
Cornwall, July 12, 1854, married Eugene Wickwire,
Oct. 15, 1874; Kate Ingersoll, was born at West
Cornwall, Sept. 21, 1857, married H. S. Andrews,
Jan. 17, 1880; Hattie Beecher, born at West Corn-
wall, Feb. 7, 1862, died in infancy ; Eliza Scoville,
born at West Cornwall, April 18, 1863, died at West
Cornwall, Sept. 27,1875 ; William Noah, born at Nor-
wich, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1864.

Lydia Rebecca Rogers, born Jan. 10, 1834, married
George P. Bradley, of Stockbridge, Mass., April 14,
"1859. Has children,—Edward Ernest Bradley, born
Feb. 8, 1862; George Irving, April 24, 1864; Mary
Louise, Aug. 31, 1869. Mr. Bradley is a farmer, a
man of high standing in Stockbridge, where he for-
merly kept a select school for boys.

Harriet Eliza, born Jan. 8, 1839, married H. B.
Crosby, of Paterson, N. J., Dec. 6, 1876. Children,—
Henry Barrett Crosby, Florence Lyon Crosby.’ Mr.
H. B. Crosby is a very prominent and wealthy mer-
chant of Paterson, and a man of very marked charac-
ter every way.

Catharine Amanda, youngest daughter of Noah
Rogers, born at Cornwall, Aug. 6, 1848, married John
B. Sedgwick, April 14, 1863. Had children,—Hattie
Sedgwick, born at Cornwall, Aug. 31, 1866; Sarah
Adam Sedgwick, born at Cornwall, Dec. 24, 1867.

John B. Sedgwick was a man of unusual promise,
—a nephew and namesake of Gen. John Sedgwick.
He died in New Jersey, Oct. 18, 1867, leaving the two
little girls spoken of above. They were the special
objects of love and pride for both the Rogers and
Sedgwick branch of the family. Catharine A. Sedg-
wick married, July 11, 1878, L. R. Stelle, Esq., of

 

321

Saugnoit, N. Y., near Utica. He is a prominent silk
manufacturer. Noah Rogers,® born Jan. 25, 1845,
married Ann Elizabeth Dudley, of Bath, N. Y., Sept.
21, 1865. Children.—Noah,’ born Jan. 26, 1872;
David Clark, born June 12, 1877, died in infancy;
Harry Lloyd, born Feb. 7, 1879.

Noah Rogers® retains the ancestral homestead,
in which he takes great pride and delight, improving
it from time to time, as opportunity offers, etc.; in
season of 1880 built a new barn, in place of the old
one, that is said to be the best in the town. In earlier
years always had a desire for business life, but his
father having died when he was only seventeen, and
his brother William being away from home, Noah re-
mained there until he was twenty-seven; then went
with Pratt & Foster, and took charge of their pro-
duce departments. He remained with them two years,
and was then admitted a member of the firm, which
was styled Pratt, Foster & Rogers. After one year
he left them, went to Bridgeport, and established the
first produce commission house in that city, in 1875.
From very small beginning he has built up a large
business, and is now among the heavy and leading
merchants of Bridgeport. In the spring of 1881, Mr.
George Morford joined him, and the firm became
Rogers & Morford. A house like this was one of
the needs of the town, because the surrounding coun-
try is not very productive, and the bulk of the goods
consumed here must come from abroad, hence their
success. They endeavor to carry out in their busi-
ness the good principles of their ancestors,—honesty,
fair dealing; and integrity.

Mr. Rogers is of pleasing appearance, and has a
magnetism that gains him hosts of friends, No one
in Cornwall ranks higher than he in all the qualities
of successful manhood, while in all that tends to ele-
vate, improve, or benefit society he is a foremost
worker. He may be justly called one of Cornwall’s
worthiest sons, carrying the family reputation with no
tarnish from his conduct, and upholding by his
character the good name his ancestors have always
borne.

Noah? was appointed, at the semi-centennial,
in 1876, of North Cornwall Church, one of a com-
mittee to arrange for the proper celebration of its
centennial day.

CHARLES N. SHEPARD.

Charles N. Shepard, son of Eliphalet and Mary
Shepard, was born in Cornwall, Conn., April 27, 1820.
His grandfather, Allen Shepard, came to Cornwall
from Newtown in 1798, with his wife and children, of
whom Eliphalet was one. He (Eliphalet) was born
in Newtown in 1789, married Mary, daughter of Judah
Kellogg, July 7, 1818, became a farmer, and died
Aug. 12, 1865, leaving four children,—George H.,
Charles N., Elbert, and Harriet. He was a Method-
dist; an earnest worker in that denomination; a man
322

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

pure, peaceable, and much respected by his fellow-
citizens. George H. moved to Brooklyn, N. Y., and
married, June 3, 1840, Hannah Woolsey. They had
one child, Phebe. Mrs. Shepard died June 20, 1841,
and Mr. Shepard married again, Oct. 7, 1847, and had
five children,—Charles Edward, Jesse Woolsey, Eliza-
beth Silliman, Mary Cynthia, and George Augustus.
Elbert, born May 2, 1824, married, May 31, 1846,
Cynthia L., daughter of George Wheaton, and has
one son, George Wheaton, born Dec. 25, 1854. Elbert
is a farmer at West Cornwall, has held many offices
of trust, and in 1858 represented Cornwall in the
State Legislature. He is a Methodist, but, while con-
tributing to that denomination, is still liberal to
others, and gave the site of the chapel in West Corn-
wall, which, as Gold’s “History of Cornwall” says,
will ever remain as a testimonial to the liberal Chris-
tian spirit of his family. Harriet married Morris
Tuttle, Oct. 14, 1867. She still resides in Goshen.
Charles N. received an academic education at South
Cornwall, and remained on the farm until he was
eighteen, when, preferring a mercantile life to agri-
culture, he began his preparations for it by becoming
a clerk in a store at Woodbury, remaining there three
years, and familiarizing himself with the details of a
business life. From Woodbury he went to New York
City, and, after an experience of several years as clerk
and book-keeper in a wholesale house, entered into
partnership with Hudson Hoagland and established
a wholesale provision store. This was successfully
conducted, and in a few years’ time passed entirely
into Mr. Shepard’s possession. He was an excellent
business man; was very successful, and accumulated
a handsome fortune. The steady and absorbing at-
tention he was forced to give to his business in pro-
cess of time caused his health to fail to such an
extent that he relinquished trade and returned to
Cornwall, and made his home with Elbert. He never
recovered his health, and died at West Cornwall, July
23, 1876. Mr. Shepard was a very exemplary man, a
regular attendant of the Methodist Church, and,
judging from entries in his diary, kept for years, he
lived a Christian life. He was a Democrat in politics.

CHAPTER XXXIL
GOSHEN.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlementé—The Laying Out
of the Town—New Bantam—Goshen—Trouble between the Town and
the Colony—The Mob—Committee of Investigation—Settlement of
the Controversy—The First Grant and Survey—The Surveyor—The
College Farm—Division of the Town into Rights—First Proprietors’
Meeting—The First Birth—The First Meeting-House—The Pioneer
Miuister—The Pioneer Taverns—Location of Harly Settlers—Pioneer
Merchants—The First Saw- and Grist-Mill, etc.

THE first settlement in Goshen was made in 17 20,
and in 1722 individuals of Hartford and Windsor
came on and laid out the township then called “New
Bantam.” It was changed to Goshen by an act of the

 

General Assembly in 1737. It is deemed advisable in
this connection to reproduce the admirable address of
the Rev. Grant Powers, A.M., delivered at Goshen,
Sept. 28, 1838. It is the first printed history of the
town, and is an invaluable production:

“These individuals claimed their right under the
towns of Hartford and Windsor, which brought on a
violent conflict between the colony and these towns,
In October of 1722, while the Assembly were in ses-
sion at Hartford, some of the trespassers were arrested,
and imprisoned at Hartford, but a mob was raised,
the jail broken open, and the delinquents were set at
liberty; and so violent was the opposition of these
towns to the acts of the Assembly that the civil au-
thority was unable to execute the laws of the land.
Finally, the Assembly, feeling the disastrous conse-
quences of a protracted warfare of this nature, did, in
the autumn of 1724, appoint a committee to investi-
gate ail the claims, and report thereon, that the diffi-
culty might be amicably settled. This committee
spent nearly two years in the investigation, and then
reported that a division of this territory be made,
giving one-half to the towns of Hartford and Wind-
sor, and one-half to the colony. Hartford and Wind-
sor should have the eastern division, and the colony
the western. In May, 1726, the Assembly adopted
substantially the report of the committee, and subse-
quently secured to these towns, Hartford and Wind-
sor, by patent, all the disputed lands east of Litchfield,
Goshen, and Norfolk, and retained the western sec-
tion, viz., Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent,
and Salisbury ; and thus an affair was adjusted which
had retarded the settlement of these towns and threat-
ened the whole colony with disastrous consequences.

THE FIRST GRANT AND SURVEY.

“ At the October session of the Assembly in 1726, a
grant of three hundred acres of land in this town was
made to James Wadsworth, Esq., of Durham, John
Hall, Esq., of Wallingford, and Hezekiah Brainard,
Esq., of Haddam. What the consideration was for this
grant does not appear: probably it was for services
rendered the colony. This survey was made by John
Hitchcock, April 28, 1731. The northwest corner of
this special grant was east of the road opposite the
brick house of Capt. Jonathan Wadhams, and south
of the school-house. The west line of the grant, run-
ning south three hundred rods, intersected the north
line of Litchfield thirteen rods west of the north and
south road, that passes the house of Harvey Brooks,
thence east on Litchfield line one hundred and sixty
rods. Thence north three hundred rods, and then
west one hundred and sixty rods to the northwest
bound, already described, near Capt. Wadhams. This
grant has always borne the appellation ‘the Squires
Farm’ because the three gentlemen to whom the
grant was made all had the title esquire attached to
their names respectively. It is said that the house
owned and occupied by the widow and heir of the
GOSHEN.

 

323.

 

late Isaac Wadhams stands in the central part of the
Squires’ Farm. But at the time of this survey the
town had not been laid out by government, and was
denominated Western Lands, or New Bantam, the
Assembly not regarding at all the laying out of the
town by Hartford and Windsor in 1722, But at their
session in May, 1781, they enacted that their Western
lands should be laid out into five townships, and ap-
pointed their committee to perform this business.
The report of this committee as it respects this town
bears date Oct. 15, 1781, describing the limits of the
same, making the south line four miles and one hun-
dred and ninety-six rods, the west line nine miles and
sixty rods, the north line four miles and eighty-six
rods, and the east line eight miles and one hundred
and forty-six rods, showing that the south line is ten
rods longer than the north line, and the west line two
hundred and. thirty-four rods longer than the east
line. Soon after these towns were laid out the trustees
of Yale College applied to the Assembly for a grant
of land in aid of this institution, and in 1732 they
made a grant of fifteen hundred acres to the trustees,
three hundred acres in each of the five towns so re-
cently laid out, and in January, 1787, the College
Farm—so called—in this town was surveyed and its
boundaries established. The dwelling-houses of
Messrs. Asa, Leverett, and Cephas Ives stand upon
this grant, and also the house at the turnpike gate
leading to Cornwall. On the 18th of October, 1787,
the Assembly enacted that the township called Go-
shen should be divided into fifty-three rights, exclu-
sive of former grants, referring to the Squires Farm
and college. Two of the fifty-three rights were to be
appropriated to the ministry, one of them to be the
property of the first settled minister, and the other to
remain for the support of the ministry in all after-
time. And a third right was to be for the support of
schools. Fifty rights would remain for the proprie-
tors of said township. The Assembly then resolved
that this township should be sold in so many rights,
at public auction, at the court-house in New Haven,
to the highest bidder, commencing on the first Tues-
day in December next (1787), and to be continued by
adjournment until all the rights were sold. The con-
ditions required of each proprietor were, that he or
his agent should, within two years from the date of
his purchase, enter upon his premises, build and finish
a house thereon, no less than eighteen feet square, and
seven feet between sill and plate; clear, subdue, and
fence six acres of said land, and continue to dwell
thereon for the space of three successive years (unless
prevented by death or unavoidable Providence), com-
mencing after the expiration of the two years in which
the specified conditions were to be performed; and,
furthermore, he must perform all orders and duties,
and pay all taxes granted. If these conditions were
performed, then his deed was valid; but if any part
of the conditions was omitted (extraordinaries ex-
cepted), his title was void and of no effect.

 

“Tt seems that during the winter, spring, and sum-.
mer of 1788 the rights were all, or nearly all, disposed
of, and that a meeting of the proprietors was called
at the house of Capt. John Buel, in Litchfield, on the
27th of September, 1738. This Capt. John Buel, or
Deacon Buel, as he is generally called, was one of the
first settlers of the town of Litchfield, and deserves
special notice in this place on account of the interest
he took in the settlement of this town, and the inter-
est his descendants have held in it to this day. He
with his wife Mary came from Lebanon, in this State,
to Litchfield in 1720, and lived on Town Hill, north
side of West Street, and seventy rods west of the
county jail. He was distinguished for his piety and
active benevolence. A brief anecdote of him will
tell the whole story. In 1740 or 1741 there came a
man from Cornwall in the depth of winter to purchase
some grain for himself and family, who were in great
need. He was directed to the house of Deacon Buel
as being the man most likely to have grain to sell.
The man called at the house and inquired if Deacon
Buel lived there, and whether he could purchase a
little grain for his family. Deacon Buel asked him if
he had money to purchase the grain. He replied that
he had some. ‘Well,’ said the deacon, ‘I can show
you where you can procure it.’ Going with the
stranger to the door, he pointed out to him a certain
house, and said, ‘There lives a man who will let you
have the grain for your money. I have some grain
to spare, but I must keep it for those who have no
money!’

“Nearly all, if not all who bear the name of Buel,
in Litchfield and Goshen, are the descendants of this
same Deacon John Buel. We have his grandson with
us to-day, Capt. Jonathan Buel, aged eighty-five.

“On the 27th of September, 1788, the proprietors of
this town assembled at the house of Deacon John
Buel, Litchfield, agreeably to appointment. Capt:
Joseph Bird, of Litchfield, was chosen clerk, and
Deacon John Buel was chosen moderator. After being
fully organized, they adjourned to meet at the same
place at eight o’clock the next morning, one hundred
years ago this morning. Here let us pause for a mo-
ment’s reflection. How eventful were the doings of
this meeting! Upon the acts of this body were sus-
pended the settlement of this town, the manner of its
settlement, and much of its prosperity to the present
time. Nor will our descendants cease to be influenced
by these incipient steps for ages to come, and may not
to the end of time.

“Whether our fathers were sensible of the impor-
tance of their proceedings to unborn generations or not,
yet we may learn that we never act for ourselves ex-
clusively, but that others are to be affected for good or
for evil by our influences to the latest generation, and
probably to eternity !

“The adjournment of this meeting on the 27th to
the 28th of the month was doubtless that they might
arrange matters so as to transact business with greater
324

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

dispatch the next day. We understand that each pro-
prietor of one right in the town owned one fifty-third
part of the town, exclusive of the Squires Farm and
College Farm, but no man’s right was yet located.
And that each might have as fair a chance as possible
in his location, they agreed that but one hundred
acres to each right should be located at that time, and
that no one should select more than fifty acres until
all the others had selected their fifty acres upon their
respective rights. The method adopted to locate each
man’s fifty acres was this: there were fifty-three slips
of paper cut and marked from No.1 to 53. These
papers were put into a hat or box, and the proprietors
drew out one paper each, and according to the num-
ber the individual drew so he stood in the choice of
his first fifty acres. The man who drew No. 1 hada
right to select his fifty acres in any part of the town
not encroaching upon the two farms specified. He
who drew No. 2 held the next choice, and so on to
53, an individual being designated to draw for the
ministerial and school rights. But in the choice of
the second fifty-acre lots to each individual proprietor
there was no drawing for a choice; for it was agreed
that he who had the last choice in the first division
should have the first choice in the second division; so
that he who had the first choice in the first division
had the last choice in the second division. These
preliminary steps being taken, the proprietors met on
the 28th, appointed a committee for laying out the
lots when chosen, and drew for their choice of lots.
Aaron Cook drew No. 1 and had the first choice,
Daniel Richards the fifty-third. The meeting was
then adjourned to the first Wednesday of December
next, at 8 o’clock A.M., to meet at the house of Joseph
Bird, in Litchfield, and the proprietors hastened to
Goshen, each to search out and locate his future
home, and where he should repose his mortal part.
This is the day we celebrate at the distance of one
entire century from those hardy adventurers. From
this period we date the regular settlement of this
town ; and whatever degree of interest we may feel on
this occasion, we may rest assured our venerated
fathers felt far more. They had to select for them-
selves and for theirs. Their personal interest and
comfort were in a good degree involved in their
choice. The labor of converting a wilderness into.a
fruitful field, and into smooth and green pastures, was
theirs. Far distant was the day in their vision when
the sun, with unobstructed rays and mellowing influ-
ences, should look down upon their soil as at this
day. Fora long period they could hope for the neces-
saries of life only, with a few conveniences and no
luxuries, unless they were derived from the chase!
They knew the toil of felling the towering trees of
the forest, of making roads, building bridges, erecting
mills, fences, habitations, barns, school-houses, and a
house for worship; and it will appear in the sequel
that these first settlers contemplated all these things
from the commencement of their enterprise. Now,

 

notwithstanding this was a peculiar race of men, pre-
pared by the providence of God for bold and arduous
undertakings, yet must they not have felt an interest
and a solicitude while entering this forest for the first
time which we do not and cannot feel? Yet they
were sustained and directed, and by the strength of
their arms, and the perseverance of their labors, we
their descendants are placed in the lap of ease and
plenty. I have stated that Aaron Cook drew No. 1,
and had the first choice in the first division of lots,
He chose—and we honor his choice—the south part
of Town Hill, whereon now stand the brick house of
the late Col. Moses Lyman, and the house of his son,
Samuel Lyman. Daniel Richards, who was last in
choice in this division, chose the land lying southeast
of Narshapogge Pond, now injudiciously called West
Side Pond, and it embraced the land whereon now
stands the three-story house known by the name
Hudson house. I say this pond is injudiciously called
West Side Pond, because it is entered in all ancient
conveyances by its Indian name, Narshapogge, and
because it is much more definite in its Indian name
than in its present name; for who that was not well
acquainted with the use of terms here could decide
which pond was meant by the term West Side Pond,
whether it was this pond, or the one a little south of it?
Beside, the Indian name is a much more dignified
name; and as it was prior to the one now in common
use by thousands of years probably, it ought to be
retained as a memorial of a mighty race that have
passed away to make room for the more civilized, but
more effeminate European! And what is said of this
pond applies with equal force to her sister a little
south, which was called in the Indian tongue Marsh-
apogge, but is now called Tyler Pond. Who for a
moment can balance in his judgment in regard to the
euphony of these two names? Not one. We say,
then, let them bear their original names, and the
names they hold in our records, and not attempt to
filch from the poor Indian the right which God and
nature gave him, to imprint the seal of his own lan-
guage upon those everlasting hills, lakes, ponds, and
streams! Pardon me this digression and I will pro-
ceed. I have said this day one hundred years this
town was settled by its proprietors, but these were not
the first English inhabitants within this town. I
have already spoken of the Squires Farm, and given
its boundaries at the southeasterly part of the town,
lying on Litchfield line. It is upon record that, in
February, 1734, James Wadsworth, Esq., sold his one-
third part of the Squires Farm to Ebenezer Luke and
Isaac Hill, all of Wallingford, of this State; that in
February, 1736, there was a division of the whole
farm between the owners, and that the southern third
part fell to the share of said Hill. It appears, also,
that in 1737; Ebenezer Hill came on to the west part
of this south third of the farm, and built him a small
framed house on the ground now improved for a barn-
yard by Harvey Brooks. The house stood east of the
GOSHEN.

road as it then ran, but west of where it now runs.
This same season, 1737, Benjamin Frisbie bought of
Luke Hill his third of the one hundred acres, divided
between the said Hills, and built him a house a little
north of the house of Ebenezer Hill, on the same side
of theroad. These two houses might have accommc-
dated some few of the proprietors of the town while
attending to the location and survey of their respect-
ive lots, but by far the greater portion must have
reposed at night on the lap of indulgent nature, and
slept under the protecting wing of high heaven.

“TI will here remark that the first English child
born in this town was called Billious Hill, son of Isaac
Hill, one of the original proprietors. He was born at
the house of Ebenezer Hill, by Harvey Brooks’, as
already described.

“Tshall not attempt to describe thé location and sur-
vey of each lot successively as the business proceeded,
but shall advert to the fact that the proprietors held
two meetings more at Litchfield before they were con-
vened at Goshen, at which meetings they proceeded
to make further divisions of land upon the same plan
that was adopted at the first meeting. The first pro-
prietors’ meeting at Goshen was on the 18th of May,
1740, at the house of Joseph Hickock, on East Street,
where Nathaniel Stanley afterwards lived. And here
we may take our leave of the meetings of the pro-
prietors as distinct meetings from the town, although
they have held occasional meetings in their corporate
capacity to the present time.

“The first town-meeting ever held in this town was
on Dec. 6th, 1739. John Beach was chosen moder-
ator, and Samuel Pettibone town clerk. John Beach,
Samuel Pettibone, Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Tow-
ner, and Benajah Williams were chosen selectmen.
Moses Lyman was chosen collector and treasurer.
The place of this meeting not being specified, it is
supposed that it was held at their meeting-house,
standing a little east of north from the dwelling-house
of Erastus Lyman, Esq., and four or five rods south-
east of the yellow building denominated Mechanic’s
Hall, the spot we have now visited in solemn and
grateful procession. This first meeting-house was
built of rude materials. The butt end of a large
white-ash tree, felled, composed the principal part of
the wall on one side, and piled logs, with a covering
of bark, completed the sanctuary. And does this
appear small in our view, almost provoking a smile?
It was great in the sight of God! It was the best
they could do, and more than many of them enjoyed
for their own shelter. It was the expression of their
hearts, and an earnest of what they would do in time
to come. It was saying that the God of the Pilgrims
was their God, and should be the God of Goshen as
far as it might depend on them. I would that that
house now stood! How often would we steal a soli-
tary walk thither, and in the holy. stillness of evening
go round her inclosures, think of the generation that
congregated there, their fervent devotions, their prayers

 

325

for covenanted mercies upon their posterity, and their
present rest on high! And while thus musing would
not the fire kindle in our own hearts, and should we
not praise God that our fathers loved him, and gave
us this precious example of dedicating to him the first
fruits of their hearts and of their hands!

“ But notwithstanding our fathers had thus early a
house for God, they did not always improve it. It
was of course much open between logs, and there were
no stoves. It was, therefore, not fitted for worship in
the severity of winter. Besides, there were no roads
for the weak and tender of their congregation to
travel in from different sections of the town. They
therefore adopted the plan of carrying the gospel to
the people, by appointing the public worship of God
in different parts of the town; and at this first town-
meeting they passed a vote that the ‘selectmen should
ascertain the places for holding the meetings for the
public worship of God.’ At a town-meeting, Jan. 11,
1740, it was voted to hire a minister on probation, and
that Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Towner, and Samuel
Pettibone be a committee to go after a minister, with
full power to agree with him. It seems that this
committee were successful in obtaining Mr. Stephen
Heaton, of New Haven, to be their candidate; for in
April, 1740, the town voted him a.call to settle with
them in the gospel ministry, and specified the settle-
ment and salary they would give him. The call was
not immediately accepted, and in September following
it was renewed to him, with some addition to the for-
mer proposed salary. This call was accepted, and Mr.
Heaton was ordained November, 1740, at the house of
Capt. John Beach, on East Street, east side of the
road, opposite to the present dwelling-house of Eber
Bailey.

“The town, at their meetings preparatory to the
settlement of Mr. Heaton, had voted that it was neces-
sary to build a meeting-house, and Nathaniel Bald-
win was appointed to solicit the General Assembly for
a committee, to be appointed to decide on the spot
where the new meeting-house should stand. It ap-
pears further, from the records, that the General As-
sembly, agreeably to the request of the petitioners,
did appoint a committee of three from the town of
Hartford to fix on the site for a meeting-house, and that
the said committee did come out and set the stake
where the house should stand some time in the sum-
mer of 1740, and that after some delay and embar-
rassments the second meeting-house in the town was
raised and covered in the year 1744. It was a house
forty-six by thirty-four feet, and twenty feet between
sill and plate. It had two galleries, one above the
other, and when it was finished was painted yellow.
It stood a little northwest of this ‘house, and a little
south of the house that was removed in 1882, the
south side of the third meeting-house coming within
four feet of the north side of the second house.
There are some two or three present who remember
this second house, which was removed in 1770.
326

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“J will now, for the satisfaction of the present gen-
eration, and with a view to impress us all with the
truth that the fashion of this world passeth away, pre-
sent you this town as it was in 1745. Iam indebted
for these statistics mainly to Deacon Lewis M. Nor-
ton, of this place, whose unwearied and persevering
effort in this cause for years entitles him to the last-
ing gratitude of his townsmen and to a more swbstan-
tial reward. We will return, then, to the south part of
the town, where we have already been in the history,
and commence with Capt. Jonathan Buel, son of
Deacon John Buel, of Litchfield, and father of Capt.
Jonathan Buel, now of this town. His house stood
upon the line between Litchfield and Goshen, on the
west side of the north and south road, as it now runs.
In the house lately owned and occupied by Elias
Buel, a little south of Harvey Brooks, on the east side
of the road, lived Ebenezer Hill, Jr., son of the Ebe-
nezer Hill whose house we have already located in
Mr. Brooks’ barn-yard. This house of Ebenezer Hill,
Jr., lately occupied by Elias Buel, was built in the
summer of 1741, and is the oldest house in the town.
This Hill and Capt. Jonathan Buel kept tavern alter-
nately for a number of years. Buel would keep two
years, and then Hill two, for the accommodation of
those who were going to and from ‘ Western Lands.’
About half-way between the house of Ebenezer Hill,
Jr., and the house lately occupied by Elisha Buel, now
by Watts Brooks, stood the house of Asa Hill, another
son of Ebenezer Hill, first mentioned. A little north
of the present house of Watts Brooks, near the flat,
stood the house of Benjamin Frisbie, already described
as the second house, built in 1737, on the Squires
Farm. A little north of Frisbie’s house, as we ascend
the hill, and precisely where stands the house of
Joseph Beardsley, lived John Dibble, with a numer-
ous family from Wallingford. Afterwards, John Dib-
ble, Jr., kept a store in the house for several years,
and then built him a store, about ten rods south of
his house, near the house of Frisbie, and traded there.
It was called the red store, because it was painted red.
Proceeding north until we come to within four rods
southeast of the present brick house of Samuel Ives,
and there lived Noah Wadhams, from Middletown,
the progenitor of all those who have ever lived in
Goshen bearing the name of Wadhams. He was
prosperous in business and reared a numerous family.
About twenty-eight rods north of Noah Wadhams
lived, on the west side of the road, Jeremiah Howe,
from Wallingford. He was the progenitor of all the
families by the name of Howe in Goshen, and of
many in Canaan. The next neighbor to Howe, at the
north, was Samuel Pettibone, from Simsbury. His
house stood a few feet north of the present brick house
of Thomas and Hiram Griswould, on the same side of
the way. He was the first lawyer in Goshen, and for
some time was State’s attorney. He was much em-
ployed in the early business transactions of the town;
but being overcome and thrust down by the strong

 

man from the West Indies, he terminated his earthly
existence at the old house formerly occupied by Har-
vey Brooks. About one hundred and fifteen rods
north of the house of Pettibone, on the west side of
the road, stood the house of Christopher Grimes, from
Wallingford, the old well still designating the location
of his dwelling. North of the house of Grimes, and
about sixty rods south of the house long owned and
occupied by Deacon Augustus Thomson, but now
owned by Abraham Norton and his son William,
stood the house of Gideon Hurlbut, from Wethers-
field, on the east side of the road. Hurlbut was a
substantial man, and pious. He reared a numerous
family, and has one granddaughter still living in the
town,—Lorana, the wife of Andrew Norton, Sr.

“A few rods north of Hurlbut’s, and on the west
side of the road running north and south, and north
of the road then leading to Town Hill, stood the house
of Zachariah Curtis, from Wethersfield. The Town
Hi!] road came into West Street road at that time,
between Gideon Hurlbut’s and Curtis’, forty or fifty
rods south of where it now comes in. North of Cur-
tis’, and opposite to the house of Abraham Norton,
on the west side‘of the road, stood the house of Ben-
jamin Phelps, from Windsor. He soon afterwards
sold to Timothy Gaylord, of Wallingford, father of
the late Joseph Gaylord, and grandfather of Joseph
Ives and Willard Gaylord. This Timothy Gaylord
was killed in the old French war,—was shot through
the head by an Indian as he stood behind a tree, and
was moving out his own head to obtain a shot at the
Indian. The next house north, on the west side of

' the way, near where now stands the barn of Truman

Starr, was the house of John Wright, who had a
numerous family. He is the ancestor of those who
bear the name of Wright in this town. A little north
of this, on the same side of the way, and a little north
of the late Woodruff house, stood the house of Deacon
Gideon Thompson, from New Haven. This house
was palisadoed against the Indians. The manner of
fortifying a house was this: they dug a deep ditch
around the house, placed logs perpendicularly in it
all around the house, leaving a space only for a gate.
The logs were placed close together, sharpened at the
top, and extended eight, ten, or twelve feet above the
ground. The earth taken from the trench was then
returned, and beaten down until the logs stood firmly;
and this, with a gate well secured, was a tolerable
defense against a sudden attack from the Indians.
It is needless, perhaps, to say that the Indians did not
deal in artillery. At this house a town-meeting was
held in May, 1741. He was one of the first deacons
in the church, being appointed at the time of the
organization of the church, in November, 1740, before
the ordination of Mr. Heaton, or very soon after-
wards. He was the first representative from this town
to the General Assembly, 1757, and, in 1759, he died
at Hartford while a member of the Assembly. He
was the grandfather of Jonathan Thomson and Deacon
GOSHEN.

327

 

Augustus Thomson. From this house of Deacon
Gideon Thomson there was no road open either north
or west in 1745, but all was forest, with the exception
of a settlement in Canada Village, so called.

“Tn 1789 or 1740 the said Benjamin Frisbie, of the
south end, moved into that place, and built him a
house a few rods north of the present house of Au-
gustus Miles, Esq. In 1742 he built a saw-mill, where
stands now the woolen-factory, and soon after he built
the first grist-mill in town. This stood a little dis-
tance from the saw-mill, and occupied the ground
which is now improved as a tannery by George Miles.
Undoubtedly the inhabitants of this village are in-
debted to this same Frisbie for the name of their vil-
lage, and that the Connecticut Historical Collections
have the truth in the case. Capt. Jonathan Buel, who
can remember eighty years, says that it was called
Canada as long ago as he can remember, and he always
understood that it came by its name as stated in the
Collections, viz., that this Frisbie was ever talking
about removing to Canada, but never went. The wags
of his time being wearied with his story of Canada,
told him he should live in Canada, and if he would
not remove to Canada, they would bring Canada to
him, and from that time they called the place of his
residence Canada. West of Canada Village, in 1745,
there was no road.and no settlement until we came to
Cornwall. We will return, then, to Town Hill. Here
were but three families, and all southwesterly of them
in this town was wilderness. On the top of Town
Hill, on the west side of the road, and a little south
of the present dwelling of Gen. Moses Cook, stood
the house of Joseph Curtis, from Wethersfield. He
had a numerous family. He sold out in 1750 to
Daniel Cook, father of the present Moses Cook, Sr.,
who still survives, About twenty-five rods south of
Gen. Moses Cook’s present dwelling, on the east side
of the road, stood the house of Joseph Cook, from
Wallingford, father of Daniel Cook, and grandfather
of Moses Cook, Sr. Joseph Cook lived here until the
time of his death, Nov. 7, 1764.

“South of Curtis’, and about midway of the hill on
the west side of the road, stood the log house of
Deacon Moses Lyman, from Northampton, Mass.
His son, Col. Moses Lyman, afterwards built the
present brick house now owned by the Hon. Moses
Lyman, on the spot where stood the house of Deacon
Lyman. This first house was built upon elevated
underpinning, and the windows were made high in
the walls of the house, to prevent the Indians from
firing into the windows in case the family were in-
vaded by them. But this Deacon Moses Lyman was
cut off in the midst of his years, and in the midst of
his usefulness, Jan. 6, 1768, aged fifty-five. He had
a protuberance of the bone in one of his limbs, sub-
mitted to amputation, and after one month’s slow but
incessant bleeding he expired. I haveseen a printed
sermon, delivered on the occasion of his death, by the
Rey. Mr. Newell, which shows that the church and

the house for many years.

 

town were in mourning by this bereavement. They
felt, as did the young prophets at Elijah’s removal,
that the Lord had taken away their head man from
among them. And from all that I can learn of the
aged now living concerning him, he was a great bless-
ing to the town. He came from Northampton, then
the centre of theology and active piety in New Eng-
land. He had sat under the ministry of the cele-
brated Jonathan Edwards, seen and felt the power of
those great revivals, and he was eminently prepared
to bless a new settlement. Whatever his hand found
to do of benevolence and usefulness he did with his
might; and as a beneficent Providence had given him
the ability to bless, so he imparted. The blessing of
him that was ready to perish came upon him, and he
caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy! His rest is
undoubtedly glorious! We have with us to-day three
grandchildren of this man, Moses, Samuel, and Eras-
tus Lyman. He has here a great-great-grandchild,
who is the tenth Moses Lyman in regular succession,
and the first son born in each successive family, and
the first-born in every family, with one exception.
It has been said that Town Hill received its name on
account of the early impression that there would be
the centre of the town. It is more probable they
thought that might be the centre of a south parish,
when the north part of the town became a parish and
the southwest part became settled. At the north side
of this Town Hill we find a collection of water called
Dog Pond. This received its name from the simple
fact that Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of the north
part of the town, lost his dog there by drowning in
1788. The circumstances are not mentioned, but it is
probable that the event occurred while the old hunter
was in the chase. Leaving Town Hill on the north
side, and passing east towards Samuel Pettibone’s,
now Thomas Griswold’s, and just before we reach the
bottom of the hill, we see a saw-mill, a little at our
right, on the south side of the road, which is supplied
with water taken by a small canal, from the natural
channel made by the waters which flow from Dog
Pond. This mill was built in 1742, by Benjamin
Phelps and others. Proceeding on .eastwardly by
Samuel Pettibone’s, and crossing the meadow pre-
cisely as the road now runs, we shall come to the
house of Zacheus Griswold, from Windsor. His
house stood a very little north of the present house of
the widow and heirs of John Griswold. He was the
father of all those inhabitants of this town who have
borne the name Griswold. He lived more than one
hundred years, and his wife attained to just one hun-
dred. His daughter-in-law, the wife of his son, Giles
Griswold, still survives, and has attained to her ninety-
ninth year. A little farther to the north and we come
to the house of Abel Phelps, from Simsbury. It
stood a few feet southeast from the. present dwelling
of Beebe Wadhams. He and his son Abel occupied
Proceeding north, we do
not find a habitation until we reach the residence of
328

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Capt. Samuel Thomson, from New Haven. His house
stood on the west side of the north and south road,
near the present store of Moses Lyman, Jr. The
road from West Street came into Middle Street where
it now does, and, proceeding east by the first meeting-
house, at the old ash-tree, proceeded directly to East
Street, and came out nearly opposite to the road that
comes in from Torrington. On the south side of this
east and west road, and ten rods east of Mechanic’s
Hall, on Middle Street, lived Amos Thomson, from
New Haven. Deacon Gideon Thomson, Samuel
Thomson, and Amos Thomson were all brothers, or
near relatives. Proceeding north on Middle Street
till we come to the garden now improved by Simmons
Scovil, and here we find the site of the dwelling of
Rev. Mr. Heaton, the first minister of the town. This
garden belongs to the house and lot now-owned by
Nelson Wadhams, of Canada Village. There was no
other house between Mr. Heaton’s and the second
meeting-house already described. At this date there
was no road directly east from the meeting-house, and
none directly west. There was no house from Amos
Thomson’s to East Street, and none on Beach or
Lucas Hill. There was a road open to West side, so
called, but no house from the meeting-house till we
come to the house of Timothy Tuttle, which stood on
the east side of the road, nearly opposite to the pres-
ent house of his granddaughter, Mrs. Huldah Tuttle.
He was an original proprietor in the town, from Wal-
lingford, and reared a numerous family. Some thirty
or forty rods north of Tuttle’s we come to the house of
Daniel Richards, from Hartford, of whom we have
already spoken. His house stood a little northwest
from the present three-story Hudson house. He was
the grandfather of the present Russel Richards.
“Passing onward to the northwest till we cross the
outlet of Narshapogge Pond, we come to the house of
Caleb Beach, standing near where Russel Richards’
house now does. He was from Wallingford. At the
Barnam house, south of the West-side graveyard,
lived Daniel Harris, Jr., from Wallingford. No de-
scendants in town. A little west from the last-men-
tioned place, and in the present garden of Lewis C.
Wadhams, on the east side of his house, stood the
house of Benjamin Deming, from Middletown, father
of Wait, Elias, and Jonathan Deming. Still farther
north, about sixty rods, on the east side of the road,
stood the house of Thomas Marvin, from Litchfield.
He was an original proprietor in the town, but did
not remain long here. Near the house long occupied
by Philo Collins, and now by William Miles, stood
the house of Benajah Williams, from Stonington, an
original proprietor in two rights. He did not remain
long in town, but sold his large and beautiful farm, of
more than four hundred acres, to Ephraim Williams,
of Wethersfield, whose son, Jacob Williams, came and
lived on it. Pursuing this road north until we come
to the present new house of Acros Lawton, we come
to the house of Jonah Case, from Simsbury, an orig-

 

inal proprietor. From this house north all was wil-
derness and no road. There was no house north of
the meeting-house and west of Humphrey’s lane until
we came to West-side Street, already described. We
must return back then to the Centre, and before we go
to East Street we must visit the beautiful hill of An-
drew Norton, Jr., three-fourths of a mile southeast
from this house. On the east declivity of this hill,
on the south side of the road, and about fifteen rods
east of the old house of Andrew Norton, Jr., stood
the house of Lenus Ward, from Wallingford. In the
autumn of the year of which we are now speaking—
1745—Ward sold out to William Walter, who brought
up a family there, and from him the Walters in Goshen
have descended. Ata little later date than the time
of which we are speaking came David Norton, from
Durham, and built a house on the north side of the
road, on the top of the hill, almost on the same spot
where now stands the new house of Andrew Norton,
Jr. He was a young man of unusual enterprise and
of substantial character. He was the father of David,
Eber, Oliver, John, Anna, Alexander, Andrew, Wil-
liam, and Miriam, three of whom continue to this
present time, Alexander, Andrew, and Miriam. He
was, however, taken away in the midst of life and
usefulness. He was greatly interested in the building
of the third meeting-house in 1769. On Monday he
labored very hard in getting in large stones for the
foundation of that house. He was taken suddenly
ill, and died on Thursday, aged forty-four; so that,
like David of old, he was not permitted to see the
house his heart was fixed upon. Not only his family,
but the town felt their bereavement.

“At the south end of East Street we come to the
place of Cyprian Collins, the fourth son of Rev.
Timothy Collins, of Litchfield. In the spring of this
year Rev. Mr. Collins purchased land at that place,
and some time afterwards sent his son Cyprian to
clear the land and build upon it, with the promise of
a future deed. The first house of Cyprian Collins
stood on the west side of the road, near the horse-shed
of Capt. Timothy Collins. His second house was the
one now owned and occupied by Capt. Timothy Col-
lins. This Cyprian Collins had a numerous family,
and was the ancestor of all who bear the name of
Collins in this town. He had following children, Am-
brose, Triphena, Amanda, Philo, Anna, Lauranda,
Rhoda, Cyprian, Phebe, and Tyrannus, and all these
lived to become heads of numerous families. Cyprian
Collins was a frugal and an industrious man, and 4
firm patriot in the Revolution. In the early period
of his life he owned the covenant, as it was called, and
brought his children to baptism, and was always a
regular attendant on divine worship. And here it
may not be inappropriate to remark, for the benefit of
the rising generation, that the practice of receiving
persons of moral life into a half-way relation to the
church had obtained extensively in New England at
that day. The applicant for this relation was required
GOSHEN.

to profess his belief in the fundamental principles of
the gospel promise to lead a sober life, and to train
up his household in the things of religion. If he
would do this he might bring his children to baptism,
and yet not consider himself a member of the church
or come to the communion-table, and not even con-
sider himself a regenerate person. This will explain
what we have further to say of Mr. Cyprian Collins.
Notwithstanding he had owned the covenant, had his
children baptized, and-ever been a regular attendant
on the instituted means of grace, yet in old age his
attention was powerfully arrested to the spiritual con-
cerns of his soul; he realized that he was a great sin-
ner, cast himself upon the mercy of the Saviour, and,
as we trust, obtained eternal life. At the age of
seventy-five years he made a public profession of re-
ligion, and to the close of his life gave pleasing evi-
dence that he was indeed a child of God.

“T will here remark, that in 1745 there was no road
from Litchfield to meet East Street road, for I find
that at a town-meeting in 1749 a committee was
raised to ‘treat with Litchfield men about their lay-
ing a road to meet our East-side road.’

“Leaving the place of Cyprian Collins, and pro-
ceeding north, we come to the house of Benoni Hills,
standing near the northwest corner of the present
barn of the late Samuel D. Street. The road then
ran west of this barn. Benoni Hills was the father
of Zimri and Col. Medad Hills. About nine rods
west of the present house of William Lyman, the late
residence of Capt. Jonathan North, and west of the
road as it then ran, stood the house of Joseph North,
from Farmington. He was the father of Dr. Jo-
seph North, Ezekiel North, and others. This house
was palisadoed, or fortified, against the Indians. A
little farther north, and just where the barn stands
which was lately owned and improved by Dudley
Henderson, stood the house of Capt. Samuel Hinman,
an original proprietor, from Litchfield. This house
was built in the fall of 1738. About thirty rods north
of Hinman’s and a little south of the turnpike road,
as it comes into East Street from Sharon, stood the
house of Stephen Goodwin, from Simsbury. Here
Goodwin kept tavern some years. Afterwards he
built about twenty rods southeast, and there he kept
atavern. Of this man we shall hear again when we
come to the war of the Revolution. A few feet north
of the present brick house of Joseph Goddard, built
by Birdsey Norton, Esq., stood the log house of
Deacon Ebenezer Norton, from Durham. A few
years afterwards he built the house which stood a
little northwest of the present brick house, and in
this he lived until his decease. This Deacon, or Es-
quire, or Col. Norton, for he bore these several titles
-at the same time, was a distinguished character in his
day. No man, perhaps, with the exception of Deacon
Moses Lyman, was ever more loved and honored by
the people of this town than he. He wasa member
of the General Assembly twenty-six sessions, in times

 

329

that tried men’s souls. And he would have been
called to discharge those duties still longer, but his
increasing infirmities induced him to decline all pub-
lic services. He married Elizabeth, the daughter of
Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of this town, and their
children were Miles, Aaron, Elizabeth, Ebenezer,
Rachel, Marana, Nathaniel, Olive, and Birdsey. They
have three grandchildren now living in town, Abra-
ham Norton, Deacon Lewis M. Norton, and Elizabeth
M., the wife of Joseph Goddard. He departed this
life March 15, 1785, aged seventy. She died April 16,
1811, aged eighty-nine. Their descendants at the
time of her death were two hundred and eight. Four
of them were great-great-grandchildren.

“ About thirty rods north from the house of Deacon
Ebenezer Norton, and a little northeast of the red
house once occupied by Deacon Samuel Norton, and
now owned and occupied by Adam Bently, stood the
log house of Samuel Norton, from Durham. This
house was palisadoed against the Indians. Ebenezer,
Samuel, and David Norton were brethren, the sons of
Samuel Norton, of Durham.

“ Proceeding north we come to the dwelling of Na-
thaniel Stanley, from Farmington. His log house
stood about two rods northwest from the northwest
corner of the present house, so long occupied by his
grandson, William Stanley, and his great-grandson,
Deacon George Stanley, but now owned by Adam
Bently. He came to this town in 1742, and purchased
the lot of Joseph Hickock. He died March 2, 1770,
attaining to more than ninety years.

“A few rods northeast of the East Street burying-
ground, on the east side of the road, stands the same
house which stood there in 1745, and is one of the
oldest houses in the town. It was originally the
house of Barnabas Beach, eldest son of Capt. John
Beach. Daniel Miles, Esq., succeeded Mr. Beach.
It was long known as the residence of Samuel Chapin,
Esq., and is now the home of widow Emily Chapin.
On the same side, about twenty rods southeast of the
dwelling of Jesse Beach, stood the house of Adna
Beach, second son of Capt. John Beach. He had a
numerous family, was once a representative to the
General Assembly, and was the grandfather of Jesse
Beach. A little north of the house occupied by Nor-
man Austin, on the same side of the way, stood the
house of Edmund Beach, the third son of Capt. John
Beach. His family was numerous. Upon the death
of Deacon Ebenezer Norton, he was chosen to succeed
him in the office of deacon. Three times he was sent
a representative to the General Assembly. His house
has remained until recently, and its place may yet be
seen.

“ A little at the north of the old house now spoken
of, on the same side of the way, opposite to the house
of Eber Bailey and north of the road running east,
stood the house of Capt., or Deacon John Beach, the
place already spoken of as the one where the Rev.
Mr. Heaton was ordained. This was the old hive
330

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

where issued nearly all the families bearing the name
of Beach in this town. Deacon John Beach was from
Wallingford, an original proprietor in two rights, and
came to this town in 1738 with nine sons, Barnabas,
Adna, Edmund, Linus, Amos, Jacob, John, Roys, and
Baldwin. Being thus blessed with a quiverful of
arrows, he commanded respect. First and last he sus-
tained all important offices in the town. Four times
‘he represented this town in the General Assembly.
We may suppose that Deacon Beach, with his nine
sons, would not, in the first instance, erect a mean
cabin. This, with the considerations that there was

no meeting-house fitted to the occasion of an ordina-,

tion in 1740; that there was no road from East to
Middle Street worthy of being called a road; and
that East Street was at that time more thickly inhab-
ited than any other section of the town, is explana-
tory why Mr. Heaton was ordained at the house of
Deacon John Beach. I will remark here, that Deacon
John Beach had a brother, Samuel, who settled in
Litchfield, and gave name to the north and south
street that is called Beach Street. He was the pro-
genitor of those families of that name in that neigh-
borhood. I will also say that Jacob Beach, the sixth
son of Deacon John Beach, was the father of the
present Francis and Julius Beach, whose joint ages
amount to one hundred and fifty-six years, and are
with us to-day.

“From Deacon John Beach’s house we proceed
north till we come to the garden of Robert Palmer,
on the east side of East Street and on the south side
of the road leading eastward, and there stood the
house of Samuel Towner, from Waterbury. He was
an original proprietor, but did not remain long in
town. Just north of Towner’s house, and near the
spot where Robert Palmer’s house now stands, stood
the house of John North, from Farmington. He did
something as a merchant there. He built what was
called the blue house, deriving its name from the
color of its paint. It stood precisely on the spot
where now stands the house of Robert Palmer. This
house was struck by lightning in the afternoon of the
6th of June, 1767, in a tremendous tempest of light-
ning, thunder, and rain. All were struck down in
the house, and two men, James Rice and Martin Wil-
cox, were killed. This Martin Wilcox was a young
man, pious and much beloved. The house seemed
instantly on fire in various places, and the bodies of
these men were nearly consumed before they could-be

taken from the flames. The terror produced by this.

Providence was so great that the ancients speak of it
with awe to the present day. About twenty rods at
the north of the blue house, on the west side of the
road, stood the house of John Thomson, Jr., from
Wallingford. His father was the original proprietor.
John Thomson was the progenitor of the Thomsons
in the north part of the town.

“North of John Thomson’s, and fifty rods southeast
of the yellow house built by Asaph Hall, Esq., stood

-Capt. Hall.

 

the log house of Elkanah Hall, from Wallingford.
His father, David Hall, was the original proprietor in
two rights, but he never lived in Goshen. He after-
wards was killed by a ball at Fort George, in the old
French war. Asaph Hall, Esq., succeeded Elkanah
at the log house, and lived there until he built the
yellow house, and there lived until his death, about
thirty-eight years ago. Asaph Hall was a talented
man, and possessed the confidence of the people of
this town. Twenty-four times between 1773 and 17992
he sat in the General Assembly. He was then called
For many years he sustained the office
of magistrate, and was a firm friend to his country.

“ And now we come to the house of Deacon Na-
thaniel Baldwin, one of the first characters of that
day. He was originally from Guilford, but came first
to Litchfield, and at the settlement of this town he
purchased two rights and came to Goshen in 1789.
His house stood on the west side of East Street, and
on the south side of the narrow road leading to Hum-
phrey’s lane, a few rods southwest from the brick
house of Asaph Hall. He was eminently a man of
God, and was highly esteemed both in the church and
in the town. Twice was he sent to the General As-
sembly. He was at first a deacon in the church at
Guilford, then at Litchfield, and as soon as the church
was organized here he was appointed one of their first
deacons. He married, while yet in Guilford, Eliza-
beth, the sister of Abraham Parmele, the progenitor
of all the Parmeles in Goshen. Deacon Baldwin, his
wife, and his eight children all had a standing in this
church, and although all of them have long since
gone from this world, yet our faith sees them mem-
bers of the church triumphant and glorified, the
father saying, ‘Behold, J and the children whom the
Lord hath given me!’ The names of their children
were Nathaniel, Elizabeth, Samuel, Brewen, Anne,
Sarah, Lucy, and Rachel. The late Isaac Baldwin,
of this town, was the son of Nathaniel Baldwin, and
grandson of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin.

“The late Brewen Baldwin was grandson of Deacon
Nathaniel Baldwin, and son of Samuel Baldwin. But
the late Daniel, Stephen, and Elisha Baldwin were
grandsons of Timothy Baldwin, of Guilford, brother
of Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin. On the east side of
the road, and nearly opposite to Asaph Hall’s brick
house, on the north side of the road which leads to
Hart Hollow, stood the house of John Smith, from
Farmington. Here he commenced trading, and was
the first merchant in the town. After about two years
he removed to the Towner house, just south of Robert
Palmer’s, and next he came to the lot on which Eras-
tus Lyman, Esq., now lives. He built a large house
between Mechanic’s Hall and the house of Esquire
Lyman, afterwards called the Kettle house. He for.
some years made potash on the little stream at the
foot of the hill, east of this house, and from this cir-
cumstance the stream derived its name, Potash Brook.
The little children who resort to this place in the
GOSHEN.

summer months, when out of school, to catch tad-
poles, or porwigles, may remember how they come to
say, ‘Come, let us go to the Potash.’ Abigail, the
daughter of this Mr. Smith, married the Rev. Abel
Newell, the second minister in the town.

“We return to East Street, and proceeding north
from Smith’s house we come to the present store of
Putnam Bailey. Here stood the house of Timothy
Stanley, the brother of Nathaniel Stanley, of whom
we have spoken. He came into town in the summer
of 1742, from Farmington. His descendants are nu-
merous, but are scattered abroad in the several States.
From this house there was a highway existing in
name, a little distance north of the present house of
Collins Baldwin, but the whole country north and
east was yet in possession of the tenants of the forest.
Nature vegetated, blossomed, matured, and fell with-
out the friendly hand of culture, and without impart-
ing directly a single blessing to civilized life.

“Tn Humphrey’s lane, as it is called, a road run-
ning parallel with East Street, south of the north
meeting-house and a little west of East Street, there
were two families. On the west side of this lane,
about ten rods from where the road from the meeting-
house comes into the lane, stood the house of John
Wilcox, from Farmington. Daniel Wilcox, from
Simsbury, was the original owner. The posterity of
this John Wilcox have now become numerous. John
Flavel. Wilcox is his descendant. The other family
in this street was Samuel Humphrey. His house was
thirty or forty rods south of Wilcox, on the east side
of the road as it now is, but on the west as it then
was. Humphrey was an original proprietor from
Simsbury... He had eighteen children by four wives,
—ten sons and eight daughters,—and his posterity are
very numerous, and have ever well sustained the repu-
tation of their worthy progenitor. Indeed, it is
thought that the descendants of this Samuel Hum-
phrey are more numerous, by far, than the descend-
ants of any other man who ever lived in Goshen.

“We have now but one more location to notice. It
is that of Abraham Parmele, from Guilford. His
father was the original proprietor, but never came
here to live. His son came on at the settlement of
the town. His house, when built, stood about one
hundred and thirty rods northwest of Whist Pond, on
the north and south road running west of the pond,
and near where the east and west road from Robert
Palmer’s comes into the Pond road. The first year
he labored on this lot all alone, but boarded with his
uncle, Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, of East Street.
The next year he had a wigwam and boarded himself;
and he had a bed, too, for returning from Guilford in
the spring of that year, he brought with him a bag of
grass-seed, which was far more elastic and downy than
the floor of his cabin. On this he reposed at night,
secure from the wolves that howled around his tene-
ment. It is said of young Parmele, that his axe was
heavy but he knew it not. It fell thick and strong.

honorable and a happy union.

 

331

The sound thereof was from early morn until the stars
appeared, and the sturdy sons of the forest lay around
him as windfalls! But although he was thus enjoying
single-blessedness in the stillness, grandeur, and sub-
limity of a deep forest, yet it seems he did not think
it good for man to live alone always, and believed
there must be a helpmeet for him somewhere. In the
summer of 1745 his house went up, an indication of
a revolution in his domestic establishment, and in
May, 1746, Mary Stanley, the fourth daughter of Na-
thaniel Stanley, of East Street, was legally constituted
associated head of the establishment. This was an
They had ten chil-
dren; nearly all of them, with the parents, became
pious, and two of the sons entered the gospel min-
istry. This was the father of our much-loved friend
and father in the town, Nathaniel Stanley Parmele,
who still survives the successive attacks of the most
formidable disease which falls upon our race, apo-
plexy. I have several times mentioned Whist Pond,
in the vicinity of Mr. Parmele’s. This pond derives
its name from an old Indian of that name, who came
every year alone from Farmington, and spent the
season in hunting around the pond, and fishing and
bathing in it, but who was finally drowned in its
waters. I will here remark that Gun-Stock Brook, in
the north part of the town, derived its name from the
fact that curly maple grew plentifully upon its banks,
which was much used during the war of the Revolu-
tion in the manufacture of stocks for muskets.

“‘T have now presented you with a map of this town
as it was when the original proprietors were fairly
settled on their lots. And we can hardly fail to see
that some parts of the town were then as thickly
inhabited as at this day. This was the case with West
Street all the distance to Litchfield line. It was so on
West side from Timothy Tuttle’s to the house of Wil-
liam Miles, and on East Street, from Cyprian Collins’
to Putnam Bailey’s store.

“We will now bring into view some of the civil
and ecclesiastical affairs of the town at the same time:
of which we have been speaking, 1745. It seems that
at an early period the inhabitants of the north part
of the town were sensible of the disadvantages they
labored under from the location of the meeting-house
in this place, and that they commendably labored for
one of two things,—either that the second meeting-
house should be located farther north, or that the
town should be divided into two parishes. And this
was the cause of a committee being appointed by the
General Assembly, in 1740, to come to this place and
decide where the house should stand. And we can
scarcely doubt but that it was in view of another
ecclesiastical society existing at the north that the
stake for the second meeting-house was placed here;
for no man in his senses could suppose that a house
for worship here would give equal advantages to the
north with those imparted to the south. Accordingly,
we find a vote passed at a public town-meeting, on the
332

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

10th of December, 1745, expressing their willingness
for the town to be divided into two ecclesiastical soci-
eties, as soon as the north should stand fifteen hun-
dred pounds on the grand list, and the dividing line
should be through the centre of the town, running
east and west. This appears to have been satisfactory
at the time, and the north and south proceeded on in
their original relation; and, indeed, nothing appears
on record to show that this subject ever alienated the
feelings of the brethren of the church, or that it ever
interrupted the community of feeling between families
naturally allied. But at this early period of Mr.

Heaton’s ministry among the people of Goshen, dis-_

satisfaction arose in the minds of many in regard to
him, and early in the year 1746 we find one of the
most loving, modest, and polite invitations for Mr.
Heaton to leave them that may be found, I think, on
history. The vote stands thus: ‘ Voted, that we will
choose a committee to treat with our reverend pastor
about some reasonable and loving terms of agreement,
so that the door may be opened, if he in his wisdom
shall think fit, to seek for an orderly dismission from
the work of the ministry in this place, or to treat
with him about making some suitable alterations.’

“Mr. Heaton, it seems, was not equally pacific and
loving towards his people, but retained his relation to
them as a pastor seven years longer. The reasons for
this dissatisfaction are nowhere publicly stated, but
it may be supposed that the pressure of the times,
together with their recent origin and expenditures,
contributed something to this uneasiness; for we have
arrived to that period when the inhabitants were vis-
ited with the greatest calamity they ever were called
to experience,—I mean what is termed the old French
war.

“We will now look at some of the domestic trans-
actions of the town from 1745 to 1754. Ata town-
meeting, Feb. 16, 1747, it was voted to pay Timothy
Stanley thirty shillings, old tenor, for killing a wolf.
April 22, 1747, the town forbids the selectmen pay-
ing the Rev. Mr. Heaton any money. Jan. 4,
1748, the town raise a committee to lay out a road
four rods wide from the meeting-house north to Ca-
naan. Sept. 19, 1749, a committee is raised to look
out a road from Deacon Gideon Thomson’s (oppo-
site the present house of Truman Starr, Esq.) to
Frisbie’s mills, in Canada, and to Cornwall. April
8, 1751, it was voted that Samuel Pettibone, Esq.,
be an agent to petition the General Assembly for
a county in this part of their government. I would
here remark that until 1751 these Western towns
were all included in the county of Hartford, but
this year the new county of Litchfield was created.
In June, 1753, the Rev. Stephen Heaton was dis-
missed from his pastoral relation to this church and
people, and steps were immediately taken to pro-
cure preaching. It appears that Mr. Abel Newell
was their first candidate upon Mr. Heaton’s removal :
that he received a call to settle with them in 1754,

 

but did not receive ordination till 1755. The town
stipulated to pay Mr. Newell fifteen hundred pounds
settlement, old tenor, within three years of his ordi-
nation,—five hundred pounds annually for three years,
His salary for the first year was to be equal in value
to one hundred bushels of wheat, to sixty-six bushels
of rye, and to two hundred and one bushels of Indian
corn; and then to rise forty pounds per annum, old
tenor, in the same proportion to said grain, till the
salary should amount in value to one hundred and
twelve bushels of wheat, to one hundred and thirty-
four bushels of rye, and to two hundred and twenty-
five bushels of Indian corn, and then his salary was
to remain fixed at that sum.

“There is nothing especially interesting in the
public transactions of the town from 1755 to 17665.
There is one vote of the town in 1762 which may be
humiliating to our present feelings, and yet it con-
firms what I have already stated in regard to the
pressure of the times in the new settlements at that
period, and shows how the views and feelings of men
will differ at different times in regard to the morality
of things, according to the light they have on those
subjects. The vote reads thus: ‘ Voted to choose an
agent for said town, to prefer a prayer to the General
Assembly at their session in May next, praying said
Assembly to grant to said town liberty to raise the
sum of two hundred pounds, by a lottery, for the
making and mending highways in said town, under
such regulations as said Assembly in their wisdom
shall think proper.’ Another vote, Jan. 12, 1763,
will show us the price of different kinds of grain at
that time: ‘Voted to give the Rev. Mr. Newell, for
his services in the ministry in this town the year past,
for wheat, four shillings per bushel, and for rye, two
shillings and nine pence per bushel, and for Indian
corn, two shillings per bushel.’

“April 21, 1768, ‘ Voted, forty-nine to twenty-two,
that a new meeting-house is needed. July 3, 1769,
Voted to build a new meeting-house for public wor-
ship at the place affixed by the County Court in said
town. Voted, that said meeting-house be sixty-four
feet in length and forty-four in breadth, and that
Ensign David Norton, Lieut. Parmele, and Zacheus
Griswold be a committee to carry on the business of
building said meeting-house.’ This third meeting-
house was raised in the spring of the next year, 1770,
giving twenty-six years for the existence of the second
meeting-house, and sixty-two years for the ¢hird, as
that was removed to make way for the present house
in 1832. In the autumn of 1771, November 15th,
Ensign Elisha Blinn was appointed first chorister,
Fisk Beach the second, and Miles Norton the third,
at a regular town-meeting.

“T would here stop to speak of certain appendages
to that meeting-house, and to many others in the
country at that day. They were called Sabbath-day
houses, or noon-houses. The object of these houses
was to furnish the owners of them, and such of their
GOSHEN.

friends as they were disposed to invite, with a warm
retreat in winter, during the interval between fore-
noon and afternoon public services. And we must
bear in mind that at that day a stove in a meeting-
house was a thing unknown and unthought of. These
houses generally consisted of two rooms, ten or twelve
feet square, with a chimney in the centre between
them, and a fireplace in each room. They were gen-
erally built at the united expense of two or more fam-
ilies. Dry fuel was kept in each house, ready for
kindling a fire. On the morning of the Sabbath the
owner of each room deposited in his saddle-bags the
necessary refreshment for himself and family, and a
bottle of beer or cider, and took an early start for the
sanctuary. He first called at his Sabbath-day house,
built him a fire, deposited his luncheon, warmed him-
self and family, and at the hour of worship they were
all ready to sally forth, and to shiver in the cold
during the morning services at the house of worship.
At noon they returned to their Sabbath-houses, with
some invited friends, perhaps, where a warm room
received them, the fire having been in operation
during the morning exercises. The saddle-bags were
now brought forth and their contents discharged upon
a prophet’s table, of which all partook a little, and
each in turn drank at the bottle. This service being
performed, and thanks returned, the patriarch of the
family drew from his pocket the notes he had taken
during the morning service, and the sermon came
under renewed and distinct consideration, all enjoying
the utmost freedom in their remarks. . Sometimes a
well-chosen chapter or paragraph was read from an
author, and the service was not unfrequently con-
cluded by prayer; then all returned to the sanctuary
to seek a blessing there. If the cold was severe, the
family might return to their house to warm them
before they sought their habitation. The fire was
then extinguished, the saddle-bags and the fragments
were gathered up, the house locked, and all returned
to their home. There were no less than four of these
houses standing around the third meeting-house at
once, three on the north side of the road, west of the
present blacksmith’s shop, and one south, by the
town post, between the brick school-house and H. N.
Lyman’s store. The Sabbath-house that stood by the
present town post was owned by Deacon Moses Ly-
man and Capt. Jonathan Buel, father of the present
Capt. Jonathan Buel. The one farthest east, on the
north, was owned by Deacon Ebenezer Norton and
his brother, Samuel Norton. The next west of them
was owned by Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin and Samuel
Baldwin, and the third was owned by Nehemiah
Lewis and Adna Beach.

“Tam now in the history of the town, 1772, when
aroad was laid out directly west from the meeting-
house to Elisha Thompson’s house, standing near the
present cider-mill of Ira Thompson.”

22

 

333

CHAPTER XXXIII*
GOSHEN (Continued).

Amone those noble men and women who first
planted themselves at Boston and its vicinity in 1630,
were found some who five years later were lured away
from the Massachusetts colony by what they heard
of the rich meadow-lands lying on the banks of the
Connecticut River. In the three towns of Hartford,
Wethersfield, and Windsor they made their home.
In two years they numbered three hundred souls, and
just at this point they were compelled to fight the
sons of the forest.

Five of their men at work had been murdered by
the Pequots, and history hardly shows up more heroic
men than the ninety men, old and young, from that
little colony of three hundred, who sprang to arms,
attacked those treacherous Pequots, and almost anni-
hilated them. Doubtless there were some among
these ninety heroes whose grandchildren one hundred
years later helped to change the dense forest that
covered these hills into a fruitful field.

But we turn now to those who the following year,
1638, settled in New Haven. They were mostly
families, possessing considerable wealth, from London
and its vicinity. They were decided in their religious
character, and well fitted to found a truly Christian
colony. They were followed the next year by another
colony of similar culture, who planted themselves in
Guilford and its vicinity. To us it seems a novel
bargain that they made with the Indians in 1639,
giving them thirteen coats for the land of the seven
towns of New Haven, Branford, Wallingford, East
Haven, Woodbridge, Cheshire, and North Haven.
These towns of Wallingford and Guilford, then set-
tled, were the towns from whence, ninety-nine years
later, came most of the fathers of Goshen.

These colonies of Connecticut possessed a most
liberal charter, granted them by Charles II.; and
while almost all the surrounding colonies gave up
their charters, our fathers, inflexible as a rock, never
yielded up theirs to the hand of any tyrant. Thus
our commonwealth grew in wealth and population,
governing themselves almost as freely as now, their
General Assembly meetings for two sessions each
year in Hartford and New Haven; and the men
gathered there in our early history would no doubt
compare favorably with those of our own time.

In the year 1737 our native town, like most of those
around it, was an unbroken wilderness. It was not,
so far as we can learn, the permanent home of the
red man, although in some seasons of the year his
hunting-ground. Goshen, with the six towns lying
north and west of it, were called “ Western Lands,” be-
longing to the Connecticut colony.

In October, 1787, the Assembly ordered that these

wo
* This chapter was contributed by Deacon Edward Norton, being con-
densed from an address delivered by him at Goshen, July 4, 1876.

 
334

seven townships be laid out and sold at auction, the
town of Salisbury to be divided into twenty-five
rights, and the towns of Goshen, Norfolk, Canaan,
Cornwall, Kent, and Sharon to be divided into fifty-
three rights each. Each town must reserve one right
for the first settled minister, one for the permanent
future support of the ministry, and one for the schools;
and no permission was given to encroach upon the
three hundred acres in each town granted to Yale
College.

Eleven years before—viz., in1726—three gentlemen
of Wallingford, Durham, and Haddam, all magis-
trates, had received for some service rendered, or
possibly as a gift, three hundred acres of land lying
in the wilderness now called Goshen. In 1731 they
surveyed it, but did not occupy it themselves. A
few years later, certainly as early as 1737, it was oc-
cupied, and there must have been two dwellings
erected upon it by Benjamin Frisbie and Ebenezer
Hill. This was called ever afterward the “ Esquire’s
Farm.” The time for the selling of the township of
“A,” or Goshen, as it was soon after called, was fixed
by the Assembly to be the first Tuesday in December,
1787.

Purchasers appeared during that winter and the
following spring and summer; and we find in our
first record that one Thomas Marvin was paid for
warning the first meeting of the purchasers the large
sum of seven pounds ten shillings. In what way he
warned it we do not know; but perhaps he traveled
about the State, and notified them all to assemble in
Litchfield on Sept. 27, 1738.

And now let us look in upon the fathers of Goshen
assembléd at the house of Capt. John Buel in Litch-
field on that September day. It was a meeting fraught
with interest not only to them, but to the thousands
of their descendants who have since been born and
reared here, and whose remains repose in the ceme-
teries of Goshen, or are scattered among the cities of
the dead in our broad land. What would we not give
to-day could we in reality look upon those men of the
past! We should gaze upon a group of thirty men
or more, fourteen of whom had wended their way
hither from Wallingford, three from Guilford, three
from Simsbury, and one from each of the towns of
West Hartford, Windsor, Stonington, Lyme, and New
Haven, while six of the number were already located
in Litchfield. There seem to have been sixteen ab-
sentees, whose interests were intrusted to a committee
appointed for the purpose, as well as to take care of
the three public rights. After a brief preliminary
meeting, they adjourned to the next morning at “8
of y* clock.” That was the morning of Sept. 28, 1738,
and, according to the record,—

“Ye s1 meeting was opened according to adjournment above 84, and it
was then voted by said purchasers in 84 meeting, that we will proceed to
lay out Two Divisions of Land in st township of Goshen, viz.: Two fifty-
acre Lots to Each Right or Whol sbare, each Lot to be equal to fifty

acres of y® Best Land, and Hee that Draws ye last Choice in y® First
Draught, shall have y¢ First Choice in ye second division, and so on suc-

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

cessively back, according to ye Draught of Choice, until it comes to Him
who made y? first Choice, or had ye First Draught.”

We next find them drawing by lot their numbers
from 1 up to 58. It was a drawing in which there
were no blanks, for No. 53, as well as No. 1, drew him-
self a farm of about four hundred and eighty-three
acres. The town, nine miles in length by four anda
half in breadth, would give them fifty-three such
farms.

But, unlike the first persons who came to Litchfield
in 1715, who first purchased that town of the Indians
for the sum of fifteen pounds, and afterwards, in 1718,
had to pay the colony only the trifling sum of one
and three-quarter farthings per acre, or about seven-
teen and one-half shillings each for a farm of four
hundred and eighty-three acres, these fathers of
Goshen had to pay into the treasury of His Most
Gracious Majesty’s colony of Connecticut the sum
of one hundred and thirty to one hundred and
eighty pounds each. It is evident that few, if any,
of them were able to pay down for their land, and
bonds with security were required of each.

We cannot surely know the value of the pound
sterling then. If we assume a pound to be the same
then that it was in the salary stipulated to be paid
the first minister two years later,—viz., twenty-eight
shillings, to be accounted one ounce of silver Troy
weight, making a pound about eighty-three cents,
then our fathers paid about twenty-six cents per
acre for the lands of Goshen.

But we can in imagination see them that Septem-
ber morning, after their lots were all drawn, making
their way through the wildwood to Goshen. They
would naturally pause a few moments at the two
houses already standing, near where Mr. Watts
Brooks now lives, where Mr. Hill and Mr. Frisbie
had located themselves. Another house stood on
East Street, built by Mr. Samuel Hinman, and we do
not know how many of them found a temporary home
at these three houses during the time of selecting their
future homes. Now we lose sight of them until they
next meet in Litchfield, three months later, Dec. 1,
1738, at which time they again resort to lot, and in
the same manner as before draw for choice, and lo-
cate third and fourth divisions of land. This dividing
up of their four-hundred-and-eighty-acre rights into
ten divisions, to be drawn at five drawings, gave them
more opportunity to know the quality of the lands in
the town.

Again they are hidden from our view until they
meet in Litchfield, Sept. 26, 1739, and at this meeting
they, like Abraham of old, provide a place where
they may bury their dead. It is thought there had
been a death in the family of Mr. Hill in 1787; but
in our little colony, now organized, in Goshen there
had been three deaths in the July previous to this
meeting, in 1739. They were all children of Mr.
Christopher Grimes, whose home was one-quarter of
a mile south of Mr. William Norton’s house. Abra-
GOSHEN.

ham Grimes, thirteen years of age, headed a proces-
sion oh, how long!—a procession which has been
marching on ever since to the graveyards of Goshen.
He was followed by a brother, who died five days
after, and a sister three weeks afterward.

The first child born in Goshen bore the novel name
of “ Billiores Hill.” The date of his appearance is
not known, but it was before 1739.

Atthe same meeting, in October, 1789, they ap-
pointed Capt. Benajah Williams as their agent to pre-

sent a memorial to the General Assembly. This ,

memorial does not appear on any old record in our
town, but the following is copied from the manuscript
records of the colony at Hartford, and gives us light
in regard to the progress made in our settlement at
this date:

“To the Honorable General Court of His Majesty’s Colony of Connecti-

cut, Sitting in New Haven in s4 Colony, the memorial of ye Propri-

etors of ye Township of Goshen, humbly sheweth

“That your Honor’s Memorialists, Purchasers of st Township, in pur-

suance of y° orders and Direction of this Assembly, have been endeavor-
ing to settle and improve ye Lands in s4 Township, and accordingly,
fourty of ye Proprietors are now Living in s4 Township, and ye Rest are
preparing to do likewise, but for want of the authority and privileges and
favors usually granted to new places, are not able to proceed in promoting
the General good of y* place as we desire. Therefore, in confidence of
the favor of Honorable Assembly towards us in these matters, we hum-

bly Request that you would be pleased to grant to us the following par-

ticulars, viz. :

“That we may be invested with, and have and enjoy, the priviledges
and authority of a Town, as is usually granted to other Towns in the
Government.

“9, that a tax of fourty shillings a year upon each right, for four
years next coming, may be Levyed and collected of each proprietor for
ye support of a minister-in s4 Place, and

“ily, in as much as y¢ time of payment for y°® st Rights is about come,
and by Reason of ye Rumours and Reports of a war, many of us are De-
feated of a method we propused to raise money to Pay for s Rights, we
humbly request ye favor of this Court in Lengthening y° time of payment
for sa Rights upon interest, either on ye present or other security, as your
Honors shall Judge Just, or otherwise Grant such other relief and en-
couragement to us in forwarding y¢ settlement and advancement of ye in-
terest of s¢ place.

“and we as in Duty bound shall ever pray,

“BrNavAH WILLIAMS,

: “ Agent for sd Proprietors.
“New Haven, Oct. 16, 1739.” :

We next come to the period of the first town-meet-
ing of Goshen, which was lawfully warned and held
in Goshen, Dec. 6, 1789. From the record of this
meeting, the fathers of Goshen seemed to have made
great progress during the short space of one year.
They appointed five selectmen, two constables, three
grand jurors, three listers, three surveyors of highways,
one collector of taxes, who was also treasurer (Moses
Lyman, who had come from Northampton during the
year), one town clerk (Mr. Pettibone, a lawyer), three
horse branders, whose duty it was to mark all ani-
mals, so that owners could know them in the absence
of fences, there being on record sixty-six different
marks in Goshen, three fence-viewers, one leather-
sealer, three men a committee to exchange land to
accommodate for highways; two men were given per-
mission to build town pounds, and the selectmen were
“instructed to ascertain the places of holding the
meetings for publick worship of God.”

 

335

One month later, Jan. 11, 1740, at another meeting,
they voted to “hire a minister to preach the gospel in
s* town, and that s‘ minister come among us as a pro-
bationer.’” They added some names to the lists of
officers appointed in December, and also appointed
“Othniel Gillett as a grave-digger,” and made a red
oak-tree, which stood not far from the house of John
H. Wadhams, to be a “sign-post for the year en-
suing.”

The winter passed, to some the first, the second to
others, spent in Goshen, and they met April 21, 1740,
and extended a call to Rev. Stephen Heaton to settle
here as a minister, offering him one hundred and ten
pounds as a salary, besides fifty pounds in labor, to be
worked out at five to six shillings aday. At the pre-
sent value of silver per ounce, this salary and labor
together made about one hundred and thirty-three
dollars. They also sent a committee to the Assembly
with a petition that they would send a committee to
fix the location of a meeting-house.

In November of that year Mr. Heaton was ordained
at the house of Capt. John Beach, on East Street, the
spot now marked by a tree transplanted there in 1876.

Thus was our town fairly started on its career in
two short years, and just at this point we are again
indebted to our colonial manuscript records for the
following paper, without which we might never have
known the difficulties our fathers encountered :

PETITION FOR RELIEF.

“To the Hon, General Assembly of his Majesty’s English Colony of Conn.
in New England in America, now convened and sitting in Hartford
in s4 Colony (May, 1741). ‘|

“The Humble Memorial of David Whitney, of Canaan, Agent for s4
Town, Samuel Pettibone, of Goshen, Agent for s1 Town, Timothy Hatch,
of Kent, Agent of s4 Town, and George Halloway, of Cornwal, agent of
s4 Town, in behalf of themselves and the rest of the purchasers who have
settled, and are actually inhabiting st Towns. Humbly Sheweth that
the Memorialists purchased there in the several above named Towns of
the Governor and Company of this Colony, or of those who purchased the
same, so that either as first purchasers or at second hand, we are become
indebted in many considerable sums to the Governor and Company, and
the times of payment are expired or very near. That the settling of new
Towns is ever attended with very many and great difficulties; but it has
happened in respect to the memorialists that their settlement has been
attended with Greater Difficulties and distress than there ever was known
an instance of in this colony, for, may it please your Honours, the unpar-
alleled Extremity and severity of the Last winter has not only totally
exhausted all the little stock of provisions and necessary supports of Life
which we had purchased and procured from other sources, at great pains
and cost, but has occasioned us to expend our myney which we had set
apart and depended upon to pay our purchases and for the support of our
family* and Creatures, and after all our Lawful endeavors, Divine Provi-
dence has so far frowned upon us that a very great part of our Stock of
cattle, sheep, and swine are dead, and the very truth is, that many of the
settled inhabitants amongst us, when we lay ouselves in our beds, have
nothing to depend upon but the care and Goodness of a merciful and om-
nipotent Being for our next day’s provisions and support,

“These Difficulties aro all well known to your Honours, with many
other Difficulties and Distresses we are under, though your Hon’, we
hope, have not had that fatal experimental knowledge thereof which we
have felt. These things, may it please your Honours, have rendered it
utterly impossible for us to make payment of the Bonds we have given
the Govt and Company for our purchases by the time limited for the pay-
ment of the same.

“So that if your Honours should be strict to demand the same of us
which is due, we can have no other view but the utter ruin, &c., of our
Towns and plantations, notwithstanding we have in Truth and Fidelity,
336

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

used all Lawful and honest ends, and to Conform ourselves to the act of
this Colony respecting our Rights and Settlements. Moreover, we Hum-
bly observe that there were many of the first purchasers of Rights who
have made merchandise of their Rights to their great advantage, and
there are many large tracts of Land in our Towns belonging to non-set-
tlers, or non-resident proprietors, and those bearing little or no Burthen
amongst us, but have the value of their Lands equally increasing with
ours, casts a double Burthen upon us in respect to the settlement of min-
isters, building meeting-houses, &c., and we cannot but think it very rea-
sonable that the Lands of such non-settlers should be taxed Double the
Lands of the Settlers.

“ And we beg leave further to show, that we are the Frontier Towns at
the nearest corner of the Government, north and west, and if it should
happen that there should be a Warr with the French and Indians (which
God of his mercy prevent), we shall be most exposed of any of the Towns
in the Colony. Wherefore, we are encouraged, from the wonted Good-
ness of this Honorable Assembly, to pray your Honé to grant us the fol-
lowing Things for our Relief and Redress: first, that your Hon* would
lengthen out the time of the payment of our Bonds for our Purchases,
or forbear us of payment of the same till the time limited for our settle-
ment is expired, and that your Honors would remit the interest of the
money for such forbearance.

“@ndjy, That your Honors would lay a Tax upon the Lands of non-
resident Proprietors for the support of the Gospel and building meeting-
houses in the above mentioned Towns, dowble the Tax of the Lands of
the settlers, or for as much per acre on the Right and as long as your
Honours in Wisdom and Justice shall think fit.

“3dly, That your Honours would grant unto each of the st Towns a
Town stock of powder and Lead, as much as your Honours shall think
fit and convenient.

“4tly. That your Hon* would upon the publick charge of the Colony
Give unto each of s4 towns a full Colony Law-book.

“And your Hons Humble and Distressed memorialists as in duty
bound shall ever pray, &c.

“Davin WHITNEY,
“Trwy Harcs,

Sam!, PETTIBONE,

Geo. Hatioway,
“ Agents.

“ HARTFORD, May 19, 1741.”

Hardly five years had passed after Mr. Heaton’s
ordination before we find upon the record a most
courteous opening of negotiations with him, as fol-
lows:

“ Voted, that we will choose a Committee to treat with our Rey. Pastor
about some reasonable and loving terms of agreement, so that the door
may be opened, if he in his wisdom shall think fit, to seek for an or-
derly dismission from the work of the ministry in this place, or to treat
with about making some suitable alterations.”

But the first minister had no idea of abandoning
his place, and remained pastor until 17538, when he
was dismissed, but continued to reside in Goshen until
his death in 1788.

THE PATENT,

In 1745 the town applied to the Assembly for a
patent giving to us town privileges. It was not given
until Oct. 2, 1749, as we suppose, for the reason that
some of the fifty proprietors had failed to comply with
the conditions of their purchase. They were required
to enter upon their land within two years, and build
and finish a house eighteen feet square and seven feet
between sill and plate, and clear, fence, and subdue
six acres of land, and to remain thereon for three
successive years. Failure on the part of some to do
this, or to pay for their purchases, may have delayed
the desired patent, which bears the signature of
“Jonathan Lare, Governor,” and,

“By virtue of the power vested in him and the Colony of our late

Sovereign, King Charles 2nd, of blessed memory, it confirms to them
their possession to the woods, the timber, the trees, underwoods, lands,

 

waters, brooks, ponds, fishing, fowling, mines, minerals, and precious
stones within and upon said Town; to be held of his Majesty, his heirs,
or successors; or of his Majesty’ manor of East Greenwich, in the
County of Kent, and Kingdom of Great Britain, in free and common
socage, and not in capite, nor by Knight service yielding and paying,

Therefore unto our Sovereign Lord, the King, his heirs, and successors,
only one-fifth part of all the ore of Gold and Silver, which from time to
time, and at all times hereafter shall be gotten, had, or obtained thereon,
in lieu of all service, duty, or demands whatsoever.”

The fathers of Goshen never had occasion to send
any of the gold or silver ore to his majesty, and it is
doubtful whether any of the fines due to the sovereign
for killing the king’s deer in Goshen were ever col-
lected, for in April, 1741, it was voted to give Daniel
Harris, Sr., Benjamin Frisbie, and Daniel Harris,
Jr., that part of their fine for killing deer which be-
longed to the town. Five years later they voted thirty
shillings to Timothy Stanley for killing a wolf.

Frequent changes occurred in our town, and it
seems likely that about thirty of the forty-six original
proprietors who purchased the fifty rights remained
here, or were represented by their sons, during the
first ten or twenty years of our history. The others
sold their rights to men who came to reside in Goshen,
as in the case of Mr. Lyman, who came from North:
ampton in 1739; Ebenezer and Samuel Norton, from
Durham in 1739; John Wright, from Wethersfield in
1742; Mr. Griswold, from Windsor; Nathaniel and
Timothy Stanley, from Farmington in 1742; Benoni
Hills, from Durham in 1741; Noah Wadhams, from
Middletown in 1741; John North, from Farmington
in 1745; and soon after many others.

Passing on a few years, to 1756, our colony was
eighteen years old, and we now for the first time learn
our population from the first census. We numbered
610 inhabitants; Litchfield, 1866; Hartford, only
2926; New Haven, 5085; Windsor, 4170; while Mid-
dletown, the largest place in the colony, numbered
5446.

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

This was soon after the commencement of the
French and Indian war, which lasted from 1754 to
1762. It is impossible to know at this distant day
the names of all who served His Majesty George III.
during those eight years. We have, however, the
names of twenty Goshen men, three of whom were
killed, four died of sickness, and one was severely
wounded and kept a prisoner five years. These eight
men, out of the little band of twenty, deserve more
than a passing notice. Of the three killed, Lieut.
Timothy Gaylord was the first to fall. He made his
will before he left Goshen, in the early spring of 1758,
and took his last look at his home cirele, among
whom were two little boys, afterwards enrolled in our
Revolutionary army. But he never saw his little son
Joseph, who was born soon after he left home (who
was the father of Capt. Willard Gaylord), and who
at the age of eighteen was fighting, with his brothers,
in our Revolution. Lieut. Timothy Gaylord fell by
an Indian’s hand in the defeat of Gen. Abercrombie,
GOSHEN.

July 9,1758. Col, Bezaleel Beebe, of Litchfield, who
was fighting near him, and, like him, sheltered be-
hind a tree, had just spoken to Gaylord, and was look-
ing at him for a reply, when he observed a sudden
break in the skin of his forehead, and the lieutenant
instantly fell dead. A few days after, Col. Beebe and
his friends were able to come again upon that ground,
and the brave officer who had left his home in Goshen
was still there, and was buried hastily, their bayonets
being all they had with which to dig his grave.

_ It was the next year, July 12, 1759, that Lieut.
Daniel Lee left Goshen, and he was killed by the
tomahawk of an Indian while he was loading and
firing. The third was the son of a proprietor. His
name was Manna Humphrey, and he was killed at
the taking of Havanna, in 1762, near the close of the
war. He was one of the thousand men from Con-
necticut in that expedition under Col. Israel Putnam,
only a handful of whom lived through the sickness
and returned. His son, a lad of fourteen years, was
one of the four who died, also Elisha North and two
brothers, Moses. and Thomas Wilcox. . Joel Dibble
was taken prisoner, 1755, near Fort Edward, with three
others; he was fired upon from an ambush, and re-
ceived four wounds. He lay a prisoner for five years,
and, in response to a petition made by him to the
General Assembly, he received from the colony, in
consideration of his sufferings, the sum of twenty-
five pounds.

The names of the twelve who lived to return home,
some of whom we find also in our Revolutionary war,
fifteen years later, are Lieut. John Wright, Benjamin
Reeves (a half-brother of Judge Reeves, of Litchfield),
John Doud, Ashbel Humphrey, Jacob Beach, Josiah
Roys, Nathaniel Stanley, Jr., Stephen Tuttle, Mun-
son Winchel, Charles Richards, John Wilcox, and
John Musson.

Our town was first represented in the General As-
sembly in 1757, Deacon Gideon Thompson being the
first representative. The next year, 1758, we sent two,
as we have ever since, and the second year Deacon
Moses Lyman and Deacon John Beach were sent.
Of very many who were sent many times before
1800, Asaph Hall, Esq., served during twenty-four
sessions, and Col. Ebenezer Naton for twenty-six
sessions.

We find in the record of a town-meeting, April 12,
1762, one vote petitioning the Assembly for liberty
to raise by alottery two hundred dollars for mending
and making the highways; also, the same year,
Samuel Oviatt was released from paying his fine of
forty shillings for killing a deer, although, as they
say, he was “justly fined,” but failed to get clear on
account of his “ ignorance in making his defense.”

We first notice in 1771 that the words ‘‘ exclusive
of churchmen, Baptists, and Quakers” are introduced
into the warnings for our town-meetings. This was
continued for some years, not as showing any antag-
onism towards them, but to prevent their being called

 

337

upon to support both their own church and the Con-
gregational.
STOCKS.
In 1778 the selectmen were instructed to erect a
public sign-post, and also, near by, a “ pair of stocks.”’

THE REVOLUTION.
But we now approach a time in the history of our
town full of interest. Our fathers assembled Sept. 20,
1774, and appointed a committee to correspond with

the committees of our county and colony in regard to

the present alarming situation of our affairs in North
America. In December following the town, in most
emphatic language, indorsed the action of the Conti-
nental Congress assembled in Philadelphia three
months before. Boston was filled with British

| troops, sent over to crush out the spirit of liberty

from the hearts of men who had resolved that from
henceforth they would “ call no man master.”

The second census of which we have a record was
taken this year, 1774. Our little town, which num-
bered 610 eighteen years before, had increased to 1098.
At this time Litchfield had 2509; Hartford, 4881;
New Haven, 8022; while Philadelphia, the largest
town in America, had 25,000, and New York, 18,000.

The following year, 1775, witnessed the battle of
Lexington, the capture of Ticonderoga by Ethan Allen
and his little band,—among whom was Asaph Hall,
of Goshen,—and the battle of Bunker Hill. Among
the officers appointed at the May session of our Assem-
bly this year, 1775, are the names of Oliver Wolcott,
of Litchfield, colonel of the Seventeenth Regiment;
Ebenezer Norton, lieutenant-colonel ; and Epaphras
Sheldon, major. In the list of appointments in April
of the same year we find placed in command of the
eighth company in the Fourth Regiment, then raised,
John Sedgwick, captain; Wareham Gibbs and James
Thomson, lieutenants. This was the company of men
enlisted from Goshen and Torrington, under Capt.
John Sedgwick, of Cornwall Hollow. They left
Goshen for Ticonderoga May 31, 1775, and stopped
the first night at Canaan. Capt. Sedgwick’s house
was burned that night, and the company marched for-
ward the next day in charge of the lieutenants. He
returned home, and his neighbors raised him another
house in one week’s time, and he joined his company,
only to be compelled to leave them by illness.

There were twenty-eight Goshen men in this com-
pany, whose names are among our roll of Revolution-
ary soldiers. About one-half of them were very sick
with the camp distemper, and one died, David
Wright; none were killed in battle, and they returned
at the expiration of the seven months for which they
had enlisted.

We find two or three of them re-enlisting, during
the winter after their return, in the regiment com-
manded by Col. Jonathan Burral, of Canaan. In this
regiment, which was to march for Quebec in the win-
ter of 1776, there were twenty-one Goshen men. In
338

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the company of Capt. Luther Stoddard, of Salisbury,
were Lieut. Thomas Converse and nine men, and in
the company of Capt. Titus Watson, of Norfolk, were
Lieut. John Riley and ten men. The place of ren-
dezvous and starting for Lieut. Converse and his nine
men was the house of Daniel Miles, on East Street,
and the spot, sacred to their memory, is now marked
by an elm-tree, placed there this centennial year.
They started on their cold winter march Feb. 1, 1776,
and marched to Canaan, thence to Salisbury, and
onward to Albany. They were accompanied nearly
to Albany by Mr. Cyprian Collins, with a three-ox sled
to carry their luggage. On their way up the river and
lake they had to march through snow two feet deep,
and one, John Musson, died of pleurisy. They reached
Quebec the last of February, and there commenced
their time of suffering with the smallpox. While
still wholly unfit to march they were compelled to
retreat, and their sufferings cannot be described. The
ten men, with Lieut. John Riley, in the company of
Capt. Watson also had terrible sufferings from sick-
ness, of which four of their number died. There had
been also one more death from sickness in Lieut. Con-
verse’s little band, and another, George Dear, was
killed by a cannon-ball, which cut him nearly in two.
Thus of the twenty-one men one was killed and six
died, leaving only fourteen who returned at the expi-
ration of the year for which they enlisted.

But while these twenty-one men were gone to
Canada, Goshen was called upon to send forth many
of her fathers, brothers, and sons, to suffer at New
York and Long Island. In May, 1776, Capt. Stephen
Goodwin, of East Street, was commissioned to raise a
company in Goshen and Torrington to go to New
York. Timothy Gaylord, of Norfolk, a nephew of
Lieut. Gaylord, who fell in the French war, was his
first lieutenant, and Jabez Wright, of Goshen, was
ensign. There were forty-eight men from Goshen in
the company. They left Goshen about June 1, 1776,
and after reaching New York were quartered for
a while ina large brick house near the Battery. Dur-
ing the time they were there the Declaration of Inde-
pendence was read in the presence of the troops.
With their brigade, they went across to Long Island
about the middle of July, and were in view, but not
themselves engaged, in the battle of Long Island.
They were under Gen. Putnam’s orders, and with
him they safely crossed over to New York under
cover of night and a dense fog.

Soon after the defeat of the American army, Au-
gust 27th, this brigade, under Gen. Wadsworth, were
placed two or three miles north of the city, and were
immediately exposed to the fire of three British ships
on East River. Succeeding after a while in escaping
from their fire behind a ledge, they gathered in an
orchard surrounded by a stone wall. Here they soon
saw a body of troops coming towards them from the
north. Their uniform was not the red coats of the
British, and their officers thought them American

 

troops. Maj. Willis, of Connecticut, reached out hig
hand to welcome the supposed friends, but the wily
Hessian officer pulled him off his horse. Wadsworth
ordered a retreat, but the Hessian fire commenced,
and many officers and soldiers were killed or taken
prisoners. Lieut. Gaylord had his thigh broken by a
musket-ball, and he, with seven Goshen men, were
taken prisoners. Solomon Moore, of Goshen, fell,
wounded, and was in the act of surrendering when
John Norton, of Goshen, relieved him of his gun,
and he succeeded in escaping. But the Hessian offi-
cer, too, met his fate, for while pursuing the flying
Americans he reached the west wall of the orchard,
where he overtook Sergt. Salmon Agard (an officer in
Capt. Griswold’s company from Torringford). ‘The
Hessian officer ordered him to surrender, but Sergt.
Agard cocked his gun, whirled around, and shot the
Hessian dead in a moment. Those who escaped soon
met Gen. Wadsworth, fell into rank, and recognized
Gen. Putnam coming, who ordered them to Kings-
bridge. That night the Goshen men, who had lost
almost everything in their retreat, helped themselves
to somebody’s cooking utensils, and took refuge by
the side of a stack of hay, They found a rock witha
hollow in it, where they placed some flour, and brought
water from a spring in their hats, and in the bright
moonlight baked their bread over a fire, and univer-
sally agreed it did taste good.

Of the forty-eight Goshen men in this company
none were killed, but six were taken prisoners and
five died of sickness. It is supposed that the living
returned to Goshen in December, 1776, but there were
very many other men from Goshen at the same time
in our army at New York.

In August, 1776, Gen. Washington urgently re-
quested Connecticut to send him all the standing
militia west of the Connecticut River. The Assembly
of our State promptly complied with the request (our
representatives then being Ebenezer Norton and
Asaph Hall). Thus Connecticut sent to Washington
at that time fourteen regiments, numbering ten thou-
sand men, and it appears that, counting those from
the east of the river, and those at other points, there
were in the field twenty thousand men from our little
State.

All the men belonging to the two militia companies
of Goshen at that time fit for service were called out
and sent to New York. There is some uncertainty in
regard to the names of the Goshen militia who were
sent to New York. The veterans living in 1841 gave
us the names of only fourteen men, headed by Capt.
Medad Hills, Lieut. Matthew Smith, and Ensign Asa
Francis, but they also inform us there were others,
swelling the number to forty or fifty. From another
source we have evidence that there were enough men,
in addition to the fourteen whose names appeared on
the roll, to swell the number above fifty. From the
last information in our possession, we may assume that
the militia of Goshen were sent to New York in suf-
GOSHEN.

ficient number to show a roll of one hundred and
twenty men absent at this time in the army. This
was out of a population of ten hundred and ninety-
eight, and it was truly a dark time in our history.

In our militia company ordered to New York was
one man greatly bereaved, Ensign, afterwards Capt.,
Asa Francis. Three of his children died while he
was absent in New York. They died on the 2d, 4th,
and 7th of September, and the poor distracted wife
and mother was at the time in a state of mental de-
rangement.

These Goshen militia were in one engagement, and
saw the Hessians in their attack upon their friends
in the orchard. They too suffered much from sick-
ness, but were all fortunate enough to return home
the following winter.

The following spring, 1777, began the enlistment
of men for three years or during the war, aud the
town of Goshen offered a bounty of ten pounds to
every soldier who enlisted as above, to be followed by
a similar bounty at the end of the first and second
years of service. They also appointed a committee
to take care of the families of absent soldiers. We
have the names of eleven who enlisted at this time,
who entered the Continental army and disappeared
from our view for some years.

In the spring of 1777 there was a small draft of
five Goshen men, whose names we have. They went
to Horse Neck (Greenwich), thirty miles above New
York, and were gone but three months. In April of
this year a draft was also made from the militia of
.our town for six to ten men, who went to Peekskill,
but returned the latter part of May.

But before their return the quiet of a Goshen Sab-
bath, April 27, 1777, was disturbed by the sound of
distant.cannonading. It was the heavy guns of the
British ships at the burning of Danbury. The can-
non were heard in the morning, but the people assem-
bled as usual for meeting, and Mr. Newell preached.
A messenger arrived at noon with the tidings, and
the drum was beat upon the steps of the church. All
dispersed to their homes, and a number started for
the scene of action. The names of fifteen who went
are preserved, but the British had left before their
arrival, and they had only such booty as they found
in plundering the houses of a few Tories.

We have next in order a draft of fifty-nine men
and two commissioned officers, making sixty-one
Goshen men, ordered by Col. Epaphras Sheldon to be
ready to start at the shortest notice, under Lieuts.
Miles Norton and Isaac Pratt, of Goshen. We have
here, as nowhere else, the roll of names drafted in the
unmistakable handwriting of Epaphras Sheldon. In
this roll are thirty-two names not included in our list
of one hundred and sixty-two Revolutionary soldiers,
because we have no positive knowledge that they
served, although it is almost certain they did so the
previous year, when all our militia were sent to New
York. This draft bears date July 22, 1777, and places

 

339

the sixty-one Goshen men, with forty-two Harwinton
men, under the command of Capt. Nathaniel Copley.

In the midst of all this there was a town-meeting,
called Sept. 25, 1777, to encourage men to enlist in
the regiment of Gen. Oliver Wolcott, of Litchfield,
which was forming from several towns in this vicinity,
It was hoped that Gen. Burgoyne would be over-
whelmed with the numbers that Gen. Gates would

| muster, and thus be compelled to surrender.

Some time previous there had been a draft of six
militiamen from Goshen to join Gen. Gates at the
North, and to serve three months. These six men,
whose names we have, were in the thickest of the
fight of Oct.7, 1777, under Arnold. His attack upon
Burgoyne was most impetuous, and these men were
brought into action about noon. The fight was a
terrible one; each army was by turn victorious, but
when night came the Americans were masters of the
field. The six soldiers from our town, on the day of
the fight, knew nothing of their friends from Goshen
who had volunteered in Gen. Wolcott’s regiment, and
some of whom were there and fighting in the same
battle.

Only eight of these volunteers are now known.
Among them, Capt. Asaph Hall and Lieut. Moses
Lyman arrived on the evening after the battle. Mr.
Cyrian Collins also reached the camp at nightfall,
and, searching for his son Ambrose first among the

‘living, but in vain, found him, as he supposed, among

the dead, and was about to remove him, when the
words “Father, father,” in the well-known voice
of his son, brought such joy to his heart as rarely
comes to mortals in this world. The volunteers who
had been able to join Gen. Wolcott previous to Octo-
ber 7th were also in the thickest of that terrible bat-
tle, which did so much in deciding the destinies of
our country. :

Our Goshen men witnessed the surrender of Bur-
goyne, with his seven thousand men, a few days after,
and were soon permitted to return home, with hearts
greatly cheered and encouraged.

There was another draft on Goshen to send men to
Peekskill in September of this year, the names of
only four of them being remembered. Still later in
the fall a band of volunteers from Goshen went to
Peekskill, under Capt. Timothy Stanley. We have
the names of only ten of their number.

There was not much call for our militia after the
fall of 1777. The quota required of our town for the
Continental army was promptly furnished to the close
of the war.

We have on record the names of thirty, in all, who
served in the Continental army, some of whom served
seven or eight years. There was also a company called
the “ Household company,” composed of officers and
men who were by law exempt from military duty.
It was commanded by Capt. Asaph Hall, and held
itself in readiness for any emergency.

It was in 1778 that the massacre of Wyoming oc-
340

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

curred,—that scene of barbarity almost without a
parallel. That beautiful valley of Pennsylvania then
belonged to Connecticut, and was settled chiefly from
our State. They had sent three hundred of their
men into the Continental army, and while in this de-
fenseless condition they were invaded by a large body
of Indians and Tories. When the little band of de-
fenders were overwhelmed, they were slaughtered and
scalped by the Indians; many of those who surren-
dered were butchered, regardless of the rules of war;
some of the retreating were lured back by promises
of safety, and then murdered; and the torch was ap-
plied to their houses. Those of the women and chil-
dren who escaped made their way through the wilder-
ness to their former homes in Connecticut after un-
told sufferings.

There were two families of Goshen who had gone
to Wyoming in 1774, James Frisbie and Stephen
Tuttle. Mr. Frisbie’s son James was killed; he,
with a younger son, was taken prisoner. They es-
caped the fate of many; were taken to Canada, and
afterwards released. Stephen Tuttle is supposed to
have been killed in the massacre, as nothing was
known of him afterward. But there was one who
fell there of whom we have positive knowledge,
Ichabod Tuttle. His family were living here, and of
him we learn by some surmise that “he was last seen
flying for his life” from the merciless savages. There
is no doubt of his fate. He was nevermore to enter his
home in Goshen,—a home darkened by a sorrow so
deep that the coming of a little son, who was born a
few days after, could hardly bring light into that
household, and well was he named, like his father,
Ichabod,—“ the glory is departed.” Nothing in our
history moves the heart of an American more than
the mention of Wyoming, that beautiful valley we so
loved, for evermore immortalized by the poet Camp-
bell in his “ Gertrude of Wyoming.”

During this year (1778) Goshen promptly furnished
her quota of ten men, whose names are not known.
The system of classing came into use, and a class of
thirteen was sent in 1782, and four more recruits soon
after. The war was really ended by 1782, and the
last British soldier left in November, 1783.

During the later years of the war our town, like
other towns, was much troubled for want of salt.
The town took measures to have ox-teams started for
Boston to bring this much-needed article to Goshen:

“Daniel Miles, Capt. Beach, & Samuel Kellogg were instructed to
transport the Salt now at Boston, provided by this State for this Town,
to this town, in the most prudent manner they can, at the expense of
the town, and distribute the same to each family in this town according
to their number, they paying said Committee the price said salt stands
the town in when delivered here.”

All these toils and sufferings were cheerfully en-
dured that ours might be a free and independent
nation.

Among the many votes characteristic of these times
was one in 1752, in which they declared themselves
“uneasy under the ministerial performances of Rey.

 

Mr. Heaton, and requested him to desist from the
work of the gospel ministry in this place;” and in
1771 and 1773 the selectmen were instructed to grant
to those who wished “the priviledge of building Sab-
bath-day houses and horse-houses.”” During one of
the most trying years of the Revolution, 1777, at a
town-meeting held in September, it was

“Voted, that Fisk Beach be Chorister to tune the Psalm, and be head
chorister, and that Wait Hinman be assistant chorister.”

Also,

“Voted, that those persons, men and women, in the galleries who are
skilled in singing psalms are desired to use the front seats in the gal-
leries, both in the front and side galleries, to carry on the divine service
of singing psalms.” ; :

At a town-meeting held in 1781 it was

“Voted, that Adna Beach sit in the high pew near the pulpit stairs, and
Capt. Edmund Beach sit in the opposite pew.”

In September following this town

“Voted, To dignify the seats in the meeting-house; and that churchmen
and Anabaptiste be seated according to what they agree to pay.”

We do not know much that occurred in our native
town during the ten or fifteen years succeeding our
Revolutionary war, save that our fathers pursued the
even tenor of their way, depending chiefly for income
on the tilling of the soil.

It is worthy of mention that there were twenty-
eight blacksmiths in Goshen during the Revolution.
Not only were guns made and stocked here, but many,
if not all, our farming implements were made in our
town. There were two lawyers here, whether kept
busy by quarrels at home we cannot tell; but we are
sure of one thing,—Goshen people never lacked in
independence of character.

We find illustration of the laws and integrity of
the magistrates of that time in the following cases
from a record of trials:

“The King vs Reuben Sweet. On Feb. 21,1775, Reuben Sweet, of win-
chester, in S¢ county, Personally appeared, and confest: himself Guilty of
Playing Cards, Contrary to the Statute law of this Colony, on the 16th
Day of March last Past, at the Dwelling House of Joseph Hoskins, in
Torrington, in St County, whereupon this court gives Gives Judgement
that S¢ Ruben Sweet pay a fine of 34 Lawful money to the Treasurer of
S¢ Torrington, together with one shilling cost.

“The one shilling is paid,

“ EBent Norton,
“ Justice of Peace."

“The King versus Oliver Griswold. Oliver Griswold, of Goshen, son
of Zacheus Griswold, Jr. (a minor), appeared in court, and Confeat him-
self Guilty of breach of Law; by profanely playing on the Sabbath, in
the time of publick Worship in the meeting-house in S¢ Goshen ; on the
4th Day of April last; in voluntarially smiling on the Cloths of one that
was near him, and Lamfing and wispering; whereupon this Court gives
judgement, for the S4 Oliver Griswold to pay a fine of 3s, Lawful Money
to the Treasurer of the Town of S4 Goshen, for the use of S4 Town, and
1s, for this Judgement.

“This Judgement is satisfied.

“EBENEZER NORTON,
“ Justice of Peace.

“GosHEN, June 14, 1775.”

It seems a matter of surprise that the population
of Goshen should have increased so much during the
Revolutionary war. From 1774 to 1782, only eight
GOSHEN.

years, the increase was from 1098 to 1439, a gain of
841. Hartford had only reached 5318, and New
Haven had lost about 100. Middletown had lost 262,
while Litchfield had gained 509, having a population
of 3018.

We do not know the census of Goshen between
1782 and 1800, an interval of eighteen years; but we
are surprised to find it in 1800 but 1493, a gain of
only 54 in eighteen years. This can only be accounted
for by the fact that emigration to the West had pre-
vented our increase to a great extent.

Some things surprise us if we may assume that our
early records of births, deaths, and marriages are com-
plete. Three deaths (all in one family) are recorded
during 1789, the first year of our existence, and none
the next year; in the following year, 1741, there was
one death; then there was a period of five years in
which death did not visit our little colony, and the
sum of deaths during the first ten years is only seven.

But there are five births recorded our first year;
the next year six, and some years twelve and thirteen,
making, in the same first ten years of our history,
seventy-eight births against seven deaths.

Then the record of marriages is a good showing.
The first couple married in Goshen were Daniel
Harris, Jr., and Abigail Fanning. Rev. Mr. Heaton
married them the first month he was here as a “ pro-
bationer.” One more couple followed their example
that year, the next year four couples, and during our
first ten years there were 22 marriages. The next ten
years recorded 25 deaths, 45 marriages, and 173 births.
This was with an average population of less than 610,
as shown in 1756. Starting at 1759 (during the French
war), the next ten years show, in a population esti-
mated at 850 (as an average number): marriages,
42; deaths, 33; and births, 227. This must be called
our increasing period, when almost 25 per cent. were
added to our population by the excess of births over
our deaths. Perhaps the next ten years, however, will
exhibit almost as rapid increase. This is from 1769
to 1779, when our population, from the census of 1774,
~viz., 1098, and that of 1782 of 1439,—would justify
the estimate of 1100 as the average number of our in-
habitants. This period shows: marriages, 23; deaths,
21; and births, 268, making an increase of 22 per
cent. Now we will venture to suppose that our popu-
lation in 1740 was 240 souls; in 1782 it was 1439.
The gain during the first forty-three years of our his-
tory was 1199. There had been during the forty-three
years 89 deaths and 784 births. The gain by births,
then, was 695, leaving 458 of the gain to be accounted
for by the coming in of outsiders; and, of course, to
this 458 must be added enough to make up for all
who had removed from town. Our population at the
close of the Revolutionary war was considerably
larger than at the present time.

Of the forty-six first owners of Goshen, we find only
sixteen who remained permanently here, and those
sixteen had all passed away before 1800. Two of

 

341

them, Abraham and Andrew Parmele, had lingered
until 1795. Among the many deaths during that
century which were regarded as public calamities
were those of Deacon Moses Lyman, Deacon John
Beach, Deacon Nathaniel Baldwin, Asaph Hall, Esq.,
and Col.. Ebenezer Norton, to which I might add the
names of many other noble fathers of that time.

THE FIRST MERCHANT.

If we glance briefly at the business of our town in
its early history, we find our knowledge less than we
desire. It is known that wheat and rye were raised
much more extensively than at the present time, our
families using flour made from their own grain.

The first merchant in Goshen was John Smith, who
had a store in East Street in 1745. Mr. Smith re-
moved to the Centre in 1750, where he afterwards kept
tavern, and finally failed in business. The next one
of whom we know was Mr. Uri Hill, in West Street.
In his store there we find a man as clerk who after-
wards comes to the view as the most noted merchant
of Goshen. His name was Ephraim Starr. Mr. Hill
died, and Mr. Starr married his widow in November,
1769. Mr. Starr was then twenty-four years old, and
his wife the same age. He was greatly prospered in
business. Daniel Miles was also a merchant in East
Street in 1778.

Mr. Starr built the Starr House, now owned by Mr.
James Wadhams, before 1770, and there can be no
doubt that there has been more money made in the part
of that house then used as a store than in any other
building in Goshen. His trade was extensive before
and during the war, but in 1783 he secured a large
quantity of goods which the Tories sold very cheap
when they were compelled to leave New York. These
he had conveyed to Goshen, and having the entire
trade of Goshen, Cornwall, Norfolk, Torrington, and
perhaps half that of Litchfield, he accumulated a
large fortune, and retired from business in 1798.

Before this time, Elihu Lewis and Birdseye Nor-
ton had a store in East Street, and Lewis & Lyman
were in partnership by the time Mr. Starr retired.
This was Mr. Moses Lyman, whom many of us re-
member, and who in after-years was in company with
his brother, Erastus Lyman. They were long in busi-
ness on the corner near the house of Mr. Moses Ly-
man. The firm of Wadhams & Carrington, then
Wadhams & Thomson, occupied the corner near the
house of Moses Gray, and Birdseye Norton continued
to trade in a store built near his new brick house.
This house was erected in 1804, and was the most ex-
pensive house ever built in Goshen.

During the time Mr. Starr was in business, about
1783, there was a mercantile company formed in town,
consisting of thirty-two men. One object of their
uniting was to make sale of white-ash oars. The
making of these boat-oars had become quite a busi-
ness in our town, and complaint was made that Mr.
Starr would not purchase their oars. But this mer-
342

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

cantile company was not a success, and one after
another they retired from it, leaving a large quantity
of oars unsold. But their agent in New York, Mr.
Holbrook, one of the company, was fortunate enough
to meet an old captain of a French ship, to whom he
made sale of the whole lot, much to the relief of many
people in Goshen.

While we do not follow the history of mercantile
business farther, we should glance at another business
which has long been of great importance, the mak-
ing and selling of Goshen cheese. The trade in
cheese in early times, so far as we can learn, was like
that in grain or other articles,—each man took his
cheese away from Goshen and disposed of it as best
he could, This trade in its present shape had its be-
ginning in an experiment of Mr. Alexander Norton’s,
who took the first Goshen cheese to the South in 1792.
He was successful, and continued in the business ten
or fifteen years. But Birdseye Norton soon engaged
in the trade, and was followed by other merchants,
M. & E. Lyman and Wadhams & Thomson, and no
doubt some others at an early date; but the trade
in cheese never assumed its present proportions until
it was extended largely beyond the limits of our town
by the firm of A. Miles & Son.

We have been accustomed to think that we make
more cheese now than our fathers and grandfathers
did in 1799, but this is very doubtful. There. were
only one hundred and two less of horse and neat cat-
tle in our town in 1799 than in 1875, and in 1806 the
number of cows—viz., 1869—must be as large as are
now kept for cheese-making. It is noticeable that in
1798 there were 646 horses in Goshen, against the
number of 250 in 1875. The time for sheep seems to
have been 1827, when there were in town 5528 sheep.

To Goshen also belongs the notoriety of origina-
ting the manufacture of pine-apple cheese in this
country, in 1808, by Lewis M. Norton, and at a later
date, 1843, the starting of the first cheese-factory in
our country. Itis believed that Goshen cheese had
attained its high reputation as early as 1800, if not
sooner. This business has added much to the wealth
and prosperity of our town. The following tribute
by Mr. Barber, in his “Historical Collections of
1836,” is from one competent and impartial :

“Large quantities of cheese are annually made, the fame of which is
widely and justly celebrated, and the inhabitants are generally in pros-
Perous circumstances, In neatness in and about their dwellings, and in
the appearance of general comfort and Prosperity, they are not ex-
ceeded, if equaled, by any town in the State.”

There was a furnace or forge in Canada village for
some years previous to 1818, the iron ore being
brought from Salisbury. The woolen-factory business
was started in West Goshen in 1813 by the firm Wad-
hams, Thomson, Walter & Cobb. This business was
carried on by different firms for many years, until
more recently changed to a cotton-yarn factory.
From first to last it has not proved as profitable as
could be desired.

 

In 1810 our population had reached 1641, a gain of
148 in ten years, while Litchfield had reached its cli-
max, 4639, outnumbering the city of Hartford, which,
without East Hartford, had only 3955, 104 less than
Litchfield, and New Haven had only 5772. Passing
to the census of 1820, Goshen had fallen off to 1586,
a loss of 55; Litchfield lost 29; Hartford had over-
taken Litchfield and showed 4726; and New Haven
had 7147 inhabitants. Emigration to the West must
account for this our first decrease in number.

WAR OF 1812.

We have passed 1812, the period of our last war
with England. We were not called upon for great
sacrifices at that time, but we to-day make honorable
mention of three men from Goshen who served in
that war. Their names are Harlan Humphrey, John
Wilcox, and Alfred C. Thomson. Mr. Humphrey
still lives. There are two others now residing here
not natives of Goshen who did service in that war,
viz., Thomas Robinson and Abial R. Bragg.

In 1819 there occurred a meeting here of too much
importance to pass by without notice. It was the oc-
casion of the ordination of the first missionaries to
the Sandwich Islands, Messrs. Bingham and Thurs-
ton. It was a movement great in its results upon
those islands, now so thoroughly Christianized.

Fifty years later, on Sept. 28, 1869, a most interest-
ing meeting was also held here in memory of the one
in 1819, at which Mr. Bingham, one of the two mis-
sionaries, was present.

In 1823 our Goshen Academy was erected, and in it
was established a school of a high order, which has
done much towards giving intellectual ability to the
people of Goshen.

GOSHEN ACADEMY.

Previous to 1823 there had been a select school in
Goshen, called some of the time an academy, for in
the Litchfield Monitor, Jan. 6, 1807, a “Mr. Joseph
Edwards” advertised himself as teacher of Goshen
Academy. Our fathers, only four years after they
came here, in 1788, leased their school right for nine
hundred and ninety-nine years, and voted that the
proceeds should be used to support two schools in the
east part of the town, one in the south, and one in the
west part of the town. The next year, 1748, they ap-
pointed “Deacon Baldwin, Amos Thomson, and Dan-
iel Richards a committee to hire a school-master or
masters, or a school-mistress or mistresses, to teach
school.”

It is not certain that any schools were taught here
during the first ten years of our history; but from
1748 to 1800 our schools afforded a fair education in
common English branches, excepting grammar, al-
though geography was little taught; but between
1800 and 1825 the standard of education here had
greatly advanced. It is doubtful whether there has
been much advance in our common schools in Goshen
since 1825.
GOSHEN.

However this may be, it is certain that the Goshen
school-boy of 1755, then at the age of five years,
looked back from his stand-point in 1825, at the age
of seventy-five, and could truly boast that he had
learned something. He remembered back seventy
years, when he first saw a stove, an open one. He
also heard then of lightning-rods, and wished we had
one on our house in Goshen. In 1760 he is surprised
to see people wear collars on their shirts, and hears
that ladies in some places ride on a thing with wheels,
called a chaise. In 1770 he asks his father if we cannot
have one of those wooden clocks, so as to know what
time it is in a dark day (for he knows they cannot
afford one of those expensive brass ones from Eng-
land). On the 4th of July, 1776, he starts for East
Street, to help the boys put up a liberty-pole; but
when he comes home he sees that his mother has
been weeping, and learns in the evening that father
has made up his mind to leave them all and go to the
war. He makes up his mind that if father goes he
shall go too. In 1780, after their return home, with

his bride at church, he sees some one carrying a thing |.

over their head, which he learns is called an “ um-

brillo.” Twelve years later he tells his wife he means
to get the start of anybody in this town, and have a
carpet for their best room; but she thinks they must
be queer things to walk on. In 1795 he tells her he
has made up his mind to lay aside his knee-breeches
and wear what they call “pantaloons.” In 1807 he
hears that a Mr. Fulton ran a boat up North River
by steam. In 1815 he buys one of Terry’s clocks to
regulate his old verge watch by,—a watch that has
uniformly deceived one hour a day in time, and which
he found it necessary to regulate anew every time he
wound it. In 1817, feeble and aged as he finds he is
becoming, he is glad to find a stove in the meeting-
house, so he need not go to the “Sabba-day” house
at noon. This year his son, just returned from pur-
chasing goods in New York, tells him he has sailed
on a steamboat from New York to New Haven. He is
astonished at his son’s recklessness in thus risking his
life. In 1822 his son makes him a present of a steel
pen, which he likes, his hand having become too
tremulous to ‘make a quill-pen. In 1832, at the age
of eighty-two, his son tells him of his first ride on a
railroad, and produces what he insists is the greatest
discovery ever made, viz., a box of matches. The
boy of 1755 is indeed astonished to see that old tinder-
box, steel, and flint laid aside nevermore to be used.

No longer a boy, but an old man, he goes to his
rest, and it is not strange that some of his children,
feeling the life and spring inspired by the world’s
rapid progress, should go forth from the old home
and help to build up and people the towns and cities
of the great West.

But we have reached the time of our greatest popu-
lation, 1880, when we numbered one thousand seven
hundred and ‘thirty-four, a gain of one hundred and
forty-eight in ten years. Litchfield had decreased,

 

343.

Hartford nearly doubled, and New Haven grown one-
half.

It is not strange that the people of our town in
1838 were resolved to notice in a becoming manner
the centennial of the settlement of Goshen. There
was a large and deeply-interested assemblage in this
church on that day, Sept. 28, 1838. An address was
delivered by Rev. Grant Powers, then a minister here,
—an address well worthy of the occasion and the town.
It will doubtless be preserved so long as Goshen
exists. Some few Revolutionary soldiers were then
living and present. There are none of them here to-
day. They have passed from sight in that long pro-
cession which is filing into our cemeteries,—a proces-
sion of which we form a part.

Some are with us to-day not less brave or patriotic
than our sires of old, who gave themselves to their
country in the hour of peril ata later day. Perchance
some of them may linger, with feeble step and tones
tremulous with age and emotion, and tell a touching
story to our children one-half a century from now.

Glancing backward again, it was in 1880, or a little
later, that the speaker first looked upon, with a curi-
ous gaze, what he had often heard of before but never
seen, viz., an Irishman. I do not think before 1835
an Irish girl was ever seen in Goshen. The change
in this respect is striking. The sons and daughters
of. an island well called the “ Emerald Isle,” in its
verdure and beauty, have enabled America to make
her wonderful improvements. They now form an im-
portant portion of our population, and we may well
ask how America could have reached her present po-
sition without the aid of these her adopted citizens.

There were a few families from Ireland settled here
between 1830 and 1840, and we find from the census
of 1870 that, out of our population of 1224, 170 are
natives of Ireland and England; those born in Ger-
many, 32; in France, 21; in Switzerland, 3; making,
in all, 226 born over the wave. The number of their
children (native Americans) I do not know. Itseems
remarkable that during the six years since 1870 more
than 350 persons have removed from Goshen.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

As we approach 1860, that time so full of deep in-
terest to us all, we pause astonished at the magnitude
of the events through which we passed. We all re-
member how our first little band of five resolved to
rally round our flag,—a flag that had been one short
month before desecrated at Fort Sumter. On the
morning of May 24, 1861, as they were about to leave
to join their regiment at Hartford, many friends as-
sembled to give them the parting hand and blessing.
These five pioneers did good service for three years or
more, and were all spared to return.

There were twenty-eight others from Goshen who
enlisted in different regiments before the close of
1861, making thirty-three in all. The next year,
1862, there were forty-nine Goshen men enlisted,
344

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

forty-seven in the company commanded by James Q.
Price, and two others in another company in. the
same regiment, the Nineteenth; in the company of
Capt. Rice were fifty-three men from Torrington,
making one hundred and two. This was the largest
cluster of Goshen men together during the war; and
when they left, on Aug. 21, 1862, and marched to their
camp at Litchfield, we found the war had become a
startling reality to us. Those men, who had left all
the joys of happy homes on these hills of Goshen, car-
ried with them our prayers and blessings. We fol-
lowed them with anxious hearts during their eventful
eareer. They were called through terrible scenes of
blood, and when they who lived through were dis-
charged in 1865, their’s was a sad, although a heroic,
record, for many a dear familiar face was nevermore
to be seen on earth.

During their service 9 recruits joined them from
Goshen, making 58 of our men in that company.
Of these 58 men, 8 were killed and 11 more died of
sickness, making 19 out of 58, almost one-third,—a
record that tells its own tale.

In 1863 there were 17 men enlisted: the 9 above,
who were recruits in Capt. Rice’s company, and
8 men who joined other companies. The whole
number of enlisted men, counting two who enlisted in
a New York regiment, and one who enlisted in a Ver-
mont regiment, amounts to 101. Of this number
there were killed, 12 ; died of sickness, 16; 1 killed in
an explosion on the railway, making 29 in all, or
almost 29 per cent., truly a sad record. Besides
these 101 men, there were 46 substitutes furnished by
Goshen men during the war. Of their fate we have
no means of knowing.* :

Goshen furnished 147 men in the war, her quota
being 122, which makes 25 men above her quota.
Large. as was this number, we cannot forbear on this
occasion looking back to the Revolution, to inquire
in which struggle did we play the most important
part. There were, all told, 281,771 men in our Revo-
lutionary army ; but in the Rebellion our army num-
bered 2,688,528, eleven times as many. Connecticut
furnished in the Revolution 31,939, which was one-
seventh of the whole army, and Goshen furnished 1
man out of every 1485 in the whole army. In the
Rebellion Connecticut furnished 55,775 men, or about
one-forty-eighth of the whole army, and Goshen fur-
nished one man in every 14,278. Our country was so
much less populous in the time of the Revolution
that our little town of 1098 inhabitants had to bear
twelve times as large a share in filling up the army
as fell to her during the war of the Rebellion. But
let it be remembered that our present population is
not 200 greater than during the Revolution; and
while in the Revolution we sent 1 man for every 6 in-

 

* Among the many natives of Goshen residing elsewhere who did
good service in our late war, we may mention Albert Wadhams, Esq.,
who served in a Hartford regiment, and who has, unlike any others re-
membered, returned to live in his native town.

 

habitants, we in the Rebellion sent 1 man for every
83 inhabitants. The term of service, too, in our late
war was much longer.

But the most significant fact is the much greater loss
of life in our late war. Of162 men in the Revolution,
but 2 are known to have been killed, and 15 died of
sickness, which is about 10 per cent.

The sad record of our rebellion is almost three times
as great, viz., twenty-nine per cent. Alike those pa-
triots of the past and those of our own time claim
our deepest interest.

INCIDENTS.

Among the incidents of the past, the burning of the
“Blue House,” as it was called, which occurred in
1767, was the most startling. It was struck by light-
ning, two young men in it were killed, the house
caught fire from:the lightning in three places, and
burnt in spite of the pouring rain, almost burning
those who were struck down as well as the dead.

The hail-storm of July 15,1799, was the most severe
ever known in Goshen. The hail-stones were the size
of hens’ eggs, destroying all crops, and covering the
ground in the forests with small limbs cut off by the
stones. The large crops of grass standing were cut to
pieces, and wholly disappeared. One young man was
almost killed; covered with blood and bruises, he at
last found a shelter.

The census of 1840 cannot be found in Washington,
but in 1850 the population was 1457, a loss of 277 in
twenty years; in 1860 it was 1381, a loss in ten years
of 76; and in 1870 it was 1224, a loss in ten years of
157.

It seems a matter of surprise that, while our early
fathers kept a record of births, deaths, and marriages,
their sons should have kept none, and that from about
1789 up. to 1855, a. period. of sixty-six. years of our
greatest population, there remains no record, except
for five years a partial record, from 1847 to 1852. It
is a disappointment deeply felt now, but what will it
be to those who will vainly search for that record in
the centuries to come? This long period, therefore,
remains a blank, only relieved by a private record of
deaths kept by Mr. Luther Beecher from 1808 to 1824,
a period of twenty years. Nor can we thank him as
we would to-day for his service; and it would be
most unjust should I omit to mention that honored
father, Lewis M. Norton, who passed away in 1860,
for to him we owe very much of our knowledge of our
past history.

Our records are perfect since 1855. Looking over
these twenty-one years, to 1876, there have been dur-
ing that time 200 marriages, 612 births, and 384
deaths. The largest number of marriages was in
1856, when 23 couples were married. The largest
number of births was two years after, in 1858, when
there were 88 births; and two years later still gives
the largest number of deaths, viz., 30.

The largest family in Goihen! is thought to be that of
GOSHEN.

one of our first settlers, Mr. Simeon Humphrey, who
had nineteen children. The family of Miles Norton
numbered eighteen children. If we may venture to
estimate our average population at 1295, it would be
safe to say that during the one hundred and thirty-
eight years since Goshen was settled there have not
been less than 1242 marriages and 3726 births, while
to our graveyards have been borne 2311 of the dead.

From the record, in the early part of this century
it appears‘that Goshen people lived on an average
thirty-eight years, but for the last twenty-one years
the record seems to make the period of life in Goshen
thirty-three years.

POST-ROUTES, RIDES, AND OFFICES.

We borrowed from our mother-country all our early
improvements, and one of the greatest of them, the
post-office, did not exist in England until the time of
Cromwell, in 1656. Charles I. had, it is true, in 1635,
established a “running-post” from London to Edin-
burgh, to go that four hundred miles and back in six
days. Not until 1784, when as a town we were thirty-
six years old, was there a general post-office in England.
And at this time William Penn had established regu-
lar posts from Philadelphia through to Maryland,
posting notices of time of starting upon the doors of
churches. But twelve years before, in 1672, a mes-
senger was started to carry letters between Boston
and New York via Hartford; and he was required to
make the round trip in one month. Doubtless it was
through a wilderness much of the way, with no bridges
across the rivers. New York was made a general
letter office in 1711.

In 1754, Dr. Franklin was appointed in charge of
the post-office in America. During the twenty-five
years previous to this time, it had required six weeks
to go and return between Philadelphia and Boston.
Dr. Franklin reduced this time to three weeks. But
at this time, 1768, it took seventeen days for the mail-
coach to go from London to Edinburgh, and so late
as 1812 it took the mail-coaches six days to run from
Paris to Geneva, three hundred and ninety miles. In
1766, ten years before the Revolution, what were
called “flying-machines” (swift wagons) were put
upon the route between New York and Philadelphia,
which ran the eighty-eight miles in the time, then
astonishingly short, of two days. Just before the
Revolution, in 1775, a postmaster-general was ap-
pointed, but we do not know how many offices had
then been established. Fourteen years after 1789,
when we were first fairly organized as a nation, there
were but seventy-five post-offices in all our country.
There were a few in Connecticut, but more in Litch-
field County.

In the Courant of 1764 we find letters advertised
for persons, more (women had scarcely any letters in
those days) for men, in Salisbury, New Hartford, and
other towns in this county. Two years later, 1766,
aswe learn in Mr. Kilbourn’s “ History.of Litchfield,”

 

345

“Mr. William Stanton was a post-rider between Hart-
ford and Litchfield. It is supposed he did not go as
often as once a week, nor do we know that he brought
any letters for the Goshen fathers as far as Litchfield.
Weare left wholly in the dark as to how they obtained
their mail from our post-office in Hartford. The first
notice of any post-rider going through Goshen is in
1789, when Jehiel Saxton, a post-rider between New
Haven and Lennox, passed through, as we hear, at
‘stated intervals.’ But those intervals are not stated
to us. But the next year, as Kilbourn tells us, “one
of these primitive letter-carriers commenced his long
and lonely ride over the almost interminable succes-
sion of hills between Litchfield court-house and New
York, leaving each place once a fortnight. That was
a proud day for Litchfield.” But a prouder day was
at hand, for a post-office was established in Litchfield
March 20, 1798, and Benjamin Tallmadge appointed
postmaster. Thus, after fifty-five years’ existence as
a town, our letters and papers were in 1793 deposited
in Litchfield. The next year, 1794, we find, for the
first time in our history, the way opened for Goshen
people to receive once a week their mail. In the
“ Litchfield Monitor,’ March 28, 1794, Mr. Ebenezer
Burr, of Norfolk, advertises himself as a “ post-rider
from Litchfield, through Goshen, Norfolk, and Canaan,
to Salisbury, and solicits patronage as such; but re-
quests all who need his services as county surveyor
to call upon Mondays and Tuesdays, as he shall be
away the rest of.the week.” No doubt by the above,
or similar accommodation, our town was favored until
August, 1805, when the Goshen post-office was estab-
lished, and Erastus Lyman appointed the first post-
master.

The office was established in Norfolk in 1804, but
not in Torrington until April 1, 1818. The post-
office was established in East Goshen Nov. 17, 1819,
David L. Parmele postmaster, with a salary of seven
dollars, afterwards reduced to five dollars. This post-
office was discontinued Oct. 18, 1838.

The North Goshen post-office was established June
11, 1832, Putnam Bailey postmaster; and it was discon-
tinued June 12, 1838.

The West Goshen post-office was established July
10, 1849, Frederick Miles postmaster.

The séventy-five post-offices in our country in 1789
had increased in 1794 to four hundred and fifty, and
when Goshen first had an office, in 1805, the number
had risen to fifteen hundred and fifty-eight.

We may assume that Mr. Burr, the Norfolk post-
rider, began in 1794, and brought the mail weekly to
those who employed him. But we next find that we
had one of that primitive class of letter-carriers liv-
ing here in the Centre, Ephraim Leach, or “ Pony
Leach,” as he was called. He went weekly from Litch-
field to Canaan from before 1800 (as we suppose) to
1809, or later; when another post-rider, Benjamin
Beach, brought the papers, and probably letters also,
feom Norfolk through North Goshen and Cornwall
346

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Hollow. But we have now reached the era of turn-
pikes, although we find no evidence of any stage run-
ning on these turnpikes until the winter of 1812-13;
then, for the first time, a stage appears in Goshen,
running weekly from New Haven to Albany. But
we do not know that the mail was carried on this
stage until 1816, when it was carried once a week.
In 1817, and for two years after, it ran with mail twice
a week, and in 1820 three times a week. In 1821 com-
menced our daily stage and mail. This was in con-
nection with a daily steamboat from New York to
New Haven. And now Goshen found herself upon a
great route of travel, with a four-horse stage running
through daily, and sometimes extra stages put upon
the route, loaded with passengers from New York
City en route to Albany to attend the winter sessions
of the Legislature there. A branch route was es-
tablished through East Goshen to Norfolk, connect-
ing also with Albany there, with sometimes a four-
horse stage upon it, and both lines using four-
horse or two-horse stages as occasion required.
These stages continued up to about 1840. During
these years, much of the time, a stage ran weekly
through to Hartford from Sharon. But all these
stages were discontinued when the Housatonic Rail-
road was completed to New Milford in 1839, and
to West Cornwall in 1842, giving us almost always
since a daily mail.

Pine-apple Cheese—Lewis M. Norton, of Goshen,
Conn., was the maker of the first pine-apple cheese
made in this country. He commenced making them
in 1809, having seen a portion of an imported one,
and obtained a patent for the process the following
year.

Continuing to make from his dairy alone until
1845, he then erected a cheese-factory, the first, it is
believed, in America. This factory still stands, and
here have been made usually from ten thousand to
fifteen thousand cheeses in number annually, weigh-
ing from five to six pounds each. While ‘com-
paratively few pine-apple cheeses are in this county,
the number of cheese-factories erected in this country
since 1845 for making common cheese is large, and
the quantity of cheese manufactured in them is enor-
mous.

CHAPTER XXXIV.
GOSHEN (Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL, CIVIL, AND MILITARY.

The Congregational Church—The Episcopal Church—The Methodist
Episcopal Church—Methodist Episcopal Church, North Goshen—The
First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Extracts from Records—Rep-
resentatives from 1700 to 1880—Military History—The Heroes of
Three Wars—The French War—War of the Revolution—War of the
Rebellion—Names of Soldiers—Interesting Statistics,

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

TuIs church was organized in November, 1740, and
at the same time Rev. Stephen Heaton was ordained

 

pastor. The following is a list of pastors from the
organization of the church to the present time:
Stephen Heaton, 1740-53; Abel Newel, 1755-81;
Josiah Sherman, 1783-89; Asahel Hooker, 1791-
1810; Joseph Harvey, 1810-25; Francis H. Case,
1826-28 ; Grant Powers, 1829-41; Lavalette Perrin,
1843-57; Joel F. Bingham, 1859-60; William T,
Doubleday, 1864-71; Timothy A. Hazen, 1873, pres-
ent pastor.

The present deacons are Marcus D. F. Smith, Ed-
ward Norton, and Francis M. Wadhams.

The first church edifice was erected in 1744, and
was used until 1770. The second was erected in 1720,
and occupied until 1832, when it was succeeded by
the present building. Before the erection of the first
church building worship was held in a house which
stood by the “old ash-tree.” So says Rev. Grant
Powers in his address. The church edifice was re-
paired in 1874.

WEST GOSHEN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in the winter of 1797-98
with the following members: Asaph Wright and
wife, Helmot Kellogg and wife, Melzar Howe and
wife, Sarah Ives (known as Aunt Sal), Pamelia Nor-
ton, Clarinda Howe, Ida Landon, and Anna Carr.
These joined when the society was first organized or
soon after. The first officers were Asaph Wright,
Thomas Munson, and Alfred Walter.

The following is the list of pastors: 1797, Ezekiel
Canfield, William Thatcher ; 1798, Ebenezer Ste-
phens, Truman Bishop; 1799, Augustus Jocelyn;
1800, Aaron Hunt, Elijah Batchelor; 1801, Peter
Morraity, John Sweet; 1802, James Campbell, Lu-
men Andrus; 18038, C. Morris, John Sweet; 1804,
Zalmon Lyon, Eber Smith; 1805, Zalmon Lyon;
1806, Nathan Emory, Samuel Cochran; 1807, Aaron
Hunt, Jonathan Lyon; 1808, Henry Eames, Andrew
Prindle; 1809-10, Laban Clark, Reuben Harris;
1811, James Coleman, Arnold Scofield; 1812, James
Coleman, Benjamin Griffin; 1818, William Swayne,
Gad Smith, J. Reynolds; 1814, Thomas Thorp; 18165,
Samuel Cochran, Billy Hibbard; 1816, Samuel Coch-
ran; 1817, E. P. Jacob, J. J. Matthias; 1818, Datus
Ensign, E. Canfield, T. Benedict; 1819, Datus En-
sign, Ezekiel Canfield; 1820, Nathan Emory, Smith
Dayton; 1821, E. Washburn, Smith Dayton, John
Nixon; 1822, J. M. Smith, David Miller, Julius
Field; 1823, Daniel Brayton, Elbert Osborn; 1824,
Arnold Scofield, Elbert Osborn; 1825-26, Eli Bar-
nett, John Lovejoy ; 1827, E. Washburn, F. Sizer,
A. Bushnell; 1828, E. Washburn, Smith Dayton, J.
Nixon; 1829, B. Sillick, W. Wolcott; 1830, B. Sil-:
lick, L. C. Cheney, D. Stocking; 1831, Luther Mead,
Luman ‘A. Sanford; 1832-88, Aaron 8. Hill, Orlando
Starr; 1834, Charles F. Pilton. This year Goshen
became a station; 1835-36, A. G. Wickware; 1837
-38, John Luckey; 1889-40, David Osborn ; 1841-42,
Thomas Ellis; 1848-44, Joseph D. Marshall; 1846
GOSHEN.

46, David L. Marks ; 1847, Isaac Sanford; 1848-49,
Rufus K. Reynolds; 1850-51, David Miller; 1852,
Charles R. Adams; 1853-54, Daniel W. Lounsbury ;
1855, Henry Burton; 1856, William Silverthorne;
1857-58, Alexander McAlister; 1859-60, William
Ross; 1861, George W. Allen; 1862-64, James D.
Bouton; 1865-67, Samuel F. Johnson; 1868-69, Wil-
liam H. Stebbins; 1870-72, William Brown; 1873-75,
David S. Stevens; 1876-78, Cornell 8. Dikeman;
1879-80, Francis M. Hallock.

The first church edifice was built in 1809-10 by
Benjamin Roberts, assisted by Brace Stoddard. This
building is now (1881) occupied by George Herrold.
The “L” part is an addition situated near the Goshen
Centre Cemetery. The present edifice was erected in
1835-86, nearly on the old site.

The present officers are H. G. Wright, E. 8. Rich-
ards, A. B. Dickinson, J. B. Thompson, H. O. Beach,
Smith Beach, Morris Luthill, and Daniel 8. Beach.

The first Methodist sermon was preached in the
brick house now occupied by H. G. Wright by Eze-
kiel Canfield. After a society had been organized it
met in a school-house which stood west of the village
of West Goshen, and subsequently on the second floor
of the house now occupied by Hobart Griswold, east
of the village.

The first organized Sunday-school was established
in the spring of 1827, with David Wooster as superin-
tendent.

The Episcopal church was built in 1767, and stood
near the East Street burial-ground. It was abandoned
in 1788. The first Methodist quarterly meeting was
held in the barn of Capt. Jabez Wright, in West
Goshen. The North Goshen Methodist church was
built about 1842.

The Catholic chapel was built in 1856.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting in Goshen was held Dec.
6, 1739, when the following officers were chosen:
Moderator, John Beach; Selectmen, John Beach,
Samuel Pettibone, Nathaniel Baldwin, Samuel Tur-
ner, and Benajah Williams; Constables, Samuel Hin-
man and Gideon Hurlbut; Grand Jurors, Samuel
Towner, Abel Phelps, and Isaac Hill; Listers, Chris-
topher Graham, Timothy Tuttle, and Abraham Par-
meley; Surveyors of Highways, B. Phelps, Isaac
Hill, and Nathan Baldwin; Town Clerk, Samuel Pet-
tibone; Horse Branders, Gideon Hurlbut, Benajah
Williams, and Joseph Heacock ; Fence Viewers, Dan-
iel Richards, Benjamin Bishop, and Benjamin Phelps.

At this meeting it was

“Voted, That the selectmen shall ascertain the places of holding the
meetings for publick worship of God.”

EARLY MARRIAGES, BIRTHS, AND DEATHS.

“Mabel Phelps, the daughter of Benjamin Phelps, was born April the
24, 1739, and died the 22d day of Sep., 1739.

“ Bildad, the son of Benjamin Phelps, died the 28 day of August, 1739.

“, C. Hill and Martha Dible were married Jan. 3, 1716.

“¥. C. Hill, son of E. C. Hill, was born Oct. 24, 1717.

“Gideon Hurlbut and Mary Deming, the daughter of Thos. Deming,

 

347

were married together in the evening after the 30th day of December,
1725.

“ Before Daniel Goodrich, Justice peace.

“Marriage of Timothy Tuttle and Hannah Waddams, which was Jan.
27, A.D. 1742 or 43,

“ By ye Revd Mr, Heaton.

“Marriage of Sam! Norton and Mary Lucas, which was November y¢
27, 1740.”
LIST OF GOSHEN FIRST PROPRIETORS AND NUMBER OF LOT

DRAWN. —

  
 
  
  
  
 
 
   
  
  
 
 
 
 

‘ Capt. Stephen Lee.
Samuel Baker.

 
 
  
 
  
 
 
   
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 

Stephen Lee.......
Amos Thomson.
Ye School...

Yeo Ministry. Benjamin Frisbie..

Samuel Robert Gideon Leet... - 34
John Moses..... John Beach.... . 35
Abraham Parmelee Timothy Bigelow..... + 36
Stephen Goodwin... Lemuel Roberts. . 37
Capt. William Ward. Samuel Lewis. . 38

Timothy Tuttle..

David Hall..... Ye Minister. - 40
Daniel Harris.. Jonah Case.. . 41
Joseph Cook... Nathaniel Baldwin ~ 42
Thomas Towzer. David Buttolf.... » 43

Timothy Baldwin..
Elijah How.......
Samuel Hinman
20 Capt. Joseph Bird.

Andrew Parmelee.
Daniel Harris....
Timothy Baldwin...

No.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
weed L
» 12 Jeremiah How
18
14
15
16
17
18
19

 

 

John Thomson........ 21 Isaac Hill...... - 48
Nathaniel Baldwin Samuel Gaylo . 49
Samuel Hopson.. Thomas Marvin - 50
Capt. John Buel.... Macock Ward. « 51
Samuel Humphrey.. Eb Hill...... 52
Thomas Adams.. Daniel Richards..........:sccee 53

Benjamin Phelps..

GOSHEN SOLDIERS IN THE FRENCH WAR, 1754-62.

Lieut. Timothy Gaylord, Lieut. Daniel Lee, Manna Humphrey, killed;
Moses Wilcox, Thomas Wilcox, Elisha North, —- Humphrey, died;
John Wright, Ashbel Humphrey, Nathanie] Stanley, Jr., Stephen
Tuttle, Charles Richards, Josiah Roys, John Doud, Benjamin Reeves,
Jacob Beach, Munson Winchel, John Musson, John Wilcox, Joel
Dibble (prisoner).

GOSHEN IN THE REVOLUTION.*

The following is a list of soldiers who entered the
army from this town during the war of the Revolu-
tion:

George Dear, Ichabod Tuttle, killed; John Musson, Samuel Richmond,
Leverit Kellogg, Seth Hayden, Ambrose Beach, Abraham Beach,
Martin Beach, Josiah Bartholomew, Jacob Dowd, Jeremiah Hurl-
but, Martin Nash, Oliver Griswold, Thomas Lucas, Jabez Norton,
David Wright; Captains Asaph Hall, Asa Francis, Stephen Good-
win, Medad Hills, Timothy Stanley; Lieutenants Moses Lyman,
John Riley, Thomas Converse, James Thomson, Mathew Smith,
Isaac Pratt, Miles Norton, Theodore Parmelee, Augustus Hills, Dr.
Elisha Sill, died.

Theodore Andrews, Edmund Beach, Amos Beach, Medad Beach, Israel
Beach, John Beach, Julius Beach, Obed Beach, William Beach, Fisk
Beach, Samuel Baldwin, Brewin Baldwin, Isaac Baldwin, Asa
Brooks, Joseph Brooks, James Brown, Timothy Buel, Jonathan
Buel, Joseph Butler, Abel Butler, Isaac Butterick, Caleb Carr, John
Carr, Nathan Carter, Thomas Castle, Moses Cook, Cyprian Collins,
Philo Collins, Ambrose Collins, Ichabod Chapin, James Davis, Joel
Davis, Jonathan Dear, George Dear, Jr., Jonathan Deming, John
Doud, David Francis, Joel Gaylord, Joseph Gaylord, Titus Gaylord,
Stephen Goodwin, Jr., Alexander Griswold, Adino Hale, Justus
Hale, David Hart, Samuel Hayden, Seth Hills, John Hobbs, David
Holmes, John Hoy, Lewis Hinman, Uri Hill, Jazaniah Howe,
Simeon Humphrey, David Humphrey, Charles Humphrey, David
Hurlburt, David Ives, Jesse Judd, Jonathan Kettle, Bradford Kel-
logg, Samuel Kellogg, Timothy Knapp, Ephraim Leech, Klihu
Lewis, Nehemiah Lewis, Ebenezer Lewis, Seth Lockwood, Mathew
Lockwood, Elisha Mayo, Jeptha Merrils, Noah Merrils, Isaac Miles,
Caleb Miles, Stephen Mix, Robert Morris, Solomon Morse, Lent
Mott, Thomas E. Munson, —— Murray, Nathaniel Newell, Seth
North, Stephen North, Alexander Norton, Aaron Norton, Eber Nor-
ton, John Norton, Joseph Norton, Medad Norton, Nathan Norton,

 

* Contributed by Edward Norton.
348

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Nathaniel Norton, Oliver Norton, Ebenezer Norton, N. Stanley Par-
melee, Elisha Peck, Stephen Peck, Daniel Pickett, Thadeus Porter,
Robert Rood, Jesse Roys, Josiah Roys, Silas Richmond, John Seely,
Ebenezer Shepard, Richard Sill, Abraham Smith, Asher Smith, ——
Scott, Charles Squire, Justus Squire, Jesse Stanley, Timothy Stanley,
William Starr, John Thomson, Elijah Towner, Timothy Tuttle,
Jonathan Wadhams, Abraham Wadhams, John Walter, Jonathan
Wheadon, Job Wilcox, Jacob Williams, Jacob Williams, Jr., John
Willoughby, Thomas Wire, Charles Wright, Freedom Wright, and
Jabez Wright.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1756-1882.

1756.—Gideon Thompson, Samuel Nash.

1757.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Capt. John Beach, Samuel Nash, Gideon
Hurlburt.

1758.—Samuel Nash, John Beach, Stephen Heaton, Gideon Thompson.

1759.—Gideon Thompson, Capt. Samuel Pettibone, Capt. Nathaniel
Baldwin.

1760.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Ebenezer Norton, Samuel Nash, Samuel
Pettibone.

1761.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Capt. Samuel Pettibone, Capt. John Beach,
Capt. Samuel Nash.

1762.—Capt. Samuel Pettibone, Capt, Moses Lyman, Capt. Samuel Nash,
Capt. Ebenezer Norton.

1763-64.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Capt. Samnel Nash.

1765-66.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Ebenezer Norton, Capt. Samuel Nash.

1767.—Capt. Moses Lyman, Capt. Edmund Beach, Capt. Samuel Nash,
Nehemiah Lewis. 2

1768,—Capt. Samuel! Nash, Capt. Ebenezer Norton, Stephen Heaton.

1769.—Capt. Ebenezer Norton, Edmund Beach, Capt. Samuel Nash,
Abraham Parmeley.

1770.—Capt. Samuel Nash, Capt. Edmund Beach, Capt. Ebenezer Norton,
Capt. Jonathan Buel.

1771,—Capt. Samuel Nash, Capt. Elisha Sill, Capt. Ebenezer Norton, Ste-
phen Goodwin.

1772,—Capt. Jonathan Buell, Capt. Samuel Nash, Capt. Ebenezer Norton,
Capt. Edmund Beach.

1773.—Ebenezer Norton, Stephen Goodwin, Asaph Hall.

1774,—Capt. Samuel Nash, Asaph Hall, Col. Ebenezer Norton, Capt. Ed-
mund Beach.

1775.—Col. Ebenezer Norton, Capt. Samuel] Nash, David Thomson.

1776.—Col. Ebenezer Norton, Asaph Hall, David Thomson.

1777.—Ool. Timothy Stanley, Capt. Asa Francis, Col. Ebenezer Norton,
Capt. Asaph Hall.

1778.—Col. Ebenezer Norton, Capt. Samuel Nash, Daniel Miles.

1779.—Capt. Asaph Hall, Capt. Asa Francis, Giles Griswold,

1780.—Capt. Asaph Hall, Capt. Asa Francis, Capt. Stephen Goodwin.

1781.—Abel Newell, Asaph Hall.

1782.—Abel Newell, Capt. Elisha Sill, Capt. Asaph Hall, Daniel Miles.

1783-84.—Capt. Elisha Sill, Daniel Miles.

1785.—Capt. Elisha Sill, Daniel Miles, Capt. Asaph Hall.

1786.—Adino Hale, Capt. Asaph Hall.

1787.—Samuel Hopkins, Ebenezer Norton, Daniel Miles.

1788.—Daniel Miles, Adino Hale.

1789,—Daniel Miles, Adino Hale, Capt. Asaph Hall. 4

1790-91.—Ebenezer Norton, Adino Hale.

1792.—Capt. Asaph Hall, Adino Hale.

1793-96.—Samuel Hopkins, Adino Hale.

1797.—Birdsey Norton, Adino Hale.

1798-99.—Samuel Hopkins, Adino Hale, Birdsey Norton.

1800.—Adino Hale, Samuel Hopkins, Birdsey Norton, Timothy Hale.

1801-2.—Birdsey Norton, Timothy Hale.

1803-9.—Birdsey Norton, Adino Hale.

1810-11.—Birdsey Norton, Moses Lyman, Jr., Adino Hale.

1812.—Adino Hale, Moses Lyman, Jr.

1813-15.—Adino Hale, Theodore North.

1816.—Timothy Hale, Adino Hale, Theodore North.

1817.—Timothy Hale, Theodore North, Julius Beach.

1818.—William Stanley, Julius Beach, Samuel Lyman.

1819.—William Stanley, Samuel Lyman.

1820-21.—Noah Humphrey, Moses Cook.

1822-23.—Erastus Lyman, Henry Hart.

1824.—Timothy Collins, Augustus Miles.

1825.—Truman Starr, Isaac Wadhams.

1826.— Giles Griswold, Isaac Wadhams.

1827-28.—Giles Griswold, Erastus Lyman.

1829.—Augustus Miles, David Wooster.

 

1830.—Robert Palmer, David Wooster,
1831.—Robert Palmer, George Cook.
1832,—Jonathan North, George Cook.
1833.—Jonathan North, Eber Bailey.
1834.—Timothy Collins, Eber Bailey.
1835.—Cicero Collins, George Cook.
1836.—Collins Baldwin, William Mills.
1837.— Alpha Hart, William Miles,
1838,—Alpha Hart, Augustus Miles.

1839,— Putnam Bailey, Augustus Miles.
1840.—Putnam Bailey, William Gaylord.
1841.—Willard Gaylord, Miles Hart.
1842.—Thomas Bartholomew, Miles Hart.
1843.—Thomas Bartholomew, 0. M. Humphrey.
1844.—John M. Wadhams, 0. M. Humphrey.
1845.—John M. Wadhams, Philo Bailey.
1846.—Austin Allyn, Philo Bailey.
1847.—Austin Allyn, Simeon Loomis.
1848.—Simeon Loomis, J. J. Gaylord.
1849.—George A. Hill, J. J. Gaylord.
1850.—George A. Hill, Moses Cook.
1851.—W. H. Brooks, 8. H. Merwin,
1852,—Henry Norton, D. H. Smith.
1853.—Lucius D. Allyn, A. W. Lawton.
1854,—Sterliug Wooster, Abner Gilbert.
1855.—Chris. P. Wheeler, Erastus Merwin.
1856.—Milo Bartholomew, Abram Beach.
1857.—Samuel Palmer, J. P. Porter.
1858.—William Davis, William L. Griswold.
1859.—Austin Allyn, Jr., Jos. P. Bailey.
1860.—Moses Cook, Jonathan B. Thompson.
1861.—Watts H. Brooks, G. W. Humphrey.
1862.—Willard Gaylord, Moses Cook.
1863.—Juseph Wooster, Moses Lyman.
1864.—Darius Thompson, Frederick Lyman.
1865.—Obed M. Humphrey, Sterling Wooster.
1866.—CharJes L. Porter, Joseph Palmer.
1867.—Moses W. Gray, Austin Allyn.
1868.—Lyman Hall, Moses Cook.
1869,—Fred. A. Lucas, Enos B. Pratt.
1870.—Edward Norton, F. E. Hurlburt,
1871.—Edward Norton, M. D. F. Smith.
1872.—John H. Wadhams, T. W. Austin.
1873.—Truman P. Clark, Abner Gilbert.
1874.—Lyman P. Hall, John H. Wadhams.
1875.—Fessenden Ives, William Davis, Jr.
1876,—Frederick E. Hurlburt, Orion J. Hallock.
1877.— Watts H. Brooks, Moses W. Gray,
1878.—Henry G, Wright, Frank W. Griswold,
1879.—William L. Griswold, Lyman Hall.
1880.—Austin Allyn, John M. Wadhams.
1881.—Moses A. Wadhams, Benjamin F. Lamphier.

GOSHEN IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.
MILITARY RECORD.

There being no recruiting officer located in Goshen
there were no enlistments from May till September,
when Henry Fritz, Charles A. Barnum, Robert T.
Becker, Daniel Kimberly, Uriah Nickerson, Gerrit
Rinders, and Joseph N. Wooster joined the Seventh
Regiment in October. Edward N. Fanning joined
the Eighth Regiment, and John Fanning joined the
Ninth or Irish Regiment. Peter McCabe, William N.
Ford, and Henry C. Ford enlisted in the Eleventh
Regiment about the same time, that is, in October.
In the latter part of November, George W. Sperry,
Henry E. Merrvin, George W. Butler, George C.
Downs, James Hicks, and Benjamin H. Prindle, and
in December, Michael Morris, Frank E, Wadhams,
and Joseph Brady joined the Thirteenth Regiment,
under Capt. Charles Blinn, of Company ©. In Jan-
GOSHEN.

uary, 1862, Henry Mayo, Edward 8. Richmond, James
Robinson, and Frederick L. Wadhams joined Com-
pany I, under Lieut. Frank Wells, of Litchfield, also
in the Thirteenth Regiment. Up to this time no
‘bounties had been promised or paid, except seven dol-
lars and a half to each of those who had enlisted in
the Fourth Regiment to buy each of them a pair of
boots.

In the fall of 1861 there was apprehension that the
soldiers in the field would suffer for the want of suffi-
cient clothing and bedding, and a pressing call was
made by the Sanitary Commission for aid. In re-
sponse to this call the ladies of the ‘Soldiers’ Aid
Society” collected and sent to the commission in New
York two boxes and one barrel, containing the follow-
ing articles, viz., forty-four woolen blankets; sixty-
one pair knit woolen socks, thirty-six bed-quilts,
fourteen pillow-ticks, eight dressing-gowns, nine
sheets, fifty-five pillow-cases, two pillows, sixty-four
towels, seven knit wrappers, twenty-eight pair draw-
ers, two flannel bed-gowns, twelve hospital shirts, two
bars Castile soap, ten yards red flannel, fifteen rolls
linen bandages, one box pins, needles, and thread, lot
of lint, inventoried at four hundred and four dollars
and ninety-nine cents.

At the session of the Legislature in June, 1862, a
law was passed giving a bounty by the State of fifty
dollars to each volunteer, and also authorizing the
towns to pay bounties, and lay taxes to pay them or
issue bonds for the purpose. The county was in great
excitement and alarm about this time. McClellan
had marshaled a heavy force and advanced towards
Richmond, but was compelled to make a masterly
strategic retreat.“ Under these circumstances a re-
newed effort was made to raise recruits. Governor
Buckingham went through the State and addressed
public meetings, urging the people to volunteer, as-
suring them that if the towns should furnish more
than their quotas that the excess should be applied
on subsequent calls. Under these circumstances, Mr.
James Q. Rice, who had been the principal of the
Goshen Academy for eleven years, procured enlisting
orders, and engaged vigorously in procuring volun-
teers.

At a town-meeting held on the 31st of July, 1862,
it was

“Voted, That the selectmen are hereby authorized and directed to draw
an order on the treasurer of the town for the sum of one hundred dol-
lars in favor of each and every non-commissioned. officer, musician, and
private who resided in this town, and ‘has enlisted or who may enlist be-
tween the 10th day of July and the 20th day of August, 1862, in any
regiment of volunteers being raised in this State under the recent call
of the President of the United States. Provided, That each non-com-
missioned officer, musician, and private, before he shall become entitled
to the above bounty, shall procure a certificate from the officer command-
ing the regiment into which he has enlisted that he has been accepted
and sworn into the service of the United States,” A ‘tax was laid, and the
sum of four thousand six hundred dollars was collected within sixty
days and paid to the soldiers.

Mr. Rice was very successful in obtaining recruits,

80 that by the 15th of August he had enlisted forty-five
23

 

349

volunteers, a large proportion of them being his former
pupils. The above number not being sufficient for a
company, they united with the Torrington recruits,
which, when united, made a company of one hundred
and two. On the morning of August 21st, Mr. Rice,
with the men he had enlisted, assembled near the
Centre meeting-house, and, after a few short addresses,
proceeded to the head of North Street (accompanied
by many of their friends) in Litchfield, where they
were joined by their future comrades from Torring-
ton; thence, united, marched to the court-house,
where refreshments were provided by the citizens of
Litchfield, and then proceeded to Camp Dutton, east
of Litchfield hill, where they remained until their de-
parture for the seat of war, which was on the 15th of
September, 1862. In the afternoon of the day that
the Goshen recruits left for Litchfield, those that had
been recruited in Kent, Sharon, Cornwall, Salisbury,
and Canaan met at Goshen Centre to the number of
three or four hundred, where they were supplied with
a substantial lunch by the Goshen people; thence
proceeded to Camp Dutton. The quotas of the towns
had not been particularly specified at this time, but
subsequently it was ascertained that the quota of
Goshen was but sixteen to satisfy all calls to this date,
so that Goshen was largely in excess. While the
regiment was at Camp Dutton, Mr. Rice was chosen
captain of Company C, William McK. Rice, first ser-
geant; James P. McCabe, third sergeant; Homer W.
Griswold, George W. Newcomb, Frederick A. Lucas,
corporals; and George D. Bentley, wagoner. Freder-
ick A. Cook, who had recruited a number of men in
the adjoining towns, was chosen first lieutenant of
Company B, and Moses Cook, Jr., was chosen ser-
geant of Company B. On the evening of September
6th, a fine army regulation sword was presented to
Capt. Rice by his friends in Goshen, in the presence of
a goodly number of the citizens, in the vestry of the
Centre church. On-receiving it, Capt. Rice made a
very appropriate and patriotic response, in which he
pledged himself that he would take it and wear it,
and return with it or on it; the latter he heroically
redeemed.

In April, 1861, the President called on the States
to furnish seventy-five thousand volunteers for three
months, the quota of Connecticut being seven hun-
dred and eighty. In May, 1861, the President made
another call on the States for five hundred thousand
men for three years, the quota of Connecticut being
thirteen thousand and fifty-seven; in July, 1862, a
further call for three hundred thousand three years’
men, and three hundred thousand nine months’ men.
The quota of Connecticut in each of these calls was
seven thousand one hundred and forty-five; total,
fourteen thousand two hundred and ninety. The
quotas under the foregoing calls were assigned to
each town in the State in proportion to their military
rolls made out by the State selectmen, and under
State authority. But in subsequent calls the quotas
350

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

were assigned in rolls made out by an enrolling officer
in each town appointed under authority of the United
States government, and the State divided into four
districts, corresponding to our Congressional districts,
and these into sub-districts, in most cases embracing
a single town. Any surplus that had been furnished
by any district was deducted from the quota of the
district, but not from the particular sub-district or
towns that had produced said surplus, so that the
large excess that had been furnished by the town of
Goshen did not avail her on subsequent calls as we
had good reason to expect.

In December, 1863, a number of persons who were
enrolled and liable to draft associated together and
raised funds sufficient to procure volunteers or hire
substitutes to fill the quota of the town and relieve
themselves from draft. Under this arrangement the
following persons enlisted and were paid the sums
annexed to their names: Newton T. Abbott, seventy-

‘five dollars; James Mooney, seventy-five dollars;
John Quin, fifty dollars; James Quin, fifty dollars;
James Palmer, fifty dollars ; Marcellus J. Judd, forty-
five dollars; Wolcott Little, forty-five dollars ; Timo-
thy Maher, forty-five dollars; James Hicks, forty-five
dollars; William E. Albin, Charles H. Albin, Her-
bert D. Hoxley, David Treadwell, Alfred Saunders,
Samuel Hall, Jerome B. Ray; these last seven were
paid four hundred and ninety-five dollars, being dis-
tributed among them, in the whole, nine hundred and
seventy-five dollars. The twelve first named were
recruits in the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
and the four last named joined the Twenty-ninth
Colored Regiment. Nelson Lawton entered the navy
about this time. This terminated the enlistments
from this town.

In February, 1864, the President called for five
hundred thousand more men for three years. The
quota of Connecticut under the new enrollment was
seven thousand nine hundred and nineteen. John
Quain, Thomas McCowen, and George McCaul were
drafted under this call, but absconded to parts un-
known, and did not return until the close of the war.
Efforts were persevered in to make the excess of vol-
unteers in this town available, but without effect. In
August, 1864, the town appointed a committee to go
to Hartford to consult with the Governor or other
State officers, but the committee reported that there
was no remedy short of an act of Congress. In Octo-
ber, 1864, the town

“Voted, That the selectmen of Goshen confer with the selectmen of
other towns which have furnished an excess of volunteers and memo-
rialize Congress, or take some other measures to obtain justice.”

In January, 1865, a convention of selectmen from
the towns which had furnished an excess of volun-
teers was held in Hartford, and such measures were
adopted as induced Congress, then in session, to pass
an act of relief, but too late to be of service to us, as
no more men were needed.

By an act of Congress it was provided that any

 

person being drafted might commute by paying
three hundred dollars or furnishing a substitute. In
August, 1863, William Davis, Frederick E, Hurlburt,
Andrew Bowns, Robert Palmer, and Warren Wilcox
were drafted, and furnished substitutes at a cost of
three hundred dollars each.

In June, 1864, the Legislature passed an act that
all who should volunteer or furnish a substitute for
three years or during the war should be paid a bounty
of three hundred dollars by the State, and at the
same time prohibited the town from offering bounties
or laying taxes forthe purpose. Notwithstanding the
prohibition, at a town-meeting held on the 15th of
August, 1864, it was

“Voted, That this town will pay to each person who has procured or
shall procure an acceptable substitute for three years or during the war
as part of the quota of this town, under the last call of the President of
the United States for five hundred thousand volunteers for the military
service, and to each volunteer as a part of said quota for the same period
under said call, and to each person who may be drafted and held to ser-
vice as a part of said quota under said call, the sum of three hundred
dollars, to be paid to them in the order in which they shall have pro-
cured such substitute or volunteer, or have been drafted and held to ser-
vice as aforesaid till such quota be filled; and when such substitute or
volunteer or drafted man shall have been duly accepted and mustered
into the army or navy as part of said quota.

“ Also the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars shall be paid to each
of those who have been drafted and have provided substitutes which
have been accredited to this town since the lst of August, 1863. And
the selectmen of the town are hereby directed to draw an order on the
town treasurer for the payment thereof. Provided, however, that no
greater sum shall be paid on account of such substitute than the actual
cost of obtaining the same over and above what is paid by the State,”

At the session of the Legislature in June, 1865, an
act was passed confirming the votes and doings of
towns in relation to bounties that were passed con-
trary to law, and the selectmen of Goshen issued
orders on the town treasurer, dated Sept. 18, 1865, to
the following-named persons:

Willard E. Gaylord.....
Moses W. Gray....

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
   
 
  

Benjamin F. Lamphire. 300
Joseph C. Lamphire. 300
Darius D. Thomson. 300
Henry S. Wooster 300
Frederic Lyman 300
Victory C. Hart 300
Thomas W. Griswold.. 300
George G. Crandal... 300
William D, Whiting 300
Alvin B. Dickinson. 300
William 'T. Carr. 300
Courtland W. Bei 300
Austin Allyn, Jr... 300
Isaac W. Brook. 300
Andrew Bowns. 150
William F. Davis.. 150
Frederic E. Hurlburt.. 150
Robert Palmer...... 150
Warrin N. Wilcox... 150

At the annual town-meeting held Oct. 2, 1866, it
was

“Voted, That the treasurer of the town is hereby instructed not to pay
or indorse the town orders dated on or about the 18th of September, 1865,
in favor of the following-named persons for the amountset opposite their
names until an appropriation shall be made by the town for that pur
pose and the money collected by tax, viz.” The names above are re-
cited in the vote.

The following-named persons furnished substitutes
previous to the draft of 1864, with the amount paid
by each exclusive of the State bounty:
GOSHEN.

351

 

 
   
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
    

Willard E, Gaylord. $800
Moses W. Gray... 850
Victory C. Hart.. 500
Benjamin F. Lamphin.. 925
Joseph C. Lamphin 925
Frederic Lyman.... 550
Darius D. Thomson.. 940
Henry S. Wooster.. 900
Austin Allyn, Jr.. 950
Isaac W. Brook... 550
Courtland W. Bentley.. 950

$11,620
Drafted and furnished substitutes to fill quota in

1864:

Hosea Crandal, for one year.....
Alvin B. Dickinson, for three years.

$750
1160

   

 

Lyman Hall, for one year. 900

William D. Whiting, three years (not entitle
State DOUDtY )......secreerccreeereceeercereeeterenten echegivesecs 1100
$8910

Names of those who procured substitutes after the
quota of 1864 was filled, in anticipation of another
draft which did not occur:

Henry O. Beach....
Wolcott Punnell..

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
 
  
  

James W. Babcock .

Abraham Beach.... 325
Truman P. Clark 325
Orion J. Hallock... 350
Stephen Hurd...... 325
William D. Johnson 350
George G. Johnson.. 325
Benjamin F. Lanten. 350
George W. Lamphin 325

Enos B. Pratt...
Alson Sanford...

As there were a number of Connecticut regiments
stationed in and about Hilton Head, it was reported
that they were in want of vegetables, and it was pro-
posed to send them a vessel-load. Accordingly, a vessel
was chartered and loaded at Bridgeport in season to
be presented to the soldiers at or before Christmas,
1863; there was sent from Goshen, December 12th,
thirty-two barrels, ten boxes, and one tub filled with
vegetables, cheese, and butter, estimated at one hun-
dred and seventy-eight dollars and fifty cents.

In January, 1863, the Lodge Soldiers’ Aid Society
sent to the Nineteenth Regiment, stationed at Alex-
andria, Va., one box, contents estimated at fifty-five
dollars and forty cents; also one box sent to the Sani-
tary.Commission, valued at sixty-six dollars. The
Ladies’ Soldiers’ Aid Society after this time expended
their efforts principally in work, making up articles
furnished by the State society. The Christian Com-
mission commenced its operations about this time, and
collections were made, by the young ladies getting
up tableaux, singing concerts, and contributions of
monthly prayer-meetings, for the soldiers, amounting
to four hundred and twenty-nine dollars and thirty-
nine cents.

Adame, William L., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., July 31, 1862; disch, atthe
expiration of the time of enlistment.

Adams, Charles G., en. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 6, 1862; chosen corp. ;
had his leg broken by the timbers of a railroad while engaged in de-
stroying it; disch. at the expiration of time of enlistment.

Adams, Lyman A., enl. in Co. A, Ist Regt. Cav., Nov. 2, 1861; pro. to first
sergeant; disch. with the regiment,

 

Albin, William E., enl. as recruit in Co. C, 2d Conn. Heavy Art., Jan. 2
1864; disch. with the regiment.

Albin, Charles H., enl. as recruit in Co. C, 2d Conn. Heavy Art., Jan. 2,
1864 ; disch. with the regiment.

Abbott, Newton T., enl. as recruit in Co. A, 2d Conn. Heavy Art., Jan. 5,
1864; disch. Jan. 16, 1865.

Allyn, Avery M., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 7, 1862; disch. with the
regiment with impaired health.

Brady, Joseph P., enl. in Co. A, 18th Regt., Dec. 22, 1861; re-enl. as vet-
eran Feb, 8, 1864.

Butler, George W., enl. in Co. C, 13th Regt., Nov. 27, 1861; disch. for
disability March 11, 1863.

Bierce, Joseph D., enl. in Co. B, 19th Regt., Aug. 11, 1862; disch. with
the regiment.

Bentley, George D., enlisted in the Ist Regt. Cav., Co. A, Nov. 2, 1861;
chosen corporal ; disch. for disability March 15, 1862; enl. the second
time in the 19th Regt.; chosen wagoner ; disch. at the expiration of
time of enlistment.

Bartholomew, Cyrus, enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 6, 1862; wounded in
battle at Cold Harbor June 1, 1864; killed in battle of Cedar Creek
Oct. 19, 1864; buried in Goshen, Nov. 17. 1864, aged twenty-three
years.

Beach, William H., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 11, 1862; made cor-
poral 1864; killed in battle near Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864;
buried in Goshen Oct. 1, 1864, aged twenty-three years.

Beach, Zopher, enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 7, 1862; disch. with the
regiment.

Beach, Darius C., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 14, 1862; chosen corpo-
ral; disch. with the regiment.

Bentley, Francis J., enl. in Co. I, 4th Regt., May 23, 1861; disch. for dis-
ability Dec. 16, 1861.

Bruce, John, enl. as recruit in Co. A, 6th Regt., Dec. 24, 1863.

Barnum, Charles A., enl. in Co. E, 7th Regt., Sept. 17, 1861; disch. at ex-
piration of time of enlistment.

Becker, Robert T., enl. in Co. E, 7th Regt., Sept. 7, 1861; disch. with the
regiment in 1864.

Colby, George R., enl. in 19th Regt., Co. K, Aug. 4, 1862 ; taken sick with
chronic diarrhoea; in hospital at Alexandria some time; trans. to
hospital at New Haven, where he remained until his discharge in
May 18, 1865. ‘

Colby, Henry, enl. in 19th Regt., Co. K, Aug. 4, 1862; wounded in his
hand at battle of Cold Harbor June 1, 1864; trans. to Portsmouth
General Hospital, Rhode Island; subsequently had his hand ampu-
tated, and died in said hospital June 17, 1864, aged twenty-two years.

Cook, Frederic A., enl. in Co. I, 4th Regt., May 23, 1861 ; disch. for disa-
bility Sept. 23, 1861; in July, 1862, procured enlisting orders and re-
cruited part of a company in the adjoining towns; mustered into the
19th Regt., Aug. 15, 1862, and appointed first lieutenant of Co. B;
res. June 5, 1863.

Cook, Moses, Jr., enl.in 19th Regt., Co. B, Aug. 11,1862; chosen sergeant;
died in camp at Alexandria, Va., April 18th, and buried in Goshen
April 26, 1863, aged twenty-one years.

Curtis, George W., enl. in Co. C,19th Regt., Aug. 12, 1862; disch. with
the regiment.

Curtis, David B., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 12, 1862; disch. with the
regiment.

Downs, George C., enl. in Co. C, 13th Regt., Nov. 24, 1861; died at ——
Sept. 13, 1863, aged —— years.

Davis, Calvin L., enl. in Co, C, 19th Regt., Sept. 3, 1862; chosen corporal;
sergeant; pro. to color-sergeant and second lieutenant; wounded in
the shoulder at the battle near Winchester Oct. 19, 1864; disch.
with the regiment.

Eldridge, Seymour H., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 12, 1862; pro. cor-
poral; he was an invalid for some time in 1864, but recovered and
returned to his regiment; disch. with his regiment.

Fanning, Edward M., enl. in the 8th Regt., Co. C, Oct. 25, 1861; died at
—— Aug. 12, 1861, aged —.

Fanning, Jobn, enl. in the 9th Regt., Co. F, Oct. 12, 1861; died at New
Orleans Nov. 13, 1863, aged twenty-eight years.

Ford, Henry C., enl. in the llth Regt., Co. D, Nov. 14, 1863; died at sea
Jan. 17, 1862, aged —— years.

Ford, William N,, enl. in the llth Regt., Co. D, Nov. 12,1861; disch. and
entered the U. 8. Army, Oct. 27, 1862. (Supposed to be dead.)

Fritz, Henry, enl. in the 7th Regt., Co. B, Sept. 7, 1861; disch. at expira-
tion of time of enlistment.

Gregory, Charles, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. K, July 24, 1862 ;disch. with
the regiment.
352

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Griswold, Homer W., enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 2, 1862; chosen cor-
poral ; pro. to sergeant, and second lieutenant Feb. 4, 1865; to first
lieutenant, March 2, 1865; declined commission ; revoked March 31,
1865; disch. with the regiment.

Griswold, Hobert, enl. in Co. C, 19th Regt., Aug. 1, 1862; disch. with his
regiment.

Huxley, Matthew H., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 4, 1862; chosen
sergeant: died, after a long sickness, at Alexandria, Va., Jan. 28, 1864;
buried in Goshen with Masonic honors Feb. 6, 1864, aged twenty-
three years.

McHuxley, Asahel, the resident physician of Goshen and father of the
above, while at Alexandria attending upon his sick son, died in-
stantly at the dinner-table, of heart-disease, Jan. 5, 1864; buried in
Goshen Jan. 14, 1864, aged fifty-eight years.

Huxley, Edward C., en]. in the 19th Regt., Co. C., Aug. 11, 1862; pro. to
quartermaster-sergeant, April, 1862; to second lieutenant February,
1864; to first lieutenant March 31, 1864; acting brigade quartermaster
the latter part of the time; disch. Aug. 18, 1865.

Harold, William, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, July 28, 1862; died at
Alexandria, Va., Feb. 20, and buried in Goshen March 12, 1863,
aged twenty years.

Hunter, Samuel, enl.in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 2, 1862; disch. with
his regiment.

Hicks, James, enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. C, Nov. 27, 1861; disch. for dis-
ability March 12, 1862; en]. second time as recruit in 2d Heavy Art.
Jan. 1, 1864; disch. with the regiment.

Huxley, Hubert D., en]. as recruit in 2d Heavy Art., Co. A, Jan. 1, 1864;
disch. with the regiment.

Huntley, Frank, enl. as recruit in the Ist Regt. Cav., April 11, 1863;
disch. with the regiment.

Hall, Samuel, en]. in the 29th Regt. (colored), Dec. 31,1863, in Co. I.

Ives, Henry H., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 7, 1862; disch. with
the regiment.

Judd, Marcellus J., enl. as recruit in the 19th Regt., Co. A, Jan. 2, 1864;
Mr. Judd being a very large, fleshy man, no clothes could be found
to fit him, and in consequence he was not required to parade, but
rendered himself useful by working at his trade (shoemaking) ;
disch. with the regiment.

Kimberly, Daniel, enl. in the 7th Regt., Co. E, Sept. 7, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Dec. 22,1863; was wounded in the face, neck, and leg at
Bermuda Hundred May 2, 1864; subsequently shot in the knee
while in camp ; died of his wounds, after five weeks’ suffering, in Mc-
Clellan Hospital, Fortress Monroe, June, 1864, aged twenty-five
years, leaving a wife and two children.

Lucas, Frederic A., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 8, 1862; chosen cor-
poral; pro. sergeant March, 1864; to first sergeant April 6, 1864; to
second lieutenant Oct. 8, 1864; wounded in the thigh by a minie
ball at the battle of Cedar Creek Sept. 19, 1864; disch. with the
regiment.

Lyman, Daniel E., en]. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 11, 1862; died at
Alexandria, Va., November 2, and buried in Goshen Noy. 7, 1862,
aged eighteen years.

Little, Wolcott, enl. as recruit in the 19th Regt., Co. C., Jan. 5, 1864;
disch. with the regiment.

Lawton, Nelson, entered the navy in 1863; subsequently discharged.

Mayo, Henry, enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. I, Jan. 11, 1862; disch. for disa-
bility May 20, 1862.

Miner, Orson M., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 11, 1862; killed by a
sharpshooter near Petersburg, Va., June 22, 1864, aged twenty-nine
years.

Miner, Avery F., en]. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 7, 1862; pro. to cor-
poral and sergeant; disch. with the regiment.

Marvin, Henry E., enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. C; chosen corporal Nov, 27,
1861; disch. for disability May 12, 1863.

Morris, Michael, enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. ©, Dec. 30, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Feb. 8, 1864; still in the service April 1, 1865.

Mooney, James, enl. as recruit in 2d Heavy Art. Regt., Co. E, Jan. 5,
1864; wounded in battle at Cold Harbor June 1, 1864, and died the
next day, aged twenty years.

Mayher, Timothy, enl. as recruit in the 2d Regt. Heavy Art., Co. ©, Jan.
2, 1864; disch. with the regiment.

McCabe, James P., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 31, 1862; chosen
sergeant; pro. to first lieutenant, Co. K, Feb. 6,1864; was wounded
in battle near Winchester, Va., Sept. 17, 1864 5 arrived at his home
in Goshen in a feeble state on the evening of October Ist, and died of
his wounds on the morning of the 3d, and buried on the 5th with
Masonic honors, aged forty years, leaving a wife and five children,

 

McCabe, Peter, enl. in the 11th Regt., Co. E, Oct. 25, 1861; died at Roa-
noke Island March 12, 1862, aged twenty-six years,

McElhone, Patrick, enl. in the 4th Regt., Co. I, May 23, 1861: disch, at
the expiration of his term of enlistment May 23, 1864,

Newcomb, George W., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 4, 1861; chosen
corporal, and pro. to first sergeant March, 1865; disch. with the regi+
ment.

Nichols, Carlton N., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, July 31, 1862; disch,
for disability April 29, 1863.

Nickerson, Uriah, enl. in the 7th Regt., Co. E, Sept. 7, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Dec. 22, 1863; disch. at the expiration of time of service.

Pendleton, Theodore, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 4, 1862; pro, to
quartermaster-sergeant ; disch. with the regiment.

Pierce, Henry D., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, July 26, 1862; disch. with
the regiment.

Prindle, Benjamin H., enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. C, Nov. 27, 1861 ; disch,
Oct. 17, 1862.

Porter, Charles A., en]. in the 4th Regt., Co. I, May 23, 1861; chosen cor-
poral; disch, at the expiration of time of enlistment May 23, 1864.

Patron, Charles, enl.as recruit in the Ist Regt. Heavy Art., Co, I, April
12, 1862; re-enl. as veteran April 19, 1864; disch. with the regi-
ment.

Palmer, James M., enl. as recruit in the 2d Regt. Heavy Art., Co. G, Jan,
1, 1864; wounded in battle of Cedar Creek, Va., Oct. 19, 1864, and
died in field hospital the following night, aged —— years, leaving
a wife and three children.

Quin, John, enl. as recruit in the 2d Regt. Heavy Art., Co. C, Jan. 2, 1864;
disch. with the regiment, :

Quin, James P., enl. as recruit jn the 2d Regt. Heavy Art., Co. C, Jan. 2,
1864; disch. with the regiment.

Rendus, Gerrit, en]. in the 7th Regt., Co. E, Sept. 7, 1861; disch. at the
expiration of the time of enlistment. He was among those sufferers
confined at Andersonville,

Richmond, Edward S., en]. in the 13th Regt., Co. I, Jan. 11, 1862; killed
by an explosion on the Opelousas Railroad, near New Orleans, Nov.
7, 1862, aged twenty: years; his body was so mutilated that no part
of it was ever identified.

Robinson, William T., en]. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 8, 1862; died at
Alexandria, Va., Jan. 16, and buried in Goshen Jan. 25, 1863, aged
thirty-eight years, leaving a wife and three children.

Robinson, James, enlisted in the 13th Regt., Co. I, Jan. 11, 1862; sub-
sequently re-enl. in a New York regiment and died of typhus fever
at Windmill Puint, Va., Jan. 7, 1863, aged twenty-one years.

Rice, James Q, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. ©, July 2, 1862; chosen cap-
tain; pro. to major in the 2d Regt. Heavy Art., Feb. 17, 1864; killed
in battle pear Winchester, Va., Sept. 17, 1864, and buried in Goshen
with Masonic honors, Oct. 17, 1864, aged forty-one years, leaving
a wife and three children.

Rice, William McK., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 31, 1862; chosen
sergeant ; pro. to first lieutenant Feb. 6, 1864; died, after a linger-
ing illness, at his sister’s in Washington Hill, Orange Co., N. Y., Nov.
8, 1864, aged twenty-four years,

Reddy, Owen, enl. in the 19th Regt. Co. C, Aug. 4, 1862; disch. for disa-
bility May 29, 1863.

Ray, Jerome B., enl. in the 29th (Colored) Regt., Co. I, Dec. 31, 1863.

Richmond, Seeley, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug, 22, 1862; had his
wrist broken by being run against by an officer’s horse; disch. with
the regiment.

Sperry, Albert, enl. in the 4th Regt., Co. I, May 3, 1861; taken prisoner
by the rebels in camp hospital, near Richmond, in 1862; was ex-
changed in a few days; disch. May 23, 1864,

Sperry, George W., enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. C, Nov. 27, 1861; chosen
corporal ; re-enl. as veteran Feb, 8, 1864; disch. in April, 1866.
Sherry, Joseph, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug, 31, 1862; chosen cor-
poral ; pro. to sergeant; wounded in the arm, just above the elbuw,
by a rifle-ball in the battle near Winchester, Va., Oct. 19, 1864; the
only person materially disabled that enlisted from Goshen; disch.

with the regiment.

Soudant, Charles J., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 31, 1862; subse-
quently joined the regimental band, and disch. May 16, 1865.

Stoddard, Henry A,, en}. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 2, 1862; disch. for
disability Dec. 16, 1862,

Stewart, George C., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 4, 1862; disch.
with the regiment.

Stewart, John H., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 6, 1862; died at
Alexandria, Va., Jan. 3, 1863 3 buried in Goshen Jan. 11, 1863, aged
sixteen years,
GOSHEN.

Stone, Royal, enl. in the 19th Regiment, Co. C, Aug. 5, 1862; disch. with :

the regiment.

Saunders, Alfred, en]. in the 29th (Colored) Regt., Dec. 28, 1863.

Vail, Henry L., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 17, 1862; chosen cor-
poral; wounded in battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 19, 1864, a musket-
ball passing through hia shoulder and breast; died at Taylor Hos-
pital Nov. 3, 1864, buried in Cornwall Nov. 20, 1864, aged twenty-
three. years.

Treadwell, David D, enl. in the 29th (Colored) Regt., Dec. 12, 1863, in
Co. D.

Wadhams, Uri, enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. C, Aug. 4, 1862; chosen corpo-
ral; died at Alexandria, Va., Sept. 11, 1863; buried in Goshen Oct.
4, 1863, aged twenty-three years.

Wadhams, William U., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co, C, Aug. 7, 1862 ; disch.
with the regiment.

Wadhams, Willard N., enl. in the 19th Regt., Co. 0, Aug. 6, 1862; chosen
corporal; died at Selestia Hospital, Philadelphia; buried in hospital
burying-ground, No, 121, aged twenty-one years.

Way, Nelson H., enl. in the 1st Regt. Cav., A, Nov. 16,1861; disch. at
the expiration of time of enlistment.

Wooster, James N., enl. in the 7th Regt., Co. E, Sept. 7, 1861; re-enl. us
veteran Dec. 22, 1863, killed in battle at Bermuda Hundred Jan.
22, 1864, aged twenty years.

Wadhams, Frank E., en]. in the 13th Regt., Co. C, Dec. 17, 1861; re-enl.
as veteran, Feb. 8, 1864; taken sick with swamp fever while on the
Red River expedition; sent to New Orleans Hospital ; joined his
regiment; attacked with pneumonia and reduced very low; came
home on a thirty days’ furlough in a very feeble state; went to New
Haven Hospital, where he remained until April, 1865, when he again
joined his regiment in North Carolina ; was subsequently stationed
at Augusta, Athens, and Atlanta; disch. in April, 1866.

Wadhams, Frederic L., enl. in the 13th Regt., Co. I, Jan. 11,1862; taken
prisoner by the rebels at the battle of Winchester; made his escape
in a short time, and joined his company again; disch. at the expira-
tion of time of enlistment Jan. 7, 1865.

Wadhams, Sidney, a resident of Goshen, but at the time of his enlist-
ment a student in the America Institute, Dutchess Co., N. Y., enl.
in the 48th Regt. N. Y. S. V., as a private under Col. Perry (of Mex-
ican war notoriety), on Sept. 17,1861; pro. to lieutenant; was killed
in the assault on Fort Wagner July 18, 1863, aged twenty-seven
years; his remains were not recovered.

Hallock, Dudley T., a native and resident of Goshen, enl. in the 2d N.Y.
Cay., Co. D, and died at Point Lookout; was buried in Goshen Feb.
14, 1863, aged twenty-five years.

In November, 1861, George D. Bentley, Lyman A. Adams, and Nel-
son Way enlisted in the Ist.Connecticut Cavalry.

 

   
    
 
      

 

 

   

 

Enlistments in-1st. Regiment-Cavalry.. 3
vs TOCTUIES....00ceecereeeeeee 1
‘S 4th Regiment Infautry 5
Recruits 4th Regiment Infantry. 1
ss 6th “ “ ef 1
Enlistments in 7th Regiment Infa 7
“ 8th “ “ 1
“ 9th “ “ 1
“ 11th e “ 3
“ 13th “ ct 13
a 19th ss es “a 49
Recruits in 2d Regiment Heavy Artillery. 9
Enlistments in 29th Regiment Infantry.... 4
Whole number.. 98
Add two enlisted in Ne 2
Making scccsccccicsscnssesescenee 100
Killed in battle or died of wounds, 12
Died of disease........... 16
Died by an explosion.. 1
Whole number of deaths.........-.-.0+0 Sag satiia sdisesiesssacteed, 29)
Whole number of enlisted men from Goshen.........++.-. 100
Number of substitutes furnished previous to draft of
September, 1864.... 14
Number of substitutes by p 9
Number of substitutes furnished after draft of Septem-
Der, 1864......00. ceesecerseennseeween: aaeeesnectae aenevensestenseonniee 13
Number of persons who enlisted second time after being
discharged for disability - 3
Number of enlistments as veterans.. we oT

 

Whole number of enlistments and substitutes furnished. 146

The State of Connecticut has furnished forty-cne
thousand nine hundred and eighty-three enlistments,

 

353

as appears by the report of the adjutant-general. The
quota of Goshen, according to population, would be
one hundred and twenty-two, so it will be seen that
this town furnished twenty-four more than its pro-
portion. It is a question whether any town in the

State has furnished a greater per cent. of excess than
Goshen.

  
 

The amount paid by the town for volunteers in 1862 was.. $4637.50
Amount paid by individuals for substitutes....... »22,430.00
By L. S. Aid Society, for Sanitary Commission 526.00
Sent to Hilton Head.............. 178.00
By ladies, etc., for Christian C 429.00

Whole amount.......e0eeecee sehieease weasiceren seeneense seseesasees $28,200.50

Of the evils attendant upon a war no adequate es-
timate can be made of the loss of life, impaired health,
the sacrifice of property, and in most cases the de-
moralization of those connected with an army, but
the writer would congratulate his fellow townsmen
that of those who went out from among us to
defend and sustain our and the nation’s rights, have
sacrificed their lives honorably or returned to us
without a stain upon their fair characters. That they
should at once resume their former vocations with
alacrity, and particularly the younger portion of
them seem to have advanced in intelligence and
manly bearing, is surely a subject of gratulation.

The compilers of the preceding record have labored
under much embarrassment; as no one had pre-
tended to make any detailed memoranda of the events
as they transpired, of course have had to resort to
isolated documents and personal inquiries to obtain
the few facts contained in the preceding pages.

The following is copied from a document purport-
ing to have emanated from the war department,
giving the number of men comprising the Union
army, viz.:

 

Number of three months’ men... « 191,985
17 7 “ 4

  

 

 

 

 

  
 
  

Bix 19,076
We nine “ “6 87,558
af one year’s = 394,959
« two “ «“ 43,113
es three “ sf 1,950,792

“ fur « 1
Total .......seceececeee cecensseeeaneeacooeaenseven sons seeasaae «+ 2,688,523
Left the army, about.......... 2,408,103
Died in battle of wounds... 96,089
Died of disease....... ease 184,331
Officers killed in battle....... .... 5,221
Enlisted men killed in battle 90,868
Total deaths by killing.. 96,089
Officers died of disease. 2,321
Enlisted men died of disease... 182,010
Total. .rcsccosscsncrererenns « 184,331
Whole number of deaths.. 280,420

The number of deaths compared with the whole
army is equal to fourteen one-hundredths or fourteen
per cent. The number of deaths from the enlisted
men from Goshen, compared with the whole number
of enlisted men, is equal to twenty-nine one-hun-
dredths, or twenty-nine per cent. There is no means
to ascertain the deaths among the substitutes fur-
nished by Goshen.
354

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

 

HENRY NORTON.

Henry Norton was born at Goshen, Nov. 10, 1815.
His father, who died in 1860, was Deacon Lewis M.
Norton, the historian of Goshen. His mother was
Laura Foote, of Canton, Conn. He married Delia
Beach, the daughter of John Beach, of Goshen, May
11, 1842. One daughter, Delia Hillhouse Norton,
died at Mount Holyoke Seminary in 1867. He re-
ceived his education principally at Goshen Academy,
giving considerable attention to astronomy and geol-
ogy, and was the first one in Litchfield County to
find with the naked eye the planets Mercury and
Uranus; and he first called the attention of the people
of this county to the wonderful marks made on the
rocks by the glaciers in the early ages, which are now
so plainly seen on the tops of our mountains. When
he was twenty years of age he commenced teaching,
and taught eight winters, working on his father’s farm
summers until he married. Most of his teaching
was in the Winchester Centre and Wolcottville Acad-
emies. He was acting school-visitor twenty years,
between 1841 and 1875, examining the teachers and
visiting the schools,

He was a member of the Legislature in 1852. He
was appointed county surveyor by the County Court
in 1841, and after the death of Judge Burrall he was
appointed by the surveyor-general of Connecticut
deputy State surveyor for Litchfield County, and, be-
sides attending to his farm, he has practiced land sur-
veying for forty years, and is at it still. He also
holds the office of notary public. His grandfather was
Deacon Ebenezer Norton, who put stocks to the guns
manufactured here and used in the Revolutionary
war; and his great-grandfather was Col. Ebenezer
Norton, one of the original settlers of the town. He
traces his ancestry back to the Lord of Norville, who
came over into England from France with William’
the Conqueror in the year 1260, and he was his con-
stable.

From the time of the Norman conquest to the ar-
rival of Thomas Norton in Guilford, Conn., there
were fourteen generations of his ancestors in Eng-
land, and there have been six since. When he was a
small boy his father pointed to a little hollow on the
west side of the road in E Street, telling him that
there was a tradition that a liberty-pole stood there
in the Revolution. So he watched the spot for fifty
years, and in 1875 dug a hole there to erect a centen-
nial monument. He dug out a large load of stones
and pieces of the rum-bottle used when it was erected,
and found the pine wood and bark four and a half
feet below the surface, and preserved the relics. The
pole was eighteen inches in diameter. The Stars and
Stripes waved over the spot at the great centennial
celebration, July 4, 1876, and he was chairman of the
committee on relics that day.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

CAPT. WILLARD GAYLORD.

Capt. Willard Gaylord is a lineal descendant of
William Gaillard (or Gaylord), who came from Eng-
land with his family and settled in Dorchester, Mass.,
in 1680. From an old record we quote the following:
“Between 1639 and 1664 Mr. William Gaylord, the
earliest settler of that name in Windsor, was elected
a member of the Assembly at forty-one semi-annual
elections, which was one more than any other man
was thus honored in that town.” William Gaylord
died July 20, 1673; his wife died June 20, 1657.
Their children, all of whom were born in England,
were as follows: Elizabeth, married Richard Birge,
William, Samuel, Walter, and John. Walter, third
son of William, was born in England about 1622;
came with his father to New England in 1680; set-
tled in Windsor. He married Mary Stebbins, daugh-
ter of Deacon Edward Stebbins, of Hartford, April
22, 1648; she died June 29, 1657, when he married
Sarah, daughter of William Rockwell, March 22,
1658. Children by first wife,—Joseph, born May 18,
1649; Mary, born March 19, 1651; Joanna, born Feb.
5, 1658, married John Porter; Samuel Benjamin, born
April 12, 1655; Isaac, born June 21, 1657. Children
by second wife,—Eliezer, born March 7, 1662; Sarah,
born April 18, 1665, married William Phelps, all
born in Windsor.

Joseph (first son of Walter and Mary Stebbins) set-
tled at Farmington, Conn.,—that part which was after-
wards the town of Waterbury, and about 1708 he re-
moved to the town of Durham, Conn.,—where his sons
Joseph and John settled. He married Sarah Stanley,
July 14, 1670. Their children were Sarah, born
1671, married Thomas Judd; Joseph, born April 22,
1673; John, born Aug. 21, 1677; William, born 1680;
Benjamin, Elizabeth, Mary; Abigail married James
Williams; Joanna married Robert Royce; Ruth
married Stephen Hickox; Joseph Gaylord died 1742.

Joseph, first son of Joseph and Sarah Stanley Gay-
lord, married Mary Hickox in 1699. Their children
were Timothy, born Nov. 29, 1706; Samuel, born
July 5, 1709; Edward, Benjamin, Joseph, Mary,
Thankful, Martha.

Lieut. Timothy, first son of Joseph and Mary
Hickox Gaylord, married Prudence Roys, April 25,
1733; she died Feb. 7, 1746. Their children were
Prudence, born Jan. 81, 1734; Timothy, born May 8,
1785 ; Roys, born July 7, 1787. He married for his
second wife Phebe Wilton, who died in Goshen in
1777. Their children were Titus, born Dec. 24,
1749; Lois, born Dec. 22, 1751, married Samuel
Bishop; Joel, born May 8, 1755; Joseph, born April,
1758. Lieut. Timothy’s commission is in the posses-
sion of his grandson, Capt. Allen Gaylord, of New-
bery, Ohio. It is dated March 27, 1757. He was
killed by Indians, near Fort Ann, N. Y., in 1758.

Joseph, third son of Timothy and Phebe Wilton
Gaylord, married Eunice Ives, of Torrington, April
24, 1792. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war,
 
 
 

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GOSHEN.

and was in New York when the British took posses-
sion of that city, and was carried out on a blanket,
sick, He was honorably discharged, and during the
latter part of his life received a pension. He was a
farmer by occupation, as were nearly all of his ances-
tors. He died March 25, 1838. His wife died Noy.
8, 1825. Their children. were,—Joseph I., born Sept.
17838; Willard, born May 21, 1799; Alletia, born
March 4, 1801.

Joseph I., first son of Joseph and Eunice Ives Gay-
lord, married Clarissa Norton, Nov. 21,1821. Their
children were Mary, Lorraine, and Frederick. His
second wife was Eliza M. Norton. He was instantly
killed by the roof of his house, blown off during a
tornado in Goshen, Feb. 10, 1860.

Willard, second son of Joseph and Eunice (Ives)
Gaylord, married Amy Hooker, of Bristol, Conn.,
April 27, 1825. Miss Hooker was a niece of the Rev.
Asahel Hooker, who was settled as pastor of the
church at Goshen in 1791. Their children were Wil-
lard E., born March 26, 1827; Charles H., born March
27, 1888. :

Willard Eliezer, first son of Willard and Amy
Hooker, married Sarah E. Wooster, May 14, 1851.
Their children are Henry C., born March 30, 1852;
Amy C., born Feb. 17, 1858.

Charles H., second son of Willard and Mary
Hooker, married Jeannie M. Thompson, of New
Haven, June 10, 1856. Children are William H.,

born Sept. 7, 1862; Charles -E., born March 13, 1865. »

Capt. Willard Gaylord, as mentioned above, was
born in Goshen, May 21, 1799, son of Joseph and
grandson of Timothy Gaylord, who settled in Goshen
about 1738. He was the purchaser of an original
right of Jand, where the family have since resided.
Willard Gaylord received a common-school and aca-
demic education. The business of his life has been
that of a farmer, although he has been called to fill
many responsible positions; has filled nearly all the
town offices, and represented the town in the Legisla-
ture in 1840-41 and 1862.

Mr. Gaylord was one of the original corporators of .

the Winsted Savings Bank, and a director for many
years. Was appointed State director of the Iron
Bank at Falls Village, and served as such for several
years; was subsequently appointed director, which
office he now holds. He has held an office in that
bank for more than twenty years.

Politically, Mr. Gaylord was formerly a Whig, and
since the organization of the Republican party has
acted with them. During the war of the Rebellion he
took strong grounds in support of the government.
Subsequently the town of Goshen appointed a com-
mittee, of which Mr. Gaylord was chairman, to write
“Goshen in the Rebellion.” Their report is on file
in the office of the town clerk, and is eminently satis-
factory. And now, after an active and industrious life.
of more than fourscore years, we find, this venerable
pioneer in the enjoyment of good health, with an

‘Lyman family.

 

355

erect figure and an elastic step, retaining in a marked

degree the energy and spirit of Capt. Gaylord of forty
years ago.

MOSES LYMAN.
Moses Lyman the sixth is a lineal descendant, in
the eighth generation, from Richard Lyman, an Eng-
lishman, who left the parish of Ongar, County of Es-

-sex, England, and in the middle of August, 1631,

embarked with his wife and children in the ship
“Lion,” and on 4th of November, 1631, landed in
Boston. Richard Lyman’s name is on the list of the
original proprietors of Hartford in 1636. He died in
1640, leaving a family of children, one of whom was
named John, born in High Ongar, England, Septem-
ber, 1628; came to Boston with his father, married
Dorcas, daughter of John Plumb, of Bradford, Conn.,
and in 1654 settled in Northampton, Mass., where he
resided till his death, Aug. 20, 1690. He was in com-
mand of the Northampton soldiers in the famous
Falls fight, above Deerfield, May 18, 1676. He had
ten children, the fourth of whom was named Moses,
born Feb. 20, 1662, or 1668, and died Feb. 25, 1701,
He had eight children; three only grew to maturity,
one of whom was Moses.

Moses Lyman is a name widely known in business
circles, and recalls men honored, respected, and be-
loved always. It has been borne by the eldest son
of this. family through eight successive generations.
‘Capt. Moses, the second bearing the name, was born
Feb. 27, 1689;. married Mindwell Sheldon, Dec. 13,
1712, and died March 24, 1762, aged seventy-three
years. He was. the only son who left issue, and be-
came thus the ancestor of a very numerous posterity.
He was the great-grandson of Richard. He had a
family of ten children, the eldest of whom was Moses
the third, born Oct. 2, 1718, and died Jan 6, 1768.
He married Sarah Hayden, or Heighton, of Windsor,
Conn., March 24, 1742.

Deacon Lyman settled in Goshen in the autumn of
1739, being one of the earliest inhabitants of the
place. He was the ancestor of a distinguished and
noble lineage, an. honor to the name and the whole
Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were charac-
terized as religious, exemplary, industrious, econom-
ical, and liberal to the poor. He was remarkable for
his endeavors to make peace and reconcile difficulties ;
of sound judgment, and for many years a magistrate,
he exercised a controlling influence in the town. He
was a representative of the town in the General
Assembly fourteen times. Of Deacon Lyman it was
said he was a “father to the poor, eyes to the blind,
and feet to the lame,” relieving the fatherless and
helpless, and making the widow’s heart to sing for
joy. He had seven children, the eldest of whom was
Moses the fourth, born March 20, 1748, married Ruth,
daughter of William Collins, of Guilford, Conn. She
died June 8, 1775, and he married for his second
wife the widow of Jesse Judd, of Litchfield, Conn.,
356

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

daughter of Capt. Jonathan Buel, of Goshen. Mr.
Lyman was a farmer, and occupied the homestead of
his father through life. In the militia Mr. Lyman
held in succession every grade of office from that of
corporal to colonel, and was known as Col. Lyman.
During the Revolutionary war he was frequently in
the army, sometimes by draft, sometimes as a volun-
teer on sudden alarms. Col. Lyman was commander
of a body of troops stationed, on the night of the 7th
of October, 1777, to watch the movements of Bur-
goyne’s army, and was the first to inform Gen. Gates,
on the morning of the 8th, that they had deserted
their camp. In consideration of his important ser-
vices he was honored with the duty of conveying to
Gen. Washington personally the first intelligence of
the battle of Saratoga and the surrender of the British
under Gen. Burgoyne. He was also commander of
the guard over the illustrious and gallant captive, Maj.
Andre, at and previous to the time of his execution.
In civil life Col. Lyman sustained many offices in the
gift of the town. He was a man of strong mind, and
great energy and decision of character, of the strictest
integrity, conscientious in the observance of the Sab-
bath, and of the daily worship of God in his family.
He died Sept. 29, 1829, aged eighty-seven years.

Moses the fifth, known as Judge Lyman, eldest son
of Col. Lyman and Ruth Collins, was born in Goshen,
Conn., April 16, 1768; married Elizabeth Buel,
daughter of Ira and Prudence Buel, of Litchfield,
Conn., Jan. 21,1796. Judge Lyman had in a re-
markable degree the characteristics of his father and
ancestors,—a man of commanding influence and
foremost standing in society, a thorough and success-
ful business man, and a firm supporter of the gospel.
He engaged extensively in commercial pursuits, and
through a long course of years successively sustained
most if not all the offices in the gift of the town; was
representative many times in the General Assembly,
and long acted as a civil magistrate. He was a man
of superior mind, polished manners, and distinguished
for politeness. He died May 22, 1844, aged seventy-
seven years. To Judge Moses and Elizabeth (Buel)
Lyman were born only two children,—Lucretia, the
eldest, was born in Goshen, Feb. 13, 1801; married to
Caleb Day, Esq., of Catskill, N. Y., Jan. 18, 1826;
she died at the residence of her son, Edward Lyman
Day, in Kent, Ohio, in the autumn of 1876. She was
a noble and attractive woman, inheriting many of the
characteristics of her excellent father.

Their son, Moses, the sixth of the name, was born
in Goshen, Oct. 1, 1810. He partially fitted for col-
lege with Rev. Timothy Cooley, in Granville, Mass.,
and in Goshen Academy, but student-life being neither
congenial to taste nor conducive to health, he ¢hose
mercantile life, and at the age of sixteen years en-
tered the store of Lyman & Porter, successors to M.
& E, Lyman., From that time, to use his own words,
he “took care of himself.” Engaged in mercantile
pursuits both in Goshen and West Cornwall; during

 

the early days of the Housatonic Railroad through
that valley he did a large and prosperous business,
About 1844, associated with Samuel S. Robbins, of
Salisbury, Lee Canfield, and the Hunts, of Canaan,
he was one of the founders of the Hunts-Lyman Iron
Company, in Canaan. A few years later, relinquishing
mercantile pursuits, he became interested in the manu-
facture of charcoal pig-iron from the celebrated Salis-
bury and Richmond (Mass.) ores, and continued this
during all the after-years of his life. In 1867 he
visited Florida, purchasing lands in Orange County,
a portion of which he developed for fruit culture,
His charming winter home, “ Onoro,” surrounded by
lovely lakes and orange-groves now in full bearing,
in the heart of a delightful and rapidly-developing
country, proves that as a pioneer in that section he
anticipated the future wisely and well. This was the
pride and pet of his latter years. Here he spent half
a score of delightful winters, and the impress of his
character is still felt in that community. In 1872 he
was one of the incorporators of the: Wheel and Foun-
dry Company of Waverly, N. Y., and continued its
president until the sickness that prostrated him in
1877 removed him from connection with all active
business and the entire outer world. In politics he
has been a Republican since the organization of that
party. He has been called repeatedly to positions of
responsibility and of trust in his native town, but he
had little taste for political life, and was haunted with
no longing for office. His nature scorned the methods
by which place and power are usually acquired, and
he “would none of them.” He possessed to a re-
markable degree patriotism undefiled with the scum
of politics. Mr. Lyman was a most dutiful son, an
upright man and public-spirited citizen, combining
integrity and manly virtue with great energy, prompt-
ness, and generosity. In 1833 he united with the
Congregational Church in Goshen, and has always
been one of its most liberal supporters. Christianity
has ever been his ruling principle. All that an affec-
tionate, generous husband and father could do to make
home happy he has done, and his domestic life is a
blessed memory. On the 6th of May, 1834, he mar-
ried Mary Ann, daughter of John Milton and Sally
Porter Holley, of Salisbury, Conn. (see history of John
M. Holley), and to them have been born five children.
Moses, the eldest, and seventh of the name, was born
in Goshen, Aug. 20, 1836. He has been twice married,
first to Ellen Augusta, daughter of Edwin A. and Har-
riet Dexter Douglas, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., Dec. 31,
1863. Their children were Moses, the eldest, and
eighth of the name, born July 17, 1865; Isabel Doug-
las, born March 21, 1867; Harriet Dexter, born July
27,1870; she died at her grandfather’s in Florida, aged
four years and six months. Mrs. Lyman died in
Goshen, Aug. 17, 1871, aged thirty-two. It may truly
be said of her

“None knew her but to love her,
Few named her but to praise.”
 
GOSHEN.

357

 

Mr. Lyman married for his second wife Sarah H.,
daughter of Philip S. and Lucy R. Beebe, of Litch-
field, Conn. (see history of the Beebe family), on
March 6, 1873, in Florida. Of their four children
only one is living, Mary Alice, born July 8, 1877.
Mr. Lyman is a graduate of Brown University, Provi-
dence, R. I; served as first lieutenant in the Fifteenth
Vermont Volunteers in 1862-63. For a few years he
was engaged in the lumber business, and is now man-
ager of the Cayuta Wheel and Foundry Company, at
Waverly,N. Y. Mary, born Aug. 15, 1839, in Goshen,
Conn., married, June 15, 1865, to Philip Wells, of
Brattleboro’, Vt. He died in Amenia, Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., Jan. 28, 1872. On the 15th of August, 1877,
she was again married to Rev. Lyman Phelps, in
Goshen, Conn. They spend the greater part of each
year at Onoro, Florida, in charge of her father’s in-
terests there. Alice, born May 15, 1845, married to
Hon. J. T. Sawyer, of Waverly, N. Y., Oct. 24, 1872.
Their only child, Ellen, was born May 12, 1874.
Richard, born in Goshen, June 27, 1848, died Dec.
24, 1851; Holley Porter, born in Goshen, Jan. 22,
1855, died December 5th of injuries received by falling
from his horse.

ERASTUS LYMAN.

Erastus Lyman was a lineal descendant, in the sev-
enth generation, from Richard Lyman, an Englishman,
who left the parish of Ongar, county of Essex, Eng-
land, and in the middle of August, 1631, embarked
with his wife and children in the ship “ Lion,” and,
on the 4th of November, 1631, landed in Boston.
Richard Lyman’s name is on the list of the original
proprietors of Hartford in 1636. He died in 1640,
leaving a family of children, one of whom was named
John, who was born in High Ongar, England, Sep-
tember, 1623; came to Boston with his father; mar-
ried Dorcas, daughter of John Plumb, of Branford,
Conn. In 1654 settled in Northampton, Mass., where
he resided until his death, Aug. 20, 1690. He was in
command of the Northampton soldiers in the famous
Falls fight, above Deerfield, May 18, 1676. He had
ten children, the fourth of whom was named Moses,
born Feb. 20, 1662, or 1668, and died Feb. 25, 1701.
He had eight children; three only grew to maturity,
one of whom was Moses, the second, born Feb. 27,
1689, married Mindwell Sheldon, Dec. 13, 1712, and
died March 24, 1762, aged seventy-three years. His
wife died May 28, 1780, aged eighty-eight years.
Moses, the only son who left issue, thus became the
ancestor of a very numerous posterity. He was the
great-grandson of Richard.

Moses Lyman the second had a family of ten
children, the eldest of whom was Moses the third,
born Oct. 2, 1718, and died Jan. 6, 1768. He married
Sarah: Hayden, or Heighton, of Windsor, Conn.,
March 24,1742. She was born Sept. 17, 1716, and
died in Goshen, Conn., Aug. 27, 1808, aged ninety-

 

two years. Mr. Lyman settled in Goshen in the
autumn of 1739, being one of the earliest settlers
there. He was the ancestor of a distinguished and
noble lineage, an honor to the name and the whole
Lyman family. Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were charac-
terized as religious, exemplary, industrious, economi-
cal, and liberal to the poor. He was remarkable for
his endeavors to make peace and reconcile difficulties.
Of sound judgment, and for many years a magistrate,
he exercised a controlling influence in the town; he
was a representative fourteen times.

He had seven children, the eldest of whom was
Moses the fourth, born March 20, 1748; married Ruth,
daughter of William Collins, of Guilford, Conn. She
died June 8, 1775, and he married for his second
wife the widow of Jesse Judd, of Litchfield, daughter
of Capt. Jonathan Buell, of Goshen. Mr. Lyman
was a farmer, and occupied the homestead of his
father through life. He died Sept. 29, 1839, aged
eighty-seven years, and his wife died Oct. 7, 1885, aged
seventy -three.

In the militia Mr. Lyman held in succession every
grade of office from that of corporal to colonel, and
was known as Col. Lyman. During the Revolution-
ary war he was frequently in the army, sometimes by
draft, sometimes as a volunteer on sudden alarms.
Col. Lyman was commander of a body of troops sta-
tioned, on the night of the 7th of October, 1777, to
watch the movements of Gen. Burgoyne’s army, and
was the first to inform Gen. Gates, on the morning of
the 8th, that they had deserted their camp. In con-
sideration of his important services he was honored
with the duty of conveying to Gen. Washington per-
sonally the first intelligence of the battle of Saratoga
and the surrender of the British under Gen. Bur-
goyne. He was also commander of the guard over
the illustrious and gallant captive, Maj. Andre, at
and previous to the time of his execution. In civil
life Col. Lyman sustained many offices in the gift of
his town. He was a man of strong mind and great
energy and decision of character, and of the strictest
integrity.

He had six children, the fourth and last of whom
by his first marriage was named Erastus, born Noy.
1, 1773. He married Abigail, daughter of Ephraim
Starr, of Goshen, Sept. 8, 1803. Both united with
the church Jan. 1, 1832, and resided through life in
Goshen.

Mr. Lyman, like others of the family, was a man
of distinguished abilities, energetic, methodical, and
successful in business, eminently distinguished for his
piety and benevolence, and his deep interest in the
affairs of the church and town. In the course of his
life he filled almost all the offices of the church, the
society, and the town. Towards the close of his ac-
tive life he remarked to a friend that he transacted
more business for others than for himself. He was a
friend of the friendless, the protector of the widow and
the orphan, and the ready adviser of all who sought
358

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

his counsel. He died Dec. 20, 1854, aged eighty-one.
His wife died Jan. 22, 1855, aged seventy-seven.

Their children were Horatio Nelson, born May 2,
1804; Lucy, born Dec. 19, 1805, married, May 16,
1831, Dr. De Forest, of Watertown, a graduate of Yale
College, 1826. She was an exemplary Christian, and
died in the faith, Aug. 3, 1855.

Jane M., born Feb. 7, 1808, united with the church
Aug. 28, 1831, and married, Oct. 4th of the same year,
Alexander H. Holley, of Salisbury, Conn. She died
Sept. 18, 1832, in the peace and serenity of Christian
faith and hope.

Rev. Ephraim, born June 3, 1810, died Oct. 29,
1880, at Minneapolis, Minn.; William, born Oct. 2,
1812; Abigail, born Sept. 4, 1814, died Sept. 21, 1879;
Erastus, born Nov. 29, 1816, married Abigail Wade;
Frederick, born Dec. 7, 1819, married, first, Julia,
daughter of Samuel W. and Phebe Gold, second,
Mary Talmadge; Samuel, born July 19, 1829, mar-
ried Lydia Cunneer, Oct. 20, 1875.

Erastus Lyman was a man and a Christian of in-
estimable value to the community. Self-made, or
rather made by circumstances incident to a life of bold
business adventure in all parts of this country, with
more than an average amount of natural endowments,
actuated under the pressure and the promptings of an
indomitable purpose, he rose to prominence and an
influence indicative of his character. In him, as a
man, with remarkable physical energy were combined
great mental activity and a strong moral sense. He
became associated with the prominent men of this
country and State in conducting and adjusting im-
portant business matters, and enjoyed a high repu-
tation abroad as a counselor and an executor in finan-
cial affairs. We can point our young men to his
regularity and punctuality at every place where duty
called him; to his readiness for every good word and
work ; to his promptness in saying or doing whatever
he had to say or do; and to his ready and cheerful re-
sponse to almost every call of charity, and say to
them, “ Go ye and do likewise.”

THE WADDAM FAMILY IN ENGLAND.

Sir John Waddam, Knight, was one of the justices
of the Common Pleas or the King’s Bench in the
county of Devonshire, and was a native of that county.
He was born at Egge (now Edge),—“so called from
that figure which the hill wherein it stands casteth
itself, in the parish of Branscombe, lying on the sea-
side in the southeastern part thereof.” Both the
house and parish were for a considerable time the
possession and habitation of a family by the name of
Branchescombe, which was of great fame, so much so
that its antiquity runs so far back that it can hardly
be traced to its origin, as asserted by an ancient
author :*

 

* Pied. Surv. of Dey. in Branscombe MS.

 

“The parish of Branscombe was given to the church
of Exeter by Thomas de Branchescombe before the
Norman conquest (1056). Here lived Sir Richard.
Branscombe in the days of King Edward, son of Ed-
ward, king of England, a person well read in the laws
of his land, and much employed in the government
of his country, as being high-sheriff thereof for several
years, and also one of the knights of that shire in
Parliament. These lands did Branscombe part with
unto Waddam in the latter end of the reign of King
Edward III.” ‘Lyson, in his “Magna Britannia,”+
says in his article under the head of “ Knowston,”
that the Manor of Waddam belonged at the time of
the Doomsday survey to an old Saxon by the name of
“Ulf,” who held it in demise ever since the time of
Edward the Confessor, a.p. 1042. It is possible that
Ulf might have been the ancestor of Wadham, of
whom this was the original residence. In a copy of
the “family arms’’ of Waddam the ancient name is
Wadeham, and may have been given, as was the cus-
tom in those times, as a designation of one of the
family of Ulf. Before the end of the year of Edwatd
III., a.p. 1327, it had passed to Sir John Waddam,
whose seat and dwelling-place it was and also that of
his son after him, Sir John Waddam, one of the jus-
tices of the King’s Bench. This estate at Egge, after
the death of Nicholas Waddam, Esq., the founder of
Waddam College, Oxford, passed to the heirs general
of Waddam, and was a few years since the property
of the Hon. Percy Wyndham. It is also said{
that this estate, after remaining in the Waddam
family for eight generations, passed with two of the co-
heiresses of Nicholas Waddam, founder, to the family
of Strangways and Windham, and is now the joint-
property of Earle Ilchester and of B. J. Stackey
Bartlett, Esq. In the parish church are memorials
of Joan, relict of John Waddam, a.p. 1581.

Prince, in his history entitled ‘“‘ Damonii Orientales
Illustres, or Worthies of Devon,” says, “ This ancient
and renowned family of Waddam had its original in
the county of Devon, and derived its name from the
place of its habitation, Waddam, in the parish of
Knowston, near the corporate town of South Molton.
‘William de Waddam was a freeholder of this land in
the days of King Edward I., a.p. 1272, and both
East and West Waddam descended in his name for
three hundred and thirty-seven years unto Nicholas
Waddam, who left them to his heirs general.”

As to when this family came into possession of their
noble and moated seat of Merryfield, in the parish of
Uminster in the county of Somers, but little has been
ascertained; but it must have been some time after
they became possessed of the estate at Egge, for the
family sustained the office of sheriff for the county of
Devon near threescore years before they did that at
Somers. We are told3 that the manor, which had

 

+ Leyson, vol. vi., Part IL., p. 306, and vol. viii., pp. 62, 68, 305.
} Prince’s “ Worthies,” pub. 1701, p. 588.
@ “ Magna Britannia,” vol. ii., Part IL., p. 450.
GOSHEN.

been a part of the ancient demesne of the crown,
belonged at an early period to the Beauchamps of
Hache, of whose heirs it was purchased by Sir John
Waddam, one of the justices of the Common Pleas in
the fourteenth century.

William Waddam was sheriff of the county of
Devon in the twentieth year of Henry VI., A.p.
1441, and Nicholas Waddam was sheriff of Somerset-
shire and Dorsetshire in the fourteenth year of Henry
VIL., 4.D. 1499, showing that the office was held some
time in the former before it was the latter shire.

In the introduction of Collin Simmons’ “ History of
Somersetshire” the following knights and sheriffs of
that county are named: Sir John Waddam, A.D.
1485, King Henry VII.; Sir Nicholas Waddam,
A.D. 1499, King Henry VII.; Sir Edward Waddam,
A.D. 1508, King Henry VII.; Sir John Waddam,
A.D. 1556, Queen Mary; Sir James Waddam, A.D.
1561, Queen Elizabeth.

It is certain that the chief seat of the Waddam
family was removed from the county of Devon to the
county of Somer, as early as 1499, but both estates
were kept in the family, as may appear from their in-
terments in Branscombe church, whereof there is one
example in the mother of Nicholas Waddam, the last of
the name who lies buried there, a noble monument
having been erected to her memory with this inscrip-
tion, which time hath rendered somewhat imperfect :

“ Here lieth intomb’d the body of a virtuous and ancient gentlewoman,
descended of the ancient House of Plantagenets, sometime of Cornwall,
namely Juan, one of the daughters and heirs unto John Tregarthin,
¥aq., in the county of Cornwall. She was first married unto John Helle-
way, who had by her much issue. After his death she was married to
John Waddam, of Merryfield, in the county of Somerset, Esq., and by
him had... children. She lived a virtuous and godly life, and died in
an honorable age, Sept. . . . in the year of Christ, 1581.”

The early sepulchral monuments of this family
may be found, Ist, at or in the parish church of
Branscombe, Devonshire; 2d, in the parish church
dedicated to Almighty God, under the patronage of
the Blessed Virgin, at Ilminster, a small town ten
miles from Taunton, in the county of Somers. The
ancient moated seat of Merryfield, which for many years
was in the possession of the family, is in the parish of
Iiton, and five miles from Ilminster to the north. There
is St. Mary’s church, which is one hundred and thirty
feet long, built with nave, tower, and aisles, and was the
family burial-place. Sir William’s monument in St.
Mary’s is older than that of Sir Nicholas’. How
long after the year 1610 this church remained the
burial-place is not known, but portions of the family
must have been buried there for at least one hundred
and twelve years. The north aisle of St. Mary’s (by
which is meant the portion of the church under a
roof, distinct from the nave) is called the Waddam’s
aisle, because it is occupied with monuments, mural
and other kinds, erected to the deceased members of
the family. Sir William Waddam was buried, as was
the custom in Catholic times, very near the altar.

 

359

Sir Nicholas’ tomb is also there, and bears this in-
scription :
“Pray for the Soul of Sir Nicholas Waddam, Sire of Sir Nicholas and

Captain of the Isle of Wight, who departed out of this world on the 8th
December, 1508; on whom Jesus show mercy.”

There also may be found the monuments of Nich-
olas and Dorothy, his wife, co-founders of Waddam
College, Oxford. Nicholas died about the year 1609.
He was educated at Christ College, Oxford. Dorothy,
his wife, died A.p. 1618,

This honorable family possessed this seat called
Egge about eight generations in a direct line, five of
which were knights, who matched with divers daugh-
ters and heirs, and became allied to many great and
noble houses, as will appear from the following pedi-
gree :*

(1) Sir John Waddam, of Egge (now Edge), about
1380 had issue : (2) Sir John, who by Joan, daughter
of Wrothesley, had issue: (8) William, who by Mar-
garet, daughter and coheir of Chiselden, of Holcomb
Rogers, had issue: (4) Sir John Waddam, also Wil-
liam, and Elizabeth, the wife of Stawel, of Codlistor,
and Mary, the wife of Gilbert Ford, of Bradley,
and Anne, wife of William Montacule, of Henligle,
near Crookham. Sir John Waddam,‘ by Elizabeth,
daughter and one of the heirs of Sir Stephen Pop-
ham, had issue: (5) Sir John, who by Elizabeth,
daughter of Hugh Stukely, had issue: (6) Sir Nicho-
las, who by Joan, daughter of Robert Hill, of Hale-
way, had issue, Lawrence, who died without issue.
(7) John, Giles, and Andrew, and Mary, wife of Sir
Richard Chadleigh, and Elizabeth, wife of Richard
Bampfield, of Poltimore. John Waddam, Esq.,” mar-
ried Joan, the widow of John Keleway, of Colump-
ton, daughter and coheir of Tregarthin, of Corn-
wall, and had issue: (8) Nicholas and Joan, wife of
Sir Giles Strangways, and Margaret, wife of Nicholas
Martin, of Athelhampton, and Florence, wife of Sir
Jobn Windham.

Nicholas Waddam, of Edge,t married Dorothy,
daughter of Sir William Petre, Knight, principal secre-
tary of state to Henry VIL; but having no issue,
the issue of his sisters became heirs to his inherited
estates. ;

It may be further stated of the first Sir John Wad-
dam, Knight, that he applied himself even from his
younger years to the study of the laws of the land,
and became very successful therein, so that his learn-
ing and knowledge of this kind became his profession,
which preferred him to great honor and reputation.
He was called to the degree of sergeant, and made
one of the king’s sergeants at law the same year with
William Hankford, his county man, and only three
years after he was constituted judge, which latter

 

% W. Pole’s Dissertation of Devon in Branscombe MS.

+A manuscript life of Nicholas Waddam, in the Wadham College
library, Oxford. Also, “ Collections towards a description of Devon,” by
Sir William Pole, p. 141, British Museum.
360

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

took place about the eleventh year of the reign of King
Richard IT., 1888.*

“He had a large practice, and thereby made a great

addition to his estate; among other things he joined
unto it the rich manors of Merryfield and Silferton in
this county, which yet continue in his heirs general,
the How family of Windham, of Orchard Wind-
ham.”
' Sir Nicholas Waddam, of Edge and Merryfield,
Esq., founder, had about three thousand pounds in-
come per annum of hereditary estate, which, partly
by his own and partly by his wife’s thrift, came to be
increased by the addition thereto of eight hundred
pounds per annum in land and forty thousand pounds
in money. He was born in the reign of Henry VIIL.,
and married Dorothy, daughter of Sir William Petre,
prime minister under Henry VIII., and he lived
through the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, Elizabeth,
and died during that of JamesI. As Nicholas and
Dorothy could not hand their name down in a regular
line, having no children, they determined to perpetu-
ate it by other means.

Fuller says that “they had great length of extract,
great breadth of estate, and great depth of liberality.”
Originally they intended to found a college at Venice
for the benefit of the youth of England who might
still desire to be educated in the Catholic faith, for
both Nicholas and Dorothy were Catholics; but finally
they consented to establish their college at Oxford,
which they did. He made purchase of the ground
for the site at an expense of six thousand pounds,
“which having done, before he laid one Stone of the
Foundation thereof he yielded to Fate, and left the
care of that matter by Will unto Dorothy, his wife.”
Nor could he have left it in better hands, for soon after
her husband’s death she went on with the work, and,
by great industry as well as charges, quickly brought
it to a close, expending in the building twelve thou-
sand pounds. Having raised this beautiful structure
in the northeast part of the city, ina very beautiful
place, adjoining the pleasant fields and meadows
called New Parks, she settled upon the same a very
fair endowment of eight or nine hundred pounds for
the maintenance of one warden, fifteen fellows, as
many scholars, two chaplains, two clerks, one manci-
pee, two cooks, two butlers, and a porter, and having
obtained the royal leave of King James I. about 1612,
she sent a charter of incorporation for said warden,
fellows, etc., together with a book of statutes for the
better government of the house.

Sir Nicholas Waddam was educated at Christ Col-
lege, Oxford, and died about the year 1609, aged
seventy years, and his widow died in 1618.

THE FAMILY IN AMERICA.
In the ancient family arms the name was Wade-
ham; in America on the early records it is written
aS ee

* “Chronology of Serjeants,” 51-55.

 

Wodom, Wadoms, Wadams, Waddams, and Wad-
doms.

John Waddams came from Somersetshire, England,
in 1650; returned to England, and came back the
next spring, having a wife Susannah, and in 1656
there was given him “a house lot by the town” of
Wethersfield.| This John Waddams, the first at
Wethersfield, came from the same county in England
where Sir Nicholas, the founder of the college, resided,
and may have descended from the family of one of
the uncles of Sir Nicholas, viz., Giles or Andrew
Waddams.

John Waddams, son of John the first, born in
Wethersfield in 1655, married Hannah —,, and had
a son Noah, born in the same town in 1695, who
married, first, Elizabeth Sage, and second, Anne Hurl-
but; had ten children when he settled in Goshen,
Conn., in the spring of 1742, on a farm on the old
road direct from Litchfield to Goshen Centre, his
house being near the site of the brick house built by
his son Seth, and now owned by the heirs of the
late Samuel Ives, at which place he died in 1788, aged
eighty-eight years,

Noah Waddams, Jr., born in Wethersfield, May
17, 1726, came to Goshen when fourteen years of age,
with his father, at the time the town first began
to be settled, and when there were no privileges for
education except by private instruction. He fitted for
college, how or where is not known, entered the Col-
lege of New Jersey, was graduated Sept. 25, 1754, his
diploma being now in the custody of his great-grand-
son, Calvin Wadhams, Esq., counselor-at-law, of
Wilkesbarre ; and what is a most singular coincidence,
this same great-grandson was graduated at the same
university just one hundred years after his paternal
ancestor. Mr. Wadhams studied theology probably
with the Rev. Abel Newell, then pastor at Goshen,
and was ordained in 1758 the first pastor of the
“Church of Christ’? at New Preston, Conn., and mar-
ried Elizabeth Ingersol, Nov. 8, 1758, and continued
here a faithful, successful minister for ten years,
when at his own request he was dismissed. Some of
his descendants have remained honorable members
of that community to the present time.

At that time the Susquehanna Company were ar-
ranging to effect a settlement on the lands claimed
by the State of Connecticut, on the Susquehanna
River, within the bounds of Pennsylvania, as consti-
tuting a part of Litchfield County. When, therefore,
it was proposed to send a colony of forty families to
that region, the providing of a pastor was considered
of as much importance as that of a physician, or 4
person skilled in any of the mechanical branches;
and in order that this personage might not be an in-
cumbrance upon an infant colony, the company made
provision for his support and maintenance. At a
meeting of the company held in 1768 the following

 

+ Wethersfield Records,
GOSHEN.

action was taken: “The standing committee was di-
rected to procure a pastor to accompany the second
colony, called the ‘first forty,’ for carrying on relig-
ious worship and services according to the best of his
ability in a wilderness country.” The proceedings
make further provision: “That, he shall receive one
whole share or right in the purchase and such other
encouragements as others are entitled to have and
enjoy.” This share amounted to some three hundred
acres, besides the perquisites which sometimes ac-
companied the grant. The company also required
the colonial adventurers to provide their pastor, when
they should become located upon the promised land,
“with sustenance according to their best ability.”
When preparation was being made to start this Ply-
mouth colony on their journey into the wilderness,
the committee made choice of the Rev. Noah Wad-
hams as their pastor, and he, being then without a
parish, accepted the appointment. He was at this
time, 1769, forty-three years of age, and had a family
of small children. Leaving his family on his home-
stead in New Preston, he embarked with his flock in
the spirit of adventure which was almost a ruling
passion in those times to try the perils and privations
of the wilderness, on the distant shores of the Sus-
quehanna, amidst the corflicting suspicions and jeal-
ousies of the various Indian tribes.

Mr. Wadhams proceeded with his flock to the place
of destination, where they established what is now
the town of Plymouth, on the western bank of the
Susquehanna, in Luzerne Co., Pa., and there he con-
tinued his pastoral labors and relations, interrupted
by an occasional visit to his family in Connecticut,
until the year succeeding the Wyoming massacre,
1778, when he removed them to Plymouth. From
this time to the period of his death, May 22, 1806,
he faithfully pursued his religious duties, preaching
in Plymouth and other parts of the valley. He was
aman of considerable talents, persevering and indus-
trious, and as a mark of merit Yale College conferred
upon him the degree of Master of Arts in the year
1764. He left four sons,—Ingersoll, Calvin, Noah,
and Moses, the last dying of yellow fever in 1803.

Calvin and Noah were for many years prominent
business men of the town. The success of the former
was remarkable, he being at his death, in 1845, the
man of the largest wealth in the town, and probably
there was not more than one other citizen of the
county who possessed more property than he. He
was a stout, athletic man, about five feet eight inches
in height, dark blue eyes, and a florid complexion.
He possessed an agreeable presence, even temper;
was strictly temperate, very industrious, and lived in
a plain, economical manner. He possessed sound
judgment, good health, and a strong constitution, and
having resolved to become wealthy, he succeeded by
fair and honorable methods, not being under the ne-
cessity of obtaining money by forced sales of the
property of his debtors. He was, in addition to his

 

361

occupation of farmer, a private banker, and being in
the habit of loaning money, it seemed to afford him
more satisfaction to lend to the poor than to the rich.
Having accommodated such people, he would be an-
noyed when the day of payment came, and, as resort
to execution was the last remedy he employed, he
would often extend the time and receive almost any-
thing under the name of property in payment. He
was kind and indulgent to the men in his employment,
but continued to superintend the work on his farm
even when, in order to do it, he was under the neces-
sity of riding in his carriage. Living in a frugal way,
with great energy in business, he accumulated a large
estate. His old homestead farm, being only a part of
his estate left at his decease, but underlaid with a
coal-bed, was recently sold by his family for seven
hundred thousand dollars.

He was a religious man, and although educated as
a Congregationalist, embraced the Wesleyan doctrines,
to which he adhered to the end of his life. His home
was ever open to the brethren of the Methodist
Church, entertaining at quarterly meetings as many
as fifty at a time; but this was not all; his hospitality
was not confined to his own sect; it was broad and
general, and his home was open to all. He died ata
ripe age and in the full enjoyment of his faculties.

Samuel Wadhams, Esq., the only son who survived
him, inherited the larger part of the estate. He in-
herited also the business qualities, the even temper
and kind disposition of his father, and being remark-
ably methodical in business transactions, he made a
wise improvement of the large estate inherited, which
enabled him to leave an ample fortune to each of his
children. He left three sons,—Elijah C., Calvin, and
Moses, and one daughter, who married Hon. L. D.
Shoemaker, afterwards a representative in Congress.

Elijah C., son of the above, is a liberally educated,
thorough business man, residing in Wilkesbarre, Pa.,
and has the following children: Ellen Hendrick,
Samuel French, Cornelia Frances, Moses Waller,
Stella Catlin, Lydia French, Ralph Halliburton.

Noah Wadhams, Jr., third son of the pioneer at
Plymouth, was one of the early justices of the peace
of the county. He was a graduate of the famous law-
school of Litchfield, Conn., under the management of
Judge Reeve, and was admitted to the bar of Luzerne
Co., Pa., about the year 1800, but this profession did
not afford him any great attractions, and he settled
on his patrimonial estate in Plymouth, where he
spent the remainder of his life. He was an indus-
trious, upright citizen, and his court decisions seldom
found their way to the appellate courts. He was a
model magistrate, and for many long years enjoyed
the confidence and respect of his neighbors. He died
in 1846, in the seventy-sixth year of his age.

Tur Rr. Rev. Epgar P. WapHAms, of Ogdens-
burg, N. Y., is descended through another branch
from Noah Wadhams, the first of the name in Goshen.
His great-grandfather, Jonathan, son of Noah, was
362

born Oct. 18, 1730, in Wethersfield, and came to
Goshen with his father’s family, where he married
Judith Howe, Aug. 7, 1754, and where he spent his
life as a farmer. His children were Abraham, Moses,
Susannah, and Lucy. Abraham married Tryphena
Collins, of Goshen, Jan. 15, 1778. Their children
“were Luman, born Sept. 17,1781; Timothy, who died
in Goshen; Noah, who lives at North Bay, Oneida
Co., N. Y.; and Jonathan, who lives at East Clarkson,
Monroe Co.; Abraham died in Goshen; Myra married
J. Bartholomew; Orlando lives in Sangamon Co.,
Ill.; Lucy married John Beach, of Goshen; Elvira
married John Parker, now in Wisconsin. Of these,
Luman Wadhams married widow Lucy (Bostwick)
Prindle, and had Jane Ann, who married Benjamin
Wells, of Jay, Essex Co., N. Y.; Lucy Elvira, who
married D. 8. Wright, M.D., of Whitehall, N. Y.;
William Luman, who married Emeline , and now
lives on the old homestead at Wadhams’ Mills, Essex
Co., N. Y.; Abraham Edmond married Sophia South-
ard, and died in 1856; Noah Collins died young;
Edward P., born May 21, 1817.

The bishop, Edgar P. Wadhams, is a liberally edu-
cated man of good qualities, having risen, by regular
gradation, in the Catholic Church to the office of
bishop of the diocese of Ogdensburg, which he has
held a number of years; and, in the pursuit of literary
tastes, he has given considerable time to the procuring
of historical material concerning the Wadhams family,
both at home and abroad, the results of which largely
enrich the account of the family here given. His
nephew, A.. V. Wadhams, lieutenant United States
navy, of the Coast Survey office, Washington, D. C.,
has rendered valuable service in the same line.

JOHN WADDAMS, SR., son of Noah the first, born
in Wethersfield in 17382, came with his father to
Goshen when he was eight or nine years of age. At
the age of twenty-six years (1758) his father deeded
him a farm of sixty acres, as he says, “for the Love
and good-will I have and do bear unto my Loving
son John Waddams of Goshen.” This land lay on
the east side of the road, and upon it, near the high-
way, this son built his house, which is still standing,
about eighty rods south of where the father resided;
it being in a good state of preservation, although it
has been standing one hundred and twenty years.
He married Ruth, daughter of Isaac Marsh, of Litch-
field. She was born May 25,1788. He was an ener-
getic, successful farmer of Goshen, and died March 3,
1816, at the age of eighty-four years. An anecdote
illustrative not only of his character but also of the
times in which he lived is still remembered. He was
remarking at a certain time, while in company, that
he could write a deed for the sale of land as well
as any lawyer in the county, to which a neighbor
standing near objected, but he persevered in assert-
ing the statement. The neighbor said, “ John Wad-
hams, you lie when you say it.” Such a remark being
regarded in those days as the greatest dishonor to a

 

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

man of character, John thrust out his arm, and his
clenched hand coming in contact with the neighbor's
head quite suddenly, he fell to the ground, a little
astonished at the turn of matters. Mr. Wadhams
being a member of the church was called on not long
after by a committee of the church, who urged him
to a confession of wrong-doing and sorrow for the
same; but this he stoutly refused to do, not seeing
that he had done wrong, but rather that he had vin-
dicated his own character as a man of truth. A sec-
ond committee visited him, and recommended that if
he could not go before the church and make the state-
ment, he might delegate another to do it for him; but
all effort was unavailing, and the church, although
acknowledging that his sense of honor was perfectly
right, excommunicated him because he would not
say he was sorry when he was not.

Another item characteristic of the times is found in
the town order-book of Goshen, that on the day of
the installation of the Rev. Mr. Sherman of that town,
about 1781, Mr. Wadhams furnished the cheese and
cider for the lunch for the council during inter-
mission of services.

JoHn WapHaAms, JR., married, April 25, 1805,
Mary, daughter of Samuel Ripley, of Goshen. She
was born Feb. 14, 1776. He made his home in the
new house which his father had built on the then
new turnpike road from Goshen Centre to Litchfield,
on seventy-five acres of land that the father after-
wards deeded to this son John and his brother Isaac,
the house being now the residence of John M. Wad-
hams. John Wadhams, Jr., was a capable business
man, but never possessing good health, on account of
lung difficulty, could not endure much of the regular
labor required on a farm, yet he managed the enter-
prise successfully. He died Sept. 3, 1814.

Mary (Ripley) Wadhams possessed a remarkable
physical and mental constitution, being of a tender
and kindly disposition, but of such courageous temper
as seldom falls to the lot of a woman, being naturally
retiring and sensitive, yet equal to any emergency.
She assisted in several surgical operations of the
amputation of limbs and excisions of cancers, per-
forming important parts with perfect composure.
When a girl she worked for fifty cents per week,
never more than a dollar a week, but at the time of
her marriage had five hundred dollars of her own
earnings at interest. She survived her first husband,
and four years after his decease married his brother,
Isaac Wadhams, Nov. 26, 1818, and died Jan. 4, 1850,
having been the mother of nine children by her first,
and of one by her second husband.

Isaac, son of John Wadhams, Sr., lived with his
brother John on the farm which they owned jointly
until the year 1818, when he married the brother's
widow, Mary (Ripley) Wadhams, and continued 4
successful farmer, specially thoughtful and consider-
ate to the poor and unfortunate. He accumulated
a handsome fortune. He died Feb. 24, 1832, leav-
 
GOSHEN.

ing one son, Isaac, who continued to reside in a part
of the old home, with his mother and half-sister,
until his death, July 17, 1865. He was unfortunate
in suffering three severe attacks of illness when a
child, in consequence of which he never allowed
himself to take full charge of his business without
the advice and judgment of his brother, John M.,
who rendered the needed help in so efficient a man-
ner that at his death his paternal estate had doubled
once and a half.

ELIZABETH, daughter of John Wadhams, Sr., be-
came the second wife of John Hatch, of New Preston,
whose first wife was the daughter of the Rev. Noah
Wadhams. She died in Goshen, Sept. 23, 1808,
without children.

SaraH, daughter of John Wadhams, Sr., married
Stephen Russell, of Litchfield, where she died of
cancer, June 25, 1818, leaving two sons, John W.
Russell and Isaac W. Russell, both of whom became
prominent surgeons in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Isaac
W. died unmarried; John W. married a daughter
of William Beebe, of Litchfield, and is still living,
having several children. Stephen Russell died at
his son John’s, in Ohio.

GroRGE, son of John Wadhams, Jr., born Jan-
28, 1806, married Angeline Parmelee, at Goshen,
Noy. 26, 1886, and resided on the homestead of his
grandfather until his death, Feb. 3, 1870, leaving no
children.

. Mary, daughter of John Wadhams, Jr., born Aug.
80, 1808, married Watts H. Brooks, of Goshen, and
died Sept. 5, 1872. Mr. Brooks is a successful farmer,
his home being efficiently maintained by the oversight
of his youngest daughter, Amanda Collins Brooks;
the elder daughter, Mary E., having died at the
age of twenty years, This Goshen home is well
represented in business circles throughout the State
by the two sons as bankers at Wolcottville. The elder,
John W., was trained to mercantile life some years,
when the health of his brother, Isaac W., proving in-
_ adequate to a collegiate course which he had entered
upon, the brothers accepted an opportunity, and con-
ducted successfully a dry-goods and produce store in
Goshen some ten years, when they removed and estab-
lished their banking house at Wolcottville, where the
enterprise is still prosperous. Mr. John W. Brooks is
now insurance commissioner of the State of Connecti-
cut. While these two brothers were traveling recently
in Europe, they made such collections of names and
historical matters as have rendered this account of
the Wadhams family much more complete than it
otherwise would have been.
: Hoy. Joun Marsu WapuAMs, whose portrait is
here given, was born at Goshen, May 7, 1811, being
the son of John Wadhams, Jr., and his wife, Mary
Ripley, His father died when he was three years of
age, leaving him, with two brothers and two sisters and
asmall patrimony, in care of his mother, who four
years later married Isaac Wadhams, her first husband’s

 

363

brother. As a result of this marriage, a son, Isaac,
was born in 1821, who died in 1865 without children.
The children of these two families were reared at the
homestead until they severally became of age, the
boy-life of John M. being occupied with work on the
farm summers and attendance on the common school
winters until sixteen years of age, after which two or
three terms at the academy completed his school days.
He early learned to “ cast interest” and found it more
pleasant to receive than to pay, and from observation
concluded that three-fourths of the estates probated
did not amount to the original sum inherited had it
been left to accumulate in the savings bank ; in other
words, not one of four had supported itself by its own
exertion. Fifty-one years ago he kept a district
school in Salisbury for four months, wages ten dol-
lars a month, boarding around the district, and since
for three or four years; about that time his stepfather
clothed him and paid him fifty dollars per annum for
his work; he placed his forty dollars school-money at
six per cent. interest, which being compounded for
fifty-one years, gives him now over one thousand
dollars of school-money. This statement, while sug-
gestive to the young, has a logical force, since his
reckoning has never led him to change from receiving
to paying interest.

His tact and good management in financial matters
is shown to have been continued through life, as the
tax-lists of Goshen prove at this date, while his skill
in the management of the property of others, as well
as his integrity of accounting and administration, is
well known to the people of Goshen, and is questioned
by none. One example is given. The estate of his
half-brother, Isaac, which consisted mostly of scattered
lots of land lying in Goshen and adjoining towns,
managed by him for years as an agent, which estate,
besides supporting Isaac, made the surprising increase
from sixteen thousand to forty thousand dollars,
which for a back country town is worthy of notice.

Mr. Wadhams since reaching his majority has been
constantly trusted and honored as trustee, executor,
guardian, or administrator of the estates of others, as
the probate records of this district will abundantly
testify, and it is probable that he has settled more
estates of deceased persons than any other man now
living in Goshen, with perhaps one exception.

He has been an office-holder almost continually for
fifty years, having filled every position of trust or
profit, except one, within the gift of his townsmen,
being last of all for several years the town agent to
fight its battles in money, if any should occur. He
was for several years collector of internal revenue for
the district including Goshen and adjoining towns.
He served fifteen years as selectman and most of the
time as chairman of the board; and it has been a
fact, noted throughout the State, that the town affairs
of Goshen have for many years been most frugally
managed, and never more so than during Mr. Wad-
hams’ administration ; and many of the “old stagers”
364

of the town boards outside of Goshen, from twenty to
forty years ago, will call to mind their contests with
him in which Goshen as a rule has been victorious.

By his skill as chairman of the board of selectmen,
ably assisted by competent associates, Goshen was
carried through the drafts, enlistments, and extra ex-
penses of the late Rebellion without a debt or an ob-
ligation unpaid.

He was a representative in 1844, and served on the
committee on sale of lands; also a representative
in 1845, and served on the committee on claims as
chairman; and again a representative in 1880, and
was chairman of the committee on forfeited rights.
He was the senator from the seventeenth district in
1858, and chairman of the committee on the State
prison.

His service in both branches of the State Legisla-
ture was characterized by the same ideas of economy
and careful financial management as is noted of his
private and other public life. He contested all bills
that had the appearance of “‘ jobbery,” and while ad-
vocating every measure which looked for “ the great-
est good to the greatest number,” took time to count
the cost, thoroughly investigating every measure by
the test of its merit and public demand, though not
in the spirit of parsimony, yet in such a manner as to
retain the esteem and friendship of his opponents.
The following article, taken from the New Haven Reg-
ister of Feb. 29, 1880, a paper devoted to the opposite
political party to which Mr. Wadhams belongs, illus-
trates a little his relations to his fellow representa-
tives: “It is hard work to properly estimate Mr.
Wadhams, of Goshen, there being in him a large
amount of dry humor with a strong tendency to inof-
fensive sarcasm. He can hardly talk on any subject
without the fun oozing out of bim at every pore, and
his remarks on any subject are always as eagerly lis-
tened to as were those of P. T. Barnum, of the last
session. Mr. Wadhams is the funnier man of the
two, inasmuch as natural humor is always better than
boisterous fun. He is one of the most popular men
in the House, and has a host of friends.”

He was born in and held to the faith of the
Old-Line Whigs so long as that party kept its name,
but when Americanism arose he embraced its princi-
ples and became prominent in its councils, being
greatly chagrined to see it merged in the Republican
party.

It is proper to add that the foreign population of
Goshen know no better friend, nor one they esteem
more highly than he. No resident of Goshen has
furnished the first home in this county to so great a
number of the sons and daughters of Erin, Sweden,
Switzerland, and Germany ; many of whom are to-
day honorable and successful freeholders in this
county.

Mr. Wadhams is not a member of any church, but
since his boyhood has been a constant and liberal sup-
porter of the First Congregational Society of Goshen,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

contributing largely of his means and influence to-
wards its success. He recognizes the ancient teach-
ing “ For ye have the poor with you always,” and has
ever been mindful that “‘ whensoever ye will ye may do
them good,” as his neighbors in South Goshen and
elsewhere will bear testimony.

He is known as a man of public spirit in its true
sense, ready and willing to contribute of time and
money to all enterprises of public benefit.

He was chairman of the committee having the
management of the centennial celebration of the town
of Goshen, July 4, 1876, and has been called to hold
similar positions on many other public occasions,
He was for two years president of the Litchfield
County Agricultural Society, vindicating his standing
as a successful, practical farmer of the county.

In his early manhood Mr. Wadhams was troubled
with a lung difficulty which incapacitated him for
severe physical labor for several years, but in his
later life he has been favored with general good
health. Although having measured the seventy
years allotted to man, with beard and hair indicative
of his stage of life, his form is still erect, and his eye
as black and piercing as ever. He is the oldest living
male representative of his branch of the Wadhams
family ; a name which numbers at this date fifty-two
representatives in Goshen.

Mr. Wadhams married Eunice W. Hodges, of Tor-
rington, Conn., Oct. 30, 1837, a descendant of one of
the first families of that town, who died Aug. 7, 1855,
leaving three children. In 1857, December 2d, he mar-
ried Mrs. Myrantha (Drake) Gillett, of Torrington,
who, although coming into a family of decided energy
and character, has so judiciously and kindly cared for
and nurtured the home as to win the decided esteem
of all, and to make it thoroughly a home of gladness.

Of the three surviving children of this family,

JoHn Hopers WapHAms, born Nov. 30, 1840,
the eldest, resides on a farm adjoining his paternal
home. He received a common-school and an aca-
demic education at Goshen and Norfolk; married,
Sept. 11, 1865, Mary G. Pelton, of Torrington (born
Dec. 11, 1846), and has seen considerable portion of
his native country by travel, having resided over
two years at Bloomington, IIl., from September, 1865.
He is in politics a Democrat; having been a member
of the General Assembly in the years 1872 and 1874,
and for many years chairman of the town Democratic
committee. He was also a director of the Connecti-
cut State prison from July, 1874, to July, 1876, and is
at present justice of the peace and register of voters.

His children are Julia E. Wadhams, born, July 6,
1867; John Marsh Wadhams, born Sept. 14, 1870;
Lucy Burr Wadhams, born April 8, 1872; Mary H.
Wadhams, born Feb. 21, 1876; and Robert P. Wad-
hams, born Jan. 10, 1879.

SARAH JANE, daughter of John Wadhams, born
July 12, 1846, married Frederick A. Lucas (born
Sept. 9, 1841) Aug. 7, 1867. They reside at West
      

           

 

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fA

Cit
GOSHEN.

Goshen, where Mr. Lucas, a successful business man,
has been engaged some years as a merchant. Their
children are Frederick Wadhams Lucas, born Nov.
11, 1868; and John Marsh Lucas, born Dec. 14,
1870.

JuLia HINCKLEY, daughter of John M. Wadhams,
born Oct. 16, 1852, married, Sept. 3, 1874, Wilber
H. Wadhams (born Nov. 6, 1848), a business man
residing at West Goshen, being the owner and con-
ductor of a valuable grist-mill property at that place.
They have one child, Elizabeth Wadhams, born June
24, 1876. :

ELIZABETH, daughter of John Wadhams, Jr., born
Sept. 5, 1813, has always resided on the paternal
homestead, and, although not the strongest in health,
has a competency to secure the comforts of life, and
has always been the aunt of the old homestead, whom
all have delighted to honor.

SamMUEL Noa, son of John Wadhams, Jr., born
March 20, 1815, married, Sept. 9, 1838, Lucy Matilda
Rea, who was born March 26, 1819. He engaged for
a time as a merchant in Danbury, Conn., after a farm-
ing experience of some three years. Having trav-
eled somewhat in. former years: as a salesman of cut-
lery, he engaged in this capacity with the Holley
Manufacturing Company of Salisbury, in which rela-
tion he continued about twenty-five years, making
a success of the enterprise both for himself and the
company. He died Nov. 29, 1874. - Their children
were Mary Elizabeth, born June 5, 1839, who mar-
ried Ephraim Starr Brewster, Jan. 20, 1859, and died
in Florida, July 3, 1869, leaving a son, Clarence Nel-
son, born April 16, 1860; Franklin Edward and
Francis Morris, twins, born July 17, 1844; the former
married Alice Eliza Barnum; Nov. 25, 1875, who died
June 2, 1880, leaving no children; the latter, Francis
Morris Wadhams, married Frances Minor Palmer,
Dec. 28, 1870, their children being Mary Palmer, born
Sept. 30, 1872; Noah Samuel, born May 27, 1875;
Joseph Palmer, born April 22,1877; Francis Ray,
born Jan. 22, 1880; Lucy Octavia Woodruff, born
Feb, 27, 1848, who married Dr. John Crego Lester,
June 24, 1880; and Henrietta Josephine, born Jan.
9, 1851.

Sotomon WapHAmMs, son of Noah, Sr., born June
26, 1740, in Middletown, where his father resided one
year, was two years of age when his father’s family
removed to Goshen. He was graduated at Yale Col-
lege in 1762, and afterwards engaged as a merchant
in a store half a mile north of his father’s residence.
He married, in 1802, widow Abigail (Beebe) Allen,
who had sons,—Beebe Allen and Heman Allen. He
resided in Goshen until his decease. His children
were Beebe and Melinda. Beebe Wadhams married
Charlotte, daughter of Abner Ives, of ‘Torrington,*
and lived a time as a farmer about a mile south of
Goshen Centre, where his wife died, and afterwards

 

* See Torrington history.
24

 

365

he removed to Berkshire Co.. Mass., where he died.
His children, born in Goshen, were Henry, who mar-
ried Hannah Scott, of Massachusetts, and had sons,—
Henry L., who died, leaving daughters, Charlotte and
Mary, and Lewis, who married, and resides in Pittsfield,
Mass., has son Louis; Julius, who died young; Wil-
lard, who was graduated at the Vermont University
when seventeen years of age, traveled and studied in
Europe, and died early in Texas; Albert, born June
25, 1819; received a diploma from Norwich Univer-
sity, Vermont; married, first, Lucy L. Ensworth, of
Norwich, Vt., June 7, 1844, and second, Mrs, Eme-
line Perkins, of Goshen, Aug. 22, 1866, and has one
son, Charles, born Sept. 2, 1847.

SETH, youngest son of Noah Wadhams, Sr., was
born in Goshen; married Ann Catlin, of Litchfield,
a woman of great energy of character and efficiency ;
known far and near as a practicing physician ; built a
brick dwelling-house near his father’s residence, which
is now owned by the heirs of Samuel Ives, whose wife,
Polly, was his youngest daughter.

His children were Nancy, who married Timothy
Childs, of Torrington, whoseson, Dr.Samuel R. Childs,
was one of the commissioners of New York City in
the construction of the Croton Water-Works for that
city; Anna, who married Capt. Samuel Buell, of
Litchfield ; Seth, Jr., died in Cornwall, had a son,
George D. Wadhams, a merchant of Wolcottville,
Conn.; Jesse, who removed to Mount Morris, N. Y.,

| where he died ; Heman, died in Goshen; David, who

was for many years a merchant in Goshen Centre,
leaving a family of fourteen children; Norman, who
built the brick house where he lived and died, on the
new road two miles south of Goshen Centre, a quar-
ter of a mile east of his father’s house.

DANIEL NORTON LUCAS.

The Lucas family came from England, the gene-
alogy having been traced back to about the year 1600.

The subject of this sketch belongs to a family noted
as large land-holders in Goshen and Middletown,
reaching back to 1733. In the latter year we find
Thomas Lucas, and also his son, Thomas Lucas, Jr.,
as residents of Middletown and owners of large tracts
of land on the west bank of the Connecticut River,
records of titles to same being found in “ Middletown
Land: Records,” Lib. 7, folio 135,—‘ 35 page of Mid-
dletown, eightly book of Records,” and others,—as we
copy from the old deeds now in the hands of the
family.

This Thomas, Jr., came to Goshen from Middle-
town about 1755, and bought a tract of land on what
is now known as Lucas Hill, getting his titles from
one of the original proprietors of the town. He built
a log house near the big rock east of the house now be-
longing to the estate of Daniel Norton Lucas, and
from that day till now that section has remained in
the name and occupancy of this family.
366

. Thomas, Jr., had two sons; the elder, also a Thomas,
Jr.,.was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, a
young man of great promise, but gave his life for the
new republic, dying of camp fever ten days after his
return home.

The other son, Allen, remained with his father on
Lucas Hill, married, and reared a numerous family,
some of his boys scattering into the far West, one of
his girls marrying into one of the Goshen families.
His son, Thomas Allen Lucas, remained on the hill,
as also did David, his brother, until his death.

The descendants of Thomas Allen Lucas now com-
prise nearly all of the Lucas name in Goshen, there
being one exception, a daughter (Clarinda) of David
Lucas.

Thomas Allen Lucas was killed while in the prime
of life by being thrown from a load of hay during a
thunder-shower, in 1837, while the oxen attached were
running away. He left a widow and four children,—
Daniel Norton, Henry Augustus, Elizabeth, and Polly
Ann. His widow was the daughter of Deacon Daniel
Norton, of Goshen, and a woman of sterling charac-
ter, sound sense, and business energy. She carried
on the large farm, with the aid of her children, the
eldest being then eighteen years old, till her death
in 1840.

Sept. 13, 1840, Daniel Norton Lucas married Ma-
rilla L., one of the twelve daughters of Benjamin
Price, of Goshen, and, buying the real estate dis-
tributed to his sisters, which with his own made a
farm of one hundred and sixty-five acres, began busi-
ness for himself, being at that time twenty-two and
his wife seventeen years old, she bringing him no
worldly goods, yet rich in all other qualifications
necessary for a happy, successful farmer’s life.

For thirty years they worked their farm and bought
additions to it, increasing their dairy of cows from
twenty-five to fifty, and their cattle from thirty to
sixty-five head.

At one time his real estate was one of the most
valuable in the town, and consisted of more than six
hundred acres, carrying one hundred head of cattle,
part of which was managed by his son.

Lucas was a successful farmer, and owed much to
his wife for her skill and energy in the management
of the dairy and household affairs. About 1870 he
retired from his farm to a residence in Goshen Centre,
placing his son, Daniel Norton, Jr., on the farm. The
quiet of his new house was very irksome to him, and
he rode to the old farm almost daily, and worked
with the men and directed the management until his
death.

He was a man of decided opinions and bold to de-
clare them, of an argumentative disposition, but very
fair and honorable in business. His dealings for forty
years with his neighbors were extensive in cattle,
horses, and farm produce, but he never had a law-
suit. He cared very little for politics, and held very
little public office: was a selectman one term. He

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

was practical, plain, made no displays, cared nothing
for fashion, and seldom went outside for business or
pleasure.

He departed this life April 25, 1880, and was buried

on his sixty-second birthday in the Centre cemetery
in Goshen, and his heirs have erected a handsome
monument to his memory.

He will long be remembered as one of Goshen’s
most enterprising and successful farmers.

We place on record a few leaves and twigs from the
genealogical tree of this family.

James Lucas, in 1620, was a land-holder near Man-
chester, England, and held an appointment under the
government similar to our trial justice. His son,
Thomas James, died.in Boston about 1650, and one of

, his sons, Thomas Augustus, died at sea, in command

of a vessel, about 1665. ‘This Capt. Lucas had a son
Thomas, born in Boston in 1640, who died in Mid-
dletown in 1737, and whose son Thomas, Jr., born
in 1700, near Boston, died in Middletown in 1749; and
it was a son of this last-named Thomas, Jr.—who was
also a Thomas, Jr.—that settled in Goshen about 1756.
This man had two sons: the elder, born in Middletown,
March 20, 1750, also a Thomas, Jr., was a soldier in
the Revolution, and died in Goshen in 1783; while
the other, named Allen, born in Middletown, March
I, 1758, died in Goshen, March 11, 1820. His wife was
Sarah Thompson, born in Goshen, March 1, 1789; she
died March 27, 1838. The children of Allen were
John, Ezra, Augustus, Heman, Sarah, David, Olive,
Betsy, Mary, and Thomas Allen. John and Ezra
moved to the West, married, and have descendants in
large number, which we must omit here. Augustus
died in Goshen, a young man, leaving a widow, who
afterwards married —— Towner. Sarah died while
a young woman, and unmarried. Mary married
Horatio N. Beach, on East Street in Goshen, and is
yet living (March, 1881) in the home she entered so
long ago, and has been a widow for fifty years. Her
son Edward, who lived with her till his death, April
3, 1871, left a widow, now living at the homestead,
Laura Johnson, and three daughters,—Mary E., born
May 7, 1861; Laura Jane, born May 9, 1864; and
Ella C., born Feb. 22, 1866. Heman was with Hud-
son, of Goshen, when he settled the town in Ohio
which bears his name, and found an early grave there,
and was the first white man buried in that town.
Olive and Betsy never married ; both lived in Goshen
until their death a few years since. David remained
in Goshen all his days, married Mary Merrills, and
had children,—Esther, who never married, and died at
home, Jan. 28, 1848; Jane, who married Virgil Col-
lins, of Goshen, leaving at her death, Evaline, who
married Joseph Carter, of Plymouth, and afterwards
Lindley, of Waterbury; and Mary, who married
William Hotchkiss, of Plymouth. David, Jr., who
married Eunice Davis, of Goshen, he dying Oct. 12,
1863, and his widow Aug. 25, 1867, leaving Charles,
now married in New Haven, and Alice, now the wife

 
 
GOSUEN.

of Elihu Carlisle, of Goshen.
in Goshen, never married.

Thomas Allen Lucas was born in Goshen, Oct. 12,
1792, and died Aug. 30, 1837. His wife, Sally Nor-
ton, was born in Goshen, Jan. 28, 1798, and died Sept.
18, 1840. They were married March 19, 1817, and their
children were, —

Daniel Norton! (see sketch), born April 28, 1818.

Henry Augustus,” born April 15, 1819, died May
19,1875. He married Mary H. Pierson, of Richmond,
Mass., March 27, 1844, and their children are Sarah
Baldwin, born Jan. 14, 1845, wife of Seelye Hart, of
Cornwall, Conn.; Elizabeth Melissa, born March 7,
1848, wife of Charles Blake, of Cornwall, Conn.;
Henry Pierson, born Nov. 21, 1850, married Mary A.
Humphrey, of Pittsfield, Mass., after whose death he
married Lillian Wolleston, of Pittsfield, and is settled
in business as a prosperous merchant in Pittsfield,
Mass.; Joseph Allen, born Dec. 7, 1856, now living
on the homestead in Goshen with his mother.

Sarah Elizabeth,® born July 12, 1822, died July 2,
1851, married Myron C. Gaylord, of Norfolk, Conn.,
Jan. 8, 1848, who died April 4, 1854. Their children
were Mary Louisa, born Dec. 8, 1843, died Jan. 18,
1856; Sarah Elizabeth, born July 30, 1845, died May
14, 1870; Myron Lucas, born July 18, 1847, died Jan.
16, 1852; Henry Norton, born July 7, 1849, now
living in Norfolk.

Polly Ann, born Dec. 9, 1828, married Jonathan
Wadhams, Jr., of Goshen, Feb. 22, 1842, who died
Feb. 25, 1865. She married Deacon Addison Palmer,
of Torrington, Conn., Oct. 27, 1869, and they now
live on the Wadhams homestead in Goshen. Her
children are Williard Norton Wadhams, born March
16, 1848, died in army hospital at Philadelphia, July
22, 1865, while in the service of the United States,
and holding the position of color-guard in the Second
Connecticut Heavy Artillery, and he was a very fine
soldier and a brave man; Henry Augustus Wadhams,
born Feb. 26, 1847, died in Goshen, Oct. 10, 1867;
Jonathan Edwards Wadhams, born Jan. 1, 1856,
married, Feb. 19, 1877, Lavina F. Collough, of Morris,
Conn., and has children,—Williard Henry, born May
9, 1878; and Darwin Addison, born March 18, 1880.

The children of Daniel Norton Lucas (sketch) are
Frederick Allen! (see sketch in this history), Mary
Elizabeth,? born Jan. 25, 1848, died April 4, 1866;
Emma Lucretia,® born May 9, 1861, died May 1, 1871;
Daniel Norton, Jr.,? born June 27, 1845, now a farmer
in Goshen, married Addie Wadhams Tuttle, adopted
daughter of Calvin Tuttle, of Goshen, Feb. 6, 1867,
and has children,—Franklin Calvin, born Jan. 19,
1868; Daniel Edwin, born Jan. 3, 1871; Mary Addie,
born Feb. 5, 1872; Charlie, born Oct. 2, 1873.

Benjamin Franklin,‘ born Aug. 24, 1847, died Feb.
5, 1875, in Goshen, married Kate L. Miles, daughter
of Philo C. Miles, of Goshen, Oct. 3, 1870, and their
children are Willis F., born July 17, 1871; Emma
B., born April 4, 1873.

Clarinda, still living

 

367

Anna Marrilla,> born July 22, 1851; married Charles
C. Allyn, of Goshen, May 28, 1876, and lives in
West Goshen, Conn.

FREDERICK ALLEN LUCAS.

Frederick Allen Lucas is the eldest child of Daniel
Norton Lucas (referred to in this history with sketch.
and portrait), and is now the oldest living male rep-
resentative of the Lucas family in Goshen. He was
born in Goshen, Sept. 9, 1841.

During his boyhood, and until near his majority, he
lived at home, and worked on his father’s farm in
summer, attending the common school in winter till
he was twelve years old, when he entered Goshen
Academy under the tutorship of James Q. Rice. At
seventeen he taught a school in Cornwall Hollow, and
continued to teach each winter and helping his father
summers, till July, 1862, when he enlisted as a private
soldier in Company C, Nineteenth Connecticut Vol-
unteers (afterwards the Second Connecticut Heavy
Artillery), under his old teacher, Capt. Rice.

As a boy young Lucas was a great worker, ener-
getic, and persevering; was never beaten at hoeing,
haying, or milking; held plow and followed the team
as soon as large enough to swing a whip, and for sev-
eral seasons milked the ‘‘ mean ones” to the number

of fifteen, night and morning, in his father’s dairy of

forty-five cows.

When the civil war broke out he was anxious to
enlist at the first chance which offered, but his father’s
protest and argument that he could not spare him
prevented him from shouldering a musket for the
Union till 1862.

At Camp Dutton, in Litchfield, he was made a cor-
poral, and when his turn came for promotion, some
months afterwards, was advanced to a sergeant.
While serving as sergeant of the guard one day at Fort
Ellsworth, Va., an order from Col. Kellogg, command-
ing, was read to the regiment on dress-parade, com-
manding every non-commissioned officer in the regi-
ment to present a specimen of his handwriting at
headquarters within twenty-four hours. Lucas did
not know of this order until after “ taps,’. when he
went to his quarters for supper, and the “boys” told
him. By the light of a candle stuck in an inverted
bayonet, on a half-sheet of note-paper that was far
from clean, he attempted to obey his colonel’s com-
mand. He placed his first thought on paper, writing
the first question and answer in “Artillery Tactics :”

“What is understood by the term artillery?”
“Heavy pieces of every description, with the imple-
ments and materials necessary for their use.”

Signing his name he rushed to his captain’s tent
and banded in his specimen. Two days afterwards
he was as much astonished as fifty other sergeants,
whom he “jumped,” to hear himself commanded by
a special order to report forthwith to regimental
headquarters and assume command of headquarters
368

guard, brass band, drum corps, and others, in all about
eighty-five men. Whether his penmanship had any-
thing to do with this Lucas never knew. It might
have been due to his skill as a drill-master in both
infantry and artillery tactics, as for many weeks pre-
vious he had been detailed almost constantly on this
duty, drilling the new men with which the regiment
was being heavily recruited.

The best evidence we have that Lucas did his duty
well in this new sphere is that shortly afterwards
Col. Kellogg asked him if he had been home since his
enlistment, and receiving the reply that he had not,
he told Lucas to “go to Adjt. Vaill and tell him to
make out a furlough.” The colonel indorsed the
paper with a few words of commendation, and an or-
derly was dispatched to Washington to get the same
indorsed by the general commanding and the Secre-
tary of War, as this was done in the days of “no fur-
loughs,” except in extreme cases. The time was for
“seven days from date.”

It was while home on this furlough that Lucas
was made a “freeman,” and cast his first vote on the
first Monday in April, 1864.

His promptness to obey orders is shown by his re-
turn to the regimental headquarters in Virginia,
twelve hours before his furlough elapsed.

On his return, Col. Kellogg met him with, ‘‘ How
are you, sergeant-major?” “Did you see your
mother?” “Did you see the girl?” Receiving satis-
factory replies, he added, “You want a new set of
chevrons, sir.” Lucas did not know what he meant
by the last remark till, visiting the Goshen boys in
Company C that evening, and going to witness their
battalion dress-parade, he heard the special order
read making him a sergeant-major.

He served as sergeant-major on the staff of Col.
Kellogg at Fort Elisworth and Fort Ward, and while
the regiment occupied Arlington Heights, and it was
at the latter place that he received from a messenger
of the War Department, and passed to the hands of
Adjt. Vaill and Col. Kellogg, at midnight of the 16th
of May, 1864, the order to “go to the front” for his
regiment.

Lucas held his position on the staff on the noted
march to Spottsylvania, and in the engagement there ;
at Jericho Ford; the night-march along the Pau-
munkey; in that Aceldama, Cold Harbor, that cost
every fourth man in the regiment; under that con-
tinuous ‘‘twelve days’ fire.” It was here that Col.
Kellogg was killed, and Lucas selected four men to
go with him outside, between the lines, and bring in
the dead body of their beloved commander, on June
2, 1864, and Lucas held charge of the corpse till the
team could be brought up, by which it was sent to
the rear, and thence home for burial.

He was in that noted march with the Sixth Corps
to Petersburg; helped to build the intrenchments at
Harrison’s House; was in the skirmish, so near a
battle, of June 22, 1864; that dusty march to City

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Point; the trying marches and counter-marches under
Sheridan in Maryland and the Shenandoah Valley;
in the memorable battles of Opequan, Winchester,
and Fisher’s; the chase after the flying rebels to
Harrisonburg; and in that most remarkable battle
of the war, Cedar Creek, in which he was severely
wounded by a minie-ball through his left thigh,
This injury sent him to the rear for three months,
but before it healed—in fact, it never healed till after
the war was over—he rejoined his regiment at Peters-
burg, just in time to go into the fight at Hatcher's
Run, where he was wounded again, but so slight as
only to confine him to ‘his quarters about a week.

At this date he was sworn in as a second lieutenant
and assigned to Company B, Second Connecticut
Heavy Artillery, on a recommendation of Col. Mac-
kenzie, on whose staff he had served since the death
of Col. Kellogg. His commission from Governor
Buckingham reached him while wounded, at Cedar
Creek. Col. Mackenzie, in writing Governor Buck-
ingham, said he “wanted Lucas commissioned for
gallantry and soldierly conduct in the battles of
Winchester and Fisher’s Hill,” and in this connec-
tion we copy from Vaill’s “ History of the Second
Connecticut Heavy Artillery,” page 210.

“Sergt.-Maj. (afterwards second lieutenant) Fred-
erick A. Lucas received a wound in the left thigh at
Cedar Creek which disabled him for several months.
He returned to the regiment just in time to receive
another wound—a slight one—in the affair at Hatcher's
Run.

“He was promoted for gallantry at Winchester and
Fisher’s Hill, and Col. Mackenzie told the writer,
just after those battles, that he never saw a braver
man than Sergt.-Maj. Lucas.”

He was immediately placed in command of his
company, its captain being a prisoner in the enemy’s
hands since Cedar Creek, and remained its com-
manding officer till near the close of the war. .

In March, 1865, his old colonel, now Gen. Mac-
kenzie, who had been assigned to the command of
Kautz’ cavalry division under Sheridan, urged Lucas
to accept a position on his staff, promising him speedy
promotion through the general’s influence with Gov-
ernor Buckingham, which offers were declined with
gratitude, a declination much regretted ever since.

Company B was then color company, and Lucas
led his men in the engagement at Fort Fisher, where
his company, with two others, were left to hold through
the night the advanced line gained in the fight that
day, Lucas in command of the advance. He had
command of the picket-line in front of Fort Wads-
worth, with three officers and one hundred and fifty
men under him, on April 1, 1865, when Grant made
his successful attempt to take Richmond and Peters-
burg, and witnessed that glorious sight of the night
cannonading, he and his men being stationed be-
tween the lines of heavy guns, about midway between
friend and foe; and as their position was on high
GOSHEN.

ground, they were exultant spectators of next day’s
battle, where for the first time, after years of every
sort of peril and trial, as Vaill puts it, “the faithful
soldiers of the republic saw daylight.”

He was in command of his company on the hard
chase after Lee’s flying army; in the fight at Sailor’s
Creek, where three of his men captured flags; and at
the “ great surrender at Appomattox.”

He commanded the rear-guard of the Sixth Corps
on the famous march from Danville to Burkesville
after Johnston’s surrender.

He was in the grand review of the Sixth Corps and
Sheridan’s cavalry at Washington, June 8, 1865; and
it was after this trying march that he was stricken down
‘with malarial fever, which malady clung to him long
after his return to private life.

Lieut. Lucas has the satisfaction of being able to
say, what few men can, that he was present with,
participated in, and by virtue of his office held. a

prominent position in every engagement with the.

enemy by the Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery.
He was honorably “ mustered out” Aug. 18, 1865.

Upon his return to. Goshen he entered the store of
Hart Bros. & Co., at West Goshen, as under clerk,
beginning at the bottom of the ladder, on small
wages, and doing the work of a green hand, building
the fires, sweeping, etc. Here he was successively
promoted until he received a salary equivalent to
twelve hundred dollars per year. In the spring of
1869 he was elected a representative to the General
Assembly, where he served on the committee on
roads and. bridges, and on other minor appointments.

In September of 1869 he was solicited to become a
partner in the wholesale grocery house of Giddings
& Co., of Bridgeport, Conn., which became Giddings
& Lucas, but after six months an opportunity offered
to. purchase. the. business at West Goshen, and, pre-
ferring a country life, he withdrew from the Bridge-
port house, and associated with Frederick E. Hurlbut
and Wilbert M. Allyn (both of Goshen), forming the
firm of Lucas, Hurlbut & Allyn, succeeding Hart
Brothers & Co.

He is still the senior partner of the firm, which is
now Lucas & Allyn, his present associate being Eu-
gene E. Allyn, a native of Goshen, who also served
his apprenticeship and learned the business “from
the bottom round” in the same store.

This place of business has for many years been
noted for its trade in English dairy cheese, which are
made by the farmers in Goshen and towns adjoining,
and have for many years found a ready market at
this store. This trade was originally conducted by
Augustus Miles, father of Frederick Miles, the present
member of Congress from this district, and later by
Mr. Miles and his son Frederick, who established the
“trade-mark” “A. Miles & Son,” as well known in
its proper market as “Lorillard’s tobacco.” The
high prices of the war caused a temporary increase in
cheese-making in this section, and: Hart Bros. & Co.

 

369

shipped more than forty thousand boxes from this
point in one year. The trade is still strong and flour-
ishing, and is nominally in the hands of Lucas &
Allyn, who sell direct to the West India traders.

In 1877, Mr. Lucas made extensive changes in the
old Miles homestead in West Goshen, repairing and
enlarging the house and outbuildings, and has now a
very pleasant, spacious, healthy home, finely situated,
and overlooking the village in which he lives.

By dint of pluck, energy, perseverance, close and
careful application, with the aid of competent part-
ners, he has made his business a success.

Having little taste and less time, he has meddled
but little with politics, and never sought an office, al-
though now and then called to serve his town. He
was one of the committee appointed by the town to
compile a record of what Goshen did in the Rebellion,
and furnished much valuable information. He has
been at various times a constable, grand juror, chair-
man of the board of education, treasurer of the town
deposit fund, loaning committee, etc. ; has been post-
master at West Goshen for several years, and now
holds that office ; was the census enumerator in 1880
for his home district, and received a flattering letter
of commendation from the census department after
his work was examined. He was one of the commit-
tee appointed to arrange and conduct the centen-
nial celebration of his native town in 1876, and
was active and useful in making that event famously
successful, collecting and securing by his personal
efforts alone a large proportion of the funds contrib-
uted, and he was the orator of the day on that occa-
sion, and delivered an address of one anda half hour’s
length to an audience filling the Centre church to
overflowing.

He also, at the request of his friends, delivered a
memorial address, as part of the ceremonies of
Decoration Day, May 30, 1874,. which was an elo-
quent and instructive production.

He is not over demonstrative on the question of
“women’s rights,” but believes in giving woman
the credit due her in all cases and circumstances, and
we take the liberty to print his closing remarks illus-
trative of this on the public occasion last referred to:

“ And now, old comrades, I have a sentiment to
offer which all good soldiers will indorse: it is that
tribute should be paid to-day to the patriotic women
of Goshen,—no less a tribute than which we pay the
other sex.

“Tt was not for woman to shoulder the musket,
wear the sword, or carry the lance. Her sphere was
at home, working, waiting, hoping, praying; to work
for the absent soldier; to wait for the glad tidings of
his success, or, it may be (and, oh, how often for
Goshen women !), news of his suffering and death; to
hope for his return and the close of the contest; to
pray for his safety and the success of his arms. Her
sphere to encourage by her love, strengthen by, her
faithfulness to duty, and cheer by her abiding faith
370

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in the future. As Goshen soldiers, we pay tribute to
Goshen women, and each of us who had a loving
mother, a trusting sister, a devoted wife, or cherished
sweetheart either, are glad to-day in the memory of
her patriotism, and proud of her love, her faith, her
sympathy, and her prayers during the dark days of
our absence.

“To the mother and daughter, to the wife and sweet-
heart of the late war belong a large share of victories
won and laurels gained by son, brother, husband, and
lover, as, while we waited around our picket-fires
and watched with anxious thoughts our time at the

vidette-post, while we faced death in the noise and_

smoke of battle, or struggled with disease and loath-
some wounds in the hospital ward, we ever knew and
remembered that she thought of us, that she prayed
for us; and whether we came home upright in stature,
as when we left, or feet foremost, whether mangled
and broken, with loss of limb and crippled for life,
we never failed to believe that she kept a ‘light in
the window’ burning brightly always for us; and
while we give honor to the strong arms and stout
hearts of our heroes, the dead and the living, we
divide the praises due to loyalty and devotion, and
render brave woman her share, who by her very
weakness, through love, faith, prayer, and patriotism,
made the strong stronger, the brave braver, the cause
more righteous, the end more glorious, the triumph
more honorable.”

Frederick Allen Lucas married Jane, the eldest
daughter of Hon. John M. Wadhams, of Goshen,
Aug. 7, 1867, and he owes much to his wife’s tact,
skill, and sympathy for his success in life. Their
children are Frederick Wadhams, born Nov. 11,
1868; John Marsh, born Dec. 14, 1870.

F. E. HURLBUT.
Frederick Edgar Hurlbut, son of Horace and Han-
nah Hurlbut, was born in Roxbury, Conn., Feb. 6,
1830. His paternal great-grandfather was David

Hurlbut, who died at Hinesburg, Vt., with his eldest:

son, Cornelius. His grandfather, Maj. Hurlbut, was
born in 1768, and died Dec. 9, 1818, aged forty-five
years. His wife, Phebe Jackson, was born in 1776,
and died Aug. 30, 1856, aged eighty. They had four
sons,—Horace, born July 25, 1800; William, born
July 8, 1802, died in 1879; Ira, born July 4, 1806;
George, born Oct. 14, 1809. Horace Hurlbut was
both a farmer and ashoemaker. He married Hannah,
daughter of Samuel Lee, of Dutchess Co., N.Y. They
had nine children,—George L. (deceased), Erastus diss
William E., Frederick E., Alfred H., Phebe J., John
(deceased), David, Roger (deceased). Mr. Hurlbut was
aman of limited circumstances. In politics was an
unswerving Democrat, and died Feb. 3, 1881, at the
advanced age of eighty-one. Mrs. Hurlbut died
April 18, 1861.

Frederick E. Hurlbut left home when eight years

 

of age, and commenced upon his own account the
struggle of life’s battle by laboring upon different
farms in Roxbury and Washington most of the time
till he was twenty years of age, when he entered a
store in New Haven as a clerk for two years, after
which he entered into trade upon his own account at
New Haven, and continued it till 1854, when he re-
moved to Goshen and followed the business of farming,
and as a cattle-drover, till 1870, in which year he
formed a partnership with Frederick A. Lucas and
William M. Allyn, at West Goshen, under the name
of Lucas, Hurlbut & Allyn, in the well-known store
formerly occupied by Augustus Miles & Son, at which
place the subject of this sketch remained in business
till the year 1879, during which year he removed to
the village of Goshen Centre and built a house, where
he now resides.

Mr. Hurlbut, though not having the benefits of any-
thing more than a common-school education, has by
his business habits and self-culture, and a life of indus-
try and integrity, exhibited in a marked degree an
example worthy of being copied by the young men of
the county. He has represented the town of Goshen
in the General Assembly two sessions, and the Seven-
teenth Senatorial District as its senator one term,
serving one year as member of the judiciary com-
mittee. He has also served in various positions of
public trust in the town of Goshen with great accept-
ance and faithfulness.

Mr. Hurlbut married Mary E., daughter of James
E. and Esther D. (Bentley) Thompson, Jan. 10, 1853.
Mrs. Hurlbut was born Sept. 10, 1832, in Goshen.
Their children are as follows: (1) Adella F., wife of
H. 8. Scoville, of Goshen, Conn.; they have one
daughter, Alice. (2) Lizzie H., wife of Samuel Riley,
of Goshen; they have one son, Frederick C. (8)
Clara E., (4) May G.

The great-grandfather of Mrs. Hurlbut was John
Thompson, who came from Wallingford, Conn., and
was among the earliest settlers in Goshen, Conn. He
had one son, John, and three daughters. He was a
farmer by occupation. John Thompson, the second
son of John Thompson, was born in Goshen, Conn.,
married Pamelia Cowles, of Farmington, Conn., and
had three sons and two daughters, of whom one was
named James E., who was born April 7, 1792, married
Esther D. Bentley, of Stonington, Conn., and had
three children, viz., (1) Louisa D., resides in Goshen,
on the old Thompson homestead; the second died
young; and (8) Mary E., wife of Frederick E. Hurl-
but. : ,

HENRY G. WRIGHT.

Henry G. Wright is a lineal descendant of John
Wright, who came from Wethersfield Aug. 13, 1740,
and bought of one Joseph Bird a half-interest in his
land right. He was first chosen to office here as
surveyor of highways. Dec. 14, 1741, he settled at
 
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GOSHEN.

what is now West Goshen, and built a house some
eighty rods west of the bridge. He raised a family,
and among his sons was Jabez, born at Wethersfield,
1738. He was known as Capt. Wright; was a farmer
about one mile southwest of the village of West
Goshen, where he built the brick house where the
family have since resided. He married Martha Bald-
win, Feb. 11,1767. Their children were Freelove,
born Jan. 1, 1768; Martha, born March 24, 1770;
Asaph, born Jan. 3, 1772; and Sybil, born March 4,
1776.

Asaph, the only son of Capt. Jabez Wright, mar-
ried Prudence Moore, of Torringford. Their children
were Canfield, Silas, John, Edward, Edmund, Wil-
liam, and Albert.

Edward Wright was born April 7, 1804, and died
Sept. 17, 1860. He married Phebe Way, May, 1824.
She was born Jan. 22, 1802. Their children were
Eliza, born Feb. 5, 1826, died Oct. 8, 1881; Celina
V., born Oct. 22, 1827; Asaph S., born Dec. 16, 1829;
and Henry G., born Sept. 28, 1881.

Henry G. Wright, the youngest of the family, was
reared on the farm, and after his father’s death paid
off the other heirs and took the old home, as his
father had done before him. He was married, Feb.
10, 1863, to Louisa L., daughter of Philo Howe, who
was the sixth generation from Jeremiah Howe, who
came from England and settled in Wallingford,
Conn. Joseph Howe, the grandfather of Philo, was
the first of the family who came to Goshen. Six chil-
dren have been born to Mr. Wright, four of whom
are now living,—Edwin O.; born Oct. 21, 1866; Flora
E., born Aug. 8,1868; Alfred H., born April 10, 1875 ;

and Harry L., born Feb. 25,1878. Henry G. Wright |

is a man well known in the community where he
lives for his strict integrity and upright dealing; is
frequently called as administrator, etc.; has held the
office of selectman for several years, is at present first
selectman ; has filled other offices in his town; was a
representative to the Legislature in 1878.

FESSENDEN IVES.

Fessenden Ives was born in Goshen, Aug. 17, 1826,
son of Leverett and grandson of Asa Ives, who came
to Goshen before the Revolution. He married Sally
Marks; they had four children, three sons and one
daughter, viz., Eben, Luther, Leverett, and Sarah.
He died at ninety, and his wife at eighty years of age.
Leverett Ives was born 1796, and died Dec. 5, 1877. He
married Hulda Holbrook in 1822, oldest of eight chil-
dren. The Holbrooks came from Mendon, Mass., set-
tled in Torrington, where they remained some twenty
years, then came to Goshen. The children of Leverett
were Alderman, Fessenden, Sabin, Everardus and Bo-
gardus were twins, the latter died at ten years of age;
Hubert L. (he died 1868, at thirty-five), Mary E.,
Henry H.,-Florence, and Asa A.

Fessenden Ives lived with his father until he had

trustee, conservator, etc.

 

371

attained his majority. At that important crisis his
father gave him one thousand dollars, as was his
custom with all his sons. Nov. 20, 1850, he was mar-
ried to Mary, daughter of Thaddeus Cook, of Sheffield,
Mass. She was the youngest, and is the only survivor,
of ten children.

Soon after Mr. Ives was married he bought the farm
where he has since resided, some two miles south of
West Goshen. Here he has diligently worked for
thirty years, and by his judicious management and
industry, aided by the wise counsels and frugal habits
of his wife, has secured an ample competency, and
the reputation of having the best-cultivated farm in
this part of the county. He has spent much labor
and money in removing the stone from his fields, and
placing them in substantial walls, which entirely in-
close his large farm. He has paid especial attention
to underdraining, and has more than five miles ot
tile-drain on his farm. His buildings are large and
well built. He hasafine herd of Alderney cows, and
his dairy has a reputation second to no other. Mr.
Ives is a Republican ; has held several offices of trust
and honor; has been selectman nine consecutive
years, and after a vacation of a few years is now serving
‘in the same capacity ; has frequently been called as
He represented the town in
the Legislature, 1875. He has been the father of nine .
children, five of whom died in infancy; four are now
living,—Thaddeus, born 1852, married Mary H. Pratt ;.
is a farmer adjoining the old home. Mary J., born
Feb. 14, 1854, wife of C. F. Ives, of Trumbull Co.,
Ohio; George C., born Sept. 27, 1855; and Fessenden:
L., born Feb. 12, 1868.

NORMAN NORTON.

Norman Norton, son of Andrew and Lorain Norton,
was born in Goshen, Conn., Oct. 10, 1797.

Andrew Norton, son of David Norton, an early
settler in Goshen, was a gold and silversmith by
trade, and a farmer by occupation; in politics a
Democrat. He died Oct. 28, 1838, aged seventy-three
years. Mrs. Norton died May 27, 1851, aged eighty-
one years. Their children were (1) Myron, a
farmer, died Nov. 26, 1853, aged sixty-five years ;,
(2) Andrew, a farmer, died July 4, 1865, aged
seventy-three years; (8), Clarissa (Mrs. Joseph I.
Gaylord), she died April 22, 1848, aged forty-nine.
years; (4) Norman; (5) Horace, was a merchant,
and died in Chicago, Dec. 31, 1862, aged sixty-two;
and (6) Lucretia, died young.

Norman Norton remained at home on his father’s
farm, receiving such advantages for an education as
the district schools afforded, till he was twenty-one
years of age, when he went to South Carolina and
Georgia, where he was engaged in general merchan-
dising some seven years with his brother Horace.

At the age of twenty-eight, in 1825, he returned to

Goshen, and built a store, where he sold goods three
372

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

years, when he sold toa brother. At the same time
he was a farmer, which he continued to follow.

On the 3d of September, 1882, he married Lucy,
daughter of Lyman Tuttle, of Hamden, Conn. Mrs.
Norman Norton was born Jan. 26, 1806. Her father
was a substantial farmer, and a Democrat in politics.
Mr. Tuttle died in the seventy-eighth year of his age.

As soon as Mr. Norton was married he settled on
his father’s farm, which he purchased. In politics,
a Democrat of the Jefferson and Jackson school,
he succeeded his brother Myron as postmaster in
Goshen, and served through Pierce’s and Buchan-
an’s administration. Mrs. Norton is a member of the
Episcopal Church, and Mr. Norton is an attendant
on the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Norton is now an
old man of eighty-four years, and, with the exception
of deafness, retains much of the vigor of youth. He
is esteemed wherever known, and justly takes rank
with Goshen’s best citizens.

WILLIAM NORTON.

William Norton, youngest son of Abram Norton,
was born in Goshen, May 15, 1816. His father was
a mechanic, and young William worked with his
father till he married, March 14, 1839, Sarah, daugh-
. ter of Hiram Griswold, of Goshen, when he settled
on a farm formerly owned by Hiram Griswold,
one and a half miles northeast of Goshen Centre.
Here he remained sixteen years, when he settled on
the farm formerly owned by his father, near Goshen
Centre, and there he continued to reside till his death,
Feb. 19, 1880.

He was a large and successful farmer; in politics
a Republican. His town honored him with many
offices. Mr. and Mrs. Norton united with the Con-
gregational Church at Goshen Centre. As a citizen
he was regarded one of the most substantial in town.
He was a kind husband and good neighbor, and his
memory will long be cherished by those who knew
him.*

Eben, second son of Abram Norton, was born in
Goshen, June 25, 1805. He spent his early life as a
peddler till his marriage, April 29, 1834, to Clarissa,
daughter of Thomas and Lovica Griswold. Soon
after his marriage he settled on a farm on East Street,
in Goshen, remained seven years, went to Bristol,
Conn., remained seven years, and was then engaged
in the manufacture of currycombs and candle-
sticks ; then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and remained
some fie, then across the Ohio River, and settled
in Covington, Ky., where he died, July 9, 1855. In
politics, a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Norton were

members of the Congregational Church. In all be-
nevolent enterprises Mr. Norton did his part. Re-
spected at home and abroad, he enjoyed the confidence
of the people wherever he went.

 

* See history of Goshen for further notice of his ancestors,

 

Thomas Griswold, born in Goshen, Conn., married
Lovica Smith, and had five children, viz.: (1) Char-
lotte, wife of Isaac Crandall; (2) Hiram, father of
Mrs. William Norton; (8) Harriet, wife of Hosea
Crandall ; (4) Clarissa, wife of Eben Norton.

Mr. Griswold was a farmer by occupation, and a
Republican in politics. He died February, 1889,
Hiram Griswold was three times married, first to
Harriet Whiting, of Torrington, and had three chil-
dren, viz.: (1) Sarah, wife of William Norton (de-
ceased) ; (2) Louisa, died at six years of age; and (8)
Thomas W., a farmer in Goshen.

CHARLES L. NORTON.

Charles L. Norton, son of Stephen and Hannah
(Coy) Norton, was born in Norfolk, Conn., Nov. 15,
1804. His grandfather, Stephen, Sr., was the first of
the name to settle in Norfolk, and was akin to the
early settlers in Goshen by that name. Stephen, Sr.,
settled in Norfolk prior to the Revolutionary war, and
was a soldier in that struggle. He was a farmer.
Stephen, Jr., son of Stephen, Sr., was born in Nor-
folk in 1776, married Hannah Coy, and had thirteen
children, twelve of whom grew to maturity. Mr.
Norton was a farmer, and in politics Whig and
Democrat. He died in 1848, and Mrs. Norton died
May 20, 1848, having been born Nov. 25, 1773.

Charles L. Norton attended a district. school win-
ters till he was fifteen years of age, working summers
on his father’s farm. He remained with his father
on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age.
On the 24th of November, 1825, he married Ann
Maria, daughter of Philo Bailey and Samantha Root.
Mrs. Norton was born Feb. 23, 1806. Their children
are Maria E. (Mrs. Harvey Johnson, of Norfolk),
Mary A. (Mrs. Nelson D. Ford, of Winsted), Philo
B., Albert C., Charles L., Jr., and Remus A.

Mr. Norton purchased a farm in Norfolk soon after
his marriage, and remained four years, when he sold
and settled in the northern part of the town of Goshen,
where he bought-some four hundred and eighty-five
acres of land, which is well improved by his own
efforts. In politics a Democrat. He served in many
of the town offices, such as selectman, magistrate, etc.
Mr. and Mrs. Norton are members of the Congrega-
tional Church. In January, 1875, he settled in Win-
chester, one and a half miles east of Winsted, on a
place where he now (April, 1881) resides.

Philo Bailey, son of Andrew Bailey, a farmer, was
born in Goshen, Nov. 29, 1781; married Samantha
Root, of Canaan, and had nine children, who grew to
maturity, the eldest being Mrs. Charles L. Norton.

Mr. Bailey was a Whig in politics. He represented
his town in the State Legislature, besides holding
other minor offices. He died Sept. 25, 1857, and
Mrs. Bailey was born Aug. 7, 1784, and died April
14, 1880, aged ninety-six years.
 

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TRUMAN PRENTICE CLARK.

Truman Prentice Clark, son of Joel and Candace
(Bowns) Clark, was born in Winchester, Conn., May
28, 1826. Joel Clark was a resident of Winchester,
Conn., married Candace Bowns, and had thirteen
children. Eleven grew to maturity, and eight of them
are living; names of children,—Emily (deceased),
Mary A., Frederick J. (deceased), Lyman L., Marilla,
Sidney H., Truman P., Henry J. (deceased), Sabra
M., Edwin E., and Amelia, all born in Winchester.
Mr. Clark was a farmer; in politicsa Whig. He died
July 1, 1850, and his wife died Aug. 10, 1854.

The maternal grandfather of Truman P. Clark was

—— Bowns, an ‘Englishman, who settled in America
prior to the Revolutionary war. Truman P. Clark
attended the district school winters, working on the
farm summers, till he was seventeen years of age, when
he began to learn the carpenter’s trade, which he fol-
lowed-seven years... March 5, 1849, he married Mary
J., daughter of Nathan Tibbals and Rebeeca Green.
Their children are Mary L. and Abbie R. Mr. Clark
settled on the farm where he now resides immediately
after his marriage. His farm, which was originally
one hundred and sixty acres when he settled in
Goshen, contains now more than two hundred and
forty acres, which is in a good state of cultivation.
His buildings are good, showing thrift and enterprise.
He is a Democrat in politics, and as such has been a
leading and influential man in Goshen for many years.
He is now (1881) serving on his eighth year as select-
man, and has been a magistrate several years, besides
holding other town offices. In 1873 he was elected
to the General Assembly of Connecticut. Mr. Clark
is about five feet nine inches in height, and weighs
about two hundred pounds. Of a genial and social
disposition, sterling integrity, of great energy and
force of character, a good citizen, a kind husband and
father. .
Nathan Tibbals, son of Abel Tibbals and Jane
Kelsey, was born in Winchester in 1787, and died
Aug. 15, 1851, aged sixty-four years. His wife died
April 27, 1864, aged seventy-six years. They had eleven
children, viz., Abigail, Lorain (deceased), Frederick,
George, Harriet N., Huldah R., Nathan H. (deceased),
Harmon (deceased), Sarah (deceased), Lyman (de-
ceased), and Mary Jane, wife of Truman P. Clark.

Mr. Tibbals was a successful farmer in Winchester ;
settled in. Goshen in 1838 or 1884, on the farm where
he lived till his death. In politics a Democrat. Mr.
and Mrs, Tibbals were members of the Congregational
Church at Winchester, Conn.

Abel Tibbals was a farmer and drover by occupation.

WILLIAM L. GRISWOLD.

William L. Griswold, eldest son of Julius Gris-
wold and Asenath Hall, was born in Litchfield,
Conn., Jan. 5, 1816. His grandfather, John Gris-
wold, was probably a native of Litchfield, or went

 

there when a young man; married Rhoda Wetmore,
and had the following children: Julius, John, Jar-
vis, Henry 8., Rhoda (Mrs. Bradley Stewart), Almira
(Mrs. John Wright), Minerva (Mrs. Amos Wright),
Dotha (unmarried), Betsy (Mrs. John Wright), and
Melinda (Mrs. Chas. Wickwire).

Julius Griswold, son of John, born in Litchfield,
Conn., was twice married, first to Asenath, daughter
of John Hall, of Litchfield, and had six children,—
(1) Elvira, wife of Nelson Wadhams; (2) William
L.; (8) Henrietta; (4) Louisa, wife of Geo. Bradley ;
(5) Horner W.; (6) Charlotte (deceased), wife of
Philo Cummings.

Julius Griswold was a millwright by trade, in pol-
itics a Whig, and as such was magistrate and select-
man several years. He died at eighty-six years of
age. His wife still survives him, and is now (1881)
ninety-three years of age.

John Griswold the second married Nabbie Bissell,
and had one daughter, Cornelia, who graduated at Miss
Pierce’s school, in Litchfield, married Dr. Chas. Vail,
and has two sons, Edward, a sea captain, and Charles,
a physician.

Jarvis Griswold married Susan Page, and had a
son, Horatio, a hotel-keeper, and a daughter, Cor-
nelia, who married Henry L. Coe, a farmer in Litch-
field.

Henry 8. Griswold married Nancy Perkins, and
had two children,—Darius, a farmer, and Gertrude.

Rhoda Griswold married Bradley Stewart, and had
one son, John Henry, a minister.

Betsy Griswold married John Wright, and had three
sons,—George F., an artist and journalist in Hart-
ford, Conn.; Gustavus A., a land-agent; and Wash-
ington I., a physician in California.

Elvira Griswold, daughter of Julius, married Nel-
son Wadhams, and they had a son, Wilbur H., who
married Julia H., daughter of John M. Wadhams, of
Goshen, Sept. 8, 1875, and to them was born a daugh-
ter, Elizabeth, born June 24, 1877. Wilbur Wad-
hams is a merchant miller in West Goshen.

William L. Griswold received a common-school and
academic education, and taught school when a-young
man. At eighteen years of age he commenced to
learn the trade of a millwright, which he followed
some eight years. At twenty-two he went to Ten-
nessee, and spent two years at his trade; returned to
Litchfield County ; married, Dec. 7, 1843, Harriet L.,
daughter of Hosea and Harriet (Griswold) Crandall.

Mrs. William L. Griswold was born, Nov. 5, 1821.
They have a son, Frank William, born June 15,
1851. Heis a farmer in Goshen; married Carolina
R., daughter of Eliada Kilbourn, of Litchfield, and
had two children,—William K. (deceased) and Wil-
liam F.

Mr. Griswold settled in Goshen soon after his mar-
riage, and has continued to reside here ever since. In
1846 he purchased his present farm, where he now
lives. In politics a Republican; he has been mag-
374

istrate, selectman, and was member of the State Leg-
islature in 1858, and again in 1879, serving on the
committee of agriculture. He has often been called
upon to settle estates, which he has done to the gen-
eral satisfaction of those interested.

Mrs. Griswold is a member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and Mr. Griswold is a regular attendant
and liberal'supporter of the same.

Homer Griswold married Mary Butler, and has
three children,—William, Louisa, and Charlotte.
He is a machinist by trade. He enlisted in the
Nineteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers (after-
wards known as the Second Connecticut Heavy Ar-
tillery) as.a private, rose to the rank of lieutenant,
and was honorably discharged.

Charlotte Griswold married Philo Cummings, of
Litchfield, and has two daughters,—Isadore, who
married Harley Morse, a farmer in Litchfield, and
Ida Cummings.

ACORS WELLS LAWTON.

The last of the Baptist pioneers in a church which
once numbered a hundred and fifty members died
Feb. 16, 1881. The church was in Cornwall Hollow.
The deacon who was the pioneer and last pillar was
A.W. Lawton. He was a native of Rhode Island,
and brought to Goshen a good portion of Roger Wil-
liams’ fire and the baptism of the spirit to guide it.
He was born at Hopkinton City, May 1, 1797, the
third son and seventh child of a family of nine, whose
average age was sixty-five years,—the family of Joseph
and Ann Lawton.

Young Lawton was seventeen years of age when
Stonington was bombarded by the British, and seven
years later his personal courage was tested in the
bloodless victory by which he won a woman for a
wife from the oldest house in Stonington,—the Cheese-
brough, abbreviated to “Cheesebro’.” The first man
to settle in Stonington was William Cheesebrough.
A descendant of his was Rev. Elihu Cheesebrough,
whose niece, Mary C., was married to Lawton, Dec.
2, 1821. The newly-married couple retreated to the
hills of Hartford the same year. The great misfor-
tunes of mothers was hers, when, in giving birth to
twin sons, Joseph and Zebulon C., June, 1823, her
own life was the sacrifice. Mr. Lawton and Elizabeth
Clark, of Hartland, were married in May, 1825, by
which five sons—Ben, Wells A., Franklin, Giles M.,
and Nelson H.—were born, all but the third surviving.

In 1827, Mr. Lawton removed with his family to
Goshen, purchasing a new farm, which has been his
home ever since, and has supported him in honorable
comfort and in the exercise of a hearty hospitality to
the friends his good cheer and good works drew
around him. His son Giles retains the farm, He
was again bereaved through the loss of his wife, and
again was married to a descendant of the Cheese-
broughs— Mrs. Jane Bartholomew—in 1863. Al-

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

though not the mother of, she has been a faithful
mother to, his children, and rests in their confidence
until she shall be released from her scene of faithful
labors. In the concentric circles of his duties, Mr.
Lawton’s home circle was the first and dearest. He
commanded his children in love. His memorials are
in them. In his circle of relations he was admired
for his excellent qualities. In his church circle he
was a “pillar,” essential to all its interests, giving his
voice heartily to its “songs of lofty cheer,” his money
for its support, and for the support of the “ Christian
Secretary” from the first, 1824. He led in the or-
ganization of the Baptist Church, was treasurer of the
Widows’ Fund of the Baptist Association of Litch-
field County until it disbanded, but was of too liberal
a spirit and opinions to limit his support to his own
denomination.

At his funeral a Congregational minister, Chas. N.
Fitch, officiated, and the deacons of two Congrega-
tional Churches in Goshen and North Cornwall were
bearers, and the large attendance of representative:
people of both parishes showed the high regard in
which he was held.

In his circle of citizenship he was selectman of
Goshen; represented his town in the Legislature in
the year 1853, and.served his town with credit and
confidence in all his places of trust.

He has “finished the work which God gave him to
do.” He had a longer time in which to do it than is
allotted to most men,—eighty-three years and nine
months,—and he did it with a more spontaneous, free,
and loving spirit than is common to man; so his
friends loved Deacon. Lawton, for.-the life of Christ
was beautiful in him.

CHAPTER XXXV.
HARWINTON.

Geographical — Topographical — Original Proprietors—The Pioneers—
Early Schools—Votes—The Revolution—Names of Soldiers, Etc.

THE town of Harwinton lies on the east border of
the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by Torrington and New Hartford, on the east by Hart-
ford County, on the south by Plymouth and Thomas-
ton, and on the west by Litchfield. The surface of
the town is elevated.and hilly, and better adapted to
grazing than the raising of grain.

ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.

This town originally consisted of two half-town-
ships, one belonging to Hartford and the other to
the Windsor proprietors. The several companies to
which the different parcels of land made out of Wind-
sor people’s moiety had been allotted. were incor-
porated May 11, 1782, and the Hartford company in
May, 1738. The original proprietors were as follows:
Samuel Allyn, John Bancraft, John Barber, Joseph
 

GRISWOLD.

W™ L
 

.

ACORS W. LAWTON
HARWINTON.

375

 

Barnard, Daniel Bissell, Ebenezer Bissell, Thomas
Buckland, Simon Chapman, Benjamin Colt, John
Cook, Sr., Thomas Cook’s heirs, Samuel Denslow,
Nathaniel Drake, Benjamin Eglestone, Isaac Egle-
stone, Caleb Elmer, John Elsworth’s heirs, Daniel
Garrett’s heirs, John Gaylord, Daniel Gillet, John
Grant, Joseph Grayham, Daniel Griswold, Jr., Ed-
ward Griswold, Matthew Griswold, Pelatiah Gris-
wold, Samuel Heydon, Joseph Holcomb, Timothy
Hosford, Ebenezer Loomis’ heirs, Hezekiah Loomis,
Mary Loomis, Nathaniel Loomis, Sr., Noah Loomis,
Pelatiah Mills, Amos More, John More,-Jr., Roger
Newberry, Nathaniel Owen, Daniel Phelps, Samuel
Phelps, Sr., William Phelps’ heirs, Josiah Rockwell,
Joseph Skinner’s heirs, Noah Sparks, Daniel Stough-
ton, John Stoughton, Return Strong’s heirs, Henry
Styles, Sr., John Styles, Sr., Thomas Styles, Nathan-
iel Watson, Samuel West, Daniel White’s heirs, John
Andrews, Sr., Jonathan Arnold’s heirs, Samuel Ben-
ton, John Bracy, Moses Bull, James Bunce, John
Bunce, Jr., Joseph Bunce, Jonathan Butler, Thomas
Butler’s heirs, Joshua Carter, Benjamin Catlin, Sam-
uel Catlin, Timothy Easton, Benjamin Grayham’s
heirs, Jonah Gross, Barnabas Hinsdell’s heirs, Joseph
Holtom, Ebenezer Hopkins’ heirs, Ebenezer Hop-
kins, Jonathan Hopkins, Thomas King, Jonathan
Mason, Daniel Messenger, Joseph Mygatt’s heirs,
Thomas Olmstead, Thomas Richards, Thomas Rich-
ards, Jr., Samuel Sedgwick, Zechariah Seymour,
Joseph Skinner, Thomas Spencer, William Warren,
Abram Webster, Samuel Webster, William Webster’s
heirs, John White, Jr., John Williams, Mary Wil-
liams, Hezekiah Wyllys, Esq.

THE PIONEERS.

To Daniel Messenger is inscribed the honor of
having been the first white settler within the bounds
of the present town of Harwinton. He located here
in 1730. “Whether we think of him,” says R. M.
Chipman, in the “ History of Harwinton,” “as now
keeping more closely to his tarrying-place, which
must at the first have been so lonely, though near the
road between Litchfield and Farmington, or as now
crossing the line between the Hartford and Windsor
proprieties, he for both East Harwinton and West
Harwinton respectively, and so for us all, was ‘the
pathfinder.’ Viewed in relation with merely such

effects, consequent on his coming to Harwinton, as’

here, while he lived he saw accomplished; much
more, viewed in relation with those results thence
originating, which here since his death have been
unfolded, he appears, even aside from any of his own
purposes in the matter, to have executed a mission
from God for the good of all other persons who should
dwell here; so that, without intent to utter it punning-
ly, far less profanely, one might say that to each of
such persons. Providence, in effect, affirmed of him
(what was said of ‘one greater than he’): ‘ This is he
of whom it is written, Behold I send My messenger

 

before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before
thee.’ As to our ‘pathfinder,’ literally, ‘ before’ him, '
respecting time and otherwise, was that ‘way’ pre-
pared which has incidentally been twice mentioned.
In the latter mention of it were quoted the words of
a record which, one other excepted, is the oldest that
Harwintog possesses.* This road which our annals
present thus early was, previously to Capt. Messen-
ger’s taking his residence in the township, part of the
route traversed and incipiently ‘made’ by such per-
sons as, at Farmington, Hartford, and other places,
had been interested in facilitating access and acces-
sions to the plantation by them set forward at Bantam
(now Litchfield). Chiefly by this did the people of
Hartford and the other easterly towns gain entrance
into a territory which, forming at present a large part
of the largest county in Connecticut, and supplied
now with agricultural products, manufactures, vil-
lages, and well-instructed inhabitants, was at that
period a wilderness, known as ‘the Western lands.’
The said road, by Capt. Messenger and other ‘ East
Harwinton Proprietors’ put into fit condition, De-
cember, 1732, continued to be a main thoroughfare
until long after the establishment of stage-coach ac-
commodations ; so that, by means of the travelers who
used it, Harwinton had at that day, and for years
afterward, a more extensive publicity than it has now.
It was over this road that—with his suite, including
Maj.-Gen. the Marquis de La Fayette, Gen. Knox, and
several other American officers of distinction—passed
our nation’s ‘pathfinder,’ Gen. Washington. After
his party had taken here refreshments, in presenting
which the choicest of our young ‘maidens honored
themselves as well as their fathers’ and their town’s
welcome guests,t the cavalcade went onward; and
when, in its progress, it moved gracefully up the
western ascent from the valley of Lead-mine Brook,
and thus was in full view of persons assembled at the
church standing then, it presented a pageant which,
sixty years afterwards, aged citizens vividly remem-
bered.

“It is not probable that our pioneer réesident lived for
any considerable interval wholly alone; but it does not
appear, with any definiteness, how soon other persons
made here their homes. Dr. Trumbull, giving of our
first settlers only the surnames, says, ‘The five first
were Messenger, Hopkins, Webster, Phelps, and

 

*9 Jan., 1731-2. “Ebenezer Hopkins, of Waterbury,” buys land of
(his uncle) “ Samuel Sedgwick, of Hartford.” 10 Jan., 1732-3. Eben-
ezer Hopkins, of “the Western lands near the road between Litchfield
and Farmington,” sells land to “ my father Daniel Messenger, living at
the same place."—" East Harwinton” Records. (22 Feb., 1732-3. “ An-
thony Hoskins, Jr., of Windsor,” etc., is the earliest date noticed iu the
“West Harwinton” Records.) :

+The repast was taken, aged people, my informants in 1837, said, in
the house then occupied by a Mr. Bronson, in which (1860) is the office
of Hon. Abijah Catlin. That building, however, was the first tayern
house kept.in Harwinton, Whether it was so used at the time of ‘Waali-
ington’s passing through Harwinton does not appear. One of athe fair
servitors of the entertainment giver was Candace, daughter of George
Catlin, afterwards the wife of Lewis Catlin, Esq.
376

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Wilson. These were on the lands before the division
and sale of them in 1732.’ The division which he re-
fers to is the partition made between the towns of
Hartford and Windsor of their moiety of the ‘ West-
ern lands;’ and the sale which he refers to is rather,
as he had previously called it, ‘provisions for the
sale’ of said lands. In saying ‘before’ 1782, he seems
to have meant the year next preceding that. The first
name that Dr. Trumbull gives, Messenger, might, in
addition to our pioneer himself, include, as found here
at the date assigned, two of his sons, Nehemiah and
Samuel. Our records show, of these sons, that the
latter belonged here in January, 1733-84, and the
former in October, 1735, certainly, in January, 1733
-84, probably. It may, from the circumstances of
their father’s age and position, and of their own age,
both being then in their majority, be well inferred
that these both were here as soon as their father was,
although a Nehemiah Messenger—more than possi-
bly this same person going thither after tarrying here
and at Cornwall, and at Sheffield, Mass., for only a
short time—was, somewhat after 1750, among the
early immigrants of Egremont, Mass., the settlement
of which township some one commenced about the
same date that Capt. Messenger began to settle ours,
1730. The second name that Dr. Trumbull gives,
Hopkins, may also include more than one person,
since Ebenezer Hopkins, who, calling Capt. Messen-
ger ‘my father,’ was either his step-son or, which is
the more likely, his son-in-law, was a resident here in
January, 1732-33; and Hezekiah Hopkins, who, found
resident here two or three years later, took a deed of
land here in April, 1732, the month indicating he
took the deed with a cultivator’s intent of putting the
land into immediate occupancy, that he might live on
it and live by working on it, rather than with a spec-
ulator’s thought,—'I have bought a piece of ground,
and I must needs go and see it.’ The third name
that Dr. Trumbull gives, Webster, is scarcely more
definite in respect of the persons intended, for, though
Cyprian Webster had a deed conveying to him land
here in November, 1783, yet Moses Webster appears,
by our documents, as residing here nearly as soon as
said Cyprian Webster does. The fourth name that
Dr. Trumbull gives, Phelps, similarly ambiguous in
this regard. may apply nearly as well to two persons,
for, so far as our records disclose, Daniel Phelps and
Samuel Phelps were both resident here in 1736. Of
the five names that Dr. Trumbull gives there appears,
as having neither a double nor triple applicability to
persons, but one Wilson, yet John Wilson, in the
records that we have, comes to view not earlier than
in 1737. Conceding, however, that Dr. Trumbull
was in this case accurately informed,—as he surely
might have been, gathering materials for history at
the time in which one at least of the five, John Wil-
son, was yet surviving,—the sum of the matter is
this: Daniel Messenger ranked apart from the rest.

Since, beyond doubt, he was established in the town- |

 

ship in 1780, there may be taken.as the primary in-
habitants of Harwinton, Ebenezer Hopkins, Samuel
Messenger, Daniel Phelps, Samuel Phelps, Cyprian
Webster, John Wilson. These, and Nehemiah Mes-
senger, possibly were on their ‘claims’ here, settlers,
in 1781, and most probably in the previous year.

“In a memorial bearing date May 13, 1786, pre-
sented to the General Court by Nathan Davis, Daniel
Messenger, and George Wyllys, as a committee of
‘the inhabitants of Harwinton,’ asking, through this
their committee, permission to levy an additional tax,
in order to pay arrearages due to a gentleman who had
preached to them, and asking, also, ‘ authority to em-
body in church estate, and to be incorporated as a
town,’ it is stated that at that time the township ‘con-
tained one hundred souls, of whom twenty-one were
heads (masters) of families.’ No action, as respect-
ing church embodiment and town incorporation, hav-
ing been taken by the General Court on that’ memo-
rial, another memorial, dated Oct. 4, 1737,.signed by
Anthony Hoskins, Daniel Messenger, and Zechariah
Seymour, as agents for ‘the inhabitants of Harwin-
ton,’ in which said inhabitants, through their said
agents, renew their requests and gain their objects,
states that ‘the place, being daily increasing,’ then
numbered one hundred and sixty-one souls, of whom
‘twenty-four were heads (masters) of families.’ There
are not sufficient data for designating these male heads
of families with absolute certainty as to each of
them, but, as nearly as the materials obtained seem
to authorize a specification, the twenty-four such per-
sons were Samuel Barber, Deacon Jacob Benton, Sr.,
Daniel Bissell, Jr., Daniel Brown, Esq., Thomas Bull,
Lieut. Nathan Davis, Jr., Daniel Gillett (second),
Nathaniel Hatch, Amos Hinsdale, Capt. Jacob Hins-
dale, Sr., Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr. and Sr., Hezekiah
Hopkins, Ensign Jonathan Hopkins, Sr., Anthony
Hoskins, Jr., Noah Loomis, Sr., Israel Merriman,
Capt. Daniel Messenger, Nehemiah Messenger, Sam-
uel Messenger, Samuel Moody, Deacon Daniel Phelps
(second), Lieut. Samuel Phelps, Jr. and Sr., Cyprian
Webster, Sr., Esq., Samuel Winchell.

“In the latter memorial a statement is made that
at the time when it was dated there had been four-
teen children born within the territory—a circum-
stance which, as various others do, indicates that
many of the families then here were youthful ones.
But more noticeable is the fact, seen by comparing
together what both memorials say as to the whole
population here, that in the interval between the dates
of these memorials, seventeen months, wherein only
three families were added, the sum total of persons,
instead of increasing at the same rate, or becoming,
at most, one hundred and fifteen, had increased
more than four times as rapidly, and so become one
hundred and sixty-one. This fact, accounted for by
the supposition that wives of the settlers and young
children, not previously here, had at this later period
come in, shows that the’ preparations made for their
HARWINTON.

i
comfort were now finished, and is thus significant of

houses built, barns set up, harvests gathered, stores
for the winter laid in, and progress made on every
hand.”
* The following isa list of the first settlers from 1780
to 1740, inclusive, giving date of settlement and towns
from which they came:

Job Alford, 1738, Windsor.

Edmund Austin, ;

Samuel Barber, 1733, Windsor.

Andrew Bartholomew, Rev., 1739, Wallingford.

Jacob Benton, Sen., Deacon, 1732, Hartford.

Daniel Bissell, Jr., 1732, Windsor.

Hezekiel Bissell, ——, Windsor.

Jonathan Brace, Lieut. (Esq.), 1732, Hartford.

Daniel Brown, Esq., 1736, Mendon.

Isaac Bull, 1739, Windsor.

Thomas Bull, 1832, Windsor.

Jonathan Butler, Jr., 1832, Hartford.

Abijah Catlin, Sr., Esq., Maj., 1739, Hartford.

Benjamin Catlin, Sr., Sergt., O. P.,* Hartford.

Jonathan Catlin, Sr., 1739, Hartford.

James Cole, 1738, Wallingford.

John Colt, 1755-36, Simsbury.

Nathan Davis, Jr., Lieut., 1784-35, Windsor.

Daniel Gillet (second), 1733, Windsor.

Nathaniel Hatch, 1732, Guilford.

Joseph Hayden, 1737, Windsor.

William Hayden, 17387, Windsor.

Josiah Higley, 1737, Simsbury.

Amos Hinsdale, 1732, Hartford.

Jacob Hinsdale, Sr., Capt., 1732, Hartford.

Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr. and Sr., O. P., Hartford.

Hezekiah Hopkins, 1732-33, Hartford.

Jonathan Hopkins, Sr., Ens., O. P., Hartford.

Stephen Hopkins, 1738, Hartford.

Anthony Hoskins, Jr., 1732-38, Windsor.

Parmenor King, 1736, Hartford.

Joseph Lawrence, 1735, Southhold, L. I.

Noah Loomis, Sr., O. P., Windsor.

Israel Merriman, 1735, Wallingford.

Joseph Merriman, 1740, Wallingford.

Daniel Messenger, Capt., O. P., Hartford.

Nehemiah Messenger, 1735, Hartford.

Samuel Messenger, 1733-34, Hartford.

Pelatiah Mills, Sr., Esq., Capt., O. P., Windsor.

Samuel Moodey, 1732, Hartford.

Daniel Phelps, 2d, Deacon, 1783, Windsor.

Samuel Phelps, Jr., Sr., Lt., 1736-37, Windsor.

Joseph Richards, 1736-37, Hartford.

William Robinson.

Zechariah Seymour, Jr., 1739, Hartford.

John Stoughton, O. P., Windsor.

Ebenezer Tyler, 1739, Branford.

Cyprian Webster, Sr., Esq., 1733, Hartford.

Moses Webster, 1737, Hartford.

John Wilson, Jr., Capt., Deacon, 1737, Windsor.

 

 

#0. P. signifies original proprietor.

 

377

Samuel Winchell, 1734, Windsor.
George Wyllys, Capt., Hon., Hartford.

SCHOOLS.

The first reference to schools found in the town
records is under date of Jan. 20, 1741-42, as follows :

“ Voted, That: wee will: have schooling some part of the year.

“ Voted, That theire be three: pence upon the pound Leued upon the
Grand List in order to Maintain a School in the town.

“Voted, That Jacob Benten and Jonathan Hopkins and Nathan Davis
Be a Commity in order to prouide a Sofisiant School master and mistress
for the year insuing in the town. :

“ Voted, That the School for the Jnstructing the youth to Right And
Read for two months this year Be att the Dweling House of Jsrael Meri-
mon.

“ Voted, That the Rest of the Mony Be Left to the Discresion of the
Commity to Lay out upon School Dames:

“June 9, 1743.— Voted, That any parson or parsons Joyning to gether
to Build a School house in the town of Harwinton shall have Liberty to
Build a Schoolhouse Sumwhere Neer the Meeting Hous upon there one
cost.

“ Voted, That Jsrael Merrimon and Daniel Bartholomew Be a Com-
mitty to determin the place whare the School House Shall Stand.

“Jan. 13, 1745-6.--it was Voted that there Shold be a School house
puilt in Sum Convenient place near the meeting house in Said Town.

“Feb. 17, 1745-6.—it is now Voted that ye above Said School house
Shold butt Sumwhar neare ye SouthEast corner of ye Rd: Mr; Andrew
Bartholomew yt Lyeth West of ye meeting house or near there as y°
Comiitis descresion Shall Lad them.

“ Voted, That ye aboye menshoned School house Shall be Eighteen feet
in length & Sixteen feet in Wedth one Story high.

“Voted, That De:= Jacob Benton & Daniel Bartholomew & Jonathan
Butler Shall be a Commity to order and See to y® building and finishing
of ye above Said Schoolhouse.

“it was Voted that all ye boards & Timber & Stone that was Left in
finishing of ye Loar part of ye meeting house Shall be made Use of So
fare as it will Go for the benifit of the above Said School house in any
Use as sd Commity Shall See fit about sd house.

“Dec, 15, 1747.— this meeting [, begun at the Meeting-Houso,] is
aiorned to the School house in y* above Said town.

“this meeting being opned at said School house they proseded uiz—

“ Voted, That Amaziah Ashman Shall be a town Inhabitant in this
Town.

_ “ Voted, That there Shall be a Rate Leued on poles and Ratabel Estats
in this town of Seventy pounds money of the old tener to Defray the
Charge of Building the Schoolhouse in this town in this year.

“ Voted, That there Shell be Twenty pounds in money of the old tenor
Leued on poles avd Ratabele Estats in this town in order to maintaining
of a Schoole a mongat in this town in the year Insuing.

“ Voted, That De Jacob Benton & daniel Bartholomew & Samuel Phelps
Shall be a Commitus to Recceve and pay out the above Said money for
Schooling as there Disscreshon Shall Lead them for the Best advantage
for Enducating yuth amonst us in this town for the year Jnsuing.

« Dec. 13, 1748.— Voted, That there Shall be Eighty pounds in money
of the old tenor Leved on pols and Ratabel Estats in this town in order
to Cary [on] Schooling in this town the one half of it is to be improued
to hire a School master as fare as it Shall Go in this town for the year
ineuing and the other half is to be improued to hire School danes in this
town for y* year Insuing.

Voted, That de Jacob Benton and Samuel Phelps and Daniel Bar-
tholomew and Daniel Phelps and Capt Daniel Messenger Shall be a
Committee to order and a point a School master and School mistrises in
this town in the year insuing and to Receive in and pay out the above
Sum of money for the use aforesaid according to there Discresion for the
Larning of the youth a mongst us to w(rlight and Reade.

“ Dec. 3, 1750.—Voted, That there be Sixty pounds leved for the hiring
a School master to teach Children to Read & write Cypher the one half
to be Raised by the town and the other half to be by the parents or mas-
ters of the Children that thay Send to Said School.

“ Voted, That there Shall be Forty pounds Raysd for the hiring of two
women to teach Children to Read the Schools to be kept the one East
Side of the town at Such Place as the Committee that Shall be Chosen
Shall a point; to be Raised one half by the town the other half by the
parents and masters of the Children that thay send according to the
number they send.

 
378

“ Voted, That Ebenezer Hopkins Isaac Bull and Abijah Catling Shall
be a Commitee to order the prudentals of the Schools in hiring a School
master and School mistrises and disposing the money that was Voted
for School according to the true intent for what it was Granted.

“Dec, 3, 1751.—Volted, That there Shall be one hundred pounds in
money of the old tenor Raised in this Town for Schooling of Children in
order to teach them to writ and Read the one half of s1 money to be
Raised on the Ratetabel Estate of the inhabitants and the other half to
be——Raised upon the pules of Such Children as Shall be Sent [to]
School the above money to be divided upon the List on Each Side of the
town and Improved as the Commitee that Shall Be Chosen Shall order
the same in one Shool or more and to apoint the places to keep the
Schools and git school masters for ye same.

“ Voted, That Ebenezer Hopkins and Abijah Catling and Lt Aaron
Cook and Israel Merriman and David Hayden and decon Daniel Phelps
Shall be a Committee] to apvint the Places for the Schouls and dispose
of the School money for the Use for which it is voted for.

“ Dec. 20, 1752.—Voted, That we will have a School in this town for
the year Insuing to wit one mouth on the East Side of the town and one
month at the School house in this town & one month on the West Side
the Town.

“ Voted, That their Shall be £60—00s: 00d in money of the old tenor
Leived on the one half of it Leived on the Ratable Estate in this Town
and the other half of the s4 money to be Leived un the poles of Such as
Go to School in order to maintain a schvol among us.

* Voted, That Cyprian Webster & Samuel Phelps & De® Jacob Benton
Shall be a Commetee tu apoint places for Said School and tu hire a School
master for said School.

“Sept. 18, 1753.— Voted, That their Shall be Seveuty Pounds money
Levied on the poles & Ratable Estates of the Inhabitants of this Town to
Defray the Charges of the meeting house and of the Schooling that we
have had Done allready in. this Town this year & pay for a Cloth to
Cover the Ded that is allready provided in this town.”

To the above extracts from the Town Book I.
should be added as follows, from the records of “the
West Proprietors of Harwinton :”

“March 20, 1753.— Voted, That the proprietors will dispose of the unde-
vided Land the interest of S4 money to Support a School in the west pro-
priety of Harwinton.”*

The last entry made in the records of the “ Proprietors of East Har-
wipton” is under date of March 6, 1759, in these words: “ ajurned to
the first munday of march next.”

The last entry made in the Records of the “ Proprietors of West Har-
winton” is under date of April 14, 1757 [1769 ?], in these words: “ Voted,
That this meeting be adjorned to the first munday of march, 1770.”

The records of the proprietors, kept first at Hartford and Windsor re-
spectively, at which places the first meetings of said persons were held,
were kept, and said meetings were held in Harwinton after the organi-
zation of the town.— Manning.

THE REVOLUTION.

A number of persons from Harwinton, large as
compared with the population of the town, were sol-
diers in what New Englanders term “the old French
war,” 1755-63. Some of these, as ascertained in 1837,
were Charles Goodwin, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale, Timothy
Homaston, Benoni Hough, Samuel Weston. Timothy
Homaston, who had been under command of Gen.
Amherst at the taking of Quebec, 1759, died, at a very
advanced age, in 1829.

In the time of the great struggle which event
uated in securing our national independence, there
were, as is known, individuals in nearly all parts of
the country who took a view of that struggle differing
from that of the mass of their fellow-citizens. There
po

+*In the records of the “ Proprietors of East Harwinton,” the latest
mention noticed of “undevided lauds” is under date of 1746, at which

time “‘ deck [deacon] thomas richards” was allowed to “ make his pitch” of
them.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

is remembered but one such as having belonged to
Harwinton :

“John Marsh, 3d, of Litchfield, applied [to the Governor and Council
of Safety, 11 Feb., 1777] for liberty to take Mark Prindle, of Harwin-
ton (a tory [then] at Mansfield), and have him before the Court at Litch-
field, in discharge of his bail bond, given for said Prindle in another

_ case; which was granted by the Governor and Council with their order

to return said Prindle, after his trial, to Amariah Williams in said Mans-
field.”

In 1781, Harwinton was subjected to a penalty of
fifteen pounds for a deficiency of one man in the
number of men required for the war.t

Incidents of a different character, as well as men
more fitly representing the town at that period, were
as given below.

While the people here were on a Sabbath morning,
April 27, 1777, preparing to leave their homes for at-
tendanceon public worship, an express arrived through
Litchfield from Danbury, announcing that Governor
Tryon with his troops, the “Cow-Boys,” as they were
contemptuously termed by the Americans, had come
from New York to the latter place. Mr. (afterwards
Deacon) Webster, after receiving from the messenger
the written message which was brought, gave it to
Abraham Goodwin for conveyance to New Hartford.
He ran with it, “ post-haste,” one mile to Lieut.
Jonathan Goodwin, whom he found strapping to his
horse a side-saddle. The lieutenant, a man who gen-
erally required ample time for deliberation on even
small matters, and who otherwise was becomingly slow
in his movements, now, catching by a glance the pur-
port of the document, exchanged his saddle in a trice,
and, urging his wonder-struck animal into no inferior
rate of speed, let something other than his “ modera-
tion be known.” Harwinton soldiers, with others
from this vicinity, immediately sped to Danbury,
reaching that place, distant some forty-four miles,
early on Monday morning, though not until after the
British detachment had effected the object of their
coming by the destruction of the breadstuffs and
other military stores there deposited. Mr. Abraham
Goodwin gave to the writer this account in 1837, say-
ing at that time that his age was eighty-three years.
He then resided in Harwinton:

“In 1778, Levi Monson, of Harwinton,? a sergeant in Capt. [William]
Douglass’ company, Col, [David] Wooster’s regiment [made declaration
to the Legislature of this colony that he], was taken prisoner on the
Isle of Montreal, carried to Quebec, and thence, with [Amos ?] Green, &
soldier, and Col. Ethan Allen, to Falmouth, in England [and that he], re-
turned from Falmouth to Halifax [N. 8.], about June 29th, 1776.”

In the town records, for the years of the Revolu-
tionary contest, various details show the interest felt,
and the efforts made by this town regarding that en-
deavor. Many soldiers here died by camp sickness
and otherwise, though it has not been found that any
from Harwinton were killed while fighting in the
Continental army. In 1837 were living in Harwin-
ton, and then receiving, as Revolutionary soldiers,

 

} Hinman’s “ War of the Revolution.” } State archives.
2 Hinman’s “ War of the Revolution” gives him as of Wallingford.
|| State archives. m
HARWINTON.

pensions from the national government, Simeon Bar-
ber, Lyman Clark, Darius Foot, Silas Gridley, George
Jones, Benoni Johnson, John Winchell (Nathan
Barnes, of the Harwinton Church, resided at New

Hartford).
LIST OF SOLDIERS.

Benjamin Barber, Simeon Barber, Timothy Barber, Isaiah Butler, Jr.,
Solomon Butler, Abraham Catlin, Eli Catlin, Phineas Catlin, Daniel
Cook, Jonathan Cook, Jabez Frisbie, Asa Griswold, White Griswold,
Joseph C. Hemley, Allyn Haydon, George Jones, Christopher Jonson,
Samuel Jonson, Samuel Lambert, Hezekiah Leach, George Loomis,
Elijah Loomis, James Olcut, Jr., Hezekiah Phelps, Oliver Phelps,
Samuel Phelps, Jr., Ashbel Porter, Jesse Potter, Enos Scott, Zimri
Skinner, Samuel Wesson, Samuel Wesson, Jr., Abner Wilson.

The following is a list of “ married men on service in
the Continental army from Harwinton,” who, March
8, 1779, had received supplies from the town:

Rosswell Catlin, Ozem Cook, Caleb Elmore, Thomas Greene, Seth Grid-
ley, Joseph Halsted, Joseph C. Hanley, Elisha Hinsdale, Samuel
Hinsdale, Lieut. Asahel Hodge, Elijah Scott, Ethel (Ithiel?) Scott,
Timothy Stedman, James Wilcox, and Benj. Catlin, quartermaster.

The latter seems to have enlisted at some place other
than Harwinton, and was probably ason of Benjamin,
Jr., and grandson of Benjamin, Sr., of Harwinton.—
Manning.

CHAPTER XXXVI
HARWINTON (Continued).

The Congregational Church—The Episcopal Church—Incorporation—
First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Representatives from 1757 to
1882—Military.

ECCLESIASTICAL, CIVIL, AND MILITARY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

TuE following history of the Congregational Church
is taken chiefly from Manning’s “‘ History of Harwin-
ton,” and is given in extenso, as the history of the
church for a long time was really the history of the
town. The first memorial asking to be embodied in
church estate was presented Oct. 4, 1737, as follows:

“The inhabitants of Harwinton, presenting by their
agents, Daniel Messenger, Zechariah Seymour, and
Anthony Hoskins, a memorial to the General Court,
in which they ask from that body what they had
unsuccessfully sought from it May 18, 1736, ‘au-
thority to embody in church order’ and ‘to be incor-
porated as a town,’ assign as reasons for their request
that ‘the place being daily increasing, it will be ne-
cessary for us not only to have a settled minister,’ but
‘also to build us a house’ for divine worship.

“Dec. 20, 1787, at the first town-meeting, it was

“ Voted, That the Enhabitants of the town of Harwinton haue uery
Unanimusly A grieed to Build A Meteing House for Diuine Worship :—

“ Voted, We agree thus that the Meeting House Shall be set in the Senter
Line Between the Proprietors of Hartford and windsor Condishion that
Windsor Propriators give their Proporshon of land Agreed for the Jn-

currigement of our Minnistor and Pay half the Choost boilding the

Meeting House and half the: 100: Pound Agreed to giue the Ministor
In Labour :——

“Subsequent proceedings were had, as at the sev-
eral dates below may appear:

 

379

“May 2, 1738.— Voted and unanimusly agreed to APlye our Selues to
the Generall Assembly now in there Present Sestions to A fix A Place
for the Meeting Hous for the tow town of harwinton to Stand in for
diuine worship :

“ Voted, That Mr daniel Messinger and mr Jsreal Merriman Shall be
A Commeete to make APlication to Jenerall assemBly att there Present
Sestions to fix de termine and asartain the Place where A house to
Meet in for the Publick worShiP of god Shall be Erectted and Built
within the Bounds of Harwinton.

 

“May, 1738.—Daniel Messenger and Israel Merri-
man, acting as a committee of the town of Harwinton,
present to the Legislature a request that that body will
appoint a committee to designate a place for the site
of a meeting-house in Harwinton. The request was
granted.

“Oct. 6, 1788.—The committee appointed by the
Legislature report that they have located the meeting-
house ‘where the Litchfield [and Farmington] road
crosses the line of east and west proprietors.’ Peti-
tions of various persons aresent to the Legislature, ex-
pressing objections to the location selected, and dis-
satisfaction with those who had chosen it. The
«Legislature sustained the action of their committee.
Harwinton takes other measures :

“Nov. 1, 173§.—Voted, To Chuse a Commeete of unJnterrastted Par-
sous to afix or State aplace or Placses whare the jnhabitants of harwin-
ton Shall Meet iton the Sabbath day until there is A Meeting hous Built
And Maad fit for the jnhabitants to Meet in on Said day to worship God
in.

“ Voted, That Mt John Burd: george Mayrch [Marsh?] and Edward
Ph{e]lps :—Be the Men to fix or State the Place or Placses aboue Nameed
—where we Shall Meet in on the Sabbath day to worship god in :——

“Jtis now uoted that Mr Daniel Messinger and Mr daniel Phelps Be
A Commeete to lay the Surcomstances of our cases before these Men and
to bring there return or answer to the inhabitants of the town of har-
winton.

“Dec. 12, 1738.— Voted, That Joseph Richards and John Wilson Be ,
tything men.

“ Of such officers, not previously chosen in Harwin-
ton, the need in present circumstances was very ap-
parent.

“May 4, 1739.—Voted, That Mr daniel Messinger And Samuell Phelps
bea commeete to A Plie our Selues to the general Court that the Place
for A meeting House that was Picht on by the general Courts Commeete
may be Confirmmed or a New Commeete be A Poyntted to A fixe A
Place for te said town of Harwinton for their meetinghouse to Stand in
or on.

“May 10, 1739.—Daniel Messenger and Samuel
Phelps, agents in behalf of the town of Harwinton,
make application to the Legislature for confirmation
of the location, etc. The location, as selected per
committee of the Legislature, is confirmed.

“ Sept. 21, 1739.— Voted, That the Length of the meeting Hous for the
Enhabitants of Herwinton Shall be fiffty foot in length and forty foot
wid and the height to be twenty four foot between Joynts.

“ Voted, That Mr Jsral Merreman Benjimen Catling and Jacob Benton
Be A Commeete to order and Cary on or let out the Building of the Said
Meeting Hous——.

“ Voted, That A Rate Shall Be Mad of tweelue Pence uPon the Pound
Jn the Liet be granted & Mad to Caryon the Building of the said Meet-
ing Hous.

“ Voted, That Jonathan Catling and Isaac Bull be Collectors to Jather
the aboue granted rat for the Carying on the Building of Said Meeting
Hous.

“Sept. 27, 1739.—The Legislature are apprised that
380

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Harwinton have a committee chosen to direct and
‘contract’ for building a meeting-house.

“ Oct. 8, 1739.—A rate of land is referred to, prob-
ably in aid of the building.

“Dec. 14, 1739.—joseph Merremon and Moses Webster be tything

men.
“ Voted, To giue Mr jsrael merremon three Pounds for the use of his

Hous one year to met in on the Sabbath day—.
“ Voted, That the Meeting House as to the former width be mad fiue

foot narrowwer than the former uot was——.

“May 7, 1740.—More difficulties are developed, as
Pelatiah Mills, Daniel Bissel, Hezekiah Bissel, Josiah
Higley, Ebenezer Tyler, Samuel Barber, Thomas Bull,
Samuel Haydon, Daniel Phelps, Job Alford, Daniel
Gillet, John Stoughton, and Noah Loomis petition
the Legislature that ‘they may be discharged from
paying any tax on land lying within two and one-
quarter miles from the south end of the town.’ The
meeting-house was by them, it seems, regarded as
likely to be erected too far north for their conve-
nience.

“May 13, 1740.—Other dissatisfaction is manifested,
as Benjamin Catling, Israel Merriman, Jacob Benton,
Jonathan Hopkins, Jonathan Catling, Jonathan
Brace, Ebenezer Hopkins, John Coult, Samuel
Phelps, Hezekiah Hopkins, Stephen Hopkins, Jo-
seph Richards, Joseph Merriman, Samuel Catling,
Nathan Davis, James Cole, Abijah Catling, Jonathan
Butler, Zechariah Seymour, Jr., Nehemiah Messen-
ger, Amos Hinsdell, and Samuel Moody certify to the
Legislature that ‘they had not been invited to a
friendly conference in regard to locating the meeting-
house, nor had they heard of it till after the meeting’
for that purpose had been held.

“July 3, 1740.—* Voted, That arate of Eight teen Pence uPon the
Pound in the list Be Made on the Ratable Estate that is in the town of
Harwinton Now Set down in the list and it Shall be Put to the use of
Carring on the nesesary Charges of finishing the Mee[t]ing House.

“ Voted, That the glase for the meeting House shall be of the size that
is Called Seven Enchs and Nine.

“ Voted, That Mr daniel Messinger Shall haue one Pound eleuen Shil-
lings and SixPence out of the town tressuror for rum yt was found for the
raising of the Meting Hous.

“Dec. 22, 1740.—Voted, This town will not meet at the house of mr
Jsrael merremans onthe Sabbath day under the Present Circumstances.

“ Voted, That this town will meet on the Sabbath day three months
next ensuing at Mt Beniamin Catlings haus and after that tomeet on
Sabbath day three months at the house of mt Jsaac bulls or mt Samul
Phelps.

“Jan. 20, 1741-42. Up to this date the town-meet-
ings had been attended ‘at the hous of Jacob Ben-
ton,’ or ‘at the Hous of Mr. Jsreal Merremons,’ one
at the latter-named place so lately as Dec. 15, 1741;
but now one is recorded as held ‘att the meeting-
hous on the 20 day of January year 1743.” Three
such meetings, at least, were held thenceforward.
Public worship, though under circumstances of in-
convenience, was probably commenced there about
this time.

“July 23, 1744.—“ Voted, That wee will have But one Roo of pews
Round the meeting Hewse——

“Voted, That the Joinners works of the Said Meeting House Shall
Seace untill the anuall Meeting in Desember next insuing this meeting.

 

“Dec. 18, 1744.—Voted, That ye present Commetee Shall have Lyberty
to agree with ye Joyners in this Town if they Cun agree with them in
order to finish ye meeting house So high as to Lay ye Galary floors,

“May 13, 1745.— Voted, That we will Seat the Meeting House.

“ May 20,1745.— Voted, That Mr Jacob Hinsdell and Mr Joseph hayden
and Cyprian Webster Shall be a Commity in order to Seat the meeting
house in the above sd Town.

“Sept. 17, 1745.—Thirty pounds in money [before voted] in order to
Git a Stock of powder Shall now be payed out to the Joynors to defray
the Charges of finishing said meeting house [other specified sums are,
by vote, appropriated to the same purpose].

“Voted, That [the building committee] Should Dignify the Seats in
Said meeting house & give Justruction to the if Commity that was Cho-
sen to Sate the Meeting house in Righting.

“Sept. 25, 1745.—Report is made that ‘the inside
work and the gallery are finished.’

“ Dec. 17, 1745.— Voted, That what the Seeters that was Chosen to Seet
the meetinghous there Seeting of it Shoold be of no valu [N. P. the dig-
nifying of the Seets and the Jnstructions that the Commity that was
Chosen gave to the Seeters inorder to Seet the meeting house Shall be of
no Ualu or Siguifycation].

“ye Town Excepted what Mr Jacob Hinsdell Did in Seeting the meet-
ing House in sd Town.

“ Feb. 17, 1745-46.—It was Voted that all ye boards & Timber & Stone
that was Left in finishing of ye Loar part of ye meeting house Shall be
inade Use of So fare as it will Go for the benifit of the above Said School
house in any Use as sd Commity [at the present meeting of the Town
appointed, for building a School-house,] Shall See fit about sd [School]
house.

“ Voted, That Ebenezer Hopkins & Jacob benten & Samuel Wesson &
John Wesson & Asa Hoskins & Amos Catling & Timothy Stanly & Ne-
hemiah Hopkins & William Cook Shall Sit in ye pew under ye Stares at
the west end of the meeting house & that Sarah Merimon & Sarah
Phelps & Ann Hinsdel] & Mary Hopkins & Abigall Stanly & Mary Kel-
logg & Elisabeth Webster & Ruth Phelps & Martha Davis & Hannah
Phelps Shall Sitt in ye pew under the Stares at ye East End of the meet-
ing house.

“Dec. 3, 1750.— Voted, That there shall be £20. 00 : 00. money old tenor
Leved on poles and Ratable Estats in this town in order to pay the
Charges that Shall arise in Giting the Glass that is wanting for the
meeting house & ye Steps for ye meeting house door to pay other Charges
that shall arisse in this town in year insuing.

“it was Voted that the Select men of this town for the time Being
Shall be a Commitee to Regeulate the Seting of the meeting house in this
Town for y® year insuing.

“Dec, 3, 1751.—Voted, That the Sum of Forty Pounds in money of the
old tenor be raised on the pols and Ratabel Estates of the Inhabitane of
this town in order to Repare the meeting House in this town at the Dis-
cresion of the Select men of this town.

“Dec. 20, 1752.— Voted, That we will take up all the Long Seats in the
meeting House Excepting the two fore Seats one on the Right Side the
Grate alley and the other on the Left side.

“ Voted, That there shall be 50—00—00 pounds in money old tenor
Leved on the Ratable Estate in this Town to defray the Charg of Buld-
ing of the Pews in the Body of the meeting house.

“Voted, That De Jacob Benten & Abijah Catling and Cyrrian Web-
ster Shall be a Commetee to Look after and See that the Pews be made
in the body of the meeting house and to draw the said 50—00. 00 pounds
in money and dispose of it to the workmen that doe the work,

“Voted, That Des Jacob Benten & Cyrrian Webster & Abijah Catling
& Lt Nathan Davis & Lt Samuel Phelps & Capt Jacob Hinsdell Shall be
Seeters of the meetinghouse after the pews are made in the Loer part of
the Meeting House in this town in the year Insuing.

“This building stood south of the present Congre-
gational church.

“ The First Preacher.—The earliest account discov-
ered of social religious worship being attended pub-
licly in Harwinton is contained in a document, pre-
served in the State archives at Hartford, bearing date
May 18, 1786,—a ‘Memorial of George Wyllys, Daniel
Messenger, Nathan Davis, and the rest of the inhab-
itants of Harwinton.’ After ‘referring to a tax,
HARWINTON.

granted’ by the General Court in May, 1735, ‘of one
penny on a pound for the support of preaching, etc.,’
it relates that ‘The Memorialists have thereupon
hired y° very worthy M*.. Timothy Woodbridge, Jun’,
who hath for a considerable time preached to us, to
the universal content, satisfaction, and approbation of
us his hearers.’ It further relates that ‘they had
agreed to pay him £104 per annum,—that is, 30s. a
week and his board; [that] they were then in arrears
to M". Woodbridge for the preceding year; and [that
they therefore] ask authority to lay another tax.’ Of
the last-named person, as connected with Harwinton,
our State records have no other notice and our town
records have none.

“ The First Pastor.—In the State archives is a me-
morial, dated Oct. 4, 1737, addressed to the General

5 . . . : a

Court by its signers, Daniel Messenger, Zechariah
Seymour, and Anthony Hoskins, in behalf of them-
selves and of the other inhabitants of Harwinton,—

“¢ Asking authority to embody in church estate, to be incorporated as
a town, and to lay a tax for support of a minister.’ The memorialists
relute that ‘it will be necessary for us to have a settled minister (in
regard to which we have applyed to a Gentleman who is well approved
of by the Ministers &c. in the Govt, and especially by us to preach for us
some considerable time, to great satisfaction, and have as far as was
consistent with our duty capitulated with him about a settlement) and
also,’ etc.

“From this memorial, as compared with the earlier
one, it is plain that a second person as preacher is in-
tended. The votes below quoted refer to him:

“Nov. 1, 1737.—Att a meeting of the Proprietors of east Harwinton
held att the house of Mr. Daniel Messenger by 9 Jurnment

“Voted, That the Proprietors Give to the first man that is ordained in
the work of the ministry amongst us one Hundred aCres of Land and
that he may Chuse it where it Shall best Sute Him in our undevided
Land in the manner & form as our Lotts ware Laid out in provided he

Shall Continew in the work of the ministry and in Principels to wich he
is ordained. 2

“Voted, That mt Daniel Brown and m™ Daniel Messenger be a Com-
mitee to go to Winsor Proprietors meting & to im form them what we
have done at our Proprietors meeting and to make return of what they
dow to-our next meeting.

“Dec, 20, 1787.—The inhabitants of Harwinton, in
their first town-meeting assembled, to their vote ex-
pressing their unanimous agreement ‘to Build A
Meteing House for Diuine Worship,’ add an explana-
tory and restrictive one:

“Voted, We agree thus that the Meeting House Shall be set in the Senter
Line Between the Proprietors of Hartford and windsor Condishond that
Windsor Propriators give their Proporshon of land Agreed for the Jncur-

rigment of our Minnister and Pay half the Choost boilding the Meeting
ing House and half the : 100: Pound Agreed to giue the Ministor Jn

Labour —

“ At this period the proprietors of East Harwinton
held their meetings within their propriety here, but,
as the next cited vote shows, the proprietors of West
Harwinton were for the most part non-residents on
their propriety still. Their meetings, also, were after-
wards held here.”’

“Feb, 7, 1737-8.—In Windsor upon the Sevneth Day of Feb'y: 1737-8.

“Yoated, That Mt Daniel Bissell Junt Mr Nathan Davis & Roger New-

bery or any two of them be a Comte to Dispose of to y° first ordained

minister Jn Harwinton Sixty Acres of Land Lying y° North End of ye
25

 

381

Middle Tear of Home Lots & about twenty five acres of undivided Land
Lying at ye West End of the fifty acres already Granted to ye first or-
dained minister upon such tearms as They Shall agree and Execute a
Deed thereof to Him.

“Feb. 21, 1737-8.—Whereas there is no time limitted or mentioned
how Long such Minister Shall Continue in the Ministry to be Entituled
to the sd greants &c.

“it is therefore Voted and Agreed by the proptrs that the sd One hun-
dred acres of Land Shall be Granted and the same is hereby Granted unto
the first minister of the Gospel that shall be settled and ordained to the
ministry amongst us and to his heirs and assigns forever.

“Prouided Such Minister Shall Continue in the Ministry And Prienfalls
[principles] in which he shall be ordained for the full space of five years
next After his ordination without any condition or limitation.

“ April 21, 1738.—Att a metting of the Jnhabitants of the town of
Harwinton legily wornied to be at the hous of Jacob Benton A Priel the
211738.

“Voted, That Mr Antony Horskius be Moderator for this Meeting.

“Yoted And unanimusly a Greed to giue Mt Andrew Bartholomew A
Call to Setel in the work of the ministry a Mongust us.—

“Voted, That Mr Daniel Messinger Israel Merriman Jacob Benton
daniel Brown Cyprian Webster Nathan Dauis & Mr Daniel Phelps Shall
be A Commeete to treet with Mr Andrew Bartholomew in order to
asettelment in the work of the Menesterry A mongst us and to Lay the
Propossels yt Allready haue been Proposed before him and to bring his
Answer if any bemad to the next meeting for a further Confirmation
And it is farther uoted that the said Commeete or any two of them Shall
make ther APlication to the next Association for there advice in order
to the Settelment of a minister amongst us——

“May 9, 1738.—The committee appointed by the
vote last quoted made report to the town, at a meet-
ing ‘Held by adjournmen att the hous of Mr. Israel
Merremon may the : 9: 1788,’ ‘that M*™ Andrew
Bartholomew will Except of our Propossels.’

“ Aug. 28, 1738.—Att. A. Meeting &c at the Hous of Mr Jsreal Mer-
remons August, the : 28 : 1738 :——

“Voted, That Mr Benjamin Catlin Daniel Messinger and daniel Ph[e]lps
Be a Commeete to Send to the Neighbouring Ministers forthere Assist-
ance Jn Ordaining of the rend Mr Andrew Bartholomew and also to make
what Prouison is Nessesary for the Ordainnation.

“In the town records, Book I., Mr. Bartholomew’s
acknowledgments of salary received show that his
official year began and ‘ended on October 4th. His
first acknowledgment is of, as he expressed it, ‘the
Money Part on the account of My Ministry at &
untill October the fourth, one thousand Seuen Hun-
dred & thirty Nine.’ The other ‘part’ thus implied
was labor on his land, which, as several votes of the
town show, was stipulated to be given him annually
by the male members of his flock.

“ April 2, 1739.—Att a meeting of the Proprietors of the Hast Part of
Harwinton Holden by Adjournment att the house of Mr Daniel Mes-
senger Jn Harwinton on the lst Monday of Aprill Anno Domini 1739,
Voted yt Capt™ George Wyllys, Mr Benjamin Catlin, & Mt Dan" Mes-
senger Be » Committee Jn the Behalf of the Proprietors of the East Part
of Harwinton To Give a Good & Lawfull Deed to the Rev? Mr Andrew
Bartholomew & to His Heirs & Assigns for Ever of the Homelott that
‘Was Laid Out for the First Ordaind Minister that Should Settle in the
Work of the Ministry Jn Harwinton.

“ Dec. 6, 1744.—Whereas the Proprietors of East harwinton at their
Seuerall Meetings [voted] to giue one hundred Acres of land to the
first Ordained Minister in st town upon Condittion of his Continuing
Regularly in the Ministry as at the Beginning with respect to Printi-
ples for the term of fiue years after his ordination & Chose A: Commit-
tee to lay out st Land according to his Choice as may be seen in y° uotes-
in the Proprietors Book at their Particular Meetings Dated September
21: 1731 [?]: and february : 21: 17378: march 22: 1738—which term
of time was Compleated in october y° 4th 1743 Pursuant therefore
to 84 Uotes we the Subscribers Capt Daniell Messenger Ensign Jonathan
Hopkins deacon jacob Benton : & : m* Cyprian webster Being of the Num-
382

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD

“q

COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ber of the Comtee— appointed to lay out Said Land [etc.—Said Com-
mittee find that said quantity of land belongs to], the Reu»t Mr Andrew
Bartholmew who was the first Ordaind minister [and they proceeded] :
18th of february Ad 1745-6 [to survey and lay out said quantity] and also
12 acres 1-2 [addition] we haue allowed for Roughness of land.*

“Town records and proprietors’ records, in the ex-
tracts above given, impart the date of the first pastor’s
induction Oct. 4, 1738. Compared with other churches
in Litchfield County, the Congregational Church in
Harwinton has a priority, the same as to its settling
its first pastor with that before specified as to its for-
mation. Precedence or subsequence of this kind helps
no one greatly, harms no one much, is related distantly
to one’s responsibleness; but there is something
through which, as duly regarded or not, persons
within this church, and persons outside of all churches,
are sure to find chief benefit or direst injury,—it is a
matter which takes and keeps a direct hold of the
conscience, presenting there the sort of precedence
that all men are to seek for as vitally momentous to
them ; for to all men is the favor granted, on all is
the obligation imposed, of rising daily to some higher
position on that scale which exhibits the need of, as
well as measures and announces, moral worth.

“Mr. Bartholomew’s pastorate in Harwinton was by
years longer than any which succeeded it there. It
left scanty historic materials. There is in the church’s
possession no account of the church’s condition and
proceedings in his time. The town records have sup-
plied most that is known of him. As these furnish
no grounds for a different conclusion, the inference
seems to be warranted that, until his ministry drew
towards its end, the course of things relative to him
and the church and the town moved on with a general
uniformity and smoothness. Probably no peculiar
sorrows saddened his mind, and no extra laborious
exertions prematurely broke the springs of his energy.
But these at length give way; his relation as pastor
ceases. A year or two subsequently all his relation-
ships on earth terminate.

“Nov. 26, 1772,—Voted, To Give Mr David Ely a call to preach three
or four Sabbaths on probation.

“Dec. 1, 1772.—The Committee Report that Mt David Ely Would Not
tarry to preach on the above [not mentioned] proposals. Voted to send
for Mt David Ely to come and preach With us—Voted that Stephen
Butler Should apply 'To M Ely.

“Feb, 23, 1773.— Voted, That Committee Should Apply to Mr Robert
Hubbard Further Voted that If s4 Committee Could Not Obtain Mr
Hubbert that they should Apply to some one Else . . . to Supply the
pulpit——

“May 25,1773.— Voted, To Give Mt Robert Hubbard a call to come
And Settle In the work of the Ministry,

“Voted, To Discharge the Revd Mr Andrew Barthol” From Giving in
a List During his life—Provided S¢ Rev? Mr Bartholomew Discharges
The Town from paying him his Salery.

“June 1, 1773.—The proposal made in the last vote
above quoted was accepted by Mr. Bartholomew, as
appears by the agreement which in full is recorded.

“Sept. 7, 1773.— Voted, The Committee Shall apply To Mr David Perry
to preach with them The Winter Comeing.

“Sept. 21, 1773,—The action, specified in the vote last quoted, was
renewed.

 

* East Harwinton records.

 

“Oct. 11, 1773.— Voted, The Society Committee Shall apply to Mr a
Perry to Settle In the work of the Ministry In the Town of harwinton,

“Jan. 10, 1774.—Voted, to Discharge The Revd Mr. Andrew Bartholm
From paying any taxes or Rates whatsoever During Life on Conditions
He Continues in Harwinton.

“Feb. 2, 1774.—A vote was passed providing that
Mrs. Bartholomew, if sheshould survive her husband,
should in like manner be exempted. ;

“ Dismissed from his relations to the Society, by an
ecclesiastical council convened for that purpose, Jan.
26, 1774,” the remnant of the ‘first pastor’s life was
here‘spent, where, March 6, 1776, he died.

“Mr. Bartholomew was born at Wallingford in 1714,
He graduated at Yale College in 1731. He was buried
in the ancient graveyard in Harwinton, and a slab of
gneissic stone bears the following inscription:

: “* Here lies the Body of ‘the
Revé Andrew Bartholomew
The 1 pastor of ‘the church , a
of christ in harwinton who

With filial regard for the
Glory of god studiously
Labored in the vineyard
of christ’38 years. A lover
of piety peace and good
order and zealous for the faith
he died March the 6 AD
1776 in the 634 year of his age.’

“The pastors since Mr. Bartholomew have been
as follows: David Perry, 1774-83; Joshua Williams,
1790-1822; George E. Pierce, D.D., 1822-34; R.
Manning Chipman, 1835-39; Charles Bentley, 1839-
50; Warren G. Jones, 1850-58; Jacob G. Miller, 1854
-67; John A. McKinstry, 1857-63; Rev. Robert T.
Searle, 1864-65; Rev. Charles H. Bissell, 1865; Rev.
George Curtis; Rev. W. N. Meserve, 1878-80; Rev.
Th. Douglas, 1880, present pastor.

“There is a small chapel in the southwest part of
the town recently erected. A Sabbath-school is estab-
lished, and a Sunday afternoon preaching service.

“ An Episcopal Church was organized in this town
about the year 1784. Among the early members were
Alexander Alford, Luman Bishop, Lieut. Levi Mun-
son, Mark Prindle, Capt. Eziekel Scoville.”

THE HARWINTON AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY,

successor of the old society, was incorporated Feb. 28,
1878. The following were the incorporators: Charles
8. Barber, Abigail Fenn, Humphrey Wilson, Addison
Webster, Cyrus E. Cook, Cyrus L. Barber, Henry D.
Reynolds, and James M. Baldwin.

CIVIL HISTORY.

This town was incorporated Oct. 18, 1787, and the
first town-meeting was held on the 20th of the fol-
lowing December. The following is a copy of its
record:

“Att a Meeting of the Jnhabitants of the town of Harwiton Legily
Wornied to be at the hous of Jacob Bentons on december:—the: 20:
1737-——

“Voted, That : Mt Daniel Messenger be Moderrator for this Meeting——

“Voted, That Jacob Benton be town Clerk for the town of Harwinton
for the year Ensuing—.
HARWINTON.

“Voted, That Mr Israel Marrimoun Mr Cyperan webster and Mr daniel
Brown be towns men or select men for this town —— ‘

“Voted, That hez hopkins be Constobel for s4 town for the year En-
suing——

“Voted, That Samuel Phelps and Nathaniel Hatch be Grandjurors for
this town for the year Ensuing—— e

“Yoted, That Ebnezer Hopkins and Antony Horskin Be Surveyors of
High ways for this Town——

“Voted, That Jonathan Brace and thomas Bull be fence uiewers for
this town for the year Ensuing——

“Voted, That Samuel Barber and John Wilson Be fence uiewers for this
town for the year Ensuing——

“Voted, That Jacob Benton: Daniel Phelps and Samuel Messinger Be
Listers for this town of Harwinton for the year Ensuing——

“Voted, That Isral Marremoun be brander of horsses and of hors Kind
for the town of Harwington for the year Ensuing——

“Voted, That Jacob Benton be town treasurrer for this town and that
he Be A Commeete to receiue and Disspose of the land tax money that
the generall Court ordered: and as there act and law directs.

“Voted, That the Select Men Make the tax Rate for the Ensuing year.

“Voted, That Swine may haue there liberty to Run at Large.

“Voted, That this town joyne with Litchfield to build A Bridge ouer
Waterbury [Naugatuc] riuer Prouided they will bee ut two thurds of the
Cost—And we at but one thurd of the Cost.of said Bridge.

“Voted, That Antony Horskins and Ebnezer Hopkins be A Commete
to treat with them about the Building of said Bridge.

“Voted, That the Enhabitents of the town of Harwinton haue uery
unanimusly A grieed to. Build A Meteing House for Diuine Worship.

“Voted, That the Place for a Pound for the towne of Harwinton be
near to Mt Israel Merriman A-Bout the Sen-terline Betweene the Propri-
etors of Hartford And windsor.

“Voted, That the Place for the Sine Post Shall Be att the Senter-Line
Betweene the Proprietors of Hartford And Windsor Att the Cunterry
Road. é

“Voted, We agree thus that the Meeting House Shall be set in the Sen-
ter Line Between the Propriators vf Hartford and windsor Condishond
that Windsor Propriators giue their Proporshon of land Agreed for the
Jncurrigment of our Minnistor and Pay half the Choost boilding the
Meeting House and half the: 100: Pound Agreed to giue the Ministor
Jn Labour.

“Voted, That if M: JosePh larrence [returns to] liue’ A* Mong us and
works Att the Smiths trade he shall be freed from Paing of All towne
and ministers rates and working att Highway for the S-Pace of five years
next Ensuing.

“test JacoB Benton, Clerk.”

The earliest marriages registered in Harwinton are
those of William Robinson with Elizabeth Lawrence,
and Edmund Austin with Susannah Lawrence:

“William : Roboson was Marreed to Elisabeth lawrence on the: 6: day
of January anno dom 1736.

“Edmon Austin was Marreed to Susanna Lawrence on the: 6: day of
January Anno dom 1736.”

The earliest birth registered is that of Ruth Phelps:

“Ruth Phelps of Harwinton the Daughter of Let Samuel Phelps &
Ruth Phelps his wife was Born the Sixth Day of Febuary Anno. Domini
1733,"

The earliest death registered is that of Dorcas Bis-
sell :

“Darcis Bissell of Harwinton the Daughter of Jabez Bissell and Dor-
cis Bissell his wife Died 29 day of Aprill year 1742.”

The first dwelling-house here which merited such
a name was erected by Daniel Messenger, in 1731.

FORMATION OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY.

A petition, praying “that the towns of Litchfield,
Woodbury, New Milford, Kent, Sharon, Salisbury,
Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Harwinton, Torrington,
Norfolk, New Hartford, Barkhampstead, Hartland,
Winchester, and Colebrook be made a county,” was

 

383

presented to the Legislature Aug. 20,1751. Said pe-
tition has on it, of Harwinton citizens, the names
following: Daniell Phelps, Abijah Catling, Joseph
Marrimon, Jobe Alford, Ezreal [Ezekiel] Scovil, Ben-
jamin Catling, Jr., Daniel Catling, Ebenezer Hopkins,
Jr., William Heydon, Nathan Davis, David Will-
coks, Jr., John Barbour, Jacob Benton, Jonathan
Hopkins, Amos Bull, Isaac Bull, Noah Lomes, Jr.,
Samuell Stone Butler, Ciprian Webster, Aaron Cook,
Isral Merimon, Anthony Hoskins, Ebenezer Hopkins,
Jacob Hinsdell, Samuel Phelps, Timothy Stanly, Jr.,
John Wilson, Samuel Barbor, Thomas Bull, Daniel
Bartholomew, Jacob Peck, Noah Loomus, Samuel
Bull, Joel Catlin.

A remonstrance against the formation of such pro-
posed new county was presented to the Legislature,
Sept. 17, 1751. On said remonstrance are, of Harwin-
ton citizens, the names following: Benjamin Catling,
Ebenezer Heydon, Daniel Messenger, Jonathan Hop-
kins, Nathaniell Moody, Jacob Benton, Abraham Cat-
lin, Aaron Cook, Jr., Johnathan Catling, Samuel
Cook, Jonathan Brace, David Heydon, Joseph Hey-
don, Timothy Stanly, Ebaneser Tyler, Joseph Curtice,
Ashbel Skinner, Abiel Tyler, Samuel Messenger, Wil-
liam Elsworth, Hez. Hopkins, Daniel Gillitt, Janna
Griswold, Zechariah Seymor, John Coult, Reuben
Barbur, Ezept [Ezekiel] Scovil, David Willcoks, Elias
Willcoks, John Still [Steele?], Samuell Wesson, Ne-
hemiah Hopkins, Amos Catling.

“The following desire that their names may be
erased from the preceding petition,” in a request pre-
sented to the Legislature, Sept. 22, 1751, viz.: Sam-
uel Stone Butler, Amos Bull, Timothy Stanly, Jr.,
Jonathan Hopkins, Jr., Ebenezer Hopkins, Jr., Jacob
Benton, Jr., Jacob Hinsdell, John Barbur, Thomas
Bull, Samuel Bull.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1757 TO 1882.

1757.—Capt. Abijah Catling, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale.
1758.—Deacon Jacob Benton, Capt. Jacob Hinsdale,
1759-61.—Capt. Abijah Catling, Daniel Catling.
1762.—Capt. Abijah Catling.

1763.—Daniel Catling.

1764.—Abijah Catlin, Daniel Catlin.
1765.—Capt. Daniel Catlin, Joel Catlin.
1766.—Abijah Catlin, George Catlin.
1767.—George Catlin.

1768.—Abijah Catlin, Daniel Catlin.
1769.—Capt. Abijah Catling, John Wilson.
1770.—Maj. Abijah Catlin, Daniel Catlin.
1770-72.—Maj. Abijah Catlin, Josiah Phelps.
1773.—Josiah Phelps, Capt. John Wilson.
1774,—Josiah Phelps, Mark Prindle.
1775-76.—Capt. John Wilson, Josiah Phelps.
1777.—Josiah Phelps, Cyprian Webster.
1778.—John Wilson, Daniel Catlin.
1779.—Joseph Cook, Daniel Catlin.
1780.—Josiah Phelps, Joseph Cook.
1781-84.—Josiah Phelps, Capt. George Catlin.
1785-86.—Mark Prindle, Joseph Cook.
1787.—Abner Wilson, Josiab Phelps.
1788.—Joseph Cook, Eli Wilson.
1789-91.—Josiah Phelps, Col. Abner Wilson.
1792-93.—Josiah Phelps, Daniel Catlin.
1794.—Josiah Phelps, Dauiel Catlin, Jr.
1795.—Josiah Phelps, Abner Wilson.
384 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1796.—Josiah Phelps, Daniel Catlin.
1797-1800.—Daniel Catlin, James Brace.
1801.—Daniel Catlin.

1802.—Daniel Catlin, James Brace.
1803-4.—James Brace, Timothy Clark, Jr.
1805-9.—James Brace, Benjamin Griswold.
1810-11.—Timothy Clark, Joel Bradley.
1812.—Timothy Clark, Benjamin Griswold.
1813.—James Brace, Benjamin Griswold.
1814. James Brace, Cyprian Webster.
1815.—Cyprian Webster, Joel Bradley.
1816.—Cyprian Webster, William C. Abernethy.
1817-18.— William C. Abernethy, Uriah Hopkins,
1819.—William ©. Abernethy, Enos Frisbie.
1820.—Uriah Hopkins, William C. Abernethy.
1821.—E]i Candee, Marviu Griswold.
1822.—E]li Candee, John S. Preston.
1823-24.—Uriah Hopkins, Marvin Griswold.
1825.—Uriah Hopkins, John §, Preston.
1826.—Marvin Griswold, Roswell Alford.
1827-28.—Phinehas W. Noble, Noah Welton.
1829.—David Wilson, Marvin Griswold.
1830.—David Wilson, Jeremiah Holt.
1831.—Jeremiah Holt, Marvin Griswold.
1832.—Gaylord Wells, Asahel Hooker.
1833.—Gaylord Wells, Abijah Webster.
1834.—Abijah Webster, Chester N. Case.

. 1835.—Augustus S. Johnson, Lyman Perkins.
1836.—Augustus S. Johnson, Andrew Abernethy.
1837.—Abijah Catlin, Andrew Abernethy.
1838-39.—Abijah Catlin, Sheldon Osborn.
1840.—Allen Birge, Abijah Catlin.
1841.—Allen Birge, Moses Beach.
1842.—Moses Beach, Asahel N. Barber.
1843.—Asahel N. Barber, John Bull.
1844.—John Bull, Phinehas W. Noble.
1845.—Phinehas W. Noble, Augustus 8, Johnson.
1846.—Gardner Preston, Augustus S, Johnson.
1847.—Gardner Preston, Sheldon G. Catlin.
1848,— Jeremiah Holt, Sheldon G. Catlin.
1849,—Jeremiah Holt, Philo Hall.
1850.—Daniel Hinman, Phinehas W. Noble.
1851.—David A. Wilson, Abijah Catlin.
1852.—Lewis Catlin, Jr., Samuel S. Catlin.
1853.—James Alling, William Knox.
1854.—Charles Wilcox, Hart Barker.
1855,—Augustus 8. Johnson, Alphonso Candee.
1856.—Lewis Catlin, Sr., Thomas R. Candee.
1857.—Horace Wilson, Addison Webster.
1858.—Wolcott Hinsdale, William Wilson.
1859.—Julius Catlin, Charles Hubert Barber.
1860.—Charles M. Wilson, George Gridley.
1861.—Abijah Catlin, Henry G. Birge.
1862.—Abijah Catlin, Lewis Catlin.
1863.—Henry E. Hinman, Carlis Sperry.
1864.—Joseph Fenn, Roswell Cook.
1865.—Abijah Catlin, Lewis Catlin,

1866.—I. B. Loomis, Willis Catlin.
1867.—Levi Curtis, Robert E. Ensign.
1868.—Cornelius Colt, Jerry B. Holt.
1869.—N. A. Wilson, Lyman Gridley.
1870.—Henry Catlin, David Birge.
1871.—Lucius H. Olmsted, Albro Ely.
1872.—George Curtiss, John D. Page.
1873.—M. L. Goodwin, H. S. Frisbie.
1874.—Abijah Catlin, Charles S, Barber.
1875.—Cyrus L. Barber, Delos Bristol.
1876.—Cyrus A. Wilson, George Alford.
1877.—Elijah G. Gibbs, George W. Davis.
1878,.—Albert G. Wilson, John H. Scoville.
1879.—Abijah Catlin, George E. Cook.
1880,—Emerson M. Hayes, Martin Cook.
1881.—Virgil R. Barker, Ernest F. Gunn.

The probate business of Harwinton was formerly
transacted at Litchfield. The probate district of

 

Litchfield, established 1747, included, with Litchfield
and Harwinton, Canaan, Cornwall, Goshen, Kent (of
which Warren then was a part), Norfolk, Salisbury,
Sharon, Torrington, and “ the lands on the west side
of the Housatonic River between New Fairfield and
Sharon.”

Harwinton was constituted a probate district in
1835.

HARWINTON MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY

was organized July, 1856. Its first officers were:
Phinehas W. Noble, President; Addison Webster,
Secretary ; Charles M. Wilson, Treasurer.

MILITARY RECORD.*

Henry H. Riggs, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. May 7, 1865.

Francis Owens, Co. C, lst Regt. ; enl. Dec. 12, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865,

H. C. Barrett, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 10, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.

Joseph Edwards, 10th Regt.

J. Hinter, 11th Regt.; enl. March 11, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

H. F. Castle, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 12, 1861; disch. July 16, 1865.

8S. Pratt, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.

W. Scoville, 1st Art.; en]. May 23, 1861: disch. Sept. 23, 1861.

H. W. Sanford, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch, Dec. 22, 1862.

S. A. Woodruff, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861: pro. to 1st lieut.; must. out
Sept. 25, 1865.

George Rogers, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 11, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1865,

P. Prinzle.

C. C. Newbery, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865,

J. W. Keloey, 20th Regt.; enl. Dec. 12, 1864.

H. 0. Bogue, 23d Regt. ; enl. Sept. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

P. Dewire, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

C. Quin, 27th Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. July 27, 1863.

E. Barber, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

G. W. Catlin, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

8. R. Kirkpatrick, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 5, 1864.

J. McGlouglin, 1st Cav.; en]. Dec. 7, 1864.

W. Patterson, lst 'Cav.; enl..Dec. 6, 1864.

M. J. Bronson, 1st Art.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. Oct. 30, 1861.

H. Hubbard, Ist Art.; enl. May 22, 1862; disch. May 21, 1864.

F. A. Riley, lst Art.; enl. May 20, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

Chas. L. Barbour, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Dec. 16, 1861.

C. Colt, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 26, 1864.

L. A. Colt, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

L. E. Cooke, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

George E. Moran, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

CHAPTER XXXVII
KENT.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indians—The Moravians—The Grant
—First Proprietors’ Meeting—List of Proprietors—The First Settle-
ments—Grand List, 1745—The First School—The Congregational
Church—St. Andrew’s Church—St. Luke’s Lodge, No. 48, F. and A.M.
—Civil History—Incorporation of Town—The First Town-Meeting—
First Marriage, Births, etc.—Representatives from 1757 to 1881—Mili-
tary Record.

THIs town lies on the west border of the county,
and is bounded as follows: on the north by Sharon
and Cornwall, on the east by Warren and Washington,
on the south by New Milford, and on the west by
Dutchess County, N. Y. The scenery of Kent is
charming and picturesque. The river winds through
a deep and fertile valley, while the mountains rise on
either side, presenting one of the finest views of

 

* For list of Nineteenth Regiment, see Chapter V.
KENT.

mountain and vale to be found in rugged New Eng-
land. 4

The town is watered by the Housatonic River,
which crosses it in a southwesterly direction.

There is strong reason for believing that this town
was the home of a race of beings that inhabited this
country prior to the aborigines.

“There is in this town,” says Dr. Trumbull, “convincing evidence
that it was a grand seat of the native inhabitants of this country before
Indians, who more lately inhabited it, had any residence in it. There
are arrow-heads, stone pots, and a sort of knives, and various kinds of
utensils, frequently found by the English, of such curious workmanship,
as exceeds all the skill of any Indians since the English came into this
country, and became acquainted with them. These were not only found
when the town was first settled, but they are still found on the sides of
the Housatonic River.”

THE INDIANS.

The Indian history of this town is not that of the
war-whoop and the scalping-knife, but of a quiet set-
tlement of peace-loving and intelligent aborigines.
It was the last home of the Schaghticoke tribe, they
having removed from the town of Dover, N.Y. _

“Gideon Mowehn, the king or sachem of the Schaghticoke tribe, was
a Pequot Indian, and in one of his hunting expeditions came to the sum-
mit of the mountain which rises almost precipitously west of Schaghti-
coke, and, beholding the beautiful valley and river below, determined to
make it the place of his future residence. It was indeed a lovely and
desirable place; there were several hundred acres of excellent land,
covered with grass like a prairie, with some few scattering trees inter-
spersed. The river was well supplied with fish, and on the mountains
on both sides was found an abundance of deer and other wild game. At
this place Mauwehn collected the Indians and became their sachem, and
here the Moravians had a flourishing mission.”* ‘ait

Dr. Trumbull, in speaking of the Indians, says,—

“Mowehn, a sachem, who a‘féw- years before had removed with his
Indians from Newtown to New Milford, about the year 1728 built him a
hunting-house at Schaghticoke, in the northwest part of Kent, on the
west bank of the Housatonic River.

“He invited the Indians at New Milford, from the Oblong, in the
province of New York, and from various other places, to settle with him
at Schaghticoke; and it appears that he was a man of so much art and
popularity among the Indians, that in about ten or eleven years, about
the time when the town was settled, he could muster an hundred war-
riors. The whole number probably was about five or six hundred.
These, like the other Indians in this State, and in most other States,
have been greatly diminished. Their whole number at this time (1839)
is not more than forty.”

In 1744 and 1746 the Indians disposed of a portion
of their land, and in 1775 the Legislature, at their re-
quest, assumed control of this estate, and appointed
an agent to manage the affairs, which course has been
pursued to the present time. The Indians still own
about four hundred acres of land, which is occupied
by half-breeds, as there is no pure Indian blood left
among them.

THE MORAVIANS.

A Moravian mission was established among the
Schaghticoke Indians about 1740, and a few years
later, it is said, the sachem was baptized by them.
Here they established a church or mission, and bap-
tized one hundred and fifty of the Kent Indians. It

 

* Barber.

 

385

is said that these missionaries were kindly treated by
the people of the town, but the evidence of the mis-
sionaries themselves is that they were not only ill
treated and persecuted, but imprisoned. Dr. Trum-
bull says, “ But it could not be by the people of Con-
necticut.”

Whither the Indians had flown who occupied this
territory first before the advent of the English is un-
known; but they doubtless joined Philip in his war
against New England, and in the slaughter of Philip’s
warriors by Connecticut troops on the Housatonic,
at the close of the war, were either slain or removed
to Canada.

THE GRANT.

The first grant of the township of Kent was made
to Joseph Fuller, Timothy Hatch, Daniel Comstock,
Joseph Pratt, Ephraim’ Hubball, Nathaniel Berry,
John Ransom, and others, in May, 1731, and enlarged
and confirmed in the year 1747.

FIRST PROPRIETORS’ MEETING.

The first proprietors’ meeting was held at Wind-
ham, March 8, 1888, at, which it was

“Voted, To lay out into lots a part of said Kent, and to appoint a com-
mittee for that purpose.

“Voted, Humphrey Avery as agent to prefer to the General Assembly
to ascertain and establish the south line of the town.

“Voted, That Ebenezer Barnum shall have the 49th lot, upon condition
that he build a saw-mill and a grist-mill.

“Voted, That Elisha Perry and Jonathan Morgan shall not build mills
on Mill Brook, to the detriment of each other.”

LIST OF PROPRIETORS.

The following is a list of the first proprietors, as taken
from the proprietors’ records: Humphrey Avery, John
Beebe, Nathaniel Benjamin, Josiah Barse, Abel Bar-
num, Ebenezer Barnum, Nathaniel Barnum, Na-
thaniel Berry, Thomas Beman, Thomas Casson, Philip
Coverly, Daniel Comstock, Jonathan Dunham, Fran-
cis Fenton, Joseph Hatch, Ephraim Peter, Richard
and Jonathan Hubbel, Philip Judd, John Knapp,
Noah Rockwell, Samuel Lewis, John Mitchel, John
Mills, Jonathan and Jonathan Morgan, Jr., Mitchel
Kenell, Samuel Miner, John Mills, Thomas New-
comb, John Porter, John Smith, Thomas Skeels,
Nathaniel Sloson, Zepaniah Swift, John Seeley, Jo-

Siah Starr, Thomas Tozer, Abel Wright, Elisha Wil-

liams, Jacob Warner. ;

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

The first settlements were made in 1788, principally
by settlers from Colchester, Fairfield, and Norwalk.
The Slawsons, Canfields, and Bassetts were from Nor-
walk; the Comstocks from Fairfield; while Payne,
Washburn, Wright, Ransom, and Platt were from
Colchester. The settlement and improvement of the
town generally was rapid, as evidenced by the fol-

lowing grand list of 1745:
386

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

GRAND LIST, 1745.

   
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
     

 
   
 
   
  
   
   
    
   
  
    
   
 

£sa4a £ os. di
Isaac Benton... 28 0 0 Thomas Morris..........+ 33: 0.0
- Nathaniel Ber 115 5 0 Benjamin Newcomb...... 59 0 0
Richard Barnum.. 18 0 9 Stephen Nolles. 62 0 0
Benjamin Bronson. 62 0 0 Jonathan Noll 28 0 0
Samuel Bates....... 29 0 0 Jesse Pratt... 53 0 0
Ebenezer Barnum. 2310 0 Azariah Pratt.. 5212 0
Thomas Beman. 66 0 0 Abram Raymon 4014 0
Amos Barnum. 24 0 0 John Ransom.. 40 0 0
Daniel Beman.. 21 0 0 Jeans Stewart... 87 7 0
Gideon Barnum. 88 11 0 Si Teese 5510 0
John Bentley. 22 0 O Samuel Skeal.. Ig 0 0
.E. Beman....... 21 0 0 Reuben Swift.. 3L 0 0
Jehial Barnum.. 60 15 0 Daniel Thomson. 37 0 0
Darien Comstock.. 73 0 0 J. Thomas....... 57 0 0
19 0 O 4. Washborn 8810 0
75 0 0 J, Walling. 18 0 0
Samuel Canfield. 89 8 6 M. Lathrop.. 23 0 0
Daniel Cross... 25 0 0 Nathaniel Ro 29 0 0
Nathan Delano.. 36 0 0 owley.. 39 0 0
J. Fuller........ 83 0 0 Jacob Galusha.. 23 0 0
Barnabas Hatch. 5510 0 Ebenezer Park 22 0 0
Timothy Hatch. 76 0 0 William Spooner 19 0 0
Jethro Hatch....... 21 0 0 Stephen Paris.. 25 0 0
Benjamin Hambleton.... 43 0 0 John Beebe.. 1717 0
E. Hubbell. 96 0 0 Nathaniel Swift.. 33. 0 0
Philip Jidde. 41 0 0 Jehial Benton... 4210 0
Samuel Latteau. 24 0 0 J. Swift... 8 0 0
68 1 0 Alexander ‘Keney.. 2100
9910. 0 John Massay. 2 0 0
47 0 0 Jesse Small.. 28 0 0

1 .JEHIAL BARNUM,’'

SamueL HvusBeELL,
Listers.

THE FIRST SCHOOL.
At a town-meeting held Jan. 7, 1739, it was

“Voted, That we will Beueld a Schoole Hows Sixteen feet Square.

“Voted, That the Hows Shall be Built on ye 12 Rod Highway between
Fuller’s and Morgan’s.

“Voted, That John Porter, Joseph Fuller, and Samuel Lewis be a Com-
mittee for take Care of the bissness of st Hows and see that it is beuilt.”

At the same meeting it was

“Voted, That wee will Beuild a Meeting hows, and also that we will
not begin to git the timber untill october next.”

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. -
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The first church in Kent was organized April 29,
1741, by the neighboring churches of New Milford
and Sharon. The first members were Eben Barnum,
Samuel Lewis, Abel Wright, Daniel Comstock, Na-
thaniel Berry, Azariah Pratt, Joseph Fuller, Eben
Liman, Gideon Barnum, Samuel Bates. The first
deacon was Joseph Benton. The present officers are
Deacons John OC. Berry, Levi W. Stone, and Samuel
C. Conn.

The following is a list of the ministers: Cyrus
Marsh, 1741; Joel Bordwell, Oct. 28,1758; Asa Blair,
May 26, 1818; Laurens Hickock, Dec. 10, 1823;
Watson W. Andrews, May 21, 1834; W. W. Page,
Dec. 7, 1853; Evarts Schudder, May 18, 1859; Ed-
ward Payson, Dec. 4, 1867; Arthur Crosby, Jan. 2,
1872.

The first church building we have any record of
was built in 1774, one mile north of Kent plain. The
present church building was erected, in 1849, on Kent
plain. A church building was erected about 1741,
but no record of it exists.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

The Episcopal society in Kent was organized Feb.
22, 1808. The following is a copy of the “warning”
issued for the purpose of organizing the society :

 

“To Moses Swift (2d), of Kent, in Litchfield County, in indifferent
person, Greeting.

“By authority of the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded
to have Barzillia Swift, Asaph Swift, John Hopson, Reuben H. Booth,
Moses Swift (1st), Timothy Hall, John Smith, James Beardsley, John Peet,
James Peet, Hezekiah Lee, Garret Winegar, David Beardsley, Asher
Spicer, Caleb Morgan, Daniel H. Morgan, H. Segar, Julius Peck, Lewis
St. John, Lewis Root, Titus Hubbard, Joseph Brann, Philo F. Gregory,
Jabez Beardsley, Jr., Jabez Beardsley, John Hurd, Aaron Payne, Daniel
Hurd, Haman Sharpe, T. A. Chambelin, E. J. Beardsley, Levi Beardsley,
Matthew Judd, Alpheus Fuller, Stephen Stuart, John Stuart, Emerson
Cogswell, Elijah Stone, David Edwards, Eli Smith, Jr., Nathan Goodsell,
C. Judd, Jesse Beardsley, Jos, Edwards, J. Church, Barzillia Thomson,
David Morehouse, James Caldwell, Daniel Morehouse, George Peet, Abel
Turvill, Jr., Isaac Bull, Stephen Edmonds, David Morey, Russell Judd,
James Judd, Elijah Geer, John Hill, all of said Kent, and Samuel Peet,
Eli Judd, and Lemuel Orton, of New Milford,—that is to say, you are to
warn all the persons aforesaid to meet in lawful societies meeting at the
Episcopal church on the Great Plain in Kent, aforesaid, on Monday, 22d
day of February, A.D. 1808, at one o’clock afternoon, then and there to
form and regularly organize themselves as an Ecclesiastical Society of the
order and denomination called Episcopalians, and to choose the proper
officers for said society, and to do any other business proper to be done at
a society meeting. Hereof fail not, but make due service of this warn-
ing at least five days before said 22d day of February, A.p. 1808.

“ Given under our hands this 15th day February, a.v. 1808.

“ BARZILLIA SLOSSON,

3 Justice of Peace.
“ ASAPH Swirt,
“ BarziILLia SWIFT,
“Joun Horsoy.”

In pursuance of the above warning, a meeting was
held Feb. 22, 1808, when the following officers were
chosen: Clerk, Lewis St. John; Moderator, Reuben
H. Booth; Treasurer, John H. Swift; Societies’ Com-
mittee, Matthew Judd, Asaph Swift, Ezekiel P.
Beardsley, and Reuben H. Booth; Collector, Aaron
Payne.

“ Voted, To excuse Mr. Swift, and voted John Smith Treasurer.”

“ Voted, To excuse Asaph Swift. ;

“ Voted, To raise money by subscription for the support of preaching in
said society.”

Dec. 29, 1808, it was

“ Voted, That Zachariah Winegar be appointed to see that order is pre-
served in church during service.

- Voted, That James Peet and Moses Swift (Ist) be appointed for the
same purpose.”

The first wardens were Barzillia Swift and Matthew
Judd. The first vestrymen were Matthew Judd,
Ezekiel P. Beardsley, and Reuben H. Booth. The
rectors have been as follows: Sturges Gilbert, George
B. Andrews, Ezra Jones, X. Alanson Welton, Elisha
Whittlesey, and Isaac C. Sturges, present rector.

The following is a record of the sale of slips in the
church, May 26, 1834:

No. 1, with a reservation of a part to the clergyman’s
family, for J. H. St. John.. $14.00
“ 22, Frederick Chittenden.....
e 23, Samuel H. Chamberlain.
e 25, A. Fuller...
“97 John W. M
Nos. 6 and 26, Alden Swift..
“ 8 and 28, William T. Hop:
“ 10 and 30, John M. Hurd..

  
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
   
 
  

 

 

No. 3, Erastus Chamberlain 800
“6, Eber S. Peters... 7.00
“ 29, Samuel ©, Conn.. 8.50
“31, Jackson T. Bull... 5.00
“7, John M. Raymond 10,00
“ 9, Osias Lewis......... 7.00
“11, Sarah Booth and Delia Prate - 6.00
“13° Asa Mead (?). 2.00
“ 33, Chas. Geer... 5.00

Nos. 12 and 32, John Smith and Welle Beardsley. 12.00

No. 35, Silas and Chas. Leonard.. 4.00
 

HON. RUFUS FULLER.

Hon. Rufus Fuller was born in Plymouth,
Litchfield Co., Conn., Nov. 13, 1810. He was
the second son of Rufus Fuller, of Easton,
Mass. Rufus, Sr., had four children,—Linus
F., Rufus, Julia A.; the fourth died in in-
fancy.

The subject of this sketch received his edu-
cation at Union College, and graduated in
1835, receiving the degrees of A.M. and A.B.,
Dr. Knott being president at that time. He
studied law with Judge O. S. Seymour, of
Litchfield, Conn., and was admitted to the bar
in 18389. He practiced his profession about
twenty-five years, when he retired from active
business life in consequence of ill’ health.

March 10, 1857, he united in marriage

 

with Matilda, daughter of Louis St. John, of
Sharon. They have two children,—Clarence L.
and Florence A. Clarence resides on the farm
with his father; Florence is an artist and a
member of the Art League in New York City.
Mr. Fuller, politically, is a Democrat; has been
judge of Probate and postmaster, and was a
member of the Legislature in 1848, and sub-
sequently was the nominee of his party for
State senator.

Mr. Fuller discharged the duties of the
various positions to which he was called with
credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction
of his constituents. Although having reached
the age of threescore and ten, he still retains

much of the vigor and elasticity of youth.
KENT.

387

 

The present officers of the church are as follows:
Wardens, E. 8. Peters and J. F. Gibbs; Vestrymen,
Wellington -Watson, Sr., Linus B. Winegar; Perry
Hufcut, Fitch R, Buckingham, and Wellington Wat-
son, Jr.; Clerk, J. F. Gibbs.

ST. LUKE’S LODGE, No. 48, F. AND A. M.

' The lodge was organized Dec. 1, 1806, with the fol-
lowing charter members: John Raymond, Nathaniel
Berry, Jr., Philo Mills, Hopson Pratt, Abijah Berry,
John H. Swift, Reuben H. Boothe, Lee Eaton, Jesse
St. John, and Stiles Peck. The first Master was
John Raymond; Nathaniel Berry, Jr., Senior War-
den; Philo Mills, Junior Warden. The charter was
revoked by the Grand Lodge in May, 1838, and was
restored May 14, 1857.

INCORPORATION.

Kent was incorporated as a town in October, 1739.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.
. The first town-meeting was held in Kent, Dec. 4,

1789, “at two of ye Clock in ye after noon, att which’

the people attended ye bissness of Sd Meeting.” Mr.
Abel Wright was chosen - moderator, and Samuel
Lewis clerk. The first selectmen were Ebenezer

Barnum, Azariah Pratt, Timothy Hatch, John Por--

ter, and. Abel Wright’; Constables, Mr. Slosson and
John Beebe; Grand Jurors, John Mills and Gideon
Barnum ; Surveyors of Highways, Mathe Berry, Jo-
siah Barnum, —— Robard ; Fence-Viewers, Jona-
than Morgan, Daniel Comstock, Jr.

MARRIAGES, FIRST BIRTHS, Erc.

“Isaac Tiknor and mary martin were joined in marriage April ye Ist,
A.D. 1756, by mr, white, pastor. Isaac tickno, Jun., Son to the above
named persons, was born feb. y® 88, a.D; 1757.”

“March ye 29th, 4.p, 1758, there was Isaac Chapman and —— Raimond
joined together in marriage by Tim» hatch, Justice of peace.”

The old record also says that

“moses palmer and Phebe Brunson were joined together in marriage
by Cyrus marsh, pastor, Jan. ye 4th, a.p. 1753.”

“Jehial Barnum and Marck Berry was married aprill, 1741.”

“Ebenezer Barnum, sen., departed this life of action September ye
17th, 1755.”

EAR MARKS.
“Jonathan Skeel Mark Isa Whole in the Left Ear, February the 20,
177445." ; 2
“William Spooner mark is a half Cross on the under side of the Left
Ear and a half penny the under side of the same Ear, April ye 21, 1743.”

Jan. 2, 1740, it was

“Voted, To give Mr. Silliman a Call for to be our Minister, and also
Voted to give the Gentleman one hundred pounds and twenty pounds
salary, and also voted that a Comett be appointed to treat with Mr. Sili-
man and to se upon what teirms ye Jentelman will be ower Minister.”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1757 TO 1881.

1757, Jabez Swift; 1758-59, Jabez Swift, Daniel Lee; 1760, Jabez Swift,
Daniel Lee, Nathan Eliot; 1761, Cyrus Marsh, Nathan Eliot; 1762,
Cyrus Marsh, Nathan Eliot, Eliphalet Comstock ; 1763, Cyrus Marsh,
Nathan Eliot, Capt. John Hitchcock ; 1764-65, Cyrus Marsh, Ephraim
Hubbel, Jr.; 1766, Johu Ransom, Eliphalet, Comstock, Cyrus Marsh ;
1767, John Ransom, Eliphalet Comstock ;,1768, John Ransom, Elisha
Swift, Daniel Lee; 1769, Ephraim Hubbel, Jr., Elisha Swift; 1770,
John Ransom, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Elisha Swift, Capt. Moses Averill;

ae

 

 

1771, Capt. Joseph’ Pratt, Capt. Justus Sackett, Ephraim Hubbel,
Capt. Moses Averill; 1772-74, Ephraim Hubbell, Jr., Nathan Elliott,
- Capt. Justus Sackett; 1775, Ephraim Hubbell, Jr., Capt. Eliphalet
Whittlesey, Capt. Jethro Hatch, Capt. Justus Sackett; 1776, Capt.
Jethro Hatch, Capt. Moses Averill, Capt. Justus Sackett; 1777,
Ephraim Hubbell, Jr., Capt. Justus Sackett, Maj. Jethro Hatch,
Capt. Joseph Carter; 1778, Maj. Jethro Hatch, Capt. Joseph Carter, -
Capt. Jedediah Hubbell; 1779, Maj. Jethro Hatch, Capt. Justus Sack-
_ ott, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Maj. Eleazer Curtiss ; 1780, Maj. Jethro Hatch,
Capt. Joseph Carter, Lewis Mills, Benjamin Ackley; 1781, Lewis
Mills, Benjamin Ackley, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Capt. Justus Sackett;
1782, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Capt. Justus Sackett, Maj. Eleazer Curtis;
1783, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Capt. Joseph Carter, Nathaniel Berry,
Nathan Elliott; 1784, Nathaniel Berry, Capt. J oseph Carter, Nathan
Elliott; 1785-86, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Maj. Eleazer Curtiss; 1787,
Nathan Elliott: 1788, Capt. Joseph Pratt, Nathan Elliott; 1789, Na-
thaniel Perry; 1790, Nathan Elliott; 1791, Joseph Pratt; 1792,”
Stephen Dodge, Nathaniel Berry; 1793, Peter Pratt, Peter Com-
stock ; 1794, Joseph Pratt, John Elliott; 1795, Joseph Pratt; 1796, -
Joseph Pratt, Jobn Elliott; 1797, John Elliott, Barzillai Slosson ;
+ 1798, Barzillai Slosson, Joseph Pratt; 1799, Joseph Pratt, David .
Comstock ; 1800, David Comstock ; 1801, Joseph Pratt, David Com- -
stock ; 1802-3, David Comstock, Barzillai Slosson; 1804, Nathaniel”.
Berry, Jr.; 1805, Nathaniel Berry, Jr., Barvillai Slosson; 1806-7,
Barzillai Slosson; 1808, Mathew Elliott; 1809, Barzillai Slosson ; -
- 1810-1!, Barzillai Slosson, Hopson Pratt; 1812, Barzillai Slosson;
1813, Hopson Pratt; 1814, Hopson Pratt, Jesse St. John; 1815, Jesse
St. John, Mathew Elliott; 1816, Nathan Elliott, Joseph Skiff; 1817,
Philo Mills; 1818, Abel Beach; 1819-20, Lewis Mills; 1821, Nathan i
Slosson, Jr.; 1822, Nathaniel P. Perry; 1823, Russell Judd; 1824, .
Jobn Mills; 1825, John S. Swift; 1826, Mills Bordwell; 1827, Alpheus ,
Fuller; 1828, Abel Beach; 1829, Nathaniel P. Perry; 1830, Birdsey
Beardsley; 1831, Philo Mills; 1832, Garrett Winnegar; 1833, Ira
Eaton; 1834, Wells Beardsley ; 1835,.Daniel Dayton; 1836, Hiram
Converse ; 1837, William T. Hopson; 1838, Russell Judd; 1839, Hub-
bell Miller; 1840, Daniel P. Lane; 1841, John M. Raymond; 1842,
no.record; 1843, John L, Stuart; 1844, no record; 1845, Agur Beards- .
ley ; 1846, Nathan Terrills; 1847, John L. Stuart; 1848, Rufus Fuller,
Jr.; 1849, Heman Segar ; 1850, Eliada Osborn ; 1851, Henry I. Fuller;
1852, Russell Stone; 1853, George Fenn; 1854, David Vincent; 1855,
Pethuel Millspaugh ; 1856, Luke I. Putnam; 1857, Edmund H. Mills;
1858, Charles J. Fuller; 1859, Auatin Morehouse; 1860, John Spooner;
1861, William M. Judd; 1862, Reuben Eaton; 1863, Frederick A..
Mallory; 1864, Austin St. John;..1865, Luther Eaton; 1866, Peter
Skiff; 1867, Seth W. Hopson; 1868-69, F. A. Mallory; 1870, Charles
Edwards; 1871, Walter B. Camp; 1872-73, Charles Edwards; 1874,
Clark Page; 1875, Charles Edwards; 1876, Samuel R. Peet; 1877,
Marshall C. Gibbs; 1878, Irwin J. Beardsley; 1879, Ira Segur; 1880,
Charles S. Smith; 1881, Sherman Benedict.

MILITARY RECORD.*

Felix Dupont, Ist Art.; enl. December, 1864.

James McCabe, 5th Regt.; enl. 1863; disch. July 14, 1865.

J. Lee.

James Griffen, 7th Regt; enl. Nov. 29, 1864; disch. July 20, 1865.
A. Seymour, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 29, 1864; disch. July 20, 1865.
John White, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.
William Brom, 8th Regt. ‘
P. Stephenson, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Jan. 9, 1863.
E. Thayer, 8th Regt.; en]. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Sept. 2, 1864.

T. Doyle, 10th Regt.

F, McArdle, 10th Regt.; enl. Dec. 9, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.
L. Murphy, 10th Regt.; en]. Oct. 1, 1861. 7

S.C. Austin, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died May 8, 1862.

F. Friar, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disvh. April 12, 1862.

O, Friar, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 1864.

A. L. Frink, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. April 12, 1862.
L. Hoag, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Sept. 30, 1864.

H. F, Johnson, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct, 1, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.
L. G. Lane, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died Feb. 20, 1862.

H. L. V. Marvel, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; killed April 2, 1865.
A. Murphy, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.
G. 0. D. Odell, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Sept. 30, 1864,
L. Rouslett, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

 

* For list of Nineteenth Regiment, see Chapter V.
388

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

H. Sterry, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 3, 1861; disch. July 11, 1862.

H. K. Walling, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 29, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

S. Wood, 10th Regt.; enl. Dec. 8, 1864; disch, Aug. 25, 1865.

‘W. H. Murphy, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Nov. 22, 1865.

E. W. Pindar, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861.

O. Potter, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; killed Sept. 19, 1864.

Jos. H. Pratt, 13th Regt. ; enl. Nov, 27, 1861; died April 13, 1866.

F. Quain, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. May 31, 1862.

William H. Reynolds, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died May 14, 1862.

John Roach, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died Aug. 18, 1862.

E. P. Scott, 13th Regt.; enl, Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Sept. 7, 1862.

M. H. Scott, 13th Regt.

Orange Smith, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

V. Slowe, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862; disch. Aug. 5, 1862.

F, Stuart, 13th Regt.; en]. Dec. 17, 1861; disch. April 16, 1864.

H. Stuart, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

W. H. Ten Eyck, 18th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. May 13, 1863.

Daniel Thomson, 13th Regt.; en]. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

F, E. Waldron, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died June 19, 1863.

H. Brown, 13th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

John Carpenter, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. May 31, 1862.

John Clark, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; died Aug. 6, 1862.

James H. Dingee, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862.

R. H. Douglass, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died Sept. 4, 1862.

E. V. Dunbar, 13th Regt.; el. Nov. 27, 1861; pro. to 2d lieut. ; res. Aug.
16, 1865, of

E. Evetts, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec..30, 1861.

H. Hall, 13th Regt. ; enl. Novy. 27,1861; disch. March 9, 1864.

S..\Hammond,'13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

J. B. Hutchins, 13th Regt.; en). Nov. 27, 1861; disch. May 29, 1863. *

Ezra Marshall, 13th ‘Regt. ; enl. Nov. 27,1861; disch. Aug. 5, 1862.

Ira Marshall, 13th Regt.; ‘enl: Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

Charles Mitchell, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30. 1861; died Oct. 11, 1864.

Hi Stowe, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 13, 1864; died Dec. 9, 1864.

V. Stowe, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 13,1864; killed May 9, 1864.

I. F. Nettleton, 13th Regt.; enl. Feb. 18, 1862; died Sept. 26, 1862.

J. N. Duncan, 13th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. May 13, 1863.

S. Potter, 13th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Sept. 7, 1862. .

H. M. Welch, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; died Dec. 31, 1864.

W. H. Odell, 13th Regt. ;enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Feb. 14, 1863.

Benjamin Walker, 13th Regt. ; enl. Feb. 10, 1862; disch. May 31, 1862.

H. J. Austin, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1861.

W. Barnes, 13th Regt.; enl. June 22, 1862; died May 31, 1864.

H. H. Fitch, 29th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 21, 1863; disch. Oct. 4, 1865.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

RUSSEL STONE.

This Stone family isof Welsh ancestry. Levi Stone
married in Danbury, Conn., Mary Wildman, July 4,
1776, thus joyously celebrating the signing of the im-
mortal “Declaration of American Independence.”
His father was William Stone. He had three sons,
Daniel, Elon (?), and Levi, all of whom ultimately
settled in Kent. Levi was a captain in the colonial
army, and was detailed to take charge of a company
of blacksmiths in Danbury, where he was captured
by the British and confined in Danbury jail. Here
he was taken violently ill, and begged for a drink of
water, which was refused him. At last, after much
suffering, he crawled into the jail-yard on his hands
and knees, and from a spring there drank copious
draughts which, no doubt, saved his life. He was an
early settler of Kent, and settled finally on the place
now owned and occupied by his grandson, Levi W.
Mr. Stone had a large family, six children—Russell,

 

Asa, Dolly, Samuel W., Nancy, and Ezra—living to
maturity. He died Dec. 31, 1836, just as the clock
was striking midnight, on the last day of the week,
the last day of the month, and the last day of the
year, at the age of eighty-two years. He was an ac-
tive, industrious man, and the most of his life worked
at his trade as a blaékamith, His wife survived him
several years.

RussELL STONE was born in Kent, Conn., May 3,
1779. He received a common-school education, be-
came a farmer, and held at various times the promi-
nent offices of his town. He was interested in public
affairs, and active and energetic in his advocacy for
what seemed to him for the public good. He was for
many years a member of the Congregational. Church
of Kent, and was held in high esteem by his fellows.
He was of good judgment, was one of Kent’s promi-
nent citizens, and represented his town one year in
the State Legislature, where he was the oldest mem-
ber. In politics he was first a Federalist, next a
Whig, lastly a Republican. His death occurred Oct.
5, 1864, at the age of eighty-five years. He was mar-
ried four times, first to Jerusha Hurd, by whom he
had four children, —Hiram, Mary A. (Mrs. Norman
Hall), Betsy Minerva (Mrs. Jacob Shew, of .North-
ampton, Mass.), and J erusha (Mrs. David B. Fuller).
His second wife was Mary Hurd, sister of his first.
They had five children, one dying in infancy; those
attaining maturity were Levi W.,. Fairchild W.,
Dolly (Mrs. John T. St. John), and Maria (Mrs, Ed.
win Skiff). His third wife was Rebecca Talcott, of
Vernon, Conn. She only lived about a year. His
fourth was Hannah Talcott, also of Vernon. They
had no children, and she survived her husband two
years. Of the eight children mentioned, only two
have died, and all lived until the youngest was nearly
fifty-six years of age.

CHAPTER XXXVIII.
MORRIS.

Geographical—Topographical—Pioneer Settlement—Parish of South
Farms [ncorporated—History of Congregational Church—The Advent
Society—James Morris and Morris Academy—lIncorporation of the
Town—First Tow n-Meeting—Officers Elected—Extracts from Societies’
Records—Representatives from 1860 to 1882—Military Record.

THE town of Morris* lies south of the centre of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north and
east by Litchfield, on the south by Watertown and
Bethlehem, and on the west by Washington. Its sur-
face is very hilly, the most elevated portion being
twenty-five feet higher than the highest point of
Litchfield Hill.

The town was early known as South Farms, in the
southern part of Litchfield, and is believed to have

 

* Named in honor of James Morris.
 
MORRIS.

389

 

been settled prior to August, 1723. The parish of
South Farms was incorporated in 1767.

The first birth in Litchfield was a son to Zebulon
Gibbs, at South Farms.

In this part of the town, and on the spot occupied
by the barn of Mr. David Benton, was one of the four
forts built to protect the inhabitants against the incur-
sions of the Indians.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

At first the people of South Farms worshiped with
the people at Litchfield, but there was early mani-
fested a tendency to draw asunder, and in 1743,
twenty-one years after the organization of the church
at Litchfield, it was voted to have an orthodox min-
ister here for three months during the winter season.
In October, 1748, the Legislature granted them win-
ter privilege, for three months, which in 1761 were
increased one month; and an act. was passed author-
izing the inhabitants of South Farms to build a
meeting-house, and tax themselves for the purpose,
and to exercise all the powers of an ecclesiastical
society for this one-third of the year, at the same
time being exempted from. one-third of their tax for
ecclesiastical purposes at Litchfield. About this time
they secured from. the town of Litchfield a separate
burying-ground. From year to year they voted to
improve, or hold up their winter privileges, beginning
the services with January. The place of meeting was
at first movable, sometimes in a school-house and
sometimes in private houses. ;

In 1753 there were only thirty families in South
Farms. ’

Rev. Mr. Bartlett was the first minister stationed
here on record. Rev. Mr. Dickinson was here from
1755 to1767. The following ministers seem to have
been their winters’ supply : Noah Wadhams, Stephen
Heaton, Ebenezer Gauls, Andrew Rowland, John
Richards, and Jonathan Bird.

In 1764 the first meeting-house was built. It was
a small affair, only thirty-five by twenty-five feet, and
nine-feet posts. It was located nearly opposite the
blacksmith’s shop at the Centre. With a new meeting-
house and an increasing population, they finally suc-
ceeded in being set off, and organized themselves as a
separate religious society in 1767, at which time they
had seventy families. In 1768 a church was organized
with thirteen male members. Rev. Peter Starr sup-
plied the pulpit in 1772. The first settled pastor was
Rev. George Beckwith; a graduate of Yale College in
1766. He was ordained Oct. 22,1772. He married
for his wife a Miss Merot, of this place. He was dis-
missed in 1781. Mr. Caleb Hotchkiss, a graduate of
Yale in 1766, was employed here from May 7, 1781, to
April 1, 1784. He died in 1784. ; ;

In 1785 a new meeting-house was built fifty-eight
by forty:two and twenty-five feet high. It was located
on the green opposite Mr.S. M. Ensign’s house. Rev.
Daniel Brimsmade supplied the pulpit during 1785.

 

Rev. Amos Chase, of Cornish, N. H., a graduate of
Dartmouth College, was ordained here June 27, 1787.
He studied theology with Rev. Levi Hart, of Gris-
wold, whose daughter Rebecca he married; she was
a granddaughter of Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem. Mr.
Chase was second cousin of the late Chief Justice
Chase. He was dismissed June 15, 1814, after a
pastorate of twenty-seven years. Rev. Asahel Nettle-
ton, the revivalist, preached here for several months
in 1814. Rev. William R. Week, a graduate of
Princeton College, and former teacher in the aca-
demy here, received a call to settle in 1815, but de-
clined. Rev. Amos Pettengill was installed here
April 17, 1816; born in New Haven, a graduate
of Harvard in 1807, he was cotemporary with Dr.
Lyman Beecher, at Litchfield. He was dismissed
January, 1822. _Rev. Henry Robinson, a graduate of
Yale in 1811, and of Anderson Theological Seminary
in 1816, was ordained here April 30, 1828. He.was
dismissed Oct. 27, 1829. Rev. Vernon D. Taylor was
installed, here Jan. 26, 1831. During his brief min-
istry of two years seventy-five were added to the
church. He. was dismissed Feb. 7,. 1833. He was
succeeded by Rev. James F. Warner, who. was or-
dained July 31, 1838, and dismissed Aug. 12, 1834.
Rev. Ralph 8. Crampton’ was installed here Dee. 3,
1834, and dismissed June 7, 1836. From June, 1836,
to 1837, Rev. Stephen Hubbell supplied the pulpit
here, and Rey. B. Y, Messenger from 1837 to 1838; Rev.
Richard Woodruff supplied the pulpit here from 1838
to 1841; Rev. David L. Parmelee was installed here
Aug. 25, 1841, where he remained pastor for twenty-
four years, until the time of his death, which occurred.
June 27, 1865. In 1844 the present meeting-house
was built at a cost of two thousand five hundred
dollars, and in 1856 the Conference room at a cost of
one thousand dollars.

South Farms was set off from Litchfield and
corporated as the town of Morris in 1859. Rev. H.
H. McFarland, a graduate of Yale, supplied the pul-
pit here for, two years from 1869, the church being
without regular supply for. two years, Rev. Mr. Par-
melee occasionally officiating. Rev. Cyrus W. Pickett,
a graduate of Yale, was employed two years. On May
1, 1867, Rev. Daniel D. Tompkins McLaughlin, ‘a
graduate of Yale in 1837, and of Union Theological
Seminary, New York, 1842, was installed here. In
the early part of his ministry here the parsonage was
secured at a cost of three thousand one hundred and
twenty dollars. He was dismissed in 1871. Rev.
Richard Gidman supplied the pulpit here from June
9, 1872, to July 1, 1875. Rev. Edwin Leonard came
here Jan. 1, 1876. He is a graduate of Bowdoin Col-
lege in 1847, and of Bangor Theological Seminary in
1850.

in-

THE ADVENT SOCIETY
erected a-chapel. in the western part of the town in
1871, and maintain weekly services. Joseph Curtiss
was their first preacher.
390

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Among the old inhabitants are the names of Gibbs,
Ensign, Marsh, Harrison, Hull, Benton, Camp, Em-
mons, Ray, Pierpont, Woodruff, Farnham, and Whit-
tlesey.

JAMES MORRIS AND MORRIS ACADEMY.
James Morris was born in Litchfield South Farms,

Jan. 19, 1752, graduated at Yale College in 1775, and.

soon after commenced the study of divinity with Rev.
Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem, Conn. In May, 1776,

while preceptor of the grammar school in Litchfield,

he received from Gov. Trumbull an ensign’ s com-
mission in the Connecticut troops for a six-months
campaign in New York, which he accepted. In
1777 he was promoted as first lieutenant. In May
he joined the army at Peekskill, and from there he
marched in September with the army, under the im-
mediate command of Gen. Washington, to Philadel-
phia. He was captured at the battle of Germantown,

and detained asa prisoner of war for a period of three
and a quarter years. He was liberated Jan. 3, 1781.

After this he accompanied the army under Washing-
ton to Yorktown. At the close of the war he re-
turned to Litchfield South Farms, and here spent the
remainder of his life. In 1795 the. was elected deacon
of the church. He was often elected as representa-
tive to the Legislature of the State, and held other
important offices in the town. In 1790 he commenced
a school in South Farms, which gradually extended
its representation and influence until Morris ; Academy
became celebrated throughout the country. While
under his care more than sixty of his pupils entered
college, and nearly fifteen hundred children and
youth had been members of it, from twelve different
States of the Union, and from the Islands of St,

Thomas and Bermuda. The academy was incorpor-
ated in 1819, and between. 1790 and 1812 had more
than fourteen hundred pupils of both sexes. He was
assisted by able instructors, and many men of mark
graduated here, among lion: were John Brown, of
Ossawatomie and Virginia fame, Rey. Dr. Edward
Beecher, Rey. John Pierpont.

President Dwight, of Yale College, in his “Trav-

els,” gives the following interesting facts relative to
this parish and the academy :

“Immediately above Watertown lies South Farms, the southern part
of Litchfield. This parish is principally a collection of hills, which are
high, moist, and excellent grazing-ground. The surface is pleasant, the
houses good farmers’ dwellings, of which a little village is formed around
the church. The inhabitants are industrious and thrifty, and distin-
guished for good morals, good order, and decency of deportment. A
flourishing academy has been raised of late, almost solely by the efforts
of James Morris, Esq., who is at once its founder and preceptor. This
gentleman, soon after he had finished his education at Yale College, be-
came an officer in the American army, in which he continued through-
out the Revolutionary war. After the peace, his parents and his patri-
mony being in this place, he was induced to establish himself here for
life. At his return he found the inhabitants less enlightened and less
refined than those of many other parts of the State. What in this coun-
try is perhaps singular, they regarded him, both as a man liberally edu-
cated and as an officer, with suspicion and alienation. At the same time

he perceived, with not a little mortification, that they were in many in-
stances ignorant and vicious. As he had been absent from his early

 

youth, his influence among them was to be created. With a disposition
which cannot be enough commended, he determined to commence in
form the work of a general reformation. After various experiments,

' sufficiently discouraging, among those who had arrived at middle age,

he turned his attention to their children, and hoped, by communicating
to them the advantages of a well-directed education, to furnish their
minds with both knowledge and virtue, and thus to transform their
character into'amiableness and worth. - For this benevolent purpose he
founded, the institution which I have mentioned, In this academy it
has from the first been the commanding object to inculcate the best
principles of morality and religion, and to require of the students unex-
ceptionable deportment. The youths of both sexes usually assembled
here, from various parts of the country, are in number from forty to
seventy. Mr. Morris has had the satisfaction of seeing his expectations
more than realized. Not only were the benefits of his design realized
by the inhabitants of South Farms, but they are spread also through
most parts of the country, and extensively through this and the neigh-
boring States. This is one among the proofs furnished.by experience of
the power possessed by an individual of spreading around him, if prop-
erly disposed, the best blessing of society.”

Morris has an underlying strata of rock, cropping out
continually at the surface. It is almost entirely free
from low, swampy land; the air is pure, and free
from all malaria, with good soil and excellent water,
and very healthy, as the following statistics, compiled
for the last five years, indicate. During this time but
55 persons have died in town; average number per
year, 11. During these five years but 6 persons have,
died of consumption contracted here. In five years
deaths into which paralysis entered as a factor were
8; deaths from old age, or into which old age was a
factor, 7; casualty, 4; cancer, 4; heart-disease, 3;
dropsy, fever, diphtheria, and pneumonia, each 2; all
other diseases, each only 1; average age at time of.
death, 55 years; 3 were over 90, viz., 91, 92, 93; 11
were 80 or over; 18 were 70 or over; 8 were 60 or
over; 4 were 50 or over; 2 were 40 or over; 8 were
30 or over; 4 were 20 or over.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN—FIRST TOWN-
MEETING.

Morris was incorporated in 1859, and the first town-
meeting was held June 27, 1859, when the following
officers were elected: Phineas McCary, Moderator;
William H. Lawrence, Town Clerk; W. L. Smeddley,
Treasurer; Alanson J. Pickett, David Benton, George
A. Smith, Selectmen; Joseph C. Peck, Daniel W.
Waggoner, Frederick B. Hand, Constables; Alvah
Clark, David Benton, C. H. Alvord, Grand Jurors;
William M. Ensign, Samuel W. 8S. Shelton, William
B. Ames, School Visitors; Nelson Edmonds, Henry
Steel, Assessors; Ezra~ Judd, Charles A. Ensign,
Bateman Smith, Board of Relief; Newton Smith,
Garry H. Miner, Henry R.: Ray, Justices of the
Peace; Alanson J. Pickett, First Representative.

EXTRACTS. FROM RECORDS. i

The following are extracts from the records of South-
Farms society: March 14, 1759, the society voted
“to pay Charles Woodruff six shillings for bears, to
carry ye dead.” In 1769 it was voted, “that we think
the sealing ordinances are equaly sacred, and any
person that is qualified for one is qualified for both.”
In 1770, “voted that we approve of the church vote,
 

DAN

Dan Throop was a son of Benjamin and grandson of
Joseph Throop, who was one of the first settlers of
Litchfield County. Joseph Throop was of Scotch de-
scent; was born in 1715; married Deborah Buel, sister
of John Buel, one of the original proprietors of Litch-
field; they came from Lebanon, where he lived until
1747, when he purchased land in Litchfield (South
Farms), now Morris, where he raised a large family,
several of whom emigrated to the Western States. He
was identified with many of the early improvements of
Litchfield. Soon after he came he erected a saw-mill on
a stream running through his land, which is said to have
been the first in Morris. The present mill, which is the
fourth on that site, is using the dam he built. Some
time later he bought land on the Bantam River, near
where the Morris station of the Shepaug Railroad now
is, and built a grist-mill, which was also one of the first
mills in the county. The first mill he built was on a
stream running by his log house, where he put up a
small water-wheel which furnished power to drive the
flax spinning-wheel of his wife. This pioneer couple
lived to a good old age. He died Oct. 4, 1799, aged
eighty-four; and his wife Feb. 11, 1811, aged ninety-
four. Their children were Deborah, born April 22,
1741; Joseph, born April 22, 1748; William, born Dec.
26, 1745; Elizabeth, born Jan. 10, 1747; Dan, born
Nov. 18, 1748; Benjamin, born Sept. 18, 1752; Martha,

 

THROOP.

born July 12, 1755; Rhoda, born June 10, 1758; Samuel,
born Nov. 8, 1760.

Benjamin married Mary Burgess, and remained on
land given him by his father. He was a “ Minute-Man,”’
and was called to Danbury at the time that place was
burned by the British. Their children were Samuel,
born Aug. 12, 1776; Irena, born Jan. 14,1778; Calvin,
born Sept. 19, 1779; Polly, born Dec. 8, 1782; Benja-
min, born Dec. 19, 1784; Joseph and Deborah, born
April 8, 1788; James, born Jan. 19, 1791; Julina, born
Nov. 29, 1798; Dan, born April 28, 1796; Abigail, born
June 8, 1798.

Dan Throop, whose portrait accompanies this sketch,
married Olive Smith, Jan. 1, 1818, daughter of David
Smith. He served in the war of the Revolution;
was brought home sick to his futher’s, in Litchfield. -
Dan Throop was a farmer, a man highly respected
for his upright character and integrity. He lived
and died upon the old homestead of his grandfather,
and where his widow now resides with her son George.
Monroe, the oldest son, lives upon the adjoining farm.
They are carriage-makers and mill-wrights, and are
among the most respected and reliable men of the
town.

The children of Dan and Olive Smith Throop were
Monroe, Altha, Elizabeth, Charles, George, Mary, Mor-

ris, and Amelia.
 

P.W. CAMP.
 
MORRIS.

391

 

yiz., that conversion should not be a term for admission
for church communion.” In 1776 the town granted
to Thomas Waugh, and his heirs forever, the right to
use a certain burying-ground in South Farms for pas-
turing, “ provided he or they shall keep up and main-
tain convenient bars for the people to pass and repass
for the purpose of burying their dead.” In 1785 a
new and commodious church was erected. In Aprilof
that year the society voted that ‘the meeting-house
committee shall have good right to furnish rum,
grindstones, and ropes sufficient for framing the
meeting-house according to their best discretion;”
and in June an overseer was appointed to direct the
issue of liquor at the raising, and a vote at the same
time was passed that said overseer ‘“‘shall give two
drams a day to the spectators, one a little before
noon, and the other a little before night.”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1860-81.

1860-61, William B. Ames; 1862, A. J. Pickett; 1863, Horatio Benton;
1864, Garry H. Miner; 1865, Sidney Peck; 1866, Alvah Clark; 1867,
Chauncey H. Alvord; 1868, William Deming; 1869, Sidney Peck;
1870, Samuel M. Ensign; 1871, Phineas B. Randel; 1872, D. W.
Waggoner; 1873, Garry H. Miner; 1874, Andrew W. Marsh; 1875,
Nelson Edwards; 1876, Homer Stoddard; 1877, Andrew W. Marsh;
1878, James M. Benton; 1879, Frank H. Turkington; 1880, Henry
H. Waugh; 1881, Lucius E, Munson. :

MILITARY RECORD.*

Barlow Marshall, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864; died Aug. 2, 1864.

Elijah Marshall, 8th Regt. ; enl. Feb. 23, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865.

Leander Marshall, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864; died Aug. 25, 1864.

P. Gray, 8th Regt.; enl. Nov. 17, 1864.

E, Gleason, 9th Regt.; enl. Feb. 17, 1864; disch. Aug. 3, 1865.

A. Rueggur, 10th Regt.; enl. Dec. 18, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

W. Laughlin, 11th Regt.; enl. April 21, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

M. Laughlin, 11th Regt.; enl. April 21, 1864.

C. Foster, 11th Regt. ; enl. April 22, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

E. L. Green, 13th Regt.; enl. Feb. 20, 1862; disch. Oct. 28, 1862."

J. M. Pierpont, 11th Regt.; com. Nov. 27, 1861, first lieutenant; pro. to
captain; disch. Nov. 12, 1862. —

J.L. Hine, 11th Regt.; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. Jan. 26, 1863.

Charles Curtis, 23d Regt, ; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

William Scofield, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; drowned March 8, 1863.

L. Smith, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

A. K. Taylor, 23d Regt.; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

PHINEAS W. CAMP.

Phineas W. Camp was born June 9, 1809, on the
farm where he now resides, in the town of Morris
(formerly Litchfield South Farms). His father, Abel
Camp, was born at the same place. This was the
original settlement of the family in Litchfield, and

was made by Abel Camp, the grandfather of Phineas

W., who came from Waterbury, where he was born,
July 11, 1748. He came to Litchfield when a young
man; married Sabra Marsh. Their children were
Rebecca, born March 24, 1769; Sabra, born June 6,

 

* For list of Nineteenth Regiment, see Chapter V.

 

1771; John, born March 19, 1773; Eunice, born Jan.
30, 1775; Phineas, born June 11, 1777; Lydia, born
June 9, 1780; Susan, born May 8, 1782; Abel, born
Dec. 28, 1787. Mr. Camp was a carpenter by trade,
aman of good judgment and strong common sense;
he commenced poor; raised a large family. Phineas
died when a young man. Mr. Camp lived to see all
the other children married and well settled in life.
He died May 8, 1825, leaving a good name and an
ample competency for his family. His father’s name
was also Abel, and in his old age came to Litchfield
to live with his son, where he died at an advanced
age.

Abel, the youngest son of Abel Camp, received
such educational advantages as were afforded by
the common schools and Squire Morris’ academy.
When a young man he began teaching school win-
ters; he became quite famous as a teacher. Was 2
member of the Congregational Church, and took an
active part in all church work, and was a deacon for
many years; a man highly respected for integrity and
personal worth. He married Deziah Pease, Feb. 22,
1808. Their children were Phineas W., born June 9,
1809; Harriet Mariah, born April 15, 1811; Augustus
P. P., born March 81, 1818. Abel Camp died Aug.
26, 1826, and his wife Aug. 26, 1876, on the farm
where he was born, which has passed to the possession
of their oldest son, Phineas W. Camp, who married
Louisa B., daughter of Samuel McNeil, of Litchfield,
March 18, 1835. The McNeils are of Scotch-Irish
descent, and trace their genealogy to three brothers,
—Archibald, Alexander, and Adam, who came to
America previous to 1787. Archibald was a captain
in the French war. He married Sarah Johnson, of
Antrim, Ireland, of a noble family. They had four
sons: the eldest was Archibald, born July 17, 17388
(as per town book of Litchfield); Isaac, the second
son, was the father of Samuel, and grandfather of
Mrs. Camp. ;

Phineas W. Camp is a farmer by occupation, an
active and consistent member, a Sunday-school
teacher, and deacon in the Congregational Church.
His children are Lewis A., born April 15, 1836, mar-
ried Lizzie James; Samuel P., born Sept. 18, 1839,
married Mary E. Kenney; Cornelia L., born Feb.
14, 1841, married Virgil H. McEwen. All live in
Seymour, Conn.

LYMAN L. GRISWOLD.

Lyman L. Griswold, son of Jonathan Griswold and
Betsy Barnes, was born on the farm where he now

-resides, in the town of Morris, Litchfield Co., Conn.,

June 20, 1818. His grandfather, Jonathan Griswold,
was a resident of Haddam, Conn., and came to
Washington, Litchfield Co., Conn., where he married
Elizabeth Weeks, of that town. Soon after their
marriage, and before the Revolutionary war, they
settled in Litchfield, now known as Morris. They.
392

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

were farmers by occupation, as the most of their de-
scendants have been. He was a teamster during the
Revolutionary war, and his eldest son, Midian, was a
soldier in the same. Mr, Griswold died in March,
1821, and his wife survived him some two years.
Their children were as follows, viz.: Midian, Mary,
Nabby, Adda, Lottie, and Jonathan, Jr.

Jonathan, Jr., was born in Morris, formerly Litch-
field, Conn., Fire 10, 1775; married Betsy, daughter
of Amos Barnes, and to them were born the following
children, viz.: Mary A., wife of Samuel Catlin;
George W., John O., Horace B., Lyman L., and
Frederick A.; all are dead except three. Mr. Gris-
wold was a farmer in limited circumstances; in
politics he was a Whig and Democrat. Mr. and
Mrs. Griswold were members of the Congregational
Church of South Farms. She died Sept. 7, 1846, and
he died March 27, 1861.

Lyman L. Griswold, the immediate subject of this
sketch, was the home boy. His advantages for an
education were such as the common schools of his
day afforded. Soon after the death of his father he
came in possession of the home farm, which consisted
of eighty-four acres, to which he has kept adding
from time to time until to-day he owns some one
hundred and eighty-eight acres. He married Rachel
Prindle, daughter of Warren Prindle, of Cornwall,
Conn., March 25, 1844. She was born Sept. 28, 1823.
They aye six ohildeen, viz.: Dwight, William (both
farmers), Caroline M., Matilda, Phebe A., and Bertha
E. In politics he fas always been a strong defender
of the old Democratic principles as taught by Jeffer-
son and Jackson. He has held nearly all the offices
in his town, with credit to himself and satisfaction to
his constituents. He is a man of great energy and
indomitable perseverance. He has always practiced
the most rigid economy, and resides still on the farm
of his ancestors, He is a man esteemed by all. As
a citizen and farmer, he is regarded one of the leading
men of Morris,

ABEL C. TRACY.

Abel C. Tracy was born in the town of Washington,
Litchfield Co., Conn., Jan. 15, 1820; grandson of
Capt. Silas Tene, wh kept a public- -house at New
Preston at an early day.

His father, Francis Tracy, married Clarissa, daugh-
ter of Abel Clemens, who lived and died on “Mount
Tom,” in Litchfield. Abel C. Tracy was the youngest
of six children, and less than three years of age when
his father died, leaving the family in limited circum-
stances, By the energy and courage of the widowed
mother the children were kept together until they
were old enough to earn their living.

At the age of eleven years Abel C. left the maternal
home to earn a livelihood for himself, and from that
time has been entirely upon his own resources. He
has by industry and sagacity so managed his affairs

 

as to take rank among the substantial and influential
men of his town. The business of his life has been
that of a farmer. He has a fine farm, with pleasant
surroundings; this has been secured by his own exer-
tions. His first money was earned by working at
thirty dollars per year. When twenty-five years of
age he had saved seven hundred and fifty dollars. At
that time he purchased the farm where he now resides,
and with that money made the first payment; has
since added other lands, erecting fine buildings, ete.

Mr. Tracy has been twice married, first to Caroline
M. Bowns. She died June 2, 1858, leaving six chil-
dren,—Morton, George, Edward (who died at eleven
ean Gounelin, Cornelius, and Frances. Mr. Tracy
was again married, to Lucia E., sister of the first wife.
They were daughters of Taare Bowns, who was the
son of Joseph Bowns, who came from England before
the Revolution and settled i in Torrington, where. ‘the
family still reside.

Politically Mr. Tracy is a Republican; has held
several offices of trust and honor in his town, among
them assessor, selectman, etc. In all public matters
he takes a deep interest; eontribnted liberally towards
the construction of the Shepaug Railroad. During
the war of the Rebellion he took an active part to
sustain the government. He enlisted in the Twenty-
third Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and served
for one year; was honorably discharged with the
regiment in 1863.

WILLIAM H. FARNHAM.

William H. Farnham isa lineal descendant of John
Farnum (as the name was formerly spelled), who
emigrated from.England and settled in Dorchester,
Mass., at an early day. The Farnum coat of arms is
still in possession of the family. He was made 4
freeman in that town May 18, 1640. At the organi-
zation of the Second Church of Boston he was 4
member, and was made a deacon at that time. His
children were Henry, Jonathan, Hannah, and Joanna.
Henry Farnham was born 1636; he married Joanna
Rutke; he came first to Windsor, then to Killing-
worth, Conn. Their children were Peter and Eliza-
beth. Peter married Hannah Wiliuxen; their chil-
dren were Joanna, Peter, Hannah, Nathaniel, Josiah,
Phebe, John, Graves, and Loftus Newell. John was
the first of the family in Litchfield County. He mar-
ried Hannah Crittenden; moved to Gilford, Conn.,
from there to Litchfield South Farms (now Morris),
about 1740. His children were John, born Nov. 24,
1726; Lucy, born Aug. 1, 1727; Ruth, born Sept. 12,
1731; Seth, born Sept. 28, 1783; Gad, born Aug. 10,
1736; Nathan, born June 19, 1788; Joseph, born
Sept. 10, 1740; Benjamin, born March 1, 1742; Han-
nah, born Jan. 4, 1746. Seth, fourth child of John
Farnham, married Dinah Gibbs, Jan. 23, 1766. Their
children were Louis, born Dec. 13, 1766; Benjamin,
born March 81, 1768; John, born November, 1770;
 
 

ABEL GC. TRACY.
NEW HARTFORD.

Joseph, born July 10, 1773 ; Leman, born May 8, 1775;
Seth, born May 17,1777; Joseph, born Aug. 10, 1779;
Leman, born May 8, 1781; and Sally, born Oct. 10,
1786.

Seth, son of Seth Farnham, married Asenath Brad-
ley, Nov. 25, 1802. Their children were Emily C.,
born Dec. 10, 1803; Phebe M., born Dec. 22, 1805;
Harriet B., born Sept. 8, 1809; William H., born
Aug. 22,1811. William H., only son of Seth Farn-
ham, married Marinda H., daughter of Rufus Pickett,
Sept. 8, 1837. She was born Dec. 17,1811. Her father
came from Danbury to Litchfield in 1816, settled at
South Farms, where he raised a family of eight chil-
dren,—four sons and four daughters; all grew to adult
age, and were respected and influential citizens.

Deacon Farnham is a farmer by occupation, and re-
sides on the farm where he was born, and where his
father settled soon after he was married. He received
such educational advantages as were offered by the
common schools and a boarding-school at Bethel,
Conn. He united with the Congregational Church
at Morris in 1831, and has been an active and con-
sistent member since that time; has held several
important offices in the church, among them clerk,
treasurer, superintendent of Sunday-school, and dea-
con for many years. Deacon Farnham has always
taken a deep interest in educational matters; was a
. member of the school board of education for several
years. He has three children, all of whom have re-
ceived liberal educations. The children are Rosetta
M., Seth T., and Edwin P. The sons graduated at
Brown University in 1876, and at Rochester Theologi-
cal Seminary in 1877; both are Baptist ministers.
Seth T. married Julia M. Austin, of Suffield, Conn.
They have two children,—Mabel A. and Mary C.
He is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Malone,
N. Y. Edwin P. married J. Adelaide Mather, of
Providence, R.I. They have one child, J. Alice. He
is pastor of Friendship Street Church, Providence,
B.1.

CHAPTER XXXIX.
NEW HARTFORD.*

INTRODUCTION.

In 1878 the writer of the following sketch became
greatly interested in the early history of New Hart-
ford, concerning which no compilation had ever been
made. At that time proposals were received from a
journal in the State to furnish for its columns a series
of historical articles. With that object in view, care-
ful study was given to the matter, and material col-
lected for carrying the history of the town to the be-
ginning of the present century. The pressure of other
cares and duties prevented the completion of the

 

* By Sarah L. Jones.

 

393

articles for publication, though the matter collected
received additions from time to time.

Since consenting to prepare the sketch for the Litch-
field County compilation the material has been newly
digested, and research carried down to the present time.
That portion treating of the “‘ Early Settlement of the
Town” remains substantially as first written; in the
others it has been the aim of the writer to condense
the information given into the fewest possible words,
with no attempt at elaboration or literary effect. A
history of such limited proportions must necessarily
be the bare skeleton of facts, with but little filling and
embellishing of anecdotes and supplementary inci-
dent. Some material has been held in reserve, but
nothing which could be ascertained has been omitted
that was necessary to a reliable outline history of the
town. Every care has been taken to verify dates and
statements, that a ¢rue narrative might be presented.

The writer acknowledges courtesies and assistance
received from Messrs. Charles J. Hoadley, State libra-
rian, and Addison Van Name, assistant librarian of
Yale College, from Rev. William H. Moore, of Me-
morial Hall, from Hon. John Boyd, of Winsted, and
from the custodians of the Connecticut Historial
Library. Much that is valuable concerning his
native town has been gleamed from the MSS. of Rev.
Frederick Marsh, late pastor of the Congregational
Church at Winchester, kindly loaned by Messrs. Ed-
ward Marsh, of New Hartford, and George M. Car-
rington, of Winsted.

Grateful acknowledgments are due to those who
have furnished church records, to Deacon J. C. Keach,
the courteous town clerk of New Hartford, to Mr.
Ashbel Marsh, whose recollections have been in-
valuable, to Messrs. Wait Garrett, Darius B. Smith,
Edmund Watson, and to all others whose personal
recollections or family records have in any way con-
tributed to this history.

The public will pardon an acknowledgment to one
within the writer’s own family circle, to Capt. Henry
R. Jones, without whose assistance and encourage-
ment these pages could never have been compiled.

To the descendants of the pioneer settlers, to whom
trust in God and love of country were vital principles
of life and action, who with persevering industry
planted the seeds of civilization on these rugged
hills, and to all who are now reaping in the beau-
tiful town of New Hartford the harvest sown in toil
and privation a century and a half ago, this sketch is
hereby dedicated. 8. L. J.

New Harrrorp, April, 1881.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF THE TOWN.

We were wandering one bright autumn day in the
old cemetery on Town Hill, when a friend remarked,
pointing to a moss-grown slab, “There is the grave of
the first white person ever buried in New Hartford.”
Interest and curiosity were at once aroused, and
kneeling before the ancient brown stone, which had
394

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

preserved its perpendicular while others of more
modern appearance had yielded to frost and storm,
with but little difficulty the following inscription was
deciphered :

Here
lies the
Body of Mr

Stephen Kelcy who

died April 2 1745 in
ye 71 Year of his Age
as you are so was We
as we are you must be.

The “we” in the couplet doubtless included “ Mrs.
Dorothy,” his wife, who lay beside him, but upon
whose tombstone the inscription was so nearly effaced
that little was legible but the name and year of her
death, 1746.

The adjoining plot of ground seemed to have been
the family burying-place of the Kelcys, or Kelsey, as
the spelling occasionally varied, for three generations
of the name here repose side by side. Curiosity and
interest deepened, and would not rest without some
information concerning this pioneer tenant of the
silent city. Who was he? Inquiry was made among
the oldest inhabitants, but no one knew aught con-
cerning him, and no representative of his name is
now a resident of the town. Trumbull’s “ History of
Connecticut” disclosed, among a few scanty bits of
information, the name of Stephen Kelsey in'a par-
tial list of the first settlers of the town; meagre but
encéuraging was this, and the web which romance
had-begun to weave about the old man fastened on an
ancient copy of the town records. On the very first
page within the time-darkened parchment covers was
the name of Stephen Kelsey as moderator of the first
recorded town-meeting in New Hartford, Dec. 19,
1788, and the first business of the meeting constituted
him one of three selectmen; the others were Deacons
Martin Smith and Jonathan Marsh. Farther:on, he
was named, with others, a committee to secure a min-
ister to settle in New Hartford,—church and town
business went hand in hand in those days. The old
manuscript held us with a spell, like a voice from the
buried past; we read on ‘and on, then, following out
4 train of investigation, we begged a sight of the old
proprietors’ book, a ponderous volume with the corners
of its heavy pages thumbed into rags. One link led to
another still farther back in the chain of events, until;
to use a well-worn simile, Stephen Kelsey proved the
pebble which we had at first somewhat aimlessly
dropped into the stream of research, but around
which the circles had widened and widened until
they reached Plymouth colony and the “ Mayflower,”
and, could we follow them so far, might have spread
into the great ocean of history until they touched
Christopher Columbus himself.

In 1686, when King James II. of England had de-
termined to annul the colonial charters of New Eng-
land, the General Assembly of Connecticut, fearing
that Sir Edmund Andross would sequester all the un-

 

occupied lands of the colony, made a hasty convey-
ance in trust to the proprietors of Hartford and
Windsor of the lands “ bounded north by the prov-
ince of the Massachusetts Bay, east by Farmington
and Simsbury, south by Woodbury and Mattatuck,
and butting west on the Ousatunnack River.” No
need to repeat the familiar story of the “ Charter Oak,”
where the charter of the colony was secreted when Sir
Edmund came to Hartford in person to demand it, in
1687. In 1689, Andross was forced by the inhabitants of
Boston to seek the safety in flight which had been forced
upon his tyrannical master, King James, across the
sea. The colonial government was again established,
but, possession being nine points in law, after holding
these western acres for a term of years, the Hartford
and Windsor proprietors were loth to give them up,
and after much litigation and trouble in the matter,
in May, 1726, the General Assembly, wishing as far
as possible to preserve the public peace, made a com-
promise, by which the lands in controversy were di-
vided between the colony and the towns, the former
to have the western portion and the latter the eastern
portion. The eastern division had the advantage in
location, and embraced the following towns, given in
order of settlement: Harwinton, 1731; New Hart-
ford, 1733; Torrington, 1737; Hartland, 1753 ; Bark-
hamsted, 1746; Winchester, 1758; Colebrook, 1765.

Deeds of partition between Hartford and Windsor,
in 1732, gave to the former the territory now em-
braced in Winchester, New Hartford, Hartland, and
the eastern part of Harwinton. Ata meeting of the
proprietors of these “four parcels of land, lying in
that tract of land commonly known as the Western
grant,” at the State-house in Hartford, April 6, 1732,
a valuation was placed upon them, as follows: The
southeast portion, now New Hartford, containing
by estimation twenty-three thousand nine bundred
and forty-two acres, was placed in the list at fifteen
shillings an acre; Winchester and East Harwinton
were valued at ten shillings, and Hartland at only
seven shillings and sixpence per acre. Each tax-payer
of Hartford on the list of 1720, or his heirs, was pro-
prietor of an undivided share in some one of these
townships in proportion to his list. New Hartford
fell to the share of one hundred and eighty-two pro-
prietors. A committee was appointed to set off lands
to such as wished to settle thereon, and all who en-
tered their names for settling were obligated, “in two
years next ensuing their agreement with the commit-
tee, to build a tenantable house of sixteen feet square
on said land, and break up two or three acres of said
land, and in one year more after said two years are
expired personally to inhabit by themselves or family
on said land, and to be obliged to continue inhabiting
on said land for the space of three years longer after
the first three years are expired.”

A committee appointed to view the land in the
southeast part of the four parcels and report how it
would be best to lay it out to form a township, reported
NEW HARTFORD.

that a “certain hilly piece of land, northerly of a
mountain called the Yellow Mountain, which is
about a mile in width and between two and three
miles in length, was the most suitable land in the
whole tract to lay out home-lots to accommodate the
proprietors, and that what land might be wanted more
than said hill contained to lay out home-lots was near
said hill, enough to accommodate the whole of the
proprietors.” According to this recommendation, sur-
veys were made, and home-lots laid out half a mile
in length and twenty rods wide on the easterly and
westerly sides of a highway sixteen rods wide; also
short lots, eighty rods long, where suitable land could
be found as near as possible to the hill. In May,
1733, a committee appeared for the proprietors before
the General Assembly, praying for some action to en-
courage and promote the settling of the township,
and that a name might be given it, when an act was
passed.calling it New Hartford. In December, 1738,
the home-lots were drawn by the proprietors at the
State-house in Hartford ; the rest of the land was laid
out in divisions, and the proprietors took up or lo-
cated: their second; third,-or fourth pitches in the
same way after the home-lots were appropriated, the
last division being drawn in 1742.

According to the records, highways were laid out,
taxes levied, and lands surveyed with as great dis-
patch as possible, considering that the country was
an unbroken wilderness infested by wild beasts and
Indians. The summer of 1734 probably saw the set-
tlers busily at work breaking ground and building
their “tenantable houses,” six feet square. New
Hartford was the only one of the four townships
colonized by the original proprietors. The pioneers
of the town were. with very few exceptions, either
proprietors or sons of proprietors, members of re-
spectable and well-to-do families in Hartford, hence
the peculiar propriety of the name New Hartford.
The first settlers, as accurately as can be ascertained,
were sixteen heads of families, as follows: Stephen
Kelsey, Jonathan‘‘Marsh, Martin Smith, Zebulon
Shepherd, Samuel Douglass, Eleazer Goodwin, Cyp-
rian Watson, his son Zachariah, John Watson, Thomas-
Oleott, Noah Merrill, Joseph Merrill, John Merrill,
John Andrus, Israel Loomis, Matthew Gillet, John
Seymour.* pe

These pathfinders were soon followed by Elijah
Flower, Isaac Kellogg, Joseph Gilbert, Daniel Per-
sons, Samuel Wells, John Spencer, Samuel Benham,
Jonah Richards, David Ensign, William Steel, John
Edgecomb, Thomas Bidwell, Daniel Shepherd, Jona-
than Merrill, and others.

The proprietors in Hartford took a fatherly interest

 

* Trumbull’s history gives Joseph Gillet; he was an original proprie-
tor, father of Matthew, but the earliest town records indicate that he
must very soon have returned to Hartford, while careful search makes it
evident that Joseph and John Merrill, Israel Loomis, and John Seymour
were pioneers, John Seymour brought with him four sons,— William,
Uriah, Hezekiah, and Elias. :

 

395

in the little colony. They gave them a very liberal
highway grant, most of which was sold from time to
time for the benefit of the town, or exchanged for
more convenient highways; also eighty acres for the
support of a “gospel minister,” and eighty more for
the support of a school; also twenty acres as a gift to
the first minister who should settle in town, and a
grist-mill privilege. °

To return to Stephen Kelsey, he purchased property
in the town to the value of one hundred and nineteen
pounds, forty-five pounds right of which he deeded
to his son Ebenezer, of Waterbury, who came to
occupy it at an early day. During the few years of
his stay with them all the settlers deferred to Stephen
Kelsey ; he was moderator of almost every town- and
society-meeting, agent to present the town interests
to the General Assembly, and member of all com-
mittees, whether to covenant with a minister or to
settle the town boundary. In December, 1748, one
pound was “voted to Stephen for perambelating the
line between New Hartford and Farmington.” This
is the last mention of his name upon the town records.
In March, 1745, the town voted “ to purchase a decent
cloth for a burying cloth;” and as Stephen Kelsey
died on the 2d of April, we can but infer that it was
in view of his approaching end that such an appro-
priation was made.

“Perambelating” the boundary line mentioned must
have been too much for the old man of seventy in the
severe weather of December, and for more thana year
previous to his death he was laid aside from the service
of his fellow-townsmen, in which he had been so
active, and in which his zeal had overrated his powers
of endurance. We have no record of his funeral, the
first in the little settlement,t but we can picture the
mournful procession, the coffin covered with the “de-
cent burying cloth,” followed by the bereaved colony,
perhaps one hundred adults in all, to its final resting-
place when the snows were beginning to melt on the
thickly-wooded hillside. :

INDIANS.

There are on record but few deeds or conveyances
of lands from Indians to the first settlers of New Hart-
ford. A portion of ‘this territory was probably in-
cluded in that sold by Sequassen, or Suncquasson,
sachem of Suckiage, now Hartford, in a deed of sale
to the English settlers, which embraced “the whole
region westward, including the territories of the
Tunxis, as far as the country of the Mohawks.” t
Prior to 1750 the territory now embraced in New
Hartford was used rather as an occasional resort for
fishing and hunting than a permanent dwelling-place
by the Tunxis Indians.

 

+ Noah Merrill died in 1739; bis descendants in town are of the opinion
that his remains were carried to Hartford for burial, but that seems
hardly probable in the state of the country at that time.

} The original deed is lost, but this sale is confirmed in a renewal deed
given by the successors of Sequassen in 1670 to the white settlers of Hart-

ford.
396

In a note-book of Rev. Jonathan Marsh is an entry
to the effect that in 1739 there were but three families
of Indians living in the town. These were probably
families who were sufficiently civilized to come under
Christian influences.

Among the Trumbull papers in Yale College library
is a letter, bearing date 1813, from which Mr. Trum-
bull gained information for the sketch of this town
contained in his “History of Connecticut.’ The
writer, Asa Goodwin, Esq., long town clerk of New
Hartford, says,—

“The Indians in New Hartford when it was settled were not numer-
ous, probably eight or ten families; but from its being a frontier town
apprehensions were entertained by the inhabitants of being surprised by
other Indians, s0 much so that several houses were fortified with pali-
sades, to which the inhabitants used to resort for safety in the night,
particularly the houses of Rev. Mr. Marsh and Deacon Smith.* There
are to be seen to this day several caverns or pits from which the Indians
used to dig cotton-stone, with which they made dishes or pots, in which
they used to boil succotash and other food.”

The house of Cyprian Watson, in the southwestern
part of the town, was also fortified, and the early
settlers carried firearms when at work in the field
during the day. 1

Historical reminiscence locates the earliest settle-
ment of the Tunxis Indians in New Hartford about
half a mile southeasterly from the present “ Kingdom”
bridge, on the west side of the Albany turnpike, at
Indian Hill (formerly in New Hartford, set off to
Canton in 1806), so called to this day. This village
embraced at one time perhaps eighteen or twenty
wigwams, the sites of some of them having been visi-
ble within the memory of the present generation; the
meadows in the vicinity were cleared and planted
with corn and other crops. Articles of aboriginal
manufacture have been found here,—pots, arrows, and
hatchets, all of stone.

Another Indian settlement also grew up on the west
side of the river, not far from Indian Hill, and this,
after a time, was so recruited by negroes and renegade
whites that, tradition says, it was the most populous
portion of the town about 1780, and an asylum for
criminals and evil-doers of all grades. From the law-
lessness of its population, who lived by hunting, fish-
ing, and stealing, this locality was called “Satan’s
Kingdom,” which name it still retains. Such a com-
munity, containing an indiscriminate mixture of the
blood of three races, could not long thrive, and by
deaths and removals it was so rapidly diminished that
in 1800 but two or three wigwams were left, and a few
years later nothing but the ruins of the village re-
mained. De Forest, in his “ History of the Indians of
Connecticut,” says, “ At the present time (1850) they
(the Tunxis) have all disappeared from their ancient
home. One miserable creature, Mossock, still lives,
perhaps the sole remnant of the tribe.” This Henry
Mossock, sentenced to imprisonment for life at Weth-
ersfield for participation in the murder of Barnice
White, of Colebrook, was a descendant of Solomon

 

* Town Hill and Hotel Corner, North village,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Mossock, a Farmington Indian, who married the
daughter of Chogham, chief of the Kingdom clan,
and with others formed 4 small settlement about a
mile above the gorge, near the confluence of the east
and west branches of the Tunxis. A few Mohegans
and Pequots came hither also. Among the former
was one Oliver Delvon, whose wife, Mary, died some
thirty years since, aged one hundred years or more.
Rev. Samson Occom occasionally preached to his
brethren in New Hartford, and it is said that several
were converted through his labors to the Christian
faith.

Early in the present century the Indians began to
disappear from this settlement also. Humphrey Quo-
mone, the last of the tribe, died years ago, and a few
negro and mulatto squatters later on gave the locality
its present name of “ Niggertown.”

There are on record deeds of sale of a portion of
this property, one, in 1844, to the town of New Hart-
ford, by heirs of Huldah Delvon, of thirty acres, for
the consideration of ten dollars; another, in 1850,
by selectmen of New Hartford, to Wilson B. Spring,
of sixty acres, including the above-mentioned thirty,
the other thirty having been taken by the town for
the support of Mary Delvon in her old age.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

As soon as the town was organized sufficiently to
proceed to any business, at the first recorded town-
meeting, Dec. 19, 1738, a committee was appointed to
secure a minister to settle in New Hartford in the
work of the ministry, and four candidates were named
to whom application should be made,—

“ Mr, Baulden, and if the sd Mr. Baulden refuse to except of their caul,
then to Mr, Robords, and if ye si Mr. Robords Refuse then to Mr. Marsh
sun to ye Rev. m', Marsh of Windsor, and if he refuse then to Mr. Tim?
Woodbridge.”

At the second town-meeting an agent was appointed
to apply to the General Assembly for a committee to
settle the place “for building a meeting-house for
divine worship.” Immediately following came in-
structions to “treat further with Mr. Marsh concern-
ing settling in the work of the ministry.” So zealous
were these pioneers to see a tabernacle arise in the
wilderness that they could not wait the pleasure of
the General Assembly, but voted, “It is needful to
proceed, and we will proceed to build a meeting-house
in the town of New Hartford for Divine worship ;”
and again an agent was appointed to petition the au-
thorities to settle the place for the meeting-house.

We get some insight into the money matters of the
little colony from the vote, after still further propo-
sals to Mr. Marsh, that “if he accepts the caul, to give
him one hundred pounds for his salary for four years,
and then advance five pounds a year until it amounts
to one hundred and forty pounds ;” also, “To give Mr.
Marsh two pounds five shillings for each Lord’s day
that he shall preach in said town until he serve us,
he to board himself.” Probably the reverend gentle-
NEW HARTFORD.

man thought that the increase of salary might not
keep pace with his increase of family, for soon after a
resolution was passed to “give Mr. Marsh one hun-
dred pounds a year for three years, then advance ten
pounds a year until it amounts to one hundred and
fifty pounds, then advance according to his necessity
and our ability.”

In July, 1789, the committee settled the question of
a building-spot,* and it was immediately voted to
“proceed to build a meeting-house, the length of said
house to bee fifty foots and the bredth forty foots.”
But “by further and betor consideration,” it was
thought best to add “five foots” to the length of the
building.

Mr. Marsh having accepted terms of settlement, the
time for his ordination was fixed for October, 1739; an
appropriation was made to defray expenses of the or-
dination, “to caul ministers and messengers,” and a
committee appointed to provide “liquer’” for the
occasion. An old manuscript in Mr. Marsh’s own
hand, now in Memorial Hall, Hartford, states that he
was not ordained until December 5th of the same
year, the church at that time numbering twenty-nine
members, and the population of the town being about
one hundred and fifty souls in all, who were com-
prised in twenty-four families, including three fami-
lies of Indians. The early records of the church being
lost, it is difficult to give the exact date of its forma-
tion, but from Rev. Cyrus Yale’s MSS. it is known
that Mr. Martyn Smith was chosen deacon in the latter
part of 1738; probably the church was then organized.t+

In February, 1740, it was voted “to hire a carpenter
from out of town to frame the meeting-house, and
that the timber be got so it may be framed by March.”
In May came the “raising,” for which also “sutabel
preparation of liquer’” was made. There were not
able-bodied men enough in town to raise the massive
timbers, and a number of persons came from Hart-
ford to assist at the raising.

During the year 1741 some calamity seems to have
befallen the settlers; we know not whether they suf-
fered from depredations of hostile Indians, or disease,
or conténtions among themselves, there is only the
simple record that they applied to the neighboring
ministers for advice, and to appoint a day for humil-

 

* The report of the committee to fix the spot for building the meeting-
houseis not in the records of New Hartford, but in 1735 the proprietors of the
town purchased of Eleazer Goodwin five acres three roods of land, bounded
west and south by highways on Town Hill, and sequestred it to the pub-
lic use of the town. Two acres of this purchase was laid out for a burial-

‘place, which survey is recorded; and on the same page ( 189) of, the old

proprietors’ book is the following vote: “ That the piece or parcel of land
belonging to the proprietors of New Hartford be sequestred for commons
forever,” which would seem to indicate that the ground on which the
old meeting-house stands, with the land adjoining, is a legacy to the
town from the fathers, which, with the burial-place, should be cared for
and kept from encroachment forever.

+ In August, 1737, at the first society’s meeting of which there is any’
record, it wag voted to hold meetings at private houses on the Sabbath,
one-half the time at Town Hill, the other half one Sabbath at Jonah
Richards’, the other at Jonathan Merrill's, these places to be changed at
each society's meeting.

26

 

397

iation, fasting, and prayer “for deliverance from
present circumstances,”

Solomon’s temple in all its magnificence was only
seven years in building, but it was nearly ten years
after the much-longed-for meeting-house in New Hart-
ford was raised before it was completed. During those
ten years the brave settlers worked perseveringly on,
never losing sight of the end to be attained. They
appointed committee after committee, they levied a
tax to purchase laths, and another for glass,—a luxury
dearly paid for in those days. They cut, scored; and
hewed timber, and here we quote from the records an
item as to wages:

“Persons who have worked scoring timber for the meeting-house shall
have six shillings a day, those who have hewed shall lave seven shil-
lings, and those who have worked at framing, seven shillings.”

Dissatisfaction with workmen sometimes arose, as
the following record shows:

“Tf the committee cannot agree with Asa Hopkins about labor that he
undertook to do towards the meeting house, we will defend said commit-
tee in the law against said Asa Hopkins.”

It seems to have been a hard matter to raise ye Rev.
Mr. Marsh’s salary during this period, and numerous
are the records of taxes levied and votes passed con-
cerning the expense of the “ ministerial charge.”
There was some discussion on the silver question also,
and a committee had to settle the price of silver per

’ ounce with Rev. Mr. Marsh.

In September, 1749, the meeting-house was so
nearly completed that Rev. Mr. Marsh was given a
choice of pews for his family to sit in on the Lord’s
day.”

December, 1749, the town reluctantly granted “ lib-
erty for building a pue in the galery for the Indians
to sit in, provided it be built on perticuler men’s
cost,” and in 1751 the Indians were allowed to sit in
the “ pue” named “ only during the town’s pleasure.” t
These sturdy Puritans, as uncompromising in religion
as in politics, classed the red: men with the Moabite
and Ammonite, who, their Bible declared, “should
not come into the congregation of God forever.”

In December, 1749, we may safely conclude that
the rejoicing congregation were found worshiping
under the roof which they had built at such cost of
time, labor, and sacrifice; it is then recorded that ten
shillings were paid to Joseph Merrill for sweeping the
meeting-house, and a sexton’s fees would imply that
the house was in use at that time.

Mrs. Abijah Loomis, the oldest resident in town
(1881), has in her possession a plan of the original
meeting-house, drawn for the convenience of the
seating committee. This house, the site of which
cornered on that of the present structure, was farther
south and west, and, consequently, nearer the angle
made by the highways. It was set by the compass, and
fronted the south, a door on that side opening directly

 

{ Rev. Cyrus Yale says, in his centennial sermon, that the pews in the
galleries were not made until the house lad been used about thirty years;
so the Indian pew was an isolated sitting for that length of time.
&

398

into the audience-room. There were three aisles, or
alleys then called,—one in the centre and one each
side, with a row of narrow pews next the wall. There
were also doors,—one on the east and one on the west
sides,—which led by short passages into the side-aisles.
The high pulpit with its overhanging sounding-board
fronted the south door; on the right of the pulpit
was the pew for the minister’s family, on the left the
widows’ pew, while the deacons sat just under the
droppings of the gospel on the left of the centre
aisle. Two immense square front pews, one on each
side of the broad aisle, were occupied by prominent
citizens and their families, while the rest of the con-
gregation were accommodated in pews of various size
and shapes. Two inclosed pews near the centre of
the house, which could be reached only by narrow
passages from the side-aisles, were irreverently called
“eel-pots.” The galleries were on the east, west, and
south sides, the latter being the singers’ gallery, and
the stairs were in the southeast and southwest corners
of the audience-room.

There was not lacking instrumental music to ac-
company the singing, for Isaac Kellogg, presumably
the chorister, was given “permission to appoint Seth
Smith to tune the psalm (probably with a pitch-pipe)
when he playeth.” The town had previously voted
“that we will sing Dr. Watts’ psalms on the Lord’s
day, and that David Ensign read the psalm in time
of Deacon Martyn Smith’s absence.’”’ Books being
scarce, the deacon read two lines of the psalm, the
choir singing it after him, and so on through all the
stanzas. In 1751 appears the first record of a com-
mittee to seat the meeting-house, which seems to have
been very precious in the eyes of the community, who
did not intend that it should be destroyed by fire if
precautionary measures could avert that catastrophe.
An “inspector of stoves” was appointed among the
public functionaries,—perhaps it should be explained
that his duties were confined to foot-stoves,—and the
following resolution was passed in town-meeting:

“Tf any person presume to leave any stove in the meeting-house with
fire in it, or empty it within twenty feet of the meeting-house, he (or
she) shall forfeit the stove to the inspector and pay a fine of 10 shillings.”

Strict and punctual attendance on public worship
was insisted on, and a fine rigorously enforced upon
all delinquents. Some persons, however, appear to
have produced sufficient excuse for absence, and the
authorities occasionally passed a vote like the fol-
lowing:

“To abate Sam Douglass’ fine for not attending publick worship on
Lord’s day.”

In 1761 liberty was granted “any inhabitant to set
up a Sabbath-day house not nearer to the meeting-
house than ten rods,” and a rough but comfortable
building containing two rooms was soon erected by
the joint contributions of several families who came
from a distance, and needed a warm place to thaw
feet and fingers after a long ride, and to spend the in-
termission between services. One room was arranged

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

with conveniences for cooking; here lunch was eaten,
tea made, children cared for, and a decorous sort of
Sunday picnic held.* In 1762 one hundred pounds
were expended on the meeting-house, and soon after
fifty pounds more, and it was “voted to do something
to secure the meeting-house from racking.” The
first appropriation for “colouring” the house was
made in 1784, and persons who worshiped there some
sixty years ago remember the prevailing interior
color to have been green, and the outer a “brindle
brown.”

During the one hundred and twenty years from the
ordination of the first minister to the disbanding of
the church on Town Hill, it had but four settled pas-
tors; these were Rev. Jonathan Marsh, from 1789
until his death, in July, 1794; Rev. Edward D. Grif-
fin, DD., from June, 1795, to August, 1801, when, on
account of failing health, he resigned the pastorate ;
Rev. Amasa Jerome, from August, 1802, to December,
1813, when he also resigned, his health being unequal
to the Jabor of the parish, but continued to reside in
New Hartford until his death, in 1832, at the age of
fifty-seven. Mr. Jerome lived on the place now
known as “ Esperanza,” the summer home of the
authoress, Mrs. Julie P. Smith.

The fourth pastor was Rev. Cyrus Yale, who was
settled over the church in October, 1814, and remained
until December, 1834, when he resigned and preached
in Ware, Mass., until 1837, when he was recalled to
the scenes of his early labors, and died in office in
May, 1854. During the interim of Mr. Yale’s min-
istry the pulpit was supplied by different individuals,
one by the name of Case remaining with the church
ayear. Mr. Yale, or “ Father Yale,” as he was often
called, was a tall, portly man, of much dignity of
manner and suavity of address. He lived in the
house now occupied as a summer residence by his
children, Cyrus Yale, of New York, and Mrs. H. Pit-
kin and Mrs. E. R. Beadle, of Philadelphia.

There is extant no sketch or memorial of the first
minister, whose term of service extended over more
than half a century, and the value of whose lifetime
influence on the pioneer settlers of this town can
never be measured. With gleaning here and there a
scattered fragment, the following brief sketch has
been woven together, that the fast-fading memory of a
good and useful man may not be wholly lost.

Rey. Jonathan Marsh was the son of Rev. Jona-
than Marsh, long the honored pastor of the church at
Windsor, and of Margaret Whiting, his wife, who
came of an eminent colonial family. He was born at
Windsor, 1714. He graduated at Yale College in
1785. After completing his theological studies he ac-

 

* Before the old church was taken down there were no less than three
of these structures adjacent to it, one of which was moved to the North
cross-road, on Town Hill, and is occupied as a dwelling-house by Hiram
Harris, having been renovated and somewhat enlarged by its present
owner, A chimney was never built in the old church, but afew years be-
fore it was removed two box-stoves were put in to warm the congrega-
tion, and the pipes were conducted out of doors in an improvised fashion
NEW HARTFORD.

cepted the call to New Hartford, where he was or-
dained, December, 1739, where he spent his life, and
where he died, in 1794, aged eighty years. He was
twice married, first to Elizabeth Sheldon, of Hart-
ford, Feb. 26, 1740-41, who died, after bearing him
six children, May 20, 1749. On May 27, 1751, he
married Mariana Keith, a young widow with two
daughters, sister of John Lawrence, treasurer of the
colony, a lady of many accomplishments, whose
friends opposed her burying her graces in the wilder-
ness of New Hartford. This wife, who survived her
husband, was always called “‘Madame Marsh” by his
parishioners ; she also bore him six children. From
MSS. of Mr. Marsh, the inference is that he was of
an affectionate nature, fond of home, and charitable
towards all men. The stricter tenets of the Calvinis-
tic theology were too harsh for his gentle soul, and
that may be the reason why he mingled no more
freely with his ministerial brethren in those times of
religious controversy between old and new divinity.
The records of Hartford North Consociation during
the fifty-five years of his ministry show that he never
attended any meetings of that body. The following
pen-portrait of him is from Rev. Frederic Marsh’s
recollections :

“Mr. Marsh was above the medium height and size of men, well pro-
portioned, grave and venerable in appearance, of a social turn of mind,
and accustomed to wear a large wig. He was settled on the half-way*
plan; was Arminian in his theological views. In his preaching, as I re-
member him when about fourteen years old, was not animated, and, as
it seemed to me, never earnest and rousing. I remember to have been
seriously affected on seeing and hearing him address the people on
funeral occasions.”

‘Of Mr. Marsh’s twelve children, seven daughters
and five sons, all but one, Jonathan, lived to attain
maturity. The daughters all married, only one of
whom, Elizabeth, wife of Jerijah Merrill, settled per-
manently in New Hartford. The oldest son, Joseph
Whiting Marsh, was the first graduate of Yale Col-
lege from New Hartford. He died at the West Indies,
aged twenty-one. Daniel settled in New Hartford;
Isaac, at Tyringham, Mass. It is not known to the

‘writer where John Lawrence, the youngest son, located.

So far as can be ascertained, none of Mr. Marsh’s
descendants are now living in New Hartford. In 1761
Mr. Marsh’s note-book gives the number of church-
members as 85, and in 1793 chronicles that 17 were
admitted to the church and 52 baptized.

At the commencement of Dr. Griffin’s ministry, in
1795, there were 92 members of the church, and in
the powerful revivals which attended his earnest la-
bors there were 158 additions to the number. Under
the pastorates of Mr. Jerome and Mr. Yale there were
also, from time to time, seasons of special religious
interest; under the latter, large additions to the mem-
bership of the church.

As the facilities for manufacturing began to be de-
veloped along the Tunxis, the dwellers in the north-

 

* Half-way covenant, which allowed baptiem to children of non-com-
municants.

 

399

ern part of the town became more numerous, and
felt the need of a place of worship nearer home than
the old meeting-house on the hill, and in December,
1828, a colony of 62 members from the mother-church
organized the North Congregational Church of New
Hartford. The ground for the new building was
given by Capt. Sylvester Seymour, and the present
brick church was built the same year. This was a se-
rious blow to the society on the hill, but, taking
heart from Rev. Mr. Yale’s encouragement, they laid
plans for a new house of worship, which resulted, in
1829, in the building of the church now standing on
Town Hill.

The old meeting-house was, at the expense of the
town, moved farther back on the green, repaired, and
used as a town-house for the transaction of public
business until November, 1848, when it was voted in
town-meeting to sell it and put the avails in the treas-
ury. It was purchased for fifty dollars by John C.
Smith and Maj. Sanford Brown. Its massive white-
oak timbers, seasoned by the suns and storms of more -
than a hundred years, were used in the building of
looms for the Greenwoods’ cotton-mill; and it is said
that portions of its frame-work are still in existence
among the outbuildings appertaining to the late resi-
dence of Maj. Sanford Brown.

Much dissatisfaction with the location of thé new
Town Hill church was felt by the members resident
at South End, who naturally wished to have it placed
midway between the two settlements, waiving all at-
tachment for the old site. This discontent gradually
increased until, in 1848, the South Congregational
Church of New Hartford was organized and the
present church edifice built at Nepaug.

A second time depleted in numbers and strength,
the old church organization struggled on until the
death of Mr. Yale, in 1854, when public worship was
suspended, and it disbanded in October, 1859, after an
existence of one hundred and twenty-one years.

The deacons of this church were Messrs. Martyn
Smith, Noah Kellogg, Joseph Merrill, Aaron Austin,
Stephen Pitkin, John Brown, John Marsh, Elijah
Goodwin, George Adams, James D. Thorp, James
Merrill.

Religious services have been occasionally held in
the church since that time. In 1860, Messrs. Cyrus
and Richard Yale, sons of the former pastor, pur-
chased the building from the surviving members of
the old ecclesiastical society, and regard it as a filial
duty to keep it in repair,—a fitting monument to their
father’s faithful and earnest life-work in New Hart-
ford.

THE NORTH CHURCH,
organized in 1828 with sixty-two members, has now, in
1881, a membership of one hundred and eighty. The
fluctuations of a manufacturing population prevent
many who are regular attendants on public worship
from joining themselves to any religious organization,
hence, in part, the disproportion of membership to
400

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

attendance in all the churches of New Hartford vil-
lage. This church has had ten settled pastors, viz. :
Revs. Burr Baldwin, 1829-38; Wyllis Lord, D.D.,
1834-88 ; J. Woodbridge, D.D., 1839-42; Alexander
Leadbetter, 1844-49; J. A. Saxton, 1850-52; F. A.
Spencer, 1858-68; J. B. Cleaveland, 1863-67 ; Alpheus
Winter, 1868-69; S. S. Martyn, 1870-74; F. H.
Adams, 1875, present pastor.

At different times since the building of the church,
repairs and renovations have been made at an ex-
penditure, in all, of about three thousand dollars. It
is now a substantial brick building, with bell-tower,
in thorough order, capable of seating four hundred
persons. Five deacons have been ordained, as fol-
lows: John Brown, 1829; Charles B. Richards, 1833 ;
Roger H. Mills, 1849; Jason C. Keach, 1849; Howell
W. Brown, 1859. The semi-centennial was celebrated
Dec. 25, 1878, by a memorial sermon by the pastor,
Rey. F. H. Adams, addresses, music, and a collation
in the portion of the adjoining building known as
Academy Hall, now handsomely fitted up by the
ladies of the society as lecture-room and church
parlors, for religious, social, and literary gathering.

THE SOUTH CHURCH,
organized in 1848 with fifty-six members, has now on
its rolls a membership of one hundred and twenty-
one. It has been served by the following pastors:
Revs. J. C. Houghton, 1851-54; Edwin Hall, Jr.,
1854-69; J. Woodruff, 1870-71; Stephen A. Loper,
1872-74; Merrick Knight, 1875-79; Richard Scoles,
April 21,1880. The church edifice is of wood, with
a tower and bell. It has a basement containing a
lecture-room, where town-meetings have been held on
alternate years. During the. year 1880 about six
hundred dollars were expended on the building, which
is now in thorough repair. It will seat about two
hundred and fifty persons. The deacons of this
church have been Messrs. Selah Woodruff, George
Adams, Edmund Watson, Andrew Clark, and James
Lyman.
BAPTIST AND METHODIST.

The Baptists organized in the southwestern part of
the town, and built the church in Bakerville as early
as 1830. It was used by them, with the interior in a
rough state, until about 1835, when, with the assist-
ance of the Baker brothers, Methodists, and members
of the Watson family, Congregationalists, it was
neatly finished and called a union church, being
open to religious services by clergymen of all de-
nominations. Some years after, Mr. Anthony Baker
repaired and thoroughly renovated it at his own ex-
pense, since which time services have been held with
more or less regularity by ministers of the Methodist
Conference.

THE NEW HARTFORD (NORTH) BAPTIST CHURCH

was organized in August, 1859, by twenty-two mem-
bers resident in this town, formerly belonging to the
Pleasant Valley Church. Until 1862 meetings were

 

held on the Sabbath in the Greenwoods District
school-house, but, objections having been made to that
arrangement by persons in the district, the society
soon after purchased the Baptist meeting-house in
Pleasant Valley (then unused), brought it in sections
to New Hartford, and rebuilt it on the hill overlook-
ing the village, on the east bank of the river. This
was done by the efficient aid of the late Rev. William
Dennison, Baptist State missionary, himself a prac-
tical builder. The house was dedicated Jan. 30, 1867.
It is pleasantly furnished in the interior, and has a
tower and a bell. The church now numbers about
forty members. Of the original membership, one, B.
G. Loomis, alone remains; nine have been dismissed
to other churches, and twelve are dead. _ The pastors
have been Revs. 8. S. Carter, installed August, 1859;
N. R. Bennett, August, 1861; C. N. Nichols, August,
1862; L. H. Wakeman, January, 1867; Joseph Bur-
nett, December, 1869; Ralph H. Bowles, May, 1878.

PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

In November, 1849, Rev. J. H. Betts was sent by
Bishop Brownell to take charge of a Protestant Epis-
copal mission in Pine Meadow. For lack of a suit-
able place of meeting, services were not held on the
Sabbath until June 9, 1850, after which time they
were regularly held in Chapin’s Hall until the com-
pletion of the church. St. John’s parish was organ-
ized Nov. 20, 1850. The corner-stone of a house of
worship was laid the following day, and the finished
edifice consecrated as St. John’s church, by Bishop
Brownell, June 4, 1851. This church, which stood at
the southern extremity of Church Street, was de-
stroyed by fire Dec. 23, 1859, and with it a valuable
pipe-organ, the gift of Herman Chapin, Esq. Services
were again held in Chapin’s Hall until the present
church, which fronts the triangular park at the
northern end of Church Street, was completed. Di-
vine service was first held in the new edifice Christmas
Eve, 1861. The church is of wood, in the Gothic
style of architecture, with a bell-tower and spire; the
interior is neatly and tastefully furnished. The rec-
tors of the church have been Revs. John H. Betts,
from Easter, 1851, to July, 1857 ; Enoch Huntington,
from April, 1858, to May, 1860; Myron A. Johnson,
from November, 1861, to October, 1862; T. 8S. Judd,
from November, 1862, to March, 1863; De Lancy G.
Rice, from May, 18638, to April, 1865; J. C. Heald,
from 1866 to July, 1868; John H. Betts, recalled
April, 1869, to May, 1880; Theodore Porter, ordained
December, 1880, now pastor of the church.

ROMAN CATHOLIC.

The Roman Catholic form of worship was first ob-
served in New Hartford in March, 1849, when Rev.
Luke Daly, of New Britain, was sent by the bishop
of this diocese to hold services among the members of
that communion. For a period of two years, Rev.
Father Daly came once in three months to celebrate
mass, after which time he was succeeded by Rev.
NEW HARTFORD.

Thomas Quinn, Rev. Fathers Gilleck, Gorman, and
Thomas Hendrickon, pastors at Winsted.

The church was then placed under the care of the
resident priest at Collinsville, since which time it has
been attended by Revs. P. J. O'Dwyer, John. Fagan,
Lawrence Walsh, and the present pastor, Rev. Ber-
nard O’R. Sheridan, who has presided over the parish
since 1870, with the following assistants: Revs. Michael
O’Brien, John Russell, John Creadon, Thomas Mul-
vany, and the present associate, Rev. Luke Fitzsim-
mons.

The places of meeting were first at private houses,
then at the brick machine-shop and Chapin’s Hall, Pine
Meadow, and then in the upper village, at the school-
house now occupied by Miss Chloe Lankton, and at
Academy Hall. The “Church of the Immaculate
Conception,” at the North village, was commenced in
1868, during the pastorate.of Rev. John Fagan, and
finished during the pastorate of Rev. Lawrence
Walsh. It is the largest church edifice in town.
There has never been a priest resident in New Hart-
ford, but mass.is celebrated every Sunday morning by
one of the reverend fathers from Collinsville. The
Roman Catholic population in town is estimated by
the present pastor at one thousand souls.

SCHOOLS.

The school-house followed closely upon the meet-
ing-house. In December, 1753, it was voted in town-
meeting to build a school-house twenty-five feet long,
sixteen feet wide, and seven and a half feet between
joints, to be set within twenty rods of the meeting-
house. A second vote of the same meeting provided
for two school-houses,—one at the south part of the
town,—which vote was afterwards revoked. The
school-house on Town Hill was not completed until
1756, and the one at the south part of the town was
delayed some years longer. It stood about a half-mile
southwest of Judge Wait Garrett’s present residence.

Previous to this time appropriation had been made
year by year for ‘“‘scooling” the children in New
Hartford ; at one time twenty-four pounds were voted
“to hire a master.” The schools were taught in dif-
ferent private houses designated by a committee ap-
pointed for the purpose.

Those who smile at the peculiar spelling of the old
records, and the primitive manner of keeping account-
books, should consider the limited advantages of the
schools in those early days, and admire rather than
wonder. .

An old citizen, whose memory goes back to the be-
ginning of the present century, says there were no arith-
metics introduced into the schools of New Hartford
until 1812, when Harold Wyllys came from Hartford
to teach a grammar school on the Moody place, now
owned by the heirs of Timothy Buckley, where the
town poor are kept. Slates and blackboards were un-
known; the multiplication-table was orally drilled
into the children, who were taught to make figures in

 

401

their copy-books ; Dillsworth’s speller, Dwight’s geog-
raphy, the “ Columbian Orator,” and the “ New Eng-
land Primer” were the text-books. The school-houses
were warmed (?) by open fireplaces, supplied with
wood furnished by the parents of the children in pro-
portion to the number sent. The wages of male teach-
ers averaged not more than ten dollars a month, and
those of female teachers from three to six dollars
per month, besides board, which was furnished by the
parents, like the wood, in proportion to the number
of children, the teacher going from house to house, or,
as it was commonly phrased, “boarded around.”
The female teachers also gave instruction in needle-
work.

In 1770 the town was divided into five school dis-
tricts,—two at South End, and one each at North
End, West Hill, and Town Hill. Mr. Goodwin’s let-
ter of 18138, before mentioned, says, “There are nine
district schools, and for several seasons past there has
been a school where the higher branches of literature
have been taught,” probably referring to Mr. Wyllys’
school at the Moody place. In this connection
another quotation from Mr. Goodwin’s letter may be
in order: “ There are at present but two public librar-
ies, containing from one hundred to one hundred
and fifty volumes each.” In the annual report of the
Connecticut Board of Education for 1868 is published
a letter from Prof. William C. Fowler, of Durham,
from which the following is a short extract: —

“Tn reply to your favor, in which you request me to furnish some in-
formation concerning the town and village libraries, which in various
parts of the State were the educators of our fathers, I have tosay ...
these_libraries are now numbered with the things that were, but for
fifty or a hundred years they were a living power in the commonwealth,
as We may still learn in the fast-fading light of tradition. Books were
for a long time scarce in Connecticut, as elsewhere in New England, ex-
cept in the libraries of some of the eminent clergymen. ...

“These book companies were voluntary associatiuns of persons in the
several towns who were desirous of establishing a library, A number
of the intelligent men of the town would meet together, appoint a com-
mnittee of four or five persons and a clerk, who was often the library-
keeper. Each member contributed a certain sum, say twenty shillings,
as an entrance fee, and an annual tax, say one shilling. The books were
drawn out by the members, or by some of their families, to be returned
in a fortnight or at some longer time. The question what books should
be purchased was considered to be a very important one. . .. ‘The
Universal History,’ Josephus’ ‘History of the Jews,’ Watts’ works,
some of the poetical works of Milton, Pope, Thomson, Goldsmith, the
sermons of some of the ablest English divines, some of the works of
President Edwards, ‘The Spectator, ‘The Vicar of Wakefield,’ and
many others, became familiarly known to more or less readers in many
towns. The good influence of these libraries upon every class of the
population, from the highest to the lowest, cannot be measured.”

There are now three public libraries in town, largely
composed of works of fiction, from which books may
be drawn on yearly subscription or by payment of a
sinall fee at each drawing. The Pine Meadow Li-
brary Association has a collectionof some six hundred
volumes, the Greenwoods Company Library has four
hundred and fifty volumes in constant circulation, and
the Roman Catholic society also sustains a small but
well-selected library.

There are in New Hartford at the present time no
schools of a higher grade than district school, where
402

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

are taught the ordinary English branches. There
have been efforts from time to time among the citizens
to support academies and private schools, but such
enterprises have never been for any length of time
successful. In 1837 a number of gentlemen in the
North village interested in the education of youth
erected at private expense the building adjoining the
Congregational church, long known as the ‘“ Acad-
emy,” and sustained for a number of years a most ex-
cellent select school therein. The second floor of the
building was used by the Congregational society for
religious meetings, and was also leased for entertain-
ments and town-meetings, hence the name Academy
Hall. Subsequently the North End School District
enlarged the building one-half, the Academy associa-
tion taking the entire upper half, or hall, and the dis-
trict taking the two school-rooms on the first floor.
The gentlemen who composed the Academy associa-
tion are nearly all dead, and the hall has come,
partly by gifts of shares, partly by tacit consent, into
the custody of the Congregational society.

An academy once sustained at Nepaug was years
ago converted into a dwelling-house, and one built by
subscription at Bakerville about 1835 is now used for
a district school.

Efforts, so far unsuccessful, have been made to secure
the establishment of a good high school, which is
greatly needed in the town.

There are now nine school districts in New Hart-
ford, designated as follows, with the number of pupils
in attendance on each in 1880: North End (2 teach-
ers), 105; Pine Meadow (2 teachers), 174; Green-
woods (4 teachers), 375; West Hill, 23; Southeast,
20; Bakerville, 26; Henderson, 26; Town Hill, 27;
Merrill or Nepaug, 32. The second school-house on
Town Hill was built in 1785. The first school-house
at North End village stood about ten rods above the
house now occupied by H. H. Stone. The second
was the house formerly owned by old Mrs. Simons.
In 1815 this was too small to accommodate the grow-
ing district. It was therefore sold, and the house now
occupied by Miss Chloe Lankton* was built and used
for a school-house until the rooms under Academy
Hall were fitted up for the purpose.

The Greenwoods District school-house was built
about 1850. A few years ago it was raised and other-
wise enlarged and improved, making it the best school
building in the town.

HIGHWAYS.

The home-lots for the first settlers of New Hartford
were laid out on the east and west sides of a highway
sixteen rods wide and three miles in length, running
north from the foot of Yellow Mountain over Town
Hill. Tradition relates that when Rev. Jonathan
Marsh’s house was raised, about 1740, he told his par-

 

* Miss Lankton has been an invalid for nearly fifty years. A sketch
of her life, written by Miss Harriet Atwell, of Pleasant Valley, las been
widely read, and brings her correspondence and visitors from ull over
the country.

 

ishioners before they had anything to eat or drink
they must cut down the white birches in this high-
way, so that he could see Mr. Loomis’ house.t This
first highway has been encroached upon from time to
time, and its former generous width is constantly nar-
rowing. Rev. Mr. Marsh’s house stood on the line of
the original highway, a little to the south and in the
rear of Daniel Royce’s present residence. About the
year 1800 the town took action in the matter of high-
way encroachments, and gave those who had robbed
the public the choice of paying for the land or remoy-
ing their fences; but for some reason the money was
never all collected, nor is there a probability that
many fences were removed.

The necessities of the town demanded cross-high-
ways, of which there were at first three, eight rods
wide, running from Town Hill towards East Moun-
tain. Two of these still remain,—the one running east
from Town Hill Street, near the meeting-house and
burial-place (which, continued, was the South country
road), the other, farther north, intersecting the Steele
road near the residence of Grove 8. Marsh. The third
came into Town Hill Street nearly opposite the resi-
dence of the late Isaac P. Steele, and was of great
convenience to the farmers going to and from their
lands at East Mountain.

In September and October, 1734, a survey was made
of two country roads in New Hartford. The South
road ran from Town Hill south-southeast until it in-
tersected “the path leading to Litchfield,” near the
southeastern boundary of the town. The North road
ran towards the river, and then mainly followed its
course to the Simsbury boundary; the road, “so far
north from the meeting-house as there are any in-
habitants,” was made passable in 1742.

The present line of highway from Town Hill to
Spruce Brook was purchased of Pelatiah Allyn and
Sarah (Moody) Allyn, his wife, in 1757. It runs
through what was once the Moody farm. This road
was again altered, within the memory of old inhabit-
ants, from the house of H. H. Stone. It formerly
described a southerly curve, avoiding the steep hill
above the brook. In 1788 application was made to
the County Court for a convenient country road from
the town of Simsbury to the two country roads in New
Hartford, which the appointment of a surveyor to
keep it in order in 1742 indicates was granted. In
1744 the town “ voted to view to see if we can have a
road at the south end of Wongsunkmaug? pond, to come

 

+ This stood where the present Loomis house now stands on Town
Hill, fast crumbling to decay, its stone chimney rising like a tower
among the ruins. The “L” portion of this house, built by the pioneer
Israel Loomis, is said to be the first building ever erected on Town Hill.

} This was probably as far as the hotel corner at the North village,
where settled Deacon Martyn Smith. Matthew Gillet also lived in this .
part of the town: his house stood west of Mrs. Howard P. Marsh’s house,
on a highway now discontinued.

2 Wonksunkmunk, as the spelling varies, was the Indian name for
West Hill pond, long known as Shepherd’s pond, from Daniel Shepherd,
the first settler on its banks in 1748, when he sold his Town Hill prop-
erty and removed thither. i
NEW HARTFORD.

into the Town Hill road in that highway on the north
side of Israel Loomis’ lot.” There is on record no re-
port of this committee, but the highway “ north of
Israel Loomis’ lot’? was sold in 1756, and the one
which comes into Town Hill road south of Mrs. Julie
P. Smith’s farm was purchased in its stead. An old
resident remembers that this was formerly the only
way for the “ West Hill folks to come to meeting.”

The year 1756 shows quite a highway record. Votes
were passed to clear a road from the river to Jonathan
Merrill’s house (now Mr. Abram Chidsey’s), also one
in the Pine Meadow, and a road to Barkhamsted, the
latter with the proviso, “if they can do it with poot-
ing the town of New Hartford to but a little caust.”
This road was made the following year from “the east
side of the river, by Deacon Martyn Smith’s, to the
highway in Barkhamsted, near the dwelling-house of
Pelatiah Allyn.” In 1758 highways were opened to
Torrington and Harwinton, and also a highway to
Kelloge’s mill, on the Nepash, South End.

In May, 1758, the General Assembly having been
advised of the great need of such action, appointed a
committee to examine the country and report on a
new and better road or way through Simsbury, New
Hartford, Norfolk, and Canaan, on towards Albany.
In May, 1759, a newline of road from the court-house
in Hartford to Col. Whitney’s, in Canaan, was re-
ported. The result of this report was that the com-
mittee were directed “to lay out and make plain and
certain the said new country road from the mansion-
house of Samuel Humphrey, in Simsbury, to Col.
David Whitney’s, in Canaan.” In May, 1760, the
survey having been made, the road was ordered
cleared and made passable for traveling before Nov.
20, 1761, by the proprietors of the towns through
which it ran. This rugged thoroughfare, known as
the “old North country road,” entered the town at
the Simsbury line, crossed the river at “Satan’s King-
dom,” ran through Pine Meadow and North End, about
on the line of the present road, and at the corner near
the hotel it ran westerly up the steep hill, past the resi-
dence of William Cook, and crossed the Greenwoods
turnpike a little west of the old toll-gate, then on
over Wallen’s Hill, through Winchester, Colebrook,
Norfolk, and Canaan, to Albany. Until 1800 this
road was the great thoroughfare of the colony in the
direction of Albany. Over it passed the troops and
munitions of war of the: Continental army, and the
captured detachments of. Burgoyne’s soldiers, who
encamped at New Hartford, near Charles Maxfield’s
new residence. The first mail from Hartford to Al-
bany is said to have been ‘carried over this road, on
horseback, by Jacob Balcom, of Winchester.

The first turnpike through New Hartford ran “from
the dwelling-house of Capt. Dudley Case (who kept
tavern where Mrs. Olive Pike now lives) to the
Massachusetts line, on the east side of the river,” and
was called the Farmington River turnpike. The
company was incorporated May, 1780, and their first

 

403

meeting was held at “the house of Aaron Richards,
innholder in New Hartford,” he being a member of
the corporation. The act of incorporation authorizes
a toll-gate within fifty rods southward of the house
of Aaron Richards,* and specifies the rates of toll,
from which were exempted “ persons traveling on the
Lord’s day, and other public days, to attend public
worship, society-, town-, and freemen’s-meeting, funer-
rals, people in town attending to farm business, also
going to mill with horse, and militia going to attend
reviews and exercises.”

The town records show that in 1771-72, by a me-
morial to the General Assembly, the town vigorously
opposed the report of a committee who had been ap-
pointed to view the land on the east side of the river
with reference to a highway between New Hartford
and Colebrook, and the probabilities are that this
turnpike was the final outcome of the matter agitated
at that time.

The Talcott Mountain Turnpike Company was in-
corporated in 1798, the road to run “ from the west
line of the city of Hartford to the house of Eldad
Shepherd, in New Hartford.” This was the hotel at
North End, purchased of Seth Smith’s heirs about this
time. The most ancient part of this hotel, as it now
stands, was built by Deacon Martyn Smith, who lived
here at an early period in the history of the town. In
1799 the Greenwoods turnpike, a continuation of the
same route, was opened from Eldad Shepherd’s house,
in New Hartford, to Sheffield, Mass., by a new route
which followed, as far as practicable, the courses of
the streams and avoided the high hills. Starting
from the hotel, it diverged from the present road near
the scythe-shop, and passed through the swamp near
the old Jopp house, some rods to the east of the pres-
ent thoroughfare.

In May, 1801, the Torrington Turnpike Company
was incorporated, and the first meeting was held at
the house of Moses Kellogg; innholder of New Hart-
ford, in July of that year. This road passed through
the villages of Bakerville and New Hartford Centre,
now Nepaug, and followed, for the most part, the line
of the old Torrington country road. It was generally
called by New Hartford residents the Litchfield road,
because used in going to and from the county-seat.
Moses Kellogg, and afterwards his son, Col. Norman
Kellogg, were for many years keepers of the tavern
at the south part of the town, and the building so
long kept by them as a public-house is still in good
repair, and occupied by their descendants asa dwelling.

About a mile west of Bakerville, on the Torrington
road, Levi Watson, son of Cyprian Watson, a pioneer
settler of the town, kept tavern in the old colonial
days. Two of his sons did brave service in, the Revo-
lutionary struggle, and one of his descendants relates
that during the years of the war his house was often

 

* Now known as the Miles Richards place, on the corner of Barkham
sted and Richards’ roads.
40+

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

so filled with officers and soldiers traveling to and
fro on duty that it was impossible to give them other
accommodations than the floors, where they were glad
to stretch their wearied limbs for a night’s repose.

The highway from the North village to South End,
known as the “Steele road,” was opened about 1808.
The “New road,” from the forks of the West Hill and
Town Hill roads to the stone grist-mill at Stub Hol-
low, was laid out by county commissioners in 1830,
costing the town a tax of five cents on a dollar. In
1848 the road was opened from the highway, past the
Greenwoods Company’s saw-mill and grist-mill, and
in 1850 that running from Marquis Richards’ place to
Pine Meadow, known as “Black Bridge road.” In
1858 it was voted to build a road through “Satan’s
Kingdom,” one-half to be at the expense of individ-
uals.
at the lower end of North village to the Steele road,
coming out near the residence of E, R. Carter, and in
1871 the road over the hill, past the house of Henry
M. Gates. In 1871 a sidewalk was made between
North village and Pine Meadow.

In 1878 a new road was made to Barkhameted town
line, west of the river, the old one being dangerous
by proximity to the Connecticut Western Railway
track.

Keeping the highways in order has always been a
great expense to New Hartford on account of the
roughness of the country. In 1806 scrapers were first
purchased by the town for use on the highways, and
in October, 1843, keeping the roads in repair was first
Jet out to the lowest bidder for five years. Previous
to that time the town was divided into districts, and
surveyors appointed for each district, who were re-
sponsible for the actual labor performed, or its equiv-
alent in money, of each citizen’s road-tax.

BRIDGES

have also been.a great item of expense to New Hart-
ford. The first mention of any bridge in the town
records is a vote passed in 1756 to build a bridge
across the Nepash near Samuel Douglass’ (southeast
part of town). There is on file at the State Library
a memorial from citizens of New Hartford, dated May,
1763, presented by Capt. Isaac Kellogg, praying for a
lottery to assist them in building a bridge across the
“ Great River,” insaid town. This memorial sets forth
that this river is a swift stream, about twelve rods wide,
with a very rocky bottom, that it is at times impossi-
ble to cross this river at the place where the new road
has recently been laid out at the expense of the colony,
and that, as the traveling yearly increases on said road,
persons have been from time to time drowned in at-
tempting to cross. for want.of a bridge. The memo-
rial also states that the petitioners are a poor people,
very unable to pay their public taxes, that they have
recently borne half the expense of erecting a bridge
across the river at Suffrage, in Simsbury, and pray for
a lottery to raise one hundred and twenty pounds to

In 1870 the road was opened from the bridge |

 

build the desired bridge. This was negatived by the
Assembly, but another petition praying for a land-tax
for the same purpose was granted, and the bridge was
built, the first across the Farmington in the town.
This bridge, and another built by the aid of a lottery
in 1778, were probably carried away by freshets, and
for a time there was a ferry at the “Kingdom” crossing.
In 1784 the town applied to the General Assembly for
aid in building a third bridge, and in 1796 it was sub-
stantially built with stone piers, but not until the
matter had been considered of opening a road to Suf-
frage, on the west side of the river, and an effort made
to turn over to the Talcott Mountain Turnpike Com-
pany the building of the bridge. In 1799 this bridge
was repaired. An old citizen, Mr. Ashbel Marsh, re-
members that his father carted timbers for a new bridge
built in 1803-4, and the town voted in 1812 to repair
the hard-worn structure and give it.a new top and
cover of plank. In 1832 another was built, and in
1856 the present one, which, repaired in 1880, has thus
far withstood the destructive elements. The first
bridge across the Farmington at the North village
was built in 1786, the second in 1799, the third in
1810, and the fourth in 18238. A double-track bridge
was built in 1850, to which a footwalk was added in
1871. The present riveted iron bridge, with a track
twenty feet wide, and a footwalk six feet in width,
was put up in 1878, at a cost to the town of ten thou-
sand dollars. The Farmington was bridged at a third
place when the highway was opened from Pine
Meadow to the Marquis Richards place, in 1850. The
first bridge did service until 1873, when the one was
built which is yet in substantial order.

In 1783 five bridges were built in the town, four.
across the Nepash, which are not located in the
records, and one across Spruce Brook near its outlet
(between North village and Pine Meadow). This is
the first mention of a bridge at this place. In 1802
two bridges were built across the Nepash, ‘‘one on
the turnpike at the southeast part of the town, near
a grist-mill formerly owned by Zebulon Merrill, the
other on the turnpike in the east part of the town,
near Uriah Edgecomb’s. 2

In the spring freshet of 1866 much dictente was
done to the bridges in town, the one between North,
Village and Pine Meadow being carried away.

The flood of December, 1878, unequaled on the
Farmington for forty years, carried before it the Canal
railroad-bridge, piers, abutments, and spans, the tem-
porary structure and trestle at North village, where
work had commenced. preparatory to building the
new iron bridge, and the bridge over the East Branch,
besides other lesser damages, It was only by the con-
tinued exertions of a large force of workmen, who
were on guard one whole night, that the Greenwoods
Company’s dam was. kept from giving way, the road
along the side of the pond being four feet under water,
and the top of the abutments nearly reached by the
flood.
NEW HARTFORD.

405

 

RAILROADS.

In 1870 the Collinsville branch of the Canal Rail-
road was extended as far as Pine Meadow, a tempo-
rary depot being fitted up near the entrance to the
dugway, at the upper end of that village. In 1877 the
road was again extended as far as the Greenwoods
Company’s mills, and commodious brick passenger-
and freight-depots built on the east side of the river
a little below the factory village. The Farmington
was first crossed on a trestle-work, which gave place
to a handsome iron bridge, carried away by the flood
of 1878. A temporary trestle was again put up, and
used until the present fine iron bridge was completed
in 1879. The old station-house in Pine Meadow has
been moved away, and a brick depot built at the south
end of Church Street. The Connecticut Western
Railway, which passes through the villages of New
Hartford and Pine Meadow, was built in 1871, and
the first engine passed over the road December 21st
of that year.* The upper depot is located near the
foot of Cemetery Hill, where the track crosses the
Town Hill road, with freight-depots, coal-sheds, and
water-tank farther south. The lower depot is oppo-
site the residence of C. W. Gilman, in Pine Meadow.
The track of this road runs on .an elevated embank-
ment above the highway between the two villages,
entering the upper on a substantial wooden trestle
some thirty feet in height.
ern Railway has an iron bridge across the Farmington
at “Satan’s Kingdom” crossing, and the appearance
of the gorge has been materially changed by tunnel-
ing for the road-beds of the two lines (Canal and Con-
necticut Western), one on each side of the stream.

TOWN-HALL.

After the removal of the old town-house on the hill,
in 1848, the voters of the town were without a home
on town-meeting days. They met one-half the time
at the basement of the church at Nepaug, and the
other half sometimes in the school-house, sometimes
at Academy Hall, at North village. The ‘‘lock-up”
of the town was a tumble-down, mouldy old building,
formerly used by Wilson B. Spring as a carriage-shop,
which stood just west of the Connecticut Western

Railroad track, on the Town Hill road, an eyesore to |

the public, torn down the present year (1881).

From time to time the subject of building a town-
hall was agitated, but every project had opponents,
as was natural in a town where there are several little
villages, with the principal business and manufacturing
interests in one corner, instead of at a common centre.
In 1872 it was voted in town-meeting to build, buy, or
hire a suitable building or rooms for a lock-up and

 

* The town of New Hartford had just been heavily taxed by liberal
subscriptions to the Canal Railway extension when the Connecticut
Western was projected, and for that reason did not subscribe to the stock
of the latter road, which occasioned much feeling for a time among those
interested in the-Connecticut Western-enterprise, so much so that it was
Proposed to “ go around” New Hartford, until surveyors found that im-
Practicable.

The Connecticut West-

 

+ court-room for the trial of criminals and other cases

before a justice of the peace, to be located in the
North village. The site of the present building (a
little above the hotel corner, on the east side of the
Greenwoods turnpike) was purchased, and the sub-
stantial foundation laid, when, in June, 1878, other
counsels prevailed, and the selectmen were instructed
to sell the building lot and foundations, with the brick
and building materials already purchased. The con-
sequence was that the cellar and building materials
lay exposed on the main street of the village for more.
than two years, until, in October, 1875, a vote was
barely carried to instruct the selectmen to build a
town-hall at a cost not to exceed ten thousand ‘dollars.
The present building, one of the chief ornaments of
the town, was immediately erected on the foundations
laid three years before. The building is of brick, with
granite foundations and brownstone cappings, and
trimmings, forty feet front by seventy feet deep, two
stories and a basement, with gables and a clock-tower.
The basement-floor has a court-room, two cells, and a
room now rented for a tailor’s work-shop. The first
floor has a handsome store in front, entrance-hall,
ticket-office, town clerk, and probate offices, with
vault, and two offices for rent. The town-hall, fitted
up with stage and dressing-rooms, oceupies the entire
second floor.

The building was dedicated, with a grand centennial
celebration, July 4, 1876, when the town records were
removed in state to their new depository. A special
feature of the occasion was the singing of the “Star;
Spangled Banner” by Clara Louisa Kellogg; Judge J,
B. Foster and others delivered addresses, and Capt.
H. R. Jones read the Declaration of Independence.

CIVIL AND MILITARY.

The town of New Hartford was incorporated by
act of the General Court, October, 1838. At the May
session of the General Assembly in 1751 an act was
passed removing seventeen towns in the northwesterly
part of the colony, from the counties of Hartford,
New Haven, and Fairfield, and constituting them a
separate county, to be called the county of Litchfield,
with the town of Litchfield as the county-seat. This
was a grievous affliction to the inhabitants of New
Hartford, who could not become reconciled to being
set off from Hartford County, and there is something
pathetic in the language of the petitions which year
after year they presented to the General Assembly,
praying to be released from Litchfield County. That
august body continued unmoved by the oft-repeated
appeals setting forth the difficulties to the town by

| reason ofthe “toughness of the way” to Litchfield,

and that, ‘as trade was mainly in Hartford, when any
person went to court, other business could be trans-
acted at the same time,” which was no small consider-
ation in those days of poor roads and unbridged
streams. Col. Aaron Austin, of New Hartford, was
judge of Litchfield County Court for. many years—
406

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

family history says for twenty-five years—previous to
his disqualification by age in 1816. The County
Court, now a thing of the past, is in some part super-
seded by the District Court of Litchfield County. The
judgeship of this district was held by Jared B. Foster,
of New Hartford, from 1874 to 1877.

Col. Aaron Austin was for twenty-three years (1795
to 1818) one of the twelve assistants to the Governor
of Connecticut, a body corresponding to the present
Senate. Other senators from the town have been Roger
H. Mills, in 1848; Henry Jones, in 1861; Edward M.
Chapin, in 1872. Roger H. Mills was Secretary of
State in 1849, and candidate for Lieutenant-Governor
on the first Prohibition ticket put forward in the
State. He removed to Beloit, Wis., in 1853, where
he died in 1880. :

The first justice of the peace in New Hartford was
Capt. Isaac Kellogg, appointed by the General As-
sembly, on petition of the town, in 1745.

The town was first represented in the General As-
sembly in 1776; the representatives were Capt. Isaac
Kellogg and Capt. Matthew Gillet. The town had
previously been too poor to send deputies to the Gen-
eral Assembly,—all expenses of such representation
being then borne by the towns,—but during the war
of the Revolution, when the safety of this and sister-
colonies was at stake, patriotism demanded represen-
tation in council at any cost.

Previous to 1808, New Hartford belonged to Farm-
ington probate district, from which it was taken at
that time and annexed to Simsbury district. Col.
Aaron Austin, of New Hartford, was appointed judge
of Simsbury probate district in October, 1818, and
continued in office until disqualified by age, May,
1816. In 1825 the towns of New Hartford and Bark-
hamstead were taken from Simsbury district and con-
stituted the probate district of New Hartford. Capt.
Isaac Kellogg* was appointed judge, and served until
1833, when Launcelot Phelps, of Barkhamsted, suc-
ceeded him. The same year, 1833, New Hartford was
constituted a separate district at its own request.
The list of probate judges since 1833 is as follows:
Isaac Kellogg, 1834-35; Tertius Wadsworth, 1835-38; Roger H. Mills,

1838-42; Wait Garrett, 1842-44; Roger H. Mills, 1847-53; Jared B.
Foster, 1853-57; Henry Jones, 1857-63; Orrin Goodwin, 1863-66;
Fitch W. Burwell, 1866-78; Jason C. Keach, 1878-80; Henry R.
Jones took office January, 1881.

Judges Henry Jones and Orrin Goodwin died in
office, and F. W. Burwell and Jason GC. Keach were
disqualified by age before the expiration of their
official terms of service.

TOWN CLERKS.

The first proprietors’ clerk was John Austin, of
Hartford, chosen in 1732, who served a year, when
Nathaniel Hooker was chosen, and served from 1738
to 1739. Noah Merrill, of New Hartford, was the
first town clerk appointed, but died before taking the
oath of office. The proprietors then appointed Mat-

 

* Great-grandson of the original settler of that name,

 

thew Gillett, who served the town faithfully in that

capacity for nearly forty years, from April, 1739, un-

til 1778. His successors have been:

Joseph Merrill (2d), 1778-83; James Steel, 1783-86; Joseph Loomis,
1789-1805; Asa Goodwin, 1806-48; J. C. Keach, 1848-81, exclusive
of 1854, when the office was held by Dr. Jerry Burwell, and 1855-58,
when it was held by Norman B. Merrill.

The military history of New Hartford begins with
a vote of the town in 1743 to expend twelve pounds
to purchase colors (and a brand). In 1744 twelve
shillings were paid to Matthew Gillett for warning a
training, and in 1746 it was voted to purchase a town
stock of ammunition. In May, 1752, the General
Assembly confirmed Mr. Matthew Gillett, who seems
to have been a knight of the sword as well as of the
pen, captain of the company or train-band in New
Hartford, and ordered that he be commissioned ac-
cordingly. The town records of this period, punctil-
ious in giving titles, show that Israel Loomis was
lieutenant and Thomas Olcott ensign of this company.
Military organizations were kept up in New Hartford
until the disbanding of the Lafayette Guards, not
long since. Great pride was taken in the drill and
appearance of these troops on parade- and training-
days. A history of these military companies, from
Capt. Matthew Gillet’s time, would be of great interest
to New Hartford readers; at some future time it
may be written, but it would be too extended for
these pages.

In 1739, New Hartford was designated as one of the
towns in which the First Regiment of militia should be
located. In 1774 the troops from New Hartford,
Simsbury, Hartland, Barkhamsted, and Colebrook
constituted the Eighteenth Regiment of militia, of
which Abel Merrill, of New Hartford, was commis-
sioned major. In 1820 the New Hartford troops be-
longed to the Twenty-first Regiment of militia.

The first record pointing to active service by New
Hartford troops is a reference to powder taken from
the town stock by Israel Loomis at the time of the
expedition against “the fort at Lake George,” from
which it is gathered that a detachment of men under
Lieut. Loomis were at the attack on Ticonderoga in
1758. The town records also mention the death of
Nathaniel Seymour at Crown Point, Oct. 20, 1760;
there were probably others who served at the same
time who lived to return.

A detachment of sixteen young men from New Hart-
ford went in the expedition against Havana, under
Gen. Lyman, in 1762, only one of whom, Benjamin
Merrill, lived to return. The records at the State
Department of Capt. John Patterson’s (afterwards
Roger Enos’) company, in which these men served,
are incomplete, so that only a portion of the names
can be found; these are Michael Merrill,+ Eliakim

 

+ Michael Merrill. was the eldest son of Joseph Merrill, a pioneer of
the town, who afterwards married the widow of David Chapins. Joseph
Merrill gave to another gon, born about this time, the name of Michael;
he was a physician in New Hartford, familiarly called “ Dr. Michael.”
seeeeen

NEW HARTFORD.

407

 

Merrill, David Chapins, Zebulon Shepard, Joseph
Watson, Nathaniel Wilcox, Gideon Smith, John
Miller, Joseph Whiting Marsh.*

This expedition, which reached Havana in the
month of August, was fatal to more than two-thirds
of the men who composed it, chiefly by reason of
sickness incident to the climate at that season. Of a
regiment numbering August 10th eight hundred and
two men, but thirty-four were reported fit for duty
October 2d, and part of those who lived to embark
for home died on the voyage or suffered shipwreck.

In May, 1774, after the issue of the Boston 'Port
Bill, and other hostile demonstrations of Great Brit-
ain, Governor Trumbull, of Connecticut, in view of
the general peril which threatened the colonies, issued
a proclamation enjoining a day of fasting and prayer.
This was soon followed by an order to all towns to
double their quantity of powder, ball, and flints.

At a town-meeting of the inhabitants of New Hart-
ford, held Sept. 5, 1774, it was “voted to purchase
two hundred pounds of powder, and flints answer-
able.” Joseph Cowles, Capt. Seth Smith, Eldad Mer-
rill, and Aaron Austin were appointed “a committee
of correspondence to open subscription for the poor
people of Boston and Charlestown,” and spirited reso-
lutions were passed, which were entered in the town
records and published in the Connecticut Courant.
These resolutions, after declaring that late acts of
Parliament “were of dangerous tendency, and strike
immediately at the foundation of the civil and relig-
ious rights and privileges of all British colonies in
North America, and directly contrary to the English
constitution,” also expressing sympathy with the in-
habitants of Boston, “ now suffering under the cruel
hand of tireny and oppression,” and resolving to con-
tribute to their relief, and to concur with and approve

all measures adopted by the Congress at Philadelphia, .

close with the following sentiment :

“ Also it is the opinion of this meeting that if any person shall, from
any sinister views whatsoever, counteract the foregoing resolves, he shall
be treated, not with open violence on his person or -propperty, but with
all the neglect, disesteem, and contempt which his character deserves
and his conduct shall merret.”

New Hartford at this trying season contributed her
full share to the glorious record of Connecticut, which,
out of a population of one hundred and ninety-eight
thousand, furnished nearly forty thousand troops and
militia for service during the war of the Revolution,—
more in number than any other State except Massa-
chusetts, Though the fifth in size of the original
thirteen, she furnished more salt beef, pork, and cattle
for the army than any sister-State. It was to her that
Washington looked for help in the disheartening
winter of 1778, when ten thousand soldiers lay naked
and hungry at Valley Forge. Nor did the “ Provision
State” fail him then, but sent her commissary, in the

* The last-named young man was eldest son of Rev. Jonathau Marsh,
His connection with this expedition is gathered from manuscript family
history,

 

dead of winter, through unbroken forests, to the relief
of the suffering army. Capt. Phineas Merrill, of New
Hartford, was with Col. Jeremiah Wadsworth, com-
missary of the State, in this branch of the service,
and underwent many hardships while traveling with
supplies from Connecticut to the army at different
stations.

The following are but a few of the recorded votes of
the town during the eight years’ struggle:

March, 1777.—“ Voted, That we will give ten pounds lawful money to
each soldier belonging to New Hartford that shall inlist into the Conti-
nental Battalions.”

September, 1777.—‘ Voted, That we will provide clothing for the sol-
diers that are inlisted and gone into the Continental army that belong
to New Hartford.”

“ Voted, That the committee appointed by the town to make provision
for soldiers’ families that are gone into the Continental army, agreeable
to the law of this State, do make ample provision for said families, and
that the town of said New Hartford pay the overplus.”

Jan. 7, 1777." Voted, That we do except of the articles of confedera-
tion and perpetual union between the states of New hampshire, Massa-
chusetts bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New
York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North
Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.”

The taxes levied at this time, which called for money,
were mostly paid in cloth, stockings, beef, pork, corn,
and oats.

Beside those who enlisted for a term of service in the
Continental army, the militia were repeatedly called
out from Litchfield County to the frontier and sea-
coast of Connecticut, and to Horse Neck, Peekskill,
and other points on the Hudson, during the long and
tedious struggle for the possession of the Highlands,
Probably not an able-bodied man in town but was
called out, some of them many times on this service.

Owing to scanty and incomplete records, it is im-
possible to ascertain the names of all New Hartford
men who served during the Revolutionary struggle.
Among the State archives at Hartford is a pay-roll of
eighty-two men who marched under Capt. Seth Smith
at the Lexington alarm, in April, 1775, and also five
mounted men under Lieut. Uriah Seymour. Probably
most of these saw other service.

The following are known to have served in the
Continental army or State troops for a longer or
shorter period:

Col. Aaron Austin, entered the service as a subaltern, and rose to the
rank of '‘lieutenant-colonel.

Col. Seth Smith, appointed by the General Assembly lieutenant-colo-
nel of one of the battalions raised for the defense of the State, or sea-coast
and frontier, in 1777; also again commissioned for the same service in
1778. Col. Smith also marched with troops to Peekskill at the call of
Gen.. Washington in 1777.

Capt. Abram Pettibone, served on frontier and in New York.

Capt. Phineas Merrill, conductor of commissary teams under Col.
Wadsworth.

Lieut. Charles Goodwin.

Capt. Elijah Flower, entered as a private; was imprisoned at Halifax ;
promoted for good service.

Cyrenius Austin, died in service.

John Garrett, Levi Watson, Isaac Watson, Thomas Watson, Cyprian
Merrill, Jesse‘ Steel, Joseph Gilbert, Theodore Gilbert, Aaron Stephens,
Elisha Roberts, Ezra Andrus, Cyprian Merrill, Aaron Merrill, John
Taylor, Daniel Marsh, Jesse Steel, William Cook, Asbbel Marsh, Caleb
Watson.
408.

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

WAR OF 1812.

During the last war with England, in response to a
call for troops for the defense of the State, a company
was organized in New Hartford and Barkhamsted, of
about equal numbers from each town. They left New
Hartford in July, 1818, under orders for New London,
where they served until September, 1814. The Sun-
day before their departure the company, dressed in
uniform, attended church on Town Hill, where Rev.
Mr. Jerome delivered to them an appropriate address.

The records of this company are lost, and the fol-
lowing facts concerning it were furnished by Judge
Wait Garrett, of New Hartford, the sole survivor, now
in failing health and memory. The captain of the
company was Moses Hayden, of Barkhamsted. The
names of New Hartford men, as far as can be ascer-
tained, were:

Lieut. George McNary, Ensign —— Merrill, Riverinus Douglass, Ira Sey-
mour, Jesse Markham, Samuel Markham, Schuyler Holcomb, Jesse
Steel, Segur Steel, Hezekiah Woodruff, Asa Woodruff, Martin Good-
win. %

Maj. John Meigs, of New Hartford, also saw service
during this war and the war of the Revolution, though
not a resident of New Hartford until 1794.

THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.

On Saturday, April 5, 1861, news of the bombard-
ment of Sumter flew over the electric wires, and
loyal hearts were stirred to action, as were the Revolu-
tionary fathers at the tidings of Bunker Hill. New
Hartford rose to the emergency. The first of her
sons to respond to the call for seventy-five thousand
volunteers for three months enrolled themselves, with
recruits from Winchester and other adjoining towns,
as Company B, Second Connecticut Infantry. The
officers were Abram G. Kelloge, captain; Charles W.
Morse, first lieutenant; Charles Warren, second lieu-
tenant; all of New Hartford. The company left for
New Haven April 21st, where they were encamped
and drilled until May 27th, when they left for Wash-
ington and the scene of action. They were at Fairfax
Court-house and Bull Run, but lost no member by
death.

April 29th a special town-meeting was held to
make provision for the families of soldiers who had
or should enlist for the support of the government.

In July, 1861, in response to a second call for men
to defend the government, Company O, Eighth Con-
necticut Infantry, was organized, composed almost
wholly of New Hartford men. The officers who first
commanded it were Charles W. Nash, captain,
Samuel Glasson, first lieutenant, Robert Burnside,
second lieutenant. This company, during their three
years’ service, were in twelve hard-fought battles. At
the battle of Antietam they went into action with
nearly fifty men, and came out with less than twenty,
thirty having been killed, disabled, or taken prisoners.

Aug. 2, 1862, after Litchfield County had deter-
mined to raise an entire regiment in response to
Lincoln’s call for “three hundred thousand more,”

 

the town of New Hartford, at a special meeting,
offered a bounty of one hundred and twenty-five dol-
lars “to all who may volunteer from this town to crush
the existing wicked rebellion.” New Hartford’s offer-
ing to the ‘Mountain County Regiment” (the Nine-
teenth Infantry, afterwards Second Heavy Artillery)
was a squad of thirty men, who were consolidated with
recruits from Canaan and Colebrook to form Com-
pany F, of which Edward W. Jones, of New Hartford,
was appointed captain, and afterwards promoted major
of the regiment, and breveted lieutenant-colonel for
bravery in. action. This regiment also saw hard and
bloody fighting; they were in thirteen engagements,
and lost heavily in killed and wounded. Beside these
companies, there were New Hartford men in almost
every regiment from the State,—some thirty being
distributed among the different companies of the Thir-
teenth Infantry,—in all, two hundred and sixty-seven.
In September, 1863, the selectmen of the town were
authorized to pay a bounty of three hundred dollars
to men drafted into the army, and the following was
passed by the citizens:
“ Resolved, That we, the citizens of New Hartford, will spend our
money, and cur lives if necessary, for the support of our government.”
When the call came in August, 1864, for five hun-
dred thousand men, when the patriots who were wil-
ling to risk their lives were already in the field, and
volunteers were few and hard to find, yet the quota
of the town was fifty-two, and must be raised, the
authorities voted “a bounty of four hundred dollars
to every volunteer or man drafted under said call.”
At the close of the war, in 1865, came the return of
the volunteers to their homes, to take up again the
peaceful avocations left at the country’s call. But
not all returned: New Hartford’s list of “killed in
action or died in service” was forty-two; and who
shall number those who came to their homes wounded
or diseased, to find an early grave, or to carry through
life the scars of the conflict?

MANUFACTURING AND BUSINESS INTERESTS.

In 1733 the proprietors of New Hartford seques-
tred for the benefit of the town two water-privileges,
one for a grist-mill, the other for a saw-mill. The
grist-mill privilege was at what is now known as
“Stub Hollow,”* on or near the site of the present
stone grist-mill, which was built by Lot, Seymour
about 1825. ‘The saw-mill privilege was on Spruce
Brook, on the southern slope of Cemetery Hill; but
this was found to interfere with property already
chosen by a proprietor, and was relinquished, with an
injunction upon the inhabitants of the town that they
should provide a suitable place for a saw-mill.

The first water privileges (except grist-mill above
mentioned) improved were at “Satan’s Kingdom” and
Nepaug. There were both grist- and saw-mills at the

 

* First so called by the workmen who cleared the ground for Royal 1.
Watson’s house in 1822, from the stumps of the trees left in the clearing.
NEW HARTFORD.

409

 

“Kingdom” very soon after the settlement of the town.
The date of building the dam is not known, but in
1751 Thomas Walling purchased of Jonathan Merrill
both mills, with property adjoining; and the list of
1753 taxes Thomas Walling with a saw-mill valued
at twenty pounds, and a grist-mill valued at fifteen
pounds. The gorge at the “Kingdom” is about three-
eighths of a mile in length, and the banks at the
highest points are one hundred and twenty feet above
the water, and in some places perpendicular or over-
hanging. The river flowing through this gorge, before
it was obstructed by the two railroads which have
narrowed its channel, was some twelve rods wide.
The dam was near the Connecticut Western Railway
bridge, and the mills were on the west bank of the
river, Capt. Dudley Case, who came from Simsbury
in 1784 and kept tavern on Mrs. Olive Pike’s place,
was the next proprietor of these mills. In 1758, Pe-
latiah Richards, and later Col. William Goodwin and
his son, Caleb C. Goodwin, had a fulling-mill near
Case’s grist-mill, and a shop near by where they
- dressed the cloth spun and woven by the housewives
of New Hartford.

Until 1832 the “Kingdom” bridge is mentioned in
the town records as “the bridge near Case’s mills,”
when the designation is changed to “near Salmon
Merrill’s.” About this time Col. Salmon Merrill
purchased the grist- and saw-mills, with property
adjoining, and carried them on until the great flood

in the winter of 1889-40 swept away the grist-mill,

which was never rebuilt. The clothing-mill was
carried away by the same freshet. In addition to the
mills, Col. Merrill also had a turning-shop and bed-
post-factory near the bank of the river. The saw-
mill, with an occasional change of hands, continued
in operation until it was carried away by flood, about
the year 1869, after which the dam was demolished.
The property at this time was owned by D. B. Smith,

of Pine Meadow, who sold the right. of way to the,
Canal Railroad, which destroyed the water-privilege. »

In 1847, Messrs. Darius Camp and Caius C. Man-
chester built a puddling-furnace, for making cast iron
into wrought iron, just above Wilcox’s tavern, about
three-quarters of a mile north of’ the “Kingdom”
bridge, with a dam of but slight elevation on the river
above the works. Tenement-houses were put up for the
employees of the company, forming a little village,
which has since borne the name of ‘“ Puddletown.”
The Connecticut Western Railroad track is laid in

.what was once the street through this settlement.
The expense of transporting iron from Salisbury was
80 great that the business was not successful, and in
1852 C. C. Manchester, who had become sole pro-
. prietor, made an assignment for the benefit of credi-
tors, and the property passed into the hands of Her-
man Chapin, who conducted the business until 1863,
when the furnace was burned. The business was
never revived, as the improvement of the water-privi-
lege had caused extensive litigation between the

 

owner and D. B. Smith, whose large manufacturing
interests lay farther up the river.

About 1845, W. McNary; a wheelwright by trade,
had a turning-shop and melodeon manufactory on the
east bank of the river, near the “ Kingdom” bridge.
These works were afterwards purchased by Caleb C.
Goodwin, who fitted them up for a blacksmith’s shop,
which purpose they served for a number of years.

INTERESTS AT NEPAUG.
The first mention of the Nepash water-power being
utilized for the benefit of the town is on the tax-list

‘of 1753, when Zebulon Merrill is rated at fifty pounds

for a grist-mill and one-third of a saw-mill. The
other owners of the saw-mill were Ephraim Andrus,
Abram Kellogg, Elijah and Abel Merrill, each one-
sixth, valued at five pounds. These mills were not
far from the site of the Henderson Manufacturing
Company’s works, near the place where the turnpike-
bridge crosses the Nepash. They were kept up for
many years; an old resident remembers that Noah
Seymour owned the grist-mill about 1800. The prim-
itive saw-mills often had, as accessories, rude facilities
for making wooden bowls and trenchers, which util-
ized the slabs of the logs. New Hartford kitchens
were no doubt supplied in the olden time with these
and kindred articles of wooden-ware from the saw-
mill manufactory.

In 1850, A. 8S. Atkins & Co. were running the Ne-
paug Wood-Turning Works, and J. V. Green a lock-
factory, near the site of the old mills; and abouta
quarter of a mile to the east, where the turnpike
again crosses the stream, L. H. & L. Burnham carried
on an iron foundry, in which they were successors to
Bates Brothers, who built the dam and started the
business in 1832. All of these are now discontinued.
About a mile to the southeast, on a tributary of the
river, was J. M. Clements’ turning-shop, near which
Elbridge Curtis now has a’saw-mill. Still farther on
the Nepash was a saw-mill, now owned by John
Healey, who has recently built a new dam and a
small grist-mill.

In 1869 the Henderson Manufacturing Company,
James F. Henderson president, was organized for
the manufacture of furniture-casters, bed-fustenings,
and general hardware, having purchased and enlarged
the buildings and water-privilege of the Atkins’ Ne-
paug Works. This business was afterwards purchased
by Forbes & Clark (Rey. 8. B. Forbes and Edward
Clark), of Winsted, who carried it on a short time,
when the shops of the company were burned, Sep-
tember, 1875, and the personal property and interest
of the concern purchased by D. B. Smith, who re-
moved them to his own establishment in Pine Meadow.
Thus passed away the last manufacturing interest of
Nepaug, which one hundred years ago was the busi-
ness centre of the town.*

 

* Until a recent date the post-office, at this place was New Hartford
Centre, now changed to Nepaug.
410

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

The first store of any note in New Hartford was
opened at Nepaug, or South End, by Col. Aaron
Austin, who took as partner Elias Kellogg, in 1789.
‘The store was connected with Col. Austin’s house,
which stood a little west of the Congregational church,
and directly opposite Col. Norman Kellogg’s tavern.

In connection with the mercantile business, they
also carried on a potash manufactory. Successors to
Austin & Kellogg were Nelson Brothers, who did not
remain long inthe business. In 1824, Messrs. Tertius
Wadsworth and Harvey B. Elmore built a store some-
what to the west of Col. Austin’s old stand, and car-
ried on mercantile business until 1826, when they
sold out to James F. Henderson, who continued for
many years a prosperous merchant. At his death the
business was taken by his son, James M. Henderson,
who carried it on until the store was burned in 1866.
Since that time different individuals have done trading
in a small way, and the present postmaster, E. R.
Merrill, keeps a few groceries and articles of house-
hold necessity to accommodate the neighboring fam-
ilies, who are mostly farmers or persons of independ-
ent means of living.

PINE MEADOW.

In April, 1806, Roger Sheldon, who kept tavern in
what is now the “old boarding-house,” bought of
Chauncey Sadd a water-privilege in Pine Meadow,
and built the dam across the Farmington River at
that place. Mr. Sheldon also dug the raceway about
half its present width, and built a grist-mill on the
site of the building now occupied by A. N. Bragg &
Co. Through pecuniary embarrassments, Mr. Sheldon
was unable to hold the property. He left town in 1809,
and it passed into the hands of Isaac and George C.
Kellogg, who purchased of his creditors four hundred
acres of land, comprising all of what is now Pine
Meadow, from C. W. Gilman’s farm (formerly Col.
Wells’) to the old carriage-shop, and from the top of the
mountain on the west to the hills on the east, includ-
ing the “ Forks,” which they cultivated. The Kellogg
brothers added to the buildings, and put in machinery
for the manufacture of woolen goods, and also an iron
foundry. Previous to these purchases the brothers
had been engaged with their father, Ebenezer Kellogg,
in the manufacture of carding-machines; their shop
is said to be now a part of Mrs. Lemley’s house. In
1838 the Kellogg brothers divided their property,
Isaac taking the foundry and the southern portion,
and George ©. the northern portion, and sold out one-
half of their water-right to the New Hartford Manu-
facturing Company, who built a new mill for manu-
facturing woolen goods. In this business the Kelloggs
retained a controlling interest, George C. Kellogg
being president of the new corporation. The woolen
business was carried on until 1844, when the factory
was burned, after which George C. Kellogg built a
machine-shop for the manufacture of cotton-pickers
principally, and carried it on successfully, associating

 

his son Edward with him in business, under the firm-
name of E. Kellogg & Co.

After the fire of 1844, Smiths & Brown (John C.
and Darius B. Smith and Sanford Brown) bought out
the woolen-works property, rebuilt, and put in a cot-
ton-mill, This firm was dissolved at the death of
Maj. Sanford Brown, in 1857, and succeeded by D. B.
Smith & Co., D. B. Smith eventually buying out the
other partners (J. C. Smith and T. Polhemus) and
becoming sole proprietor. In May, 1876, the cotton-
mill of D. B. Smith was burned, but immediately re-
built on a more extensive scale. In the latter part of
1875, his factories being then partially rebuilt, Mr.
Smith purchased the personal property of the Hen-
derson Manufacturing Company’s Caster-Works, re-
moving them to Pine Meadow, and carried on this
business until 1877, when, having completed his build-
ing arrangements, cotton machinery was again put in,
and his son, George W. Smith, associated with him,
under the firm-name of D. B. Smith & Co.

The business now embraces the manufacture of
cotton-duck, furniture, hardware, brass and iron
foundry, and saw- and grist-mills. The firm employ
about one hundred and seventy-five hands in all
branches of business, and in the cotton factory three
thousand spindles are in operation.

About 1845, Freeman Graham, formerly an appren-
tice to the Kelloggs, and for a short time engaged in
the manufacture of pistols both at the North village
and in the old Kellogg machine-shop, bought out the
iron foundry of Isaac Kellogg’s heirs, and carried on
machine and foundry business in Pine Meadow until
1851, when he failed in business, and in 1852 his
property was purchased by Herman Chapin. :

After the ddath of George C. Kellogg, in 1847, his
son, Hiram B. Kellogg, took his father’s share of the
machine business, which continued under the same
name until May, 1865, when Edward Kellogg, the
senior partner, sold his interest to Philip E. Chapin,
when the firm became H. B. Kellogg & Co. In 1866,
H. B. Kellogg sold his interest to Philip E. Chapin,
who became sole proprietor, and so continued until
the Chapin Machine Company, a joint-stock corpora-
tion, was organized in 1870 for the manufacture of
knitting-machines, machinery, and all branches of
foundry business. This company, of which P. E.
Chapin was president and held controlling interest,
enlarged the brick machine-shops formerly occupied
by Freeman Graham, using the Kellogg foundry, and
continued in operation until 1878, when they went
into bankruptcy. In April, 1878, the Chapin Manu-
facturing Company, P. E. Chapin principal stock-
holder, was organized, taking the buildings and
machinery of the original concern. This soon went
into insolvency, and the buildings, purchased by Ed-
ward M. Chapin, are at present writing unoccupied.

In 1826, Messrs. Copeland & Chapin purchased a
water-privilege and building in Pine Meadow of the
Kellogg brothers, and opened an establishment for the
NEW HARTFORD.

411

 

manufacture of planes, rules, levels, etc.

the planes, which were at first their sole products,
Herman Chapin, the junior member of the concern,
locating in Pine Meadow to superintend the business.
In 1828, Mr. Chapin bought out his partneyr’s interest,
and soon after erected the present factory, which was
then ninety feet front, with a one-story “L” twenty
feet long. Extensions have been built from time to
time until the building has now a frontage of two hun-
dred feet, with three hundred feet in “‘L’s,” all two
stories high, with all modern improvements as to
heating, fire-pumps, etc.

In 1835, Mr. Chapin commenced the manufacture
of rules, and was the first manufacturer who applied
machinery to the making of these articles, by which
improved facilities they are now sold for less than
was paid the workmen for their labor forty years ago.

The present proprietor, Edwin M. Chapin, came
into the ownership of the property and business in
1860, when the firm became H. Chapin’s Son. After
an exceptionally successful business career, Herman
Chapin died in 1866 at Savannah, Ga., whither he
had gone for the benefit of his health. About eighty
hands, are now employed, and about three thousand
dozen rules per month are manufactured, besides
planes, hand-screws, levels, gauges, handles, etc.

About the year 1848 a brass foundry was started by

Philemon Allen in a frame building which stood near
the Kellogg foundry. After carrying on the business
a short time, Mr. Allen sold out his interest to his
brother Samuel, who continued the foundry in opera-
tion about fifteen years, when the firm became Allen
Brothers, Anson J. Allen having become a partner.
This firm continued in business some four years, when
their foundry was discontinued.
. In 1854, L. C. Stephens & Co. commenced the rule
business in Pine Meadow. In 1859 the business was
removed to the North village, to a building erected for
the purpose on the west bank of the river, to which
power was carried from the lower Greenwoods mill
by a cotton-rope band. In 1864 the business was re-
moved to Riverton, where it is still in successful
operation.

The firm of A. N. Bragg and Co., manufacturers of
saddlery hardware,—snaps, bits, buckles, etc.,—was or-
ganized in 1878. The business, which now gives em-
ployment to thirty hands, male and female, began
with two, and rooms were rented in a wooden build-
ing belonging to D. B. Smith. In May, 1880, the firm
purchased a water-privilege and the old Kellogg ma-
chine-shop, fitted it up, and removed thither August,
1880. Trading interests were established at Pine
Meadow some thirty years ago. The village now has
two stores, kept by Allen Brothers and George Chapin.

NORTH VILLAGE.
Water-power was ‘first used at the North village for
a tannery in 1772, and a bark-mill in 1774, located

The senior ,
partner remained in Hartford to attend to the sales of’

 

near the outlet of Spruce Brook by Messrs. Webb &
Denney, formerly of Wethersfield, who were by vote
of the town exempted from taxes for seven years, or
until their business should pay the cost of building.
The inhabitants had heretofore been obliged to carry
skins out of town to be dressed, and were pleased in
this way to encourage the business of tanning in their
midst. In 1797, Joseph Webb, who had returned to
Wethersfield, sold the property; after passing through
several hands, it was purchased in 1805 by Elisha
Case, of Simsbury, who set up the business of tanning
in the buildings erected by Mr. Webb, and carried it
on until a short time before his death in 1824. Mr.
Case’s tannery was said to be the best establishment
of the kind in the State. It had connected with it a
large currying-room, which is now the dwelling-house
of his daughter, Mrs. Maria Jones. It was purchased
and removed about 1840 by H. H. Bartlett, who fitted
it up for a pistol manufactory, and used it for that
purpose a number of years; it was renovated for a
dwelling-house by Deacon John Brown. The tan-
nery, a large building, was used asa livery stable and
barn until about 1850, when it was burned.

In 1786, Messrs. Ashbel Marsh, Sr., and Roger
Sheldon built a grist-mill on Spruce Brook, on the
southern slope of Cemetery Hill, a little west of the
house now owned by Martin Driggs. The miller was
Benjamin Skinner, who lived where William Cook
now does. The mill continued grinding until it fell
into decay. In after-years the water-privilege was
used to run a turning-lathe by Whitehead Howd, who
was thought by the last generation of boys to owe
his name to the hoary locks which crowned his head.

In 1808 there stood a turning- and cooper-shop
under the bank nearly opposite the junction of Brook
Street and the Steele road. This was built and used
by Mr. Howd, above mentioned. Here, also, Guy
Miner, who built the first house on the Steele road,
made tubs, pails, and other articles. In 1809 a black-
smith’s shop stood on the site of Mrs. John C. Smith’s
present residence. In the rear of this was a lumber-
yard, and still farther back a cider-mill and dis-
tillery, which furnished liquor for the hotel bar, of
which Theodore Cowles was proprietor. Gordon W.
Cook, who built the house now occupied by Dr. E.
D. Curtis, had a blacksmith’s shop just south of his
house. A potash manufactory and a shoe-shop stood
on the site of the Roman Catholic church, and Maj.
John Meigs, who lived where Mrs. Dr. Hazen now
does and made hats for the town, had his hatter’s
shop just south of his residence.

In March, 1816, Martin Driggs sold to Michael
Kellogg the privilege of taking the water from Farm-
ington River, “at or near the riffles in said river,
about thirty rods above Mast Swamp Hill, so called,”
and of erecting a dam sufficient to carry a saw-mill,
grist-mill, and any other water-works he should choose
to erect, also land for buildings. This property ex-
tended from the old dam, which was about eighty
412

rods above the present one, to “Sheep Rock,” on which
the lower cotton-mill of the Greenwoods Company.
now stands. Mr. Driggs reserved a right to put in a
bark-mill, which he did. His tanneries were located
near the iron bridge across the Farmington at North
village. With his sons Andrew and Hiram, he car-
ried on the business of tanning and shoemaking* suc-
cessfully until 1844, when Archibald Ralston bought
out the establishment. In 1844, Hiram Driggs again
took the tannery, and, assisted by his son Martin, car-
ried it on until 1850, when it was discontinued. The
old tan-house was used as a barn until 1878, when it
was torn down by Thomas C. Wilber, the present
owner of the property.

Michael Kellogg erected the first dam on the river,
at the upper village, on the privilege purchased of
Mr. Driggs, and built grist- and saw-mills, but ap-
pears to have soon failed, for Kellogg, Brown &
Chapin (George C. Kellogg, Sanford Brown, Herman
Chapin) bought out the property, except bark- and
grist-mills, and had a large machine-shop thereon
until 1833, when the New Hartford Manufacturing
Company succeeded to their interest and built a
cotton-factory. This corporation failed, and the
business: went into the hands of the New Hartford
Joint-Stock Company, organized in April, 1839, under
the same management, viz.: George C. Kellogg, presi-
dent; H. Chapin, Isaac Kellogg, directors. This
company also failed, and in 1841 leased the cotton-
factory to Smiths & Brown, who carried on the cot-
ton manufactory until April, 1845, when the mill was
destroyed by fire. After this fire Maj. Brown sold
his interest in the concern to John C. and Darius B.
Smith, who sold the property to the Greenwoods
Company, in October, 1845, which was organized
with a capital stock of fifty thousand dollars, Ed-
mund G. Howe, of Hartford, president; David F.
Robinson, of Hartford, and John C. Smith, of New
Hartford, directors; and John C. Smith, resident
agent. This company made extensive purchases of
real estate on the east side of the river, and immedi-
ately rebuilt the cotton-factory, and commenced the
manufacture of cotton duck. In 1848 they received
a special charter from the Legislature. In 1849 the
present dam and new mill were built. The buildings
then consisted of a brick mill, one hundred and fifty
by fifty feet, five stories high, known as the sheeting-
mill, and the lower mill, a frame building, one hun-
dred and thirty-five by thirty-five feet, three stories
high, with attic; also a saw-mill, since burned, and
about twenty-five tenement-houses. Additions and
improvements to the buildings of the company have
been made from time to time. Another saw-mill has
been erected, and the number of tenement-houses is

 

* The shoemaker, as distinguished from the cobbler, was also a tanner.
The cobbler in town at this time was Thomas Gleason, who, with his
bench and tools, went from house to house, making, mending, and re-
pairing. He built the first house on Greenwoods turnpike above the
hotel, now owned by Mrs. Howard P, Marsh,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

now increased to seventy-five. In 1878 the dam was
raised six feet. The number of persons employed
varies from six hundred and fifty to seven hundred,
and the number of spindles in operation is twenty
thousand. The capital stock of the company is now
three hundred thousand dollars. The president is ,
J. E. Turner; treasurer, Elbert Brinkerhoff, both of
New York. Robert R. Smith, son of John C. Smith,
to whose energetic management for twenty-five years
much of the success of the company is due, succeeded
his father as agent in 1871. Howell W. Brown, of
New Hartford, has been for thirty years secretary of
the company.

Space will permit but a brief mention of the differ-
ent manufacturing and industrial interests which
have sprung up in the North village of New Hart-
ford during the last fifty years. The manufacture of
tinware has been carried on continuously since it
was begun by Tertius Wadsworth, some sixty years
ago. His successor was Henry Jones, whose shop
was just south of Mrs. Frazier’s present dwelling-
house. He carried on an extensive business, and sent
peddlers South with goods. Virgil S. Abbott and
Henry T. Smith in turn succeeded to the business,
the latter commencing as apprentice for Mr. Abbott,
then as journeyman manager for the tinning-works of
the Greenwoods Company, and finally proprietor of
the establishment which he now manages, which 'em-
braces, besides the manufacture of tinware, plumb-
ing and dealing in general hardware.

Carriages and wagons were made forty years ago by
Wilson B. Spring, first near the lower end of the vil-
lage, and afterwards in a shop, torn down this year,
which stood at the foot of Cemetery Hill, on the
Town Hill road. The New Hartford Carriage Com-
pany was organized in 1867, William Steele, presi-
dent; Watson Giddings, H. M. Gates, directors.
Their manufactory was on the south bank of Spruce
Brook, where it enters the Farmington River. This
business was in operation but a short time before it
went into the hands of a receiver. Henry M. Gates,
who has been a prosperous blacksmith in town for
fifteen years, has a carriage manufactory in connec-
tion with his smithy, and employs a number of
workmen. His shops are at the lower end of the vil-
lage, directly opposite the New Hartford Carriage
Company’s works.

About 1840, Henry Jones and Isaac P. Frisbie (of
Harwinton) started a clock manufactory near the
dam built by Webb & Denney on Spruce Brook, and
made clocks for the Southern market. Owing to
heavy losses the business proved unprofitable, and
was given up after about four years. In 1845, H. B. &
8. Alvord, who came to town to keep store, rented the
clock-shop, and carried on a wood-turning business.
It was afterwards rented to different parties, burned,
and rebuilt, and used in turn for a sash- and blind-fac-
tory, and for the manufacture of planes and gauges.
It was a second time burned, and never rebuilt.
NEW HARTFORD.

413

 

\ ' /
A broom-factory and shook-shop for making sugar- | that house was built in 1818. Eliphalet Austin was

hogsheads for the West Indies was started by William
Steele, E. E. Clark & Co. in 1866, in the old clock-
shop building. In 1867, Mr. Clark retired from the
business, the shook manufacture was discontinued,
and in 1874, on the death of Mr. Steele, George B.
Bancroft, previously in the employ of the concern,
became sole proprietor. Mr. Bancroft built a factory,
fronting on a road opened in 1870, near his own resi-
dence. This was burned in 1876, but immediately
rebuilt on the same site. The business gives employ-
ment to ten persons, and one hundred to one hundred
and twenty-five dozen brooms are made per week, be-
sides brushes, etc.

The manufacture of corset-springs was carried on
from 1865 to 1869 by Messrs. Thompson & Purinton,
in the building previously used by L. Stephens & Co.,
opposite the Greenwoods lower mill.

The Greenwoods Scythe Company was organized
in 1864 for the manufacture of scythes, edged tools,
and agricultural implements. The works of the es-
tablishment were at the upper end of the village, near
the western abutment of the Greenwoods Company’s
dam. This continued in operation until the company
was dissolved, in 1871-72, the water-power proving
insufficient for the necessities of two large manufac-
turing establishments. The tools, machinery, and
real estate of the concern were purchased by the
Greenwoods Company.

On Trout Brook, a tributary of the East Branch of
the Farmington, is a saw-mill, built by Capt. Aaron
Richards about the year 1800; this has been en-
larged, kept in excellent repair, and continuously
running since that time. It is now owned and used
for general sawing by John Richards, a grandson of
the original proprietor.

West of the village were two old water-privileges,
one, formerly used for a saw-mill, about ten feef above
the bridge over Spruce Brook, where the new road
diverges from the West Hill road; the other, just
below the same bridge, where the site of a dam is
still plainly visible. This dam, and a shop for the
manufacture of saw-handles, were built by Samuel
Judd about 1835, and used for that purpose some
fifteen years. On East Brook was a good water-priv-
ilege, improved as early as 1800 by Jonathan Marsh
(8d) for the manufacture of cider-mill screws. After
this Edward Strong built a shop at the same place,
where he made saw-handles. In 1849, Jeremiah Hal-
lock bought the property and started a shingle-mill,
which he ran for twenty years or more. A few years
since, this privilege, with the grounds adjoining, were
purchased by Mr. Nicholas 8. Seleninoff, who has
erected a residence upon it, and has an ornamental cas-
cade in the old wheel-pit.

The first store at the North village was kept by
Eliphalet Austin, probably built by him about 1780.
This store stood on the site of the brick house at the
cross-roads of the village, and was moved off when

27

 

 

succeeded in business by his nephew Montgomery,
son of Col. Aaron Austin. Montgomery Austin was
unsuccessful in business, and the property passed into
the hands of the Seymour family.

Messrs. Thomas Lee and David Lusk came from
Farmington about 1798, and set up the dry goods and
grocery trade in a wooden building where the “brick
store” now stands. They continued in business for
many years.

The “brick store” was built by Tertius Wadsworth °
in 1823. This has been a trading stand since that
time, and is now occupied by the firm of Smith &
Spencer. There are at present in this village three
stores for the sale of general merchandise, two drug-
stores, a tailoring establishment, .a harness-shop, two
jewelry-stores, a meat-market, a fish-market, a livery
stable, three millinery establishments, and four shoe-
makers’ shops.

BAKERVILLE.

In January, 1752, the following vote was passed in
town-meeting :

“ Voted, That Datis Ensign may build a dam for a fulling-mill on his
own land.”

This has not been located with certainty, but, pre-
vious to 1752, Eliphalet Ensign, the father of Datis,
purchased land on both sides of the brook, corre-
sponding to the site which tradition gives to an old
fulling-mill in Bakerville, near the building now oc-
cupied by Asa Goodwin as a dwelling-house, which
was used some fifty years ago as a clothier’s shop,
where cloth was dressed by Lyman.

Bakerville, at one time a prosperous manufacturing
village, in the southwestern part of the town, may be
said to have been founded by Scott Baker, who came
from Bridgeport in 1804. On coming to town he
lived for a short time near the Harwinton line, then
moved to what is now known as the “Spencer place,”
where he worked at his trade of shoemaking, and
commenced the business of tanning ina tub. About
1812 he settled permanently on the bank of the stream,
in what is now the village of Bakerville, in a house
built by Cyprian Watson, a pioneer of the town,
which was inclosed by a log fort, a relic of Indian
incursions in the early history of the place. Here
Mr. Baker built a tannery, and carried on the tanning
and shoemaking business for the remainder of his life.
His sons—Beach N., Anthony, and Garrison Baker—
enlarged their father’s tanneries, built a turning-
shop and a clothing manufactory, opened a store,
and built up a prosperous village at Bakerville. John
S. Baker, the son of Anthony, put up a steam saw-
mill and turning-shop in 1859. A condensed-milk
manufactory was for a time in operation at Baker-
ville, of which the proprietor was Julius R. Pond.
With the death of Anthony Baker, in 1855, the manu-
facturing interest of the place declined ; the tannery
was burned in 1856, and only the turning-shop and
saw-mill are now in operation.

 
414

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

About a half-mile northeast of Bakerville, in what
is locally called “Stub Hollow,” the brothers Edmund
and Royal I. Watson erected a paper-mill about
1830. This establishment for the manufacture of
printing-paper employed about thirty hands, and the
machinery and buildings were valued at ten thousand
dollars. After it had been in successful operation for
about three years the mill was burned, but imme-
diately rebuilt. After running for two years longer
the mill was again burned, when the business was
discontinued.

A clock manufactory was started in this locality
about the same time by Deacon Elisha Neal, of the
Baptist Church in Bakerville, who sold out to one of
his workmen by the name of Matthewson, afterwards
an Advent preacher. About 1845 this business was
given up, and the buildings rented to John 8. Burwell,
who made baby-carriages and hand-sleds. It is now
used by Orvis Griggs as a turning-shop.

In 1850 there were two saw-mills in this part of the
town, and members of the Watson family had a brick-
yard near the Torrington line.

In the year 1800, Michael Kellogg built a saw-mill
nearly opposite the present residence of Frederic
Merrill, on what is now the “New road;” this was
reached by a cart-path from the West Hill road, and
afterwards owned by Capt. Norman Merrill. In 1832,
Ashbel Marsh built a saw-mill on the Steele road
above the residence of Grove 8. Marsh. Both of
these are now gone to decay, but are still traceable.

Besides the twenty-two manufacturing establish-
ments, there were in town in 1880 one hundred and
ninety-nine improved farms. The soil of New Hart-
ford is well adapted for grazing, and in some sections
it produces very superior crops of wheat, corn, pota-
toes, and tobacco.

In addition to those who represent the professional,
agricultural, and industrial interests, there are many
persons of leisure who, attracted by the beauty and
healthfulness of the town, have located within its
limits, whose beautiful homes contribute much to the
attractiveness of its streets.

GROWTH OF THE TOWN AND MISCELLANEOUS
ITEMS.

New Hartford lies twenty miles northeast of Hart-
ford; it is six miles in length, and about the same in
average breadth. Its eastern boundary was originally
determined by Kimberly’s line, but when the town of
Canton was incorporated, in 1806, a strip about three
miles in length and something over a mile in width,
north and east of the Farmington River, was taken
from New Hartford, and, with the western part of
Simsbury, now forms. the town of Canton. This strip,
which is called in the old records “ the east tier of
lots,” was annexed to the ecclesiastical parish of West
Simsbury in 1762, for the convenience of the settlers,
to whom the crossing of the river was a great barrier
to attendance on public worship. The Simsbury

 

boundary was always a matter of trouble to the early
settlers of New Hartford, and numerous are the
records of appeal to State authority, “ perambula-
tions,” and “actions at law” in regard to it. Sims-
bury, which was settled some seventy years before
New Hartford, did not take kindly to a well-defined
limitation of privileges on her western border.

The town is hilly and mountainous, containing a
mountain range of considerable elevation, of granite
and other primitive formations. Ratlan Mountain, on
the eastern boundary, Town Hill, in the centre of the
town, West Hill, Yellow Mountain, and East Moun-
tain are afew of the most important elevations. The
Greenwoods, or evergreen region of Connecticut, be-
gins in the northern part of the town; these forests
are now mostly cleared by the march of civilization,
but some of the highways in the sparsely-settled por-
tions of the town are still bordered with the original:
growth of hemlock, beech, ash, and chestnut, with a
dense undergrowth of kalmia or mountain laurel.
White-oak and pine-trees have here attained enor-
mous size. The natural scenery of the town is of
romantic beauty and diversity. The Farmington or
Tunxis River waters the northern portion of the town,
and turns the huge wheels of its manufacturing inter-
ests. The Nepash or Nepaug, with its tributaries,
flows through the southern part of the town. In the
northwestern corner is a beautiful lake, called by the
Indians “ Wonkjunkmunk,” now generally known as
Shepherd’s or West Hill pond. The northern shores
of this lake, which is a little more than a mile in
length, and a quarter of a mile in average width, lie
in the town of Barkhamsted. Its banks are bordered
with picnic groves, and it is a favorite fishing-resort
for parties from this town and elsewhere. The Green-
woods Company have recently put in a bulkhead at
the northern end of this lake, and raised the water
for a reserve to draw from when the Farmington River
and Otis pond reservoir are not sufficient for ee
manufacturing necessities.

The Greenwoods pond, at the upper end of the’
North village, one-half mile long and nearly one-
quarter of a mile wide, overflowing the lower portion
of what was formerly Mast Swamp, is an ornamental:
sheet of water, much frequented by the angler and the
boating-club.

In the southeastern part of the town is a sulphur
spring, said to possess excellent medicinal qualities,
and visited every year by invalids, who drink the’
water at the original fountain or carry it away in
bottles for future use.

The gorge at “Satan’s Kingdom,” referred to in a
former chapter, is one of the natural curiosities of the
place, where the scenery is wild and grand in the ex-
treme. The town, though curtailed in its original
geographical limits, has been of steady growth, and
has colonized two other towns. New Hartford, Oneida
Co., N. Y., was settled by Phineas and Solomon Kel-
logg, who emigrated thither with their families in
NEW HARTFORD.

415

 

1788-89. They were soon followed by others from
this town, and the new home was named for the
native place of its settlers.

Austinburg, Ohio, received its name from Eliphalet
Austin, of New Hartford, who removed there with
his numerous family in 1800. Many others from
New Hartford followed him to Austinburg, and were
among the influential citizens of the new town. From
1780 to 1820, New Hartford, like other towns in
Litchfield County, was retarded in its growth by the
emigration of its citizens to the more fertile lands of
New York and Ohio. The records of some of the
old families—Kellogg, Watson, Marsh, and Austin—
are a continued history of emigration to these then
Western States.

In 1756 there were in New Hartford 260 white in-
habitants. In 1761 the population was 674. In1774
it was 1001. In 1870 it had increased to 3078, and in
1880 to 3308. Of these, 1670 are residents of the
North village and 514 of Pine Meadow. The tax-
list of 1789, the first on record, rates the taxable
property and polls of the inhabitants at £1564 12s.
An extract from this list may be of interest:

“Matthew Gillet.

  

2 acres and a ‘half “of ‘pastur ‘Ta
2 acres and a half of bush pastur.

£ 6
DS HOAG cccioits sagesesisacecs stapsacoae sae eesdveliidentnvonssssesonastess 18
2 oxen.. «~ 8
2 horses ee 6
3 swine... 8
wd

 

In 1799 the tax-list had increased to $44,334, and
in 1880 the amount of property in the town was
entered on the grand list as $1,042,976.

In 1809 there were only fourteen dwelling-houses
in North village, two of which were taverns, and ten
in Pine Meadow, from the pine-tree to the “ Kingdom”
bridge. On the east side of the river there was but
one house between the bridge and the Miles Richards
place. Matthew Gillet, Jr., had a house on the hill
where Carlos Holcomb now lives. Cottage Street was
a military parade-ground. In 1807 there was a regi-
mental training in Pine Meadow, when all the fences
were taken down from Carleton Seymour’s present
residence to C. W. Gilman’s farm. In 1776 there
were but two ox-carts in town, owned by Jonathan
and Ashbel Marsh. The son of the latter, of the
same name, relates that his father was offered twenty-
five acres of land lying on the north cross-road on
Town Hill for his cart, which he refused. About the
year 1800 wagons were first brought into town; for a
number of years there were but two of these, owned
by Capt. Wm. Cook and David Lusk, which were
rented far and near to the citizens for a consideration.

The first mention of a physician in New Hartford
is in the town records of 1766, when an “ account for
doctoring” is allowed to Dr. Eldad Merrill. Dr.
Michael Merrill also practiced in town at some time
during the last century. The practicing physicians
in town since 1790 have been Drs. Thomas Brins-

 

made, Roswell and Andrew Abernethy, Adam Kas-
son, J. P. Root, Calvin Cook, Sylvester Willard, My-
ron Hubbard, Geo. B. Elliot, Jerry Burwell, John H.
Welch, and Thomas G. Hazen. ee

Dr. Burwell is still, and has been a practi tioner in
town since 1847. Besides these gentlemen, who were
all regular practitioners of the old school, there have
practiced in New Hartford the following eclectic phy-
sicians: Drs. Sidney Newton, Belden, o D. Curtis,
Theodore Brockway, Philip Chouinnard. The three
latter are now practitioners in town.

The first practicing attorney in New Hartford of
whom the writer has any knowledge was Uriel
Holmes, Esq., in 1786. Mr. Holmes remained in
town about eleven years, when he removed to Litch-
field, and Joshua Henshaw, Esq., succeeded to his
practice in 1797. Calvin Pease, Esq., was a lawyer
here in 1800. Roger Mills came to New Hartford
and commenced the practice of law in 1801. He died
in 1844. His partner was Wm. G. Williams, who
came in 1809; died 1887. Roger H. Mills was born
in town, and succeeded to his father’s practice; re-
moved to Beloit, Wis., in 1853. Jared B. Foster came
to town and commenced the practice of law in 1849.
Nathan Morse, who came in 1875, and John B. Betts,
a native of the town, are, with Judge Foster, the
present representatives of the legal profession.

The veteran soldiers and sailors resident in town
sustain an organization called the “ New Hartford,
Veteran Association,” which takes charge of Decora-
tion-Day ceremonies and soldiers’ reunions.

The Masonic order is represented in New Hartford
by the “ Northern Star Lodge of Free and Accepted
Masons.” There are also in town a “Temple of
Honor,” a temperance organization, and St. Mary’s
Total Abstinence and Benevolent Society, the purpose
of which is indicated by its name. For lists of Revo-
lutionary soldiers, soldiers who volunteered during
the Southern Rebellion, and representatives from New
Hartford, see below.

There are four post-offices in town,—New Hartford
(at North village), Pine Meadow, Nepaug, and Baker-
ville. For many years after the settlement of the
town, bears, panthers, catamounts, wolves, and deer
were killed within its bounds. The old records show -
that frequent rewards were paid for the killing of
wolves, and fines imposed for killing deer contrary to
law.

The following is a list of those who marched from
New Hartford for the relief of Boston in the Lexing-
ton alarm, April, 1775:

“ Men's Names and Quality.

“ Captain, Seth Smith; lieutenant, Amasa Mills; ensign, Thomas Bidwell;
clerk, Aaron Austin; sergeants, Benjamin Adams, Asher Hinman,
Benjamin Mills, Elijah Case, Moses Shepard, Reuben Burnham ; pri-
vates, Stephen Barnes, Ashbel Spencer, Elias Benham, Zechariah Wat-
son, David Corille, Timothy Barnes, Jr., Jonas Webb, Jerijah Merrill,
Phineas Merrill, Elijah Merrill, Jehiel Benham, Caleb Pitkin, Mo-
ses Kellogg, Eliakim Merrill, Jr., Abraham Case, Jr., Gideon Mills,
James Andrews, William Case (2d), Ephraim Mills, Oliver Humphrey,
Jr., George Northway, Daniel Dwyer, Solomon Humphrey, Jr., Zac-
416

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

cheus Case, Isaac Tuller, Jv., Theophilus Humphrey, George Hum-
phrey, Daniel Hill, Jr., Joseph Shepard, Jr., William Steele, Jr.,
William Pease, Thomas Oléott, Jr., Asa Wilcox, Daniel Fisher, Lev-
erett Kellogg, Roderick Hopkins, John Gilbert, Daniel Marsh, Solo-
mon Merrill, Josiah Hurlburt, Eli Andruss, Jesse Payne, Joseph
Gilbert, Wathan Webster, Roderick Steele, Cyprian Merrill, Asa
Gilbert, Joshua Elwell, James Austin, Jonathan King, Nathaniel
Collins, William Rexford, Ebenezer Crane, Thomas Goss, John Ives,
John Wilder,!Gamaliel “Wilder, Phineas Bates, Ephraim Wilder,
John Treat, Timothy Tiffany, Obed Crosby, Child Taylor, Nathan
Barr, Francis Griswold, Samuel Mills, John Rockwell, David Pinney,
William Simaa, Levi Hull, Charles Wright, Ebenezer Shepard.
“New Harrrorp, 19th Aug., 1775, certified.
“THoMAS BALDWING,
“Bens. MERRILL,

Me Selectmen.
“NoaH KeLioca,

“Uriah Seymour, Lieutenant.
“lijah Seymour, Corporal.
“Stephen Chubb, ]
“Eliphalet Austin, .
“Gabriel Flowers, fBrivatey,
“ Isaac Steele,
“£8. da
Sa. 9. 3,

“New Hartrorp, Aug. 29, 1775,
“This may certify that Uriah Seymour, with five men, and each a horse,
marched in the Lexington Alarm as far as Turkey Hills, Twenty miles
on their way to Boston, and were absent three days. Certified.
“Sern SMITH, — can,
“Noan Kexioce,) New Hfd. .
“Sept. 6, 1775. Received an order in full of this account.
“Ura Seymour.”

REPRESENTATIVES TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

1776.—Capt. Mathew Gillett, Capt. Isaac Kellogg.

1777,—Capt. Aaron Austin, Col. Seth Smith.

1778.—Col. Seth Smith, Maj. Aaron Austin.

1779.—Col. Seth Smith, Maj. Aaron Austin, Capt. Mathew Gillett, Capt.
Noah Kellogg.

1780.—Capt. Mathew Gillett, Levi Watson, Maj. Aaron Austin.

1781,—Josiah Moore, Elijah Merril], Col. Seth Smith, Col. Aaron Austin.

1782.—Capt. Mathew Gillett, Josiah Moore, Col. Aaron Austin.

1783.—Capt. Mathew Gillett, Amos Miller, Ebenezer Moody.

1784.—Amos Miller, Ebenezer Moody, Col. Aaron Austin, Josiah Moore.

1785.—Col. Aaron Austin, Capt. Thomas Bidwell,

1786.—Josiah Moore. John Henderson, Col. Seth Smith, Capt. James
Steele.

1787.—Josiah Moore, Col. Seth Smith.

1788-90.—Col. Aaron Austin, Josiah Moore,

1791.—Aaron Austin, Ebenezer Moody, Jolin Henderson.

1792.—Aaron Austin, John Henderson, Uriel Holmes.

1793.—Aaron Austin, Uriel Holmes, Jr., Seth Spencer.

1794.—Aaron Austin, Seth Spencer, John Henderson.

1795-96.—Seth Spencer, John Henderson.

1797.— Jonathan Marsh, Jr., Abram Kellogg, Jr., Seth Spencer.

1798.—Seth Spencer, Jonathan Marsh, John Henderson.

1799-1800.—Seth Spencer, John Henderson.

1801.—Seth Spencer, John Henderson, Chauncey Seymour.

1802.—Seth Spencer, John Henderson,

1803.—Seth Spencer, John Ifenderson, Riverins Bidwell.

1804.—Riverius Bidwell, John Henderson, Jonathan Marsh.

1805.—Riverius Bidwell, Jonathan Marsh.

1806.—Riverius Bidwell, Jonathan Marsh, Asa Cowles.

1807-9.—Jonathan Marsh, Asa Cowles.

1810.—Jonathan Marsh, Chauncey Seymour,

Wells,
1811.—Asa Goodwin, Elias Kellogg, Plato King.
1812.—Asa Goodwin, Chauncey Seymour, James Lee,

Asa Goodwin, Joseph

*Tt is probable that these men were met by couriers who informed
them that the British had retreated, and the necessity for imme-
diate action had passed, and that most of them returned home after
three or four days’ absence. The names indicate that Capt. Smith’s,
company had a few volunteers from adjoining towns,— Wilder, Tiffany,
and Goss from Barkhamsted, possibly two or three from Farmington. —
Ep.

 

1813.—Chauncey Seymour, James Lee, William Cook.
1814.—William Cook, Levi Watson.
1815.—William Cook, Levi Watson, Amasa Jerome,
1816.—William Cook, Thomas Lee.

1817.,—Asa Goodwin, William Cook, Jonathan Marsh.
1818-20.—Aaron Austin, Asa Goodwin.t
1821.—Asa Goodwin, James Henderson.
1822.—Roger Mills, Asa Goodwin.

1823.—Asa Goodwin, James Henderson.
1824-25.—Asa Goodwin, Isaac Kellogg.
1826-27.—Absalom Wells, Jr., George C, Kellogg.
1828.—Absalom Wells, Norman Merrill.
1829.—John Spencer, Elizur Curtiss.
1830.—John Spencer, Norman Merrill.
1831.—John Spencer, George C. hellogg.

1832. James D, Thorp, George C. Kellogg.
1833.—James D. Thorp, Joseph Wells.
1834.—James D, Thorp, George C. Kellogg.
1835.—Norman Merrill, Henry Jones.
1836.—Richard B. Cuwles, Benadam Kasson,
1837.—Isaac Kellogg, Thomas Watson, Jr.
1838.—James Merrills, Harvey B. Elmore,
1839.—Roger H. Mills, James F. Henderson.
1840.—Samuel 8. Bates, Abiram Wilcox.
1841.—Orrin Goodwin, Norman Kellogg.
1842.—Riverius Douglass, Freeman Graham.
1843.—Isaac Kellogg, Gordon Henderson.
1844.—Gordon Henderson, Sanford Brown.
1845.—Henry Jones, Norman Merrill.
1846,—Ira Merrill, Edward Gaines.
1847,—Roger H. Mills, Timothy G, Jerome.
1848.—Truman Curtiss, Maldin Marshall.
1849.—Saniuel Hotchkiss, George R. Adams.
1850 —William 8. Bates, Orrin Goodwin.
1851.—James Trowbridge, Gurdon W. Henderson.
1852.— James Merrill, J. B. Foster.

1853,—Dr, Jerry Burwell, Edward Kellogg.
1854.— Roswell M. Seymour, Orrin Goodwin.
1855.—Joseph P. Root, Samuel Allen.
1856.—Fitch W. Burwell, S. D. Hurlbut.
1857.—James Trowbridge, Luman Catlin.
1858.—H. H. Stone, Roman M. Butler.

1859 —Hezekiah H. Stone, David S. Miller.
1860.—David S. Miller, William Warner.
1861.—Fitch W. Burwell, Andrew Clark.
1862.—Hiram B. Kellogg, Andrew Clark.
1863.—Oliver P. Mills, Edmund Watson.
1864.—Wait Garrett, Richard Pratt.
1865.—Richard H. Wheeler, William Watson.
1866.— Edward Kellogg, J. B. Foster.
1867.—William Steele, H. Curtis.
1868.—Edward M. Chapin, James F. Henderson.
1869.—S. K. Priest, Frederick Merrill.
1870.—Kilward M. Chapin, S. N. Pettibone.
1871.—Norman B. Merrill, James H. Ryder.
1872.—Chester W. Gillman, Norman B, Merrill.
1873.—Jason C. Keach, Warren N. Jones.
1874,—Charles W. Nash, Chester H. Barber.
1875,— William E. Thompson, Stephen H. Mason.
1876.—Carleton Seymour, W. H. Henderson.
1877.—Shubael IT. Henderson, 0. S. Thompson.
1878.—John Richards, Orvis Griggs.

1879.—O. L. Thompson, Elijah C. Spencer.
1880.—Geo. W. Smith, Franklin Watson.
1881.—John F, Smith, George F. Douglass.

NEW HARTFORD VOLUNTEERS.
Loomis, Benjamin G., drum-major, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; after-
wards in 13th Regt.
Cruess, John, Co. D, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; also Co. F, 2d Heavy Art.
Dowd, Marshall W., Co. D, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.
Kellogg, Abram G., captain, Co. B, 2d Regt.; com. May 7, 1861; captured
June 21,

 

+ After the adoption of the constitution, in 1818, the regular October
session was discontinued.
NEW HARTFORD.

Morse, Charles W., first lieutenant, Co. B, 2d Regt.: com. May 7, 1861;
pro, to captain 16th Regt.

Warren, Charles, second lieutenant, Co. B, 2d Regt.; com. May 7, 1861.

Goodwin, Frank, musician, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Alford, Joseph W., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Bailey, Frank, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Birney, Robert, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Burnside, Robert H., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; pro. to second
lieutenant 8th Regt. ;

Cone, William H., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; also 8th and 16th
Regts.

Gerald, Guy C., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Glasson, Frederick, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Graham, Thomas H., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

McCabe, Luke, Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; also 13th Regt.

Morrison, Joseph F., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Mygatt, Henry N., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Perry, Joseph S., Co. B, 2d Regt.; en]. May 7, 1861.

Robinson, George W., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; also 8th Regt.

Smith, William C., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861.

Strong, William H., Co. B, 2d Regt.; enJ. May 7, 1861.

Gragen, Conrade, Co. B, 3d Regt.

Wright, John E., Co. E, 3d Regt.

Hemmingway, Howard, Co. A, 1st Cav.; enl. Aug. 9, 1861.

White, George W., Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Aug. 12, 1861.

Jones, Leroy W., Co. B, Ist Cav.; enl. Aug. 19, 1861.

Brown, Nelson, Co. B, Ist Cav.; enl, Aug. 21, 1861; re-enl. in a New York
company, Jan. 1, 1864.

Moses, William A., Co. C, Ist Cav.; en}. Nov. 14, 1861.

Campbell, Alexander, Co. B, 1st Cav.; enl. Oct. 1, 1864.

Gilbert, Wilbur F., Co. G, Ist Cay.; enl. Sept. 20, 1864; killed at Cedar
Creek, Va., Nov. 12, 1864.

Brown, John, Ist Cav.; en]. Nov. 23, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Cook, James, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 22, 1864; not taken up on rolls,

Davis, John, Ist Cav.; en]. Nov. 23, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Dickinson, John, Ist Cay.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Foley, Francis, lst Cav.; en]. Nov. 28, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Forrest, John, Ist.Cay.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; not taken up on rolls,

Graham, William, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

King, John, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Murray, James, 1st Cav.; enl. Noy. 19, 1864; not taken up on rolls,

Miller, John, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864; not taken up un rolls.

McCann, William, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

O'Brien, John, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 22, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Olliver, Charles, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 8, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Ryan, Charles, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 28, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Tweed, Samuel, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 8, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Wilson, William, lst Cav.; enl. Nov. 19, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Roberts, John, 3d Independent Bat.; enl. Sept. 15, 1864; must. out June
23, 1865.

Goodwin, Jas. W., musician, Ist Heavy Art.;enl. July 22,1861; must. out.

Hart, Leonard, musician, Ist Heavy Art.; en]. July 22, 1861.

Martin, Judah §., musician, 1st Heavy Art.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Osborn, Burton S., musician, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Dean, Lewis, Co. A, lst Heavy Art.; enl. Dec. 9, 1863.

Gorman, John, Co. A, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Sept. 5, 1864; drafted.

Fanning, Lucius M., musician, Co. B, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861.

O'Brian, Patrick, Co. B, let Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861,

Tuttle, Earl, Co. B, 1st Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861.

Tyler, John, Co. B, lst Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861.

Thayer, Nathan P., Co. B, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861.

Royce, Peter, Co. C, lst Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 4, 1864.

Eggleston, Philander, Co. E, lst Heavy Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; also Co.

_  F,2d Heavy Art.

Barrett, George, Co. H, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861.

Lynch, Patrick H., Co. K, lst Heavy Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; pro. to
second lieutenant U.S. C. T.

Hollin, Thomas H., Co. K, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 23, 1861.

Andrews, Leroy, Co. L, lst Heavy Art.; enl. Nov. 18, 1863.

Holcomb, Benajah E., Co. L, 1st Heavy Art.; en]. Nov. 18, 1863.

Carter, Chas., Co. A, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863; wounded June 1, 1864.

McDonough, John, Co. E, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 14, 1863; killed in action
Oct. 19, 1864,

Jones, Edward W., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; pro. to major and
brevet lieutenant-colonel.

Alford, Warren, Co. F, 2d Art,; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; pro. to first lieuten-
ant; wounded June 1, 1864.

 

417

Seymour, Carleton, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl, Aug. 7, 1862; pro. to first lieu-
tenant U. 8. C.T.

Wheeler, John E., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; pro. to first lieu-
tenant; wounded Sept. 19, 1864,

Benham, Roswell G., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.

Rust, Norman M., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; U.S.C. T.

Merrill, John L., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 16, 1862.

Baker, C, Abernathy, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 19, 1862.

Bancroft, Elisha L., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862.

Barrett, Augustus E., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1362; died Dec. 30,
1862, near Alexandria. .

Beckwith, Albert, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862; died Jan. 1, 1863
near Alexandria.

Benham, Hopkins J., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.

Butler, Henry C., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.

Colt, William H., Co. F.2d Art.; enl, Aug. 8, 1862; killed near Peters-
burg, Va., June 22, 1864.

Dowd, Alfred M., Oo. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug, 13, 1862.

Eggleston, Horatio G., Co. F, 2d Art.; en!. Aug. 7, 1862; died March 7,
1864, at Fort Ellsworth, Va.

Fairchild, George L., Co, F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862.°

Henderson, Algernon G., Co, F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862.

Henderson, William G., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1802; died May 4,
1863, at Fort Worth, Va.

Jones, Ira D, Oo. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862; wounded; disch. June
4, 1865.

Marsh, Juseph M., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862.

McMaunus, Joseph, Co. F, 2d Art.: enl. Aug. 19, 1862.

Merrill, Henry C., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862.

Munger, Morris E., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl., Aug. 8, 1862 ; wounded Oct. 19,
1864.

Ryan, Patrick, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 20, 1862.

Tucker, Ephraim, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; wounded Sept. 19,
1864,

Tucker, Harvey, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862.

Turner, Jesse, Co, F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded Oct. 19, 1864.

Warren, George W., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862.

Weeks, John C., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862.

Belden, Stanton S., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec, 22, 1863.

Cruess, John, Co, F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 22, 1863.

Case, Dwight, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 15, 1863; wounded Oct. 19, 1864,

Cleveland, John R. M., Cot F, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; disch. for dis-
ability Feb, 8, 1864.

Eggleston, Philander, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; died Sept. 10, 1864,
Blackwell's Island.

Kelley, Timothy F., Co, F, 2d Art. ; enl, Dec. 23, 1863 ; wounded Sept. 19,
1864.

Kelley, John, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864.

Mitchell, Oscar M., Co, F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 2, 1863.

McNary, George F., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.

McMahon, Thonias, Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864.

McMahon, Michael (Ist), Co. F, 2d Art ; enl. Jan.5, 1864; wounded Aug.
2,-1864,

Rust, Robert H., Co. F, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 28, 1863.

Wilcox, Martin, Co. F, 2d Art,; enl, Dec, 28, 1863.

Cook, Addison, Co. I, 2d Art.; enl. Dec. 20, 1863; killed in action Oct. 19,
1864, near Strasburg.

Keegan, Bernard C., Co. K, 2d Art.; anl. Aug. 9, 1862; wounded June 1,
1864.

Chapin, Philip E., com. first lieutenant, Co. L, 2d Art.; enl. March 5, 1864

Lyons, Thomas, 2d Art.; enl. Nov. 19, 1864; not taken up on rolls.

Lane, David F., com. captain, Co. D, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; pro. to
major; wounded Aug. 7, 1862.

Graham, Thomas, Co. I, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; wounded; disch.
for disability Sept. 8, 1864.

McMahon, Michael, Co. I, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Woodall, Edward, Co. K, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; trans. to Veteran
Reserve Corps Jan. 2, 1864,

Ostrum, Willard, Co. D, 7th Regt.; enl. Oct. 30, 1863; died at St. Helena
8. C., Oct. 28, 1864.

Stodard, Albert H., Co. F, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 9, 1861.

Nicole, Charles, Co. F, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov. 3, 1863; trans. to U. S, navy
April 24, 1864.

Marsh, Wolcott P., second lieutenant, Co. A, 8th Regt. ; enl. Sept, 25, 1861;
pro. to captain Co. F.

Pyrom, Frederick, Co, A, 8th Regt,; enl. Aug. 15, 1864; captured Sept.
18, 1864. ‘
418

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Birney, William, Co. B, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 2, 1864; died at Fort Mon-
roe, Feb. 25, 1864.
Nash, Charles W., captain, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Glasson, Samuel, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; pro. to captain.
Burnside, Robert, second lieutenant, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Jones, Henry R., first sergeant, Co. C, 8th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 25,1861; pro.
to second lieutenant; wounded at Antietam; captain Veteran Re-
serve Corps and U.S. army.
Strickland, Henry E., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed at An-
tietam.
Cone, William H., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; pro. to second
lieutenant.
Rust, Cyprian H., sergeant, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed
at Antietam.
Seber, Frederick, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Andrews, Charles F., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; pro. to first
lieutenant.
Buch, Seba, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded.
Clapp, George W., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Elmore E. Harvey, sergeant, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed
at Antietam.
Jones, Julius C., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Brockway, Theodore, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Bancroft, George C., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Baker, Albert H., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861; died May 21, 1862.
Birney, James, Co. 0, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; trans. to Veteran
Reserve Corps.
Bulkley, John, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; died at Hatteras
Jan. 31, 1862.
Burns, Patrick, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded at An-
tietam.
Caghaus, Wim., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 7, 1861; wounded at Antietam.
Case, Dwight, Co. C, 8th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Carpenter, Edward D., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; died of
wounds Oct. 1864,
Castle, Wilburn, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 5, 1861.
Clark, Henry, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded May 24, 1864.
Clark, Thomas C., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; died at Hatteras
Jan. 28, 1862.
Cooley, Samuel M., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Cooley, Zadoc F., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Foster, John, Co. C, 8th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 25, 1861 ; trans, to Signal Corps,
U.S.A.
Hackney, Ebenezer, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Hackney, Joseph, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Hart, Samuel B., Co. ©, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861.
Hodge, Chauncey, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; died at Newbern,
N. C., March 29, 1862.
Holcomb, Hubert F., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Kenney, Patrick, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded at An-
tietam.
Knight, William H., Co. ©, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed at An-
tietam.
McWilliams, Henry, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; rejected.
. Nighting, John, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 7, 1861; killed at Antietam.
Remington, Napoleon B., Co. C, 8th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 25,1861; wounded
at Antietam.
Rice, Robert, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25,1861; wounded at Freder-
icksburg; died Dec. 11, 1862.
Randall, Henry, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded.
Robinson, George W., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; killed at An-
tietam.
Root, Orlow, Ca. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Seymour, Albert A., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; pro. to first
lieutenant.
he Charles A., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; died July 17,
Smith, William A., Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded.
Spellman, James, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded at An-
tietam.
Taylor, Jonas, Co. C, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Wentworth, Jonas, Co. C, Sth Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.
Dougherty, John, Co, E, 8th Regt.; enl. July 14, 1864; died at Bermuda
Hundred, Aug. 2, 1864.
Duffy, Edward, Co. I, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861.
Roberts, John F., Co, I, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 30, 1861 3 died at Carrolton
La., Sept. 29, 1862, ,

4

 

Smith, John, Co. I, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; died at New Orleans,
La., Sept. 7, 1862.

McLaughlin, John, 9th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1864; not taken up on rolls,

Stephenson, James, Co. E, 10th Regt.; enl. Sept. 30, 1861.

Hicox, John H., Co. FE, 10th Regt. ; en]. Nov. 20, 1863,

Smith, Henry, Co. E, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 22, 1864,

Cleveland, James J., Co. K, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; wounded.

Edwards, Eaton, Co. K, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; wounded.

Jones, Thomas, 10th Regt.; en]. Nov. 22, 1864.

Coe, Francis E., Co. D, 11th Regt.; en]. Nov. 12, 1861.

Forbes, James, Co. A, 12th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1861.

Hackney, George, Uo. F, 12th Regt.; enl. Noy. 19, 1861.

Green, William F., Co. F, 12th Regt.; enl. Nov. 25, 1861.

Gray, William D., Co. F,12th Regt. ; en]. Dec. 2, 1861; died July 28, 1863,
at New Orleans, La. ze

Sullivan, Hugh, Co. I, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 12, 1861.

Smith, Jas. T., Co. C, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862; trans. to Ist La. Regt,

Mooney, John, Co. C, 13th Regt.: enl. Sept. 23, 1864.

Owen, Lester E., sergeant, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862.

Strong, William H., sergeant, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862.

Loomis, Benjamin G., musician, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1862;
trans. to Ist La. Regt.

Barber, Henry M., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Feb, 1, 1862.

Bragg, William B., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861.

Donnivan, Jaines, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

French, Ephraim L, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861.

Gilmore, William, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; died July 6,
1863, at New Orleans, La.

Geer, James, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1861.

Hopkins, Roswell E., Co. D., 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862; killed June
14, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.

Kibbee, Seth M., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

Martin, Frank, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

McCabe, Luke, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 22, 1862.

McManus, Edward, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22,1861; killed June 14,
1863, at Port Hudson, La. :

Quinn, Mathew, Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

Root, Watson R., Co D, 1th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

Tyler, Martin W., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 28, 1862.

Welch, Patrick, Co. D,13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861 ; died March 7, 1862.

Weldon, Edward J., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Feb. 5, 1862.

Wilcox, George D., Co. D, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

Welch, John, Co. D, 13th Regt.; en]. Feb. 10, 1862.

Beaton, Charles H., Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; pro. to second
lieutenant,

Beaton, Norman W., Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

McMann, Mark, Co. E, 13th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; wounded April 23,
1864.

Mahome, John, Co. E, 13th Regt.; enl. Der. 22, 1861.

Bailey, Marvin, Co. F, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862.

Begley, Patrick, Co. G, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; musician.

Horan, Mathew, Co. G, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

McGrath, Walter, Co. G, 13th Regt.; en]. Dec. 22, 1861.

Moore, Daniel, Co. G, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec, 22, 1861.

Lyman, Merritt, Co. H, 13th Regt.; enl Sept. 23, 1864; died July 20,
1865, at Savannah.

Brown, Roland C., Co. K, 13th Regt.; en]. Sept. 23, 1864,

Barber, Elam, Co. K, 13th Regt.; enl Sept. 23, 1864.

Hayes, William R., Co. K, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 23, 1864.

Pawlik, Andrew, Co. K, 13th Regt.; enl. Sept. 24, 1864.

Case, Orville J., Co. A, 16th Regt.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died Oct, 22, 1862,
near Antietam, Md.

Hook, John B., Co. A, 16th Regt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862.

White, John J., Co. A, 16th Regt.; enl. July 14, 1862; died Feb. 13, 1863,

* at Baltimore, Md.

Clark, John, Co. B, 16th Regt.; en). July 17, 1862.

Glasson, Theodore, Co. B, 16th Regt.; en}. July 17, 1862.

Goodwin, Frank, Co. E, 16th Regt.; enl. July 18, 1862 ; died May 25, 1863,
at Newark, N. J.

Beatty, John, Co. E, 16th Regt. ; enl. July 24, 1862; died July 20, 1864, at
Andersonville, Ga.

Cowan, William, Co, E, 16th Regt.; enl. July 19,1862; died Oct. 22, 1862,
of wounds received at Antietam,

Hull, Martin, Co. E, 16th Regt.; enl. July 25, 1862; died Aug. 27, 1864,
at Andersonville, Ga.

Builey, Frank, Co. E, 16th Regt.; enl. Feb, 22, 1864; died Sept. 2, 1864, at
Andersonville, Ga. ‘
 
 
NEW HARTFORD.

419

 

Perry, Joseph S., Co. I, 16th Regt.; enl. Aug. 18, 1862.

Fanning, Grove, Co. I, 16th Regt.; enl. July 18, 1862.

Clark, Gustavus, 17th Regt.; enl. Nov. 19, 1864.

Johnson, William H. H., Co. C, 20th Regt.; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; pro. to
second lieutenant.

Colton, Henry C., Co. A, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec, 2, 1863.

Smith, George, Co. C, 29th Regt.; enl. Nov. 26, 1863.

Adams, Henry E., Co. F, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 24,1863; died June 9,
1864, at Beaufort, S. C.

Adams, James B., Co. F, 29th Regt.; en]. Dec. 24, 1863.

Rogers, William H., Co. F, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec, 19, 1863; died Aug. 20,
1864, on James River, Va.

Percy, William, Co. G, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 26, 1863.

NATIVES OF NEW HARTFORD NOT ACCREDITED.
Charles M. Jones, ensign, U.S. navy.
Hubert S. Brown, captain, and assistant adjutant-general.
Hiram C. Cook, Co. D, 2d Iowa Regt.; died in service, March 25, 1862.
Andrew M. Driggs, 7lst N. Y. Regt.
Isaac Newton Steele, Co. G, 1st Illinois Cav.; died at Nashville, Tenn.

(The article contributed by Mrs. Jones ends here.]

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

JOHN COTTON SMITH.

John Cotton Smith, one of the prominent business
men and manufacturers of New Hartford, was born at
East Haddam, Conn., March 12, 1810. Was of a
family of fourteen children,—seven sons and seven
daughters. All of the sons and six of the daughters
lived to adult age. His father being a cotton manu-
facturer, John C. was trained to the same business.
In early manhood he left his native place to reside at
Housatonic, in Great Barrington, Mass., where he en-
gaged in the manufacture of cotton goods. From this
place, in the spring of 1841, he removed to New Hart-
ford, entering into partnership with Maj. Brown, who
was proprietor of a small cotton-factory.

In less than a year this structure was destroyed by
fire, robbing Mr. Smith of nearly all his earnings; but
by dint of self-reliance and courage he set out anew
with a brother at Pine Meadow, where they estab-
lished a prosperous business.

_ In 1845, Mr. Smith conceived the plan of organiz-
ing a large manufacturing company and erecting spa-
cious buildings on the site owned by him and Maj.
Brown at the North village. Capitalists of New York
and Hartford, at his solicitation, incorporated them-
selves into the “Greenwoods Manufacturing Com-
pany,” with a capital of two hundred and eight
thousand dollars, making him their agent. He man-
aged the affairs of the company with signal ability
and unswerving integrity. On one occasion the di-
rectors manifested their appreciation of his services
by presenting him a thousand-dollar silver set. Sub-
sequently they elected him president of the company,
and re-elected him agent on a salary of five thousand
dollars a year. This position Mr. Smith occupied to
the day of his death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1870.
He was married at East Haddam, Nov. 11, 1832, to
Ellen C. Fox, youngest of nine children of Capt.

 

Aaron Fox, of that place. She is now in her seven-
tieth year, has raised a family of seven children, five
of whom are now living, and is a lady of rare excel-
lence and persona] worth.

Mr. Smith was a man of fixed principles and marked
character. All the public local enterprises of his
day have felt the influence of his capital and the
benefit of his advice. His employees were his wards,
and in devising plans to get through the ‘dry times”
and the “dull times,” their best interests were taken
into account. He was charitable to the poor, and
foremost in all enterprises that looked to the improve-
ment of the village.

HON. HENRY JONES.

The subject of this sketch was born in Barkhamsted
on the 24th of May, 1800. He was the second child
of Col. Israel Jones, of Barkhamsted, and his second
wife, Lois Wadsworth, of Farmington. On both sides
his lineage was of pioneer Puritan stock. His grand-
father, Capt. Israel Jones, came from Enfield to Bark-
hamsted in 1759, and was the second white man to
make permanent settlement in that town. He was
the son of Thomas Jones, whose father, Benjamin
Jones, went from Enfield to Somers in 1706, and was
the first settler of that town. j

His mother was the daughter of Hezekiah Wads-
worth, Esq., of Farmington, a descendant of William
Wadsworth and Timothy Stanley, who were among
the first English settlers and land-holders of Hartford.
William Wadsworth had two sons,—John and Joseph.
John, the grandfather of Hezekiah, settled in Farm-
ington. He was a member of what is now the senate
when his brother, the daring Capt. Joseph, secreted
the charter of Connecticut in the historic oak.

Col. Israel Jones was eighteen times elected repre-
sentative to the General Assembly. He was also
town clerk and justice of the peace for a series of
years, and for several years lieutenant-colonel com-
mandant of the Twenty-fifth Regiment Connecticut
Militia. He died Sept. 1, 1812, at the family home-
stead in Barkhamsted, which is still standing, and lo-
cated very near the geographical centre of the town.
His wife kept the family together for a year, until her
death in 1813, when the children, Milo, Henry, Israel,
Louisa, and Edward, found homes in Farmington
among their mother’s relatives.

It was necessary that Henry should earn his own
livelihood, and after attending school a few terms he
was apprenticed by his guardian, Mr. Thomas Youngs,
to a jeweler in Farmington. That trade being dis-
tasteful to him the indentures were canceled, and he
was apprenticed to atinner in the same town, with
whom he remained until nearly of age, when, with
money earned by working over-hours, he purchased
his time and started out for himself. At first he en-
gaged in business, tinning and mercantile, at Cole-
brook River, but not liking that locality, after about
420

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

a year he removed to New Hartford, where he estab-
lished himself in business in 1821. Jan. 25, 1826, he
married Catherine, the oldest child of Roger Mills,
Esq., a lawyer who came to New Hartford from his
native town of Norfolk in 1800. Mrs. Jones’ mother
was the daughter of Capt. Phineas Merrill, son of
Joseph Merrill, a pioneer settler of New Hartford.

Mr. Jones and his wife Catherine had five children,—
Charles Mills, Ann Eliza, Henry and Harriet Louisa
(who died in infancy), and Henry Roger. The eldest
son, Charles, formany years followedthesea. Heserved
as ensign in the navy during the Southern Rebellion,
and is now in the postal service of the government in
New York City. Ann Eliza married Mr. James B.
Crowe, who was a merchant both in New Hartford
and Hartford. Mr. Crowe died in 1864, and his widow
and daughter now reside in New Hartford. Henry
R. left the study of law in 1861 to enlist in the vol-
unteer army; he was promoted through the various
grades to the rank of captain. In 1866 he was ap-
pointed in the regular army, and is now an officer on
the retired list for wounds received in battle. His
residence is New Hartford, where he holds the offices
of justice of the peace and judge of the Probate Court
of that district.

From the time of Mr. Jones’ first arrival in New
Hartford he was a prominent figure in the business
interests of the town. As sole proprietor of a large
tinning business, he sent out peddlers to the West and
South. Asa buyer and seller of real estate scarcely
a name is more frequently to be found upon the land
records of the town. He was for a number of years,
in addition to his other interests, one of the mercantile
firm of Brown, Jones & Elmore, whose place of busi-
ness was in the store now occupied by Woodruff &
Betts, near the corner leading from Main Street to the
Congregational church. In the autumn of 1840 he
organized in New Hartford a clock manufactory, in a
shop owned by him on the south bank of Spruce
Brovk, in the lower end of the village. This con-
cern—Jones & Frisbie—employed a large number of
hands, carried on a prosperous business, but owing to
heavy losses at the South, after a career of nearly five
years, was discontinued. In 1841 he purchased a farm
of thirty acres on the east side of the river. This
farm, in addition to a large tract on the north side of
Bare-spot Mountain, in sight of the village, and other
tracts, he continued to cultivate until his death, and
whenever called upon to state his occupation gave it
as that of a farmer. :

In 1829 he purchased the house and lot just above
the hill in the south end of the North village, nearly
epposite the house which his son, Capt. Henry R. Jon es,
built in 1874 and now occupies. Here he continued
to dwell until 1853, when he purchased of his brother-
in-law, Hon. Roger H. Mills, the Mills homestead,
immediately north of Capt. Jones’ residence. Into
this larger house he removed with his family, where
he resided until his death

 

April 4, 1837, an overwhelming loss befell him,—the
death of Catherine, the wife of his youth, leaving to
hig care three young children, one an infant eleven
days old.

Feb. 5, 1839, he was married to Aurelia, daughter
of William G. Williams, Esq., a lawyer, and partner
of the father of his former wife. Esquire Williams’
was grandson of Col. Thomas Williams, a distin-
guished officer of the Revolution, and grandnephew
of Col. Ephraim Williams, founder of Williams Col-
lege. By his second wife Mr. Jones had two sons,—
Edward Wadsworth and Frank Williams. The former
served as major of the Second Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, and brevetted lieutenant-colonel during the
war of the Rebellion, and is now engaged in mining
operations in Idaho. The latter is superintendent of
the Telephone Company of Brazil, and resides at Rio
de Janeiro.

Although a successful mechanic, manufacturer, mer-
chant, and farmer, Mr. Jones was chiefly known among
his fellow-men as a public officer. From the year
1822, when he was first admitted to the freeman’s oath,
until his death his name was continuously identified
with the interests of the town. He was for many
years judge of the Probate Court of his district. As
justice of the peace he tried most of the cases in town
during a long term of office. He was repeatedly sent
to the Legislature, and in 1861 was senator from the
Fifteenth District. To him his fellow-citizens applied
for advice on all questions, and through his arbitra-
tion many family and neighborhood difficulties were
settled to the satisfaction of all concerned. He died
very suddenly of angina pectoris, on the 14th of Feb-
ruary, 1863, beloved and lamented by all who knew
him.

A fitting close to this sketch will be an editorial
notice of his death published in the Winsted Herald
of Feb. 20, 1868. Similar notices were printed in
Hartford papers and journals throughout the county
and State :

“We chronicle to-day with sincere sorrow the death of Henry Jones,
Esq., of New Hartford. He died suddenly on Saturday last without a mo-
ment of illness, or the slightest warning of the approaching change. He
had been in usual good health during the winter, as he had been through
the day on which he died. Previously to retiring on Saturday evening
he wound his clock as usual, and then put wood into the stove; while
engaged in this he was observed to fall over upon the floor, and before
aid could be called almost in the same moment he ceased to breathe.
Mr. Jones was widely known through the county, and was one of its
best men. Modest and retiring in his manners, he was observant and
shrewd; seeking no public position, he was rarely allowed by a commu-
nity which knew his worth an interval out of its service. Either as select-
man, justice, judge, member of the Legislature, county or court commis-
sioner, or in some other capacity, he has almost always been in the
public service. He filled every position honorably and well. He was a
man of rigid integrity ; in politics, when the severest morality too often
relaxes, he was a man of the same firm convictions and unalterable pur-
poses, His private life was equally amiable and exemplary, and from
the school-boy to the patriarch, all the community in which he lived
mourn his decease almost as a personal affliction. Tis loss is irreparable
in New Hartford. Mr. Jones’ funeral, on Wednesday last, was one of
the most numerously attended in the town for several years, attracting
as it did many from a distance, who gathered to pay their last tribute of
respect to one they loved. His age was sixty-two.”
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CALEB CROSWELL GOODWIN.

THE GOODWIN

Ebenezer Goodwin was the son of Isaac Goodwin, and born
in Hartford (now West Hartford) about 1743; died May 18,
1810, aged sixty-seven. His widow survived him some twenty-
five years. He is supposed to be the descendant of Ozias
(Hosea) Goodwin, who came with his brother, William Goodwin,
from Braintree (other authority says Essex), England, in the
ship “Sion” (Zion), Sept. 16, 1632, to Newtown (Cambridge),
Mass. In 1635-36 they came to Suckiaug(e), the Indian name
of Hartford, Coun, William had but one child, Elizabeth, who
married John Crow. Ozias was born in 1596, and the numer-
ous family of Goodwins in Hartford and vicinity and in the
country are supposed to have descended chiefly from him; in
fact, some families trace their lineage direct from him. The
children of Ebenezer Goodwin were Ruth, born June 3, 1764.
Ebenezer, born June 10, 1766; he married Ruth Goodwin, sister
of Asa Goodwin, of New Hartford. Lucy, born July 18, 1768.
James, born Sept 4,1770. Seth, born Aug. 12,1772. William
(Ist), born Jan. 5, 1775; died in infancy. Col. William Good-
win, the father of the writer (Rev. William Goodwin), born Oct.
15,1776. Norman, born Jan. 16,1778. Pitts, born Jan. 28,
1779. Horace, born Feb. 12,1781. Polly, born Oct. 8, 1782.
Amanda, born Oct. 15,1783. Of these children, Ebenezer settled
on a farm adjoining the old homestead on West Iiill, which his
son, Horace Goodwin, has since occupied. Col. William Good-
win became a clothier, and settled on the Farmington River,
two miles below the village, at the southern extremity of Pine
Meadow, or in the suburbs of the so-called Satan’s Kingdom,
near the bridge. Soon after he was comfortably established in
his new home, his dwelling and shop, and the bridge standing
near, were borne downward by the maddened waters in the great
Jefferson flood of March, 1801; and occasionally since then
he has lost his works, wholly or in part, by the angry floods of
this turbulent stream. He married Abigail Croswell, sister of
his brother Seth’s wife, who were sisters to Dr. Harry Croswell,
for a long time rector of the Episcopal Church in New Haven.

The children of Col. William and Abigail Goodwin were as
follows :

Rev. Harley Goodwin was born in New Hartford, March
10, 1797, graduated at Middlebury College, Vt., and was or-
dained as pastor of the Congregational Church in New Marl-
borough, Mass., a colleague with Rev. Jacob Catlin, D.D. The
council convened Jan. 3, 1826, and the sermon was preached by
Rev. Cyrus Yale on the following day, January 4th. Here he

 

FAMILY.

remained for some years, His next settlement was in Warren,
Litchfield, Co., Conn., where he remained but a short time. IIe
next became the pastor of the Congregational Church in South
Canaan, where he remained till his death, Jan. 31, 1855, aged
nearly fifty-cight years,

Orrin was born Sept. 3, 1799. He followed his trade as a
harness-maker in the village of New Hartford, where he died
Dec. 14, 1865, aged above sixty-six.

Hannah was born Oct. 14, 1801. She spent most of her life in
New Hartford, where her husband, William Warner, still lives.
She died at Winsted, July 30, 1854, aged nearly fifty-three.

Amanda was born Feb. 11, 1803. After marrying Carlo
Smith they moved to Sidney Plains, on the Susquchanna River,
in the State of New York, where they remained a few years;
then returned to New Hartford. The widow, in a good old age,
still lives in Pine Meadow,

Jennette was born July 16, 1806; died April 27, 1827, aged
less than twenty-one years.

Caleb Croswell Goodwin, whose portrait accompanies this
sketch, was born Feb. 14, 1808. He is still living on his farm
which he purchased on the east and opposite side of the river
from the old homestead, while he yet retains possession of the
old house and adjoining lands.

Horatio Nelson Goodwin was born Jan. 27, 1812. He learned
the trade of harness-maker of his brother Orrin, in New Hart-
ford, and still follows this calling. For many years he has
filled the office of deacon well in the Congregational Church in
Collinsville, where he still lives.

Rev. William Goodwin was born Jan. 1, 1814. He entered
Williams College, Massachusetts, in 1838, graduated in 1842,
and finished his theological course in 1845 at the Theological
Seminary in East Windsor, Conn.; since removed to Hartford.
He received a license to preach, with other members of his class,
at an Association in Ware Village, Mass., in 1844. The convic-
tions on the subject of baptism which he entertained before
entering college grew stronger, so that early in bis ministry he
became a Baptist. Afler various pastorates in Connecticut and
Massachusetts, be was invited, in the spring of 1879, to return
to his former field of labor, the Baptist Church in North Cole-
brook, where Elder Babcock labored so earnestly and effectually,
and almost gratuitously, and left behind him not only the savor
of his good name, but one of the best parsonages in Litchfield
County, to the church and society.
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NEW HARTFORD.

E. M. CHAPIN.

E. M. Chapin, son of Herman and Catharine Mer-
rill Chapin, was born in New Hartford, Sept. 5, 1833.
He attended school in Litchfield in 1847 and ’48,
in Winsted in 1849, and at the Connecticut Literary
Institution at Suffield in 1849, 750, and ’51.

In 1851 he began business as superintendent in his
father’s plane- and rule-factory, which was established
by H. Chapin in 1826, and continued until 1860, when
a partnership was formed, consisting of H. Chapin,
#. M., G. W., and P. E. Chapin, under the firm-name
of H. Chapin & Sons, E. M. Chapin having the entire
management. In 1865, E. M. and G. W. Chapin
having secured the factory and business, a new part-
nership was formed under the name of H. Chapin’s
Sons. In 1868,.E. M. Chapin purchased the. entire
interest of G. W. Chapin, and has since conducted
the business under the name of H. Chapin’s Son.

Mr. Chapin is an enterprising and public-spirited
citizen. In 1868, and again in 1870, he was elected
to the Legislature, lower house, and in 1872 was
chosen to the Senate from the Fifteenth District. In
1856 he united in marriage with Mary E. Pike, and
has two sons living.

CHARLES FRANK MAXFIELD.

Charles F. Maxfield was born in Winsted, Conn.,
July 18, 1853. He was educated at the Winchester
Military School, the Cheshire Military Institute, and
at the private select school of the Rev. Mr. Upson, in
Washington, Conn. His school-days terminated be-
fore he was twenty years of age, and he then went to
Brooklyn, and entered the mercantile establishment
of T. K. Horton & Co. as clerk. Here he remained
about three years, and then went traveling extensively
in Great Britain and throughout Continental Europe.
Upon his return he entered the employ of T. J.
Briggs, manufacturer of fine decorations and wall-
paper, and subsequently engaged with J. S. Warren
& Co., the largest manufacturers of wall-paper in this
country, as traveling salesman, and though the
youngest of a large force of experienced salesmen in
the employ of this firm, during the first year his sales
amounted to over one hundred thousand dollars,
strikingly illustrating his business tact and go-ahead-
ativeness.

Nov. 20, 1878, he united in marriage with Georgetta
Robbins, of Brooklyn, N. Y., youngest daughter of
the late Daniel A. Robbins, a large builder and en-
terprising business man of that city.

In 1879, Mr. Maxfield purchased the old Maxfield
homestead at New Hartford, and the year following
negotiated for the place known as the old Hart place,
formerly owned by Maj. Sanford Brown, on the hill
north of the village, and immediately commenced the
improvement of the locality by cutting off the forest.
He ‘carried forward the improvements with energy,
graded, laid out walks and drives, etc., and began the

 

421

erection of a residence which when completed will be
one of the finest in interior and exterior decorations
in Connecticut. It is charmingly located on a high
eminence, commanding a beautiful view of the Farm-
ington River and the valley, the village of New Hart-
ford, and the hills beyond. It is an elegant country-
seat, and reflects much credit upon the esthetic taste
of its owner.

Mr. Maxfield is an enthusiast in the breeding of
fancy stock, particularly that of Swiss cattle, and has
carried off numerous diplomas and sweepstakes at
competitive exhibitions. He is the owner of the fa-
mous bull Conrod Tell, now considered the best bull in
the United States by the best judges. He isa breeder
of a high class of poultry, and has more than fifteen
distinct varieties. He is a leading representative of
a class of wealthy experimental and progressive agri-
culturists. ;

Politically he is a Democrat, and a member of the
Church of the Redeemer, of Brooklyn, of which the .
Rev. William A. Leonard is rector.

Mr. Maxfield is about the average height, and his
face shows intelligence; foresight, and decision as the
chief elements of his character. He is a public-
spirited citizen, of a genial and social nature, and very
popular with the masses,

CHESTER W. GILMAN.

Chester W. Gilman was born June 8, 1818, in Hart-
land, Conn., son of George C. Gilman. His early life
was spent on his father’s farm until he was twenty-one
years of age, when he commenced for himself. His
first business enterprise was peddling clocks in Ohio,
where he was engaged some ten months, when he re-
turned to Hartland with two hundred dollars saved
from his earnings, with which he purchased cows to
stock a farm near the old home, which he contracted
for at three thousand one hundred and fifty dollars.
Mr. Gilman remained on this farm until 1854. At
that time he had paid for the farm and built a good
house and barn. Thinking he could better his con-
dition, he exchanged for the large farm in New Hart-
ford, where he has since resided, and which under his
management has become one of the finest farms in
that part of the country. His specialty being dairy
and blooded stock, he has a fine herd of Alderney
cattle and a good grade of horses.

Mr. Gilman was married when twenty-eight years of
age to Antinett Smith, of East Haddam, Conn.,
youngest of fourteen children,—seven sons and seven
daughters ; all the sons and six of the daughters grew
to adult age. Mrs. Gilman died in 1870, leaving five
children, one daughter having previously died at eight
years of age. Of the five children that survived their
mother three are now living,—Jennie, married David
W. Meeker, of Florida; Mary E., married George
Spencer, a merchant of New Hartford; Henry lives
at home, Two sons—Chester W. and Elias E.—were
422

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

killed by a railroad accident at Tariffville, Jan. 16,
1877.

Mr. Gilman was a second time married,—June,
1872, to Julia A., daughter of Allen Jewett, of Win-
sted.

Politically Mr. Gilman is a Republican ; has served
several terms as selectman, and represented the town
in the Legislature in 1872.

Mr. Gilman and his wife are active and consistent
members of the Congregational Church. He has
been superintendent of the Sunday-school, and is one
of the substantial representative men of his town.

CHAPTER XL.

NEW MILFORD.

Geographical—Topographical—Indian History—Documentary History—
Original Indian Deed, etc.

TuIs town is located in the southwestern part of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Kent, on the east by Washington, Roxbury, and
Bridgewater, on the south by Bridgewater and the
town of Brookfield, in Fairfield County, and on the
west by the towns of New Fairfield and Sherman, in
Fairfield County. The surface is hilly and broken,
and the soil generally good. It is well adapted to
agriculture, and the raising of tobacco forms one of
the chief occupations of the inhabitants. It is watered
by the Housatonic River and its tributaries.

INDIAN HISTORY.

When Litchfield County was first settled at Wood-
bury, in 1672, the Potatuck tribe of Indians was the
only and largest tribe in this part of Connecticut;
and its existence had been known by the Connecticut
colonists for more than thirty years. As civilization
appeared, advanced, and caused the most powerful
tribes of Southern New England—the Narragansets
of Rhode Island, the Mohegans and Pequots of West-
ern Connecticut—to disappear, the section not yet
reached by the white man became the home of the
aboriginal inhabitants. The Wepawaugs inhabited
Milford when that town was settled, and the Po-
quassets resided at Derby, where their principal village
was located. As Milford was settled in 1639, some
fifteen years before Derby, those of the Milford In-
dians who did not go West to the Six Nations, or
remained in the town, joined the Poquassets, and re-
mained there till the white settler made his appear-
ance, when the Indian seems to have immediately
made preparations to leave for some wild and secluded
locality where he could enjoy the solitude his nature
so much craved. Thus the Poquassets, most of them,
united with the Potatucks, whose principal village
was in the present town of Southbury, on the Housa-
tonic River, where they reserved a large tract of land
in all their deeds to the first settlers of Woodbury, as

 

also in the confirmatory purchase of the inhabitants of
that town in 1706. At the time New Milford was set-
tled Nomwag was their chief. That the tribes formed
from the original powerful tribes found here by the
first settlers of Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island, and
Connecticut were less powerful, and that the growing
disintegrating clans therefrom became of less conse-
quence as the country became settled, may, perhaps,
be true to a certain extent.

The fierce spirit of the Pequots was broken at the
last battle at ‘“‘Shoco Swamp,” and they never after-
wards were a terror to the whites. As was natural,
the broken tribes would rally, if possible, after being
driven back again and again into the shades of the
primeval forest, and make a stand like a defeated
army hotly pursued by a victorious enemy. History
has recorded the acts of cruelty and deeds of daring
and bravery exhibited by the natives when opposed
by the first English footsteps on our shores; but, as
the great tribes have been broken and scattered, they
have had less power of resisting the advance of the
white man, and the incidents of more local history
have not been recorded. This probably accounts for
the remark of De Forrest in his ‘‘ History of the In-
dians of Connecticut,” where he says of the Pota-
tucks, “Their insignificance is sufficiently proved by
the almost total silence of authors concerning them,
and by their noiseless disappearance.”

The Potatucks were a powerful tribe, with whom
the white settlers never had any difficulty ; but as the
neighboring settlement of Woodbury increased in
population they longed for some more congenial re-
treat, and in time most of them joined the clan at
New Milford.

When the Weautenaugs of New Milford first be-
came a distinct clan is not known. That they occu-
pied lands here opposite the village prior to 1671 is
quite evident; but how long before that we have no
positive proof. That they were then an insignficant
clan is evident from the fact that they were unknown
in history and in song, only as the name of the place
would indicate some knowledge of the locality by the
colonial authorities. Afterwards, however, they be-
came of more importance, probably as early as 1650.
At the time of the settlement of New Milford there
were probably small clans along the Housatonic River
northward, refugees from larger tribes, and, if not
making any permanent place their residence, roamed
over the vast expanse of wilderness for purposes of
hunting and fishing. There was, undoubtedly, quite
an extensive clan in the southern part of Berkshire
Co., Mass., on the Housatonic River; which had
been there many years among those grand old moun-
tains, the natural home of the red man, springing
from the Mahikanders or River Indians, who lived on
the east side of the Hudson River below Albany.
But all these small tribes or clans were very insignifi-

 

* Cotren’s History, p. 29.
NEW MILFORD.

cant and weak in comparison with that large and
powerful tribe of Northern New York, the Mohawks,
who claimed jurisdiction over all the territory of
Western Massachusetts and Connecticut, and came
down annually to collect tribute from them, which
must be satisfied or a fierce army of blood-thirsty
Mohawks would soon appear among them to enforce
their demands. They were compelled to pay for
fear of death or captivity. The cry, “ A Mohawk!”
caused all the signal-fires to be lighted on the
mountain heights, and drove the peaceful Indians
along the Housatonic River into their forts, or to the
settlements of the whites for protection. The New
Milford Indians had forts on both sides of the Housa-
tonic River, probably in the vicinity of the Steep
Rock, about six miles above the village, as appears
from an ancient map of Weautenaug, found when
the town was first settled. And there was also a fort
somewhere in the locality of the residence of E. T.
Brewer, from which circumstance the place has always
been called “ Fort Hill.”

The Rev. Stanley Griswold, in a ‘t centennial ser-
mon” delivered in 1801, says,—

“The natives had sundry fortresses, or military stations, in and about
this town to guard against attacks from distant tribes. Some spots in
the town bear an allusion to them to this day, as Fort Hill, Guarding
Mountain, etc. It has been said that all the tribes along the river, from
its source to the'sea, were in strict alliance and friendship, and that by
means of certain sounds made on the guarding heights an alarm might
be spread within the space of three hours through the whole line of the
tribes, a distance of near two hundred miles.”

Guarding Mountain, spoken of by Mr. Griswold,
is on the west side of the Housatonic River near
“Conetia Park,” the grounds of the New Milford Agri-
cultural Association. There has been some doubt
expressed tvhether these Indian forts and guarding
heights were of Indian or colonial origin. But it
seems that there should be but little doubt that they
were means of defense, and signals established by the
Indians themselves, principally against the incursions
of the Mohawks. The Western Massachusetts and
Connecticut Indians were friendly with the white
settlers, who almost invariably made satisfactory pur-
chases of their lands, and the natives were never
engaged in wars among themselves. There were
mountains used for guarding heights in Woodbury
and Litchfield, and all along up the Housatonic River.
These forts and signal-stations were in existence and
use when the whites first settled here. The first
white settlers in New Milford never had any fears
from the Mohawks, neither is there any historical
account or tradition of any depredations upon the
white settlements up the river. When the Mohawks
came to punish our Indians for not paying tribute,
they would fly, to their forts, and, if they could not
reach them, to the houses of the English for shelter.
Sometimes their enemies would pursue them so
closely that they would enter the houses with- them,
and kill them in presence of the family. If there was
time to shut the doors they never forced an entrance,

 

423

nor did they on any occasion do the least harm to the
English, always being on the most friendly terms
with them.’’* . The garrisons authorized to. be erected
by the colonial government of Woodbury, Danbury,
and Weautenaug in 1708, and also the Committee
of War for the frontier towns in Fairfield County, and
of New Milford in 1709, against the assaults of the
enemy, were all independent of the efforts of the
natives for their own defense before these acts were
passed, and before the town was settled. The early
colonists had fears of attacks from the Indians, and
there were occasional alarms; but time proved that
these alarms were generally groundless, and the forces
sent for defense were soon removed.

Later, however, in 1722, the Eastern Indians and
the Province of Massachusetts Bay were at war, and
it was felt in Connecticut; and in 1723-24 there was
a considerable excitement and alarm, when the Eng-
lish and French wars were prevailing and the frontier
settlers were exposed to danger by the French inciting
the Indians to attack them ; but the excitement soon
subsided.

From the ferocious and treacherous character of

“the Indians it is no wonder that the early settlers of

the country should have fears of hostility and war
from them. In 1675, at a meeting of the Council of
the colonial government, they came to an agreement
with our Indians here in New Milford, “‘ who engaged
to continue in friendship w* us, and to be enemies
to of enemies, and to discouer them timely, or de-
stroy them; that they would do no prejudice to the
English.” They never manifested a disposition of
hostility to the colonists, and were always friendly
to them after the town was settled.t

The colony was also suspicious of our Indians
during the French and Indian wars; as, perhaps,
they well might be, although subsequent events
proved that their fears were groundless ; although
about five years before the settlement of our town
the terrible border wars broke out in all their fury.
A treaty of peace having been entered into between
the government of Canada and the Five Nations in
New York, the whole weight of the war fell on
New England. Many towns on the frontier had been
burned by the Indians,{ and the colonial government
at Hartford had fears that the enemies and Indians
were preparing to make a descent upon the frontier
towns of New England, by information which had
been received from Col. Schuyler. At a council at
Hartford, in February, 1706-7, a letter was read from
Capt. John Miner and Mr. John Sherman to the
Deputy Governor signifying their suspicion that the
Potatuck and Weautenaug Indians were invited to
join with the enemy.Ӣ There was, in the opinion of
the government, danger that our Indians would be

 

* Cortren’s Hist. Ancient Woodbury, vol. i. p. 87.
+ Col. Records, 1665-77, p. 369.

{ Frost, p. 105. :

2 Col. Records, 1706-16, p. 15.
424

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

allured from their former agreement of comity and
friendship, and be induced to join our enemies.
Writings were presented relative to the matter, and
the Indians were examined relative to the induce-
ments held out to them to become the enemies of the
settlers. For the’ preservation of the small frontier
towns, and to prevent their revolt, the honorable the
Governor and Council ordered Capt. John Minor and
Mr. John Sherman, of Woodbury, “with all conveni-
ent speed to remove the said Indians down to Fairfield
or Stratford,or both, as shall be judged most con-
venient.” Provision was made that “if by reason of
sickness prevailing among them they cannot at pres-
ent be removed, then to take two of their principal
persons and convey them to Fairfield, there to be
kept safely as hostages to secure the fidelity of those
that remain at those inland places.”* But it does not
appear that the tribes were removed by the direction
of the Council, though hostages may have been taken
to carry out the object of the order.

The only time when the Weautenaug Indians mani-
fested a warlike spirit was about the year 1725, when
it was reported to the Governor and Council at Hart-

ford, that they and the Potatuck Indians had “lately”

had several dances, and sundry of them have painted
themselves, as is usual for Indians to do that design
war.” In consequence of this act, and because paint-
ing was the badge of war used by the Indians that
were then engaged in war with the English, an order
was made declaring that if any Indian shall be seen
painted after the 21st day of August, 1725, they shall
be taken for enemies and provided against as such.
It was supposed that there was a secret understanding
among the Indians of the colony, and that they had
been incited to acts of cruelty and murder by the
English. Soon after the New Milford Indians had
painted themselves and had had dances, the shepherd
of Stratford was taken by two Indians, painted, and
carried captive and stamped till he was breathless, and
buried as dead, and David Lane, a child of Stratford,
barbarously murdered and mangled. In consequence
of these hostile developments, the Indians were re-
strained within certain bounds, to be considered as
enemies if found without those limits, and could be
summoned before any authorized English persons to
give account of their rambles and business.

The planting fields of the Indians were on the west
side of the river, opposite the village, and have to this
day been known asthe “Indian Fields.” These fields

were reserved in their deed to Milford gentlemen of
Feb. 18, 1702-8, which appears in a former chap-
ter. There were several Indian burying-grounds in
the town, and it was in this reservation that the
largest one is found. It was on Fort Hill, south of
the residence of E. T. Brewer.
wold states that their graves were of a circular form 5
and that they were buried sitting up, as in a natural

 

* Col. Records, 1717-25,

The Rev. Mr. Gris- |

 

posture upon the ground. There were two other
burying-grounds on the east side of the river,—one,
the bluff, in the vicinity of West Street, in the vil-
lage, and the other was, on the authority of the Rey.
George 8. Bennett, after crossing the Aspetuck River,
on the river road which passes through it, where
skeletons have from time to time been unearthed. A
few years since, while digging the cellar of a dwelling-
house on West Street in the village, the workmen
found some parts of the skeleton of an Indian, where
the second burying-ground spoken of was located,
and near by were the relics buried with their owner,
which might be needed in the fair hunting-grounds
to which the departed had gone when he reached the
spirit-land. There was a beautifully-formed toma-
hawk, a finely-modeled pipe, some well-preserved
dishes, and several nicely-wrought arrow-heads and
stone hatchets. Some years ago some of our citizens
made excavations in the largest cemetery in the In-
dian fields on Fort Hill, and found many graves as de-
scribed by Mr. Griswold, containing the implements
of war and necessary utensils in their journey beyond
the setting sun. The probability is that at one time
they had quite a village on Fort Hill, near Guarding
Mountain. They did not long retain possession of
their planting-field. In 1705, John Mitchel, of Wood-
bury, purchased the Indian fields, and at the date of
the settlement of the town their principal village was
at the Trout Falls, on the Housatonic River, about
two miles below the village, to which the natives had
given the name Mitichawon. This is one of the most
inviting places of residence for the red men that can
well be imagined in this section of the State. The
river seems to have broken through the mountain,
leaving a deep gorge, of perhaps a quarter of a mile
in length, through which the water descends quite
rapidly, affording one of the best fishing-places on the
river. Here were plenty of salmon, and in the spring
of the year shad and lamprey-eels were found in
great abundance. The Potatuck Indians of Wood-
bury finally sold a large part of their lands, and
many of their leading men joined with others in
forming the Weautenaug tribe.t It was not, however,
till 1733 that they sold about three-quarters of their
reservation in the southwestern part of Southbury,
when they seemed to have all removed to New Mil-
ford. When they commenced coming to the Great
Falls is not definitely known, but it must have been
some time before the town was settled. The greatest
man of the tribe was Wereaumaug, who came about
1715, and was soon chosen their chief. He had been
a sagamore of the Potatuck tribe. There has been
much speculation as to the size of this tribe. Mr.
Griswold, in his “Century Sermon,” states that when
the town was settled there were about two hundred
warriors connected with them. President Stiles, of Yale
College, thought that there were three hundred war-

 

¥ Cortren’s Hist. Ancient Woodbury, pp. 86-104.
NEW MILFORD.

riors, while Mr. De Forrest, in his “ History of the In-
dians of Connecticut,” discredits both the above state-
ments, on the ground that “tradition is always unsafe,
and always exaggerates; and even our recollection,
when it refers to events which happened in our youth,
inclines us often to extend the truth, never to under-
rate it.” Making all allowances for the uncertainty
of tradition, it will probably be safe to say that they
had one hundred and fifty warriors at the time to
which these writers referred. It is quite probable that
Wereaumaug brought many of his old tribe with him,
and that about that time the tribe became more
powerful, as it must have also been increasing quite
rapidly before that time. It would be within the
range of probability to place the number of warriors
in 1715 at two hundred. At this time, and for a few
years afterwards, it must have been larger than at any
previous period. It would seem that at the time this
great chief came here the tribe must have numbered
one thousand population, one-fifth of whom were to
be considered warriors.* I am, however, inclined to
believe that there were that number here when the
town was settled, as Mr. Griswold conversed with
people whose. memory extended back to the period,
and the tradition, not coming second-handed, must
have been more reliable.

Soon after Wereaumaug came to this tribe he built
a “palace” on the bluff near the Great Falls, which
was his residence. As this was the capital of the tribe,
this house of their chief was a native resort. Accord-
ing to all accounts, nothing like it had before been seen.
The Rev. Mr. Griswold says that “on the inner walls
of this ‘palace,’ which was of bark with the smooth
side inwards, were pictured every known species of
beast, bird, fish, and insect, from the largest down to the
smallest. This was said to have been done by an
artist, whom a friendly prince at a great distance sent
him for that purpose, as Hiram to Solomon.”

The Rey. David Boardman, the first minister, was
held in high esteem by Wereaumaug, and had a high
opinion of “his great abilities and eminent virtues.”
The “distinguished sachem,” as he termed him,
seems to have been favorably impressed with the
doctrines of the Christian religion under the instruc-
tions of the minister. Although the sachem’s wife
and all his tribe were not in sympathy with the re-
ligion of the first settlers, yet in his last sickness he
desired to see Mr. Boardman, who he felt would give
him some consolation of cheer and hope in his rapid
flight towards the river of truth.

Hon. David S. Boardman, a grandson of the first
minister, treasured an anecdote, which was related to
Mr. John W. De Forrest upon his visit to New Milford,
and first published in his “ History of the Indians of
Connecticut.” He says that “once in particular,
while Mr. Boardman was at the sachem’s bedside, the
latter asked him to pray, to which he of course as-

 

* De Forrest, p. 47, note.

425

sented. It happened that there was at this time in
the village a sick child, whom a pow-wow had under-
taken to cure by means of the usual writhings, gri-
maces, and hallooing. As soon as Mr. Boardman
began his prayer, Wereaumaug’s wife sent for this
Indian clergyman, stationed him at the door, and
bade him commence his exercises. The pow-wow im-
mediately set up a prodigious shouting and howling.
Mr. Boardman prayed louder, so that the sick man
might hear him above the din. Each raised his voice
more and more as he went on. The Indians gathered
round, anxious for the success of their champion.
The pow-wow was fully determined to tire out the
black-coat, and Mr. Boardman was equally resolved
that he would not be put to silence in his duty by this
son of Belial. The indomitable minister afterwards
declared that, according to the best of his belief, he
prayed three hours without stopping before victory
declared in his favor. The pow-wow, completely ex-
hausted with his efforts, gave one tremendous yell, by
way of covering his retreat, then took to his heels,
and never stopped till he was cooling himself up to
his neck in the Housatonic.”

Wereaumaug died about 1735, the last chief sachem
of the tribe, which was now destined to very soon
disappear from the earth. He was buried on the
mountain, near the place where he had resided so
long. A pile of stones on an open plot of ground
marks the place where his remains repose. The In-
dian customs were observed on his burial. The war-
riors, now few in number, painted their faces, and all
that belong to the tribe deposited a stone upon the
grave. The custom of placing a stone on the grave
is kept up by the Indians when they visit the grave
afterwards.

DOCUMENTARY HISTORY.

i “New Mitrorp Febr. 23, 1748-9.

; An auount of ye goods delivered to Tamar Bordman at her Marriage,
one Bed £12, four Coverleds £9, one cheft of drawers £2 15s. one pair of
fine Sheets £4 two pair of New Sheets £3 four pair of half worn Sheets
£3 four pair of pillow-cases £1 12s. one diaper Table Cloath and 6 nap-
kins £4 4s, two barrels 6s. one Pail 5s. two trowels two pair of handirons
one pair of tongs one peal one rofting hook one flefh fork three tines
one bread tray 12s. two krot difhes one milk tray 5s.

“Po all People to whom these presents shall come: Greeting.

“Know ye, that I Sherman Boardman of New Milford in Litchfield
County & State of Connecticut, for the consideration of sertain services
Done and performed aud by me Received to my full Satisfaction of
Edward; a Blackman who was born a Slave in my House & who I this
day set free according to Law; I do give grant bargain sell and confirm
unto the said Edward the two following described pieces of Land Situate’
in the township of New Milford afore said on the East side of the Great
River at the North end of my Farm; the first piece being called the
Brook Lot containing about two & a half Acres of Land be the same more
or lefs, bounded on all sides by Highway Except a small part on the north-
east corner ix bounded on Elijah Boardman’s Lands. The second piece
lies southward of the first piece & westward of the Highway and adjoin-
ing the Great River being a point at the north end and Extending south-
ward adjoining to the highway & Great River so far southward as to make
four Acres of Land the lives to be of equal Length by the Highway & |
Great River Bounded Southward by my own Land Eastward by the High-
way westward by the Great River,

“Po have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with
the appurtenances thereof, unto him the said Edwerd, his heirs and
afsigns forever; to lis & their own proper use and behoof. And also I

 

+
426

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the said Sherman Boardman do for myself my heirs Executors and ad-
miniftrators, covenant with the said Edward his Heirs & afsigns ; that at
and until the enfealing of these presents I am well seized of the prem-
ifes, as a good indefeasible estate in fee-simple, and have good right to bar-
gain and sell the same in manner and form as is above written, and that
the same is free of all incumbrances whatsoever. And furthermore I
the said Sherman Boardman do by these presents, bind myself and my
heirs forever to warrant and defend the above granted & bargained prem-
ifes, to him the said Edward his Heirs & afsigns agains all claims & de-
mands whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and seal the 11th day of April Anno Domini 1808.
“Signed, sealed and delivered “SHERMAN BOARDMAN.
in Presents of
“ JEREMIAH CANFIFLD.
“ELisHa Bostwick.
“ LITcHFIELD Counry ss.
‘ “New MILrorD 11 April 1808.
“Personally appeared Sherman Boardman signer & sealer of the fore-
going instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free act and deed
before me,
“EisHa Bostwick, Justice of Peace.”

COPY OF ORIGINAL INDIAN DEED, Eve.

The following interesting matter is taken from the
old records of the town of Milford:

“At a Town meeting of Milford held Jany 5th 1701-2 Voted to pur-
chase land at Wiantinogue of the Heathen. And if any freeman not pres-
ent have a mind to come in for a share, they have liberty to do so; & if
any person have a mind to exempt himself from a share, he has liberty
to do so.

“ Voted, That a Committee be chosen to gain or purchase land at Wian-
tinogue, to treat with the Indians, & to secure the town’s interest there
to the best of their skill.

“Voled, That s1 Committee shall consist of Col. Robert Treat, Ensign
George Clark, Ensign Joseph Treat, Mr. Thos Clark, Ensign Joseph Peck,
Sergt Jonathan Baldwin, & Seargt Timothy Baldwin.

“A company was formed the June following of those persons who had
a desire to purchase land at Wiantinogue, as follows, viz.:

Shillings.
50
40

Robert Treat..
Thomas Cook.
Ensign George 5
Mr. John Fisk.......

Sergt Jonaths Baldwin.
Riché Bryan........
Sail Camp Segr..
Sergeant Nath® Baldwi
Thomas Bassett...

  
  
 
  
  
  
    
 
  
  
   
  
 
  

20

Lieut Joseph Platt 20
Lieutt Same! Camp. 30
Mr. Robert Treat..... 40
Mr. Jonathan Law Jn’ 20
Samuel Beard.........

Samuel Buckingham 30
Ensign Joseph Treat . 40
Sergt Benjin Fenn.. 40
Thos Clark Esr...

Gideon Allen.. 12

Stephen Miles.
James Wright
Zechariah Whitm
James Terrill.......
Woe Mary Baldwin
John Terrill...
James Prime...
Sylvanus Baldwi
Samuel Miles Jnr, a
John Smith (at the West End). 20
James Fenn... i
James Baldw:
Samuel Camp S
Samuel Hein...
John Smith Jn
Thomas Smith...
Jobn Buckingham
Same! Pingle.
“Names with the amt left blank

 

   
     
 

  
 
 

 

  
 
 
  
  
 
 
   
  
  
   
   
   
    

Shillings.
Samuel Brisco. ees 20
Thomas Tibballs Jnr. :
Henry Bottsford.... - 6
Barnabas Baldwin - 20
Seargt Same! Northrop.
Ebenezer Pringle.
John Merwin....
William Nathan:
Joseph Camp ++ 20
John Clark... » 25
Tho? Buckingham. + 20
Tho® Canfield... » 6
Josiah Platt Segr 20

We Lydia Newton.
John Roach......
William Wheele
Joshua Lobdell
William Roberts.
Samuel Pruddon.
James Beard......
Sergt Timy Baldwi

  
  
  

Samuel Nettleton 15
Hugh Stilson......
Delivennee Downs
Daniel Downs..

- 16
Eleazer Pringle
Gideon Allen 10
John Camp...
Thomas Welch.
Josiah Platt Jn’
John Woodruff. 20
Mr. Sane Clark 50
Same Lobdell.. - 20
Ensign Joseph Peck.. . 40

to be filled afterwards, with such

sums as the Subscribers shall see proper.

“The purchase of Wiantinogue was made by the Committee of the In-
dians ; & a Deed recorded of them on the 8 of Feby 1702-3, The con-
sideration for the tract was £60 current mouey & £20 in goods at money
price. It was bounded in the Deed (Milford Records Lib. 34, page 135)
Easterly by Woodbury, and a parallel line running into the Country,
Westerly with the mountains, Northwesterly with Wemeraug a small

 

Brook, running into the Housatonic, & from the head of the brook by a,
line running Easterly till it comes to the above s@ parallel line; with
Daubury line on the Southwest, & Woodbury line Southeast.
“In this tract tho Indians reserve their planting field on the west side
of the River, opposite the town, and the right of fishing at the Falls.
“The Deed was signed by

“SHOPACK, PApEsopo,

“ WEWINAPOWK, Pasnicoto,
“ PoRCENAUS, TowEcomis,
“ PARAMESHE, ‘Wompooto,
“ CHESQUMAG, Nunpooto,
“ PAPIREIN, Haowanis,

“ Yoncomis.
“In presence of

“ JouNn Miner, Interpreter (allowed by both the English & Indians),

‘EBENEZER JOHNSON,

“Joun Duranp,

“ TANORESTE,

“NonowaAk.

“The above-named Indians, the Subscribers, personally appeared in
Milford the 8th day of Feby, 1702-3, and acknowledged this Instrument
to be their free act & deed before me,

“EBENEZER JOHNSON,
“ Justice.

“Here follows upon the Record a diagram of Wiantinogue as drawn
by the indians marking their reservations.

“The Committee obtained a Patent of the Govt & Company which is
dated the 24 year of Queen Anne, 1703, and signed by John Winthrop.

“It appeares that the settlement of the Town was not commenced till’
about 4 years after the above purchase was made. The 15 Division of
Land was made in Dect, 1706.

“An additional purchase of a tract of lard on the North of the first
purchase was made by the Inhabitants in 1722.”

CHAPTER XLII.
NEW MILFORD (Continued).

Early Explorations—Purchases—Indian Map of the Town—The Patent
—The First Settlement—First Proprietors’ Meeting—List of Original
Proprietors—Initial Events—The North Purchase—Names of Proprie-
tors—Biographical Notes of Some of the First Settlers—Town Hill and
Town Street.

EARLY EXPLORATIONS AND PURCHASES.

Ir is quite probable that very soon after the set-
tlement was commenced at Windsor, in 1638, the colo-
nists became somewhat familiar, under the spirit of
exploration and adventure, with the territory now
comprising the township of New Milford, although it
was seventy-four years from that time before the first
settler came to the locality. Woodbury, the nearest
town, had been settled thirty-five years before a white
man had made his home in. these solitudes, and: they
were familiar with the locality. The attention of the
people of Fairfield and Stratford was turned to,
Weautenaug, the Indian name of New Milford, in
1670, when, upon the petition of Capt. Nathan Gold,
Mr. Jehu and John Burr, the General Court at Hart-
ford granted them liberty to make the purchase of
the place, “and the lands adjacent, of the Indians, to
make a plantation, if it be capable for such a thing.”
Mr. Gold, Mr. Jehu Burr, Mr. Hill, Mr. Thomas
Fayrechild, and Mr. Thomas Fitch were appointed a
committee “ for the well ordering of the planting of:
the same, and also to entertain inhabitants.” And it.
was declared “ that any of the honest inhabitants of this
 

NEW MILFORD.

427

 

colony that are in want of land, may have liberty to
be entertained there till the place is filled, provided,
if the place be not planted in four years, it shall re-
turn to the court’s disposal again.’’*

Whether the committee found it incapable of
making a plantation or not we do not know, or
whether the attempt ever was made. There was,
however, no settlement made under this authority
from the General Court.

In 1775 the General Court appointed Lieut. Joseph
Judson, Mr. John Burkes, Edward Worenston, and
William Judd “to view the lands of Derby, Wood-
bury, Mattatuck, Pootatuck, and Wyantenuck,} and
the distances between place and place, and to consider
what may be suitable bounds for each town, and pre-
sent the same to the court in October next.”

In 1679 the General Court ordered the committee
appointed in 1675 “to attend the said service as soon
as may be, and make report thereof in May next; and
that no farm be layd out within eight miles of either
of those places till the committee have made their re-
turn.”

The seeds of a controversy are now sown which
resulted in a conflict between the Indian and colonial
title to the lands of Weautenaug, which was not
settled for nearly ten years after the patent of the
town from the colonial government was obtained, and
which caused several years’ tedious delay in the settle-
ment of the place. Henry Tomlins, a freeman of
Stratford, had purchased land, it is said, of thieves in
a private way, to the prejudice of the Indians. Two
deeds were given to Tomlins “of an island in, and
of lands on either side of, Oautenock River, extend-
ing more than seven miles in length and six in
breadth; one of these deeds was given in April, and
the other in July, 1671,{ by Pocono, Ringgo, Quocon-
ecoe, and Whimta, and by Perainos and Cawkapo-
tons,” who professed to be the Indian proprietors.

In 1677, Scantemung, the first chief sachem of
Weautenaug of whom we have any knowledge, made
complaint to the General Court, then in session at
Hartford, of these purchases, and of the trespasses
upon the rights of his tribe. The whole matter in
controversy was referred by the court to the Fair-
field County Court. The ultimate decision was
against’ Tomlins and those who came here from
Stratford under their pretended Indian deeds, and
they were obliged to quit the occupation of the lands
of which they had taken possession, and make way
for the claimants under the colonial patent and title.

Other efforts were soon made to establish a planta-
tion at Weautenaug. In 1678 the General Court, at
Hartford, granted the Honorable Deputy Governor,
Maj. Robert Treat, with Mr. Bryan, Sr., or Jr.,

 

* Oolonial Records.

+I have adopted the following as the best orthography, viz., Wean-
tenaug, although it is spelled as above and a number of other different
ways, all of which may be considered correct,—‘ Oautenock.”

} Colonial Record of Lands, i., 421.

 

Capt. John Bird, Lieut. Samuel Eells, “liberty to
view and buy convenient land for a plantation in
those adjacent places about Pootatuck, Wiantenuck,
or thereabouts; and when the said land is purchased,
it shall remain to be disposed as the court shall see
cause and reason to order for the planting of it.” But
it is to be twenty-five years more before the people of
Milford take a decisive step towards the settlement of
the town and actually secure a patent, and hold pro-
prietors’ meetings for ordering and regulating the new
settlement.

In 1694 the wilds of Weautenaug were penetrated
by white people from a distance, when commissioners
of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New
York, and New Jersey and the Five Nations of In-
dians met at Albany. Capt. Wadsworth, of Hartford,
commanded a guard of sixty dragoons which accom-
panied the party from Boston to Albany. The Rev.
Benjamin Wadsworth, afterwards president of Har-
vard College, was one of the attendants, and from his
diary it appears that they returned through Weau-
tenaug to Hartford, by way of Woodbury. He says,
“ About noon came to Ten-Mile River, called so from its
distance from Wyantenuck,—runs into Wyantenuck,
—by ye side of which we rode, I believe, six or seven
miles, and passed ye same a little after sundown.
Wyantenuck River is ye same yt passeth thro’ Ouse-
tonnuck; it is Stratford River also.” He also speaks
about some parts of the way being through “‘a hideous
prowling wilderness,” and that some parts of their road
was “not so extreme bad.” In August, 1696, Capt.
Whiting came from Hartford to Wiantonock, and the
General Court allowed five shillings per horse in cash
for their hire thither.

It was seventy years after William Holmes erected
the first frame house at Windsor, in 1633, before a
patent was received from the General Court of New
Milford. Woodbury, adjoining it on the east, had.
been settled twenty-one years, and Danbury, the
nearest town on the southwest of it, had been settled
nineteen years, and the remaining part of Litchfield
County, as it is now divided, was a dense solitude,
and known as the “ Wilderness.” The people of Mil-
ford, the town from which our town derived,its name,
had some years before taken steps to purchase the
territory of the Indians, and had secured the author-
ity from the General Court.

The time had now come for them to take hold of
the matter in earnest, and sufficient numbers of their

leading citizens were found ready to form a company

to purchase the colonial title. The matter was agi-
tated in their town-meetings, and Jan. 1, 1701-2, it
was voted “to purchase Weautenaug of the heathen.
And if any freeman not present have a mind to come
in for a share, they have liberty to do so, and if any
present have a mind to exempt himself from a share,
he likewise has liberty to do so.” A committee was
chosen, consisting of Col. Robert Treat, Ensign
George Clark, Ensign Joseph Treat, Mr. Thomas
428

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Clark, Ensign Joseph Peck, Sergt. Jonathan Baldwin,
and Sergt. Timothy Baldwin, to gain or purchase the
land, to treat with the Indians, and to secure the
town’s interest there to the best of their skill. From
this first practical effort made to commence the set-
tlement, eighty individuals were soon obtained who
were willing to hazard the doubtful experiment of
opening up these dark wilds to become the abodes of
civilized men.* It was the home of the aborigines,
on one of the most beautiful streams of water in the
State, where, at the Falls of Mitichawon, a most
wild and romantic gorge through the mountains, the
salmon sparkled in the sun as he was taken from the
water, punctured by the dart of the savage, and
where the red man had his council-fires, and was a
strong and powerful nation. Its dense forests were
full of wild game, and the panther, the bear, the wolf,
and the deer roamed unmolested through its wild
wastes. The committee made the purchase of the
Governor and company, and received a patent of the
tract, which is as follows, viz. :

“SHEPAUG, his mark

“ WeEWINAPOWE, his mark

) >>

“ CHASQUEMAG, his mark

“ Wompotoo, his mark

“ TOWECOMIS, his mark

“ Youcomis, his =e" mark

 

 

A A, Indian forts; B, a line representing Housatonic River; ©, Indian
planting-field; D, Indian reservation for fishing at the fields,

The above is a reduced copy of a map or sketch of Wiantinogue as
drawn by the Indians.

PATENT, AND NAMES OF THE PURCHASERS.

The bounds of Weautenaug, by this patent, com-
menced at a small stream that empties into the Hou-
satonic River at Gaylordsville, and is the present
dividing line, in part, between the present towns of
Sherman and New Milford, and from that northwest
corner the line struck the Rocky River, and followed
that river, and left it at the small brook, from which
the line extended to the northeast corner of the town
of Danbury, which point has never been changed.

In running from that point to Woodbury, a portion .

of the town of Brookfield was included in the bounds
of the patent. The north line was a straight one
from the mouth of the brook, on the west side of the
Housatonic River, at Gaylordsville, to the Bee Brook,
as is supposed, in the present town of Washington, and

then, following that stream, to the Shepaug River. |

There can be but little doubt where the east boundary
line of New Milford ran upon an examination of the

 

* Lambert’s History of the Colony of New Haven.

 

patent of the town of Woodbury, which was granted
by the General Courts in 1686, and also a reference
to the five Indian deeds of Woodbury, and the con-
firmatory purchase from the Indians of May, 1706,
which covered all the former Indian grants. The
west boundary line of Woodbury, by its patent, is
very indefinite when it says “upon Potatuck River
(the Housatonic), the middle of the stream, and the
commons on the west.” It is quite clear that it was
west on the Potatuck till it came to the Shepaug
River, before it reaches the New Milford patent. The
only way to determine the commons on the west is
by a reference to the Indian deeds. The first Indian
deed of Woodbury, in 1659, does not give a clear idea
of the west line, as it comprises a large tract in Litch-
field County. The Shepaug purchase of March 17,
1685-86, which covered two-thirds of the present
town of Roxbury, extended only to the Shepaug
River on the west. By the confirmatory deed of
May, 1706, seven miles, by estimation, at the north
end, between Waterbury and Milford, “late pur-
chase, about fourscore rods west of Shepaug River,
at ye Steep Rock, and so running on ye west side of
sd. river of ye same breadth westward to ye mouth of
sd river to ye great river (Housatonic).”}+ This refers
to the New Milford patent, but does not affect the
west line of New Milford, on the Shepaug River,
north of the point fourscore rods west of the river at
Steep Rock. At the time the New Milford patent
was granted, in 1703, the east bounds of the town,
upon a comparison of the two patents and the Indian
deeds, was mostly on the Shepaug River. The lines
between the two towns have since, however, been
perambulated and fixed where they are now.

According to the best estimate that can be made of
the territorial area covered by the colonial patent,
eighty-four square miles of territory were granted to
the one hundred and nine original first purchasers
and proprietors of New Milford. The price paid by
each proprietor for his right was twenty-four shil-
lings, or four dollars. A half-right cost twelve shil-
lings, or two dollars. There were ninety-nine whole
or twenty-four-shilling rights, and ten half or twelve-
shilling rights. The number of whole rights, by
making the ten half-rights into five whole rights,
would have been one hundred and four. The whole
rights then would amount to five hundred and six-
teen acres and a small fraction of land, at four dol-
lars for the whole, which shows what civilization does
to affect the price of real estate.

The first Indian deed which the colonists received
of Weautenaug was dated Feb. 8, 1702-3.

There seems to have been no action taken by the
inhabitants of Milford under the authority granted
by the General Court in May, 1702, and further au-
thority was obtained at the October session in 1708,
when the following act was passed: *

 

+ Cothren’s History of Ancient Woodbury, chap. ii. pp. 55-56.
NEW MILFORD.

“This Court doe grant to the towne of Milford, purchasers of a tract
of Jand of the Iudians (which land lieth at Wiantenuck) for a township,
liberty according to their purchase to take out a pattent signed by the
Govern aud Secretary under the seal of the Colony: always provided it
be not an infringement to any former legall purchases or proprieties, as
also that they doe make a settlement upon said land within five years
under the conduct of a comittee for the stating of the town plott and
laying out the lotts. The name of the said town to be New Milford.

“This Court doe appoint the Hon Colon" Robert Treat, Mr. Thomas
Clark, Ensign George Clark, Ensign Joseph Treat, Ensign Joseph Peck,
Serj’t Jonathan Baldwin, and Serjeant Timothy Baldwin, they ur any
five of them, a comittee for the regulation of the township purchased by
the inhabitants of Milford lying at Wiantanuck, they bearing the
charges.”

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

The time had now come for the Milford proprietors
to endeavor to settle the territory which they had
purchased. Most of them did not probably expect
to remove from their favorable location on the Sound
to the wild region of the red man, some distance from
there, in the wilderness, but were ready to enter into
any speculation that might offer in the rights they
had purchased. They had bought a large tract of
land for a very small consideration, which some day
they expected would be developed into rich and pro-
ductive farms, supporting an increasing population
of people of sturdy industry and valor. Most of them
were from among the leading business men of Milford,
and some were men of note in the colony, possessing
great talents and indomitable energy of character.

FIRST PROPRIETORS’ MEETING.

The first meeting of the proprietors and purchasers
of New Milford was held at Milford, April 17, 1706,
when the following votes were passed :

“ Agreed and voted that the town plat and home lots of New Milford
shall be speedily pitched & laid out by the committee chosen & established
by the General Court according to & by the rules & orders that the Pro-
prietors shall agree upon and prescribe for their direction.

“That there be but two ranks or sorts of lots, one a four and twenty
shilling lot, and the other a twelve shilling lot, and that all the lots be
laid out in twelve shilling lots. That what is wanting in the quality of
the land in the several lots be made up in quantity. That there be two
twenty four shilling lots more than the number of the Proprietors, laid
out for the use of the Proprietors, to be disposed of by two thirds parts of
the Proprietors. That those only who first go to settle there at New
Milford shall draw lots and they shall take therein lots together, and
they shall have liberty to begin where they please, & they that come af-
terwards, either by themselves or assigns shall take their lots as they
come to settle there, next lot to him that went before him, he that hath a
four and twenty shilling right to take the two next lots lying together.

Under these simple directions of the proprietors,
the committee, consisting of Samuel Eells, Edward
Camp, Joseph Treat, and Joseph Peck, after going to
Woodbury to determine how they commenced their
settlements and laid out their home-lots, made a re-
port of their doings to a meeting of the proprietors
held at Milford, Dec. 9, 1707, in which they say,—

“ After the best advice we could come at or obtain from Woodbury
men, have pitched the town plat on Asepetuck hill and have there laid
out 16 home lots, seven acres and a half to a home lot for two half shares,
in order to proceed according to the order and agreement of the pro-
Prietors.”

It was also voted “that there be a division of ten
acres of Jand laid out under the same rules as have
been agreed upon about the home-lots.”

28 :

 

429

Aspetuck Hill is the hill north of the present vil-
lage, now called Town Hill. The Town Hill of the
early days was what is now called Prospect Hill, where
was quite an extensive park or common, laid out for
the purpose of having sufficient pathways to the high-
ways that might run out from it in the future.

In consequence of the conflicting claims between
the Indian and colonial titles, arising from the Indian
deeds given to Henry Tomlins in 1671, the proprietors,
probably to encourage settlers to come to New Mil-
ford, at their meeting in December, 1707, decided,—

“That if any person or persons that claim not under us, shall presume
to molest or disturb any person that settles there orderly, it is agreed that
all the proprietors will defend him from those that shall molest him in a
course of law, and that all the charges shall be born equally according
to their proportions, that is of the charges in tryal of the title of the land
in a course of law, and no further.”

In 1708 an effort was made to settle these conflict-
ing rights, and Mr. Samuel Clark, Jr., Ensign Joseph
Peck, and Jonathan Law were chosen by the pro-
prietors “to treat with the Stratford men about the
lands which they claim at New Milford, and to agree
with them fully and finally ;” but this attempt to come
to an understanding with them was unsuccessful, and
the proprietors, in April, 1709, decided that “we
will pay the charges that may be expended in mana-
ging the cause between Capt. Eels, Capt. Treat, En-
sign Peck, and Sergt. Camp, and Mr. Read, Tomlins,
Shelton, Blackleech, as there shall or may be occa-
sion.”

In March, 1707-8, the proprietors levied “three
shillings upon every twenty-four-shilling right, and
proportionally on a twelve-shilling right, for the de-
fraying the charges aforesaid,” and December, 1709,
the powers of the committee for agreement with Mr.
Read and his partners were continued. It was not,
however, till after the termination of the litigation
in reference to the title of the territory covered by
the colonial patent, about the year 1712, that settlers
commenced in any numbers to take possession of their
lots and erect their dwellings. The first white settler
who made this town his permanent residence was
John Noble, of Westfield, Mass., who came in the
year 1707. Col. John Read,one:of the parties to the
legal controversy as to the title of the Milford pro-
prietors, came here quite early to defend his title from
the natives; whether before Mr. Noble or not is un-
known. He erected a dwelling-house in the town,
northwesterly from the present residence of Dr. George
Taylor, which was used as a church after the adverse
decision of the lawsuit and his removal from the
town, till the first meeting-house was erected, in 1720.
All we know of him is that he preached the first ser-
mon in the town, having once been a candidate for
the ministry, and a few years after his removal froza
the town became an eminent attorney in the city of
Boston. It is supposed that he resided in Reading,
Conn., a short time after he left New Milford.

In December, 1710, Maj. Samuel Eells, Capt. Joseph
Treat, Lieut. Joseph Peck, Sergt. Samuel Clark, Jon-
430

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

athan Law, John Noble, John Bostwick, and Sergt.
Zachariah Baldwin were appointed a committee, any

five of whom could act, “for ordering the settlement:

of New Milford, dividing the lands, considering how
many families may be accommodated in and about
the place where the town-plat is already pitched,
leaving suitable commons, highways, etc.”

This committee were all of them among the first
proprietors and purchasers of the town, except Messrs.
Noble and Bostwick, who were then residents of the
town, all of whom were well calculated to perform
the duties assigned them in a satisfactory manner.
They “met and took a view of the land and situation
of the same,” and made a report of their orders to a
proprietors’ meeting held at Milford, May 29, 1712.
A better scheme for dividing the lands and making
the allotments to each one could not well be devised.
They confirmed the division of seven acres and a half
for a home-lot taken up, fenced, or built upon, and
ten acres for a pasture, made Dec. 9, 1707, and made
two new forty-acre divisions to a whole share, and
twenty acres to a half share, and provided that one
of the forty-acre divisions should be upland, and that
they should be taken up in one entire piece.

For the purpose of getting a clearer idea of the
method adopted for making choice of the different
divisions, it may be well to insert several of the
orders of the committee, as follows:

“That in the second division of 40 acres, the liberty of pitching or
making chvise shall be directly contrary to the pitch or choise in the first
forty acre division, the last proprietor in the first choise shall have the
first choise in the second division, and so on till the first proprietor in the
first division cometh to the last in the second division ; as also in the third
division, and in the fourth, if any hereafter shall be, the liberty of choise
shall be as in the first division.

“That in the first 40 acre division, the liberty of choise shall be first to
those who have already settled or built here, with this limitation that
they shall not make their pitch further Southward than an east and west
line across the fishing falls, nor further northward than an east and west
line half a mile above the mouth of Aspetuck River, excepting only Mr.
John Nobles, who has already improved land at Rocky river, who has
liberty to take his pitch in that place.

“The next thirty proprietors that shall here come to settle shall have
liberty as they come, to take their home lots of 7 and 1 acres, on Aspe-
tuck hill or plain northward, also their proportions of the 10 acre divis-
ions, and their 40 acres to an whole share or half so much to an half
share in order as they shall come to settle here, anywhere between the
southermost line before mentioned & an east and west line one milo
southward of the great mountain.

“That the rest of the proprietors as they shall hereafter settle their
several properties, shall take up their home lots, and their ten acre divis-
ions, and make their pitch for their first division anywhere within the
whole bounds.”

At this time there were but twelve families in the
town; but under these rules and regulations, and
after the legal victory they had achieved, settlers be-
gan to come here to make their permanent residence,

The twelve families were John Noble, Sr., John
Bostwick, Sr., Roger Brownson, Zacharialy Ferriss,
Benjamin Bostwick, John Noble, Jr., Josiah Bartlet,
Samuel Brownson, Samuel Griswold, John Bostwick,
Jr., John Weller, Thomas Weller, sixty persons in
all, none of them of the ofizinal purchasers and
proprietors,

 

LIST OF ORIGINAL PROPRIETORS.

The following were the original first purchasers
and proprietors of New Milford, with the amount
each one paid for his right:

Col. Robert Treat.

 
   
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
 
   
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
  
 
 

Ens® Geo. Clark...

Lieut. Joseph Treat...
Ens" Joseph Beck.

Jonathan Baldwin

Samuel Baldwin, wheelwright..
Lieut. Jos. Platt.....
Sergt. Miles Merwin..
Samuel Sanford, Sr.
Jobn Brunn........
Capt. Samuel Eells..
Sergt. Edward Camp..
Rey. Mr. Andrews..
Thomas Welch.
James Prime..
Stephen Miles...

Committee,

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Sergt. Daniel Baldwin.
Mr. Robert Treat..
Mr. Robert Plum..
Deacon Platt..
Thomas Clark
Mr. Samuel Clark, Jr.
Samuel Buckingham.
Thomas Buckingham.
John Buckingham
William Wheeler..
Nathaniel Farran
George Allen..
Samuel Camp, :
Jobn Smith, Jr. (ith).
Samuel Clark, Sr...

Ephrahin Bunnell.
Joseph Brunt..
Joseph Camp..
Samuel Camp Lunsend..
Nathaniel Farrand, Jr.
Thomas Tibballs...
Thomas Canfield..
John Merwin.....
Mr. Samuel Andrus, Jr.
George Clark, Sr.
Joseph Clark..

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Sergt. John Smith.
Jonathan Law, Jr.
John Allen...
Hugh Gray..
Joseph Ashburn.
John Simons.
James Kenn.
Zachariah Whitmer...
William Adams.
Joseph Rogers.
Samuel Stone..
Jonathan Baldwin, Jr.
Jesse Lambert.
Samuel Prudden.
Henry Summers....
Samuel Smith Watten.
Sergt. Zachary Baldwin..
Benjamin Smith.
John Clark..
John Smith, Ir.
Jobn Platt...

Josiah Platt.
Richard Platt..
William Fowler..
Samuel Prindle..
Sergt. Samuel Bland.
Sergt. Samuel Northru
George Clark, Jr

 

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Lieut. Samuel Burwell
Samuel Miles...
James Bland.
Samuel Smith...
William Gold...
Joseph Wheele:
Job Prince. oes
Andrew Sanford.

Samuel Camp, son of Edward Camp..
Ebenezer Pratt...
Lieut, Camp.
William Scone.
Widow Mary B

 

 

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James Baldwin.. Svatespectyeiiicunetia
Nathaniel Baldwin, ¢ cooper.
Samuel Nettleton...
Joseph Treat, son
Jeremiah Canfield.
Thomas Smith......
Nathaniel Baldwin, Sr..
Jeremiah Brown......
Bethuel Langstaff.
Andrew Sanford, J
Nathaniel Sanford
John Merwin, Jr..
Joseph Tibballs
Billian Baldwin, in right of her father, Timo-
thy Baldwin
Mr. Samuel Mather..

 
  
    

 

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Col. Robert Treat, the first of the ee first
purchasers of the town, was one of the most eminent
men of the colony. He became a colonel of the
Connecticut troops in 1674. In 1683 he was chosen
Governor of the colony, to which office he was re-
elected for fifteen years. He married a daughter of
Edmond Tapp, Esq., and there is the following tra-
dition concerning the match: While making a call at
Mr. Tapp’s, he took the girl upon his knee and
commenced trotting her. ‘ Robert,” said she, ‘‘be
still that. I had rather be treated than trotted.”
He then proposed marriage, to which she immedi-
ately consented.* He never came to the town, and
died in July, 1716. Upon a dispute with the Rev.
Mr. Andrew, as to the title, by his last will, of his
twenty-four-shilling right at New Milford, his four
grandchildren—Joseph, Robert, Samuel, and Jona-
than—deeded their interest in the New Milford house
to Mr. Andrew in 1730-31. Samuel, Col. Robert
Treat’s son, deeded his interest to Joseph Treat, son
of Lieut. Treat, in July, 1716. The home-lot to this
right was laid northward from the town-plat, in the
vicinity of Park Lane. Mr. Thomas Clark had a
home-lot laid out on Long Mountain in 1723, but he
did not come here to reside, and his right went into
the hands of his sons, Thomas, Jr., and Jared.
Thomas, Jr., deeded his interest to his son Thomas
(4th) in 1761. They did not come here to reside.
Among those who ultimately owned their right were
John Warner, Thomas Noble, and ep Sherman,
who resided here.

Ensign George Mark sold his entire right to Nathan
Talcot, who came here to reside, probably after 1720.
He deeded a home-lot and dwelling-house to Ebene-
zer Fisk, situated northeasterly of the common, on
Town Hill, and eastward from the meeting-house,
which stood on Aspetuck Hill, a little northwest of
the residence of the late John P. Treadwell. This
same homestead afterwards passed into the hands of
Eli Roberts, of Wallingford, about the year 1750, who
afterwards removed here.

The whole of the original right of Lieut. Joseph
Treat passed into the possession of his son John, who
removed here probably after 1721. Where he resided
when he first came is not known. As most of his
land was laid out at the Shepaug Neck, the present
town of Bridgewater, some of it near Hawley’s Park,

 

* Lambert's History of the Colony of New Haven, p. 137.

 

431

and some near Treat’s Park, it is evident he must
have resided there, as he owned a dwelling-house
there in 1750.

The home-lot that John laid out in the right of his
father must have been near the present residence of
Stephen G. Beecher. He sold it to Eleazar Beecher
in 1732, who came here to reside about that time, and
it has remained in the Beecher family from that time
to the present.

Ensign Joseph Peck’s twenty-four-shilling right
was owned by Enoch Burk in 1715, who came here
to reside. His home-lot was the farthest one at the
north end of Town Street, one of the sixteen on Aspe-
tuck Hill.

James Flinn became the owner of the whole of the
right of Jonathan Baldwin, and had his home-lot and
all his divisions laid out in the Shepaug Neck, near
the ‘ planting-field.”

The rights of Capt. Samuel Eells, Sergt. Edmund
Camp, and Rev. Mr. Andrew passed into other hands,
and there were no home-lots laid to them. Capt.
Samuel Eells was a man of influence in the colony,
having been a justice of the quorum and an assistant.
The Rev. Mr. Andrew was at the time of the pur-
chase and settlement of New Milford the third pastor
of the church at Milford, where he continued in the
pastoral office fifty-two years, dying in 1738, aged
eighty-two years.t

Thomas Welch was an extensive operator in real
estate about the time the New Milford purchase was
made. He bought a thousand-acre right for eleven
pounds, and also owned a large tract of land in
Hebron.t Paul Welch became the owner of his
father’s right after purchasing the interests of his
two sisters, after his father’s decease. His house was
at Park Lane, near the old Thomas Wills’ place.

In the earliest times the village, or Centre, was on
Aspetuck Hill, as it was then called, north of the
present Centre, now known as Town Hill. There
were no dwelling-houses on Main Street lower down
than the residence of Walter Bostwick, on the west
side of the street, and of the residence of the late
Deacon G. W. Whittlesey, now the Episcopal church,
on the east side of the street. The lower part of the
present Main Street was a very miry swamp of trees
and thick bushes, where, tradition says, the Indians
caught their wild horses by driving them into it and
surrounding them there.

It may be interesting to know who made this beau-
tiful hill their home at this early period in our his-
tory, as far back as 1712, and exactly where their
places of residence were. Of the twelve families who
lived in the town in 1712, four of them then lived at
the foot of Aspetuck Hill, on the town street or plat.
Their names were John Noble, Sr., John Bostwick,
Sr., Zachariah Ferriss, and John Weller. Benjamin
Bostwick resided on Town Hill, now Prospect Hill;

 

+ Ibid.
432

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

John Bostwick, Sr., resided in the vicinity of where
John R. Bostwick now lives; Samuel Brownson lived
the next place south ; Roger Brownson the next south
of his brother; John Noble, Jr., lived at the South
Farms, now the iron-works, Brookfield, near Gallas
Hill; Samuel Prindle lived on the west side of the
run; Thomas Weller lived on west side of Great
River; Jonah Bartlett; Samuel Griswold.

The tendency of the early settlers to build their
villages on some sightly hill is clearly shown in New
Milford, although there were many houses on low
ground. The inhabitants of Town Hill could have
a fine view of the houses on Aspetuck Hill, and im-
agination carries us back to the time when from
either of these hills all the dwelling-houses of the
people in the town could be seen with one sweep of
the eye. The home-lots on Town Street (Main Street)
were generally about twenty rods in breadth on the
street. The Town Street, “beginning at John Noble’s,
Sr., home-lot shall extend so far northward as shall
be necessary for building lots to be 20 rods wide, as it
is to run up the hill against the front of Saml. Clark’s
home-lot, and in no place less than 14 or 15 rods
wide, except where lots are taken up; and from John
Noble’s home-lot to extend southward, from thence
winding as ye lots are already laid out on the westerly
side till it comes to Samuel Holbrook’s home-lot, to
be 20 rods wide, when the circumstances of the place
allows of it.”

I will now name the first owners and occupiers of the
houses on the west side of Town Street, commencing
at the foot of the hill. The first dwelling-house was
that of Stephen Noble, and was about where the man-
sion of Walter B. Bostwickstands. He received adeed
from his father, John Noble, of one-half of the original
right of Samuel Merwin, one of the first purchasers
and proprietors of the town, who did not come here to
reside. Thesecond house was that of John Bostwick,
Sr., which stood in the vicinity of the residence of Mrs.
Frederick Boardman, and must have been erected at
a very early date, soon after the lots on Aspetuck Hill
were laid out. He was one of the twelve inhabitants
who resided here in 1712. The third place was
that of Samuel Clark, and stood near the brick
house of William D. Black. This was the second lot
laid on the west side of the street after the proprie-
tors’ meeting of April, 1706, when they decided to
speedily pitch the town-plat. The next lot north was
also owned by Mr. Clark, but there was no house built
upon it for many years at least. The fourth house was
the parsonage, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Daniel
Boardman, which was about opposite the first meet-
ing-house erected in the town. It was a home-lot
laid out for the minister. The fifth residence was
that of Jacob Griswold, and it stood in the vicinity of
the lot of William D. Black. The sixth house be-
longed to David Griswold. The seventh residence
was that of Benoni Stebbins, and his home-lot was
laid out in 1718. William Gaylord owned a home-

 

lot next north of that of Mr. Stebbins, which was
afterwards owned by Benjamin Burrell. Mr. Gay-
lord bought this of Thomas Canfield, an original pur-
chaser. The next house belonged to Roger Brown-
son, and was one he built himself. He was one of
the twelve families here in 1712.

The first house on the plain at the foot of Aspetuck
Hill, on the east side of the Town Street, belonged to
John Noble, Sr., and was situated down as far as the
residence of the late Deacon G. W. Whittlesey. He
removed from his log hut under Guarding Mountain
here. He was one of the twelve persons here in 1712.
The next house was that of John Weller, who leased,
and finally bought, the original right of Thomas
Smith. The lease was for twelve years from Dec. 28,
1710, and one of the stipulations of the lease was that
Mr. Smith should procure one: hundred and fifty
apple-trees from Woodbury for Weller to plant. It
is believed they were set out, etc. His house proba-
bly stood in the vicinity of the first house south of
the Congregational church, now owned by 8.'G.
Beecher, lot of Thomas Smith.

The third house on the east side of the ‘street was
that of William Gaylord, where he resided. He
bought the place of Thomas Canfield, one of the first
purchasers of the town, in 1723, but had built his
house and resided there before he received his deed.
This house was on the corner lot of the residence
of Dr. George Taylor.

The next place of residence was that of Zachariah
Ferriss, of three acres and three-quarters. Where he
lived when he first came here is unknown, but it is
evident he finally built here on this place. His lot
was twenty rods wide on Town Street, and seventeen
rods wide on the east side. This was the place occu-
pied by Col. John Read. :

The next place of residence was that of Caleb Mal-
lory, and stood about opposite the first. This origi-
nal right was Richard Bryan, who was a merchant
and a great speculator. The meeting-house was on
the north of it, and the next lot was a parsonage lot.

The next lot north was that of Jonathan Buck, and
was twenty rods wide on the street. The next house
on the east side of the street was that of Theophilus
Baldwin, an original proprietor. The next house be-
longed to John Welch, who received the title of the
whole original right of Sergt. Daniel Baldwin in
April, 1715, and had the lot laid the next day after
he made the purchase. Enoch Burk’s house was the
farthest one at the north end of Town Street, on
Aspetuck Hill. James Prince, Jr., had a lot on As-
petuck Hill.

Stephen Miles, one of the first purchasers, did not
come here to reside.

The interests of Barnabas Baldwin, one of the first
purchasers, came into the possession of John Noble,
Wm. Kellogg, and Joseph Ruggles in 1784. It was
situated at the iron-works at Brookfield, where a
smelting-furnace was afterwards erected.
NEW MILFORD.

433

 

The right of John Woodruff was sold to John
Noble, Jr., of Westfield, in 1706, who came here to
reside, and was one of the twelve heads of families
here in 1712. The original home-lot to this right
was laid near the north bounds of the town, on the
West Aspetuck River.

The home-lot to the right of Daniel Turrill, one of
the first purchasers and proprietors, was in the Still
River Neck. Samuel Brisco, one of the first pur-
chasers, came here and lived on Second Hill about
1725; also Timothy Botsford, who resided at the She-
paug Neck about 1730.

The home-lots to the original rights of Mr. Robert
Treat and Joseph Rogers were on the west side of
Second Hill, on the highway, about opposite the vil-
lage. Neither of them came here to reside, and their
places passed into other hands.

The right of Mr. Robert Plum, who did not come
here ‘to live, was sold, and no home lot ever laid.
Deacon Platt’s lot was laid to Theophilus Baldwin, on
Aspetuck Hill. Thomas Clark sold his interest in
New Milford to his son, and the home-lot was laid to
Samuel Clark. Samuel Clark, Jr., had no home-lot
laid.

Samuel Buckingham, home-lot Jaid on chestnut
land. aa

Thomas Buckingham, home-lot laid on Second Hill,
east ‘from town, probably where B. W. Buckingham
now resides.

John Buckingham’s home-lot was laid to the wife
of Joseph Treat, Jr., son of Lieut. Treat, in Shepaug
Neck. ,

Wm. Wheeler did not come here to reside.
died soon after the purchase.

Nathan Farrand’s, Sr., interest passed into the’ pos-
session of Zachariah Ferriss.

‘Geo. Allen did not-remove here. The home-lot to
this right was in the Still River Neck, near Danbury
bounds.

Samuel Camp’s (mason) interest went to John Bost-
wick, Sr. Home-lot on Town Street, etc.

John Smith (4th) and Samuel Clark, Sr., did not
come here to reside, and their lots were laid out to
others.

Ephrahim Burwell’s home-lot was in Shepaug
Neck, near Samuel Brisco’s.

Joseph Beard had a home-lot laid out on the west
side of Town Street. °

Joseph Camp’s home-lot was laid in Still River
Neck, by the path’ towards Newtown, and was sold to
David Luke in 1725.

Samuel Camp’s (Land’s End) home-lot was just
north of Paul Welch’s, Park Lane.

Nathaniel Farrand, Jr., and Thomas Tibbals had
no home-lots laid out to their right.

John Merwin. Thé lots to this ‘right were laid on
Second Hill. ,

Wm. Gold’s home-lot, where he resided, was on the
Poplar highway which went north of Town Street,

He

 

just above the village. Samuel Adkins lived near

Mr. Gold.

The right of Joseph Wheeler came into the pos-
session of Rev. Mr. Boardman.

John Prime’s right was sold to Thomas Cushing, of
Boston, and the home-lot was laid on West Aspetuck
River, at south end of Great Mount Tom. Neither of
them came here.

Andrew Sanford’s home-lot was laid to Andrew
Tuttle, on the northeast end of Bound Hill.

Samuel Camp’s (son of Edward Camp) lot was laid
to Joseph Garnsey, north of the village, on Poplar
highway, since discontinued.

Eleazar Prindle’s home-lot was laid to Ebenezer
Fisk, son of Doe. Fisk, on east side of Town Hill.

Wm. Scone, Widow Mary Baldwin, and Nathaniel
Baldwin, cooper, had no home-lots laid to their rights.

Samuel Baldwin, wheelwright, had a home-lot laid
on Still River Neck. :

Lieut. Joseph Platt had no home-lot.

Sergt. Miles Merwin’s home-lot was laid on Bear
Hill, east from Wolf-Pit Mountain.

Samuel Sanford’s, Sr., right was finally the Rev.
Mr. Boardman’s.

John Beard’s home-lot was on the east side of She-
paug Neck. The whole interest came into the pos-
session of Joseph Ruggles in 1733.

Mr. Samuel Andrew’s, Jr., home-lot was on south
end of Bear Hill, on both sides of Cross Brook.

Geo. Clark and Joseph Clark had no home-lots
laid.

Joseph Peck had a home-lot laid near Danbury
line.

John Camp and Sergt. John Smith had no lots laid.
Sold.

Jonathan’s Law’s, Jr., home-lot on Strait’s Hill,
west side Great River.

John Allen died, and Henry Allen, his brother,
sold his interest to Samuel Clark in 1710.

Joseph Ashburn. This right was bought by The-
ophilus Baldwin, and the home-lot was laid to Samuel
Burwell, who owned it.

John Summers had no lots laid out.

James Finn had his home-lots laid in Shepaug
Neck, at the planting-field.

Zachariah Whitman had no home-lots laid.

Wm. Adams. The home-lot to this right was laid
to Peter Peritt and Roger Brownson, north of Samuel
Brownson’s home-lot, west on Great River in part,
and in part on Joseph Bostwick’s land, west on Town
Hill.

Joseph Rogers, home-lot on east side, Second Hill.

Samuel Stone’s home-lot was laid to John Stone,
and was northeast from Round Hill, on the east side
of East Aspetuck River.

Jonathan Baldwin, Jr. There were never any home-
lots laid to this right, and he never came here.

Jesse Lambert’s right or home-lot was laid to his
sons Jesse and David, at Shepaug Neck.
434

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Jesse Lambert came to Boston and New Milford
from England, where he settled about 1680. He had
been an officer in the British navy. He was great-
grandfather to Edward R. Lambert, author of a his-
tory of the colony of New Haven, giving a descrip-
tion of Milford, published in 1838.

Samuel Prudden had a home-lot in Still River
Neck, near the south end of the bounds, but did not
come here to reside.

Henry Summers and Samuel Smith Walter did
not come here, and had no lots laid.

Sergt. Zachariah Baldwin. He did not come here;
his son, Ebenezer Baldwin, resided here, and his
father’s home-lot was on Town Street.

Benjamin Smith, Sr., did not come here, neither
did John Clark.

John Smith, Jr., had a home-lot in Still River
Neck.

Josiah and Richard Platt had no lots laid to their
rights.

William Fowler sold a portion of his land to Samuel
Prindle and Joseph Bostwick, who came here to re-
side. Joseph Bostwick had a lot on Town Street,
near Great Brook.

Samuel Prindle had his home-lot where he lived, on
Town Street, near Great Brook.

Sergt. Samuel Northrop’s right was deeded by his
sons to John Turrill in 1714, and John deeded to his
son Nathan in 1717. His home-lot was Town Hill
probably.

George Clark, Jr., had no home-lots.

Samuel Coley laid to William Gaylord.

Samuel Marwin had no home-lots laid.

Lieut. Samuel Burwell’s home-lot was on Aspetuck
Hill.

Samuel Miles. Samuel Brownson had this lot, and
it was north on lot John Bostwick, Jr., had built up,
south on lot Roger Brownson had built upon.

James Beard had a home-lot laid on road to chest-
nut-land.

Samuel Nettleton did not come here, but his home-
lot was laid out to his sons, John and Samuel, in She-
paug Neck.

Joseph Treat, son of Lieut. Treat, married a daugh-
ter of John Buckingham, and there were two home-
lots laid in Shepaug Neck, one in the original right
of each.

Jeremiah Canfield’s home-lot was on the plain by
the Round Mountain. His whole right went to his
son, Jeremiah, Jr.

Thomas Smith, Sr., John Weller, etc.

Nathaniel Baldwin, Sr., Jeremiah Brand had no
home-lots.

Buthuel Langstaft’s home-lot was on Second Hill,
on Woodbury road. Joseph Manning owned one-half
of it.

Andrew Sanford, Jr., had no home-lots laid.

Nathaniel Sanford’s right was sold to Benjamin
Hurd, of Woodbury, in 1724,

 

John Marwin, Jr., had no lots.

Joseph Tibball’s home-lots were laid in Shepaug
Neck to Daniel Collins, ;

B. Baldwin’s home-lot was laid in Shepaug Neck.

Samuel Mather had no lot laid.

The meetings of the proprietors were held at New
Milford after 1723-24. In 1714 the town voted that
there ‘‘should be a grist-mill set up and maintained
for the benefit of the town,” and in 1715 the proprie-
tors voted that they should “agree with some person
to build and maintain a grist-mill on some part of
Still River or elsewhere,” and that the committee
“execute any instrument or instruments for the grant-
ing the stream and some land, in the name of the pro-
prietors.” John Griswold came, on the invitation of
the committee, and built the mill on Still River, but
did not long survive. The proprietors, however, car-
ried out their agreement with his heirs by granting
them a house-lot and other lands as a recompense for
building the mill.

The early settlers also saw the necessity of having
a blacksmith among them, and eighteen of them
agreed with James Hine that, if he ““do become our
smith and faithfully endeavor to do our work for rea-
sonable satisfaction for four years,” they would give
him a certain number of acres of land. He came.

It was not till 1728 that the effort to secure a cooper
was successful. Jonathan Buck, Jr., was an appren-
tice to Benjamin Bunnell, of Milford, and about ten
of our leading citizens,—such men. as the Rev. B.
Roger Brown, Benoni Stebbins, Nathan Talcot, and
Paul Welch,—upon his desire to come here, made him
a contribution of land, money, and labor, upon con-
dition that he “settle in this town as soon as his time
is out with his master, Bunnell, and also be obliged to
supply the town with needful cooper-work,—viz., set
work and rhine work,—at a reasonable price, so long
as there shall be an occasion for his work, or while
there is not another or others of his trade sufficient to
supply said town, or while he shall have life and abil-
ity so to serve the town.” Some gave land and some
ten shillings in work, some two days’ work, and his
father, Jonathan Buck, agreed to give “considerable
labor ;” and so he came, and carried on his trade, the
first cooper in the town.

The town charges, at the commencement of man-
aging the affairs of the proprietors town-wise, were
paid either in money or in grain, the price of which
was fixed in town-meeting. At the annual town-
meeting of December, 1715, it was voted “that grain
should pass for paying town charges as follows:
wheat at four shillings per bushel; rye at two shil-
lings and eightpence per bushel; Indian corn at two
shillings per bushel; oats at one shilling fourpence
per bushel, and flax at sixpence per pound.” These
prices varied by vote of the town from year to year.
In 1718 the price was fixed for Indian corn at three
shillings per bushel (50 cents); wheat, six shillings
per bushel ($1); rye, four shillings per bushel (664
NEW MILFORD.

cents); oats, at one shilling per bushel; pork, three-
pence per pound (4 cents); flax, 7 cents per pound
(9% cents).

Every public matter in these early times was done
either in the meetings of the proprietors, the town-
meetings, or the meetings of the proprietors of the
common fields. One of the hardships of pioneer life
would have been the necessity of inclosing their di-
visions of land by proper fences, which would have
caused a great amount of lnbon and expense. To
avoid this difficulty in a measure, the earliest settlers
had meetings of the proprietors of the common fields,
as they were called, and decided to co-operate, under
such rules and restrictions as might be agreed upon,
in supporting common fences to inclose certain por-
tions of their lands. These meetings were held from
time to time, as might be necessary, called by a per-
son designated for that purpose, either under his own
or the direction of the meeting. Fences were thus
established, and built under the direction of commit-
tees appointed for that purpose, and each of the pro-
prietors paid his share of the expense. The length
of fence was set in rods to each proprietor, for which
he was liable to pay a pro rata share of the expense
incurred.

The east side of the Great River, from the Great
Falls to Aspetuck River, some ways back from the
river, was thus inclosed by a general line of fence,
and the west side of the Great River, from Rocky
River, by the mountains, to Wood Creek, and north
of the Still River meadows to the Great Falls, were
all inclosed in one common line of fence, built and
supported by votes in the meetings. In these meet-
ings it was decided where the gates should be, at
what time of the year or week the common fields
should be open for pasturage of horses and cattle,
and to make regulations about planting, etc.

In October, 1717, the proprietors decided “that the
fields should be opened for cattle and horses upon
Saturday, Oct. 5th, at sunset.” They generally or-
dered that the fields should be opened from Saturday
sunset till Monday morning or Sunday night, and
some years they voted to keep them closed entirely.
Cattle, sheep, or horses found in the fields at any
other time than designated were to be considered
“damage frusant,” and were liable to be impounded.
Sheep and swine were sometimes allowed in the
fields.

As a result of thus allowing their cattle, sheep, and
swine to run together, and from the necessities of
these early times, the town established marks on the
ears of the cattle, sheep, and swine, called ear-marks,
which were made for each owner or proprietor, so
that he could distingnish his animals from those of
his neighbors. These marks were described and re-
corded in the town records to the individual. As
early as 1728 this method of identifying animals was
put into practical operation, and all the proprietors
had their peculiar ear-mark made and recorded.

 

435

THE NORTH PURCHASE.
About the year 1721 the inhabitants of the town be-

‘gan to agitate the subject of enlarging the northern

frontier, and the suggestion was received with such
favor by the citizens that it was finally agreed in
town-meeting, June 12, 1722, “that if in case we can
purchase any of the land northward from our town,
that we will divide equally to each man above twenty-
one years of age; and also that we agree that every
man that hath a son under age shall have liberty to
purchase for one son that is under the age of twenty-
one years, and no more, and that those so purchased
for shall be equal sharers with the rest of the pur-
chasers.” A few days after this meeting a meeting
was held to determine how many of the inhabitants
of the town would agree to make the purchase, and
sixty-four persons subscribed their names to a paper,
which was entered on the town records, “that they
would proceed to purchase one mile and a half across
the north end of New Milford bounds.” None of
the’ purchasers were to have a share or interest in the
land but those who paid the purchase money within
two months after June 22, 1722, the date of the meet-
ing. The purchase of this strip of land was made of
a committee of Hartford and Windsor by Samuel
Brownson, William Gaylord, and Stephen Noble,
agents for the inhabitants of New Milford, for thirty
pounds, on the 23d day of June, 1722, in the eighth
year of the reign of King George I. Hartford and
‘Windsor obtained a grant in 1686 from the colony of
Connecticut of all the land on the north of Wood-

-bury and Mattatuck, and on the west of Farmington
-and Simsbury, to the Massachusetts line north, and to

run west to the Housatonic River, which covered the
north purchase. The native right of the Indians,
also, of this tract had been purchased by Hartford
and Windsor before the New Milford purchasers re-
ceived their deed.

NAMES OF PURCHASERS.

The names of the original purchasers of the ‘‘ North
Purchase” were Zachariah Ferris, John Ferris, Benja-
min Bostwick, John Weller, Sr., Obadiah Weller,
Thomas Weller, Enoch Buck, Lemuel Bostwick,
Thomas Picket, Thomas Brownson, Daniel Board-
man, Samuel Camp, James Camp, Abraham Bost-
wick, Ebenezer Bostwick, Benjamin Bunnell, Sr.,
Benjamin Bunnell, Jr., William Corns, Ebenezer
Washburn, George Corns, John Bostwick, Jr., John
Bostwick (3d), James Prime, William Prime, John
Bostwick, Sr., Stephen Noble, Jonathan Noble, Paul
Welch, Theophilus Baldwin, Benoni Stebbins, Eben-
ezer Picket, Samuel. Brownson, Roger Brownson,
Samuel Prindle, John Welch, Sr., John Welch, Jr.,
David Noble, Daniel Noble, Robert Bostwick, Nathan
Bostwick, Samuel Hitchcock, Sr., Samuel Hitchcock,
Jr., Jonathan Hitchcock, John Hitchcock, Samuel
Prindle, Jr., Roger Brownson, Jr., John Weller, Jr.,
John Noble, Samuel Atkins, Gamaliel Terrill, Jona-
436

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

than Buck, John Noble, Jr., Nathaniel Bostwick,
Joseph Buck, Robert Bostwick, Jr., Nathan Terrill,
Ebenezer Buck, Joseph Bostwick (2d), Henry Gar-
lick, Ebenezer Baldwin, Sr., Ebenezer Baldwin, Jr.,
William Gaylord, Benjamin Gaylord, Joseph Bost-
wick, Sr.

July 25, 1726, the proprietors of the north pur-
chase commenced to hold meetings, and at that meet-
ing Ensign William Gaylord and Roger Brownson
were chosen a committee to assist the surveyor to run
the lines in bounding out the proprietors’ land, and a
rate of twelvepence for each proprietor was raised to
defray the expenses, which was afterwards raised one
shilling and sixpence on each right.

The land was laid out and surveyed by Edward
Lewis, Esq., surveyor of the county of Fairfield, on
Aug. 1, 4.p. 1726.

It was not, however, till December, 1730, that the
proprietors took steps to have the land laid out, and
they then decided “ that the lots should run but half-
way through the tract; or thus, one lot.on the north
side and the other on the south side.” In 1781 the
proprietors had laid out the greater part of the tract
into sixty-four lots, making suitable allowances for
highways. There were thirty-two lots laid out on the
north tier, the first to Benoni Stephens and the last
to Mr. David Boardman. The other lots were laid
out on the south tier, in accordance with the votes
passed in proprietors’ meetings.

The proprietors thought it would be to their ad-
vantage to secure the annexation of their purchase
to the town, and thus have it under one government.
They could then discontinue their separate meetings.
The General Assembly was finally memorialized by
Samuel Brownson and David Boardman in behalf of
New Milford, and in October, 1731, a patent of the
north purchase was granted, signed by Joseph Talcot,
Esq., Governor, and it thus became a part of the town
of New Milford. It is bounded in the patent “ west
on the Great River, one mile and half of a mile in
breadth, from thence to run a parallel with the north
bounds of New Milford, unto the land sequestered for
the use of Wereaunaug.” The remaining unsettled
lands north of this tract in the wilderness were then
claimed by the towns of Hartford and Windsor.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF SOME OF THE FIRST
SETTLERS.

John Noble was born in Springfield, Mass., March
6, 1662, and was the first settler of New Milford,
having made this town his place of residence in 1707.
When he emigrated to this town he was an inhabitant
of the town of Westfield, Mass., to which place he
came with his father in childhood. His father,
Thomas Noble, the emigrant ancestor of the largest
family in the United States bearing the name of
Noble, was born in England about 1632, and died at
Westfield, Mass., at the age of at least seventy-two
years. The names of his parents, the place of his

 

birth, and the year in which he came to this country
are unknown, but it is supposed he came to Boston in
1658. He came to Westfield about the year 1669,

John was the oldest of ten children. His first wife
was Abigail Sacket, daughter of John and Abigail
Sacket, of Northampton and Westfield, Mass., who
died in 1683, aged nineteen, four days after the birth
of his first child; and in 1684 married Mary Good-
man, daughter of Richard and Mary Goodman, of
Hadley, Mass., who was one of the first original mem-
bers of the first church organized at New Milford, in
1716. He had eleven children.* ‘When he first
came to New Milford he brought one of his daugh-
ters, then about eight years of age. He built his hut
under what is called Fort Hill. It deserves to be
mentioned to the credit of the natives, that he once
left his daughter, when eight years of age, with the
natives for three or four weeks, while he was absent
from the town, and found on his return that she had
been well cared for.t| He had joined the First Congre-
gational Church in Woodbury, Conn., in 1710.' He
was a very active and energetic man, serving faith-
fully in all the various capacities in which he was, of
necessity, called upon to act in this new and undevel-
oped country. He was very active in securing town
privileges; but in the midst of his greatest usefulness
in the new settlement, and before his plans had been
carried out, he was called away by death, which oc-
curred Aug. 17,1714. He was only fifty-two years of
age,

The inventory of his estate amounted to one hun-
dred and seven pounds, three shillings, sixpence.’

John Noble, Jr., son of John, Sr., was born at
Westfield, Mass., Feb. 15, 1685. He had three wives:
Ist, Hannah Picket; 2d, Abigail Buck, of Wethers-
field, Conn.; 3d, Sarah Slaughter, of Ridgefield,
Conn. He had three children by his first wife, six
by his second, and four by his third. He lived six or
seven miles below the village of New Milford, next
south of Gallows Hill, on the Danbury road, where
he built a house and lived and died. He was one of
the pioneers of the town, coming here to live soon
after his father. He became a member of the Con-
gregational Church in 1720. He was captain of the
train band in New Milford in 1732. He died, 1783,
at the age of seventy-one. His oldest son, Thomas,
built the first house north of Gallows Hill, in New
Milford, near his father, where he resided. He was
for many years the owner of the iron-works known
by that name, now in the town of Brookfield, then a
part of New Milford. He was a member of the Gen-
eral Assembly five sessions, and filled many offices of
trust. He died in the summer of 1773, aged eighty*
eight years. Most of the facts in this ‘sketch are
taken from Boltwood’s history of the family of
Thomas Noble.

 

* Boltwood’s History and Genealogy of the Family of Thomas Noble.
{ Stanley Griswold’s Century Sermon, 1801.
NEW MILFORD.

Capt. Stephen Noble, son of John, Sr., was born in
Westfield, Mass., Aug. 15, 1686, and died in New
Milford at the age of sixty-nine. He was a black-
smith by trade, and an extensive land-holder in the
town, to which he probably removed as early as Jan.
24,1714. He was a very influential man in the town,
and was selectman fifteen years, and justice of the
peace. He was one of the first representatives to the
General Assembly, none having been chosen prior to
1725, and afterwards sent sixteen times.

He was the captain of the only military company

in the town for twenty years after its organization.
He joined the Congregational Church at New Milford
in 1727. He married Abigail Morgan, Feb. 16, 1683,
daughter of Isaac Morgan, of Enfield, Conn. He had
seven children. The facts contained in this’ brief
sketch of Capt. Noble are taken from Boltwood’s
“History of the Family of Thomas Noble,” of West-
field, Mass., loaned me by Russell B. Noble, town
clerk, and a representative of the seventh generatign
from the first settler of the town. ; ‘
! John Bostwick was the second person who ‘settled
in New Milford, and came in the year 1707. He was
one of three brothers of Scotch extraction, Arthur and
Zachariah being the other two, who came about 1668.
He was one of the two persons who represented the
town in the General Assembly, the first time in 1726,
from the town of Cheshire, England, and located at
Stratford, Conn. His seventh, and youngest son,
Daniel, was the first white male child born in the
town, and kept a public-house in the village for
many years. Maj. John Bostwick, the oldest son of
John, the second settler, was born in the year 1686.
He married Mercy Bushnell, of Danbury, Conn., in
1712, and had five children.

Zachariah Ferriss was the third settler of New
Milford, and came about 1709. He married Sarah
Read, and had eight children. Sarah, the fifth, was
the first female child born in the town, the date of
her birth being Nov. 10,1710. She married Stephen
Noble.

Samuel Brownson was the fifth settler of the town,
Samuel Hitchcock being the fourth. He was one of
the first deacons of the Congregational Church ; town
clerk for yeats.—Bostwick Genealogy. :

William Gaylord was born in 1680. He married
Joanna Minor, of Woodbury, Conn., the sixth daugh-
ter of Capt. John Minor. They were both members

of the Congregational Church, and removed to New

Milford about 1712, from Woodbury, where, as one of
the first settlers, his services were always in great
demand. He sprang from a long line of illustrious
ancestors, commencing in Normandy, France. . The
Chateau Gaillard was begun and finished in one year,
by Richard Coeur de Lion, for the defense of the
frontier of Normandy. It was entire at the beginning
of the seventeenth century, and was then considered
one of the most magnificent specimens of military
architecture in Europe. Henry Quatre caused its

 

437

destruction in 1603, for fear that it might fall into the
hands of some more powerful enemy. The name can
be traced back prior to 1250. Some of them were
knights, and one, Lord Dunfort, an admiral in 1475;
one a distinguished Protestant minister in 1659; one
a provincial bishop from 1634 to 1695; one a histori-
cal writer of the seventeenth century ; one an engraver
in 1752; and one a distinguished composer of music
and sporting songs, “‘ which were the delight of every
play-house and public place in the kingdom.”

The Gaillard refugees, from whom have sprung all
of that name in England and the United States, re-
moved from France to Glastonbury, England, about
1550; and about 1630, William Gaylord, as it was
now spelled in England, a native of Exeter, county
of Devonshire, emigrated to New England, and was
one of the pioneer settlers of' Dorchester, Mass. He
settled in Windsor, Conn., about 1638, which town
he represented at forty-one semi-annual elections in
the General Assembly. William, of New Milford,
was the fifth son of Walter, the third son of William,
of Dorchester. He removed to Gaylordsville, in New
Milford, on the home-lot of the late David Gaylord,
deceased, in 1720, and was the pioneer settler of that
part of the town. The Schatacoke Indians, a few
miles north, were very friendly, and he carried on
an extensive fur-trade with them. He cleared up a
dense forest, and lived in this secluded section until
his own descendants gave him some social life. Some
of the seventh generation of his descendants are now
living near together in that part of the town where
he settled. He died Oct. 25, 1753, aged seventy-three
years. The facts contained in this sketch were taken
from the history and pedigree of the sons of Gaillard,
or Gaylord, in France,’ England, and the United
States, by Wm. Gaylord, of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Samuel Brownson was the first town clerk here, and
held the office till 1738, when, at a special’ town-meet-
ing held in November of that year, Roger Brownson,
Sr., was chosen to fill his place.

He was also a deacon of the church ; he was also a
representative in the General Aasaubly in the year
1726.

John Bostwick was born in ————. He was
selectman many times, and representative in the
General Assembly’ eighteen different times, the last
in 1740.

Stephen Noble was also one of the most prominent
men of the early times. He took a very prominent
part in the affairs of the town.

John Noble, Paul Welch, and Wm. Gaylord were
also early settlers.

TOWN HILL AND TOWN STREET, Erc.

In the earliest: times there was a highway from
about where Jeremiah B. Brownson resides to the vi-
cinity of the residence of H. W. Booth, or west of it
probably, and it was in the vicinity of the dwelling-
house of H. W. Booth, Esq., or the place where Watts
438

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

lives, that Thomas Picket built his house about 1715.
From Picket’s home-lot land was sequestered for a
common. This common was east of the town street,
which passed by Picket’s house south, twenty rods
wide. Nathan Talcot and Ephraim Fisk lived north-
east.of Mr. Picket’s, on the north end of the hill,—
Prospect Hill now called. Nathan Bostwick and
John Griswold had home-lots and dwelling-houses
on the hill south, on the east side of the town street,
and Benjamin Bostwick’s dwelling-house was at the
south side of the common. James Hinds, the black-
smith, had a lot and shop on Town Hill.

In 1719, Samuel Hitchcock had a dwelling-house

between the path that crossed the Great River, where:

the railroad bridge is, and William B. Stilson’s.
Roger Bronson had a house, where he resided, north
of Mr. Hitchcock’s. The next one was Samuel Bron-
son’s. The next one was John Bostwick’s, Jr.

CHAPTER XLII.
NEW MILFORD (Continued).

Home-Lots of Original Purchasers—Proprietors of Common Fields—
Proprietors’ Meetings—Record of Highways.

HOME-LOTS OF ORIGINAL PURCHASERS.

Col. Robert Treat. The home-lot to this right was
recorded to Rev. Mr. Andrew, and was northward
from the town plot, butting south upon Ebenezer
Baldwin, westward upon Sergt. Zachariah Baldwin’s
land, eastward upon his own land. Laid May 4,
1724.

Mr. Thomas Clark. In one entire piece on Long
Mountain.

Ensign Geo. Clark. Nathan Talcot and wife deeded
seven and a half acres, with a dwelling-house, to

Ebenezer Fisk, of Milford, partly on west side Town |’

Hill, south by John Weller, west by Nathan Gaylord.
Second pieces north of home down by the brook,
bounded north by Caleb Mallory, west on burying-
yard, east on Ebenezer Washburn. E. Fisk sells to
Eli Roberts his home-lot, with dwelling-house, lying
eastward from meeting-house.

John Treat, of New Milford, was a son of Lieut.
Joseph Treat, and had laid in his father’s right one
home-lot, west upon highway, March 28, 1721.

Lieut. Joseph Treat. Joseph Treat deeded, for
love, etc., to his son, John Treat, of New Milford, one
hundred and three acres at Shepaug Neck, between
the Great River and the west end of Waweco’s
Brook, with a dwelling-house thereon, with fruit-
trees, etc., Jan. 1, 1749-50. Laid to John Treat eleven
acres at Shepaug Neck, on both sides uf Waweco’s
Brook, the east branch of said brook near Hawley’s
Park. Laid in Shepaug Neck, on west side of Treat’s
-Park, east by his father’s land, west by J oseph Bene-
dick’s land, south by his father’s land. The home-

 

lot was laid out to John in right of his father, and
was sold to Eleazar Beecher, 1732.

Ensign Joseph Peck deeded land to Enoch Buck,
Feb. 21, 1714-15. Enoch Buck deeded three and a
half acres of land to said Buck, to Zachariah Ferriss,
March 10,1721. Enoch Buck’s north line was north
end of Town Street.

Jonathan Baldwin. The home-lot of James Finn,
who purchased this right and all the divisions then
laid, were laid in Shepaug Neck, at the “ planting-
field.” Laid Sept. 21, 1727.

Capt. Samuel Eells.

Sergt. Edward Camp sold half to Samuel Camp, of
New Milford, the other half to Paul Welch.

Rey. Mr. Andrew.

Thomas Welch. Paul Welch, Esq., finally owned
this right by deeds from his two sisters, and had his
home-lot at Park Lane.

James Pride deeded to his son, James, Jr. His
home-lot was on the east side of Town Street, south
on Theophilus Baldwin. April 20, 1716.

Stephen Miles deeded his right to John Johnson,
Jr., of New Haven, in 1709-10; and John Johnson,
Jr., deeded to Samuel Clark, of East Haven, in 1718-
14.

Barnabas Baldwin. Land was deeded the iron-
works, Brookfield, on deed John Noble and William
Kelly, 1733.

John Woodruff. Sold to John Noble, Jr., of West-
field, 1706. Home-lot on both sides West Aspetuck
River, 1723.

Mr. Richard Bryan. Sold to John Noble, Sr.,
March 4, 1717. Home-lot laid March 28, 1717, to
said Noble, west upon Town Street, north upon
Thomas Smith’s home-lot, south upon Zachariah
Ferriss’ home-lot, east on said Noble, March 28,1717.

Daniel Terrill, seven and a half acres in Still River
Neck, May 25, 1728.

Samuel Brisco’s home-lot was laid out to him on
the east side of a hill called Second Hill, Oct. 20,
1721.

Timothy Botsford had a home-lot laid out in She-
paug Neck, May 17, 1722.

Sergt. Daniel Baldwin deeded to John Welch, April
7,1715. John Welch’s home-lot was laid on Aspe-
tuck Hill.

Mr. Robert Treat. The home-lots on this right—
his own and therightof Joseph Rogers—were laid in
1721. Two home-lots, lying upon the east side of
Second Hill, laid May 26, 1721.

Mr. Robert Plum.

Deacon Platt. His meadow deeds were recorded
to Theophilus and Hezekiah Baldwin, and Theophilus
Baldwin’s home-lot was laid out, west on Town Street,
south on a home-lot laid to Caleb Mallory, east on
highway, north on John Welch, April 8, 1715.

Thomas Clark deeded his right to Samuel, his son,
1710, one home-lot east upon Town Street, south upon
his own home-lot, north upon Mr. Daniel Boardman’s
NEW MILFORD.

439

 

lot, west on his own. ‘The above taken out of the
records at Milford. This was laid to Samuel Clark,
Dec. 24, 1720.

Mr. Samuel Clark, Jr.

Samuel Buckingham. . His heirs had a home-lot on
the eighteen-rod-wide highway to chestnut land, Dec.
25, 1724.

Thomas Buckingham laid to Thomas’ heirs fifty
acres, a home-lot, lying on Second Hill, and east-
ward from the town, May 18, 1722.

John Buckingham. One home-lot to Joseph Treat,

_Jr., Joseph Treat, son of Lieut. Treat, wife in right of
John Buckingham, her father, in Shepaug Neck, May
7, 1724.

William Wheeler. His heirs, Samuel and Sarah
Bears, sold their one-quarter interest in the estate of

. their father, William Wheeler, to Samuel Clark, April
9, 1714.

Nathaniel Ferrand, Sr. Zachariah Ferriss’ home-
lot, north on John Norse, April 28, 1715. *

Gorge Allen. A home-lot in Still River, June 18,
1722.

Samuel Camp, mason. John Bostwick, Sr., had a
home-lot laid seven and one-half acres, and a five-
acre pasture, east on Town Street thirty-four rods,
south on Stephen Noble’s, west on highway, north on
Mr. Samuel Clark’s land, Dec. 24, 1725.

John Smith (4th).

Samuel Clark, Sr.

Ephraim Burwell. A part of his home-lot in She-
paug Neck, and on north side of Samuel Brisco’s land,
Feb. 18, 1724.

Joseph Beard had a home-lot laid out, bounded
east on highway, or Town Street, south upon James
_Beard’s home-lot, west and north on undivided land,
Nov. 8, 1721.

Joseph Camp had his home-lot laid out in Still
River Neck, by the path towards Newtown, north of
the north meadow, etc., May 25, 1723. Sold to David
Luke, of Stratford, May 14, 1725.

Samuel Camp (Land’s End). Home-lot on east side
of highway called Poplar highway, south on Paul
Welch’s home-lot, Oct. 30, 1718.

Nathaniel Farrand, Jr.

Thomas Tibballs.

Thomas Canfield. William Gaylord’s home-lot, laid
on the hill called Aspetuck Hill, east side is on Town
Street, south side by Benoni Stebbins’ home-lot, north
side on undivided land twenty rods wide, Jan. 8, 1713.

John Merwin to John Merwin, Sr., and John Mer-
win, Jr., two home-lots lying on eastward side of
Second Hill, south of the road to Woodbury, Oct.
19, 1722.

Samuel Smith (West End). John Griswold had a
home-lot laid out east of Town Street, northward of
the highway running eastward from Samuel Bronson’s

‘;house, and southward from a highway running up
eastward from Benjamin Bostwick’s house, Dec. 11,
1718,

 

William Gold. Home-lot north of Samuel Adkins’
home-lot, south on Poplar highway, twenty and one-
half rods wide, Dec. 31, 1717.

Joseph Wheeler sold his lot to Mr. Daniel Board-
man, May 7, 1714.

Job Prince. Thomas Cushing had laid one home-
lot by that stream called West Aspetuck, on the west
side of the south end of Great Mountain, April 4,
17238.

Andrew Sanford. Andrew Tuttle, grandson of An-
drew Sanford, had a home-lot for a pasture northeast
of the Round Hill, on the falling land next Aspetunk,
March 19, 1723-24.

Samuel Camp, son of Edward Camp. To Joseph
Garnsy one home-lot east of Poplar highway, west on
said highway, south upon a highway which is laid out
between the home-lot, Oct. 7, 1718.

Eleazar Prindle. Ebenezer Fisk, had a half home-
lot laid out, etc., on east side of Great River, on east
side of hill called Town Hill, May 9, 1728.

Lieut. Camp. ‘

William Scone. Samuel Buckingham has a home-
lot.

Widow Mary Baldwin.

James Baldwin.

Nathaniel Baldwin, cooper.

Samuel Baldwin, wheelwright. A home-lot seven
and a half acres, laid to said Samuel, in Still River
Neck, north of the long meadow, and on the east rise
of the hill that lieth east from the Still River, by the
road to Newtown, May 26, 1728.

Lieut. Joseph Platt.

Sergt. Miles Merwin had his one-half home-lot laid
out on Bare Hill, east from Wolf-Pit Mountain, Feb.
11, 1724.

Samuel Sanford, Sr., sold to Wakefield Dibble, who
sold to Mr. Daniel Bounlen.

John Beard. To John Beard one home-lot, in one
entire piece, in Shepaug Neck, towards the east side of
the neck, and partly on a hill, Oct. 27, 1721.

Jonathan Arnold and wife sold John Beard’s right
to Joseph Ruggles, Nov. 28, 1733.

Mr. Samuel Andrew, Jr., laid his home-lot, in one
entire piece, on south end of Bare Hill, on both sides
of Cross Brook, Dec. 20, 1722.

George Clark, Sr.

Joseph Clark.

Joseph Peck, Jr., laid out a home-lot near Danbury
line, Jan. 27, 1722.

John Camp.

Sergt. John Smith.

Jonathan Law, Jr. To J. Law, Jr., a home-lot, in
one entire piece, on west side Great River, on Strait’s
Hill, the southwest corner on a highway, Aug. 7,
1722.

John Allen. Henry Allen, brother of John Allen
(deceased), sold his brother’s right to Samuel Clark,
merchant, 1710.

Hugh Gray laid to Jacob Griswold home-lot on
440

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Aspetuck Hill, east upon Town Street, south upon the
minister’s home-lot, north upon David Griswold’s
home-lot, west on his own, June 12, 1716; also a
home-lot east on street, south on minister’s, Nov. 17,
1713.

Joseph Ashburn. Theophilus Baldwin bought this
right, and had his said Baldwin home-lot laid to the
right of Samuel Burwell, which he also bought.

John Summers. /

James Finn had his home-lot and other divisions
laid, in one entire piece, in Shepaug Neck, at the
planting-field, Sept. 21, 1727.

Zachariah Whitman.

William Adams.

' Peter Perritt sold one-half his 249-acre right to
Roger Brownson, March 26, 1727-28.

A home-lot was laid to said Perritt & Brownson in
partnership, with pasture in part, east on highway,
or Town Street, north on Samuel Brownson’s home-
lot, west part on Great River, and part on Joseph
Bostwick’s land, south on land of heirs of Samuel
Hitchcock, deceased, April 4, 1728.

Joseph Rogers laid to Mr. Robert Treat, in his
own right and the right of Joseph Rogers, two home-
lots on east side of Second Hill, north of the highway
running on north side of Samuel Eells’ land, Oct.
26, 1721.

Samuel Stone. A home-lot to John Stone, in right
of Samuel Stone, laid near northeast from Bound
Hill, on the east sidé of East Aspetuck, Jan. 18,
1724-25.

Jonathan Baldwin, Jr. Ephraim Sanford sold one-
half his lot, bought of J. Baldwin, Jr., to George
Allen, May 21, 1718.

Jesse Lambert. A home-lot laid to Jesse and
David Lambert, in right of their father, Jesse, in
Shepaug Neck, partly between two hills, and on both
sides of Waweco’s Brook, Nov. 1, 1722.

Samuel Prudden. A home-lot to Samuel Prudden,
in one entire piece, laid in Still River Neck, towards
the south end of the bounds, ape 20, 1723.

Henry Summers.

Samuel Smith Walter.

Sergt. Zachariah Baldwin. A home- lot, east side
Town Street, laid to his sons, May 6, 1722. He
deeded his one-quarter interest to his son Ebenezer,
May 15, 1722.

Benjamin Smith, Sr.’

John Clark. Half home-lot.

John Smith, Jr. Home-lot in Still River Neck,
on the westward side of the hill, by the path to New-
town, north upon Canfield home-lot, south upon
Samuel Baldwin, November, 1722.

John Platt. David Griswold’ had a home-lot laid
on Aspetuck Hill, east on Town Street, south of
Jacob Griswold’s howe. lot, north on Benoni Steb-
bins’ home-lot, twenty rods wide, June 6, 1726.

Josiah Platt. David Griswold had a home-lot laid
on street twenty rods wide. '

 

Richard Platt.

William Fowler. Samuel Prindle had four and a
half acres laid, as it is by sizing, lying in Indian field,
north on Stephen Noble, south on Robert Bostwick,
east on swamps, west on hill. It is to be understood
that the above Samuel Prindle is to be allowed a way
cross his lot for riding and carting, so that his neigh-
bors may come at their land. April 16, 1722.

Samuel Prindle and Joseph Bostwick agreed to a
parting of the land they bought of William Fowler
in these towns. Joseph Bostwick is to the eastward
part of the home-land, as hereafter described, begin-
ning at a landmark made by the highway upon the
side of the hill, a few rods south of the Great Brook,
one bound on Robert Bostwick’s home-lot, etc.,—the
lot Robert Bostwick lives upon, etc. It is agreed that
Joseph Bostwick shall have two acres of the forty
acres, but of Samuel Prindle’s part, to make up what
is wanting in the home-lot, March 26, 1721-22.

Two and one-half home-lots laid to Samuél Prin-
dle, one-half home-lot in said Prindle’s right, and
the other in William Fowler’s right, all in one entire
piece, beginning at a post two lengths of fence within
the common gate, then running to a place by the river,
by the river till it comes to Robert Bostwick’s home-
lot, then, west of the Great Brook, up the brook till it
comes to a place where a spring runs into said brook,
up the spring, then eastward, or northeastwardly, to
the North or Town Street, from thence, by the North,
till it comes to the place first mentioned. May 25,
1721.

Samuel Prindle.

Sergt. Samuel Beard.

Sergt. Samuel Northrop. John Turrill deeded to
his son, Nathan Turrill, a lot, June 10,1717. A home-
lot laid to Nathan Turrill, west on Town Street, south
on Samuel Camp, north on a highway eight rods
wide, running eastward from Town Street, March 4,
1720.

George Clark, Jr.

Samuel Coley. William Gaylord’s home-lot was
laid out on Aspetuck Hill,—the east end is on Town
street,—south on Benoni Stebbins’ home-lot, etc.,
Jan. 8, 1713-14.

Samuel Merwin.

Lieut. Samuel Burwell. A home-lot to Theophilus
Baldwin, west on Town Street, south on a home-
lot laid to Caleb Mallory and Benjamin Bunnell,
east on a highway, north on John Welch,‘ April
8, 1715.

Samuel Miles. Samuel Brownson, by Miles” order,
a home-lot, east on Town Street, or North, twenty-

- five rods wide, seven acres of the ten acres deeded,

west on Great River, north upon lot of John Boat-
wick, Jr.; built upon, and south upon the home-lot
Roger Brownson had built upon, Jan. 20, 1714-18.
James Beard. Home-lot laid to James Beard, ten
acres deeded, south on William Gaylord, north oh
Joseph Beard, east on highway, Nov. 6, 1721.
NEW MILFORD..

Samuel Nettleton. A home-lot to Johnand Samuel
Nettleton, in right of their father, in Shepaug Neck
near William Beard’s land, over Waweco’s Brook,
Nov. 3, 1722.

Joseph Treat, son of Lieut. Treat. Two home-
lots on a hill between Waweco’s and Woodbury
bounds, in Shepaug Neck; one home-lot, in his own
right, and one home-lot, in the right of John Buck-
ingham, his wife’s father, May 7, 1724.

Sir John Buckingham.

Jeremiah Canfield. Five acres, part of the home-
lot, to the original right, lying on the plain by the
Round Mountain, north on Theophilus Baldwin’s
lane on the side by undivided land. May 29, 1727.

Jeremiah Canfield, Sr., deeded his interest to his
son, Jeremiah, Jr., March 27, 1717.

Thomas Smith. Thomas Smith deeded his right to
John Weller, June 18, 1722.

John Weller deeded to his son, John, Jr., four acres
off the north side of his home-lot, bounded upon
William Gaylord, northwest with the highway, east
on land of his own, called the “ten-acre,” south on
the other part of the home-lot, Jan. 14, 1722-23.

Thomas Smith’s home-lot, west on Town Street,
south on John Noble’s home-lot, north on William
Gaylord’s home-lot, Aug. 16, 1719.

John Weller bought said Thomas Smith’s right.
See his deed to his son, April 10, 1733.

Nathaniel Baldwin, Sr.

Jeremiah Beard.

Bethuel Langstaff deeded some land to his daughter
Jane in 1723, east of town-plat. Jane Langstaff deeded
it to Samuel Tibbals, July 9, 1725. Bethuel Lang-
staff had a home-lot laid,—in one entire piece, on
Second Hill, south of Woodbury road, Feb. 2, 1721-
22. Bethuel Langstaff deeded one-half his rights in
New Milford to Joseph Murry, Nov. 8, 1728.

Andrew Sanford, Jr.

Nathaniel Sanford sold his right to Benjamin Hurd,
of Woodbury, 1714.

John Merwin, Jr.

Joseph Tibbals. Daniel Collins had laid home-lot
in Shepaug Neck, Nov. 1, 1722.

B, Baldwin, in right of her father, Sergt. Timothy
Baldwin, late of Milford, deceased, laid to Billin Bald-
win a home-lot lying in Shepaug Neck, south side of
Timothy Botsford, May 18, 1722.

Mr. Samuel Mather.

_Burying-place Record.—The town of New Milford,
considering that it was necessary that a suitable
burying-place be reserved for the said town, made
choice of John Weller and Zachariah Ferriss to lay
out the same, which, being done, Know all men whom
it may concern, that the place pitched upon is upon
the south side of Caleb Mallory’s land, either home-
lot or ten acres deeded, and on the east side of the
highway running towards Poplar Swamp, and on the
north of a highway running upon the north side of
William Gaylord’s lot, which burying-place contains

 

441

two acres, butting west and north upon highway,
north upon the above Mallory’s land, and east upon
land of Zachariah Ferriss.

Record made Dec. 11, 1718; burying-lot laid out
Oct. 11, 1716.

James Hine. Laid out to James Hine part of the
land given him for encouragement to settle here,
eastward from the town, near Town-Mill Brook, on
the northeast side of said brook, south on John Gris-
wold’s, Jan. 30, 1724-25.

Deed to Hurd, March 9, 1723-24.

HOME-LOTS OF OTHER THAN ORIGINAL PURCHASERS.

William Gaylord was from Woodbury. His home-
lot, a half home-lot, and his ten acres deeded, which, by
deed of Thomas Weller, is three acres and three-quar-
ters; his home-lot, and five acres added to his home-
lot, makes eight acres and three-quarters. There
being a considerable hill, steep and poor, we have

' allowed him one acre and one-quarter, which makes

ten acres in ye whole, northwest on ye street, south
on John Weller’s home-lot, northerly on Mr. John
Read, or a highway, Sept. 18, 1712.

Daniel Griswold. Home-lot on ye hill, east on
street twenty rods wide, Nov. 17, 1718.

_ Thomas Picket. Home-lot north on Zachariah
Ferriss, west on highway, June 14, 1718.

Also six acres, five acres for his fourth division,
and one acre for his home-lot, on Town Hill, April 4,
1726. Land was laid to the heirs of Caleb Mallory
and Thomas Picket.

John Priddon. A home-lot in Still River Neck,
May 1, 1728. :

Timothy and Joseph Smith. A home-lot in Still
River Neck, north of John Priddon, April 20, 1723.

Thomas Cushing. A home-lot on West Aspetuck,
west side of the south end of Great Mount Tom, 1728.

John Fowler, deed from William Scone. A home-
lot southward from Great Falls, east side of Great
River, Jan. 2, 1722-23.

John Griswold. Land agreed to be laid out i in con-
sideration of said John G. building a grist-mill, and
to carry.out said agreement laid out a home-lot to
John Griswold, Nov. 30, 1724.

David Noble. Half home-lot west side of Great
River, northward from mouth of Rocky River, Jan.
8, 1723-24.

Andrew Tuttle. Home-lot northward of Round Hill.

The parsonage land, west of West Aspetuck, on
Long Brook, a little below the Middle Wolf-Pit,
Dec. 30, 1724.

Stephen Noble. Wanipoes Island, three and a half
acres, all laid by river, as a recompense for a highway
through his lands at Rocky River plain, 1724.

Stephen Noble. A home-lot on west side of Town
Street, thirty rods on street, the scuth side upon a
highway fifty-four rods, the west end fifty-six rods
on his own land, the north side thirty-six rods on
undivided land; a home-lot and half, Dec. 24, 1725.
442

John Bostwick. Home-lot west on Town Street
thirty-four rods, south on Stephen Noble’s, north on
Mr. Samuel Clark’s, Dec. 24, 1725.

Zachariah Ferriss. A home-lot north with John
Noble, west and south upon the way partly, and
partly on Thomas Picket’s home-lot, east on his own
land. It is understood that it is to run, with a bow-
ing line, from John Noble’s corner till it comes to the
brow of the hill, descending towards the brook, and
from thence a straight line to the east end. This is
the first home-lot he had laid. April 28, 1715.

Daniel Boardman. A home-lot on Aspetuck Hill,
east on Town Street, thirty-two rods wide, west on Mr.
Samuel Clark, his thirty rods, and upon said Board-
man’s land one rod, south on Mr. Samuel Clark’s
home-lot, north on home-lot laid out for the minister.

When ihe Indians deeded to Milford gentlemen,
they referred to their former planting-field, bounded
easterly by the Great River, and bounded westerly,
beginning thirty or forty rods above the then common
ferry-place, and to run south, taking in the place
where their fort stood upon the steep bank, and so
continuing till they took in their then burying-place,
and from thence southeasterly, rounding as the steep
bank goes till it comes to the Great River, comprising
all the lowland within this bounds; and the land
within this bounds was not purchased from the Indi-
ans by Milford gentlemen in their general purchase,
June 6, 1715. See Indian deed of Nov. 15, 1714.

At a proprietors’ meeting, April 3, 1717, voted that
ten acres should be reserved for the benefit of the
miller,—five acres on Still River and five acres on
Wood Creek.

John Noble. A home-lot twenty rods wide, west
on Town Street, north on Thomas Smith’s home-lot,
south on Z. Ferriss’ home-lot, March 28, 1717.

Joseph Garnsey. A home-lot east of highway
called Poplar highway, Oct. 7, 1718.

Ministry lot. A home-lot on easterly side of As-
petuck Hill, west on highway on said hill, south on a
highway running east and west, north on lot formerly
Jonathan Buck’s, Jan. 23, 1720.

William Gaylord and John Welch. A home-lot at
the Strait’s, lying on the plain northward of Strait’s
Brook, eastward on land laid out for meadow-lots, and
in part on Great River ; eighty rods north of meadow-
lots is on the river. This belongs to a right Gaylord
& Welch purchased of Richard Bryan, which right
Bryan bought of Thomas Tibbals, March 18, 1721.

Theophilus Baldwin. Home-lot on Aspetuck Hill,
west on Town Street twenty rods, soath on Jonathan
Buck’s home-lot, north on James Prin’s home-lot.
July, 1721.

Daniel Collins. A home-lot in Joseph Tibbals’
right, in Shepaug Neck, 1722.

Thomas Oviatt’s home-lot was on the east side of
Town Hill, Jan. 6, 1730.

Samuel Atkin’s home-lot is next to William Gold’s,
on west side Poplar highway.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Daniel Boardman, Roger Brownson, Theophilus
Baldwin, Benoni Stebbins, John Terrill, James Luke,
Nathan Terrill, Paul Welch, Zachariah Ferriss, and
Nathan Talcot each deeded certain land to Jonathan
Buck, Jr., if he would come to settle in the town, and
set up and keep up the trade of a cooper in said town,
both for work according to the obligation which we
have signed. Feb. 25, 1729-80.

Peter Hubbell deeded to John Fairweather one-
third iron-works, dam, houses, instruments in making
iron, and whatsoever else has been built there by
Hubbell relating to said iron-works, being in New
Milford, at the Half-way Falls, so called, on Still
River, Dec. 19, 1732.

William Gaylord deeded certain land on Strait’s
Brook, etc., to his son Aaron,—ten acres, where the
saw-mill now stands, etc.—Jan. 9, 1732-33.

The island in Great River, below Great Falls, be-
longs to John Wescot and John Seeley. Wescot sells
to Jonathan Hitchcock. ‘

There was a saw-mill on East Aspetuck before 1733.
See record of highways, May 23, 1733.

See Elisha Williams’ deed of iron-works, Brook-
field, to Alexander Wolcott, 1736, for four hundred
pounds; Moses Knapp’s deed to Elkanah Bobbits, in
1736 ; Indian Corkshure’s deed.

Zachariah Baldwin’s home-lot, on east side of
Town Street, south on John Simons’ home-lot, north
on Samuel Buckingham’s home-lot.

Samuel Buckingham’s, L. Baldwin’s, and John
Simons’ home-lots, on or near Town Street.

Robert Bostwick, Joseph Bostwick, Samuel Prinder
have home-lots near Town Hill, or Great Brook.

Nathan Turrill’s home-lot was on east side Town
Street, south on Samuel Camp.

John Bostwick, Jr., Roger Brownson, and Samuel
Brownson had lots east on Town Street, west on
Great River.

Town Hill was what is now known as Prospect
Hill and the hill east of it, and there were quite a
number of residences there and in the vicinity.

Aspetuck Hill was just north of present village.

Benjamin Bostwick’s home-lot was at the south
side of this sequestered common, on Town Hill.

Samuel Hitchcock’s home-lot was at the end of the
twenty-rod highway laid out in 1714.

Thomas Picket’s was bounded south on this seques-
tered common, and west on a highway that ran from
about where Jeremiah B. Bronson’s house stands to
this common (H. W. Booth’s place).

Peter Perit and Roger Bronson had a home-lot,
land bounded north on Samuel Brown’s home-lot.

Samuel Bronson’s home-lot was probably this way
from that of Samuel Hitchcock.

Roger Bronson’s was the next lot north of Samuel
Bronson’s.

John Bostwick, Jr., was north of Samuel Bron-
son’s. This was where John Bostwick now lives
(Jared Bostwick’s place).
NEW MILFORD.

The above were not on Town Hill, but south by
the river.

Nathan Talcott was on north end of Town Hill
and eastward of the meeting-house.

Ephraim Fisk, son of Dr. Fisk, was on Town Hill.

John Griswold.

Benjamin Bostwick was at the south end of Town
Hill (Prospect Hill), laid south of the common. See
record of first highway laid (Town Street).

John Griswold’s home-lot was northward of the
old mill lane highway, which runs up the hill from
William B. Stilson’s, and southward from the high-
way running up eastward from Benjamin Bostwick’s
home-lot.

Nathaniel Bostwick’s home-lot on east side Town
Street, and west side of highway running to Wood-

bury.
PROPRIETORS OF COMMON FIELDS.

“Nov. 24, 1715.— Voted, That there should be a general line of fence
from the great falls, along up the front of all the improved land &
home-lots until we come to north side of Jacob Griswold’s house-lot, &
then upon the north side untill it comes to the west end of s¢ Griswold’s
10a, d., & then running at the rear of the other 10 a. d., till it come s@
fence, & then running in the most convenient place to the rock over
west aspetuck, & the line of fence to be proportioned by all lands laid
out within the fields & by all lands improved, though not laid out, from
that place called the Straits down to Dibles’ meadow, except home-lots
& ten a. d.

“A committee was chosen to lay out & proportion sd fence, and that
it be laid & completed by the 15th day of April next after this meeting.
Nov. 24, 1715 (April 1, 1716).

“Oct. 3,1717.—Agieed that the fields should be opened for cattle &
horses upon Saturday, Oct. 5, at sunset. At same meeting Jonathan
Burk was chosen to warn proprietors’ meetings of the common fields &
to lead in the meeting. :

“Jan. 9, 1717-18.—Agreed that the general line of fence for the com-
mon field should still run where it was formerly agreed upon, when it
was altered from the north side of Jacob Griswold’s to the north side of
David Griswold’s home-lot, so to run to the west end of David Gris-
wold's.

“Committee to settle such purt of the fence as is not yet orderly fast-
ened upon, &c.

“ Agreed that the general field should be cleared of all sorts of cattle
by the 1st March.

“Sept. 29, 1718.—Agreed that the field should be opened for feeding
cattle next Saturday come 7 night, whic is 11 Oct.

“March 12, 1719.—Agreed that the common fields should be shut up,
& the fence should be made up acc. to law by last of March, that crea-
tures may be kept out.

“Oct. 1, 1719.—Agreed that field should be opened for feeding of neat
cattle & horses next Saturday come 7 night, the 10th Oct.

“ Dec. 23, 1719.—Agreed thatt all the land within the field from rocky
river southward shall be fenced, namely, all 40 a. d. & 20a. d’s., & all
meadow land that is improved or shall be improved by any of the pro-
Prietors of sd fields, excepting house-lots & 10 a. d’s.

“ Voted, That all the land from the mouth of Rocky River to Danbury
fence, and from the Great River to the Mountains westward, shall be
esteemed a field, and all cretures found within this compas shall be con-
sidered damage feasant.

“March 21, 1720.— Voted, Thatt all the land laid out for meadow be-
longing to the inhabitants shall be fenced, and all those meadow lots
belonging to other proprietors, which shall be improved by any of the
inhabitants, shall be fenced.

“ Agreed that the field should be cleared of all sorts of cattle by next
Saturday night, and all gates & bars shall be shut up & kept up from
that time, for the security of the field.”

And so from time to time the proprietors voted to
open the fields, and to keep them closed, for cattle,
horses, etc.; and they had meetings, Oct. 11, 1720,
Sept. 21, 1721, Oct. 1, 1722, and Jan. 18, 1723-24.

 

443

Then comes an account of the general line of farms
for the common fields, each man his proportion:

Rods. Feet. In.
To Benoni Stebbins. sow UT 6
“ Wm. G
James Adkins.
Saml, Camp,

    
  

ma
2
tea
=
e
8
oO
g

Saml. Parnille
Josiah Terrill.
Gamaliel Ter
Enock Burk.
John Welch
Paul Welch.
“ T. Baldwin...
John Weller, Sr.

© IHW ARRAQAAGRH
Faecesocsoooue

“ April 14, 1721.—Toted, That the common field should be fenced all
round, and that all the land laid out within the limits of this field shall
be proportioned upon to fence upon.

“Feb. 5, 1722-23.—Agreed that from the mouth of Rocky River to the
mouth of 4-mile brook, from Great River to Rocky River, where it is so
called, and up the same River where it is called Wood Creek, shall be
esteemed a field called a general field, and all creaturs found therin to be
damage feasant.

  
 

Rods. Feet. In.
Zachariah Farrins.. - 20 12 0
Roger Brownson 15 0 0
Stephen Noble.. 15 0 0
Thomas Picket. - 35 7 0

 

“Oct. 1, 1725.—Agreed that no cattle be put in field before Oct. 16, but
working oxen & those upon their owners’ land.

March 6, 1726-27, states where west line of fence
shall be completed, and where the north line shall be
put.

“Oct. 4, 1727.—Several votes were passed at this meeting making of
fences & alterations paid for by the proprietors of the common field ac-
cording to the perfect valuation by a comity.

“A committee was chosen to make a rate upon the proprietors for de-
fraying the preparatory charge for repairing the fence.

“Oct. 6, 1729.—All fence should be completed by Ist of Nov. next.”

If any of the proprietors of common fields sold,
they generally had a certificate of the sale or ex-
change made and recorded, stating the length of
fence the purchaser was to take and maintain; either
in place of the seller, or on his own account.

Lieut. John Bostwick, recorded Jan. 20, 1729-30.

John Noble, recorded Jan. 20, 1729-30.

Daniel Boardman, recorded Feb. 17, 1729-30.

Dorotha Botsford, recorded March 28, 1735.

Joseph Waller.

John Noble, recorded March 2, 1729-30.

Capt. Stephen Noble, recorded March 17, 1729-30.

Paul Welch, recorded Jan. 20, 1730-31.

John Seely, recorded May 28, 1733.

John Seely, recorded Sept. 3, 1734.

Jobn Seely, recorded Jan. 7, 1735-36.

“March 2, 1729-30.—Voled, That no person whatsoever shall bait any
cattle, horses, or other creatures from the 10th of Oct. to the 10th of
April, other of their neighbors’ land.

“ Voted, To allow 10s. to Deac. Prime or to the fence viewers for warn-
ing Robert Bostwick to do up his fence.

“ Voted, That the common field shall stand good for 7 years, and that
the fence shall stand where it is without any alteration or new propor-
tioning till the 7 years be out.

“March 1, 1730-31.— Voted, That the field shall be kept shut up for the
year ensuing.

“ Voted, That the land laid out since the field fence was proportioned
shall be assessed to make the fence upon the river bank at the north
end of the field, which was not formerly proportioned, because the bank
of the river was accounted a fence, but proved not to be.

“March 6, 1731-32.—Voted, That the common field shall be kept shut
up for the year ensuing.

“March 5, 1732-33.—Voted, That the field shall be opened eighteen
(18) days at the fall of this present year and no more.
444

“March 4th, 1733-34.—Voted, That the common field shall not be
opened the year ensuing. :

“Ens. Joseph Bostwick & Samuel Canfield & Zachariah Ferriss was
chosen to order the prudentials of the common field for the year en-
suing.

“Voted, That David Prindle should have liberty to remove the field gate
from the place where it now is, to his house.

“March 3, 1734-35.— Voted, That the field should be keptshut the year
ensuing.

“ Voted, That there should be a committee chosen to send to the next
county court, to endeavor to attain liberty to set up a gates a cross the
country road through our common fields. Thomas Picket, Saml. Can-
field & Jacob Brownson, Committee to order the prudentials of the com-
mon field for year ensuing.

“New Milford, Dec. 31, 1733.—This may signifie to all, whereas Sam-
uel Adkins was collector fur minister’s rate in N. M. in the year 1731,
that he hath collected su. rate, and is acquitted. Given by me, Daniel
Boardman, Dec. 21, 1733.

“Ata meeting of the civil authoritys, Select men and grand jurors of
N. M., holden in N. M. on the 5th day of Jan. 1735-36, Cap. Stephen No-
ble was chosen Comissioner of Excise for the year eusuing, and sworn to
a faithful discharge of that office.

“March 1, 1735-36.—Field kept shut for year. A committee to deter-
mine where the gate by Daniel Prindle’s & the gate at Aspetuck, should
be removed or let them stand. Committee ap. to make new proportion
of field fence.”

An account next comes of the new proportion of
the field-fence in the common field, beginning at the
rocks of the Fishing Falls, on east side of Great
River, March 22, 1736, as follows:

 

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 

£8. a
E. Ferris... 0 0
John Silsby, 38° «0 OO
Thomas Picket 34 (0+=O0
Jacob Brownson. 44 0 O
Benj. Bostwick... 64 0 O
Deacon John Bostwick. 34.0220
N. Bostwick 0 0
Daniel Bost . 0 0
Nathan Gaylord.... 1 8

PROPRIETORS’ MEETINGS.

“ April 17, 1706.— Voted, That town-plot & home-lots of New Milford
shall be spedily pitched & laid out. That the Committee having taken
the best advice of they can of Woodbury men to pitch the Town-plot ac-
cording to their best judgment. That the home-lots be laid out in
quantity as they shall judge most commodious and agreeable to the
circumstances of the plan. That there be 2 ranks or sorts of lots,—one
a 24s. lot, and the other a 12s. lot, & that all the lots be laid out in 12s.
lots. What is wanting in quality of the land in the second lots shall be
made up in quantity.

“That there be two 24s. lots more than the number of the proprietors,
laid out for the use of the proprietors, to be disposed of by 24 parts of the
proprietors.

“That those only whu first go to settle there at N. M. shall draw lots,
& they shall take their lots together, and they shall have liberty to begin
where they please, and they that come afterwards, either by themselves
or assigns, shall take their lots as they come to settle them, next lot to
him that went before him, he that hath a four & 20 shilling right to take
the two next lots lying together.

“Dec. 9, 1707.—We whose namies are underwritten, after the best ad-
vice we can come at or obtain from Woodbury men, have pitched the
Town-plot on Aspetuck hill,—have there laid out 16 home-lots, 7 acres
and ¥4 to a home-lot, for two half-shares, in order to proceed according
to the order and agreement of the proprietors.

“Samu. EELLS,
“Epwarp Camp,
“Josep TREAT,
“ Josep Peck.

“ Grant of a 248. lot to Mr. David Boardman, upon condition he shall

become their minister for 20 years, or during his natural life.”

Com.

RECORD OF HIGHWAYS.

“Record of highways, Jan. 11, 1713.—At a meeting of the inhabitants
of N.M. for to consider what highways should be necessary for the
benefit of the town of N. M., we therefore have agreed that the highway
beginning at John Noble, Sr., house-lot shall extend so far northward

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

as shall be necessary fur building-lots, and his highway to be 20 rods
wide, as it is torun up the hill against the front of Sam! Clark’s home-lot,
and in no place less than 14 or 15 rods wide, except where lots are al-
ready taken up, and so by that means it cannot be, and this highway
from John Noble’s house-lots to extend southward from thence winding
as y° lots are already laid out on the westwardly side, till it comes to the
south side of Sam! Hitchcock’s house-lot: and this highway to be 20
rods wide where the circuinstances of the place will allow of it,

“ And from the south side of Thomas Picit’s lot, we order that there be
a peace of land sequestered for common, that so there may be sufficient
passway to those highways which are to run out farther, and their com-
mon land is appointed to be from the hill east to the highway westward,
and to extend so far south till it comes against Benjamin Bostwick’s
house-lot by known marked trees. 4

“And from the northeast corner of this sequestered land a highway
running up the side of the hill called the town hill, of 10 rods wide,
marked on the westerly side till it come to the top of the hill.

“And a highway to run cross from the highway against Saml. Brown-
son’s & Roger Brownson’s house-lots to the highway running up the
town hill of 8 rods wide, marked on the north side.

“And one cross highway between Wm. Gaylord’s house-lot & John
Read’s house-lot, being 6 rods wide at the west end & 12 rods wide at the
brook, and this highway to run up to the hill.

“ And another highway of 6 rods, and running from this cross way south
along by the foot of the hill till it comes to this sequestered land, on the
south side of Thomas Pickit's lot, and from this cross highway between
Wm. Gaylord’s land & Mr. John Reed's house-lot. We appoint another
highway of 8 rods wide, to run northward up to the Poplar Swamps, and
from thence, in the most convenient place, to run up to the chestnut
land. Signed by Sam]. Brownson, Saml, Hitchcock, Zachria Ferriss, Se-
lectmen.

“ June 4,1715.—Laid through Samuel Hitchcock’s house-lot, or 20-acre
division a drift way from the front to the river, 22 rods wide; and from
this place at the river, to run 20 rods up the river, this also 4 rods wide.

“June 4,1715.—The highway or town street was by the Select men,
laid out from the south side of Caleb Mallory’s house-lot to the south
side of Zach. Ferriss’ half house-lot, 20 rods wide, and from the south
side of sd. Ferriss’ house-lot to the north side of Benj. Burwell’s house-lot,
24 rods wide.

“From Esqr. Welche’s to chestnut land, is from the one from Wm.
Gaylord’s to Poplar Swamps, as above.

“Laid March 8, 1718.

“Laid a highway on south side of Thomas Picket’s house-lot, begin-
ning at a highway that runeth up the hill by John Griswold’s. The
highway is 20 rods wide. This road turns out of the Woodbury road.

“Laid May 15, 1718.

“An 8-rod highway beginning at Town Street, on north side of Enoch
Buck’s home-lot, running east till it comes the foot of the first bare hill
along by Enoch land, till it comes to Zachariah Ferriss’ land, being at
the east end between s4 Ferriss’ land and Stephen Noble’s land, butting
upon another highway running along by the foot of the bare hill.

“ Another highway, beginning at that cross-highway running on the
north side of Wm. Gaylord’s home-lot, or at the highway along by the
foot of the hill at the rear of the 10a. D., this highway to be 16 rods
wide, running northward by the rear of the 10 a. D. till it comes to meet
with the highway above mentioned running E. & W. on the north
side of Enoch Buck’s land, and from this highway at the rear of the lots
a highway 16 r. to run up the south Bear hill on S, side of Wm. Gay-
lord's 20 a. joining to the highway above mentioned. Both above laid
March 19, 1720,

“Laid out a highway or Country road towards Woodbury, beginning
upon the hill called Town Hill, at the end of the former highway, against
that highway, running down the hill to Samuel Brownson’s house, or at
the corner of Griswold's fence, then winding over the hill, &e., &e.
January 19, 1721-22.

“A highway on west side of town hill, Begining at a highway that
is at the east end of Zach. Ferriss’ house-lot, by the north side of Mal-
lory’s land & running northeasterly up the hill to s¢ Ferriss’ 40 a. D., 8
rods wide. Oct. 12, 1730.

“16-rod highway beginning at Town Street, at south side of Samuel
Adkins’ house-lot or 10 a. D., ran West to the west end of his 10a. D., &
so westward over aspetuk, taking in the hollows, &c. March 18, 1718.

“A highway on 8, side of Thomas Picket’s house-lot, beginning at a
highway that runeth up the hill by John Griswold’s (20 r. wide), and
runs through Z. Ferriss’ 40 a. D., for which the town gave him 21 rods
wide on E, end of his 60 a. D. as recompens, runs N. Easterly by the
N. side of Cap. Hin’s h. 1., the Ferriss 40 a. D. May 15, 1718.
NEW MILFORD.

“Tlighway laid out on west side Town Ilill, beginning at the Country
road at the S. W. co. of Jeames Hinde home-lot by his shop, then run-
ning N. E. by E. end of s? Hind’s h. 1. till it comes to top of the hill, 10
r.wide. Aug. 28, 1728.

“There is a highway from the river to the place where there is now a
way over the brook to go on to the island to Zachariah Ferriss his lot,
which highway is between Roger Brownson lot & Bnj. Bostwick. Feb.
26, 1714-15.

“ A highway beginning at the highway running up by the Great river
through Aspetuck Neck, and running northerly through a 40 a. d., laid
out to John Weller & Joseph Pecks right; from there to the S. E. corner
of Wm. Gaylord’s 40 a. d., then running upon the E. of this 40 a.d.

(This highway is to Esq. Hine’s farm, over Aspetuck, which was Nathan
Gaylord’s.) Jan. 30, 1716-17.

“Highway on westrley side of Great river, beginning at river-bank at
the path that goes over the river at Samuel Hitchcock’s home-lot till it
comes up the hill to the east end of Thomas Picket’s 40 a. d., and then
southward by s¢ Picket's land till it comes to his corner, 2 r. wide; then
further west till it meets the highway on E. side John Noble's land.
May 15, 1718.

“A highway beginning at the highway at the south end of Samuel
Hitchcock's home-lot, then running down to the great falls; and this
highway to be so witle as the place will allow, that it against Roger
Brownson’s 40 a.; all the land between the river and s? 40 a., and from
thence downward to be 30 rods wide where it can be alowed, and it can-
not by reason of land already taken up, to be of less breadth, but to take
up all the Jand that is not laid out between John Bostwick’s 40 a.’s and
Benj. Bostwick's land down by the river, and from s¢ Bostwick’s land to
but upon the river down to the falls. Laid March 30, 1719.

“A highway from Wm. Goold home-lot northward to a brook called
Woolf-pit brook, beginning at the northeast corner of Wm. Goold home-
lot, running on west side of plank swamps & so along; this highway to
take in the highway formerly laid on the eastward of plank swamp, till
it comes to highway running to chestnut land. March 19, 1720.

“From town Street there is a highway laid out over Aspetuck, begin-
ning ata tree, &c., running northwestwardly up the hill, then to Aspe-
tuck river, and over the river a little below Mount Tum meadows 20 r.
-wide to Aspetuck river, then 24 rods wide up the hill. Laid March 23,
1720,

“A highway running northward along by Stephen Noble’s land lying
upon the great brook at E. end of the 10a. d., and marked on the west.

This highway over the Cross brook, 16 r. wide; and from the above Cross
brook to run up the 2nd bare hill, where the cart-way now is, 16 r. wide,
if that be the most convenient place; if not, to be in that place most
suitable and acomedable for the town benefit. March 19, 1720.

“A highway from the highway to Chestnut land at David Gris-
wold’s S. W. corner, running N. till it come to s? Griswold’s land 10 r.
wide, running through s¢ Griswold’s land, and through Ebenezer Bryan's,
ending at Samuel Camp’s land. Dec. 7, 1720.

“A highway beginning S. end of Mt Tom, near Woolf-pit, then North-
ward to uper end of plain, after crossing over Deep Brook, over East
~Aspetuck, then by west side of s¢ river to our north bounds. March 17,
“1722,

“ At same time, a highway from highway to Mt Tom meadows, begin-
ning at north side of swamps, near old Woolf-pit, then southward 20 r.

wide to Gamaliel Turril’s 40 a. lot, then running to the hight of the great :

bill.

“a highway or Country road, beginning at Rocky River, at the end of
the former highway, through Stephen Noble’s & David Noble’s 40 a. d.,
4y. wide, near the path now through s140 a.d., then through rest of
plain, 6 r. wide, partly through common and partly through Wm. Gay-
lord’s land, till it comes to the uper end of David Griswold’s 40 a. d., then
running westward to the foot of the hill, then running 10 r. wide to the
top of the hill before we come to the Strait’s Brook, from thence 20 r.
wide down the hill to the brook, then running 8 r. wide by the marked
trees to the Brook called Whemeseck. Jan. 18, 1721-22.

“A highway beginning on town hill, upon the hight of s? hill, run-
ning E. from the highway running to Z. Ferriss’ 40 a. d., to Sam. Prin-
dle’s 40 a. d., on 2nd hill, on north side of Z. F. 10 a. on the town-hill
brook, then running to Woodbury bounds. March 23, 1722.

“A highway on top of 2n4 hill, beginning at the highway on north
side of John Bostwick’s 40 a. d., and running southward & westward, &
southward again, to the highway running towards Woodbury. March
23, 1722,

“ A highway to turn out of Danbury road, &. March 28, 1722.

“A highway to Chestnut land, turning out at north end of Nathan
Turrill’s 40 a. lot, over the brook to Goold’s cleared land. March 20, 1722,

29

 

445

“A highway beginuing at the highway that runs to the great falls,
and running Eastward, then South East, then southerly, then Eastward.
Another highway to run northward, thence Northeast till it comes to
the hight of the hill. April 5, 1722.

“aA highway beginning at the Country road, east side of town hill, at
N. E. cor. of land laid out to Mr. Dan’l Boarden, to run southward upon
east side of town-hill brook till it comes to a small lot on town-hill
brook. April 5, 1722.

“A highway on west side of little Mt. Tom to long mountain.

“A highway down side of Falls Mountain to the Cove, then down the
River to Hitchcock’s farm. March 25, 1726.

“A highway beginning at Cross Brook, at former highway, then run-
ning on Paul Walch, Sph. Camp, to highway north of Camp’s, and all
the way partly on Great Bare hill. March 23, 1726.

CHAPTER XLIII.
NEW MILFORD (Continued).

EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS.

“ SHAL be a well dug and stoned on minestory home-lot, Jan. 8, 1743.

“Saml. Bronson, John Weller, & John Nobl, committee to lay out ye
minestory land, yt is to say one home-lot, with 10-acre division for a pas-
ture-lot, & a 40-acre lot, it is yt that y° proprietors did agree to give Mr.
Daniel Boardman if he becomes a settled minister at N. M. March 4,
1712.

“Com impowered to view & pitch home-lot, 10-acre division for a pas-
ture, 40-acre division up land, & order it to be measured for ministory
lot. March 12, 1714.

“There shall be a sufficient gate made and maintained in the line of
fence at the common high way over the river. Oct. 11, 1714.

“5s, & 6d. (923 cents) allowed for the minister’s board per week. Nov.
29, 1714. ‘

“David Noble allowed 6s. ($1.00) per year for beating the drum upon
all publick meetings. Novy. 29, 1714.

“Saml Bronson & Stephen Noble, Committee to make up accounts of
former collectors of the 12s. tax granted, & to see that the money be
brought in that it may be disposed of in order to the maintainance of
the ministry amongst us. Nov. 29, 1714.

“Select men appointed to agree about the board of the minister (same
meeting), also that the deed of the Indian Field shall be recorded.

“At the same meeting it was agreed that a petition should be carried
to the proprietors to try if they would grant a stream for the use of the
town, with suitable accommodations of land, that so there might be a
grist-mill set up and maintained for the benefit of the town. Nov. 29,
1714.

“ John Bostick, Sr., and Sam]. Bronson app. to agree with Mr. Daniel
Boardman for next half year for to preach the word unto us, & what
shall be his wages for half a year’s work. Dec. 23, 1714.

“Voted, That all the land lying on the west side of the Great River:
from the uper end of the plan over rocky river down to the mouth of the
still river, shall be estemed a common field, and all cattle, horses, &
swine being found there after the 10th of this month shall be deemed
damage fesunt, and to be impounded according to law. April 1, 1715.

“ Agreed, that a petition should be sent to the Genl Court to see
whether we might attain liberty for the settlement of the worship and
ordinences of God amongst us. May 5, 1715.

“My. Daniel Boardman elected to settle in the work of the ministry.
June 16, 1715.

“ And a committee appointed to treat with him.

“A committee appointed to carry Mr. Boardman’s proposals to Mil-
ford to hear what they will do in order to the settlement of a minister
amongst us here.

“Committee appointed to hire a man to board Mr, Boardman. July
29, 1715.

“Town declared they would accept of some of Mr. D. Boardman’s
propositions in order to a settlement, namely that concerning his salary,
and that concerning the lot in the Indian Field, the fencing the land, and
also plowing so much as is proposed. August 16, 171%

“ Agreed, that a petition be carried to the Genl. Ct. to try the matter
whether we can not obtain liberty to raise a tax for the support of the
ministry. Oct. 21, 1715.
446

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“Shall be a general line of fence from great falls to east or west aspe-
tuck. Nov. 24, 1715.

“Grain shold pass for paying town charges is as follows: wheat, 4s. per
pushel (67 c.), rye, 2s. 8d. per bushel (about 453 c.), Indian corn, 2s. per
bushel (342 cents), oats at 1s. 4d. per bushel (233 cents), flax, 6d. per lb.
(9 cents). Dec. 19, 1715.

“Voted, That the ministry should be fenced, etc. Dec. 19, 1715.

“We pitch upon the 3 Wednesday in October for ordination of Mr.
Boardman, in case our way may be clear. August 20, 1716.

“ Agreement with Mr. Daniel Boardman accepted.

“1: its supposed that ye town shall se ye sd Boardman paid ye 7s. upon
each right not settled according to ye agreement made with Mr. Samuel
Clark at Milford —and as for the remaining part of ye salary which lies
upon the inhabitants = we covenant and agree that it shall be paid as
follows: 1: that every present inhabitant may have the liberty to pay
one-third part of his or her minister’s rate in grain,—that is to say,
Wheat, rye, & Indian corn. Wheat at 3s. 6d. per bushel (583 c.), as
money, rye at 2s, & 4d. (39 c.) per bushel, & Indian corn at 20d. (28 c.),
all as money.

“The other 2 parts or two-third parts: I will alow to be paid in the
several species or kinds, viz.: flax = or labor = or pork = or linnin
cloth = if not these then money = these two latter parts you may pay
some of every sort; or the whole in either of them, this agreement shall
stand as long as shall consist with peace & prosperity — and I do oblige
myself to sell to the inhabitants graine at the same price what I have to
spare. Oct. 11, 1716.

“John Bostick, Sr., and Saml Bronson was chosen committee to sign
letters to the elders & mesengers, and to provide for the entertaining the
gentlemen above named when they came. Oct. 11, 1716.

“Petition to Genl. Court that all necessary charges may be raised upon
land or upon all the proprietors, &c. April 6, 1716.

“Zachariah Ferriss & John Weller, Sr., Conn., to lay out a burying-
place of 2 acres, and to make return thereof, as that it may be recorded.
Oct. 11, 1716.

“ Agreed that there should be 1 pound two shillings raised forthwith
to purchase a drum for the use of the town, & Johnathan Buck chosen to
gather the money. Oct. 11, 1716.

“Stephen Noble appointed to represent the town at the ordination,
and John Bostick to see the ministers well furnished. Oct. 11, 1716.

“Zachariah Ferris, Tavern Keeper.

“Samuel Prindle, to dig graves.

“The inhabitants should every one help Mr. Daniel Boardman one
day work a pace toward a barn, upon consideration that that article of
breaking up land in the former agreement be released. Dec. 14, 1716.

“ Agreed that John Weller & Stephen Noble should have 10s. for beat-
ing drum, upon public meeting, and other necessary times. Dec. 14,
1716.

“Grain pass for town rates same as former meeting (same meeting).

FIRST BOOK OF TOWN-MEETINGS.

“Meeting of proprietors of Common fields. Fences should be repaired,
and have fences laid where necessary either upon the Mountain or to
run to the great river northward. March 25, 1717.

“David Griswold chosen to call upon those that have not done their
sbare of fence about the Minister’s home-lot. March 25, 1717.

“ Agreed the fields should be opened for cattle & horses, upon Satur-
day Oct. 5, at sun set. Oct, 3, 1717.

“Voted, To give David Griswold 4 pounds to supply the minister, Mr.
D. B., with wood for the year. Dec. 16, 1717.

“Select men to agree with some person for bulls to supply the town.
(Same.)

“Swine shall be free commoners, or go free upon the common.
16, 1717.

“ Agreed that there should be glass provided to furnish the windows
in the house that we meet in upon the Sabath. Dec. 26, 1717.

“Fencing Mr. Boardman’s home-lot. March 17, 1717-18.

“The town provided upon the price of provisions: Indian corn, 3s.
per bushel (50 c.); wheat, 6s. ($1.00); rye, 4s. per bushel (6634 c.); oats,
1s. (1624 c.); pork, 3d. (4 cents per pound); flax, 7d. per pound (924 c.).

“Swine to be free commoners. Dec. 15, 1718.

“Committee to gree with Mr, Boardman as to salary, &c.
meeting.)

“9s, 6d. (4124 c.) paid per load for fetching Mr. Boardman’s wood.

“ Agreed that the towns men should pay the town debts all excepting
that one wolfe that was killed in the town by Benj. Bostick & John Mil-
Jer, sen. Dec, 15, 1718.

“Voted, That there should be a meeting house built of 40 foot in length

Dec.

(Same

 

and 30 in breadth, & 20 foot in hight between girts, with other suitable
proportions, Feb, 23, 1718: 19.

“And that it (s4 meeting hduse) should be set up in the high way in
the most convenient place between the house that is called Mr. John
Reed's & that which is called Caleb Mallory’s house. Feb. 23, 1718: 19,

“There should be 10,000 18-inch shingles, 34 of an inch thick at the
lower end and otherwise suitably proportioned, and of such breadth as
may run 6 inches; and also that there shall be 2500 of good clabboards
of white oak, being 4 foot & 4 inches in length & 6 inches in breadth,
and not less than 14 inch thick, well and even dressed, gotten for cover-
ing a meeting house. (Same meeting.)

“ And that they shall be brought to the place by the middle of June
next, & that every man forfeit 12d. a hundred for their right. (Same
meeting.)

“2 pounds 10s. a thousand for clabboards brought to the place.

“95s. a thousand for shingles brought to the place, &c.

“ Committee to make a rate on above work by the present list, David
Griswold, John Welch.

“ Jonathan Buck to be excused from this rate. Feb. 23, 1718: 19.

“Committee, John Welch, to Milford for assistance as to ministry.
March 18, 1819.

“Ind. corn, 2s.; wheat, 5s.; oats, 1s. 6d.; rye, 3s. 6d.

“ As to timber for meeting house. Dec. 17, 1719.

“Wheat, 5s. (8314); rye, 3s. 6d. (5814 c.); oats, 1s. 6d. (25 c.); Indian
corn, 2s, (3314). (Same meeting.)

“Grain for minister’s rate: Wheat, 4s. Gd. (75 c.); rye, 3s. (50 c.); Ind.
c., 28, (3314); pork, 1 pound 4s. per hundred.

“5 pounds to provide Mr. B. with wood for the year. Dec. 17, 1719.

95 pounds allowed for getting and drawing meeting house timber.
Jan. 8, 1719. 7

“As to general line of fence of common fields. Also voted that all
the Jand within the field from rocky river southward shall be fenced for
namely all 40 acre divisions & 20 acre divisions & all meadow land that
is improved or shall be improved, excepting house lots & 10 acre
divisions.

“ Also that all the land from the mouth of rocky river to the Danbury
fence, & from the great river to the mountains westward, shall be es-
teemed a field, and all creatures found within this compas shall be
counted damage feasant. Dec, 23, 1719.

“ An account of the general line of fence for the common field. Each
man his proportion as hereafter is mentioned :

Rods. feet. in.

we LT 1

nse 49) 4 3

6 6 9
April 15, 1720.

To Benony Stebins
William Gould..
Saml. Adkins...

 

 
 

“The town impowers Saml, Brownson, Wm. Gaylord, Roger Brownson,
Zachariah Ferris, & Johu Bostwick, Junr., a Com. to set up the meeting
house, and to see it covered and closed & the door set up at town charge.
At same meeting it was agreed that there should be boat built & the
charge to be paid by pols. Dec. 7, 1720.

“ All land now lying in common and not laid to any particular proprie-
tor, shall be free for getting wood and timber of all sorts, and stone for
all manner of work (for any inhabitants) untill such time as they shall
be fined, etc. March 20, 172].

“Town authorized warning of proprietors meeting. Proprietors that
are at Milford to be warned. Feb. 22, 1720-21.

“ Agreed that there should a school maintained for four months this
winter following, and that the town should bear half the charge of sd
school, Sept. 21, 1721.

“ Committee to draw lot for choice; and voted, that the first man that
hath his first pitch shall bring it in by next Monday night, and s0 to
proceed to allow but one day for one man to bring in his pitch, extraor-
dinary casualties excepted, as sickness, or foul weather, and when any
man hath brought in his pitch he shall notify his next neighbor,—that
is, he who is next in pitch,—who shall proceed the next day, except
what is excepted, untill they have voted that he who shall, by his pitch,
shall enterfare upon any other pitch shall have liberty to bring it in the
next day, or afterward, so soon as they see cause. March 15, 1721-22.

“Voted, That if we can purchase any of the land northward from our
town that we will divide it equally to each man above 21 years of age.
June 12, 1722.

“Voted, That the wall of meeting-house should be walled up to girts now
before winter, and that the walls shall be silled in between the studs,
that is to say, by nailing lath upon the floors and then to sill in between
the sill timber and morter, and that the floor shall be Joynted and drove
up. Oct. 8, 1722.
NEW MILFORD.

447

 

“Petition to Genl. Court to try if our north purchase of land above
bounds of N. M. might be added to N. M. Same meeting, Oct. 8, 1722.

“Committee with Woodbury to run a north line from Woodbury old
northwest corner till it comes to our head line to make acorner. March
11, 1723,

“Prayer to Genl. Assembly to raise a tax upon rights equally for 10
years for the maintain of the ministry here. March 11, 1723.

“Same subject T. M., April 23, 1724, at a meeting those that did agree
to purchase the lands north of our town, being in breadth 1 mile & 12’.

“Samuel Brownson,
“ Zachariah Ferriss,
“John Noble.

“Voted, If we can purchase the land northward from our town we will
divide equally to each man above 21 years of age, and every man being
even under 21 shall have equal shares northwest. June 12, 1722.

‘‘ Agreement of purchasers of the north purchase. June 22, 1722.

“Names are all recorded on old record. Record of Communication
from Milford proprieturs to com. of New Milford. March 1, 1720-21.

“Lay out of 3d lot East side town street. April 21,1713.

“Paul Welch should have 6 pound 10s. so to provide Mr. Boardman
with wood for ensuing year, being 7 June. Dec. 11, 1721.

“Committee to hire a school master. Dec. 11, 1721.

“ Voled, Granted to John Bostwick, Sen., the liberty and privilege of
the highway acros Aspeturk river at lower end of mountain meadow in
case he erect a good grist-mill sufficient to grind the town corn well and
reasonably. Dec. 11, 1721.

“Committee to hire school master or mistress, etc. Dec. 10, 1722.

“Prayer to Gen. A. to abate 2 years longer County rates. Dec. 10,
1722. =

“The scholars in school to find themselves wood in equal proportions.
(Same meeting.)

“ Committee to provide lime & lath to do the walls of meeting house,
& to plaster house & to lay the floor. Dec. 10, 1722.

“Window to be provided to finish meeting house. Dec. 11, 1721.

“Children from 7 to 12 years of age shall pay to the school here in N.
M. Dee. 11, 1724.

“Children over 12 & under 7 shall pay to the school according to the
time they go in equal proportion with other scholars for the time they
go. Dec. 22, 1724,

“Mr. Boardman’s wood should be got by the inhabitants according to
their proportion in the list. That 40 cords should be got. Dec. 9, 1725.

“School 3 m. in winter, 3m, in summer. Dec. 9, 1725.

“See whether highway south of parsonage lot should be removed to
north side of sd. lot. (Same meeting.)

“ Voted, That there should be a school house built this next spring to
be 20 feet long, 16 feet wide, 7 between joysts. Jan. 14, 1725-26.

“Schools 3 m. in winter & 3m.in summer, Dec. 7, 1726.

“Seating meeting house. (Same.)

“Voted, That Mr. Daniel Boardman, min. of the Gen. N. M. should be
allowed by the town 90 pounds a year for the time to come, he finding
himself fire wood, & to take grain at the town price, and other species
also, or in bills of credit for 6 years. Dec. 30, 1726.

“Mr, Boardman’s proposition of accepting 90 pounds salary was by the
town excepted, except that clause in it concerning the towns taking
care about providing his firewood, which is due and not to be excepted.
Jan. 2, 1726-27.

“Jan, 2, 1726, Mr. B. accepting for peace by a certificate recorded on
old records,

“Mr, B.'s sallery shall begin and end the 1st of May annually. Jan.
16, 1726-27, Signed.

“ Ag to dividing line between Newtown & N.M. Aug. 28, 1727.

“Committee ap. to prevent incroachments upon highways & common
lands, Dec. 19, 1727.

“Owners to yoke swine, etc. Dec. 10, 1728.

“ Agreed to leave the form of the — of placing the pulpit & the seats
in the lower part of the house to the committee and the workmen. July
11, 1729,

“Far marks recorded next after this meeting & for 9 pages.

“Seats to be made on both sides of the broad alley in the meeting-
house. Dec. 2, 1729.

“ Voted, That there should be timber provided for the making the gal-
lery & the stairs at the door, and the stairs to be made as soon as may be.

“ Also Committee to seat the meeting-house, who shall seat according
to age, dignity, & estate; the pew nearest the pulpit is the highest in dig-
nity, & the 2 pew & the first long seat to be equal in dignity.

“Voted, That some other women shall be seated with Mr. Boardman
according to the dignity of their place. Dec. 2, 1729.

 

“Voted, That there shall be a drum beat for asign to go to meeting,
Dec. 2, 1729.

“A rate of 8 pounds, by last list, for to defray the charges of the pros-
ecution of Newtown at the County Court.

“A prayr sent to Gen. As. to obtain a county rate for finishing our
meeting house and defraying charge of the school. Dec. 2, 1729.

“Voted, That they will chose a town marshall to warn town meetings
and cut brush days. Dec. 7, 1730.

“Voted, That there shall be a pound built at the town charge, on the
west side of great river. Dec. 7, 1730.

“Committee for finishing galleries to m.h. (Same meeting.)

“Shall be a drum beat upon sabbath & other times of public worsbip,
to notify people of the time of going to meeting. Dec. 18, 1731.

“Persons upward of 50 years of age shall be allowed 2s. per year for
their age. Dignity is always allowed.

“Grades of seats according to dignity in the meeting house.
13, 1731. ,

“Voted, That the widdows shall keep their seats, &c. Voted that there
shall be 8 men set in each pew, and in each seat in square body 8. Jan.
11, 1731-2.

“ Agreed to let action with Newtown fall; each pay their own charge.
March 24, 1731-32.

“Committee to agree with Mr. Boardman as to his sallary, &c. Dec.
11, 1732.

“ Voted, That Mr. B.'s sallary shall be 80 pounds a year in money, also
30 cord of wood, 10s. a cord, for 4 years, Dec. 12, 1732.
“Mr. B. accepts 30 cord wood, 95 pounds salary, &c.

“Record of those who got wood for Mr. B.

‘Win. Drinkwater, of N. M., is Deputed to serve all writs in N. Haven
County. Samuel Mansfield, Sheriff N. Haven Co. Aug. 14, 1739.

“Then comes a list of New Milford freemen, 2 pages read. T. M. G.

“ Voted, Southward farms to keep a school on west side of great river.
Dec. 9, 1734. F

“Joseph Benedick & Mr. Ephraim Hawley shall be freed from paying
minister’s rate for 4 months in winter season for this year in case they
pay to a minister at Shepaug, in Woodbury. Dec. 9, 1734.

“Deacon John Bostwick, Capt. Stephen Noble, Saml. Canfield were
chosen coms. to order all the prudentials in building a bridge over G.
River at New Milford, in the place that Ins. Edmond Lewis hath pitched
upon, to agree with workman, &c. May 4, 1736.

“Coms. appointed to see what can get to the building of the Bridge.
(Same meeting.)

“A Memorial to Gen. As. for liberty to gather money by a Briff for
the building a bridge over Great River. May 4, 1736.

“ Building bridge at place town hath agreed upon, &c. Oct. 11, 1736.

“Nathan Gaylord com. to gather money. (Same meeting.)

“Mr. Boardman’'s salary 120 pounds per year. Dec. 13, 1736.

“Committee on Bridge. (Same meeting.)

“Select men appointed to take care of Bridge. Dec. 12, 1787.

“Voted, That Deac. John Bostwick shall be allowed ten shillings for
the use of his law book for town meetings, and for the use of particular
persons, as they shall have occasion. Dec. 12, 1737.

“Where certain men shall be seated in meeting-house.
ing.)

“Grave Digger, Sam]. Prindle & J. Nobery. (Same meeting.)

“Com. for building Bridge allowed 20s. each. (Same meeting.)

“Mr. B.’s salary raised to 135 pounds. Dec. 11, 1738.

“Deacon Job Harrises wife is seated in the corner pew in the meeting
house. (Same meeting.)

“Committee to repair school house. Sept. 19, 1739.

“Voted, That a memorial be sent to Genl. Assembly for liberty for
making a toul bridge over the great river. April 13, 1741.

“Petition that North purchase be occupied to N. M. (Same meeting.)

“Will repair bridge if general Ass. will grant a liberty of a tole bridge.
(Same meeting.)

“Mr. B.’s salary 140 pounds. Dec. 14, 1741.

“Mr. B. and family can cross the bridge without paying tole; also
some others.

“Voted, That Mr. Saml. Canfield shall be removed from the seat where
now placed in the meeting house & placed in first pew.”

Dec.

Dec. 12, 1732.

(Same meet-

PETITION FOR NEW COUNTY.

“May 10, 1742.—Voted, That Ebenezer Bostwick, of Danbury, and his
family shall have free liberty to pass & repass over our tole bridge tole
free, he paying 12 shillings money into the town treasury so long as said
bridge shall stand. Oct. 25, 1742.

“Myr, Boardman’s salary 145 pounds. Dec, 13, 1742.
448

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“School at South farms. Dec. 13, 1742.

“School house at South farms. March 17, 1743.

“Liberty granted certain petitioners for land to build a Church of
England and situated eastward of Samuel Prindle’s house, 60 foot in
length & 40 f. in width, for the worship of God. March 17, 1743.

“ Agreement between New Milford and New Fairfield as to boards.
March 14, 1743.

“Voted, That the inhabitants of the South farms in N. M. shall be set
of for a religious society, according as the committee. Sept. 20, 1743.

“No tole on Sabbath to all going or returning from church or meeting.
Dec. 12, 1743.

“Mr. Roger Sherman have liberty to pass over tole bridge, paying 10s.
Feb. 6, 1743-44.

“Committee to confer with Mr. Boardman to call in the incoming
minister, &c. June 6, 1744.

“Rev. Mr. White, of Danbury, & others desired to come to preach here,
&e. June 6, 1744,

“Voted, That those of us who are of the Church of England shall be
freed from paying any charge for hiring any minister for 1 year, pro-
vided Mr. B. shall be taken away, &c.; otherwise if we have to settle a
minister. June 6, 1744. :

“Agreement between New Milford & New Fairfield dated March
18, 1744.

“Those of Church of England freed from paying any charge that shall
arise by bringing any minister to come into town, &c. Adjourned
to Jan. 18, 1744.

“Voted, That a person should be hired to preach the gospel for 6 sab-
baths.

“Voted, That Ebenezer Fisk should have £2 8s. for his time, & 20s. for
expenses, and 20s, for his house, which is for fetching in a minister.
Jan. 18, 1744.

“A committee appointed to hire a minister or ministers, as they shall
find occasioy, for to supply the pulpit in New Milford till next annual
meeting. Jan. 18, 1744.

“Committee appointed to attend General Assembly at Meriden, Wal-
lingford, ;

“Perambulate the line with New Fairfield. March 13, 1744.

“Report of the select men of both towns. Dated March 20, 1744.

“General Association at Meriden as to ministers. Sept. 18, 1744.

“Voted, That all our former meetings & votings respecting our sending
for a.minister shall be null & void, & we conclude to set apart a day of
prayer & fasting, humbly to implore heaven’s blessing, &c. Oct. 15, 1744.

“To call a minister to preach on probation, &c. Oct. 19, 1744.

“Money of tole bridge shall be divided according to the act of the
Generel Court, &c. Dec. 10, 1744.

“Stephen Williams hired to preach 6 sabbats if committee sees fit.
January, 1744-45.

“Voted, That the committee send a man to conduct Mr. Noah Wells to
New Milford. Jan. 18, 1744-5.

“Votes in reference to the sallary of Mr, Noah Wells. July 2, 1745.

“A protest or count was entered against the settlement of Mr. Wells.
Christopher Newton called to preach on probation. July 2, 1745.

“Joseph Ruggles and others to have a school at their farms,

“ Joseph Ruggles’ request for a school at their farms. Nov. 12, 1745.

“Voted, That there shall be a school house erected & north end & south
end of town, and that a line shall be drawn dividing the schools. Dec.
9, 1745.

“This runs the removal of the house.
hhouses in town.

“Voted, That any of the former families inhabitants of N. M. shall
have liberty to build a small house to repair to on the Sabbath in the
common land. Dec. 9, 1745.

“With the consent of the selectmen of the town, the committee ap-
pointed by the town erected the school house at the south end of the
town, on the top uf the first rise of the bill against Samuel Canfield’s
house-lot. Dec. 10, 1745.

“Upon the request of Mr. Paul Welch, et. al. praying the civil au-
thority and Selectmen for liberty to erect a school house. After liberty
given, the committee located it in the highway southward from David
Camp’s house lot, into the north end of plank swamps, about 6 rods
northward from sd. swamps. Dec. 10, 1745.

“The school house at the south end of the town was erected near to
Joseph Ruggles’ house, northward from his house about the middle of the
highway. Dec. 12, 1745.

“ Pursuant to a grant of sd. town we, &c., have set out unto —— Can-
field, Japeth Collins, etc., a certain piece of land to sit a house ther eon,
wher eunto they may repair on the Sabbath day, lying north of the

I think are now three school

 

meeting-house on the side of the hill ajoining to Sperris’ land, that is 18
foot in length, 12 foot in breadth. Dec. 10, 1745.

“Voted, To give Mr. Stephen Johnson £6 as a minister, & if he shall de-
viate from the established order which he shall engage into according
to the Seebrook platform that no land revert to town. Feb. 17, 1745-56,

“Voted, That Mr. Noah Wells and Mr. Stephen Johnson be settled in
gospel ministry. Feb. 24, 1745-46.

“Mr, Johnson’s reply. April 4, 1746.

“Taken up in a suffering condition, by Samuel Hitchcock, of N, M., a
Red steer, one year old, with white hind feet, &c. Nov. 6, 1745.

“Steer appraised by Joseph Benedict & Nathan Hawley. May 29,
1745, &o.

“Then comes the description of all the ear-marks of different persons
for cattle, &c., covering more than 7 pages. Their names are, Abel Hine,
Ebenezer Buck, Wm. Prime, Abratha Buck, James Ferris, Ebenezer
Booth, Gilead Sperry, John Comstock, Arthur Bostwick, George Merwin,
Sherman Boardman, Joseph Ruggles, Nathan Bostwick, Jonathan Bene-
dick, Stepen Hawley, Guiles Orcutt, Abraham Dalomy, Daniel Nobles,

Abiel Baldwin, Justus Miles, Justus McKinus, Samuel Smith, Jonathan

Meker, Peter Brownlow, Hezekiah Hawley, Samuel Bostwick, Daniel
Picket, Abel Hawley, Pitman Benedik, Ebenezer Hope, Amos Northrop,
John Pickering.

“The committee of the great bridge shall have power to admit any
persons that are not inhabitants, while in the town, of the town of New
Milford, to be free passengers, & to take their proportion of the tole,
provided they pay their portion of the cost of rebuilding the Bridge.

“The town conveyed to Jonathan Meker the benefit of the East As-
petuck where he hath a Grist mill; provided the sd. Meker shall never
hinder any person that shall build any mill or dam up sd. stream fora
public use anywhere between the mouth of sd. river and within 60 rods
of the mouth of the Mast, where the sd. river comes out.

“ Voted, That there shall be a man chosen to keep the records of the
marks of the sheep within sd. town. Dec. 14, 1747.

“Voted, That the committee shall apply thursdays to Mr. Taylor & trie
him to come & preach the gospel with us. Dec. 14, 1747.”

Then comes a record of cattle, etc., taken up and
their marks, etc.

“Voted, To give Mr. Nathaniel Taylor a call to settle in the work of
the gospel ministry. April 11, 1748.

“ Voted, That Zerubable Canfield shall collect the money subscribed for
the repairs of the bridge over great river.

“ Voted, Mr. Taylor £400 for his settlement & £300 for his sallery.
April 11, 1748.

“Mr, Taylor’s ordination shall be June 29, 1748.

“ Voted, Where the seats of Mr. Enoch Buck, Wm. Judd, Widow Sarah
Baldwin, Cap. Nathaniel Bostwick, Paul Welch, Samuel Picket, Eben-
ezer Baldwin, Lewis Wilkinson, N. Collins, Mr. Roger Sherman place
shall be in the — seat in the front galery. June 7, 1748.

“ Voled, That Nathan Silliman shall be admitted a proprietor to pass
and repass over the Great Bridge for 10 shillings. Dec. 12, 1748.

“ Voted, That every person that shall kill any Ratell Snake for ye year
ensuing from April Ist shall be allowed 3 shillings for each snake, &c.
Dec. 12, 1748.

“ Toted, That 12 pounds shall be paid for repairs of meeting house upon
y° prespeterian order.

“Enoch Bucks aunt shall be in the fore seat.

“Seats in meeting house. Dec. 11, 1749.

“ Voted, That people of North purchase shall have £15 to build a school

house, &c. Dec. 11, 1749.

“Mr, Royce Sherman was chosen Leather Sealer, Dec. 10, 1751.

“ Voted, That the School Committee shall divide the interest of ye
School as Com money to each & every school within the limits of N. M.
that are set up in a lawful manner according to ye list of the inhabi-
tants of each particular school year. Dec. 10, 1750.

“ Voted, The Com. shall divide the interest or Cone money to each
school &c. Jan. 1750-51.

“ Voted, That all those persons of the Church of England & ye friends
shall be freed from paying any dues towards ye building or repairing
any meeting house.

“ Voled, That they would build a new meeting-house in New Milford.
Feb. 14, 1750-51.

“ Voted, That the inhabitants of such parts of sd. town as shall obtain
liberty of ye Hon. G. A. of this C. to be a society by themselves, at or
before the expiration of 4 years next ensuing, that then they shall have
paid to them by sd. town towards the building a meeting house within

July 10, 1749.
- NEW MILFORD.

their societies so much money as was paid on their lists towards the
meeting house now to be built for sd. town. Feb. 14.

“ Voted, To build a new meeting house; 52 for and 24 against.

“Meeting house to be 56 feet in length 44 feet in breadth, 30 years
2m.

“ Voted, That a rate shall be raised of 12 pence per pound and put list
in preparation to build meeting house, ;

“Voled in affirmative that they would chouse to continue under the
jurisdiction of New Haven County rather than annexed so far northward
as Litchfield or Cornwall. "

“Voted, That N. M. should not oblige Woodbury to build a bridge on:

Shepaug River near ye mouth of sd. river. Dec. 9, 1751.

“ Voted, That the inhabitants below Thomas Noble’s, on both sides Still
River be freed from paying to ye minister in ye town or to Mr. Taylor
for ye space of 3 months, in case they hire a minister with them.

“Rev. Mr. Taylor salary, £500, paid in my. or wheat, 30s., rye, 20s.,
Indian corn, 15s.

“ Meeting-house shall be 60 ft. long, 44 ft. wide, 27 ft. parta.

“ Voted, That the shingles shall be 18 in. long, 5 in. wide, 34 of an in.
thick.

“ Voted, That the clapboards shall be white oak, 4 in. wide, 14 in. thick
on the back, the sap being taken out.

“ Voted in negative that N. M. is not willing that the Northwest corner
of N. M. shall be set off to Newfairfield.

“ Voted, That the town shall apply to County Court, holden at Litch-
field, to request for a new committee to affix a place for erecting and
setting up a meeting-house in sd. town.

“Voted, That ye town will be at ye charge of laying out highways,
that ye proprietors’ committee shall lay out in sd. town, provided ye pro-
prietors shall be at ye charge of making a recompense for any land that
may be taken away on that account.

“ Voted, Yo allow of a bur)ing-place to be laid out in N. Milfd. north
purchase.

“ Voted, That the inhabitants of N. M. shall cut brush on ye public
highways one day this year in ye month of Nov. nxt.

“Committee shall have power to give liberty to any person that shall
come to deal in this town to go over the bridge tole free. Each person
80 paying 1 pound to town.

“The Select men shall have power to warn any one to cut brush ex-
cep those who are exempt from mending highways.

“ Voted, That since the town is divided into 2 societies, that the in-
habitants of the 1st society shall have the benefit of that part of sd.
rate raised on their lists towards building the meeting-house, and the
inhabitants of sd. town within the limits of Newburry & Newpreston
societies shall have their rates revised on their lists remitted, such as are
not already collected and paid, and such of them as have paid them
shall have them repaid by the treasurer.

“Dec. 8, 1755.— Voted, That each society in the town of N. M. shall
support their own schools within their lawful limits for the future.

“ Voted, That toll of great bridge shall be returned into town treasury,
and that cost of repairs shall be drawn out of town treasury.

“ Voted, That the town-rate shall be one-third part of a penny on the
pound, lawful money, to be paid in lawful money, or bills of credit of
this colony, of the late impressions, or equivilent in old tenor bills, the
rate of exchange to be determined by the town treasurer, or in good
merchantable wheat at 3s. 6d. pr. bush., or rye at 2s. 4d. pr. b., or In-
dian corn at 1s, 9d., or oats at 9d., or flax at 0s. 4d. pr. pound.

“ Voted, That there shall be no money drawn out of the town treasury
to pay for bulls for the year ensuing.

“ Voted, That the rate shall be 14 part of a penny on the pound.

“Voted, That all bridges, except the great bridge shall be built & re-
paired by way of highway work.

“ Voled, That the old meeting-house shall be disposed of for the benefit
of the town in general.

“Voted, That. Saml. Canfield, John Hitchcock, & Saml. Bostwick a
committee to take money out of. T. Treasury sufficient to buy paper & to
mnake a new book & to regulate the ear-marks,

“Voted, That the bridge to Samel. Brownson’s Mill shall be like Still
river iron- works bridge.

“Dec, 12, 1757.—Voted, That there shall be a bridge built over the
mouth of Aspetuck river in the highway.

“Voted, That John Davenport shall be admitted an inhabitant.

“Voted, That Select-men shall have power to appoint Surveyors of
highways their particular districts, when to warn the inhabitants to
work the highways. ;

“A vote & argument as to rebuilding the bridge over great river, car-
vied away by an ice-floo. Those who would rebuild should have the tole,

 

449.

&c., provided they should pay for the Jumber remaining, &c., if they took
it, at the approval of the select-men.

“March 1, 1768.—Voted, That the town will build a small house for
Paul, the Frenchman, to dwell in, on the town cost, & land for a garden
place, not exceeding 14 an acre.

“ Voted, That the house shall be 16 fot sq., 1 story high, for him to live
in, till peace be made between the French & English ; then it is supposed
sd. Paul will be returned to his native habitation, & then sd. house is to:
be returned to the town.

“A committee appointed to see to fencing the burying-place in 1st
Society of town.

“James Huis & wife and Thomas Clark & wife admitted inhabitants.

“Dec. 11, 1758.—Voted, That Saml. Clark shall be paid 14s. 5d. for con-
veying a neutral french man from New Milford to Newtown.

“Voted, That the select men shall draw money out of the T. T. to hire
a house for Paul, the frenchman, that is one of the neutrals among us for
year ensuing.

“ Voted, That 8. men shall prosecute any person who has brought any
inhabitant into town, &c.

“ Voted, That N. M. shall] preambulate witb N. Fairfield.

“ Voted, That the Seperatrs, so called, shall have liberty to erect a con-
venient house for their public worship, in the highway as shall be thought
proper in N. M.

“ April 9, 1759.—Abel Hine being chosen to gather the rate for year,
and has now gone into the war in the government service, Sam]. Com-
stock is chosen.

“Dec. 8, 1760.—Voted, That if the authority and selectmen think
proper, they may have liberty to set up inoculation for the smallpox.

“ Voted, That no person or persons shall cut or fell timber adjoining
the Great River, on penalty of 10s. for each offense,

“YVoted, that 28s. 2d shall be abated to Amos Collins & Isaac Deforest
on the amount of their misunderstanding about their license to sell-
spirituous liquors the year past. *

“ Voted, That those that went into the inoculation for the smallpox
shall pay their equal proportion of charge to the owner of the house &
the town. Dec, 14, 1761.

“ Voted, That there be a committee to divide the books called saybrook
platform according to the sundry seats, &c.

“6s, for killing a wild cat allowed from town.

“Daniel Burrit, Simeon Baldwin, Saml. Summers, Ephrahm Buck,
John Peet, Aaron Gaylord, Jr., & David Hawley, Sextons.

“ Voted, That the inhabitants of New Preston Society may have liberty
to erect a Schovl-house on the highway near Capt. Nath]. Bosworth’s
shop, so as not to incommode the highway.

“ Voted, That a comm. ap. to enquire and find whether the sum of
money raised for the sale of Country lauds iu Norfolk, a proportioned
part of which is allotted to N. M., is in Litchfield or Woodbury, and in
whose hands, &c.

“ Jan. 24, 1763.— Voted, That Hezekiah Baldwin be exempt from the
fine for selling freehold estate to Bishop.

“ Voted, That Saml. Raymond be exempt from the fine for selling free-
hold to Zebulon Palmer.

“ Voted, That the highway Surveyors shall from time to time warn
out men to erect & maintain a bridge across Aspetuck river, by Mr.
Taylor’s Grist-mill.

“ Dec. 8, 1766.— Voted, That the select men are hereby impowered to
set out a place for Wm. James to set up a shop for his carrying on the
trade of a Gold smith, in such place as they think proper.

“ Voted, That the town shall keep in repair the Great Bridge over
great river, against the middle of the town, with plank, &c.

“Same as voted concerning the bridge at Great Falls.

“Dec. 14, 1767.—Voted, That the town will pay £14 10s. to the church
of England for the old church for Town-House.

« Voted, That Dauiel Taylor’s fine for breaking the peace, before Samuel
Bostwick, Eq., shall be relinquished.

“Voted, That the town pay 1s. for killing red fox catched in sd
town.

“Dec. 12, 1768.—Voted, That Phineas Hurd’s fine of 12s., taxed by
Paul Welch, Eq., for his breach of Sabbath, shall be remitted, & not
recoverable from him.

“Dec. 26, 1769.—Voted, To build a bridge over Aspetuck near Mr.
Booth’s iron works.

“ Voted, That the united district shall or may keep a school in the
Town-House the year ensuin, they paying all damage if any be done
thereby. Jan. 10, 1770.

“Dec. 9, 1771.—Voted, That a black bonnet, a red woman’s cloak, &
all wosted gown, belonging to the estate of Hannah Beaman, of Derby,
450

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

be kept for and given to her daughter, Hannah Beaman, under age, and
if she die under age the town to have them.

“ Voted, That the town relinquish & resign what interest they have in
or unto the bridge acrost the great river, at the great falls, to the original
builders or proprietors thereof.

“Dec. 13, 1773,— Voted, That the select men are hereby impowered to
take money out of the town treasury sufficient to purchase decent cloths
to supply each of the burying-places in sd town to cover the coffins that
need to be thus respectfully intered.”

REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

“ Voted, That they will chose a committee of correspondence (by the
majority, only one negative).

“ Voted, That they chose a committee to draw up a draft to lay before
the meeting.

“Samuel Canfield, Wm. Cogswell, David Enatt, &c., be a comittee of
conference.

“Dec. 12, 1774.— Voled, That the select men shall dispose of the grain
now in the costody of the Town Treasury, to the best advantage accord-
ing to their discretion, and account with the Treasurer for the loss of
srinking & also ye loss in ye changing of the price.

“Amos Northrop, Isaac Hitchcock, Bushnel Bostwick, Nathaniel Boz-
worth, Epenetus Pratt, Isaac Bostwick, Saml. Canfield, Reuben Booth,
Sherman Boardman, Elizar Warner, Geo. Smith, Giliad Sperry, was
chosen a committee of inspection, according to the Congress advice, and
also according to the concurrence thereto by the Hon. General Assembly
holden at New Haven in Oct. last past.

“Dec. 9, 1776.—Mr. Saml. Comstock, Mr. Israel Baldwin, Capt. Ab™,
Camp, Daniel Everitt, Eq., Capt. James Terrill, Mr. John Comstalk, Mr.
Geo. Smith, Doct. Jonah Todd, Joseph Ruggles, Eq., Corpo. Bushnel
Bostwick, Saml. Bostwick, Eq., Col. Saml. Canfield, W™. Cogswell, Eq.,
Abel Hine, Eq., Mr. Amos Northup, Capt. Sherman Boardman, Mr.
Reuben Booth, Mr. Asahel Noble, Deac. Benj2. Gaylord, Mr. Oliver
Warner, Mr. Caleb Bennit, Mr. Sam]. Warner, & Deac. Ebenezer Hotch-
kiss was chosen a committee of inspection and corrispondence.

“March 10, 1777.— Voted, That the regulations contained in the late
act of Assembly respecting the laying of Embargoes and the stating of
prices now in force, are good and wholsome, and, as such, ought to be
strictly adheared to, and that it is the indisputable duty of all inform-
ing and executive officers to prosecute in the most effectual manner all
violations of sd regulations, & that it is the duty of the inhabitants of
this town to give all the assistance in their power to such officers in the
discharge of their aforesaid duties.

“March 31, 1777.— Voted, That a committee be appointed, according to
the advice of his Honor, the Gov., &c., for the purpose of furnishing the
quota of soldiers in the continental service for sd New Milford.

“Lieut. Zadoch Noble, Capt. Joseph Ruggles, Jr., Ensi. Geremiah Can-
field, Mr. Ethiel Stone, Dea. Israel Baldwin, Mr. Thomas Brownson, &
Mr. Zachariah Sanford was chosen for a Com for the purpuse men-
tioned in 2nd vote.

“ Voted, That the town of N. M. will give £12 lawful money, bounty,
for the 1st year’s service in addition to all encouragement already given,
to such inhabitants of this town as shall enlist into the Continental ser-
vice for 3 years, or during the present war.

“That for the 2d & 3d years, the sd soldiers who shall so enlist shall
have £6 lawful money pr. year, to be paid out of the T. T.

“That if money be wanting in T. T. to pay the s—— who shall enlist
within 10 days, acc. to 4th vote, that the T.T. is herby imp. to give notes
of hand to such inlisted soldiers, payable by the 1st Sept. next, with in.
until paid. Sept. 30, 1777.

“That the town will procede to transport home Salt which belongs to
the town.

“Wm. Cogswell, Eq., Capt. Ebenezar Couch, to be a committee to pro-
cure sd. salt & fetch it to New Milford.

“That the Comte shall apply to the select men for money to bear the
expense of getting & transporting sd. from Boston to sd. Town.

“Capt. Sherman Boardman, Mr. Saml Warner, Mr. Simeon Baldwin,
Capt. Benj2 Brownson, Capt. Ebenezer Couch, Mr. Ethiel Stone, & Dea.
Ebenezer Hotchkiss appointed a Comite to procure clothing for the sol-
diers in Continental Service & Select-m. to give an order on T. T. for
money.

“That a Comttee be appointed to purchase for the benefit & supply of
the families of the soldiers in the Continental Army, & also to supply
the necessaries of the other poor of the Town. A quantity of wheat, Rye,
Corn, & other articles & necessaries of life at the prices now stated ina
vote posted in this meeting, provided that sd. regulations shall not take

 

place, then each person selling s4. articles shall be entitled to each
article the most common & general price s4. articles pass for in sd. N. M.

“Voted, That £12: 0:0 be granted to Daniel Trowbridge out of the T.
T. to replace money sd Trowbridge recd. for his son (out of s4 T.), who is
in service & unfortunately lost the same out of his pocket. Aug. 5, 1778,

“The articles of Coufederacy as proposed by Congress, Stiled the
United States of North America, was recd. in T. M. and taken into
serious consideration, by articles seperately & in succession, & no ob-
jection made to sd. Articles, except some part of ye 5th Article, which
respects ye mode of chooseing our delegates in Congress; Voted, That the
freemen will always hold the prerogation & sole power of changing our
delegates in Congress by vote, said articles of confederacy was approved
as good and adopted in full by the members of s4. meeting without one
dissenting voice. Feb. 10, 1778.

“Tnoculation for the small pox may be carried on in T. untill Mar. 20,
next, under direction of select men; & that no person be admitted to
have the small pox except those persons who are exposed to be drafted &
serve in the army & some few families who may be exposed to the in-
fection by keeping tavern.

“Mr. Simeon Baldwin, Mr. Ebenezer Hotchkiss & Eng. Cogswell was
chosen a Committee to provide clothing for our soldiers in Continental
service.

“Capt. Elizur Warner, Lieut. Isaac Deforest, Lieut. Benj. Seeley, Capt.
Reuben Bostwick, Capt. Paul Yeats, Mr. Danl Emmitt, Capt. James Tur-
rill, Mr. Amos Northrop, Mr. John Paten, Mr. Nathan Gaylord, & Saml.
Merwin, Jr., was chosen as a Committee of Corrispondence & inspection
for the year ensuing.

“Capt. James Ferriss, Mr. Reuben Booth, Lieut. David Smith, Mr.
Simeon Baldwin, & Capt. Benj. Brownson was chosen a committee for
the purpose of purchasing supplies for the families of the soldiers in the
Continental army.

“Knsign Jeremiah Canfield, Mr. Ebenezer Hotchkiss, Simeon Baldwin,
& Ashael Noble was chosen a committee to provide clothing for soldiers
in the Continental army. Dec. 28, 1778.

“That the T. T. be authorised to pay to those Soldiers who were in-
listed under Lieut. Israel Burritt the sum of £12 : 0 : 0 each, on receiving
a certificate from the officer they now serve under in the Continental
Army, that they were good soldiers, and were inlisted within the limits
provided by a vote of this T., March 31, 1777.

“ Voted, That the Town inhabitants of N. M. shall be divided into 12
districts, by authity of select men & Commtte for purchasing. And that
the sd. districts shall furnish thir respective quotas as shall be assigned
to them as aforesaid, & on the failure of each or either of sd. districts in
furnishing the clothing allotted to them a aforesaid, then in case a war-
rant for dispursing clothing be granted, it shall be directed to the dig-
tricts that are deficient in propo: tion to their deficiency.

“Voted, That the select men shall be and are impowered to deliver
back those guns to such disaffected persons of this town as have been dis-
armed according to their direction.

“Ichobod Williams, a soldier of the 7th Co. Regiment, having served
with reputation three years, the full term for which he enlisted, is dis-
charged the service of the United States.

a iagivneianen> “ Puit. B. BRADLEY, Col. Com'd.
“Camp, 12th Feb., Bg

“ New Milford has always been loyal to the cause of
freedom. In 1779 the town voted four bushels of
wheat a month to every man who volunteered for
six months, and three bushels a month to the militia-
men who marched when ordered; but if they failed
to report within eight days after marching orders,
they forfeited this premium. The town also sup-
ported the families of men while absent in the Con-
tinental army. In 1778 the Articles of Confederacy
proposed by Congress, styled “‘ The United States of
North America,” were adopted in town-meeting, ex-
cept part of the fifth article, which respects the mode
of choosing delegates to Congress. It was “Voted,
That the Freemen will always hold the prerogative
and sole power of choosing our delegates in Congress
by vote.” Subsequently “said Articles of Confed-
eracy were adopted in full by the meeting without a
NEW MILFORD.

dissenting voice.” In 1783 it was voted, and a com-
mittee was appointed to enforce the resolution, that
all refugees, or “skedaddlers,” as they would now be
termed, as well as all who had voluntarily gone over
to the enemy during the war, should be prohibited
from returning and settling in the town.

“And yet these men of the past were not all saints
and patriots. In 1776 there were some bitter Tories
here. One of these was compelled by a company of
riflemen to walk before them from New Milford to
Litchfield, carrying one of his own geese the entire
distance. At Litchfield they tarred him, made him
pluck his own goose, bestowed the feathers upon him,
and drummed him out of the place, after obliging
him to kneel down and thank them for their leniency.”

CHAPTER XLIV.
NEW MILFORD (Continued).

Congregational Church, New Milford—Methodist Episcopal Church,
New Milford—Methodist Episcopal Church, Gaylordsville—Baptist
Church, Northville—Baptist Church, Gaylordsville—Jemima Wilkin-
son, the Universal Friend—Quaker Society—Roman Catholic Church.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.*

Tuts church was organized Nov. 21, 1716, with
thirteen members. The first sermon was preached
here by Col. John Reid, who had studied for the min-
istry in his youth. Mr. Daniel Boardman, a preacher
of the gospel, came here in 1712. The next year it
was voted that the inhabitants should pay all the ex-
pense that had been incurred in obtaining a minister,
also to lay out a pastor’s lot, to dig and stone up a
well for Mr. Daniel Boardman, if he became a settled
minister in New Milford. Meanwhile, the town al-
lowed five shillings sixpence a week for the minister’s
board. In 1715 the town agreed to petition the Gen-
eral Court to ‘* attain liberty for the settlement of the
worship and ordinances of God among us.” This was
the subject that then came up at every meeting of the
inhabitants. It was not until 1716 that they made
arrangements for laying out a burying-ground of two
acres, but for four years before that they had been
contriving and planning for the religious instruction
of themselvesand families. The poverty of the people
appears in the resolution adopted as to Mr. Board-
man’s salary, one-third of which was to be paid in
grain, two-thirds in labor, linen, or pork,—the estab-
lished price of wheat was then four shillings a bushel ;
rye, two shillings eightpence; corn, two shillings ;
and oats, one shilling,—part of the agreement being
that Mr. Boardman should sell the grain which he
had to spare at the same prices to the inhabitants.

 

* Condensed from memorial discourse delivered by Rev. James B.
Bonar, July 9, 1876.

 

451

In accordance with a vote of the town, Mr. Board-
man was ordained Nov. 21, 1716.

There was no ecclesiastical society until after 1750.
Until then the town was the society. It was the town
that provided for the supply of the pulpit, for the in-
stallation of ministers, the erection and care of build-
ings, and all expenses connected with public worship.
The church held meetings for the election of deacons,
the discipline of members, and the spiritual interests
of the people, but the town managed everything
that now belongs to the society. It was the town that
invited Mr. Daniel Boardman to labor here, and that
settled him as a pastor, making all the arrangements
for his installation; the town did the same in the
case of Mr. Taylor. So far as the records show, the
church took no separate action in calling its pastors
until the invitation to Mr. Griswold, in 1790, when it
formally voted, as has been the custom ever since, to
concur in the society’s action. From 17138 to 1750 a
large part of the business in town-meeting was in re-
gard to ecclesiastical affairs.

The first meeting-house, “ forty feet long, thirty feet
wide, and twenty-four feet between ‘gists,’ with suit-
able proportions,” was built in 1718-19, but not opened
for worship until 1720, and then it was in a very un-
finished condition. In 1720 it was voted to wall up
the “gists” before winter, and fill in between the laths
and studs with timber and mortar. The floor was not
laid until 1728. This building stood on the highway
on Town Hill, a few rods north of the present resi-
dence of Mrs. J. P. Treadwell. The second house of
worship, “sixty-four feet long, forty-four feet wide,
and twenty-seven-feet posts,” nearly twice the size of
the first, was erected in 1754, the town applying to the
General Assembly for power to sell the old meeting-
house, and to tax non-resident land-holders for build-
ing the new one. This building stood on the village
green, nearly opposite the present residence of My.
Solomon E. Bostwick. The present edifice was erected
in 1833, and, though much larger than the former, for
several years persons wishing slips have been unable
to obtain them. It would be a good centennial work
to enlarge the building.

The “Sabbath-day house” was an institution that is
unknown to the present generation. In 1745 the
town voted “that any farmers inhabitants have leave
to build a small house to repair to on Sabbath-day, on
the common land, provided the public is not damni-
fied thereby.” This building was located “north of
the meeting-house, on the side of the hill.” After the
erection of the church on the green, the “Sabbath-day
house” was built on the spot were now stands the house
so long occupied by the Rev. Mr. Acly. It is de-
scribed to me by a lady still with us (Mrs. Eli My-
gatt), who went through it more than seventy years
ago, as a long, low building, with four large rooms,
regarding which frightful stories were told of the
ghosts that inhabited it. In this building farmers
whose homes were distant stored loads of wood and
452

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

barrels of cider, and here they warmed their bean-
soup, replenished their foot-stoves, and regaled them-
selves in the hour between services. Until 1870 the
services were held morning and afternoon ; since 1870
the second service has been held in the evening.

The chapel was built by individuals, with permission
of the society, in 1838-39. The meeting-houses were
not heated until 1823-25, when two box-stoves were
put in the second meeting-house. In November, 1833,
the society voted to obtain ‘“‘2 of Dr. Nott’s stoves
and one ton of anthracite coal for the winter.” Fur-
naces were put in in 1860, when the church was im-
proved at a cost of five thousand two hundred and
twenty-five dollars, and:land for sheds was bought.
The organ was obtained in 1860, at a cost of twelve
hundred dollars.

The parsonage was bought in August, 1870, at a
cost of six thousand dollars, paid for by subscription,
and presented, with certain conditions attached, to
the society. Originally the people were called to
worship, as to all public meetings, by the beat of the
drum, for which an appropriation was made in 1716.
For many years after the first church building was
occupied the town annually appointed a person to
beat the drum, and voted him pay for his services. A
church clock which hung in the steeple of the second
meeting-house must have been bought about a century
ago. In 1780 the liabilities of the society are thus
stated: “ Arrears yet due on account of clock £7 8s.
5d., and due Widow Prudence Collins, for sweeping
the meeting house, £1 10s.”

Until 1745 this was the only society, and every
person in town was taxed for its support. From 1750
to 1790 persons who aided in supporting other socie-
ties were by vote relieved from the tax for thesupport
of this society.

From 1752 until 1796 all the educational and re-
ligious affairs of the town were under the control of
this society. It located the schools, fixed the tax,
collected it, and superintended the schools through
committees annually appointed. It was, in fact, the
school society for the town, and as such received
Benoni Stebbins’ legacy. It fixed and collected the
tax for the salary of the ministers, “for the sweeping
out of the meeting-house.” It also, in some measure,
managed the financial affairs of the Episcopal so-
ciety, for in 1771, after appointing Ichabod Bostwick
to gather the minister’s rate, it appointed “Solomon
Hodkiss to gather a rate for Mr. Clark.” And in
1772 this society issued a notice “to warn all the
church people to meet together on Monday, the 13th
day of instant April, at St. John’s Church at 8 of the
clock in the morning, then and there to consult such
measures as they shall think proper to procure a
Glebe house for the Rey. Mr. Clark, and to do such
other business as shall be thought proper.” The

 

aU of the meeting thus warned are recorded as
‘a meeting of the inhabitants of the Ist Ecclesiastical |
Society—holden. by the Church of England.” This |

was doubtless done, in a fraternal spirit, to give legal
efficacy to the action of the Episcopal society in dis-
posing of one glebe and purchasing another. This
shows the kindly feeling that then,.as now and al-
ways, has governed the members of this society. The
Church Review* states that

“Certain churchmen in New Milford were fined for refusing to attend
the meetings of the Established Church. These fines were, by recom-
niendation of Mr. Beach, paid, and copies of the proceedings taken, to be
forwarded to the King and Council. The fact becoming known, the au-
thorities refunded the money, and granted permission to build a church,
which before had been refused.”

“T do not know,” says Rev. Mr. Bonar, ‘the au-
thority of the Church Review for this statement, but I
do know that there is no warrant for it in town or so-
ciety’s books. There is no record of any refusal to
permit churchmen to build, nor of the remittance of
a fine upon any person for being absent from the
worship of this church, yet the books contain records
of scores of votes remitting fines for breach of the
Sabbath and other minor offenses. From 1752 to
1819 this society had all the legal rights in its own
hand, but in all the records there is no instance of
anything like intolerance, or a disposition to throw
obstacles in the way of others, while there are nu-
merous instances of its generosity and readiness to
aid those who entertained a faith different from its
own.”

The list of pastors is as follows: Daniel Boardman,
ordained here Nov. 21, 1716, and died Aug. 25, 1744;
Nathaniel Taylor, was ordained pastor here June 29,
1748, and died here Dec. 9, 1800; Stanley Griswold,
was ordained pastor here June 20, 1790; became a
Unitarian, threw open the sacraments to-all, and was
censured by Consociation. He left town in 1802, and
edited a political paper in New Hampshire. In 1805
he was appointed secretary of Michigan Territory.
In 1809 he was sent to the United States Senate, was
afterwards chief judge of the Northwest Territory,
and died at Shawneetown, IIl., Aug. 25, 1815, aged
fifty-two.

Andrew Elliot was ordained pastor here Feb. 24,
1808, and labored most successfully until’ his death,
May 9, 1829; Heman Rood, from 1880 to 1835; Noah
Porter, from 1836 to 1842; John Greenwood, : from

1844 to 1849; David Murdoch, from 1850 to 1874;

James B. Bonar, 1870, present pastor.

During the last century the church was sensitive as
to the character of its deacons. Instead of electing
brethren at once to the office, it chose them to serve
during the church’s pleasure. If acceptable after
one or tivo years’ trial, they were by vote “ established
as deacons;” and in 1750 the church voted that one
brother, who had thus been on trial for two years,
“should not be established in the office of deacon.”
Twenty-one persons have so far served the church in
this office, viz.: Samuel Brownson, James Prime, John

 

* Vol. ii, p. 317. See “ Hollister’s History of Connecticut,” vol. ii. p.
545, note.
NEW MILFORD.

Bostwick, Job Terrill, Samuel Canfield, Bushnell
Bostwick, Roger Sherman, Benjamin Gaylord, John
Hitchcock, Sherman Boardman, Elizur Warner, Jo-
seph Merwin, Dobson W. McMahon, John Beecher,
Micanor Stilson, George W. Whittelsey, Geradus
Roberts, Seymour B. Green, William Hine, John J.
Conklin, and Ethiel 8. Green. From 1716 to 1808
the Lord’s Supper was administered four times a
year ; since 1808, every two months.

Nineteen men from this church have entered the
gospel ministry, viz.: David Bostwick, Joseph Treat,
David Brownson, Benjamin Wildman, Whitmon
Welch, Gideon Bostwick, David Sandford, John
Stevens, David Baldwin, Daniel Marsh, Nathaniel
W. Taylor, Charles A. Boardman, Orlo D. Hine,
Merrit §. Platt, Elizur Beecher, Asahel Bronson,
John Treat Baldwin, George Todd, George Sterling.

At least four men in this town have been active in
national affairs. The most distinguished was Roger
Sherman, a native of Massachusetts, who came here
in 1743. He was clerk to this ecclesiastical society
from 1758 to 1761, and established in the office of
deacon in 1757. Here he wrought as a shoemaker,.
aided his brother in the store, and in 1745 was ap-
pointed land surveyor for the county. Removing to
New Haven in 1761, he became judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, a member of the Upper House in the
Legislature, and judge of the Superior Court. In
1774 he was appointed a member of the first Congress,
in which he continued until his death, at which time
he was in the Senate, to which he was elected in 1791.
He was a member of the Governor’s Council of Safety,
and mayor of New Haven from 1784 to his death,
July 28, 1798. In the Congress of 1776 he was a
member of the committee appointed to draft the Dee-
laration of Independence, as well as of many of the
other most important committees; and he was also a
member of the board of war, and of the board of
treasury. His services to the country were invalua-
ble, and few of his contemporaries left their impress
more clearly upon American institutions.

Elijah Boardman, third son of Deacon Sherman
Boardman, and grandson of the first pastor of this
church, was born March 7, 1760. In 1821 he was
elected to the United States Senate; he died Aug. 18,
1828. Mr. Boardman’s earlier years were in connec-
tion with this society, but, having married a daugh-
ter of the aforementioned Dr. Whiting, a zealous
Episcopalian, who engaged in a pamphlet controversy
with Dr. Billamy, he afterwards identified himself
with the Episcopal Church, and died in its commu-
nion. ‘

Perry Smith, who died in 1852, was elected to the
United States Senate in 1836, and served one term.
He was connected with the Episcopal society.

Orange Merwin, born here July 3, 1776, was in:
Congress in 1826-27, during the administration of
John Quincy Adams; he died Sept. 5, 1854. He was
a member of this society.

 

453:

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.*

In 1822 a permanent preaching-place was fixed at’
Pleasant Valley, now Lanesville. Rev. Laban Clark
and Rev. Eli Barnet, preachers of the Stratford Cir-
cuit, preached here. In 1833 the name of New Mil-
ford for the first time occurs as a preaching-place in
the Conference Minutes. In 1850 the present church
was built, under the pastorate of Rev. William McAl-
ister. The church was dedicated by Bishop E. 8.
Janes, LL.D. The following ministers of the New
York East Conference have been appointed to the
church since 1850: A. B. Pulling, W. H. Russell, Ira
Abbott, 8. J. Stebbins, William Silverthorn, William
Ross, George W. Allen, William R. Webster, A.
Booth, E. L. Bray, James H. Crofut, James H. Light-
bourne.

In 1826, at Northville, a church was built, and in
1828 a church was built at Lanesville. These churches
have been superseded by the New Milford church,
the membership having coalesced.

- The present official members are Rey. William
Hill, Presiding Elder; Rev. James H. Lightbourne,
Preacher in Charge; Henry Hartwell, M. L. Delavan,
Orange Pepper, Nelson Knowles, W. Green, Charles
A. Way, Edwin L. Osborn, D. M. Marsh, Trustees ;
Charles A. Way, A. J. Parcells, William Green, Lewis.
Hamlin, John S. Colebrook, W. O. Mallet, Stewards.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, GAYLORDSVILLE.t

This church was organized in 1824, by Rev. C. Sil-
liman, with the following members: Benjamin B.
Soule, Homer Waller, Martha Waller, Peter Gaylord,
Elizabeth Gaylord, Truman Gaylord, John Gaylord,
Spencer Ward, Patty Ward, Herman Stone, Laura
Hendrix, Polly Paine, Clarissa Judd, Sally Judd,
William Terry, James A. Hungerford, Patty Hunger-
ford, Rufus Burnan, David Jones. The church build-
ing was erected in 1826. The following is a list of
pastors: John Reynolds, William Juett, Fitch Reed,
Samuel Cochran, Uriah Fisher, Aaron S. Hill, Francis
Donoly, J. O. Worth, Charles Stearns, Alonzo Sellick,
William H. Barnes, David Nash; D. T. Littlewood,
John: H. Gaylord, Frank Lockwood, G. 8. Gilbert,
Samuel Weeks, Benjamin Redford, William Ross,
Frederick Brown, Seth W. Scofield, Alexander Mc-
Alister, Joseph Henson, B. M. Genung, Uriah Simons,
William A. Dalton, R. F. Elsden, Robert Kay.

The present officers are: Trustees, Charles Pomeroy,
Clinton H. Pomeroy, James Paine, John Flynn, A.
H. Barlow; Stewards, John Gaylord, S. C. Ferriss,
John Flynn, C. H. Pomeroy, W. J. Buckingham,
Sherman Benedict, H. O. Ward, John T. Underhill,
Ezra Barnum. Present membership, eighty-eight.

Originally this charge was a part of the large
Amenia Circuit. When the New York East Confer-
ence was formed by:a division of the New York Con-
ference, Gaylordsville fell to the New York East Con-

 

* Contributed by Rev, James H. Lightbourne.
+ Contributed by Rev. Robert Kay.
454

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ference, but a few years ago it was connected to the
New York Conference, where it now belongs.

BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTHVILLE.*

On the 7th day of January, 1814, a company of
believers holding Baptist principles met at the house
of Asabel Baldwin, in the western part of the town,
and after free deliberation,

“ Voted, 1st—To organize themselves into a society to be known as the
New Milford Bap. Ch.

“ Voted, 24,—To invite a council from Sister Ch® to meet with them
on the 9 day of Feby to consider the propriety of recognizing them as a
regular Bap. Ch.”

Feb. 9, 1814, the Council met at the same place,
composed of pastors and delegates from the churches
in Newtown, Litchfield, and Roxbury, and, after ex-
amining their articles of faith and covenant, voted
unanimously to recognize them as a sister-church in
the Lord. The following are the names of the con-
stituent members: Eleazar Beecher, Dorcas Wright,
Nathaniel Terry, Lydia Phillips, Martha Terry, Patty
Phillips, Mary Baldwin, Betsy Davenport, Elizabeth
Baldwin, Leman Garlick, John Ferris, Mrs. Garlick,
Sally Ferris, Elijah Canfield, Mary Canfield, Mrs.
Canfield, Phebe Hallock, Esther Baldwin, A. Titus,
Isaac Wooster, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Wooster, Asahel
Baldwin.

February 19th the church voted to license Eleazar
Beecher, a man of the people, to preach the gospel
to them, and on the 15th of September of the same
year he was ordained to the work of the ministry,
and assumed the pastoral care of the church, and
served them in that capacity till 1821. The Rev.
Seth Higby was then called to the pastorate, and re-
mained with the church one year. During that and
the following year their present house of worship—
located in Northville, four miles from New Milford
village—was built; and in 1823 another house of
worship was built in Merryall, four miles distant.
In 1822, Elder Beecher again took charge of the
church, preaching alternately at Northville and
Merryall, and so continued till about the year 1832.
During his pastorates over one hundred members
were added to the church. Their next pastor was
Rev. Nathan D. Benedict, who settled with them in
1832, and remained two years. Twenty-eight mem-
bers were added during that time. In 1835, Rev.
Elijah Baldwin moved into the place, and the church
voted to invite him to take the pastoral oversight du-
ring his stay with them. The invitation was accepted,
and he served the church until the spring of 1840.
From 1840 to 1850 the church had no settled pastor,
but the pulpit was regularly supplied by Rev. E. N.
Jenks, Rev. L. Atwater, E. C. Ambler, and others,
all non-residents.

Under the labors of Rev. Mr. Jenks, in 1841, there
was a very interesting revival, and eleven were added
to the church by baptism. In the winter of 1850

 

* Contributed by Rev. B. Beardsley.

 

another revival was enjoyed, and eleven more were
admitted to the fellowship of the church.

From 1850 to 1866 there were no additions by bap-
tism, and none by letter that proved of any lasting
service to the cause of Christianity. During that
period the church enjoyed the pastoral labors of Rev.
H. M. Barlow two years, Rev. J. F. Jones two years,
Rev. J. Hepburn three years, and then My. Hepburn
supplied the pulpit two or three years after moving
from the place.

In 1868, Rey. C. W. Potter accepted a call from
the church, and continued with them about three
years. A very extensive revival was enjoyed during
that time; ten were added to the church as a result
of it, while other churches received their full share of
the converts. From 1871 to 1875 the church had no
pastor, the pulpit being supplied a part of the time
by Rev. Arthur Day and others. In the spring of
1875, Rev. E. Beardsley accepted a call to the pastor-
ate of the church, and is with them at present.

During its early history its members were scattered
over three or four townships, and meetings were held
at different times in localities that best suited the con-
venience of the worshipers, but gradually out-stations
were abandoned, the congregation in Merryall dwin-
dled, tHe house of worship was sold and for a number
of years their meetings have all been held in the
meeting-house in Northville.

The church has never been strong, either in num-
bers or wealth, but, to its praise, it may be said that
it has been a united and peace-loving church. Only
one serious division has marred its history, and that
was of short duration. Its location, being in the
country, where the population is gradually dwindling,
has always been unfavorable to its growth in num-
bers. Besides this, its pastorates have all been short,
the result, probably, of never having owned a par-
sonage.

Several of its members have been licensed to preach
the gospel, among the number Rey. N. M. Baldwin,
DD., for a number of years pastor in New York and
Philadelphia.

Synopsis: whole number received by baptism, 195;
by letter, 73; total, 268. Present number, 40; con-
stituent members, 23.

The Baptist Church at Gaylordsville was organized
in about 1830. The Universal Friends, between 1780
and 1785, the followers of Jemima Wilkinson, who is
described as a remarkably comely woman, with dark
hair and sparkling black eyes, built a house in what
is now the old cemetery, on the hill on the road to-
wards New Preston. They soon sold this building to
the Episcopalians, and moved to Yates Co., N. Y.,
where Jemima lived and died.

The Quaker society was organized in 1881, with
twenty persons. They built a house in 1742, and have
continued their worship from that time until the
present, though at this date there is but one family of
them residing in the town.
NEW MILFORD.

455

 

St. Francis Zavier’s Church is a flourishing ecclesi-
astical body, under the charge of Rev. Father Gleason.

For history of Episcopal Church, New Milford, see
Supplement.

CHAPTER XLV.
NEW MILFORD (Continued).

The Press—The New Milford Republican—The New Milford Journal—
The Housatonic Ray—The New Milford Gazette—First National Bank
—Savings Bank—Library—St. Peter’s Lodge, No. 21, F. and A. M.—
Ousatonic Chapter, No. 33, R. A. M.—Good Shepherds’ Lodge, No. 65,
1.0. 0. F.—Fire Department—Adelphic Institute—Old Advertisements
—The Tobacco Interest—Grand List, 1880—Incorporation of Town—
Representatives from 1725 to 1881—Probate Judges from 1787 to 1881
—Military History.

THE PRESS.

THE first paper established in this village was the
New Milford Republican, in 1845, by J. K. Averill,
who continued until some time during the following
year, 1846, when it was removed to Litchfield.

THE HOUSATONIC RAY.

In 1872, Messrs. Bailey & Donavan, publishers of the
Danbury News, deeming New Milford one of the best
localities in Connecticut for the establishment of a rural
newspaper, began the publication of the New Milford
Journal there. They sent one of their workmen,
named E. W. Addis, to this village to secure local
items, and supplied him with sufficient type to set
the items up; but they made up the balance of it,
and printed the paper in Danbury. After about a
a year they disposed of it to J. R. Johnson, who put
the whole inside in type, but carried the forms to
Danbury every week, and the original owners worked
them off,—that is, the inside forms, the outside of
the paper being “ patent,” and supplied by New York
parties. Mr. Johnson published it about one year, when
it passed into the hands of Mr. M. L. Delavan, its pres-
ent editor and proprietor, who changed its name to
The Housatonic Ray, under which it still lives, and it
has met with a degree of success wholly unexpected
at the outset. The Ray aims to be not neutral but
independent in the expression of its opinions, and
allows nothing to interfere with their expression. It
has a feature—that of questions and answers—which
is wholly unknown to the other papers of the State,
and which has been pronounced by eminent men a
very important feature, which, for the information
imparted, should be adopted by all other newspapers.
It is able to say that since it has appeared under its
present name not a sentence has been published
which could give offense to modesty. It aims to be
thoroughly truthful and reliable, and under the able
editorial management of Mr. Delavan has taken front
rank among the leading local journals in the State.

THE NEW MILFORD GAZETTE
was established by Gee & Hale in January, 1877, by
whom it was published until August, 1877, when it

 

passed into the hands of Robert Erwin, who has since
been its editor and publisher. It is a lively local
journal, and justly merits its present prosperity. It
is Democratic in politics.

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF NEW MILFORD

was originally a State bank, called the Bank of Litch-
field County, with a capital of one hundred thousand
dollars. The first meeting of stockholders was held
Dec. 6, 1852, and the following board of directors was
chosen, viz.: F. Chittenden, Eli Mygatt, George
Taylor, Walter D. Sperry, Solomon G. Bostwick,
Noble 8. Bennitt, Daniel Marsh, George Briggs, and
Glover Sanford. The banking-house was the small
brick building now standing next door south of the
residence of Mrs. Harriet Boardman, on Main Street.
A. McAlister, of Bridgeport, was the first cashier, and
held the position until the appointment of George W.
Whittelsey, of New Milford, April 25, 1853. Mr.
Chittenden was compelled to resign April 7, 1853,
and thereupon Eli Mygatt was elected, and at the
same time Henry W. Booth was chosen a director.
Mr. Mygatt voluntarily retired from the presidency
in 1855, and Henry W. Booth was chosen as his suc-
cessor. Mr. Booth was succeeded by Daniel Marsh,
who continued in said office until Jan. 1, 1878.

In March, 1865, the Bank of Litchfield County was
converted into a national bank, with a capital of one
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Daniel
Marsh was continued in the presidency, with the fol-
lowing directors, viz.: Daniel Marsh, Glover Sanford,

-George Taylor, John Hopson, John G. Noble, Henry

W. Booth, Lyman Smith, 8. G. Bostwick, George
Briggs. In 1858, John J. Conklin was made cashier,
to succeed Mr. Whittelsey, and remained in office
until October, 1867, when Henry Ives, the present
cashier, was appointed.

The present officers of the bank are A. B. Mygait,
President; Henry W. Booth, Vice-President; Henry
Ives, Cashier; Henry 8S. Mygatt, Assistant Cashier;
Charles C. Barlow, Clerk.

The following is a statement of the condition of the
bank Dec. 18, 1880:

Dr. Cr.

Bills discounted $240,607.77 | Capital stock... « $125,000.00
341,84

    
  
 
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

Overdrafts. Surplus fund... 25,000.00
U.S. bonds 125,000.00 | Undivided profits... 18,750.47
Other stocks and bonds = 21,398.75 | Circulation...,......... 112,490.00
Mercantile National Unpaid dividends. ...... 150.

Bank, New York...... 35,794.74 | Deposits..... 170,343.95
Fisk & Hatch.... 309.18 | Certificates . 6,951.87
Banking-house.. 7,000.00 | Balance due 7,388.06
Expense accoun 2,326.16
Red-stamp account...... 400.00
Non-resident tax......... 45.60
Five per cent. redemp- :

tion fund uae 5,625,00
Cash..... 27,225.31

$466,074.35 $466,074.35

While a State bank, and very soon after its organi-
zation, the Bank of Litchfield County sustained heavy
losses on account of the misdoings of its president,
Frederick G. Chittenden. It necessarily became the
chief care and effort of the next president, Eli My-
456:

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

gatt, and the board of directors, to repair the damages,
as far as possible, occasioned by the mismanagement
of Chittenden. Slowly but surely, under their ad-
ministration, they began to regain a comparatively
sound and satisfactory condition. Under the admin-
istration of the third president, Henry W. Booth, the
bank was well and judiciously conducted, and be-
came a prosperous institution, and paid satisfactory
demands. He left the bank ona sound basis, possess-
ing the confidence of the public, and with a rapidly
augmenting business. This state of affairs continued
while Mr. Marsh held the position of president, until
the close of his term of official and most honorable
service, Jan. 1, 1878. In 1867, John J. Conklin
proved to be a defaulter to the amount of about
$40,000. The bank was able to bear it without any
very serious embarrassment, and is now in a very
strong and prosperous condition, doing an active and
constantly increasing business.

THE NEW MILFORD SAVINGS BANK

was organized in July, 1858, with the following board
of trustees: Eli Mygatt, David C. Sanford, Silas Er-
win, Gerardus Roberts, Albert N. Baldwin, James
Hine, William J. Starr, Andrew B. Mygatt, Sheldon
Blackman, Jehiel Williams, Noble 8. Bennitt, Al-
bert Pickett, Daniel Marsh, William B. Green, Charles
H. Booth, John §. Turrill, Isaac Hine, Levi S. Knapp,
and Charles Randall. The first officers were Eli My-
gatt, President ; Silas Erwin, Vice-President; Charles
Randall, Sheldon Blackman, James Hine, Noble 8S.
Bennitt, Gerardus Roberts, Directors; John S. Tur-
rill, Secretary and Treasurer. The presidents have
been as follows: Eli Mygatt, Silas Erwin, and James
Hine. The first secretary and treasurer was John S.
Turrill, who was succeeded by Charles Randall, the
present incumbent.

The present board of trustees are Albert N. Bald-
win, James Hine, William. J. Starr, Andrew B. Mygatt,
Daniel Marsh, William B. Green, Charles H. Booth,
John 8, Turrill, Levi S. Knapp, Charles Randall,
William Roberts, Cyrus A. Todd, Ralph E. Canfield,
Van Renssalear Giddings, Isaac B. Bristol, Turney
Soule, Charles M. Beech, and George W. Anthony.
The present officers are James Hine, President ;
Ralph E. Canfield, Vice-President; Charles Randall,
Secretary and Treasurer; Isaac B. Bristol, Charles
H. Booth, Van Renssalear Giddings, Levi 8S. Knapp,
and John §. Turrill, Directors.

The first deposit, $39, was made Aug. 28, 1858.

The amount of deposits Oct. 1, 1880, were $566,646.-
97.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The first meeting for the formation of an agricultu-
ral society was held in Wright’s Hall, New Milford,
July 8, 1858. The society was organized under the
name of “The Housatonic Agricultural Society.”
At first the fairs were held on the lot to the rear of the

 

* Contributed by Robert Erwin.

 

present residence of Dr. James Hine; afterwards
the society rented grounds of F. 8. Richmond, about.
one mile south of the village of New Milford, on the
west side of the Housatonic River.

At a meeting of the society held March 38, 1879, it
was voted to merge the society into a joint-stock or-
ganization, and at a meeting March 22d a temporary
organization was effected. Ata meeting June 21st,
two-thirds of the stock having been subscribed for
the organization, under the name of the “ New Milford
Agricultural Association,” the organization was com-
pleted by the election of a board of directors, as fol-
lows: William D. Black, Nicholas Staub, Noble Ben-
nitt, George W. Squires, Turney Soule, Samuel
Thornhill, J. Leroy Buck. Homer L. Wanzer, Walter
B. Bostwick, George A. Barnes, H. O. Warner, Charles
E. Beeman, and Burr Mallett. W. D. Black was
elected President: J. Leroy Buck, Vice-President;
W. B. Dayton, Secretary; Charles Randall, Treas-
urer. Subsequently Mr. Dayton resigned his posi-
tion, and Robert Erwin was elected to fill the vacancy.

At the annual election in 1880 the old board of
directors and officers were re-elected. In 1881, Messrs
F. J. Turrill and Charles N. Hall were elected direc-
tors in place of George A. Barnes and Charles E.
Beeman. At a meeting of the board of directors
held May 7, 1881, Col. C. D. Blinn was elected secre-
tary in place of Erwin, resigned.

The grounds of the association are to the west of
the village, about a mile distant, and are well located.
The track is a good one, and suitable buildings for
the exhibition of goods have been erected. In 1880
a grand stand was put up. For the two fairs held so
far the association has been quite successful, each
year leaving a surplus after paying its premiums in
full. In 1879 the attendance at the fair and the
articles entered for premiums were double those of the
old society. There are also stables for the accommo-
dation of owners of horses. No liquors are allowed
to be sold on the grounds. So far the association has
not allowed gambling in any form. In consequence
of improvements the association is somewhat in debt.
The capital is ten thousand dollars, and nearly all
the stock has been taken.

LIBRARY.

The Union Library of New Milford was established
in the Centre of New Milford, Feb. 18, 1796. The
first meeting of the proprietors of said library was
held at the dwelling-house of William Clark, and
the following are the names of the original sub-
scribers: Sherman Boardman, Elijah Boardman,
David §. Boardman, Mathew Brownson, Nathan B.
Buckingham, Samuel B. Buck, Clark Blackney, Ben-
jamin Bostwick, Elijah Bostwick, Samuel Bostwick,
Reuben Booth, Gerardus Booth, Asa Brownson, Daniel
Camp, William Camp, Samuel Bostwick, Ithamer
Canfield, Herman Canfield, William Clark, Stephen
Chittenden, Jr., William Doan, Daniel Everitt, Stan-
NEW MILFORD.

ley Griswold, Ebenezer Gaylord, William Gaylord,
Nathan Gaylord, Daniel Gaylord, Abner Gunn,
Epinetus Gunn, Abel Hine, Noble Hine, Beebe Hine,
Solomon Hill, Abraham Hayes, C. Lowry, J. Lock-
-wood, Daniel Lines, Truman Marsh, N. S. Masters,
Stephen Miles, John Miles, Stephen Merwin, Noadiah
Mygatt, Jonathan Mygatt, David Noble, Jeremiah
Platt, Daniel A. Pickett, Joseph Ruggles, John Rob-
erts, Philo Ruggles, John Speary, Benoni S. Sanford,
Isaac Stone, Eli Starr, Nathaniel Taylor, Nathaniel
Taylor, Jr., William Taylor, Gideon Treat, Thomas
Wells, and Philip Wells.

ST. PETER’S LODGE, No. 21, F. AND A. M.,

was reorganized Nov. 23,1863. A number of the fra-
ternity met at Lewis Allen’s hotel, in New Milford,
on the evening of said day. Jarvis Polley was ap-
pointed chairman and F. Richmond, Jr., secretary.
The brethren then proceeded to ballot for officers,
with the following result: Jarvis Polley, W. M.; T.
Richmond, Jr., S. W.; F. N. Allen, J. W.; Geo.
Lockwood, Treas. ; H. Hertz, Sec.

The lodge-room was first located in the post-office
building, on Bank Street, and on their first regular
communication, Jan. 4, 1864, the remaining officers
were chosen, as follows: Chas, M. Booth,S. D. ; Oliver
8. Hartwell, J. D. It was voted to hold the regular
communications on the first and third Tuesday even-
ings in each month. The charter members were
Jarvis Polley, F. Richmond, Jr., L. N. Jennings, F.
N. Allen, Frederic Percey, Robt. Townsend, Lewis
Allen, Isaac Newman, Chas. M. Booth, Oliver 8.
Hartwell, H. Hertz. March 19th the first death oc-
curred.

The following are the Worthy Masters in regular
succession: Albert 8. Hill, Dec. 19, 1865; C. M.
Booth, Dec. 15, 1868; H. O. Warner, Dec. 20, 1870;
A. H. McMahon, Dec. 15, 1874; 58. C. Landon, Dec.
18, 1877; T. M. Trowbridge, Dec. 17, 1878.

The present officers are T. M. Trowbridge, W. M.;
Nicholas Staub, 8S. W.; Geo. S. Beers, J. W.; T. T.
Marsh, Treas.; Geo. H. Jackson, Sec.; J. A. North-
rop, 8. D.; Henry Adams, J. D.; Albert Turrill,
Tyler.

Albert Turrill has held the position as Tyler since
the organization of the lodge, with the exception of
one year, during which time he has not been absent
from his post but three or four times.

At the dedication of the Masonic Temple in Phila-
delphia, April 25, 1878, the lodge sent C. M. Booth to
witness the ceremony and report to the lodge. On
his return Mr. Booth gave the lodge an interesting
account of the dedication, with a description of the
building, and also presented to the lodge photographs
of the Temple. Jan. 1, 1870, the lodge was removed
to Schoverling’s Building, on Railroad Street, near the
depot, and Oct. 1, 1879,-it was again removed to its
present rooms, on Bank Street.

Present membership, ninety-four.

 

457

OUSATONIC CHAPTER, No. 33, R. A. M.

This chapter was organized as Weantinaug Chap-
ter, March 8, 1870. May 19, 1870, it was legally con-
stituted as Ousatonic Chapter, under warrant of John
H. Barlow, G. H. P. The charter members were
Jarvis Polley, G. W. Anthony, T. T. Marsh, Chas. D.
Blinn, D. W. Knowles, A. H. McMahon, A. H.
Knapp, Eli Hamlin, Ira Keeler, and John E. Knowles.
The first officers elected were Jarvis Polley, M. E. H.
P.; D. E. Knowles, E. K.; A. H. McMahon, E.§.;
M. L. Frost, C. H.; 8. C. Landon, R. A. C.; H. O.
Warner, P.S.; T. T. Marsh, Treas.; Geo. W. An-
thony, Sec.; Wm. Schoverling, G. M. 3d V.; John
E. Knowles, G. M. 2d V.; Oliver 8. Hartwell, G. M.
1st V.; Albert Turrill, Tyler.

The following is a list of succeeding M. E. H.
Priests: A. S. Hill, Dec. 28, 1871; 8S. C. Landon,
Dec. 28, 1876; A. S. Hill, Dec. 27, 1877.

The present officers are A. S. Hill, M. E. H. P.; T.
M. Trowbridge, E. K.; 8. C. Landon, E.S.; T. T.
Marsh, Treas.; G. W. Anthony, Sec.; W. F. Bennett,
C. H.; J. G. Foster, P. 8.; G. S. Beers, R. A. C.;
Alex. Levy, G. M. 8d V.; F. A. Bennett, G. M. 2d
V.; J. A. Northrop, G. M. 1st V.; Albert Turrill,
Tyler.

The chapter held its meetings at first in the Ma-
sonic Hall, on Railroad Street, but removed, with St.
Peter’s Lodge, F. and A. M., to its present rooms, on
Bank Street.

Present membership, forty-five.

GOOD SHEPHERDS’ LODGE, No. 65, I. 0. 0. F.,

was instituted July 2, 1877, with the following charter
members: John F. Williams, Nathaniel A. Williams,
John B. Boughton, Thos. D. Barlow, Geo. 8. Beers,
and James R. Ferris. The officers chosen were Thos.
D. Barlow, N.G.; John B. Boughton, V.G.; Jas. R.
Ferris, Sec.; John F. Williams, Treas. The place of
meeting was Beach’s Hall, corner West and Bridge
Streets. On July 1, 1878, it was moved to Masonic
Hall, on Railroad Street, near the depot. Oct. 1,
1879, it was again moved to New Masonic Hall, on
Bank Street, where it now remains.

The Noble Grands have been as follows: John B.
Boughton, January, 1878; Nathaniel A. Williams,
July, 1878; Chas. B. Botsford, January, 1879; Geo.
E. Eddy, July, 1879; Geo.S. Beers, January, 1880.

The present officers are Lewis W. Mosher, N. G.;
Chas. Planz, V. G.; T. M. Trowbridge, Sec.; John
B. Sharpe, Treas.

Nov. 18, 1877, Schuyler Colfax delivered a lecture,
under the auspices of the lodge, to a large audience,
from which the lodge received a handsome profit, a
part of which was donated to the yellow fever sut-
ferers in Memphis, Tenn.

Since its organization the lodge has lost but two by
death. The present membership is forty-six, with an
average attendance of sixteen.
458

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

The first fire company in this town was organized
May 8, 1830. The old company was finally dis-
banded, and in February, 1863, Water Witch Engine
Company, No. 2, was organized. The foremen have
been as follows: Frederick Boardman, L. N. Jen-
nings, 8. L. Erwin, and N. Staub.

THE WATER WITCH HOSE COMPANY

was organized May 1, 1876. The present officers are
as follows: N. Staub, Foreman; Charles Edwards,
First Assistant; Philip Planz, Second Assistant; T.
M. Trowbridge, Secretary ; R. B. Noble, Treasurer;
H. E. Bostwick, Chief Engineer; A. H. McMahon,
First Assistant; 8. L. Erwin, Second Assistant.

THE ADELPHIC INSTITUTE.

The Adelphic Institute was opened at North Corn-
wall, by Ambrose 8S. Rogers, in 1847, and continued
there until 1860, when it was removed to New Mil-
ford, and taught there until 1876, a period of twenty-
nine years. This institution was highly prosperous,
and had a patronage extending to all parts of the
United States, the West Indies, and South America.
It had over five hundred different pupils, and during
the whole period of its continuance not a student
sickened and died. The locality is one of the most
healthy and beautiful in New England. During the
civil war it was a military school, having the best-
drilled teachers to drill the young cadets. Several of
its pupils became officers in the United States army.
The institution was a great benefit to the town of
New Milford, bringing there several thousand dollars
yearly. The students had ground allotted them to
cultivate, and they were required to furnish some of
their best productions for the press, and to take part
in a debate once a week. Some of the highest posi-
tions in the country are now filled by them.

OLD ADVERTISEMENTS.

Tue PARTNERSHIP og
DANIEL anp ELIJAH BOARDMAN,
Merchants in New-Milford,
is to be dissolved, by mutual agreement, on the first day of March
next, at which time all unsettled accounts will be put in suit—an
alternative we so anxiously wish to avoid, that we shall readily attend
at all proper times, to the adjustment of accounts with our customers ;
and for their accommodation, will receive all kinds of country produce
usually taken for merchant's debts, at their full value, either on book,
or note, if delivered previous to said first of March.
DANIEL BOARDMAN,
ELIJAH BOARDMAN.
4ay~>They are furnished (as usual) with an extensive assortment of
EUROPEAN AND INDIA Goops,
Suitable for all seasons, which are to be disposed of on the lowest
terms.
New-Milford, Oct. 10, 1792.

INOCULATION.

cles Hospital in New-Milford, will be opened for the reception of

patients, on the first day of September next, where Inoculation
for the Small-Pox, will be continued through the fall, winter and spring
months, by

 

38 12

 

LEMUEL THOMAS,
New-Milford, July 23, 1792. 26

 

 

THE TOBACCO INTEREST.

As early as 1852, George McMahon commenced the
raising of tobacco and manufacturing cigars in a small
way. In 1868, E. A. Wildman erected the first to-
bacco warehouse in the town, and in that year five hun-
dred cases were packed. In 1869, Schoverling & War-
ner also erected a large and commodious warehouse,
These two concerns were the pioneers of the present
immense business. The business is at present (Octo-
ber, 1880) represented by the following firms, and
during the past year about five thousand cases were
packed: Warner & Myers, W. M. Schoverling, E. A.
Wildman & Co., P. Soule & Bro., Bristol & Staub,
N. Lachenbruck & Bros., Hall & Friedman, Robert
Irwin, B. J. Stone, F. 8. Richmond, Martin L. Hun-
gerford, and Duane Gaylord.

T. Soule & Bro.—This business was commenced in
the fall of 1866, under the firm-name of T. Soule &
Bro., doing the first year about six thousand dollars
of contract building, besides some day-work. The
business rapidly increased, and for eight years prior to
1879 the contract-work amounted to thirty-five thou-
sand dollars annually. The firm until this time had
consisted of Turney Soule and Daniel E. Soule. They
had also for the last eight years been packers and
dealers in leaf tobacco, packing annually from four
hundred to seven hundred cases. In January, 1880,
the firm sold out a half-interest in the building and
lumber, flour, feed, etc., to George H. Lines and
Frederic A. Lines, changing the firm-name to Soule
Bros. & Co. The old firm still continued the tobacco
business, under the firm-name of T. Soule & Bro,
They built in New Milford village, during fourteen
years, some seventy-five dwelling-houses, ranging from
one thousand to eight thousand dollars each, besides
several large tobacco warehouses, store blocks, etc.

GRAND LIST, 1880.

10 per cent. additional..
797 dwellin
34,72514 acres of land

$15,316
517,446

 

 
 
  
 
 
  
  
    
 
 
  

 

 

90 mills, stores, and m 81,725
881 horse: 39,980
3304 neat cattle... 70,507
Sheep............. 2,048
281 carriages... 11,630
Time-pieces and jewelry 8,180
Musical instruments.............. 8,590
Household furniture and libraries... 4,975
Bank, insurance, and manufacturing stock 167,272
Railroad, city, and other corporation bonds.. 76,320
Aniount in merchandising and trade.. 53,100
Amount in mechanical and manufact

TONS vessrcvevceaveenssses 28,600
Money at interes 80,768
Money on hand...... 6,953
Other taxable property 25,671

 

$1,973,471
Ded uct on diss ssnedeesiecensucseelesveusecnatnvensewencuumnetanades 27,617

1-1. $1,945,854
1,932,217

$13,637

 

Grand list...........
nn 1879

   

  

 

PROBATE JUDGES.

The following is a complete record of the judges
of probate for the district of New Milford from its
formation to the present time:
NEW MILFORD.

Samuel Canfield, from June, 1787, to June, 1790; Daniel Everett, from
June, 1790, to May, 1805 ; David S. Boardman, from May, 1805, to May,
1821; Jehiel Williams, from July, 1821, to June, 1832; Nathaniel
Perry, from June, 1832, to July, 1835; Perry Smith, from July, 1835,
to July, 1836; George Taylor, from July, 1836, to July, 1838; Na-
thaniel Perry, from July, 1838, to July, 1842; George Taylor, from
July, 1842, to June 26, 1844; Nathaniel Perry, from June, 1844, to
June 22, 1846; Thomas B. Lacy, from June, 1846, to June, 1847;
David C. Sanford, from July 1, 1847, to July, 1849; Julius B. Harri-
son, from July, 1849, to July, 1851; David C. Sanford, from July,
1851, to July, 1852; Frederick Chittenden, from July, 1852, to July,
1853; James Hine, from July, 1853, to July, 1854; John 8S, Turrill,
from July 4, 1854, to July, 1855; George Taylor, from July, 1855, to
July, 1857; Samuel D. Orton, from July, 1857, to May, 1864; James
H. McMahon, August, 1864, now in office.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1725 TO 1882.

1725-26.—John Bostwick, Capt. Steph. Noble, Samuel Brunson.

1727.—Capt. Steph. Noble, John Bostwick, John Welsh.

1728-31.—No record.

1732.—Stephen Noble, John Bostwick.

1733.—Stephen Noble, William Gaylord.

1734.—Stephen Noble, John Bostwick.

1735.—Stephen Noble, John Bostwick, Theophilus Baldwin, Samuel Can-
field.

1736.—Theophilus Baldwin, John Bostwick.

1737.—Cupt. Stephen Noble, John Bostwick.

1738.—Capt. Stephen Noble, Nath. Bostwick, John Bostwick.

1739.—John Bostwick, Capt. Stephen Noble, Capt. Theophilus Baldwin.

1740.—Maj. John Bostwick, Paul Welch, Capt. Theophilus Baldwin.

1741.—Capt. Nathaniel Bostwick, Samuel Canfield, Capt. Theophilus
Baldwin.

1742.—Nathaniel Bostwick, Samuel Canfield.

1743.—Paul Welch, Samuel Canfield, Capt. Nathaniel Bostwick.

1744.—Paul Welch, John Warner.

1745.—Paul Welch, Ebenezer Fisk, David Noble.

1746.—David Noble, Samuel Canfield.

1747,—David Noble, Samuel Canfield, Paul Welch.

1748.—Paul Welch, James Hind.

1749.—John Warner, Paul Welch, John Hitchcock.

1750.—John Warner, Bushnell Bostwick, Thomas Noble.

1751.—John Hitchcock, Samuel Canfield, Reverius Carrington, Bushnel
Bostwick.

1752.—John Hitchcock, Bushnell Bostwick, Nathan Botsford.

1753.—Daniel Bostwick, Bushnell Bostwick, Gehiel Hawley.

1754,—John Hitchcock, Samuel Canfield, Bushnell Bostwick, Daniel
Bostwick.

1755.—Enos Camp, Roger Sherman, Daniel Bostwick.

1756.—Gehivl Hawley, Amos Northrop, Capt. John Warner.

1757.—Capt. John Hitchcock, Amos Northrop, Benjamin Ruggles, John
Comstock.

1758.—John Hitchcock, Roger Sherman, Gehiel Hawley.

1759.—Bushnell Bostwick, Roger Sherman, Partridge Thatcher.

1760.—Benjamin Gaylord, Roger Sherman, Bushnell Bostwick.

1761.—Gehiel Hawley, Roger Sherman, Daniel Bostwick, Bushnell Bost-
wick.

1762.—Amos Northrop, Bushnell Bostwick, Nathan Gaylord.

1763,—Samuel Bostwick, Bushnell Bostwick, Nathan Gaylord.

1764.—Nathan Gaylord, Bushnell Bostwick.

1765.—Capt. Samuel Canfield, Bushnell Bostwick, Partridge Thatcher.

1766-68.—Capt. Samuel Canfield, Bushnell Bostwick.

1769.—Maj. Bushnell Bostwick, Capt. Samuel Canfield, Abel Hine.

1770.—Maj. Bushnell Bostwick, Capt. Samuel Canfield.

1771.—Thomas Noble, Capt. Sherman Boardman, Samuel Comstock.

1772,—Thomas Noble, Capt. Sherman Boardman, Col. Bushnell Bostwick,
Capt. Samuel Canfield.

1773.—Col. Bushnell Bostwick, Capt. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Sherman
Boardman.

1774.—Thomas Noble, Josiah Starr, Capt. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Sherman
Boardman.

1775.—Maj. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Sherman Boardman.

1776.—Maj. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Sherman Boardman, Abel Hine.

1777.—Samuel Comstock, Oliver Warner, Col. Samuel Canfield.

1778.—Reuben Booth, Samuel Comstock, Jonah Todd.

1779.—Capt. Sherman Buardman, Abel Hine.

1780.—Samuel Comstock, Capt. Noble Hine, Daniel Everett.

 

459

1781.—Col. Samuel Canfield, Abel Hine.

1782.—Capt. Elizur Warner, Abel Hine.

1783.—Capt. Elizur Warner, Daniel Everett, Col. Samuel Canfield.

1784.—Col. Samuel Canfield, Abel Hine.

1785.—Capt. Timothy Ruggles, Capt. Timothy Bostwick, Col. Samuel Can-
field, Capt. Sherman Boardman,

1786.—David Northrop, Capt. Sherman Boardman, Reuben Booth.

1787.—Abel Hine, Col. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Sherman Boardman.

1788.—Capt. Sherman Boardman, Col. Samuel Canfield, Capt. Noble Hine.

1789.—Capt. Sherman Boardman, Col. Josiah Starr.

1790.—Daniel Boardman, Col. Josiah Starr, Sherman Boardman.

1791. Josiah Starr, Elisha Bostwick, Sherman Boardman.

1792.—Nicholas 8, Masters, Elisha Bostwick, Daniel Boardman.

1793.—Josiah Starr (2d), Noble Hine, Elisha Bostwick, Angus Nicholson.

1794.—Nicholas S. Masters, Noble Hine, Josiah Starr.

1795.—Josiah Starr, Noble Hine, Elisha Bostwick.

1796.—Josiah Starr, Elisha Bostwick, William Taylor, Philo Ruggles.

1797.—Josiah Starr, Philo Ruggles, Elisha Bostwick.

1798.—William Taylor, Sherman Boardman, Abel Hine, Elisha Bostwick,

1799.—Philo Ruggles, Elisha Bostwick, Abner Gunn,

1800.—Elisha Bostwick, Abner Gunn, Sherman Boardman.

1801.—Elisha Bostwick, Josiah Starr, Philo Ruggles.

1802.—Philo Ruggles, Josiah Starr.

1803.—Elijah Boardman, Samuel Comstock, E. Warner, Jr.

1804.—Elijah Boardman, E. Warner, Jr., Samuel Lockwood.

1805.—Samuel Lockwood, Elijah Boardman, Homer Boardman, Eli Todd.

1806.—Elijah Boardman, Samuel Comstock, Beebe Hine, Abel Merwin.

1807.—Beebe Hine, Abel Merwin, Andrew Miner.

1808.—Beebe Hine, Elisha Bostwick, Riverius Camp.

1809.—Beebe Hine, Jared Lane, Ebenezer Smith.

1810.—Beebe Hine, Jared Lane, William Taylor, Reuben Warner.

1811.—Beebe Hine, Jared Lane.

1812.—Beebe Hine, Jared Lane, David S. Boardman, Reuben Warner.

1813.—David 8S. Boardman, Reuben Warner, William Taylor.

1814.— Reuben Warner, William Taylor, David S. Boardman, Ithamar

Canfield.

1815.—Elisha Bostwick, David S. Boardman, Gerardus Booth, Jehiel Wil-
liams.

1816.—Elijah Boardman, Ithamar Canfield, Orange Merwin, William
Taylor.

1817.—Orange Merwin, Joel Sanford.
1818.—Orange Merwin, Homer Boardman.
1819.—Orange Merwin, Eli Todd.
1820.—Orange Merwin, Daniel A. Pickett.
1821.—Eli Todd, Daniel A. Pickett.
1822-23.—Perry Smith, Samuel Canfield.
1824.—Daniel Gaylord, Abel Hine.
1825.—Reuben Waruer, Jr., Eli Mygatt.
1826.—Elihu Marsh (2d), Eli Mygatt.
1827.—Elihu Marsh (2d), David S. Boardman.
1828.—Clark Hine, David S. Boardman,
1829.—Clark Hine, David 8. Boardman.
1830.—Benjamin B. Soule, Joel Sanford.
1831.—Jehiel Williams, Walter Booth.
1832.—Nathaniel Perry, Walter Booth.
1833.—George Taylor, Benjamin B. Soule.
1834.—George Taylor, Sherman Peck.
1835.—Perry Smith, Sherman Peck.
1836.—Perry Smith, Lyman Hine.
1837.—Elizur Warner, Daniel Marsh.
1838.—Orange Merwin, John Wooster.
1839.—O. Warner, Anson Squires.
1840,—Jehiel Williams, Albert N. Baldwin.
1841.—Albert N. Baldwin, Levi Morris.
1842.—Orange Warner, Lawrence Taylor.
1843.—Frederick Gunn, Abijah Thompson.
1844.—No record.

1845.—Albert M. Baldwin, William Roberts.
1846.—Henry Merwin, Horace Judson.
1847.—Henry Merwin, Henry S. Mygatt.
1848.—L. B. Hamlin, M. Morehouse (2d).
1849.—L. B. Hamlin, Lyman Smith,
1850.—George Taylor, Glover Sanford.
1851.—Jehiel Williams, Albert N. Baldwin.
1852.—John C. Smith, John Peck.
1853.—Daniel Marsh, J. G. Noble.
1854.—John G. Noble, G. H. St. John.
460

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1855.—R. J. Canfield, Sherman Peck,
1856.—R. J. Canfield, James H. Keeler.
1857.—Riley Peck, Horace Merwin.
1858.—Horace Merwin, John 8. Turrill.
-1859.—Carr Hine, John 8. Turrill.
1860.—Carr Hine, Isanc Reynolds.
1861.—Silas Erwin, Isaac Reynolds.
1862.—Silas Erwin, Josiah Beardsley.
-1863.—Albert N. Baldwin, George Taylor.
1864,—Earle Buckingham, G. H. St. John.
1865.—G. H. St. John, A. B. Mygatt.
1866.—Albert G. Ferris, Harry Buckingham.
1867-69.—Albert 8. Hill, Isaac B. Bristol.
1870.—Monroe L. Frost, W. W. Wells.
1871.—George Taylor, John 8. Turrill.
1872.—George Taylor, B. W. Buckingham.
1873.—Edward Hunt, Jr., J. H. McMahon.
1874.—George Taylor, Albert N, Baldwin.
1875.—James H. McMahon, Oliver 8. Hartwell.
1876.—Albert N. Baldwin, Nicholas Staub,
1877.—Albert N. Baldwin, B. W. Buckingham.
1878-79.—Charles Taylor, Noah W. Hatch.
1880.—Henry W. Evans, Edwin S. Wells.
1881.—Albert 8. Hill, Marshall Marsh.

MILITARY RECORD.*

Charles Purdy, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. April 4, 1864.

A. Roberts, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21,1861; died March 8, 1862.

H. M. Roberts, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept, 21, 1861; died April 6, 1862.

Myron Sheltz, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; must. out Feb. 24, 1863.

E. Sparks, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; must. out March 16, 1864.

R. J. Worden, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; killed May 7, 1864.

J. Q. Thayer, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.

J.J. Brown, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 29, 1864; must. out July 28, 1865.

J. Burde, 10th Regt.; enl. Dec. 12, 1864.

J. Headly, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864; must. out Aug. 25, 1865.

Thomas Lawrence, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 17, 1864; must. out Aug. 25,
1865,

A. Lefevere, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864; must. out June 24, 1865.

O. Nichols, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 19, 1864; must. out Aug. 25, 1865.

Jobn Monroe, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 23, 1864; must. out Nov. 11, 1865.

E. Karge, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 25/1864; must. out Nov. 21, 1865.

Alfred Buckingham, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Oct. 25, 1862.

¥. K. Hine, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861.

Eli Ruby, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; disch. March 17, 1862.

George M. Ruby, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861.

Charles E. Tibbetts, second lieutenant, 13th Regt.; pro. to first lieutenant
February, 1862; res. May 11, 1864.

C. H. Gaylord, 13th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 12, 1861; pro. to second lieutenant;
disch. April 25, 1866.

J.D, Moshire, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 12, 1861; died Aug. 6, 1863.

J. H. Evans, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

E. T. Camp, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Feb. 17, 1863.

John Ferriss, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

John Odell, 18th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27,1861; disch. April 25, 1866,

Joseph Taylor, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1861; disch. April 25, 1866.

Henry 8S. Turrill, second assistant surgeon, 17th Regt.; com. Jan. 22,
1864; disch. July 14, 1863.

W. E. Benedict, 17th Regt.; enl. August, 1862; died Nov. 7, 1863.

M. Hunt, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1563.

J. P. Cummings, 28th Regt.; enl, Sept. 1, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

William Lamson, 28th Regt.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died July 21, 1863.

Thomas Burr, H. F. Jackson, H. J. Franklin, George A. Green, Richard
Heacock, C. Phillips, 1. J. Randolph, and E. L. Nichols volunteered
in the 29th Colored Regt.

R. R. Hurd, 1st Art.; enl, May 23, 1861; re-enl. March 11, 1863.

R. J. Loveridge, Ist Art.; enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. April 8, 1865,

J. Lapoint, 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 14, 164; disch. Aug. 21, 1865,

George Stevens, 6th Regt.; enl. Nov. 14, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865,

0. F. Lathrop, 6th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 11, 1864,

D. Wenzerger, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 11, 1864; killed Sept. 29, 1864,

J.McLoy. |

A. E. Bartram, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Aug. 23, 1865,

 

* For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.

 

W. J. Roberts, first lieutenant, 8th Regt.; pro. to captain; disch. Jan,
31, 1861.

Charles U. Irwin, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; killed Sept. 29, 1864,

David Lake, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

Tlenry Disbrow, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Jan. 8, 1863.

Charles Ford, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Dec. 5, 1862.

Charles Allen, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. May 12, 1862.

O. 8. Bartram, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; disch. May 11, 1862.

D. A. Baldwin, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; pro. to first lieutenant
Dec. 12, 1865.

James Binde, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27,1861 ; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

Joseph Brush, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; must. out Sept. 20, 1864.

A. N. Buck, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; must. out May 11, 1862,

David B, Disbrow, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; must. out Jan. 15,
1863.

W. P. Dutcher, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. July 15, 1865.

II. Ferris, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; died July 27, 1862.

Robert Ferris, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862.

Charles Garley, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Sept. 4, 1864.

P.H. Jacklin, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21,1861; died Sept. 23, 1862.

A. Jennings, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Sept. 21, 1864.

Jay Jennings, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; disch. Dec. 10, 1862.

George E. Logan, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1,1861; died March 5, 1862.

F. G. Lamson, 8th Regt.; enl. Oct. 10, 1861; disch. Feb. 2, 1863.

INFANTRY COMPANY D.+

David D. Hoag, captain; New Milford ; com. Aug. 23, 1862; killed at Port
Hudson, La., June 14, 1863.

Stephen C. Ferris, sergeant: New Milford; enl. Aug. 23, 1862; disch. for
disability Feb, 28, 1863.

Henry Shove, sergeant; New Milford; enl. Aug, 28, 1862; disch. Aug,
28, 1863.

Levi E. Curtis, sergeant ; New Milford; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. for re-
enlistment Feb. 28, 1863.

Henry A. Soule, corporal; New Milford; enl. Sept. 6, 1862 ; disch. for re-
enlistment July 23, 1863.

Charles B. Gregory, corporal ; New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died July
30, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La.

Decatur D. Marsh, corporal; New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; died April
12, 1863, at Barrancas, Fla.

Titus Clark, corporal; New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Alfred E. Fuller, musician; New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch.
Aug. 28, 1863,

Aaron N. Ford, musician; New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died May
22, 1863, at Brashear City, La.

Allen, Charles, New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862.

Bailey, Joseph A., New Milford; enl. Ang. 25,1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Bartram, Charles E., New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Bemus, Charles F., New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; killed at Port Hud-
son, La., June 14, 1863.

Booth, Henry, New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Bronson, William N., New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; died July 28,
1863, at Baton Rouge, La.

Cronkwright, Alex., New Milford; enl. Aug. 23, 1862 ; died July 13, 1863,
at Barrancas, Fla.

Camp, Edwin, New Milford ; enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Ang. 28, 1863.

Dodge, Robert, New Milford; enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ferris, Jay, New Milford; enl. Sept. 25, 1862; died June 1, 1863, at New
Orleans, La.

Goodsell, Jerome, New Milford; enl. Aug. 23, 1862.

Hoyt, Dennison, New Milford; enl. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Judson, Charles, New Milford; enl. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. Aug, 28, 1863.

Lathrop, William, New Milford ; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Mentzh, John L., New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Aug, 28, 1863.

Morehouse, Frank, New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Noble, Andrew B., New Milford; enl, Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Pike, Luther M., New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Plumb, Alonzo, New Milford; enl, Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Schultz, Myron, New Milford; enl. Aug. 23, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Sherwood, Asahel, New Milford ; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

+ Mustered into United States service Noy. 15, 1862.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Res. oF A.S. ROGERS, New Mitford Conn.
NEW MILFORD.

461

 

Stevens, Henry L., New Milford; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Treat, Frederick M., New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. for re-en-
listment July 24, 1863.

Van Anden, William, New Milford; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. for re-en-
listment July 23, 1863.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

 

AMBROSE 8S. ROGERS.

Ambrose 8. Rogers, principal of the ‘‘ Adelphic In-
stitute,” was a native of Cornwall, Conn., and was
graduated at Union College, under Dr. Eliphalet
Nott, in 1840. Records in the British Museum trace
the Rogers family to Thomas Rogers, sergeant-at-law,
of Bendford, county of Wilts, England, who died in
1485. He was great-grandfather of John Rogers the
martyr. The Rogers family was cradled in Bendford,
and the name Noah has been handed down in direct
line for seven generations. Noah (8) and Edward,
his brothef, came to Cornwall in 1760. They were
men of sterling worth, of whom their descendants are
justly proud. Noah Rogers (8) was the sixth genera-
tion from the martyr, and was one of the most active
pioneers of Cornwall, and first in every enterprise.
He was engaged not only in agriculture on five farms,
but in everything else that would advance civilization
or the town, running two forges, a grist-mill, and two
saw-mills. Although exempt from military service,
he yet volunteered and served as a soldier in the
Revolution. His son, Deacon Noah Rogers (4), had
four sons—Daniel, John, Noah, and Ambrose—and
five daughters,—Lydia, Rhoda, Abigail, Eliza, and
Amanda,—all of whom attained maturity, married, and
had children. (In 1864 there were three of the sons,
the five daughters, thirty of their children, and thirty-
three of their grandchildren living.) For several
years the four sons owned farms adjoining in Corn-
wall. Deacon Rogers was a man of good judgment,
of great enterprise, like his father, and filled often
the various town offices, and represented Cornwall
in the Legislatures of 1818-14-15-18. He was in
every respect a noble and upright man. He gave his
children good educational advantages, and there was
no man who was more willing to help every good
cause, and his ample fortune was used for the benefit
of the needy and unfortunate. He paid a large share
of the original cost of the church in North Cornwall,
besides furnishing a large amount of timber and lum-
ber. He was a man of deeds, not words, a character
fit for his age and generation. And right well did he
do his work. So well that when, at the age of seventy,
he was stricken with apoplexy, a “shock,” as it was
called, it was said by one of the town’s best citizens
“that the society had received a ‘shock.’” We are
happy to add that his sons, Daniel, John, and Noah

(Ambrose being then at college), most honorably
30

 

filled the vacuum caused by their father’s death.
They were worthy sons of a worthy sire, true to
society, true to their church, true to their God.
Their father invariably, on the failure to raise funds
for the minister’s salary, always paid the deficit.
They, following his example, did the same, and
during their lives the minister of North Cornwall
could safely rely on his full salary being paid.

Since the martyrdom of John Rogers, there has not
been a period when some of his lineal descendants
have not stood forth to battle boldly and strongly
for the right, by the pen or in the pulpit, in the
courts of justice or the halls of legislation. They
have filled not only positions of highest trust in the
British government, but in America they are occu-
pying places of trust and honor, and at the bar and
in the pulpit are earnestly following the martyr’s
spirit, and are more in number probably than can
be traced to any other stock. Ten nobler women
than the five daughters of Noah Rogers (3), Sarah,
Abigail, Rhoda, Irene, and Amanda, and the five
daughters of Deacon Noah Rogers, named above, were
never reared in New England.

Mrs. Ellen (Thompson) Rogers is twin daughter of
the late N. F. Thompson, New Haven, Conn. He
was for many years director of the Mechanics’ Bank
in that city; afterwards he was for over fourteen
years its president. He was ever true to this posi-
tion of trust, and in his death the bank lost a man
of strict integrity and remarkable business capacity,
whose opinion was of great weight, and whose judg-
ment was unerring in all financial matters. His na-
ture was kind and affectionate, true to his family,
true to his church, and true to his God. He was
born in 1808, and in 1876 he passed triumphantly
away to the shining heights beyond. His wife, Jane
Caroline Street, preceded him to the tomb a few years
previous. She was granddaughter of Rev. Nicholas
Street, who was for fifty years pastor of the church in
East Haven. She was connected back through gen-
erations of clergy to the associate first minister of
New Haven, and inherited their noble traits of char-
acter, blended with the most gentle and unobtrusive
piety. Grandly gifted with an intellect that delighted
itself in art, a heart thoroughly allied to the beautiful
in nature, her genius found fit expression in transfer-
ring the varied tints of wood and sky, or delighting
with graphic pen by her quaint originality of thought.
She reared a family of nine children, who were wisely
governed, and whose spiritual training brought all
into the fold of Christ. She kept herself well in-
formed of the political, social, and religious issues of
the day. Her kindred esteemed her highly for her
many virtues. “Her children rise up and call her
blessed, her husband and he praiseth her.” Although
eventually Mrs. Rogers left the “home-nest,” none
realized the gap it made in her life, when, with the
exception of two beloved sisters and one brother, the
Thompson family had at the writing of this sketch
462

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

gone to their eternal home. Her twin sister, Lottie,
“fell asleep” June £8, 1880. The sisters, so closely
allied from birth, were similar in personal appear-
ance, taste, and spiritual aspirations, which made the
bond very close and strong, when New Milford be-
came the home of both. To give an adequate idea of
the picturesque surroundings of their residence, it
seems desirable to allude to the high estimation in
which it was held by such an enthusiastic lover of
the grand and sublime in nature as Miss Thompson.
When shadows came so unexpectedly in the form of
sickness not a murmur escaped the sufferer’s lips, and
she still manifested an interest in family details, in the
children so tenderly loved, and in the rural charms
of her adopted home. As an artist, she possessed an
inherited talent and a brave industry, giving more
than medium value to her labors of love in the art of
painting. Her mind was enriched by study and travel,
which gave vigor and originality to her facile pen,
while her choice social qualities made her inex-
pressibly dear to a large circle of friends. Gifted
with a rich voice, she was never weary of singing gos-
pel songs, or indulging in the study of elocution. But,

more than all, her deep-toned piety showed itself in
the daily exercise of the Christian graces. The poor
were succored by her, the bereaved comforted by her
prayers and sympathy, and the wandering guided by
her to the Master’s feet. Shortly before the dark
shadow of death came, this ardent lover of nature was
raised in her bed to behold once more the beauty of
one of lovely June’s closing days, through the opened
windows of that “upper chamber,” her own loved
room. Itseemed a picture fit for paradise.
through a vista of living green beyond to the placid
river (Housatonic), supplemented by mountains smil-
ing down upon her, as they seemed to touch the clouds
which reflected in the mirrored surface of the river a
gorgeous sunset, presenting a scene of unsurpassed
loveliness, with their blendings of amethyst blue and
deep tints of crimson and gold. In this:sweet tran-
quillity, her mind at perfect peace dwelt on the Scrip-
ture text, “I swear unto thee I will glorify the earth.”
As the clouds were again bathed with their summer
glory, her happy spirit passed to the fairer world of
endless day.

The residence of A. 8. Rogers, of New Milford,
Conn., is located on an eminence one hundred and
twenty feet above the road, and commands a fine
view of the Housatonic River. Surrounded by adorn-
ments which nature has prepared with a lavish hand,
it is admirably adapted for what it was at first de-
signed (a private school for boys), but for several
years the owner and his family have been the sole
occupants. We do not propose to describe all the
advantages of this locality by its beauty and health-
fulness, but give a brief sketch of its artistic attrac-
tions. The main building, with its north and south
wing, is perfect in symmetry, with a broad veranda
extending three sides, which constitutes a pleasing

She gazed |

 

addition, with its trellis-work adorned with climb-
ing roses, which in the “leafy month” contribute to
the floral kingdom their wealth of fragrant blossoms.
Among the flowering shrubs that beautify the north
piazza, the “Garland Deutzia,” with its abundant blos-
soms, affords a pleasing screen and ornament. In the
late autumn these are superseded in the background
by the coral berries of the gorgeous ‘Burning Bush,”
adding cheer by their brightness and abundance,
Introducing the visitor when the earth is robed with
her summer verdure, let us approach from the front
entrance, and ascend about a hundred stone steps,
resting a moment at ‘‘Cozy Nook,” on the rustic seat
which invitingly tempts one to pause and take breath,
If on entering we failed to admire the rows of gigantic .
maples which line the fence, and which, if possessed of
the power of speech, could unfold the tale of the fate
of their companions when the crackling sound of
the axe, laid vigorously at their huge trunks, had
caused banishment. The view from this point, no
longer obstructed, gives a glimpse of the cars as they
rush onward, sending the echoes of their shrill whistle
sounding over hill and valley. Here, with nature’s
carpet, dotted with wild-flowers, at our feet, beneath the
shadow of the evergreen fir-tree, with its rustic hang-
ing-baskets well supplied with gracefully-drooping
plants, and surrounded by clumps of trees and snarled
trunks, with a thick growth of vines festooning their
mossy sides. The dark urns, standing firm on their
marble bases, retain their floral treasures lovingly
within, gladdening the eye with their cheerful beauty.
A few steps and the lawn is exchanged for the broad
graveled walk leading to the house, and bordered on
either side by evergreen fir-trees, which justly entitle
it to the name of ‘‘ Evergreen Avenue.”

So ornamental in appearance, it presents a cheerful
aspect even when locked in the icy grasp of winter,
and at that season affords, in its stiff green branches,
both food and shelter to the blue-jays who resort
hither, giving cheer by their sweet and exhilarating
warbles. These favorite winter-trees, loftily standing
in tasteful arrangement, fairly look down upon the
old chestnut-tree. This ancient celebrity stands, the
pride and glory of the mansion,—

“Come rest beneath its grateful shade,
The grand old chestnut-tree;
The beauties of yon hill and glade
Are not so dear to me.

“ Majestic in thy grandeur, tall,
‘Well hast thou done thy part;
By poet loved, admired by all,
Grand imagery of art. —

“Gay, happy childhood loves to seek
Thy nuts, which strew the ground,
Or climb to yonder lofty seat
In intertwining crown,

“ Dear, cherished tree! long may’st thou live,
Be loved as now thou art;
And inspiration ever give
Its impress on the heart.”
 

 

 

 

 

EVERGREEN AVENUE.
 

OLD CHESTNUT TREE.
 

ER SCHOOL HOUse.

FORM

THE

Na

Bee

 

ROCKERY AND RAMBLE,
 
NEW MILFORD.

We may tarry beneath its grateful shadow, or
receive ample compensation for the labor of ascending
the steps by finding a second seat in readiness within
its green branches. Now, seated high in air, a peace-
ful feeling steals over the heart,—of gratitude, in the
devout mind, to the Giver of all good for his endless
tokens of love in the gifts of nature. Even the birds
catch the enthusiasm, and, clearing their tiny throats,
lead off in glorious songs of praise to their Maker.

Having paid our respects to this venerable tree, let
us descend and turn our steps southward towards the
apple-orchard, which in bloom is surpassingly lovely,
and produces abundant harvests of luscious fruit,
which well rewards for its cultivation. With no in-
tention of slighting the pear-trees and other varieties
of fruit, we pass on near the boundary of the kitchen-
garden, rather prosaic in appearance, but deserving
honorable survey of those who have an eye for utility
and a relish for fresh vegetables. To please the “lit-
tle folks,” we proceed through “‘ tangled juniper, beds
of weeds,” down impromptustepping-stones, where the
“weeping willows” grow, to the tiny streamlet, which
is navigated only by miniature boats on account of
its circumscribed limits, but is an unfailing source of
pleasure for the bright eyes and busy hands of child-
hood. Perhaps a lesson of industry is taught by the

busy bees (to whose hives we come by a side-path),

who yearly afford ‘‘nectar sweet,” as well as prove a
standing monument of rebuke to all idlers. We now
come to what was formerly the school building, and
which possesses the qualification of being transformed
to a gardener’s lodge. Directly in front is a graceful
maple of tender growth, called the ‘‘ Thompson cen-
tennial tree,” from the fact that it was planted by the
sisters bearing that name in the centennial year.
The ceremony was superintended by A. S. Rogers, the
worthy head of the family, and by the noble youth
at that time members of the institution. The address,
expressing gratitude that our country had enjoyed the
blessings of freedom for a hundred years, and that.
the tree might grow, flourish, and live to witness a
second centennial year, was given by Miss Lottie
Thompson, who now beholds the “ Tree of Life,” whose
“leaf shall not wither.” The maple now stands, a
living monument to her memory, around which clus-
ter tender reminiscences of her worth and excellence.
In the rear of this building is “ Molly” pasture, a
fertile, sloping meadow, where the meek-eyed cows
are quietly grazing, seemingly content to live and
die on the broad acres. At noonday in midsummer
they never fail to seek the shade of the accommo-
dating trees for shelter from the heat and glare of the
sun. Let our noble steeds come to the front, and show
their willingness to vacate the barn buildings, to re-
ceive the attention bestowed upon them. They are
pronounced a most valuable addition to the comfort
and enjoyment of the owner and family. The beau-
tiful pony “Fannie,” so intelligent and docile, is
noted for her adaptation to saddle or harness, and her

 

463

partiality for the juveniles of the household. Pro-
ceeding onward to the north, through the gateway, we
may enjoy astroll through “ Home Avenue,” the drive-
way of which is ornamented with maple-trees of vig-
orous growth. We may stand at some favorable point
and witness one of the finest views in Litchfield
County, and when bathed in the lights and shadows
of a glorious summer afternoon it presents a picture of
charming magnificence. On retracing our steps, we
may tarry a moment on the north side and explore
the “ Rockery,” a grotesque and romantic little nook,
which the combination of art with nature renders
attractive. Various specimens of stone from Mine
Hill have been utilized by an arrangement, piled
together in the form of a pyramid, so placed as to
give foothold to the potted plants which adorn its
sides. Graceful ferns delight in the damp earth at
the base, while soft green mosses cling lovingly to
the interstices, where many a protruding wild-flower
grows spontaneously. Within its brilliant coronal of
green is secured a pot of ivy, with its creeping vine
of polished leaves, which find support on the trees in
close proximity. We may inhale the exquisite fra-
grance emitted from the delicate blossoms which em-
bellish the spot while enjoying the repose offered by
iron chairs of durable construction, or seek yon vine-
clad bower as we emerge from the labyrinth of rural
beauty. Leaving the grounds, not yet fully explored,
we adjourn to the house to take observations from its
upper windows, which is, perhaps, the crowning joy
of all. The dazzling glories of summer’s closing day
heighten the beauty of the landscape. Openings
through the dense drapery of green foliage reveal
glimpses of the thickly-settled village, with its church-
spires pointing towards the azure sky, which looks
smilingly down on woody dell, waving fields, and
verdant meadows. The river curves silently and
gracefully onward, its banks bordered by trees and
shrubs, which shower their leaves into its smooth sur-
face or on nature’s carpet of richest green. The
artistic effect is completed by the encircling hills,
which stand in dignified grandeur, like silent sentinels
guarding the lonely scene, while their summits seem
to touch the clouds, and harmonize with their richest
tints of amber and gold, blended with violet and
crimson. As the liquid stream of light gradually
fades from the enraptured vision, these soft shadows
lengthen over the valley, and the dim twilight as it
descends spreads its mantle of gray over the glowing
earth in solemn benediction.

DR. GEORGE TAYLOR.

George Taylor, M.D., was born in New Milford,
Conn., Aug. 24, 1802, and died Jan. 14, 1881, aged
seventy-eight years. His maternal great-grandfather,
Rey. Daniel Boardman, was the first ordained clergy-
man of New Milford, and his grandfather, Rev. Na-
thaniel Taylor, was the second. The emigrant, John
464

Taylor, who was the first American ancestor of Dr.
Taylor, arrived at Windsor, Conn., Aug. 17, 1639.
He was a person of property, character, and influence,
and was lost at sea in 1645, while on a voyage to Eng-
land. His will, made before his departure, was not
probated till 1694. The history of ancient Windsor
has an account of him and the land he owned.
Thomas Taylor married Rebecca Ketchum, of Nor-
walk, where he lived till he was forty-one years old,
when he moved to Danbury as one of its seven first
settlers. He was a worthy man, and represented his
town in the General Assembly a number of years.
His son Daniel married a Benedict, by whom he had
two daughters, and then a Hoyt; they had two sons,
Nathaniel and Daniel. Nathaniel was born at Dan-
bury, Conn., Aug. 27,1722. He married Tamar Board-
man in 1749, having graduated at Yale in 1745. For
more than twenty-six years, from 1774 until his death,
Dec. 9, 1800, he was a member of the board of trustees
of Yale College; had the management of the college
farms, and in various ways rendered important ser-
vice. He was a zealous advocate of the American
Revolution, and during that contest remitted one
year’s salary, and also served as chaplain to a regi-
ment of Connecticut troops. He came to New Mil-
ford to preach, Jan. 8, 1748, and was ordained on the
29th of June following, and faithfully, for over fifty-
two years, exercised the duties of his sacred calling.
He was in his seventy-ninth year when he died, and
his family is exceptional in point of longevity. This
inscription, which he designed for a monumental tab-
let over his grandfather’s grave in Danbury, but which
was never completed, is worthy of preservation:

“Marble may tell Posterity that Mr. Thomas Taylor, a first settler in
Danbury, died Jan. 1735, aged 92. He had Ten children by one wife.
The eldest, Thomas, died aged 90; Joseph, 90; John, 70; Daniel, 94;
Timothy, 56; Nathan, 100; Theophilus, 90; Deborah, 80; Rebecca, 98;
Eunice, 98; in all 858. This stone erected by Rev. Nathaniel Taylor,
son’of Daniel.”

Col. William Taylor was youngest child of Rev.
Nathaniel Taylor. He was born in New Milford,
March 20, 1764, and married Abigail Starr, of Dan-
bury, Dec. 8, 1786. He was an eminent citizen, and
died, universally mourned, Feb. 24,1841. Dr. George
Taylor was their youngest child. His early educa-
tion was acquired at private schools in Litchfield,
Sharon, and Salisbury. When but a small boy is
accidentally. cut one of his eyes with a knife, per-
manently destroying its sight. He was graduated at
Yale in 1824, and commenced practice as a physician
in New Milford at once. He practiced allopathy un-
til 1837, when, through Dr. Vanderbergh, of New York
City, he was converted to homeopathy, and became
its first practitioner in Connecticut. He conducted
a very large practice over a very wide circuit for
more than half a century, and, until disabled by age,
with great skill and great success, He won, as he de-
served, the perfect confidence and warm lowe of all
his patients, for he put forth his strongest efforts and
wisest skill for rich and poor alike.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Dr. Taylor was much in public affairs. He was
sent to the State Senate in 1832. This was his first
public office. He represented New Milford many
years in the Assembly, and was sent again to the
Senate. He was judge of probate for a long time,
and town treasurer for many years. Democratic in
politics, he was one of the pillars of that party in this
section of the State. He was nominated for member
of Congress in 1847, and defeated by Hon. Tru-
man Smith. He was at one time a candidate for
Lieutenant-Governor. In 1864 he was sent as del-
egate to the National Democratic Convention at
Chicago, which nominated Gen. McClellan for Presi-
dent. In 1876 he was chosen member of the Electoral
College, and cast his vote for Samuel J. Tilden.

Perhaps no man in Litchfield County was more
widely known in social, political, or professional
circles, and surely none ever stood higher in esteem
and confidence than he.

His children are Charles Taylor, M.D., for years
a homeopathic physician in New Milford, and Mrs.
Thomas E. Stewart, of New York City.

Nothing can more faithfully portray the estimation
in which the citizens of New Milford hold his mem-
ory than the following extracts, the first from an
article contributed to the Bridgeport Farmer by
Henry 8S. Sanford, Esq., and the second from an obit-
uary in the Housatonic Ray:

“Born in New Milford, the son of an eminent citi-
zen, Col. William Taylor, and the lineal descendant
of the two first settled Congregational clergymen of
that town, he was in every respect a son of the soil,
a product and an exponent of the Housatonic Valley
in its calm repose, and of its high hills, which guard it
in their silent strength. . . . In politics, during many
years, Dr. Taylor stood forth as the: main manager
and foremost factor of the Democratic party in New
Milford. Nay, he often seemed not merely the leader
there of the Democratic party, but almost its verit-,
able and living embodiment. In council, in caucus,
and in convention his advice, discreet, temperate and
honorable, was always listened to and followed. All
my early life was spent in New Milford, and it was
my fortune, as that of my father befor me, to act
always with the party opposed to Democracy, and
I take the greater pride and the more pleasure in
bearing witness to the manly manner in which Dr.
Taylor invariably conducted political contests. His
integrity was white as the snow, his fairness plain as
the day. He scorned all treachery, trickery, and base-
ness. Firm in his fealty to his party, he yet respected
the opinions of others who differed from him, and
blended no bitterness with the strife. He said once
that my father, the late David C. Sanford, and him-
self had lived opposite to each other, across ‘the vil-
lage green, for many years, and had always and at all
times opposed each other strongly in politics, and all
matters allied to politics, but that no ‘unpleasant word
and, he believed, no unpleasant look had ever been
 

 

 

RESIDENCE OF D. E. SOULE, NEW MILFORD, CONN.
‘

\

\\\

~

 
NEW MILFORD.

465

 

exchanged between them. The truth is the doctor
believed steadfastly in his political principles, and
was at bottom, and at heart, an ardent patriot and a
public-spirited citizen. He believed his party to be
in the right in the main, and in most points; so he
adhered to it, and honored it, and it honored him,
But he has gone. His noble, commanding figure,
crowned with snow-white locks, standing and sitting
like a Prime Minister, will no more adorn the village
and the valley, yet love for the man, and respect
‘and tender regard for his memory, shall remain while
the river flows and the valley smiles for us who knew
him and are left behind.”

“He occupied from early manhood a prominent
place in this community, including various positions
of honor and trust. His record has been one of per-
fect integrity; his public career has been without a
stain of venality. In the conduct of personal affairs
he was just and true in his intercourse with his fel-
low-men; indeed, he was faithful and true in all the
elations of life. He had a kind and sympathizing
disposition, and was exceedingly gentle and pains-
taking in the discharge of his professional duties;
‘and during his long career he answered thousands of
calls from the poor and the afflicted, from whom he
could expect no other recompense than gratitude.
The characteristics to which we have alluded ran
like golden threads through his life, and inspired in
a marked degree the respect and confidence of all
who knew him.”

DAVID E. SOULE.

David E. Soule was born on Long Mountain, in the
northwestern part of the town of New Milford, and
lived there with his father, John Soule, until he was
nearly seventeen years old. Having received a com-
mon-school education, he now began the world for
himself. After having served an apprenticeship of
three years as carpenter and joiner, he set out at New
Milford and vicinity, working at his trade until August,
1862, when he enlisted as a private soldier in Capt.
George Williams’ Co. H, of the Nineteenth Connecticut
Volunteers ; served as color-bearer in several battles,
—namely, Hanover Court-house, Cold Harbor, before
Petersburg, Weldon Railroad, etc.,—after which he
was promoted to the rank of lieutenant; was in the
Army of the Potomac and Shenandoah Valley; was
engaged in eight different battles, besides several skir-
mishes, and was never wounded. When discharged,
after the close of the war, he returned home and en-
gaged in building, in connection with the lumber busi-
ness, with his brother, T.Soule. He is also extensively
engaged in the tobacco business. In January, 1866,
Mr. Soule married Sarah M. Sullivan; they have three
children,—Frank E., Florence A., and Willie W. His
wife is a native of New Milford. From his labor and
skill Mr, Soule has amassed a comfortable fortune. He

 

is yet in the prime of life, and so conducts his business
as not only to furnish employment to a goodly number

 

DAVID E. SOULE.

of men, but ornamenting his town and the surround-
ing country with beautiful designs of architecture.
A view of his residence may be seen elsewhere in this
work.

HON. A. N. BALDWIN.

Albert N. Baldwin was born in New Milford, Conn.,
Sept. 28, 1811. He is descended from an old Saxon
family often mentioned in early English history, and
traces his ancestry in an unbroken line to John Bald-
win, of Aylesbury, England, who was sole inheritor
of his brother Richard, who died in 1480. Sylvester
Baldwin, the emigrant, came to Milford, Conn., in
1632, there settled, and reared sons and daughters.
The family has ever been a reputable one, possessed
of industry, integrity, and liberality. Theophilus
Baldwin came from Milford to New Milford in the
early part of the eighteenth century, and his son
Isaac, born in New Milford, in 1735, was grandfather
to A. N. Baldwin. He married Hannah Davis, Jan.
2, 1765, and died Dec. 16, 1811. They had ten chil-
dren, eight attaining maturity. At twenty years of
age he settled on the same place now occupied by his
grandson, and thereafter, for fifty-six years, made it
his home.

Noble Baldwin, his third son, was born on the old
homestead, Dec. 25,1779. He lived there over ninety-
two years, and died, much regretted, March 23, 1872.
He was a man of strong physique, a quiet agricul-
turist, caring nothing for public’ places or honors, but
was prominently connected with the Baptist Church,
466

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

of which he was a zealous member for years. He
married Mary Hinman, of Oxford, Sept. 17, 1803.
Their children were Norman, Elmer, Albert N., and
Harriet E. (Mrs. F. G. Bennet, of New Milford).
Mrs. Baldwin died March 9, 1859.

Albert received a common-school education, and
taught winter terms of district school from the age of
sixteen to twenty-nine, working on the farm in sum-
mer. He has never moved from the old homestead,
which, nicely located in the beautiful valley, has been
a pleasant home for several generations. Oct. 20,
1835, he married Eliza, daughter of Jeremiah and
Sarah E. (Merwin) Baldwin. She was born in New
Milford, April 8, 1816. Their son, Francis G., born
Feb. 27, 1840, now resides in New Milford.

Mr. Baldwin is a man of extended public service.
He has been called to fill nearly every position of
trust and responsibility in his town; has represented
New Milford many years in the State Legislature,
was member of many important committees; was
State’s prison inspector, and largely instrumental in
establishing the reform school. Always deeply en-
gaged in education, he has been for years a member
of the board of education. He was formerly a Whig,
but on the breaking up of that party he became a
Democrat, and has always acted with its leaders, be-
lieving that in a close adherence to the Constitution
existed the perpetuity of the republic. His local at-
tachment makes him largely interested in New Mil-
ford. His economy, business qualities, prudence,
and success have placed him in good financial cir-
cumstances.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin are consistent and
valued members of the Baptist Church, joining it in
1850.

GEORGE H. NOBLE.

The Noble name is of great antiquity in England,
from which country Thomas Noble, the first American
ancestor, probably came about the middle of the seven-
teenth century. He was a resident of Boston in 1653;
became one of the early settlers of Springfield, Mass.,
and afterwards removed to Westfield, Mass., where he
died, Jan, 20, 1704.

His son John was born in Springfield, Mass., March
6, 1662, and died in New Milford, Conn., Aug. 17, 1714,
aged fifty- -two years,

The same spirit which led Thomas Noble, Sr., to
brave the dangers of the ocean and the wilderness
inspired his eldest son to become the first white settler
in the rich valley of the Housatonic, at New Milford,
Conn. June 22,1706, John Noble, then of Westfield,
purchased land at New Milford, Conn. , of John Wood.
ruffe, of Milford, an original proprietor, and moved
thither in 1707. The incidents concerning his settle-
ment appear in their proper place in the history of
the town. He was one of the committee chosen in
1710 by the proprietors to divide the lands of the
settlers, and the same year joined the First Congrega-

tional Church of Woodbury, and was one of the pe-
titioners to the General Court for an organization
of a church in New Milford, which was organized in
1716, two years after his death.

Ensign David Noble, son of John, was born in West-
field, Mass., Jan. 25, 1696; joined the Congregational
Church in New Milford in 1720, and died about 1760.
He was selectman 1736-37, representative to the Gen-
eral Assembly for six sessions, and was chosen, Oct.
11, 1748, ensign of the North military company, in
New Milford. He married for his second wife Su-
sanna, daughter of Hon. John and Elizabeth Sher-
man, of Woodbury.

Their oldest child, Zadock, was born in New Mil-
ford, Sept. 17, 1723, and died Jan. 13, 1786. In 1761
he was selectman. Under date of March 31, 1777, the
records of New Milford show that it was “Voted, 2d,
That a committee be appointed, according to the advise
of his Hon" the Governor, etc., for the purpose of
furnishing the Quota of Soldiers in the Continental
service of st New Milford,” and Lieut. Zadock Noble
was chosen first on said committee. Dec. 8, 1777, he
was chosen one of the New Milford committee of in-
spection and correspondence. He married Freelove
Dibble, of Danbury, Conn., and had numerous chil-
dren.

Their son, Ezra Dibble Noble, was born in New
Milford, Conn., Jan. 3, 1749; was a farmer, and died
March 26, 1808. He was twice married, and had
many children. His son Ezra was born July 9, 1779,
in New Milford; passed his life and died there, June
1, 1855. He was selectman 1815-17, and justice of
the peace from 1825 to 1849. He was a man simple
in his habits, of great modesty and sterling integrity.
He died, probably of heart-disease, while sitting in
his chair. He married Amelia, daughter of Benjamin
and Rachel Hickok, of Danbury, Conn. They had
two sons—Hiram B. and George H.—and four
daughters.

George Henry Noble was born in New Milford,
Conn., March 12, 1814, and was seventh in direct line
from Thomas Noble, of Westfield, Mass., and sixth
from the first settler of New Milford. He was en-
gaged as clerk in New Haven from 1828 to 1838,
where he married, Jan. 6, 1835, Henrietta, daughter
of Abel and Henrietta (McCracken) Burritt, of New
York City. She was born in New Haven, Conn.,
June 25, 1816. After about four years passed in
merchandising in New York City and Augusta, Ga.,
Mr. Noble returned, in 1842, to New Milford, and be-
came associated with his brother in the manufacture
of boots, under firm-name of H. B. & G. H. Noble.
They made a specialty of goods for California trade,
and did an extensive business.

Mr. Noble was extensively known and respected
throughout the State, and at various times during his
long and prosperous business career occupied positions
of public responsibility and trust. He was postmaster
' of New Milford from 1853 to 1856; acted with the Re-

 
«<

 
 
NEW MILFORD.

publican party from its formation, and was a delegate
to the Republican National Convention in 1860, which
nominated Abraham Lincoln for President. Previous
to this he was for several years bank commissioner
for Connecticut, and filled the position with credit
and ability. He was for nearly ten years (1862-71)
assessor of internal revenue for the district where he
resided, and was for several years a director of the
Housatonic Railroad. He was a member of the Con-
gregational Church of New Milford, a constant attend-
ant at the sanctuary, and a valued member of the
society. His death occurred Dec. 10, 1872, after a
long and wasting illness.

His two surviving children are Alfred Henry and
George Belden. They are engaged in the manufac-
ture of buttons in New Milford, with firm-name of
Noble Bros. Alfred was born June 8, 1841, in
New York; married, Oct. 27, 1864, Eleanor Dacy,
daughter of Rev. Charles Gardner and Elizabeth C.
(Elting) Acly, of New Milford; they have two chil-
dren. George was born in New Milford, Oct. 25, 1848.
He married, Dec. 19, 1878, Caroline L., daughter of
Dr. James and Catharine (Northrup) Hine, of New
Milford.

HORATIO GILEAD SPERRY.

Horatio Gilead Sperry was born in New Milford,
Conn., Sept. 5, 1806. He was oldest child of Wilmot
and Dolly (Averill) Sperry. The Sperry family is of
Welsh extraction, and the original spelling of the
name, which was continued till about one hundred
years ago, wasSpeary. Deacon Sperry’s great-grand-
father, Gilead, came from Wales to New Haven with
his father and family. He was a splendid mechanic,
and when about twenty-one years old came to New
Milford to superintend the building of the Congre-
gational church, became acquainted with Mercy,
daughter of Rev. Daniel Boardman, married her, and
became a lifelong resident of the town. Jared, his
only son, was born Dec. 25, 1750, on the farm pur-
chased by his father, in the north part of the town;
lived there as a farmer all his life, and died April 12,
1812, in his sixty-second year, a victim of the terrible
epidemic which devastated New Milford in that year.
He was an Episcopalian. He married Mrs. Amy
Wheaton, whose maiden name was Stone. His only
son, Wilmot, was her child. He afterwards married
a Widow Camp, by whom he had one daughter, Hen-

rietta, who married Hon. Stephen B. Leonard, of.

Owego, N. Y., and whose children occupy high finan-
cial and social positions. Wilmot Sperry was born on
the same farm as his father; was educated for an
Episcopal clergyman, but became attached to the

 

467

Congregational Church, and settled as a farmer on
the home farm. He was an active business man; was
a tanner and currier, and for several years was mer-
chant in Merryall, with Elijah Bennett as partner,
under firm-name of Bennett & Sperry. He steadily
refused to accept public office, “ preferring,’ as he
said, “to attend to his own business rather than that
of others.” He was a Democrat of the old school.
He married Dolly, daughter of Col. Perry Averill, of
Washington. Their children were Horatio G., Amy
M. (Mrs. John Angevine, of New Preston), Flora
(Mrs. Harvey P. Turrell, deceased), and Dolly M.
(Mrs. Harvey Whittlesey, of Farmington, deceased).
He afterwards married Anna, daughter of Capt. Jo-
seph Whittlesey, of Washington, by whom he had
four sons and one daughter,—Jared, Orlo, Walter D.,
George (deceased), and Harriet P. (Mrs. C. W. Ben-
nett, of Bridgeport).

Horatio was brought up on the old homestead ; was
educated at common schools, supplemented by a long
course of instruction under that veteran and able
teacher, Minor Turrell. From about his majority,
for several years, Horatio was engaged during the
winter in teaching, and went to New Jersey also as a
teacher. Returning to Connecticut after some time,
he commenced merchandising at Marbledale, where
he remained over ten years. Here he married, Oct.
20, 1834, Eliza, daughter of Rev. Abijah Tomlinson.
Her mother’s maiden name was Betsy Tomlinson.
She was of good old Puritan stock, that has ever oc-
cupied important positions in Connecticut and else-
where from the early days of the Commonwealth. In
the spring of 1841 they moved to the old place so
long occupied by Mr. Sperry’s father, and from which
he was just called by death, and here they have lived
a long life of usefulness, and grown old together, and
have the satisfaction of knowing that their life has
been one of content. Their children are Anna H.
(Mrs. John C. Ackley), Caroline Averill (Mrs. George
B. Ackley), Jared Boardman, Charles Tomlinson,
Eliza T. (Mrs. Irwin J. Beardsley, of Kent).

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sperry have been members of
the Congregational Church for over half a century,
and are among the most valued and active members.
Mr. Sperry has been deacon since 1854, and clerk of
the society from 1854 to 1879.

Deacon Sperry has been unambitious of public dis-
tinction, but has consented to take various town
offices, among them justice of the peace. He has, as
was his father before him, often been called to ad-
minister and settle estates. In politics he was a
Henry Clay Whig, and is now a Republican, joining
that party on its organization. His sons and sons-
in-law are all of the same political faith.
468

CHAPTER XLVI.
NORFOLK.

Geographical—Topographical—The Pioneers—Sale of the Town—First
Proprietors’ Meeting—War of the Revolution—Names of Soldiers—
Labor Regulations, 1778—Pioneer Mills—Schools—The First Post-office
—lcclesiastical History—Congregational Church—Methodist Episcopal
Church—Temperance Society—Civil History—Incorporation of the
Town—List of Representatives from 1722 to 1881—List of Physicians
—College Graduates—Military History—Names of Soldiers—Soldiers’
Monument.

THIs town lies in the north part of the county, and
is bounded as follows: on the north by Massachu-
setts, on the east by Colebrook and Winchester, on
the south by Goshen, and on the west by Canaan and
North Canaan. The surface of the town is elevated
and mountainous, and the soil is a gravelly loam.
Blackberry River, which is formed by the junction
of two rivers at Norfolk, and flows west into the
Housatonic, affords an excellent water-power for
manufacturing purposes.

This town belonged to what was known as the Con-
necticut colony, and was appointed to be sold at Hart-
ford on the second Tuesday in April, 1788. The sale,
however, failed, and in 1742 it was again offered for
sale, when a portion of it only was disposed of. In
May, 1750, an act was passed by the General Assem-
bly ordering the remainder to be sold at public vendue
at Middletown in the December following, and to con-
tinue the sale until the lands were disposed of, which
was effected in 1754.

In 1758 there were but twenty-seven families residing
in thetown. There were fifty proprietors of the lands,
and as it was a condition among them that each should
settle one family upon his respective right within five
years, the population rapidly increased, and in 1761
numbered about seventy families.

THE PIONEERS.

Among the pioneers were George Palmer, William
Barber, Jedediah Richards, John Turner, Ebenezer
Knapp, Cornelius Brown, Aaron Aspenwall, Samuel
Gaylord, Ezra Knapp, Isaac Pettibone, Edward Strick-
land, Samuel Cowles, Ebenezer Burr, Elijah Barber,
Ebenezer Pardia, Cornelius Dowd, Joseph Mills, Gid-
eon Lawrence, Ashbel Case, Justis Gaylord, Rufus
Lawrence, Eli Pettibone, Samuel Mills, Thomas
Knapp, Ebenezer Knapp, Jr., James Hotchkiss, Sam-
uel Ransom, Abraham Knapp, James Benedict,
Stephen Baker, Joshua Whitney, Jacob Spalding,
Stephen Comstock, Jedediah Turner, Samuel Strick-
land, Jabez Rood, Samuel Monross, Luther Barber,
Timothy Gaylord, Elisha Richards, Giles Pettibone,
Jonathan Strickland, Amariah Plumb, and David
Turner.

The second sale of the town was effected through
the agency of John Turner, who was appointed by
the town to make application to the Assembly for its
sale, He was a determined and energetic man, and
at the same time the application was made secured its

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

incorporation ; also a land-tax, to continue two years,
to assist in defraying the ecclesiastical expenses.

The population of the town rapidly increased, and
upon the breaking out of the Revolution it was one
of the most prosperous settlements in Litchfield
County.

FIRST PROPRIETORS’ MEETING, Erc.*

The first meeting of the proprietors of the town of
Norfolk, under a warning by Benjamin Hull, Esq.,
assistant, was on the 18th of December, 1754, at the
house of Jonathan Humphry, Simsbury. At said
meeting John Humphry was chosen proprietors’ clerk.
At said meeting it was voted to lay out one hundred
acres on a right, there being forty-nine individual
rights, one school right, one right for the first minister
that should settle, and one right to be appropriated
for the support of the ministry. The hundred acres
were to be laid in two fifty-acre lots, and to be called
first and second divisions, the fifty-two best lots num-
bered first division, the others the second division. A
committee was appointed to size the lots, so as to make
the first fifty-two lots as nearly equal as they could
by adding the number of acres, and so with the
second division. The committee to lay said lots were
first to lay convenient highways. The committee were
William Willcockson, Jonathan Pettibone, John Pat-
terson, David Phelps, Daniel Lawrence, Jr., Benajah
Douglass, Joshua Whitney, Cornelius Brown, Samuel
Gaylord.

“ Voted, To adjourn this meeting to first Wednesday in May next, to
meet at the House of Cornelius Brown, 1n Norfolk.”

The second proprietors’ meeting was held in Nor-
folk on May 7, 1755:

“ Voted, Whereas, John Turner, Jun‘, Samuel Gaylord, Cornelius
Brown, Ezra Knapp, Ebenezer Knapp, William Barber, George Pal-
mer, James Hotchkiss, and Samuel Monross are now in the improvement
of lands, and are residing in this Town, And by purchase have become
proprietors of rights, shall, if they chuse, hold the lots on which their
improvements are made, and not draw for their lots.

“ Voted, To now proceed to draw for our lots.”

The following are the names of the persons: Sam-
uel Flagg, Hartford; John Beebe, Esq.; Gideon
Thompson; John Humphry, William Willcockson,
Michael Humphry, Simsbury; David Phelps; Jona-
than Pettibone, Simsbury; Timothy Hosford; Wil-
liam Barber, Simsbury; Joshua Whitney, Canaan;
Ezra Knapp, Ebenezer Knapp, Danbury; Cornelius
Brown, Samuel Gaylord, Samuel Monross, James
Hotchkiss, James Lusk, William Warner, Benjamin
Phelps, John Turner, Jr., Hartford; George Palmer,
Isaac Pettibone, Simsbury; Daniel Lawrence, Jr.,
Benajah Douglass, Canaan; Bavel Seymour, Jere-
miah Case, Daniel Willcockson, Jonathan Humphry,
Noah Humphry, Simsbury ; Edward Griswold, Wind-
sor; Samuel Butler, Phinehas Lewis, John Patter-
son, Hartford; Joseph Phelps, Jr.; William Walter,
Goshen; John Beach, Noah Griswold, David Gris-
wold, Windsor.

 

* From unpublished manuscript by the late Michael F. Mills.
NORFOLK.

469

 

The lots were designated on the records as lot No.
1, first division, first going over; lot No. 1, first divi-
sion, second going over.

A meeting was held May 21, 1855:

“ Voted, To lay One hundred acres on each right in two fifty-acre lots,
called second division, first and second going over.

“Feb. 22, 1757.— Voted, To lay one hundred acres on each right, to be
called the third division, in two fifty-acre lots, first and second going
over.

“May 24, 1758.—“ Voted, To lay out the white-pine timber land, &c.

*Sept. 5, 1759.— Voted, To make a further division of our common
land; that each person holding a right shall have a right to pitch sixty
acres in two thirty-acre pitches, and the proprietors to draw for the day
of pitching, beginning on the first day of October, and continuing until
the fifty-two days expire. The person drawing No. 1 has the first day,
and so on. No person has but one day to make his first thirty-acre pitch.
Then reversing, so that the last shall be first and the first last, they
make their second thirty-acre pitch. They are to make a survey bill to
be signed by two committee men and a surveyor.

“June 9, 1762.— Voted, To lay forty acres on a right by pitching.*

Since that time they have passed several votes giv-
ing right to make further pitches :

“ Dec. 18, 1754.— Voted, We lay a tax or rate on the forty-nine rights
purchased, of eight pounds aright, to be paid in bills of credit of the
old tenor, to defray expenses, &c.

“May 21, 1755.—Voted, To lay a rate or tax of £9 on each of the 49
rights, &c., payable in bills of credit of the uld tenor.

“Nov. 29, 1757.—Voted, Our Committee for laying land, &c., shall be
allowed 3s. 6d. a day, chain men 2s. 6d., and work on the road from 1
May to 1 Oct, 2s, 3d.a day. That we will lay out 150 days’ work on the
Toad the coming season.

“Web. 22, 1757.—Voted, To appropriate a piece of ground for the
burial of the dead, being the same now used for that purpose, about half
a mile North of the Centre.

“ Voted, To give the mill privilege, about a quarter of a mile North of
the centre Meeting-House, and a certain number of acres of land to the
person who would build a grist-mill and have the same ready for Grind-
ing by the first day of Septr next, and keep said mill in good repair.”

Joshua Whitney accepted the offer, and began to
build, but it was not completed for some time, and was
finished by Abel Phelps about 1760.

“May 2, 1759.— Voted, To give 8 acres of land to the person or per-
sons who would build an Iron work a few rods North of the grist-mill,
and have it ready to make Iron within four years.”

Daniel Lawrence, Jr., Thomas Day, and Samuel
Ransom accepted the offer, and began to build, but the
works were not completed until 1766.

THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

The sympathies of the people here were from the first
strongly with the patriots, and against the Ministerial
usurpations, and June 30, 1774, the town ratified by
vote the resolves passed by the representatives of the
colony at Hartford the previous May. At the same
time they voted to send relief to their “ poor and dis-
tressed brethren at Boston,” which was then under
blockade. September 30th a rate of one half-penny
on the pound was laid to procure a town stock of
‘powder, and on December 26th they accepted with
equal readiness the articles of agreement passed by
Congress the previous September, and voted to abide
by them, “not one appearing in the negative.”
These resolves were chiefly to abstain from importing
any articles from Great Britain, or exporting to them,
to discontinue the slave trade, and to encourage in

 

general frugality, economy, and industry. Promi-
nent among the items was the agreement to abstain
from that execrable herb, English tea, on which
a duty had been paid. A committee of faithful men
were charged by the town with the duty of seeing
that the resolves were not broken.

When the English fired the first shot of the war at
Lexington, in April, 1775, the militia all through New
England started for the scene, and remote Norfolk
was not behind the rest,—Capt. Timothy Gaylord with
twenty-four men started for Boston. They were needed
but a short time, and were soon sent home. These vol-
unteer efforts, before the army was organized, showed
the temper of the people. One other deserves men-
tion: everybody has heard of Col. Ethan Allen’s
famous surprise and capture of Ticonderoga arid
Crown Point,—“in the name of the Lord Jehovah
and of the Continental Congress,’”’—but not all are
aware that that expedition was originated by Con-
necticut men at Hartford, most of whom were in the
Legislature, and still fewer know that Norfolk was
represented in it, not indeed by a man, but by a horse.
Capt. Edward Mott, of Preston, was sent with sixteen
men from Hartford to take these forts, and ordered to
gather more among Warner’s men in Berkshire, and
among the “‘Green Mountain Boys” under Allen at
Bennington. Of course speed was essential to insure
success. Norfolk was directly in their path to Berkshire,
and when they reached the town one of their horses
gave out, and Mott applied to your selectmen for an-
other. Samuel Knapp, grandfather to the present
justice of the peace, was the prompt and patriotic
man who complied with their request. His horse was
loaned, being first appraised at sixteen pounds ten
shillings, Mott paying fifteen shillings cash down.
On the return of the animal, a few weeks later, bear-
ing ample evidence of having been to war, the ap-
praisers judged that the owner ought to receive five
pounds, “the horse being so much damnified.” The
bill was sent into the colony treasurer, with the fifteen
shillings honestly deducted, and was promptly paid.
Knapp’s receipt for four pounds five shillings is still
extant at Hartford.

But more extensive war measures were now on foot.
While Washington was investing Boston, after the
battle of Bunker Hill, an expedition to Canada was
also planned, and placed under Gens. Schuyler and
Montgomery. To this Connecticut sent two regi-
ments, and one of them, under Col. Hinman, was
recruited from this part of the State, in which the
first regular Norfolk soldiers were enlisted, in May,
1775, for seven months. Their captain was John
Watson, of Canaan. We have the names of at least
twenty of his company who were from this town, and
there were probably more. They participated in
the siege of St. John’s, and in a variety of other ac-
tions. Three of them were with Ethan Allen. in his
brave, though irregular and foolhardy, attempt to
take Montreal by surprise, September 25th of that
470

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

year, and were taken prisoners with him. Their
names were Peter Noble, Ebenezer Mack, and Levi
Barnum.

Peter Noble was asharer of Ethan Allan’s priva-
tions. They were kept in irons during much of their

captivity, and experienced constant indignity and |

insult from those who had the care of them. They
were shipped from Quebec to England, and thence to
Ireland, and were kept there some time, being con-
stantly threatened with hanging. They were finally
sent back to this country as prisoners of war, in a
fleet which anchored in Cape Fear Harbor, North
Carolina. Noble, either by nature or by association
with Allen, was a plucky fellow, and embraced his
first chance to escape from his vessel, the “ Sphynx,”
while at anchor, and, by what Allen describes as “ ex-
traordinary swimming,” reached the shore in safety,
and thence made his way home as best he might, and
was probably the first to give information concern-
ing the harsh treatment received by the prisoners.
Through his affidavit, Daniel Mack, father of Ebene-
zer Mack, above mentioned, was enabled to draw his
son’s back pay; and on learning, at a later time, that
the latter was still a prisoner at New York, sent him
on a portion of the money, by the aid of which he
made his escape and reached home in safety, after
fourteen months’ imprisonment.

Meantime, the Canada campaign was vigorously
prosecuted ; but the difficulties were great, the troops
poorly disciplined and ill fed, suffering much from
smallpox and dysentery, and many a Norfolk boy in
this first campaign lost his health or his life from these
causes. Montreal was taken, but the attack on Quebec,
late in December, failed, and the gallant Montgomery’s
death sent a thrill of discouragement through the
land. The British troops in Canada, however, were
few, and early in 1776 the work was pushed again, in
order to reduce the province before reinforcements
could arrive from England. The Norfolk men had
been discharged, with the other Connecticut troops,
when their time was out, in December, but their
ardor was not cooled. A new regiment was enlisted
in this part of the State, to serve in Canada for a
year from Feb. 1, 1776, of which Charles Burrall
and Nathaniel Buel, of Salisbury, were made colonel
and lieutenant-colonel, and John Sedgwick, of North
Cornwall, major. Titus Watson, of Norfolk, who
had been lieutenant the previous year, was made
captain, and gathered a company largely composed
of Norfolk men, and many of them his old comrades.
This was a large contribution for the town to make,
and, crowning the whole, Mr. Robbins was given up
to become chaplain for the regiment. He was earn-
estly patriotic, but the controlling motive which led
him to go was his desire to advance the moral and
spiritual interests of the men while exposed to the
demoralizing influences of the war. His diary dur-
ing the campaign, which has been published, reveals
this very clearly. His work among the sick and

 

wounded, his manner of alluding to the preaching
services he held, his sadness at the numerous excesses
that passed before his eyes, his discouragement at see-
ing petty rivalries and animosities among the officers,
burdened his mind quite as much as his anxiety for
the result of the conflict. He was not at all a “ fight-
ing chaplain,’—indeed, some of his contemporaries
appear to have considered him somewhat deficient
in the strictly soldierly qualities,—but he was faithful
to his duties so long as he continued in the service,
and was respected among his brother officers. Lieut.-
Col. Buel was a specially intimate friend, and they
tented together much of the time.

This campaign was a disastrous failure, and entailed
unusual hardship, as well as discouragement, on the
soldiers. This regiment suffered greatly from small-
pox, camp fever, bad generalship, and poor accommo-
dations on their way to the front. When they reached
Dechambalt, within forty miles of Quebec, the arrival
of the English fleet with reinforcements turned the
whole army back on the 7th of May, and the utmost
that could be done was to cover the retreat so that it
would not become a rout. This disorderly falling
back of a dispirited and sickly army increased the
hardships of all. They withdrew from point to point,
making a stand occasionally and skirmishing with the
enemy, but were finally obliged to retire up Lake
Champlain, and were defeated in two naval actions
in the autumn, and were barely left with force enough
to hold Ticonderoga and Crown Point during the
winter. The Norfolk men suffered greatly during
these events, and Chaplain Robbins, utterly unused
to such hardships, was soon worn out, and was obliged
to return home twice during the summer to recruit
his strength. On his second furlough, about August
ist, he wrote as follows, which indicates at once his
patriotism and his piety:

“Tam peculiarly unfitted for the duties of a chaplain on account of
my bilious constitution. I envy Mr. Avery (a brother chaplain) hia
health. He will go through the hospital, when pestiferous as disease
and death can make it, with a face as smooth as a baby’s, and afterward
an appetite as healthy as a wood-chopper. Icannot. After inhaling such
diseased breath am sick and faint; besides, their sorrows take hold of
me. I would not shrink from the work. Our war is a righteous war;
our men are called to defend their country; whole congregations turn
out, and the ministers of the gospel should go and encourage them when
doing duty, attend and pray for and with them when sick, and bury
them when they die. I hope to return to my work.”

He did so, but soon gave out again, and was dis-
charged November 1st, as being unable to continue.
The following spring a radical change took place in
the conduct of the war. No more short enlistments
were made, but the Continental line was organized,
for which each State was required to furnish a certain
quota, and they were enlisted for three years or the
war, bounties being offered by Congress, and often by
the States also. Upwards of thirty enlisted for that
term from Norfolk in the early part of 1777, and a
large share of them were in the regiment of Col.
Heman Swift, of South Cornwall, and served under
Washington in the battles of the next three years, in
NORFOLK.

AT1

 

the vicinity of New York and New Jersey. Norfolk’s
number for the Continental line was kept up till the
close of the war. But besides these there were oc-
casions of special alarm, when the militia were called
out and served for short terms, as in the burning of
Danbury, and especially when Burgoyne marched
from Canada and sent terror into New England by re-
taking Ticonderoga and Crown Point, in July, 1777.
The plan was to sever New England from the rest of
the country by a march down the valley of the Hud-
son, to form a junction with Gen. Clinton from New
York. Litchfield County, being so near the line of
march, was thoroughly roused, and Norfolk sent her
nilitia along with the rest, who were present at the
famous surrender of Burgoyne’s army at Saratoga in
October. More traditions now remain in the town
concerning that battle and its consequences than con-
cerning any other during the war. A portion of the
surrendered army passed through here on their way
to Hartford, and were encamped for a time on the
green. There were among them both English and
Hessians. It is said that Mr. Robbins and other citi-
zens gave the soldiers liberty to sleep in their barns.
Two Hessians remained behind when the rest left.
One was sick, and was kindly cared for by a good
mother in Israel, Mrs. Michael Mills, until he died.
The other married and settled here.

After this battle New England was at quite a re-
move from the scene of active operations, and Nor-
folk’s soldiers. were at a distance from home until
peace was concluded. The sending of soldiers, how-
ever, was not the only contribution of the town to the
war. Besides all the indirect privations of hard
times, heavy taxation, and an irredeemable currency,
the home department of the service was not a slight
one. A special committee was appointed to take care
of the families of the three years’ men, and, moreover,
individuals made great sacrifices in bringing home
and caring for their sick and wounded relatives. The
work of keeping their quota full was not easy, and
required constant attention from the town officers.
During the winter of 1777-78, Washington’s army, in
camp at Valley Forge, was in distress for sufficient
clothing, and Col. Heman Swift wrote to the towns of
Kent, Sharon, Canaan, Cornwall. Norfolk, and Goshen,
from which his regiment was recruited, asking for
help for the men at once. Norfolk moved promptly,
and gathered a quantity of woolen clothing, as fol-
lows: 82 pairs overalls, 32 pairs shoes, 59 pairs stock-
ings, 35 pairs mittens, 32 flannel shirts, 2 frocks. The
whole were valued by the government at £162 6s. 9d.,
and were sent on at once to the great relief of the sol-
diers,

The furnace at Salisbury furnished the government
with cannon and ball and other army supplies, the
transportation of which often gave employment to
the townspeople. Nine Norfolk men, with their
teams, were engaged in the autumn of 1776 in carry-
ing cannon and ball from Salisbury to Hartford. In

 

1781 the town, according to an order from the Legis-
lature, gathered a quantity of commissary stores for
the army, and deposited them at a convenient place
for safe-keeping. The next year it was found that
for some reason these provisions were damaged in
keeping, and the loss was estimated at fifty pounds.
A heavier loss than this, however, was occasioned in
1777-78, when the camp fever, now called dysentery,
became prevalent and carried many to the grave.
The number of burials in town—recorded by Mr. Rob-
bins—for 1777 is 56, for 1778 is 37, against 12 in
1776 (besides 8 in the army) and 9 in 1775, while
there were but 6 in 1779 and 9 in 1780.* Verily those
years, which were called the midnight of the Revolu-
tion, were also years of domestic darkness at your
fathers’ firesides.

Of individual prominent men in the home depart-
ment of the Revolutionary service, Col. Giles Petti-
bone deserves mention, who was the leading spirit in
carrying out all the measures required. He held sev-
eral offices in town during the whole eight years, and
was put upon most of the committees raised upon
matters pertaining to the war, besides serving as rep-
resentative at four sessions of the Legislature. He
was also himself at different times in the service at
the front. He. is mentioned only as captain, and
finally major, during the Revolution; his title of
colonel would therefore seem to have been obtained
at a later period as an officer of the militia.

Jacob Spaulding, the ancestor of the present Spaul-
ding families here, did perhaps morestill. “He had
himself been in the French war, and was present at
the taking of Quebec by Gen. Wolfe. His two sons,
Isaac and Daniel, his only children, were Revolution-
ary soldiers; but, not content with that, he hired a
man at eight dollars per month all through the war,
and took care of his wife and two children. He once
collected one hundred and twenty cattle and took
them to the army, five of which were his own con-
tribution. His house was also a retreat for sick and
wounded soldiers; thirty were sent to him on one oc-
casion to be kept for the winter, and were so well
cared for that twenty-eight went back to the army in
the spring.” Such was the spirit of the town in the
Revolution.

A complete list of the Revolutionary soldiers of the
town it is impossible to prepare at this distant day,
yet one hundred and twelve names have been found
of those who are known to have been in the service,
though this includes some who served for short terms
as militia only. The pay-rolls have in some cases
been lost, and it is particularly regretted that that of
Capt. Titus Watson’s company, who went with Mr.

 

* Dr. Roys, in his history, states that 56 were swept off by the camp dis-
temper in 1777, and 38 by the same disorder in 1778. As these figures
correspond almost exactly with the whole number whom Mr. Robbins
buried in those years, Dr. Roys would appear to have fallen into error,
for it is next to impossible that every death in town for two years should
have been caused by dysentery.
472

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Robbins to Canada in 1776, has not been found.
After the return of the first three years’ men in 1780,
the town sent, at the requisition of the colony, thirty-
one additional men in the Connecticut Line, besides
at least fifteen as militia forashort time. The names
of these have not been found, and many of those who
previously enlisted are unknown. It is safe to infer,
therefore, after making all due allowances for re-en-
listments, that the town furnished one hundred and
fifty men for the service. Now the population of the
town in 1774 was nine hundred and sixty-six, in 1782
twelve hundred and forty-three; taking the average
for the period as eleven hundred, which includes
women and children, we have the fact that one-sey-
enth of the whole population were Revolutionary
soldiers for longer or shorter periods. This was a
very large proportion.

REVOLUTIONARY SOLDIERS.

This list has been gathered from a variety of sources,
and is by no means complete. It does not follow that
a given man served only during the term given below.
It has been thought best to record what is actually
known, and leave the rest for further investigation by
any who are interested. Of some it is only known
that they were afterwards pensioners. The two sons
of Jacob Spaulding do not appear here, as they re-
sided over the line, in Massachusetts, and therefore
do not count for Norfolk.

Rev. A. R, Robbins, chaplain in Burrell’s regiment from March 18, 1776,
to Oct. 31, 1776, in Canada.

Ozias Bingham, served in Canada May, 1775, to Sept. 3, 1775; was put
in jail at Litchfield for debt the next winter, and in order to be re-
leased enlisted in Col. Heman Swift's regiment Feb. 2, 1776, and on
application to the Legislature was permitted to leave jail and join
the regiment upon his giving a note for the debt.

Levi Barnum, in Canada in the campaign of 1775; was taken prisoner
with Ethan Allen, and sent to England in irons, and returned only
after great hardships. :

Peter Noble, enlisted in May, 1775, in John Watson’s company, Hin-
man’s regiment, and was taken prisoner with Allen, as above.

Ebenezer Mack, of same regiment, was also taken prisoner with Allen,
and remained in close confinement nineteen months, was sick much
of the time, lost all his baggage, was carried to Quebec, to England,
and Ireland, thence to Cape Fear, S. 0., Halifax, and finally New
York, whence he escaped, and came home in April, 1777.

Jesse Tobey, sergeant, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Sept. 28, 1775.

Samuel Hotchkiss, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Sept. 28,
1775.

Roger Orvis, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1775.

Jasper Muriay, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1775.

Daniel Pettibone, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20,
1775.

Andrew Lester, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1776,
besides answering Lexington alarm.

Nathaniel Field, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1778,
and Lexington alarm.

Freedom Wright, private, Hinman s regiment, May, 1775, to Sept. 4,
1775, and Lexington alarm.

Abraham Beach, private, Hinman’s tegiment, May, 1775, to Sept. 6,
1775, and Lexington alarm.

Jehiel Hull, private, Hinman’s regiment, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1775;
also served five mouths in 1780, in Swift’s regiment, Capt. Converse’s
company, at the Highlands.

Amariah Plumb, answered Lexington alarm; was private in Canada
campaign, May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1774, during which he was wounded
at the siege of St. John’s and his thigh-bone broken, was captured,
and held as a prisoner there a few days, till the fortress surrendered,

.,

 

then made his way home with great difficulty ; received twenty-five
pounds special grant from the State, and died March 1, 1778,

Jotham Parker, served under Hinman from May, 1775, to Nov. 20, 1775,
as private; re-enlisted as captain of teams in 1777, in the commissary
department, and served a long time.

Darius Phelps, served May, 1775, to Sept. 7, 1775.

Eden Mills, served in latter part of the war.

Jedediah White, pensioner.

Ephraim Coy, served some time, and afterwards deserted.

Charles Walter, in Connecticut line three years, Bradley’s regiment,

Eleazar Holt, present at Burgoyne’s surrender.

Nicholas Holt, enlisted in 1775 in Watson’s company; took smallpox in
crossing Lake George and leaped into the water, which caused the
disease to settle in his hip and made him lame for life.

Stephen Holt, present at Burgoyne’s surrender in October, 1777, and also
at burning of Danbury.

Thomas Curtis, enlisted February, 1776; took smallpox in the army,
died, and was buried at Stillwater, N. Y.; also had marched after
Lexington.

Hopestill Welch, probably in French war, as well as Revolution.

Salathiel Dunbar, May, 1775, to March 19, 1776.

Josiah Hotchkiss.

Solomon Curtis, a short term, when under age, in latter part of war.

Titus Watson, lieutenant in Jolin Watson’s company, under Hinman, in
1775; captain in Burrell's regiment, February, 1776, to February,
1777; and afterwards was captain in Col. Heman Swift’s regiment for
three years; also marched after Lexington.

John Trowbridge, private, May, 1775, to Nov. 26, 1775, in Hinman’s regi-
ment; afterwards enlisted in Counecticut line for three years, where
he was corporal.

Moses Turner, corporal, Connecticut line, was in service three years,
April, 1777, to April 6, 1780.

Elijah Knapp, corporal, Conuecticut line, three years.

Aaron Aspinwall, private, Connecticut line, three years.

Asahel Adams, private, Connecticut line, three years,

Caleb Aspinwall, private, under Hinman, May to Sept. 6, 1775, in
Canada, and marched after Lexington, and in Connecticut line
three years.

Joel Hamblin, private in Connecticut line three years.

Nathan Tubbs, private in Connecticut line three years.

Levi Norton, private in Connecticut line three years.

Reuben Stevens, private in Connecticut line three years.

Samuel Orvis, private in Connecticut line three years.

Caleb Sturtevant, private in Connecticut line three years,

John Walter, private in Connecticut line three years.

Elnathan Seward, private in Connecticut line three years.

Abraham Knapp, private in Connecticut line three years.

Rufus Trall, private in Connecticut line three years; also five months
and nine days, in latter part of 1780, at Highlands.

James Benedict, Jr., a minor, enlisted in May, 1777, for three years, in
Titus Watson’s company, Heman Swift's regiment; marched to
Peekskill, taken sick, suffered much, tried to march, reached White
Plains and Rye, sick again; no friends to help him there, and was
finally brought home to Norfolk at his father’s expense with a
broken constitution; Assembly granted him special relief.

Hiland Hall, in Connecticut line for three years; was deputy commis-
sary.

Bates Turner, in Connecticut line April, 1777, to April, 1780, and after-
wards in short levy, five and a half months, at Highlands, July to
December, 1780.

Silas Cowles, in Connecticut line for three years.

Edward Fuller, in Connecticut line three years.

William Turner, in Connecticut line three years,

Jonas Hubbard, in Connecticut line three years.

Lemuel Sperry, in Connecticut line three years.

Eliezer Orvis, enlisted fur three years in 1777, but died Nov. 15, 1778.

Nathan Sturtevant, also enlisted for three years in 1777, but died Oct. 1,
1777.

Daniel Hoskins, was in service four months.

Thomas Tibbals, first was drummer in Theodore Woodbridge’s company,
Wooster’s regiment, from Nov. 18, 1775, to Feb. 29,1776; then was
drum-major in the Northern Army, in Col. Elmore’s regiment, from
April 16, 1776, to April 27, 1777; afterwards re-enlisted more than
once as teamster in the quartermaster's service, and was out, in all,
hearly four years; spent one winter at Fort Stanwix, one at Mount
Independence, and one in Canada. ‘

Samuel Tibbals, an older brother of Thomas, was captain of teams in
NORFOLK.

the quartermaster’s service for a year from March, 1777, and was
then discharged on account of broken health.

Elizur Munger was a teamater.

Reuben Munger was sergeant; time of service unknown.

Arial Lawrence served two short terms in special calls on the militia;
was at Saratoga on a four months’ term when Burgoyne surren-
dered; was a man of great physical endurance; is said to have
walked from # point six miles beyond Troy, where he was dis-
charged, to Norfolk in one day.

Daniel Canfield, pensioner.

Abiathar Rogers, pensioner.

David Heady, pensioner.

Jedidiah Richards, Jr.

Josiah Hotchkiss.

Ebenezer Plumbly.

Jeremiah W. Phelps, a short term.

Asher Smith.

John Beach.

Giles Gaylord, served in New York in 1782; also under John Watson,
May to November, 1775, in Canada.

Lieut. Phelps, served in New York in 1782; possibly was the same as
Elijah Phelps, mentioned below.

Simeon Mills, was in Burrell’s regiment with Rev. Mr. Robbins in 1776 ;
had smallpox, vot properly cared for, and it became chronic, pro-
ducing large, foul ulcers, which remained a long time; was sent
home in September, 1776, and was confined to his bed and chair till
autumn, 1779; Assembly of Connecticut voted him then three ,hun-
dred pounds to pay his bills, of which two hundred pounds was
doctor’s bill.

Isaac Butler, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment.

William Leach, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment.

John Minor, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment. :

James Sturdivant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment.

Silas Seward, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift's regi-
ment,

Samuel Taylor, five and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regi-
ment.

Abraham Barden, four months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment.

Roswell Grant, five months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regiment.

Giles Thrall, four and a half months at Highlands, 1780, Swift’s regi-
ment.

Luther Lawrence, four months and twenty-one days at Highlands in
1780, in Philip B. Bradley’s regiment.

Arial Strong, five months, July to December, 1780, at Highlands.

Deacon Samuel Cowles, ensign, was in skirmish at White Plains, and
perhaps also in the Canada campaign; he marched after Lexington
also.

Noah Cowles, son of Samuel, entered service very. young as musician,
probably a drummer; was at Burgoyne’s surrender at Saratoga.
Jared Abernathy, marched at the Lexington alarm; was in Burrell's
regiment, 1776-77, a full year in Canada; had hospital expenses,

seven pounds eight shillings.

Ludd Gaylord, son of Justis, enlisted at the age of seventeen, in what
portion of the army is unknown; there were many who conspired
together to desert, and in the paper drawn up wrote their names in
acircle so that the leaders might not be known; the plot was dis-
covered, and all were searched; one who had the paper slipped it
into Ludd’s pocket; he was offered pardon if he would reveal the
leaders’ names; on his refusal he was condemned to die; his friends
obtained a pardon from Washington, which had almost reached the
boy when he was executed.

Ambrose Gaylord, another son of Justis, was in the Continental line in
the latter part of the war.

— Gaylord, a third son of Justis Gaylord, was with Ambrose at the
same time.

Elijah Phelps, was in Northern Army in 1776.

Andrew Moor, lieutenant, went to Canada in February, 1776, and died
June 9th following.

Eli Pettibone, was in Col. Warner’s regiment in 1776.

Giles Pettibone, was captain of the Norfolk militia company when the
-War opened; besides his home-work for the service, he led his com-
pany to Saratoga in the alarm of 1777; probably all those here men-
tioned as present at that fight were under him, besides many others;
with the same company he served one or two terms a little later
under McDougal, on the Hudson below West Point, keeping a look-
out between the American and British lines, a work requiring pecu-
liar vigilance and skill; at the end of his term he received public

 

473

approbation from his commander in the presence of the army; he

obtained the rank of major before the war closed.
Samuel Pettibone, served in Canada and other parts.

The following (besides those already mentioned)
marched towards Boston immediately upon the Lex-
ington alarm, in April, 1775. It is not known how
far they went before they were sent back; the time
during which some of them served would indicate
that they reached Boston. Their pay was sixteen
pence per day.

Captain Timothy Gaylord, fifteen days.

William Hewet, fifteen days.

Ephraim Parker, sixteen days; also in French war.

Elijah Pettibone, sixteen days.

Samuel Hotchkiss, Sr., sixteen days.

Jeffrey Murray, fourteen days.

Ebenezer Hoyt, five days.

Titus Brown, four days.

Brotherton Seward, forty-seven days.

Timothy Gaylord (2d), thirty-two days.

Phineas Norton, thirty-two days,

Benjamin Tuttle, thirty-two days.

David Orvis, thirty-two days.

Michael Mills, captain, at West Point, eleven days in June, 1780.

Joseph Jones, served from May to Nov. 26, 1775, and afterwards three
years in the Connecticut line. ;

In October, 1780, Norfolk was required to furnish
twenty-two more men for the Continental service, and
in November following three men were sent as quota
to cavalry company. It also furnished six recruits
for the guard at Horseneck, in May, 1781. Capt.
Michael Mills’ company of Col. Hutchins’ regiment
was ordered to West Point in June, 1780, and re-
mained there eleven days, of which company fifteen
were Norfolk men. The names of none of these
have been found, though some of them may be the

- same who appear above in other enlistments.

A boy, Stephen ——, was servant to Mr. Robbins
in the campaign of 1776, and was probably from Nor-
folk.

With regard to the last war, it is of interest to note
that John Brown, the famous leader of the Harper’s
Ferry insurrection, came from an old Norfolk family ;
his grandparents lived in South End district, as also
his parents, for a time. He was himself born in Tor-
rington, but is said to have spent a portion of his
early years in Norfolk.

The work done by the ladies of the church for the
“ Boys in Blue” was no slight item. It was done chiefly
by furnishing or making shirts, socks, drawers, quilts,
and sheets for the use of the Sanitary Commission.
The whole amount done by them in the two years
from June, 1863, to June, 1865, was valued at $680.18.
Contributions in aid of the freedmen at the South
have been regular ever since that charity came before
the churches, and not seldom have the ladies sent
boxes of clothing for them, chiefly through the Amer-
ican Missionary Association.

LABOR REGULATION OF 1778.

In 1778 the General Assembly ordered each town
in the State to appoint a committee vested with full
power, and directed to establish a uniform price
474

through the State for labor per day, the price of pro-
duce, etc. The committee for this town consisted of
Giles Pettibone, Michael Mills, Titus Ives, and Tim-
othy Gaylord. Labor per day was fixed at 3s. 6d.,
4s. 43d., and 5s. 8d., specifying the different seasons
of the year or the kind of labor; a good narrow axe
and scythe, each 11s, 3d.; a good broad hoe, 7s. 6d. ;
joiners, per day, 5s. 3d. and 63.14 d. ; carpenters, 7s. ;
masons, 7s.103d., tailors, 5s. 3d. ; tailoresses, 2s. 2d. ;
tavern-keepers, for a good meal of victuals, 1s. 2d. ;
for a mug of cider, 7d.; good West India rum, per
gill, 1s. ; New England rum, 8d. ; a mug of flip, made
of good West India rum, 2s. 4d., other rums, 1s. 8d.

SCHOOLS.

In 1839 an academical school was opened in this
town, with Rev. John F. Norton as teacher. In the
following year a building was erected at a cost of two
thousand dollars. It was dedicated Aug. 31, 1840.*

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE.

The first postmaster in Norfolk was Michael F.
Mills, who received his appointment from President
Jefferson in 1812 or 1813. At that time the mail
only arrived twice a week, and only two newspapers
were received at the office; these were the Connecti-
cut Courant and the Litchfield Monitor.

THE RAILROAD.

Norfolk was truly an “inland” town before the

building of the Connecticut Western Railroad. Stage-
coach drives of a number of miles were necessary to
bring the people of the charming “hill town” into com-
munication with the outside world. It was ten miles
to the Naugatuck Railroad on the east, and ten to the
Housatonic on the west. But the building of the rail-
road changed all this, and Tuesday, Sept. 12, 1871, was
a memorable day in the history of Norfolk,—the cele-
bration of the laying of the track of the railroad to
that place. A large concourse of people from adjoin-
ing towns were present, and the event was celebrated
in an appropriate manner. Addresses were made by
the late Dr. Eldridge, John K. Shepard, E. T. Butler,
the “father of the road,” George H. Browne, of
Dutchess Co., N. Y., and others. A happy event was
the presentation, on behalf of the citizens, of a su-
perb gold watch and chain to Mr. E. T. Butler. On
the outside of the case was engraved the monogram
“. T. B.” and a train of cars, while the inside of the
case bore the following inscription: ‘Presented to
E. T. Butler, Esq., by the citizens of Norfolk, in
recognition of his services in the originating and
completion of the Connecticut Western Railroad.”
Ten years previous to this time the idea of proposing
a road through Norfolk would have been deemed
Quixotic, but now six passenger-trains pass through
the town daily.

 

% For present condition of schools, see Chapter VIII.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The rude cabin of the pioneer had scarcely been
erected ere a movement was started for the purpose of
securing the preaching of the gospel ministry. In
the memorial asking for the incorporation of the town,
Sept. 1, 1758, the one reason given for, desiring town
privilege was, ‘so that we may have power to set up
the order of the gospel among us.” Inasmuch as the
history of the church for nearly half a century is
largely a history of the town during that period, that
of the Congregational Church will be given in extenso,

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The Congregational Church of Norfolk was organ-
ized Dec. 24, 1760, with twenty-three members, by the
Rev. Daniel Farrand, pastor of the Congregational
Church at South Canaan. Previous to this, however,
Dec. 20, 1758, an itinerant clergyman named Treat
preached the first sermon ever delivered in this town.
The church had occasional preaching until Jan. 8,
1759, when they hired a Mr. Peck. On the 26th of
the following November the Rev. Noah Wetmore was
invited to preach on probation, and March 381, 1760,
the inhabitants united in giving him a call to settle.
For some reason, which does not now appear, he was
rejected, and Rev. Noah Benedict, who was subse-
quently called, was not obtained.

June 21, 1760, the Rev. Jesse Ives was invited to
preach on probation, and December 24th of the same
year he was called as their minister. He was offered
the ministerial lot, with a salary of sixty-two pounds
ten shillings annually for three years, and after that
time seventy pounds per annum. Some trouble sub-
sequently arose, and Mr. Ives was not settled.

In January, 1761, Mr. Ammi Ruhamah Robbins, a
young man who had graduated at Yale College the
year previous, and who had been studying at that fa-
mous school of the prophets in Bethlehem, under Dr.
Bellamy, was invited to preach here. He was in-
vited, by unanimous vote, to become pastor of the
church September 16th. On the 28th of October,
1761, the ceremony of ordination and installation
took place for the first time in this town. Without
doubt that was a great day here. However much the
ceremony may have lost its meaning with some in
our time, it had a great deal of meaning then. Not-
withstanding the special difficulties of traveling, peo-
ple came up from neighboring towns, and from those
that were not so very neighboring. The meeting-
house then was only partially finished, but it had on
that day, we may be sure, a very deeply interested
audience. Dr. Bellamy was present to help introduce
his young student into the pastoral office in the new set-
tlement. He offered the ordaining prayer, and gave
the young pastor his charge. His relation made it
eminently proper that he should take this part in the
services, and he doubtless did his part well. Rev. Mr.
Champion, of Litchfield, the youngest pastor officiat-
ing, having been settled eight years, gave the right
NORFOLK.

hand of fellowship. The father of Mr. Robbins, pas-
tor of the church in Branford, preached the sermon,
which was published.

He was at that time twenty-one years of age, having
been born in Branford, Aug. 25 (O.8.), 1740. His
father, Rev. Philmon Robbins, was pastor of the
church in that place from 1733 until his death in
1781. He entered Princeton College at the age of
sixteen, but at the death of President Burr, about
two years afterwards, he took a dismission from that
institution and joined Yale College, where he gradu-
ated in 1760, under the presidency of President
Clapp. He evinced superior scholarship, which he
found of good use to him in after-years, not only in
his ministerial studies, but also in the instruction of
young men, of whom he taught a large number;
among them was the late Dr. McEwen, of New
London. Of him, in early years, Dr. Lee, of Cole-
brook, who preached his funeral sermon, says, ‘In
the tender years of childhood he discovered that
sprightliness of genius and sweetness of temper and
manners by which he was distinguished through life.”
In October, 1811, he preached his half-century sermon,
which was published. At that time all the ministers
who took part in his ordination had died, and but
two persons were living who were then members of
the church. In this sermon he stated that the whole
number of church members from the first was 549,
that he had baptized 1277 persons, had attended 760
funerals (about 15 each year), had married 276 couples,
and had preached about 6500 sermons. He had taken
“texts from every book in the Bible except the
Epistle to Philemon and the Second Epistle of John.”
That venerable warrior had looked the armory pretty
thoroughly over for different weapons. If his experi-
ence was like most, he was less at a loss for a text at
the last than at the first. The more he gathered the
more he found to gather from the wonderful treasury.
Mr. Robbins preached a great deal out of town, and
is reported to have preached in every town in the
State except three. He also did not a little missionary
work. In the years 1794-96, by the appointment of
the General Association, he made five tours of mis-
sionary service in the new settlements of Vermont
and New York, two of them in company with his
brother-in-law, Rev. Peter Starr, of Warren. In
these he gathered three churches, assisted at three
ordinations, baptized thirty-eight children and adults,
and preached one hundred and forty-five sermons,
besides doing a great deal of visiting. This was al-
most at the very beginning of home missionary labor.
He was a chaplain in the Revolutionary army in
1776, during the Northern campaign, where he en-
dured hardships which undermined his health for a
time, and compelled a resignation of his chaplaincy.

He began to grow feeble under the effects of age
about the time he preached his half-century sermon,
but. continued his labors for two years. His last ser-
mon was preached the first Sabbath in May, 1818,

 

475

when he administered the Lord’s Supper for the last
time. He was with his people again three weeks
later. This (May 23d) was to be the last day for the
occupancy of the old church. Not being able to enter
the pulpit, he stood in his pew, and made an address
to the people appropriate to the occasion of their
leaving the sanctuary which had been so long their
endeared place of worship. That night a tumor be-
gan to show itself upon his face, which resulted in his
death on the 31st of October, at the age of seventy-
three.

Says Dr. McEwen, in an address upon the ministers
of Litchfield County, given at Litchfield in 1852,—

“It would be difficult to select a minister in Connecticut who has been
more popular with his people, or has exercised over them a more com-
plete and useful control, than Mr. Robbins.”

He was a member of the corporation of Williams
College, and greatly interested: in education. He
married, soon after his ordination, Miss Elizabeth
Le Baron, daughter of Dr. Lazarus Le Baron, of
Plymouth, Mass., and granddaughter of Governor
Bradford. He had thirteen children, five of whom
died young. His widow, with six sons and two daugh-
ters, survived him. Three of his sons were educated
at college, of whom two became ministers. One of
his daughters was the wife of Joseph Battell, Esq.

It was nearly two years before his successor was
secured. Mr. Ralph Emerson, born in Hollis, N. H.,
Aug. 18, 1787, a graduate of Yale College, with its
first honors, in 1811, under the presidency of Dr.
Dwight, and at that time a tutor in that institution,
was unanimously called to the pastorate of this church
in 1815. His grandfather was a clergyman, his father
adeacon. His early life, as has been the history of
so many other strong men, was spent upon the farm,
which he left when he was nineteen years of age,
when he fitted for college in one year’s study. After
graduation he became connected with Andover Theo-
logical Seminary in the study of theology. After
that he was tutor in Yale College two years. His
ordination and installation took place on the 12th of
June, 1816. At that time a revival of great power
was in progress among his people, into which he en-
tered with all his heart, and which resulted in an in-
gathering of one hundred and twenty-six. In 1821
there was another season of especial interest, and one
still more marked in 1827, the former adding fifty-five,
and the latter one hundred and eleven, to the member-
ship of the church. :

It seems unfortunate that a pastorate which was
being so greatly blessed should be broken off. In
1828, Mr. Emerson was invited to the presidency of
Western Reserve College. To his acceptance of this
appointment his people made earnest opposition, and
the Consociation thought it best that he should de-
cline it, which he did, and continued on in his labors
here. ‘The year following he was called to a profes-
sorship in Andover Theological Seminary. The same
unwillingness to release him from his pastorate here
476

was felt as before, and the Consociation declined at
first to dismiss him, but afterwards yielded.

Mr. Emerson filled the chair of history and pastoral
theology at Andover, Mass., for twenty-five years
with great honor and usefulness. He then resigned,
and removed to Newburyport, in the same State,
where he remained five years, preaching occasionally,
and occupying his mind with such studies as he was
most interested in, growing old gracefully. He re-
moved to Rockford, Ill., in 1859, where he remained
until his death, May 20, 1863. Dr. Emerson was suc-
ceeded by Rev. Joseph Eldridge. (See biography.)
The present pastor, Rev. John F. Gleason, was settled
Sept. 5, 1876.

Until 1814 there was no ecclesiastical society here,
but, as was common then, the externals and finances
of the church were managed by the town. Before
preaching was established by the town the settlers
attended church chiefly in Canaan, of which church
some of them at least were members.

CHURCH BUILDINGS.

The heaviest financial burden these men had was,
of course, the building of their meeting-house. We
have seen that they voted to build in less than a
month after the first town-meeting. At the same
time they summoned a committee of the County Court
to set a stake for the house. The carrying out of this
vote was evidently delayed, or else failed altogether,
for nothing appears to have been done about it till
Sept. 18, 1759, when the following vote was passed,
which is a curious illustration of the method em-
ployed in those times to designate a spot of land:

“Voted, That we judge it necessary to build a meeting-house in said
Norfolk, . . . and do agree that the place shall be at the east end of the
Seventh Lott, in first Division, first going over, and that on the hill
where Mr, Sam!! Munross formerly laid up sundry loggs in order for a
barn place, and said vote was had and obtained by more than two-thirds
of the inhabitants assembled in public town-meeting.”

This would seem to be a mere general locating of
the house, for they immediately applied to the court
to fix a stake at that place, and on October 8th ap-
pointed a committee to ascertain the centre of the
towa, and lay the true state of the town before the
committee appointed by the County Court in Septem-
ber for this purpose. This was done, and the town
accepted their decision in December, and then voted
to build “a meeting-house of forty feet wide and fifty
feet long, a suitable heighth for gallering.”

The building committee were Abel Phelps, Isaac
Holt, Samuel Gaylord, Isaac Pettibone, and Samuel
Mills. The timber was prepared and drawn that
winter and the following spring. On June 8, 1760,
the town voted to move the location to a point about
fifteen rods westward from the stake, because the
town had bought a piece of land there convenient
for the purpose, and they sent to the County Court to
have the alteration indorsed. Only three voters ob-
jected to the change. A committee of six was ap-
pointed “to prouid victals and drink for the hands

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

that raise the meting-house,” who were to “ consult
among themselves and make so much provision as
they shall think necessary, on the town’s cost.” The
house was raised a few days after, and we can easily
imagine with what enthusiasm and satisfaction the
townsmen must have gathered from far and near to
do that work. Tradition speaks of some difference
of opinion between the northern and southern sec-
tions of the town as to the location, but after that
point was settled there is no evidence that any ill-
feeling prevented their hearty co-operation with each
other; therefore we may assume that the raising was
a hearty and joyous occasion, and that the “ victals
and drink” were not deficient, either in quality or
quantity. As this house was on the same spot with
the present one, the original stake was evidently set
in the eastern part of what is now the green.

A town-meeting of June 24, 1760, held a portion of
its session at the meeting-house frame, and there
voted that the committee “should go on to cover the
same as soon as may be conveniently.” This was
done, but no entire session of town-meeting was held
in it till a year later, June 29,1761. Underpinning
and flooring for the lower part were added about the
time of Mr. Robbins’ ordination, October, 1761, and
apparently temporary seats were provided at the
same time, and thenceforward the house was in use
for public worship. The building committee was
discharged, and nothing more was done towards com-
pleting it for five or six years.

Up to this time one-half the proceeds of the land-
tax before mentioned had furnished the means of
building. This ceased, by limitation, in 1763, and
the finishing, which was performed at intervals from
1766 to 1772, was provided for as follows: A vote
would be passed in town-meeting specifying what
work should be done, and laying an extra tax on the
grand list sufficient for that purpose, and made pay-
able “in good and merchantable pine-boards, or in
good bar iron, to be delivered at the meeting-house”
by a certain date, and sometimes other “species”
were allowed. The appointment of a committee
would follow “to receive said boards and iron, and
improve them for the above said use.” In this way
the gallery-floor was laid in 1767, the pulpit made,
and the lower part of the house finished by building
permanent pews in 1769, the galleries finished in
1771, and in the latter part of that year a final rate
of “one half-penny on the pound” put on the last
touches. April 8, 1771, it was voted “that the
selectmen shall consult Mr. Robbins, and procure
a sutable cushen to lye on the pulpit on the town’s
cost,’’* ;

There is no record or tradition that any formal |
dedication of this building took place, and that it
was first occupied for worship in the autumn of 1761
is only a probable inference. Yet there is no doubt

 

* This cushion, the only extant relic of the old church, was preserved
by Mrs. Julia Pettibone when the building was taken down.
NORFOLK.

‘that a house of this size, built by a young, struggling
town, and requiring about twelve years for its com-
pletion, received the Christian endeavors and fervent
prayers of all the members. The process of digni-
fying the house and seating the people was appar-
ently a more perplexing problem than the building
itself. It was done as soon as the seats were made,
in the latter part of 1769, and: involved more than
three months’ time, five town-meetings, three rival
committees, and not a little dissatisfaction before it
was completed. Yet in this, as in everything else,
the fathers were able to differ without any perma-
nent breach.

Stopping. work on the meeting-house while it was
yet barely inclosed did not proceed from lack of
interest, but from the desire to distribute the heavy
burden over a series of years, and also from the need
of attention to another but equally important work,
—the providing a house for the newly-ordained min-
ister. The lot of land set apart by law for the first
minister was deeded to Mr. Robbins, and he pro-
ceeded to erect his house upon it. This was, of
course, to be his own, and was paid for by him; but
the work of erection took the time of his people from
their work, and the accounts we have make it evident
that not a little of what they did was generously done
without pay. His diary shows that they worked long
and cheerfully, getting out the timber during the
winter of 1761-62, and the building was raised April
22, 1762, on which occasion the whole town was pres-
ent, and a great entertainment provided. May 16th
following the young minister married, at Plymouth,
Mass., Elizabeth Le Baron, daughter of a physician
of that place, a very gifted young lady. He brought
her to his father’s, in Branford, where she spent the
summer, apparently waiting for the house to be fin-
ished. This was ready in October, and Mr. Robbins
went for his bride. A three days’ tedious ride on
horseback brought them from Branford. Dr. Bel-
lamy, who had been’ Mr. Robbins’ theological in-
structor, entertained the young couple at dinner, in
Bethlehem, the second day. Concerning the arrival
in Norfolk, Mr. Robbins’ brief entry suggests far
more than it tells, and makes us anxious to complete
the picture :

“Oct. 20, 1762.—Rode to Norfolk; it rained violently; we wet; the
People met us; a great supper and congratulations.”

The second church edifice was dedicated Aug. 30,
1814. It was repairéd and improved in 1846, and in
1880. The first bell lasted until 1829, and the second
until 1874, The present one was placed in the steeple
Dec. 22,1874. The quarter bell was hung June 22,
1875, and exchanged for the present one Aug. 1, 1876.

The following is a list of the deacons:

Michael Humphrey, chosen Nov. 19,1761; died in
office, January, 1778.

Abraham Camp, chosen Feb. 6, 1765.

Joseph Mills, chosen Feb. 27, 1772, “in room of
81

 

ATT

Deacon Camp, removed from town.”
office, July 25, 1792.

Abraham Hall was made a third deacon March 13,
1777. He resigned in January, 1797, being about to
leave town.

Samuel Mills, chosen the latter part of 1792, or
early in 1793, accepted in February, 1798; died June
22, 1804.

Jared Butler, chosen the same day with Samuel
Mills, accepted at once; died in office, June 4, 1822.

_ David Frisbie, chosen Sept. 10, 1790; removed to
Winsted in the latter part of his life, where he died
in 1887, aged eighty-seven.

Edward Gaylord, chosen Jan. 16, 1805; resigned
formally Jan. 9, 1817, on account of advanced age,
having stated this intention the November previous.

Noah Minor, chosen Nov. 24, 1816, accepted April
30, 1817; resigned Nov. 28, 1848, on account of age
and infirmities.

Sylvanus Norton, Jr., chosen Nov. 30, 1821; re-
moved to Ohio, without resigning, in 1824.

Amos Pettibone, chosen Oct. 19, 1824, accepted
April 27, 1825; resigned Nov. 17, 1845.

' Samuel Cone, chosen May 2, 1826; resigned on ac-
count of bodily infirmities, March 18, 1835.

Darius Phelps, chosen March 20, 1835; removed
from town in 1852.

Dudley Norton, probably chosen in Deacon Minor’s
place in 1848, and removed from town about 1845.

Warren Cone, chosen Nov. 17, 1845; died in office,
May, 1852.

Jonathan Kilbourn, chosen Jan. 9, 1846; removed
from town, without resigning, in April, 1864.

Dudley Norton, re-elected June 18, 1852, having re-
turned to town; accepted the position July 2d; died
in office, 1857.

Asahel G. Phelps, chosen June 18, 1852, accepted in
the autumn following; resigned Nov. 5, 1875, on ac-
count of ill health.

Amos Pettibone, re-elected Feb. 4, 1859, accepted
February 11th; resigned Aug. 12, 1864, on account of
age and impaired health.

James M. Cowles, chosen July 1, 1864; died in
office, Dec. 11, 1871.

James Humphrey, chosen Sept. 2, 1864.

Joseph N. Cowles, chosen Nov. 5, 1875, accepted
Jan. 7, 1876.

Frederic E. Porter, chosen Nov. 5, 1875, accepted
March, 1876.

From the death of Deacon James M. Cowles,
Abijah Hall, by invitation of the church, acted as
deacon till choice was made, November, 1875. He
had formerly been a deacon of the church in Sandis-
field, Mass.

He died in

THE SOCIETY'S FUND.

The “ Norfolk Ecclesiastical Fund” was established
in 1817. Previous to that time the “ Parsonage
Fund,” so called, existed. This was derived fram one
of the original fifty-three proprietary town rights re-
478

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

served for the support of the gospel. One right was
also reserved for the support of schools, and one was
set aside to be given to the first settled minister.
Rev. Mr. Robbins received this right. The land
located under it he exchanged for the land he occu-
pied and upon which his house was built. The
amount of the parsonage fund in 1817 was $869.67.
This then became a part of the ecclesiastical fund.

The fund derived from the right reserved for schools
has been kept distinct, and is now in amount $1442.50.

In 1816 there was added to the ecclesiastical fund
the sum of $145.11, which was received from the State,
under an act of the Legislature passed at the October
session, 1816, entitled “An act for the support of
literature and religion.” The following persons
made early subscriptions to the fund: Joseph Bat-
tell, Rev. Ralph Emerson, Moses Cowles, Mrs. Jeru-
sha Spaulding (legacy).

In the year 1834, Mr. Ephraim Coy died, and in
his will bequeathed a large residuary legacy to the
ecclesiastical society, to become a part of the fund.
On the 6th of June, 1844, when by the conditions of
the legacy the income from it became available,
it amounted to $4821. The accumulating fund at
the same time ‘had reached the amount of $4885.37.
These amounts combined, $9706.37, from that time
constituted the principal of the ecclesiastical fund.
As by the constitution of the fund the principal must
be invested in stock of incorporated banks or stock in
the funds of the United States, the value varies some-
what with the market value of the securities in which
itisheld. The present value is over $10,000. A loss
to the fund of $1000, by the failure of the Eagle Bank
of New Haven, was made up to*the fund by a sub-
scription of the same amount by Mr. Battell.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1840 with the fol-
lowing members: Franklin Bramble, Mrs, Amanda
Bramble, Russel Pendleton, Alwina Pendleton, Anson
Gaylord, Almeda Gaylord,,Sheldon Tibbals, Jennette
Tibbals, Aaron Tibbals, and doubtless others. The
pastors have been Revs. A. Bushnell, Daniel Coe,
Thomas Lodge, Mr. Gunn, J. Horton, L. Warner,
G. C. Bancroft, T. Hollister, A. Vail, M. Jerolds,
J. Robinson, I. Lent, A. Davies, W. E. Hill, J. Croft,
D. Lyman, J. Elliott, E. B. Pierce, B. Wilson, G. C.
Esray, W. E. Clark, P. Gemond, T. Elliott, S. R.
Free, C. Sagar, J. Millett, and S. S. Vail.

TEMPERANCE SOCIETY.
In 1829 a branch of the Litchfield County Temper-
ance Society was organized, auxiliary to the State
Society, of which all the members agreed as follows:

“ We will abstain from the use of distilled spirits, except as a medicine
in case of bodily hurt or sickness, and we will not allow the use of them
in our families, nor provide them for the entertainment of our friends,
or for persons in our employment, and in all suitable ways we will dis-
countenance the use of them in the community,”

This agreement was taken by a large number, the
list being headed by the pastor, deacons, and other

 

prominent men in the town. In 1881 the number of
names was three hundred and forty,—one hundred
and forty-four men, one hundred and _ thirty-six
wowen, and sixty in the juvenile department.

CIVIL HISTORY.

The town was incorporated in 1758, and December
12th of the same year the first town-meeting was held.
The following is a list of representatives from 1777 to
present time:

1777.—Giles Pettibone, William Walter.

1778.—Giles Pettibone, Hosea Wilcox.

1779.—Dudley Humphrey, Michael Mills.

1780.—Giles Pettibone, Joseph Mills, Titus Ives, Asahel Case.

1781.—Hosea Wilcox, Isaac Hoyt. 4

1782,—Michael Mills, Nathaniel Stevens, Elijah Grant.

1783.—Elijah Grant, Michael Mills, Giles Pettibone, Ephraim Guiteau.

1784,—Giles Pettibone, Dudley Humphrey.

1785.—Michael Mills, Dudley Humphrey.

1786.—Michael Mills, Asahel Humphrey.

1787.—Titus Ives, Hosea Humphrey, Asahel Humphrey.

1788.—Asahel Humphrey, Michael Mills, Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pet-

' tibone.

1789.—Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone.

1790-91.—Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone, Michael Mills,

1792.—Dudley Humphrey, Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey.

1793.—Giles Pettibone, Asahel Humphrey.

1794.—Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone.

1795.—Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens.

1796.—Asahel Humphrey, Nathaniel Stevens.

1797,—Asahel Humphrey, Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens,

1798.—Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, Eleazar Holt.

1799.—Giles Pettibone, Eleazar Holt, Nathaniel Stevens.

1800.—Giles Pettibone, Eleazar Holt, Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pet-
tibone.

1801.—Giles Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone.

1802-3.—Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone.

1804.—Augustus Pettibone, Eleazar Holt.

1805.—Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, Jr., Nathaniel Stevens.

1806.—Jeremiah W. Phelps, Nathaniel Stevens, Jr., Nathaniel Stevens.

1807.—Augustus Pettibone, John Dickinson.

1808.—Nathaniel Stevens, Benjamin Welch, Augustus Pettibone.

1809-10.—Nathaniel Stevens, John Dickinson.

1811.—Benjamin Welch, Joseph Battell, Elizur Munger.

1812,—Augustus Pettibone, Nathaniel Stevens, Eleazar Holt.

1813-14.—Eleazar Holt, Augustus Pettibone,

1815.—Eleazar Holt, Nathaniel Stevens.

1816.—Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Munger.

1817.—Nathaniel Stevens, Elizur Munger, Augustus Pettibone.

1818-19.—Nathaniel Stevens, Augustus Pettibone.

1820.—Augustus Pettibone, Joseph Battell.

1821.—Lawrence Mills, Elizur Munger.

1822-23.—Augustus Pettibone, Benjamin Welch.

1824-25.—Augustus Pettibone, Joseph Battell.

1826.—Joseph Battell, Amos Pettibone.

1827.—Amos Pettibone, Joseph Riggs.

1828.—Amos Pettibone, Joseph Battell.

1829.—Amos Pettibone, Thomas Curtis.

1830.—Michael F. Mills, Amos Pettibone.

1831.—Michael F. Mills, Edmund Brown.

1832,—Jedediah Phelps, Harvey Grant.

1833.—Michael F. Mills, Harvey Grant.

1834.—Thomas Curtis, Warren Cone.

1835.—Thomas Curtis, Elizur Dowd.

1836.—Benjamin Welch, Jr., Darius Phelps.

1837.—Asahel E. Case, Levi Shepard.

1838.—Warren Cone, Thomas Curtis,

1839.—Hiram Mills, Elizur Dowd.

1840.—James Shepard, Hiram Gaylord.

1841.—Eden Riggs, David L. Dowd.

1842.—Thomas Curtis, Dudley Norton.

1843.—No appointment.

1844.—William Lawrence, James M. Cowles.
 
NORFOLK.

1845.—E. G. Lawrence, Silas Burr.
1846.—Hurlow Roys, Horace B. Knapp.
1847.—Oliver B, Butler, J. K. Shepard. .
1848.—Solomon Curtis, W. W. Welch.
1849.—Anson Gaylord, John Humphrey.
1860.—W. W. Welch, Samuel D. Northway.
1851.—Hiram Gaylord, James M. Cowles.
1852.—Robbins Battell, Austin H. Baldwin.
1853.—John Humphrey, William J. Norton.
1854.—0. J. Wolcott, William K. Peck.
1855.—Jeremiah Johnson, Levi P. Gaylord.
1856.—E. T. Butler, F. A. Spaulding.
1857.—J. K. Shepard, Plumb Brown.
1858.—Robbins Battell, James Humphrey.
1859.—Henry J. Holt, Asahel G. Phelps.
1860.—Robbins Battell, Thomas S. Curtis.
1861—J. H. Welch, Henry Pendleton.
1862.—John P. Hawley, Ralph Brown.
1863.—Aaron Keyes, John A. Shepard.
1864.—W. K. Peck, Jr., Robert A. Geer.
1865.—Erastus Burr, Samuel S. Vaill.
1866,—Egbert T. Butler, John Dewell.
1867.—Abel Camp, Ralph I. Crissey.
1868.—R. P. Pendleton, D. P. Mills.
1869.—W. W. Welch, William E. Phelps.
1870.—William K. Peck, Joseph N. Cowles.
1871.—Harvey Johnson, J. K. Shepard.
1872.—L. L. Whiting, Hiram H. Riggs.
1873.—Oliver L. Hotchkiss, Edward Y. Morehouse.
1874.—Philip E. Curtis, Charles M. Ryan.
1875.—Miles Riggs, Charles M. Ryan.
1876.—Levi P. Phelps, Henry J. Holt.
1877.—Austin Wooster, Henry G. Smith.
1878.—Moses F. Grant, Horace A. Stannard.
1879.—George R. Bigelow, Abel H. Pendleton.
1880.—Robbins Battell, Edward G. Gaylord.
1881.—William W. Welch, George Wooster.

THE NORFOLK SAVINGS BANK

was incorporated in 1860. Its present officers are
as follows: Robbins Battell, President; Joseph N.
Cowles, Treasurer; William W. Welch, Vice-Presi-
dent; A. A. Spaulding, J. K. Shepard, Plumb Brown,
H. A. Riggs, F. E. Porter, H. J. Holt, Abel Camp, L.
Dunning, and Erastus Burr, Trustees. Total deposits,
$115,658.30 ; surplus account, $3369.66 ; interest ac-
count, $627.86.

PHYSICIANS WHO PRACTICED IN NORFOLK.

John Miner, Ephraim Guiteau, Philo Guiteau,
Hosea Humphrey, Daniel Lyman, Benjamin Welch,
Benjamin Welch, Jr., Benjamin Calhoun, William
W. Welch, John F. T. Cockey, William C. Welch,
and H. P. Stevens.

SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT.

On the 28th of September, 1868, a monument com-
memorative of the patriot dead who fell in the late
war of the Rebellion from this town was erected in the
public park. It bears the following inscription:

“To the memory of the soldiers from this town who died for their
country in the war of the Rebellion.”

The following names are inscribed on the monu-
ment:

“George Andrews, died June 22, 1864; Albert H. Bailey, died April 7,
1862; George Barden, died June 15, 1863; Benjamin J. Beach, Sept.

17, 1862; Christian Bejonison, June, 1864; Leander Campbell, June

3, 1864; Geo. W. Cobb, Oct. 23, 1862; Michael Donahue, Dec. 13, 1864;

Willard Evang, Jan. 12, 1862; Edward J, Humphrey, died April 22,

1862; Edward Hine, died July 18, 1864; Chas. E. Keyes, died Dec. 22,

 

479

1862 ; Elizur Maltbie, July 2, 1864; Samuel J. Mills, died Sept. 5, 1861;
Russell A. Murphy, died 1864; Theodore Parrett, died Sept. 17, 1862;
John W. Peck, died Feb. 9, 1862; Ensign Prince, Adjt, Samuel C.
Barnum, died Jan. 15, 1864; Lieut. Hiram D. Gaylord, died Nov. 18,
1863; Corp. Theodore S, Bates, died Sept. 17, 1862; Cotp. Damon S$.
Pendleton, died March 24; Corp. George H. Pendleton, died Sept. 3,
1863.”
_ MILITARY RECORD.*

Alexander McDonald, Co, I, 1st Cav.; enl. Aug. 6, 1863; disch. June 12,
1865.

S. Gasus, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 17, 1864.

J. Randall, 1st Cav.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864,

Charles Smith, enl. Nov. 16, 1864.

William Smith, enl. Nov. 18, 1864.

Charles Williams, enl. Nov. 18, 1864.

J. T, Mason, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864,

Lewis W. Curtiss, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

L. R. Curtiss, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864,

F. Barber, Ist Art.; enl. Dec. 2, 1864; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.

E. E. Bettis, lst Art.; en]. May 22,1861; must. out Sept. 24, 1865.

Thomas Smedley, 1st Art.; enl. Feb. 7, 1862; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

J. D. Barden, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 19, 1865.

George M. Lewis, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. July 22, 1864,

George Martin, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. July 19, 1865.

John McDonald, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. July 21, 1864.

E. M. Downer, 6th Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.

W. J. Downer, 6th Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, 1861; disch. March 9, 1862.

H. Russell, 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.

E. B. Sage, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; killed May 14, 1864.

Francis Steep, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; captured June 17, 1864.

Charles N. Decker, Co. E, 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

Samuel C. Barnum, Co. E, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

E. C. Morehouse, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Aug. 12, 1861.

R, A. Murphy, Uo. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Aug. 12, 1861.

D.S. Pendleton, Co. B, 2d N. Y. Cav.; enl. Aug. 12, 1861; died March 25,
1864.

George J. Karmann, Co. B, 2d Regt. ; enl. May 7,1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

Calvin N, Sage, Co. E, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

John M. Walker, Co. E, 2d Regt.; enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

The following enlisted in Co. B, 2d Regt., May 7, 1861, and were dis-
charged Aug. 7, 1861: Edwin Adams, Philo Blake, William J. Downes,
Charles A. Lewis, Timothy Ryan.

Willis H. Terrill, Co. A, 3d Regt.; enl. May 11, 1861; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

William Allen, 9th Regt. ; enl. May 7, 1864.

Samuel Bryan, 9th Regt.; enl. May 7, 1864.

H. Clemons, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Jan. 8, 1863.

William Mason, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Aug. 3, 1865.

F. W. Lewis, 9th Regt. ; enl. May 20, 1864; disch. Aug. 3, 1865.

John Hennesy, 9th Regt.; enl. Nov. 16, 1864; disch. Nov. 13, 1865.

Thomas Kerrigan, 9th Regt.; en]. Nov. 17, 1864; disch. July 22, 1865,

Henry Murphy, 9th Regt.; enl. Nov. 16, 1864.

G. Labbons, 11th Regt.; enl. May 16, 1864; died of wounds July 4, 1864.

A. Linshot, 11th Regt.; enl. May 19, 1864; died of wounds Aug. 21, 1864.

Jean Paul, 11th Regt.; enl. May 18, 1864; killed July 20, 1864.

H. Clemens, 11fh Regt.; enl. Dec. 2, 1863; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

Ira Clemens, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 6, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

E. Peck, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 2, 1863 ; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

COMPANY E, ELEVENTH REGIMENT.

John H. Dewell, captain, Norfolk ; com. Nov. 27, 1861; res. June 16, 1862.

Samuel C. Barnum, second lieutenant, Norfolk ; com. Nov. 27, 1861; pro.
to first lieutenant; died June 15, 1864, of wounds.

Egbert J. Butler, sergeant, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; pro. to second
lieutenant; disch. Jan. 5, 1863.

Stephen Barden, corporal. Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; re-en]. as veteran;
must. out Dec. 21, 1865, at City Point, Va. ‘

William Humphrey, corporal, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. Oct. 24,
1864, term expired.

Orlo H. Wolcott, corporal, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; trans, to Invalid
Corps March 15, 1864.

Theodore S. Bates, corporal, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; killed Sept. 17,
1862, at Sharpsburg, Md.

Philo Blake, corporal, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 14, 1861; discharged; enl. U. 8.
army Oct. 24, 1862.

Francis J. Burgess, Norfolk; en]. Oct. 25, 1861; re-en]. as veteran; must,
out Dec. 21, 1865, at City Point, Va.

 

* For list of the 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.
480

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Bailey, Albert H., Norfolk; enl. Nov. 23, 1861; died April 7, 1862, at
Newbern, N. C.

Barden, Seth, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. for disability Sept. 18,
1862.

Beach, Benjamin J., Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862, at
Sharpsburg, Md.

Campbell, Leauder, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; killed June 3, 1864, at
Cold Harbor, Va.

Camp, Hiram, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. for disability July 18,
1862.

Carman, Edward, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 20, 1861; discharged; enl. U. 8S.
army Oct. 23, 1862.

Celestian, Devantry, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; re-enl. as veteran;
must. out Dec. 21, 1865, at City Point, Va.

Charlton, Havier, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; discharged; enl. U. S.
army Oct. 23, 1862.

Clarke, James, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 20, 1861; disch. for disability Feb. 6,
1863.

Daniels, George, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 13,
1863; must. out Dec. 21, 1865.

Demars, Peter, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. for disability June 28,
1862.

Eyans, Willard, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; died Jun. 12, 1862, at Annap-
olis, Md.

Filean, Joachim, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. for disability Oct. 1,
1862.

Flaherty, Michael, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. Oct. 27, 1864, term
expired.

Gallagher, Michael, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 14, 1861; re-enl. as veteran; must.
out Dec. 21, 1865, at City Point, Va.

Hall, Moses J., Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861 ; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 13, 1863.

Humphrey, Edward J., Norfulk ; enl. Oct. 25,1861; died April 22, 1862,
at Newbern, N. C.

Knapp, Isaac, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 27,1861; disch. for disability Feb. 28,
1863, at Alexandria, Va.

Laber, John, Norfolk ; enl. Nov. 14, 1861; wounded; re-enl. as veteran;
must. out Sept. 16, 1865.

Miller, John B., Norfolk ; énl. Nov. 14, 1861; re-enl. as veteran; wounded ;
pro. to second lieutenant; must. out Dec. 21, 1865.

O’Brien, John, Norfolk ; enl. Nov. 23, 1861 ; disch. for disability April 29,
1864,

Theodore Parrett, Norfolk; enl. Nov. 17,1861; killed Sept. 17, 1862, at
Sharpsburg, Md.

Roberts, Halsey, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; died Feb. 6, 1862, at Annap-
olis, Md.

Root, Charles, Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; discharged; enl. U. S. army
Oct. 23, 1862.

Slater, James J., Norfolk ; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; re-enl. as veteran ; trans. to
U.S. navy April 29, 1864.

Spaulding, Charles 8., Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; re-enl. as veteran;
wounded and captured; disch. June, 1865.

Spellman, Charles, Norfolk; enl. Oct.'25, 1861; died May 25, 1862, at
Newbern, N. C.

Spellman, George W., Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Jan.
5, 1864; must. out Dec. 21, 1865.

Sughrue, John, Norfolk; en]. Nov. 23, 1861; died April 20, 1862, at New-
bern, N.C. ‘

Tyrrell, Willis H., Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; wounded; died Aug. 25,
1863, at Portsmouth, Va.

Watrous, Lucius, Norfolk; enl. Oct. 25, 1861; disch. for disability Jan-
uary, 1862, at Annapolis, Md.

George Barden, 28th Regt.; enl. Oct. 23, 1862; died June 15, 1863.

M. Green, 28th Regt.; enl. Sept. 19, 1862; disch. Aug, 28, 1863,

A. Freeman, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 8, 1863; disch. Oct. 28, 1865,

H. Freeman, 29th Regt.; enl. Noy. 18, 1863; disch. Oct. 28, 1865.

Schuyler B. Pendleton, died Sept. 3, 1863.

Sherman A. Apley, died June 1, 1864.

Joseph Robinson, died Sept. 17, 1864.

Halsey Roberts, died Feb, 6, 1862.

Timothy Ryan, died Aug. 2, 1862,

Edmund B. Sage, died May 14, 1864.

John Sughrue, died April 20, 1862.

Charles Spellman, died May 25, 1862.

Francis Steck, died in 1865.

Willis H. Tyrrell, died Aug. 25, 1863.

Auguste Dider, Beuton E. Knapp.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

REV. JOSEPH ELDRIDGE.

In presenting a sketch of one whose activity in life
was so remarkable, and whose career of usefulness
extended over so long a period, a detailed narrative
would be impracticable in a work of this character; but
it is proposed to give the salient points in the life of
one who was so long identified with the moral and
religious interests of the territory treated in this work,
the late Rev. Joseph Eldridge.

He was born in Yarmouth, Mass., July 8, 1804.
He was prepared for college at Phillips Academy, in
Andover, and in September, 1825, entered Yale, and
graduated, with the second honors, in the class of 1829,
He immediately entered upon his professional studies
in the Theological Seminary of Yale College, and
April 25, 1832, was ordained as a Christian minister,
and installed as pastor of the church in Norfolk, in
which capacity he officiated until Nov. 1, 1874, when
impaired health demanded his resignation.

Dr. Eldridge was a man of marked individuality
and strong intellect. He looked every subject and
question squarely in the face; his mind was eminently
comprehensive, and his judgments were sagacious
and penetrating. Next to theology, history and poli-
tics interested him most. Whatever was curious in
human nature, and touched upon the singular and
humorous, awakened his responsive sympathy. Asa
preacher he was characterized by simplicity, good
sense, and manly strength. He was powerful in ar-
gument, and says Dr. Noah Porter, “It might be
said very truly of him that in natural gifts and tastes
he was better adapted to the bar or the forum than to
the pulpit and the prayer-meeting.” But these tastes
by no means disqualified him for the profession which
he had embraced, but rather increased his power and
influence. He was a man of strong and ardent feel-
ings, eminently social, kind, generous, and sympa-
thizing, tender-hearted towards the suffering, and in
all respects a truly generous man.

Dr. Eldridge also manifested a decided interest in
educational matters, and there are not a few young
men now in the ministry and other professions whom
he has assisted, by his counsel and sympathy and con-
tributions, to begin and persevere in a course of study.
His interest in education, and his loyal affection for
his Alma Mater, made him a zealous and most useful
friend to Yale College, of whose corporation he was
for more than twenty-seven years an honored mem-
ber.

What Dr. Eldridge was to his parish they do not
need to be told. “The forty years and more,” says
Dr. Porter, in a discourse on his life and character,
“which he has given to this parish have not been
without abundant blessings. The simplicity of his
aims, the constancy of his labors, the wisdom of his
counsels, the fidelity and tenderness of his exhorta-
 
SN

 

Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.

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Resioence or E.T. BUTLER, Noarotn, Conn, (Execreo (790 by His GRANDFATHER.)
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NORFOLK.

481

 

tions, and the. integrity and spirituality of his life,
have formed the characters and strengthened the faith,
have cheered the lives and blessed the deaths and
saved the souls of many who will forever: rejoice in
the pastor who led them to Christ, and guided their
feet in the ways of Christian living. The influences
of this long and successful pastorate will remain for
more than another generation, as the name of this
beloved and honored servant of Christ shall be re-
peated‘with love and thankfulness.”

At the time of his resignation he was the oldest of
the pastors in active service in the State of Connecti-
cut. He died March 31, 1875.

The Religious Herald, in speaking of Dr. Eldridge,
says, ‘A wise counselor, a genial companion, a dili-
gent student, a cogent reasoner, always an instructive,
and often a thoroughly eloquent, preacher, he proba-
bly came nearer to the true ideal of a gospel minister
than. some who are more widely known and more
loudly proclaimed.”

The New York Tribune-says, “The Rev. Joseph
Eldridge, D.D., of Norfolk, was one of the ablest: and
most prominent of the New England clergy,” and the
following, from the New York Independent, is a just
tribute to this worthy man, “A man of fine culture,

keen wit, and. sound sense, his influence in the whole

region has been commanding, and his home has been

_ the centre. of all beautiful and gracious ministries

for many a year.”

AUSTIN A. SPAULDING.

Austin A., youngest son of Austin Spaulding, was
born at New Marlboro’, Mass., Feb. 18, 1819. His
father died Nov. 4, 1818. At the age of eleven
years young Austin was apprenticed to an uncle who
was a farmer living in Norfolk. He remained with
the widow of this uncle, who died in 1830, until
1884, When he was seventeen years old he went but
ashort distance from his uncle’s home to live with his
oldest brother. When of age he began the world for
himself. Mr, Spaulding married Louisa J., daughter
of Truman Hart, of Norfolk. He purchased a farm
in the southern portion of Norfolk, where he now re-
sides. Their children were Sarah E., Adelaide E.,
William A., and Frederick S. Sarah E. married
James L. Bragg, of Winchester, Conn.; they have
one daughter, Louisa. Mr. Spaulding represented
his town in the Legislature in 1852. In 1854 he con-

_ nected himself with a company manufacturing ma-

chinery. In 1858 the company reorganized, and began
the manufacture of hoes, doing an extensive business
in the Southern States until the beginning of the late
war, when they became prostrated. The company
then began making Springfield muskets for the gov-
ernment; in this they were successful. At the end of
‘one year of the latter business, Mr. Spaulding with-
drew from the firm and turned his attention to farm-

 

ing and stock-raising. He has many times held the
position of selectman.and other town offices; was a di-
rector in the old Norfolk Bank, was also appointed as

 

AUSTIN A. SPAULDING.

one of the receivers of the same. He is at the present
time a trustee in the Norfolk Savings Bank. Has
held numerous offices in the church. A view of his
residence may be seen elsewhere. ,

EGBERT T. BUTLER.

Egbert T. Butler, son of Calvin Butler,* was born in
Plymouth, Conn., Dec. 21, 1818. He was. educated, at
the common schools in his native town, and in about
the year 1841 removed to Norfolk, where he has since
resided. Mr. Butler has ever been a leading citizen
of the town, and all measures tending to advance. its
interests have found in him an earnest advocate. He’
has at various times represented Norfolk in the Legis-
lature, and while a representative, in 1856, secured.
the charter for the Norfolk Bank, of which he was
the first president, and Asa Pettibone cashier.

As mentioned above, Mr. Butler has ever been alive
to the development of this section of the State, but the
crowning act of his life may be written in three words,
«“ Connecticut Western Railroad.” He has justly been
styled the “father” of this road. He was the first to
agitate the subject, and it was chiefly through his in-
domitable will that the building of the road was com-
menced and carried to successful completion. After
succeeding in getting the survey, in the spring of 1866,
he was sent to the Legislature to secure the charter,
and during that session was made chairman of rail-
ect See ovens agi tee gs Mees ee

# See history of “ Bench and Bar,” Chap. IT.
482

road committees on the part of the House. In referring
to this road and the active part Mr. Butler had taken
in its inception and completion, the Hartford Times,

under date of Dec. 14, 1871, says,—

“In February, 1866, Mr. E. T. Butler, of Norfolk, while sitting with his
wife and family one evening, started up and said he must write that arti-
cle about the railroad through the northern part of the State, and, suit-
ing the action to the word, he wrote a communication to the Winsted
Herald, which waked up an interest in the project, which many thought
ridiculous. Meetings were subsequently held in Norfolk and Winsted,
and Mr. Butler set about the work of raising a sum for a survey of the
proposed road from Collinsville to Canaan. ‘The raising of this money,’
he says, ‘was the hardest work of all.’ Men of wealth refused to give
him a dollar, and one who said he had no money to throw away is now
a large owner of the stock of the road. Mr. Butler soon after presented
his plans to some of the rich men of Hartford, but met with little en-
couragement from them. He suggested that it would be for their in-
terest to start a survey and secure a charter from this city, but this was
objected to. In June, 1866, the road was surveyed from Collinsville to
the State line in East Sheffield, the cost of the survey being paid by
private subscription secured on the line of survey, and the same year a
charter was granted for the ‘Connecticut Western Railroad,’ a name
given it by Mr. Butler.

“ Ground for the road was broken in Winsted on the 20th of October,
1869, by Mr. EB. T. Butler, of Norfolk, and on Thursday last, Dec. 7, 1871,
the same gentleman drove the last spike in Canton.”

The Hartford Courant of Dec. 14, 1871, says,—

“The credit of first suggesting plans for the road belongs to Mr. E. T.
Butler, of Norfolk, now a director of the road, and always oue of its most
earnest friends. Early in 1866, Mr. Butler wrote an article for the Winsted
Herald, unfolding his plan. Soon after meetings were held in Norfulk
and Winsted to discuss the project, and about the same time Mr. Butler
met afew Hartford citizens at the office of Howe & Mathers, and laid
the subject before them; said he should take steps to secure a survey
from Collinsville to Canaan, and apply for a charter, and suggested that
it might be well to ask for a charter from Hartford. But no encourage-
ment was proffered from this quarter.

“Work on the road was commenced at Winsted Oct. 20, 1869, and the
last rail was laid on Thursday of last week, December 7th, at Canton,
Mr. E, T. Butler throwing out the first spadeful of earth and driving the
last spike.”

In this connection the Winsted Herald of Dec. 15,
1871, says,—

“The last spike was driven on Thursday last, at Canton, by E. T. But-
ler, he who shoveled the first shovelful of earth, at Winsted, on the 20th
of October, 1869, than whom no man was more worthy so to shovel and
so to drive.”

The citizens of Norfolk appreciated the services of
Mr. Butler, and at a railroad celebration held here
Sept. 12, 1871, he was presented with a superb gold
watch and chain. On the outside of the watch-case
was engraved the monogram “E. T. B.” and a train
of cars, while the inside of the case bore the follow-
ing inscription:

“Presented to E. T. Butler, Esq., by the citizens of Norfolk, in recog-
nition of his services in the originating and completion of the C. W.
Railroad.”

May 1, 1839, Mr. Butler united in marriage with
Jennett Porter, of Norfolk, who died Dec. 23, 1862,
leaving ason and daughter,—Egbert J., who resides
in Buffalo, N. Y., and Harriet R., who died Noy. 17,
1877. Jan 17, 1864, Mr. Butler married Celia E.
Hall, of Sandisfield, Mass., and their children are
Jennett P. and Charlotte.

The residence of Mr. E. T. Butler is considered one
of the finest farm residences in Litchfield County. It
stands near the line of Berkshire Co., Mass., at an

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

elevation of fourteen hundred feet above the sea, com-
manding a fine view of the village of Norfolk and the
many picturesque hills and valleys in the vicinity,
It was erected about the year 1790 by two brothers
named Jedediah and Jeremiah Phelps, who occupied
it with their families as long as they lived. Capt.
John Phelps, the father of the two brothers above
named, settled on the farm in 1762, and it has always
been held in the family since that date, Mr. Butler
now owning it, being the grandson of Jedediah
Phelps.

During the life of Jedediah and Jeremiah Phelps
they worked the farm in common, with no division of
farm or crops. The room now used for dining-room
was formerly the kitchen, and in it the two families
did their ordinary work by the same fire. On one
side of the kitchen was a large fireplace, two large
brick ovens, and two pantries. In the fireplace were
three andirons, and a crane for hanging pots and ket-
tles was hinged on each side of the fireplace. The
family of Jedediah Phelps cooked their meals on the
south side of the middle andiron, and set their table
in the south end of the kitchen ; and the family of Jere-
miah Phelps set their table in the north end of the
kitchen, and cooked their meals on the north side of
the middle andiron; and in this kitchen, as was the
custom in those days, the two families reared their
children, three daughters and four sons. The main
house, standing in front, being forty by thirty-six feet,
is constructed with a large hall three yards wide run-
ning through the centre of the house on both first and
second floors, and on each side of the hall above and
below are two rooms five yards square; and open fire-
places are now in use in the four lower rooms and the
two front chambers. A never-failing spring of pure,
soft water supplies the premises. For several years
past Mr. Butler, in addition to his farming, has made
his home a pleasant resort for many city families
during the warm summer months.

CHAPTER XLVII.
NORTH CANAAN.

Geographical—Topographical—Incorporation of the Town—The Revo-
lution—Incidents—The First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Select-
men from 1859 to 1882—Clerks from 1859 to 1882—Probate Judges
from 1847 to Present Time—Representatives from 1859 to 1882—Eccle-
siastical History—Congregational Church—Christ Church—Methodist
Episcopal Church—Connecticut Western News—Villages—Military
Record.

Tus town lies in the northwestern part of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Berkshire Co., Mass., on the east by Norfolk, on the

 

* The early history of this town, including the record history, has been
given in detail in the history of Canaan, of which North Canaan formed
a part until 1858. Names of the early settlers, proprietors’ meetings,
early rules and regulations, etc., will be found in the history of the
mother-town.
NORTH CANAAN.

south by Canaan, and on the west by the Housatonic
River, which separates it from Salisbury. The surface
of the town is hilly.

THE REVOLUTION.

Canaan had many noble representatives in the war
of the Revolution. ‘‘ Among these was Nathaniel
Stevens, who enlisted in 1775, and served as com-
missary-general until the dissolution of the commis-
sary department in 1782, and Capt. John Watson, a
native of Canaan, who raised a company in Norfolk,
and did good service in the war.

“Capt. Gershom Hewitt served under Col. Ethan
Allen when he surprised and captured Fort Ticon-
deroga, May 10,1775. Capt. Hewitt, acting as a spy,
entered the fort and reconnoitred its condition pre-
paratory to the assault. Assuming the dress and
manners of a simple-minded man in search of an old
aunt, of ‘ Varmount,’ Hewitt so successfully person-
ated the character as to awaken no suspicion on the
part of the garrison. He was permitted to enter the
fort and to wander about at his pleasure; indeed, he
was rather hospitably entertained. Pretending never
to have seen a cannon before, he inquired what those
long iron things with holes in the end were for.
Having gained the necessary information, he left the
fort and returned to the camp of Col. Allen, who se-
lected him to lead the assaulting party. When Col.
Allen demanded of the commander of the fort a sur-
render, he was asked by what authority he made the
demand, and replied, ‘In the name of the Great Je-
hovah and of the Continental Congress.’ Hewitt was
told by the captain of the guard of the fort that if
he had known who he was when he entered the fort
the day before he would have shot him. Jonathan
Gillette, eighteen years of age, was, while on military
duty at Horseneck during the Revolutionary war,
taken prisoner, in company with several others, and
carried to New York, and confined for ten months in
a sugar-house, where he suffered severely from hunger
and disease.

“A small fortress on the St. Lawrence, called the
‘Cedars,’ was garrisoned by about three hundred men ;
this fortress, by the treachery of their commanding
officer, was delivered into the hands of the English,
who kept the garrison close prisoners, employing a
force of Indians to guard them, the prisoners being
treated with all the indignity and cruelty which the
savages could devise.

“A force of Americans were sent to their relief,
but on their approach they were met by a flag from
the British commander, stating that if the Americans
should fire upon them the whole of their prisoners
would be massacred, and proposing terms of release
for the prisoners. The terms were most humiliating
to the Americans, but they were obliged to accept
them in order to save their imprisoned comrades from
a terrible death.

“When the British were ready to release them the

 

483

Indians refused to let them go, being determined to
set on fire the building in which they were confined,
and thus destroy them all, and they only consented
to release them by the exchange of cattle for the
American prisoners. Thus the ancestors of many of
us were literally exchanged for cattle, for this garrison
was composed in part of a company raised in Canaan,
their captain being John Stevens. Oliver Stevens,
Jedediah Smith, and Benjamin Stevens were mem-
bers of this company.” *

Among the early settlers in this town was Isaac
Lawrence. Soon after coming he built what is known
as the old Lawrence tavern-stand, a large house near
North Canaan depot, still in excellent repair, and
owned by Mrs. Wm. Adams, whose wife was a de-
scendant of Isaac Lawrence.

INCORPORATION OF NORTH CANAAN.

The town of North Canaan was incorporated in
1858, and on October 14th of the same year the first
town-meeting was held, when the following officers
were chosen: Moderator, M. T. Granger; Assessor,
Harvey Lawrence; Board of Relief, Dennis Prescott,
Fredk. Watson, and Hiram Briggs ; Selectmen, Henry
Ives and Harmon Rockwell ; Town Clerk and Treas-
urer, William Douglass; Register of Births and Mar-
riages, William Douglass; Constable and Collector,
I. P. Stevens; Grand Jurors, Wm. C. Lawrence,
James Briggs, Fredk. Watson ; School Visitors, Henry
Ives, Wesley Prescott, Elisha M. Rood; Highway-
men, Harvey Lawrence, Solomon Wright, Sherman
Austin, Lorenzo Lardam, Walter Warner ; Haywards,
Phineas Hunt, D. R. Spaulding, Edwin Barnes, Orvin
Rockwell, and David O. Rood; Sealer of Weights
and Measures, James Briggs; Pound Keeper, E. W.
Foster; Surveyors of Highways, E. P. Allen, Asahel
Kellogg, Wesley Prescott, Jonathan. Donalds, and f
Hiram Briggs.

LIST OF SELECTMEN FROM 1859-81.

Jonathan Donalds, 1859-60; Sartial Root, 1859-61; Henry C. Stevens,
1861; William Douglass, 1862-63; Ira 8. Bunnell, 1862-64; Fred-
erick Watson, 1864-68 ; Wm. J. Furgeson, 1865-67, 1872-78; Edward
S. Roberts, 1868; Frederick Bronson, 1869-71, 1879-80; R. J. Lake,
1869; Edmund D. Lawrence, 1870-71; Joseph W. Peet, 1872-76;
Luman Foot, 1877-78; Samuel A. Bennett, 1879 ; Patrick Fitzgerald,
1880; John B. Reed, 1879-80.

CLERKS.

The following is a list of the clerks from 1858 to
1881:
William Douglass, 1858-59; Charles Gillett, 1860-61; Joseph W. Peet,
1862-71; Jacob B. Hardenbergh, 1872-80.
LIST oF PROBATE JUDGES.

Wm. M. Burrall, 1847; Wm. G. Pierce, 1847-48 ; Miles T. Granger, 1849-
51, 1853-62, 1864-66; Walter 8. Cowles, 1852; George W. Peet, 1863 ;
Frederick Watson, 1867, 1870-71; Jacob B. Hardenbergh, 1872-81.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1859-82.

1859, Levi W. Beckley; 1860, William Douglass ; 1861, Daniel L. Pierce;
1862, Alderman Ives; 1863, Frederick Bronson; 1864, Wesley Pres-
cott; 1865, Nathaniel C. Ward; 1866, J. K. Crofut; 1867, Harmon

 

* Rev. J. Eldridge, D.D.
484

Peet; 1868, Samuel A. Bennett; 1869, James A. Root; 1870, J. B.
Hardenburgh; 1871, Ira 8. Bunnell; 1872, George W. Cowdrey ;
1873, Elisha M. Rood; 1874, Joseph W. Peet; 1875, Edward I. Rob-
erts; 1876, Wesley Trescott; 1877, Hiram Briggs; 1878, Charles H.
Briggs; 1879, Joseph W. Peet; 1880, Theodore F. Watson; 1881,
Lewis L. Cartwright.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.*

This church was organized in 1769 by a colony
from the Congregational Church in the south part of
the town, then under the pastoral charge of Rev.
Daniel Farrand. It appears from the records of that
church that a request to be dismissed from that church
for the purpose of being formed into a separate church
was made by the following persons: Capt. Isaac Law-
rence and his wife, John Franklin, Jared Huxley
and his wife, Samuel Hobart and his wife, Simon
Tubbs, Elisha Baker, Andrew Bacon and his wife,
Samuel Forbes and his wife, and James Adams. This
request was granted Dec. 1, 1769, and on the 5th of
the same month the male persons mentioned above,
together with Allen Curtiss, Jedediah Richards, Ste-
phen Rice, Ebenezer Mudge, Justice Gaylord, Nehe-
miah Lawrence, and Abiel Fellows, adopted a con-
fession of faith and articles of church government,
and were organized into a church, Rev. Daniel Far-
rand presiding. The church was organized by the
men , after organization the women were admitted by
vote, viz.: Mrs. Stephen Rice, Mrs. Jared Huxley,
Mrs. Samuel Hobart, Mrs. Isaac Lawrence, Mrs. An-
drew Bacon, and Mrs. Abiel Fellows.

The first pastor was Rev. Asahel Hart, who was in-
stalled March 14,1770, and died June 28, 1775. After
his decease the church’ had no pastor for seven years,
it being during the troublesome times of the Revolu-
tion. In 1770, Elisha Bucar and Andrew Bacon were
chosen deacons.

The first church building was erected in 1768, a
wooden structure forty by fifty feet, and twenty-four-
feet posts. It was built by Capt. Isaac Lawrence.
The present house of worship was erected in the year
1822, and has been subsequently repaired.

In June 8, 1782, Rev. Amos Thompson was installed
pastor of this church. My. Thompson was from Vir-
ginia, and brought North several slaves. During his
pastorate he and his wife spent a winter at the South.
Previous to leaving they deposited their silver and
various delicacies in the parlor, under lock and key,
and had also taken with them the key of the wine-
cellar. On their return they found that the slaves
left in charge of the establishment had found means
to gain access to these apartments, and had without
scruple made free use of their contents for their own
enjoyment and in liberal -entertainments given to
their friends. After all the difficulties connected

 

* Condensed from a centennial sermon delivered at North Canaan,
July 28, 1869, by tho late Rev. Joseph Eldridge, D.D., of Norfolk.

t At the time Mr. Thompson was South, he left his house in care of
Jupe and Fan, when they broke open his wine-cellar and made a dinner-
party, and, being seated, began to help themselves. Jupe stopped them,

' Gillette.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

with the Revolutionary war had subsided, Mr. Thomp..
son and his wife were disposed to return to their
Southern home, and they desired to take their slaves:
back with them; but they refused to go, fled to Nor-
folk, and lay in concealment, and had to be left
behind. It does not appear that Mr. Thompson was
formally dismissed from his pastoral relation to this
church. Before leaving Canaan, Rev. Mr. Thompson.
manifested a practical interest in this' chureh and
society by presenting to the ecclesiastical soviety his.
house and farm, worth then about eighteen hundred
dollars, on condition that they should raise enough to
make five thousand dollars, to be held as a permanent
fund, the interest of which should be appropriated to
the support of the minister. This sum was raised,
and thus originated the permanent church fund. -

In 1791, Rev. Joshua Knapp was ordained as pastor
of the church. How long his ministry continued is
not recorded.

In 1798, August 24, Rev. Solomon Morgan was in-
stalled. He died Sept. 3, 1804, aged sixty years, after
a pastorate of six years. His successor, Rev. Pitkin
Cowles, was ordained Aug. 29, 1805. During his
pastorate five deacons were chosen; in 1806, Jacob
Hinsdale, Abiel Fellows, and Anson Lawrence ; 1821,.
Rufus B. Dunning; 1822, William Pierce. In the
war of 1812, Rey. Pitkin Cowles served for a time as
chaplain, under Gen. Sterling, stationed at New
London. Deacon William Pierce was drafted at the
same time, and appointed sergeant; also Gersham
Hewitt, Jr., and Nathaniel Dean. In 1820, Rev. Mr.
Cowles organized a Sabbath-school, among the first
in this State. He presented to each member of the
school a Bible. A branch Sabbath-school was organ-
ized at the Corner, under the direction of Miss Maria
Maria I. Watson, now (1869) Mrs. John
Lawrence, was one of the pupils. Rev. Mr. Cowles
was pastor of this church between twenty-seven and
twenty-eight years. He was dismissed a few months
previous to his death, which occurred: Feb. 3, 1888.
Mr. Cowles labored here in the ministry much longer
than any other pastor of the church during the cen-
tury of its existence.

In 1838, Oct. 28d, Rev. H. H. Woodbridge was or-
dained pastor of this church. He sustained the rela-
tion of pastor here till 1842, when he ceased to be a
minister of the gospel. During his pastorate, in the
year 1836; Dennis Rood and Sereno B. Gillette were
appointed to the office of deacons. After his removal.
the church was without a pastor about three years,
when Rev. D. D. Francis was installed, June 4, 1845.
He was dismissed in 1850. While he was pastor the
church appointed, in 1848, Amos Pierce and George
K. Lawrence deacons.

 

saying, he “ Must first ask a blessing like Massa Thompson. Oh, Lord,
good a bittle on a table, a bean and a quash, meat in a pot, tunder ina
heaven, lighty on a gospel, knock down a dry tree, ebermore. Amen.”
“Jupe,” said one of the guests, “I tink you pretty able.” He replied,
“Oh, I dunno; I tink 1 say him putty much ag Massa Thompson do.”
NORTH CANAAN.

485

 

On June 4, 1851, Rey. Elisha Whittlesey was or-
dained pastor of the church, and after filling the
office about two.years resigned, his health demanding
a respite from labor and a milder climate. In the
interval between his dismission and the settlement of
his successor, and while the church was without a
settled pastor, but supplied by Rev. Hiram Eddy, oc-
curred a powerful revival of religion. Thirty-nine
were received at a single communion season, April
6, 1856.

Rev. Hiram Eddy was installed June 25, 1856, and
remained pastor of the church four years. He was
dismissed in 1860. In 1858, A. A. Wright and Charles
Kellogg were appointed deacons.

Rev. H. M. Grant succeeded Mr. Eddy, after an
interval of about three years. He was ordained Nov.
17, 1868, and was dismissed in 1866. Horace B.
Stevens was chosen deacon in 1865. Rev. Isaac P.
Powell was installed pastor of the church July 28,
1869, having previously supplied the church one year.
He resigned May 25, 1874, since which time the
church has had. no settled pastor. The present sup-
ply is Rev: Hiram Eddy. .

CHRIST CHURCH.*

The parish of Christ Church, North Canaan, was
organized about the year 1846. The church building
was erected in that year, and was consecrated by
Bishop Brownell, Sept. 22, 1847. The work was
originated by Rev. Mr. Fash, a missionary supported
by the Litchfield County Missionary Association, and

has been of a more or less missionary character ever |

since. The old law did not recognize the term “ par-
ish” or the organization which it designates, the
usual name for an ecclesiastical body or corporation
being “ society.”

_ The persons who associated themselves together to
form the legal corporation or society were Fitch Fer-
ris, Harman Peet, Edward Thorp, Oliver P. Root,
John P. Camp, Jonathan C. Stevens, Abraham Thorp,
Alfred C. Isham, and R. 8. Potter.

The parish being weak, and partially dependent on
missionary aid for support, has been served in connec-
tion with other points, and not unfrequently vacant.
The mission was begun, and parish was organized by
Rev. Mr. Fash, succeeded by George L. Foote and
William Atwell in 1847. These two held services
every other Lord’s Day until Easter, 1850. From this
date until Easter, 1854, the Rev. G. H. Nichols, of
Salisbury, ministered to the parish. From Easter,
1854, to Easter, 1855, Rev. H. V. Gardner was the
rector. The Rev. H. 8. Atwater had charge for the
greater part-of the two succeeding years, in connec-
tion with St. Andrew’s Church, Kent.

Since 1858 the following have been in charge:
1860-61, Rev. Clayton Eddy; 1868, William Wil-
liams; 1865, H. C. Stowell; occasionally, C. I. Pot-
ter. In 1871, Rev. Elisha Whittlesey became rector,

 

* Contributed by Rev. H. L. Bodley.

 

and during the six years of his rectorship he rejuve-
nated the whole work and renovated the church
building, making it both comely and comfortable.
In July, 1877, he was succeeded by Rev. Harry L.
Bodley, who is rector at the present time.

Only one of the original signers of the articles of
association remains with the parish, Mr. Oliver P.
Root. The others have died or removed. The pres-
ent wardens are Joseph W. Peet, Senior Warden ;
Miles T. Granger, Junior Warden. The vestrymen are
Watson, Samuel A. Bennett, Jacob B. Harden-
bergh, and Henry G. Williams, Clerk and Treasurer.

 

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The origin of the Methodist Episcopal Church of
Canaan, Conn., should be dated as far back as the
pastorate of Rev. David Phillips, in the year after 1866.
He is properly the founder, though the church build-
ing was not commenced until the year after his removal.
Under the administration of his immediate successor,
Rey. M. R. Lent, the building of the edifice was begun
and completed. It was dedicated on the 16th day of
January, 1868, and cost eleven thousand and fifty
dollars. The present trustees are D. P. Strong, J. S.

‘Corbit, N. C. Ward, E. 8. Roberts, and J. L. Bragg.

The present membership is one hundred and fifteen.

The following is a list of the pastors: Revs. David
Phillips, 1866; Marvin R. Lent, 1867-68; William
Hall, 1869-71; John H. Lane, 1872-74; Robert Hunt,
1875-77; E. H. W. Barden, 1878; W. A. Mackey,
1879-81.

THE CONNECTICUT WESTERN NEWS

was established at Salisbury, July 14, 1871, by Joseph
L. Pease, as a neutral journal devoted to local inter-
ests. In October, 1876, it was moved to North Ca-
naan, as being a better business location in point of
accessibility. The editor and founder, Mr. Pease,
died on July 30, 1878, and his widow retained pro-
prietorship of the paper, intrusting the management
to John Rodemeyer, Jr., until its purchase by the
present owner, Hon. J. B. Hardenbergh, a prominent
lawyer and ex-State senator, which was effected Dec.
1, 1878. The News has a circulation far in excess of
the average country journal, and ranks among’ the
first throughout the county. It publishes each year
a daily edition during the week’s session of camp-
meetings at Pine Grove, in the vicinity of Canaan,
having established the custom in 1877.’

Canaan is a pleasant village, with churches, nunter-
ous stores, two hotels, and a newspaper, and isan im-
portant station on the Housatonic and Connecticut
Western Railroads.

East Canaan is a small hamlet in the eastern part
of the town, and a station on the Connecticut Western
Railroad.

THE NORTH CANAAN SAVINGS BANK

was incorporated in 1872. The first officers were M.
T. Granger, President; F. Watson, James A. Under-
486

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

wood, N.C. Ward, J. W. Peet, Trustees. The present
officers are F. Watson, President; P. C. Cummings,
Vice-President; N. C. Ward, James A. Underwood,
George W. Cowdry, J. W. Peet, Trustees. Amount
of deposits, seventy thousand dollars.

HOUSATONIC LODGE, No. 61, F. AND A. M.,

was organized in May, 1869. The charter members
were William L. Twiss, R. Van Deusen, George H.
Cook, Edward D. Norton, H. Root, 8. CO. Beckley,
J. B. Hardenbergh, J. A. Underwood, C. A. Morris,
H. H. Cogswell, H. J. Mead, Benjamin Benedict, W.
McIntyre, A. E. Yale, S. A. Bennett, Nelson Clark.
The first officers of the lodge were W.M., J. B. Har-
denbergh; S. W., Samuel C. Beckley ; J. W., Hiram
H. Cogswell; Treas., Robert Van Deusen; Sec.,
Theodore F. Watson; 8. D., Samuel A. Bennett; J.
D., P. Kilburn Cogswell; 8. M. C., Henry J. Mead;
J. M. C., Warren McIntyre.

The present officers are as follows: W. M., Henry
J. Mead; 8S. W., William Walter; J..W., H. Macrae ;
Treas., J. A. Underwood; Sec., R. Van Deusen; S.
D., L. Lindsey; J. D., J. F. Homan; 8. 8, D. L.
Peirce; J.§., A. T. Roraback; Tyler, S. Mallory.

MILITARY RECORD.

Canaan responded promptly to the call for troops
during the late Rebellion, and the following is the
list of volunteers :

Rev. James Deane, Isaac F. Daboll (died), William Twiss, Edward D.
Lawrence; Albert P. Briggs, Miles H. Day (died), Amos L. Ives (died),
Edward H. Roys, Samuel 8. Beach, Henry Sims, Sydney Hart, Frank
A, Cummings, P. C. Cummings, Eugene Decker, Philander Em-
mons (died), William Gorman, Bennet Hines, James: Mullen, John
W. Coon (died), Walter D. Hoag, John Lemley, John Rodemyer,
John Carrol, Abram Coons (died), William Linahan, Henry Root
(died), Ensign Butts, Fred Reill, Robert Gardner, Alfred June (died),
William Hart, Heman H. Coons, Charles Long, Neziah Demars,
Patrick McGrath, Thomas Noonan, Edward Morton, Alexander
Waters, Allen B. St. Julin, James Keith, Gen. H. Morgan, Charles
Thompson, John Warner, Samuel T. Rowlson, William H. Morris,
James Linahan, Charles Morris, James Reill, Ira C. Bailey, Burton
B. Everts, John Hillyer, Edward Fuller (died), Jacob Scamerhorn,
James F. Bigelow, surgeon.

Col. David 8. Cowles, a native of the town, son of
Rey. Pitkins Cowles, entered the service as colonel of
the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment New
York State Volunteers, and was killed at the assault
on Port Hudson, May 27, 1863. At the breaking out
of the Rebellion he was a lawyer in Hudson, N. Y.
He was a grandson of Ebenezer Smith, a captain in
the army of the Revolution, a right-hand mau of Gen.
Washington, in whom he reposed so-much confidence
that he placed Maj. Andre after his capture under
his charge.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH,

; WILLIAM BENNETT.
William Bennett, of North Canaan, Conn., is a son
of Samuel and Lydia (Paine) Bennett, and was born
on the farm where he now (1881) resides, in North

 

Canaan, Conn., Dec. 27, 1809. The grandfather of
William was Abijah Bennett, who was born in New
Milford, Litchfield Co., Conn., married Abby ,
and had children, one of whom was Samuel. The
father of Abijah was an early settler in Milford, Conn,,
and a farmer by occupation.

Abijah Bennett was a blacksmith by trade and a
Révolutionary soldier. He settled in Canaan (now
North Canaan), Conn., in April, 1806, with his family,
and continued to reside there till his death.

Samuel Bennett, son of Abijah and Abby Bennett,
was born in New Milford, Conn., Oct. 15, 1778; mar-
ried Lydia, daughter of Barnabas Paine, for his first
wife, and had the following children, viz.: Jarvis
(deceased), Susan (deceased), Harriet (deceased),
wife of J. W. Bostwick, of Syracuse, N. Y.; William,
and Charles F. Mr. Bennett married for his second
wife Falley Griswold, and to them were born one son,
Samuel, an enterprising and respected citizen of
Canaan, Conn., and a soldier, an officer, in the great
civil war. Samuel Bennett, Sr., settled in Canaan,
Conn., in April, 1806, where he owned a very large
tract of good land on the Four Corners, within the
present limits of North Canaan village. He was a
Whig and Republican in politics, and died, October,
1865. His wife died in 1841.

William Bennett received a common-school educa-
tion, supplemented with a few terms at an academy.
He was reared a farmer, which business he has con-
tinued to follow successfully. He has been quite
extensively engaged in buying and selling stock,
which, added to his farming interest, has made him
independent, and justly entitles him to be numbered
among the most prosperous of Canaan’s citizens. He
owns the old homestead, which is beautifully situated.
In politics a Republican.

He has been three times married, his last wife being
Adeline Kellogg, widow of Charles Kellogg, and
daughter of Maj. Peck, of Canaan, Conn. They were
married Jan. 23, 1868.

 

CHAPTER: XLVIII*
PLYMOUTH.

THE settlement of New England dates from the
landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, Mass., in 1620.
The first settlement in Connecticut was made in 1634
and 1685, at Wethersfield, Windsor, and Hartford.
In 1640 people from Hartford came over the moun-
tain, and commenced a settlement at Farmington,
being the first in the State, away from navigable
waters, and before we reach the thread of Plymouth
history.

The original. proprietors of the territory of the
town were the Tunxis or Farmington tribe of In-

 

* Contributed by Rey. E. B. Hillard.
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Doughty, Photographer, Winsted, Conn.
PLYMOUTH.

487

 

dians. As early as 1657 some of the inhabitants of
Farmington, on hunting excursions, had penetrated
the wilderness west as far as the Naugatuck Valley,
and had discovered what they thought to be a mine
of black lead, and applied to the Indian owners for
the right to work it, which right was conveyed to
them by the following deed, which is recorded in fhe
Farmington records:

“This Witnesseth that Wee, Kapaquamp & Querrimus & Mataueage
have sold to William Lewis and Samuel Steele, of ffarmington, A psell or
A trackt of Land called Matetacoke, that is to say, the hill from whence
John Standley & John Andrews: brought the black lead & all the
Land within eight: myle: of that hill: on every side: to dig: & carry
away what they will & To build on yt for ye vse of them that labor there:
& not Otherwise To improve: ye Land In witness whereof wee: have
hereunto Set our: hands: & those: Indians above mentioned must free
the purchasers from all claymes: by any other Indians:

“ Witi1am Lewis,
“SAMUEL STEELE,
“The mark of Kapaquamp,
“The mark of QUERRIMUS,
“The mark of MaTavrAGE.
“Witness: JoHN STFELE.
“febuary: ye 8tb 1657.”

This is believed to be the earliest title of white
men to the region. It embraces the entire territory
of the town of Plymouth, the traditional site of the
lead-mine being a little north of the Harwinton line,
on the east side of the highway running past the
house of Alfred Cleveland, in the woods, about half
a mile back of his house. The marks are still appa-
rent of rock-blasting, which could only have been
for mining purposes. There is a spring which from
time immemorial has borne the name of the Lead-
Mine Spring.

No immediate settlement seems to have resulted
from this discovery. The anticipations of wealth to
be derived from the mine were not realized, and it was
abandoned,—one of the earliest of the many mining
delusions that have left their traces on the New Eng-
land hills, The original settlement of the valley was
begun down the river, at what was first known as Mat-
tawuck, and afterwards as Waterbury. The interval
on which that city stands seems not to have been dis-
covered' by white men till some sixteen years after
the lead-mine deed was given, the first recorded re-
port of it bearing date of Oct. 6, 1678.

At the October session of the General Court in that
year the following petition was presented from twenty-
six citizens of Harwinton :

“ Octobr 9, 73.
“To THE HONORED GENERAL COURT NOW SITTING IN HARTFORD:

“ HonoreD GENTLEMEN AND FatHens,—We, being sensible of our great
need of a comfortable subsistence, doe hereby make our address to your-
selfs In order to the Same, not Questioning your care & faithfulness In
y° premises : also hoping of your freeness’ & readyness to acomidate your
Poor suplicants with yt which Judge to be: In your hands: acording to
an orderly proceeding, we, therefore, whose names are hereafter Inserted
to humbly petition your honors to take cognisance: of our state who
want Land to Labor upon: for our subsistance, & now having found out
8 track at a place called by ye Indians Matitacooke : which we aprihend
may susfetiently acomidate to make a small plantation: we are there-
fore bould hereby to petetion your honors to grant vs y¢ liberty of plant-

ing ye same, with as many others as yt may Le: capable comfortably to
entertain & as for the purchasing of y¢ natives with your alowance we

 

shall take care of: & so not to trouble with farther Inlargements, only
desireing your due consideration & a return by our Loving ffriend John
Lankton.”

This petition to the General Court was based on
the report of a committee of their number whom they
had sent to view the place, which report is as follows:

“We whos names are here under written, partly for our own satis-
faction & for the satisfaction of some others, have been to uiew Matita-
cooke in refarans to a plantation, do judge it capable of the Same.

“Tuomas NEWELL, SR.

“JoHN WARNER, SR.
“RicHarD LEMAR.

“Octtober: the 6: 1673.” ‘

Of the signers of this report, the second, “John
‘Warner, Sr.,” was the ancestor in direct line of the
Warners of Plymouth, being the great-grandfather of
John Warner, the third deacon of the Northern
Church. The third signer, “Richard Lemar,” was
the leader of the first company that went over the
East Mountain from Farmingtgn in 1686, and made
the settlement at the Great Swamp, now Berlin. Of
him the following singular incident is recorded in
the old Farmington Church record, in the handwriting
of Rey. Samuel Hooker, first pastor of the Farming-
ton Church, illustrative of the hardships and perils of
those early times. It is in the form of a note ap-
pended to the entry of the baptism of his daughter :

“On the same day that this child was born, the father, viz., Richard Le-
mar, went early into the woods to look for horses six or seven miles off;
found and followed them homeward, but had liked to have perished ere
he got home; was so feeble that he remembered nothing of coming down
the East Mountain, his sight and memory and strength ina manner gone.
But God, who leadeth the blind in a way that we know not, directed him
to John Norton, Jr., who was thrashing in his barn, and he took him in,
put him to bed, called friends about him, who were diligent in the way
and means for his relieving. After some time spent betwixt hope and
fear as not knowing whether he would die or live—he lay in a sad man-
ner, grating his teeth, and eyes rolled in his head—it pleased God that
he revived and came to rights again. The day in which this followed
was June 8, 1823, a snowy Saturday, especially the latter part of it. Had
the man not been directed home, in all likelihood he had perished in
the wilderness, and perhaps have been so far covered with snow as not
to have been found till wild fowls or beasts had preyed on him.”

In response to the above-named petition, the Gen-
eral Court appointed a committee to view the lands
at ‘“‘Mattatock,” and report “whether it be judged fit
to make a plantation.” This committee reported to
the General Court at the next or May session, de-
scribing favorably the lands, and concluding with the
expression of their “apprehensions that it may ac-
commodate thirty families.” It proved to be equal to
the accommodation of several more than that number.
The committee in their estimate of the capabilities of
the valley took into account only the land, the river
being reckoned an obstruction and a peril rather than
aresource. In the result; Mattatuck, like most of the
manufacturing towns of New England, has been saved,
as was Noah and his family, “by water” rather than
by land. The present population of the city of Water-
bury is upwards of twenty thousand.

The early history of the town»of Waterbury, in
which Plymouth was originally included, has been
fully written and need not be repeated here. Suffice
488

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

it to say that the General Court, upon the report of
its “ viewing” committee, granted the petition of the
Farmington people, authorized “the settling of a
plantation at Mattatuck,” and appointed a committee
“to regulate and order it.” This the committee pro-
ceeded to do. Articles of association and agreement,
bearing date of June 6, 1674, were drawn up and
signed by the proposed settlers. A site was selected
for the village; and after a delay of three years,
caused by the great Indian war of New England,
known as “King Philip’s war,” in 1677, a settlement
was begun.

At the outset the “Grande Committee,” as the com-
mittee of the General Court appointed to superintend
the settlement was called, ordered ‘that, “for benefit
of Christian duties and defense against enemies,” the
inhabitants of the new plantation “should settle near
together.” Accordingly, prior to the year 1700, all
the inhabitants lived in the town centre or its imme-
diate neighborhood. But as the lands at the Centre
were taken up, the new settlers had to find room in
the remoter parts of the town. It is not till 1725 or
1730 that we get trace of settlers in the northern part,
and here the history of Plymouth as a distinct com-
munity begins.

The first settler of the town, so far as known,
was Henry Cook. He came with a family about
1728, and had a farm on the west bank of the river,
not far from the Litchfield boundary. He was the
great-grandson of Henry Cook, of Plymouth, Mass.,
before 1640. He had a grandson, Samuel, who was
one of the last pensioners on the roll of the Revolu-
tionary war, and who lived to be over one hundred
and five years old. John Sutliff appears to have
been the next. settler. He came with a family from
Branford about 1780, and built on the west side of the
river on what is known as the West Branch. These
two men are mentioned in a vote of the town of Can-
terbury, Dec. 14, 1730, providing outside schools,’ as
living at “ Wooster Swamp,” a term by which all the
northern and northwestern part of the town was de-
signated. Mr. Sutliff was a leading man in all the
early history of the new community. After him came
Thomas Blakeslee, Northbury’s first “ captain,” an
office in that day second in rank and honor only to
that of minister ; Isaac Castle, from Westbury ; Bar-
nabas Ford, the chief land-owner, from Wallingford ; “
Gideon Allen, from Guilford; John Humaston, from
North Haven; Ebenezer Richason, from Westbury ;
Lieut. John Bronson, from Canterbury; Samuel
Towner, Ebenezer Elwell; Jonathan Foot, and others.
These were called “up river,” or “northern people,”
by the inhabitants at the centre of the town, and they
soon began to organize as a distinct community.

In all the early New England towns the first move-
ments towards distinct organization were in the direc-
tion of church privileges. The earliest organization
was ecclesiastical. The first public body organized
was the church. The first public building erected’

 

was the meeting-house. The first public officer pro-
vided for was the minister. As an old writer says,—

“In the first Settlement of New England, when the people judged
their number competent to obtain a Minister, they then Surely seated
themselves, but not before, it being as unnatural for a right New Eng-
land man to live without the minister as for a Smith to work his iron
without fire.”

The earliest history of the town, therefore, is the
history of the church. This is true of the early his-
tory of Plymouth. No sooner had the “northern” in-
habitants become numerous and strong enough to do
something independently for themselves than they
began to move for independent religious provision,
independent of the church at the centre of the town,
to which, by law, they were required to pay taxes for
the minister’s support. At first, in 1732, they joined
themselves with the “ northwestern” inhabitants, now’
Watertown, in the endeavor to obtain independent
“winter privileges,’”’—that is, the privilege of hiring a
minister to preach among them during the winter
months, with exemption, during the period, from
parish rates at the Centre. But soon after the settle-
ment west of the river, settlers began to locate on the
hills east, and before long the west-side settlers found
it for their advantage to combine with their east-side
neighbors, and the united sections began to act to-
gether as one community.

In 1734 they opened their campaign for independ-
ence. In October of that year Henry Cook, Ebenezer
Elwell, and Samuel Towner, on the ground of their
living so far from the meeting-house, requested the
town to allow them and others to hire preaching the
ensuing winter, and to abate their parish rates while
they should thus hire. The town curtly voted “to
do nothing in the case.” Two years later, Sept. 27,
1736, Thomas Blakeslee, Henry Cook, Jonathan Cook,
John How, Jonathan Foot, John Sutliff, John Sut-
liff, Jr., Samuel Towner, Samuel Frost, Barnabas
Ford, Ebenezer Elwell, Gideon Allen, Isaac Castle,
Daniel Curtis, and John Humaston, fifteen in number,
united in the following touching appeal to the town:

“To the inhabetance of ye town of Waterbary, convened in town-
meting, Sept. 29, 1736.

“Whair as it is well known to you all that we, whose names are
hearunto affixed, have our place of abode at such a distance from ye
fixed place of publique worship in this town, and that ye circum-
stances of ye way are such as yt it is with difficulty yt we come to ye
house of god at any time of ye year, and especaly in ye winter season is
extreamly dificult and sumtimes wholy imposable, and being much con-
sarned for our poor children, yt they also might have ye opportunity of
atending ye publick worship of god more conveanantly, and nothing
douting of your readiness to shew cindness to us and to our children, we
do therefore hearby pray and ask for yor wilingness consent and appro-
bation, yt al those who live within Bounds hearafter mentioned,—that is
to say, begining at Deep reuer and runing westrly to ye line stated by
ye town for ye northwest society, as may appear of record in Waterbeary,
and from ye said Deep reuer eastwardly to ye north end of John War-
ner’s farm, at hancock’s brook, from thence a northeast line to farming-
town line, and by farmingtown line to ye north end of Waterbary
bounds, and then by ye line of said bounds to lichfeald bounds, and fur-
ther westwardly by lichfeald bounds to ye west branch, may at our own
cost and charg have ye preaching of ye word of ‘life among ourselves in
ye three winter months of desember, ienewary, and febeuary, und be
freed from paing ministeriel charg with ye town for ye said three
PLYMOUTH.

489

 

months (being wiling to pay our proprotien and ministeriel dues for ye
other nine months of ye year), which privilidg to be enjoyed from year
to year, and every year for such term of time as ye honourable generel
asembly in their wisdom and goodness shall grant and determine,
wherby you will much oblige your christian brethren and neibours.”

It would seem that such an appeal must have pre-
vailed. But it did not. The original petition is in
existence in the possession of B. B. Satterlee, Esq.,
through whose favor we are able to present it here.
It is signed by each of the petitioners in their own
handwriting; is inscribed on the back “ Appeal to ye
town.”

“be within petition negatived att a town-meeting in Waterbury,
Sept. 29, 1736.

‘* Attest, Joun SouTHMAYD,

“Town Clerk.”

But the petitioners did not give it up. Indeed, it
seems, from some after action, that the town at this
meeting did take some action in their favor. But
whatever it was, the town either recalled or denied it,
and the privileges asked for were refused. A month
later, Oct. 26, 1786, the request was repeated, in
writing as before, signed by twelve persons, asking
that all living “ within two and a half miles of Bar-
nabas Ford’s new dwelling-house” be allowed the
privilege of hiring a minister for three years three
months in each year,—December, January, and
February,—with exemption from ministerial rates
at the Centre for the time. The town voted to grant
the request. But, as before, either through mis-
understanding or change of views on the part of the
town, the proposed exemption was denied, and the
“up-river” people were back where they were be-
fore. At a town-meeting, the next spring, April
18, 1787, “it was asked whether the said northern
inhabitants shall be exempt from ministerial charge
by the town for so much time as they shall hire a gos-
pel minister among them, in addition to a grant made
them, September 29th,” and an answer was given
by vote in the negative. Still the northern people
did not give it up. Despairing of the consent of the
town, they now, at the May session, 1787, applied by
petition direct to the General Assembly, which in
those days was supreme in affairs of church as well as
State. They state they live “on a tract of land about
five miles square, whereof Barnabas Ford’s dwelling-
house is the centre;” that “the town voted, Sept. 29,
1786, that they might have a minister for three months
for three years, with exemption from ministerial charges
the said term;” that they had supplied a preacher,
and now are obliged to pay rates. They asked winter
privileges, and the usual exemption from taxes. The
petitioners are seventeen in number, the same as
those who signed the petition to the town, on Septem-
ber 29th, except that three new names, those of Amos
Mathews, Ebenezer Richardson, and Phineas Royce,
appear, and Jonathan Cook’s does not. The town re-
sisted the application, and it was denied. At the Oc-
tober session of the same year, however, the petition
was renewed, John Branson, Obadiah Warner, and

 

John Garnsey being new signers, and the General
Assembly granted it, and so the new community scored
one in their effort at independence. The following is
the act of the Assembly, as recorded in the colonial
records:

“Upon the memorial of Henry Cook, Barnabas Ford, and others, in-
habitants of the town of Waterbury, showing to this assembly the diffi-
culty that they lye under in attending the public worship in said town,
& that said town, in their meeting in said Waterbury, Sept. 29t, 1736,
upon application made to them, granted to the memorialists liberty
for themselves & others that should live within two miles and a half of
the dwelling-house of st Barnabas Ford to hire a gospel minister in the
mouths of Dec., Jan., & Feb., with exemption from any ministerial
charges in the town Soc. in said time, & said liberty was granted by said
town for 3 years next after said meeting,—praying this assembly that
the vote of said town might be confirmed with them, &c. Whereupon
the assembly order and enact that during s4 three months granted by the
town of Waterbury io the memorialists in the three years then next en-
suing, the memorialists shall be exempted from paying any charges to
the support of the minister in said tuwn society, provided they maintain
a gospel minister amongst themselves.

: “@roraE WYLLYs, Sec.

“Oct. Session, 1737.”

This act of the General Assembly was the first
charter of the town of Plymouth. It was the first
official recognition of it as a distinct community, and
from it all the rest of its full investment as a town
naturally follows. The dwelling-house of Barnabas
Ford, here specified as the centre and landmark of
the new community, stood on the street leading past
the academy, in what is now Thomaston, on the west .
side of the road, about where the academy stands.
There was a spring of water near it by the roadside,
which doubtless determined the site of the house, as
it did the location of the dwellings of many of the
early settlers, before they had time to dig wells, at
which spring the boys who went to church in later
years on “The Hill” used to drink, as they footed it
back and forth from Thomaston Hill, in the hot sum-
mer days.

Mr. Ford was the first clerk of the society when it
came to be organized, and appears, from the many
deeds bearing his name, to have been an extensive
owner of lands in the vicinity. His body lies in the
old burying-ground (in Thomaston), His tombstone
bears this inscription :

“Here lyeth ye Body of Barnabas Ford; he dyed March ye 10,1746, in
ye 53 year of his age.”

Encouraged by this initial success, the northern
people petitioned the General Assembly atthe next May
session (1788) for exemption from ministerial charges
“for such time only as they had the word dispensed.”
The petitioners represent that they live, the nearest
seven miles, the greater part eight, and many nine or
ten miles from the meeting-house, on the way to which
they were obliged to cross the river, often deep, and
dangerous, nine times. The signers number nineteen.
The names of Jeremiah Peck (afterwards first deacon
of the church), Caleb ‘Thomaston, afterwards one of
the most prominent members of the society, and who
gave the name to Thomaston Hill, and others, ap-
pearing for the first time. This application was de-
490

nied, but at the October session following it was re-
newed, twenty-three signing. They say that the
three years’ privilege which had been granted them
expires the February ensuing, and ask that it may
be extended for two years. They allege that they
have a population of one hundred and thirty-nine ;
that to get to meeting at the town centre they have
to remove bars and open gates at ten different places.

At this time the only road to Waterbury from the
northern quarter was a path through the fields,
guarded by bars and gates between the different in-
closures. The present river road was not constructed
and opened as a public highway till 1802, and was
considered a great undertaking in its time. A cart
bridge—the early settlers had no other vehicles—
was built across the river in Northbury in 1747-48,
the town voting twenty-two pounds in money, old
tender, to be paid when the bridge should be com-
pleted. The last-mentioned petition was granted by
the General Assembly at the October session, 1738.
The following is the act of the Assembly :

“Upon the memorial of John Sutlif and others living in north or north-
eastern part of Waterbury, showing that they live at a great distance from
the publick worship in said town and their difficulty in attending there-
on by reason thereof, and praying for liberty to hire the gospel preached
among them for the space of two years, to be computed from February
next, with exemption from paying ministerial charges to said town for
such time only as they are able to hire the gospel preached among them,

. Resolved, By this Assembly that the memorialists shall thereby have
granted unto them the liberty of hiring the gospel preached among
them for the space of two years, to commence and be computed from
February next, with exemption from paying ministerial charges to said
town for such time only as they hire the gospel preached among them.

“GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.

“October session, 1738.”

This act, it will be noticed, designates the me-
morialists as “living in the north or northeastern
part” of the town. Hitherto it has been north or
northwestern, indicating the movement of the settle-
ment to the east side of the river.

At this session of the General Assembly, October,
1738, the society of Westbury, now Watertown, was
constituted. Already in 1686, at the May session of
the General Court, Waterbury had been invested with
town privileges and given its present name by the fol-
lowing act:

“ This court grants that Mattuck shall be and belong to the county of
Hartford, and the name of the plantation shall for the future be Water-
bury.” May 13, 1686.

Encouraged by their past successes, and influenced
doubtless by the example of Westbury Society, the
northern people the next year (1789) again move on
the General Assembly ; this time to be constituted an
independent ecclesiastical society, with the rights and
privileges of the same. At the October session of
that year they send to the General Assembly, by John
Sutliff and Moses Blakeslee, agents, a memorial repre-
senting that the people are

“ Desirous of being made a society, with the privileges of a society, that
they may settle a gospel minister among them and have God’s Word
preached and ordinances administered; and having prayed suid old so-
ciety in said Waterbury to give them certain bounds, and obtained a vote

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

that the said old society will not oppose them, etc., as by the vote may
appear. Sept. 18, 1739.

“Whereupon the memorialists humbly pray that the honorable As-
sembly would appoint a committee and send them to view their circum-
stances, and state the line between said old society and said inhabitants
and make return,” etc.

Appended to the memorial are the following names:
John Sutliff, William Reddington, Moses Blakeslee,
Amos Mathews, John Bronson, Noah Dangborn, John
Warner, Matthew Reddington, Daniel Potter, Bar-
nabas Ford, Samuel Curtis, Jos. Clark, Jr., Joseph
Clark, Jacob Blakeslee, Henry Cook, Daniel Curtis,
Obadiah Warner, Thomas Blakeslee, Zachariah San-
ford, Gideon Allen, Caleb Humaston, Samuel Frost,
John Garnsey, John How, John Sutliff, Jr., Jeremiah
Peck.

The town, evidently tired of resisting those so de-
termined to be an independent community, makes no
opposition to the application, and it is granted. A
committee of the General Assembly, consisting of
Capt. Thomas Miles, Mr. Stephen Hotchkiss, and
Capt. Jonathan Thompson, all of Wallingford, was
appointed

“To come and view their Circs. and state a line between Said inhab-
itants and the first Society in said Waterbury; to hear fully all parties
concerned on the premises, as well the first Society in said Waterbury

as the said inhabitants living in the northerly parts of said town, and
report to this assembly.”

This committee came and heard the parties, and
decided on the bounds, and on their report to the
General Assembly the following act of incorporation
was passed :

“Whereas upon the memorial of the Northern inhabitants of the town
of W&terbury, in New Haven County, representing to this Assembly
their great distance from the publick worship in said Waterbury, and
praying to become a distinct parish, and for a committee to fix and ascer-
tain their parochial bounds, the Assembly did appoint Messrs. Thomas
Miles, Stephen Hotchkiss, and Joseph Thompson to be a committee to
view the circumstances of said memorialists, to ascertain their parochial
bounds, and to make their report in the premises to this Assembly; aud
whereas the said committee hath now reported to this Assembly that
they, having viewed and duly inquired into the circumstances of the
said inhabitants, do find them able and sufficient to bear parish charges
and become a distinct parish, or Society, within the following limits
(Viz.): Beginning at the North West corner of the First Society in said
Waterbury and the North Easterly corner of Westbury Society at two
White Oak trees known by the name of Two Brothers, then running
South Easterly by the West Branch until it comes into the river; then
by the river until it comes where Spruce Brook emptyeth itself into the
river a little below Upson's Island. Then from the mouth of said brook
a straight line tu the falls of Hancock’s Brook, and from thence a
straight line to the South side of Mr. Noyes’ farm, lying partly on a hill
by the name of Grassy Hill; and from thence a due East line to Farm-
ington line; then North by said Farmington line to Harwinton bounds;
then by Harwinton bounds and Litchfield bounds to the bounds first
mentioned; bounding, South on said Waterbury First Society; East on
Farmington bounds; North, part on Harwinton and part on Litchfield
bounds; and west on said Westbury Society; as by their report on file
dated October 25th, 1739,”

“ Resolved by this Assembly that the said memorialists within the hm-
its above specified and described be and become a separate and distinct
Society, or Parish, and that they shall have and be invested with all the
powers and privileges wherewith other parishes within this colony are
endowed, and shall be known and called by the Parish of Northbury.

“ Oct. session, 1739.

“@E0. WryLbys, Sec.” ,

And so, after four applications to the town, and
five to the General Assembly, the new community at
PLYMOUTH.

last gained its end, and Northbury went on the roll
of the ecclesiastical societies of Connecticut.

The society was thus authorized, but it did not yet
exist. The inhabitants themselves alone could give
it ‘existence. The General Assembly had built the
ship, but left it on the stocks. Those who were to
sail in it alone could launch it. This they proceeded
todo. In accordance with the law for parish action,
three of the inhabitants—viz., John Sutliff, Ebenezer
Richason, and Barnabas Ford—made application to
Thomas Clark, one of the justices of Waterbury, who
issued his warning to those living within the specified
bounds, in the following form:

“ Whereas the law provides that when parishes or any three of the in-
habitants of the society applying to any assistant or justice of the peace,
shall by a warrant by him issued out warn all the inhabitants within
the bounds of the society, &c.

“These are therefore in his majesty’s name to warn each and every
person within the bounds of Waterbury, known as Northbury, the third
society in said Waterbury to attend a society meeting, and have them
elect and choose a moderator and society clerk and other necessary busi-
ness as they shall have need of, to appear upon the 20th of this instant
November, at eight of the clock in the morning, at the house they meet
in. Dated in said Waterbury, this 10th day of November, Anno Domini
1739.

“Signed, per Tos, CLark,

“ Justice of the Peace.
* Joun SUTLIFF,

“ EBENEZER RICHARDSON,
“ BarnaBas Forp,
“Inhabitants of said society.”

In response to this warning, the inhabitants met on
the day designated, and organized the society by the
choice of John Sutliff, Moderator; Barnabas Ford,
Clerk ; and Moses Blakeslee, John Sutliff, and Eben-
ezer Richason, Society Committee. The place where
they met, designated in the warning as “the house
they meet in,’’ was a building.which several of the in-
habitants had built the year before by subscription for
common public uses, and which they jointly owned as
“proprietors.” It stood on a knoll, since leveled,
about in the centre of the park in Thomaston. The
land on which it stood was given by Rev. Mr. South-
mayd, and deeded to John Sutliff, Ebenezer Rich-
ason, John How, Thomas Blakeslee, Barnabas Ford,
and the rest of the inhabitants living within two miles
and a half of Barnabas Ford’s new dwelling-house.

It is described in the deed as “One acre near said |

Ford’s dwelling-house in. Waterbury, on wlfich in-
habitants have already set up a house under the de-
nomination of a said house for the said inhabitants
to meet in to carry on the public worship of God on

the Sabbath.” The building was a very plain one,

and was known in later years as the ‘“ church house.”
The widow of Rey. Luther Hart remembers attend-
ing meeting in it in her girlhood, and that her brother,
on coming home, told one of the family that “he had
been to meeting and it was in a barn.”

The original record of the first meeting of the
society is in existence, with the other early records of
the society. It is in the handwriting of Barnabas
Ford.

 

491

The society thus organized, the next thing was to
choose a minister. This it did not take long to do.
At the meeting at which the society was organized,
after appointing officers and providing for “‘y® cost of
y° commeete.” “Att y® same meeting,” the record
continues, ‘‘ we maid choise of Mr. Saml. todd to be
our minister.” The chvice was by a “ major,” not a
“universal”? vote. The call of the society does not
seem to have been conveyed immediately to Mr.
Todd, as in March following, at a meeting of the so-
ciety, Moses Blakeslee, Jeremiah Peck, and Daniel
Curtis were appointed a committe “carry y° societies
call to Mr. Samuel Todd, in order to reseve his an-
swer.” On this call, Mr. Todd returned the follow-
ing answer:

“ NortHeury, March ye 3, 1739-40.

“Mr. Jeremraw Pecx, Moses Buaster, DaNreL Curtiss, Comita,
having reseeved your call & proposals in behalf of ye sosiate to settle
with you in ye work of ye ministry, & having waid & considered them,
I declare myself willing upon them to settle with them in ye work of yo
ministry, provided they proseed to a regular ordination upon or before

ye eight day of May next, & pray God you may be a blessing to me and
I to you.

“Sami Topp.”

The spelling of this record’ is probably to be cred-
ited to the recording clerk rather than to the minis-
ter. The society, which had adjourned till afternoon
to receive Mr. Todd’s answer, meeting again at half- -
past one, voted: “To prosed in y® ordination of Mr.
Samuel Todd upon y°* 7th day of May next, ensuing
y° date hereof,” and Mr. Jeremiah Peck, Daniel Cur-
tis, John Warner, Moses Blakeslee, and Thomas
Blakeslee were chosen a committee “‘to prosecute y°
design, in order to an ordination.” Accordingly, on
the 7th of May, Mr. Todd was ordained first min-
ister of the northerly society, as by the following rec-
ord entered in the records of the New Haven East
Association : \

“At a Council of Elders & Messengers regularly convened at North-
bury, the third society of Waterbury, May 7, 1740, for the ordination of
Mr. Samuel Todd to the work of the Gospel Ministry there.

“ Elders present,

“The Revd Mess. Samuel Whittlesey, Wallingford.

“The Revd Mess. Samuel Hall, Cheshire.

“The Revd Mess. Isaac Stiles, North Haven.

“The Revd Mess. Mark Leavenworth, Waterbury,

“ Messengers from the churches:

“Mr, Jacob Johnson, Wallingford.

“Mr. John Gailord, Cheshire.

“Deacon Todd, North Haven.

© Timothy Hopkins, Esq., Waterbury.

“Deacon John Warner, Westbury.

“ At which council Mr. Whittlesey was chosen moderator, Mr. Leaven-
worth scribe. Then Mr. Todd was examined and approved. Then voted
that Mr. Hall should preach; Mr. Whittlesey introduce the affair by
taking a vote of the churgh, etc., and also should make the prayer before
the charge and give the charge; that Mr. Stiles should make the prayer
after the charge, and Mr. Leavenworth give the right hand of fellowship.
According to which, Mr. Todd was ordained with imposition of the hands
of the Presbytery.

“Test: Mark Leavenworth, Scribe.”
CHAPTER XLIX.

PLYMOUTH (Continued).

Congregational Church, Plymouth—Congregational Church, Terryville
—St. Peter's Church, Plymouth.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, PLYMOUTH.

_ Tuts church was founded May 17,1740. Mr. Todd,
its first pastor, was born in North Haven, March 6,
1716-17, the seventh child and fifth son of Samuel
and Mary (Tole) Todd, and grandson of Christopher
and Grace Todd, early immigrants to the New Haven
colony. The early records of the North Haven Church
are imperfect, but Mr. Todd doubtless united with it
during the pastorate of Rev. Isaac Stiles, father of
President Stiles, of Yale. His family were of a reli-
gious character, as is proved by preserved relations or
memorials of its members, in the days when each
church member wrote out his or her confession of
faith ; that of his sister Susannah, afterwards wife of
Caleb Humaston, recounts the wickedness of her re-
bellion against God, and how, when awakened to a
sense of her sin, the counsels of Rev. Mr. Stiles and
the death of an aunt were blessed to her conversion.

Mr. Todd graduated at Yale, under President Wil-
liams, in 1784, at the age of seventeen, six of the four-
teen in his class becoming ministers. A lately dis-
covered document shows that he received and rejected
a call to another church before he was ordained at
Northbury, May 7, 1740. Eight months before he
had married Mercy, daughter of Peter Evans, of
Northfield, near New Haven, and he brought her on
a pillion behind him, or on another horse, into this
wilderness, where there was a small, feeble, scattered,
but devoted flock, situated somewhat similar to the
first Pilgrims at Plymouth, Mass. There were only
bridle-paths through the woods then, and the streams
had to be forded, the first cart bridge across the Nau-
gatuck, at Thomaston, not being built till after 1747.
The forests were hardly broken by the scattered clear-
ings, and the impending war with Spain and France
might bring down the Indians at any moment on the
frontier settlements. Within the memory of most of
the settlers they had so descended thirty years before
and killed a man named Hall on Mount Toby, John
Scott and his two boys being captured on Hancox
meadow about that time and carried to Canada; Mrs.
Scott’s own mother, sister, and brother’s family had
been previously slain in the Deerfield massacre in
1704. Even so late as 1722 one Harris had been shot
and scalped by Indians while working in a field at
Litchfield, and in 1780 five houses in that new settle-
ment were surrounded with palisades, while soldiers
guarded the people at their work and Sabbath wor-
ship.

Mr. Todd’s ‘promised home was not begun on his
arrival, and he set up his house on Town Hill, where
the cellar hole is now seen in the lot near Elam

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Fenn’s, and where three old apple-trees are pointed
out as of an orchard set out by him; this was near
his good deacon’s, Moses Blakeslee, who had lately
arrived from New Haven with his fourteen children,
A spring flows near the old cellar hole, where tradi-
tion says Mr. Todd’s first child, little Alathea, was
drowned; Mr. Hillard has found the tombstone of
her sister Lucy, who died June 9, 1752, and an un-
marked grave near it is doubtless the little Alathea’s,
said to be the first person buried there. After two or
three years’ delay, the society built Mr. Todd a house
in Thomaston, which stood at the top of the hill where
Mrs. Williams built later, on the old road running
north, which turned off from the river road at Mr,
Grilley’s corner. One living remembers the house,
afterwards called the old maid’s house, as three maiden
sisters lived there. It is not known how long he lived
there, but he moved on the hill when the church was
there and the people lived here; he had moved before
1746-47, for Barnabas Ford’s will, dated Jan. 27,
1746, disposes of twenty-three acres on Bear Hill which
he had of Mr. Todd, and in the deed of this green,
Dec. 3, 1747, it was described as butting east on Mr.
Todd’s land. His house here was in the garden this
side of Riley Ives’ house, and is remembered by the
old people as the Evans House, where Eli Terry, the
father of clock-making, began housekeeping with one
chair apiece for himself and wife, and one cup and
saucer. Mr. Todd’s second child was Mary, who
married Obed Foot, of this parish, and, on his death,
Rev. Jonathan Leavitt, of Heath, Mass. Mr. Todd
had eleven children, there being two Alatheas and
two Lucys.

The great revival under President Edwards roused
the New England churches from the cold formalism
that grew out of the union of Church and State and
other causes, and Mr. Todd went to study it at Stock-
bridge, probably by the advice of Joseph Bellamy,
settled two years before at Bethlehem, a great friend
of Edwards, and then in the midst of a religious re-
vival, in which every man, woman, and child in the
parish was under more or less religious concern.
When Mr. Todd returned, established prayer-meet-
ings, and labored with souls, many of his congrega-
tion rebelled against him, and abandoned his preach-
ing. There was also temporal trouble. Two years
before the society was organized a building had been
built for public purposes, by subscription, west of the
river, and owned by subscribers, in which the society

-was allowed to meet for public worship. That was

never the society’s meeting-house, for they never
owned it; it was built and owned by proprietors, and
occupied by the society for a time by their consent.
The society’s movement to build a meeting-house was
not caused by their being voted out of this building;
the society, instead, being voted out of it because it
had resolved to build a meeting-house.

The society had been organized Nov. 20, 1789, and
a minister installed May 7, 1740; not satisfied with
PLYMOUTH.

the west-side house, the society voted, Oct. 6, 1740, to
get the Legislature to set a stake for a meeting-house,
as it had none of its own. This was not because, as
Bronson says, the churchmen had obtained a majority
of the votes and took exclusive possession of the house
of worship: A protest of the proprietors of that build-
ing to the Legislature has been found in Mr. Satterlee’s
possession, in which they say that their obligations
to Mr. Todd are as much as they can meet; therefore
they ask that the meeting-house be not built at present,
but that their house be established as the place for
public worship, which is sufficient for the present
wants of the society, and is freely offered for its use.
The protest is dated Oct. 8, 1740, two days after the
vote of the society to build, and is signed by William
Ludington,’ Jonathan Cook, John Sutliff, Sr. and Jr.,
Barnabas Ford, John How, Isaac Castle, Thomas and
Jacob Blasle, Ebenezer Richason, Samuel Jacobs,
Caleb Humaston, Phineas Royce, Daniel Curtiss,
Gideon Allen, Jeremiah Peck, Sr. and Jr., Ebenezer
Elwell, and Samuel Frost. The protest was never
sent to the Legislature, but the next May, John Sutliff,
Barnabas Ford, and John How, on authority of the
proprietors, sent one, saying that they were behind
with Mr. Todd’s settlement and salary, and praying
that further charges respecting a meeting-house be
prevented at present. It is evident that the occupa-
tion of the west-side house was merely temporary and

provisional, the society chancing to be organized there, |

as there was no other public building in the parish
limits; it was not regarded as the meeting-house, nor
did they intend to remain in it permanently. It was
not the society of Wooster Swamp, but of Northbury,
which mainly lay east of the river, where it proceeded
to build as soon as it was in fair working order.

The west-side settlers naturally objected to the
building, because they saw it would be done east of
the river, and they tried to persuade the society to
remain in their school-house. But when they saw
that the society was determined to build and on the
east side, a majority (not of the society, for that would
have controlled it and defeated the project of building
on the eastside) of the proprietors of the west-side house
(eleven of the nineteen) voted the society out of doors
till it should have completed its own house; then this
majority of the proprietors, knowing that the Legisla-
ture would not organize an opposition Congregational
Church west of the river, formed an Episcopal society.
The minority of the proprietors of the west building,
though opposed to building a meeting-house east of
the river, yet remained loyal to the society, and were
its pillars—Jeremiah Peck, first deacon, John Sut-
liff, Sr. and Jr. (the junior being sixth deacon), Caleb
Humaston, and ‘Phineas Royce. The society had its
first home on the hill, and here it has always been,
nor would an Episcopal society have been formed in
Thomaston then if the church had been built there.
The conflict was primarily of locality and only sec-
ondarily of ecclesiastical order.

82

 

493

The secession weakened the society, leaving half
the number to do double the work,—to build Mr.
Todd’s house and a meeting-house; there were only
a handful of members left, and they were poor, just
building their own houses and clearing their farms.
But they did not break down under the heavy burden,
and established the society on firm foundations. But
Mr. Todd’s house was built slowly, and his first year
he gave in twenty pounds of his salary towards it;
but it was finished by December, 1742, for then the
society, turned out of the school-house in the hollow,
voted to meet there part of the year, he having, mean-
while, been living on Town Hill. The disruption of
the society hindered it in building a meeting-house,
and put a temporary end to society meetings and to
its organization. But in May, 1741, in response to
the appeal of John Bronson, Moses and Thomas
Blakeslee, the Legislature directed Benjamin Hall
and Capt. John Riggs, of Derby, to go to Northbury,
warn a suciety meeting, and see that it chose proper
officers. They were also to direct them where and
how long to meet for Sabbath worship, and to see
where and when it was best to build a meeting-house.
At the meeting they warned for June 10, 1741, Joseph
Clark was chosen clerk, Daniel Curtiss collector of
the minister’s rate, and Deacon Moses Blakeslee,
Lieut. John Bronson, and Sergt. John Warner pru-
dential committee to fix a place to build a meeting-
house, and, meanwhile, they were directed to meet in
the west school-house ten months, and in Joseph
Clark’s house in January and February, when it was
difficult for those this side to cross the river.

The society applied to the Legislature for a com-
mittee, as directed, and, notwithstanding the protest
of those on the west side, Capts. John Rogers and John
Fowler were sent to select the meeting-house site at
the society’s expense, and set a stake twenty rods west
of One Pine Swamp, and thirty rods south of the road
running east from the river. The society voted to
build there Dec. 3, 1744, having before this been
turned out of the west side school-house, and meeting
on the Sabbath in the houses of Joseph Clark, Sr.
and Jr., and at Mr. Todd’s seven months, including
winter, on the east side, and five months on the west.
Jan. 9, 1745, it was voted to ask the Legislature for a
tax on the land to help build a meeting-house, and at
a meeting held the next 24th of September, it was
asked to confirm the middle stake, which the court’s
committee had set as its site; it was then requested
that the land tax be not imposed on members of the
Church of England, Barnabas Ford, Thomas and
David Blakeslee having protested against the taxa-
tion of their land. John Warner, the society’s agent
in this matter, represents in his memorial that about
one-third of the society have become Episcopalians,
and at his request the middle stake was made the site
for the church.

The next December Deacon Moses, Blakeslee was
appointed to fix the site of the troublesome building ;
494

at this time they met this side of the river the whole
year, at Caleb Weed’s in March and April, and at
Joseph Clark’s the rest of the time, the latter being
voted twelve shillings in winter, and ten shillings in
warmer weather. The church was not begun in Octo-
ber, 1746, for then it was voted to get and draw tim-
bers for it. December of that year it was voted to
meet each side of the river half the time, in the houses
of Phineas Royce and Caleb Weed. Sept. 22, 1747,
it was voted to allow the people to build Sabbath-day
houses on the green, outside a line drawn by the so-
ciety’s committee; it was also voted to cut and clear
the brush from the green. This green was given the
society for a place of parade, a burying-ground, and
a place to build the church on by the town of Water-
bury, which bought eight rods south of the meeting-
house stake, eighteen rods north, and sixteen rods
west of it, of John Brinsmade, of Milford; he pre-
sented an acre besides, and others gave four-tenths
of an acre, making four acres in all, which was deeded
to the society, through Caleb Humaston, Dec. 3, 1747,
and was described as butting west on Brinsmade’s
land, north on Humaston’s, east on Mr. Todd’s, and
south on the highway, showing that the road ran
there where it does now. In 1825 arbitrators decided
that the green belonged to the society, and the town’s
only right, acquired by usage, was to bury in the
burying-ground. The green was then an alder swamp,
and when the second church was built, it was still so
wet that some wanted the church at the head of the
street, that proud Madam Ballany and Mrs. Wright
might occasionally wet their feet going to meeting, as
more common people had had to do.

The Northbury society grew through much tribu-
lation. First it petitioned the town four times,—in
October, 1734, September 29, and October 26, 1736,
and April 18, 1737, and the Legislature five times,—
in May and October, 1737, May and October, 1738,
and October, 1739. Then it was seven years after the
society was organized before it began to build, and
twenty-two years after that before its meeting-house
was done. It was dignified Dec. 7, 1758, at which
time David Potter gave the society a funeral cloth,
which was kept at Mr. Todd’s. In December, 1761,
it was voted to floor the gallery, and the next Decem-
ber to glaze the house, liberty being then given to
dig a well on the southwest corner of the green. In
December, 1768, a committee was chosen to carry on
work on the meeting-house, and to set a “horse
house” partly on the green and partly on the high-
way. The final vote to complete the meeting-house
was on Dec. 5, 1768, in the third year of Mr. Storrs’
ministry. Mr. Todd never preached in it as finished,
and all through his ministry the burden of it was on
him and his people. This was a struggle on which
the destiny of the society turned, and it made effort
and sacrifice till the work was done. Myr. Todd’s
ministry was full of perplexity and trial, a divided
people, an overwhelmed society, disturbance in church

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD .COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

and State, a depreciated currency, and an increasing’
family. First, he could not get into his house, nor
then into his meeting-house; the people were too
poor to pay his salary, which was often changed, and.
thrice he changed his home. He bore it nobly and
unselfishly, surrendering twenty pounds of his salary
the first year, and in 1745 he offered to give up all
rates and contracts and live on what might be volun-
tarily contributed.

Finally, Feb. 12, 1756, he addresses the people, re-
ferring to the difficulties between them, which he
traces to the trouble of his support, to meet which
he offers to live on what the deacons may gather from
a public contribution taken once in two months at
the close of evening service on the Lord’s day, besides
a grant of the ministry money to him if they please.
The society accepted the offer, and they struggled on
afew years longer. But the case was hopeless, and,
on application, a committee of the Association of New
Haven County,—Daniel Humphrey, John Trumbull,
of Westbury, Benj. Woodbridge, of Woodbridge, and
Mark Leavenworth, of Waterbury, lamented the diffi-
culties and alienations between them and their pastor,
which there was no hope of accommodating, and
which they left with the judge of all the earth for
decision. They recommended that a council be called
to settle the matter or dismiss the pastor, and the lat-
ter was done in August, 1764. Mr. Todd was the
apostle of Plymouth, and did pioneer work and es-

‘tablished the society by wisdom, patience, endurance,

humility, and self-sacrifice. He lived in advance of
his time, believing in revivals, the voluntary support
of the gospel, and the free fellowship of the churches,
and much of the free, advanced character of the later
town is due to the influence of his ministry. He was
expelled from the New Haven Association for assist-
ing at the ordination of Rev. Jonathan Lee, of Salis-
bury, in 1744, on the principles of the Cambridge
platform, but his people did not reject him on that
account. Like Moses he led his people to the border
of the land of promise, but did not enter in himself,
Mr. Storrs coming to find the people united and the’
church built. His last communication to the society
was Dec. 24, 1764, where he acknowledged that his
salary was settled to his full satisfaction. Like other
pastors then, he kept the records of his own ministry
and doubtless carried them away with him, so that
but little is known of the details of his labors.

Research has brought to light in B. B. Satterlee’s
possession the original constitution of the church in
Mr. Todd’s handwriting, the four following rules for
church discipline, creeds, and articles of faith being
then unknown:

“That in order to a person’s admission into the church, there shall be
a major vote of the church then present.

“That a complaint against an offender shall not be esteemed valid be-
fore the person offended hath attended the gospel rule.

“That a minister shall not be obliged to prosecute an offender, before
the person offended brings in the complaint in writing and signed by bis
own hand, with substantial evidence. a
PLYMOUTH.

495

 

“That a Christian who prosecutes his brother in the civil law for an
injury done him, before he hath attended the gospel rule with him, shall
be esteemed an offender and shall be dealt with as such an one.”

After a pastorate of twelve years in Adams, Mass.,
and serving as chaplain in the Revolution, Mr. Todd
died in Oxford, N. H., June 10, 1789, aged seventy
years.

Rev. Andrew Storrs was ordained and installed
Nov. 27, 1765, and died while in office, March 2, 1785,
after a pastorate of nearly twenty years. He was
born in Mansfield, in this State, Dec. 20, 1735, to
Samuel and Mary (Warner) Storrs, and was great-
grandson of the Storrs who came from Nottingham-
shire to Barnstable, Mass., in 1688. The family, was
strongly imbued with Puritan principles, and his
parents were eminently godly persons. Rev. Dr.
Richard Storrs, of Brooklyn, and Judge Storrs, of the
State Supreme Court, are of the same stock. After
alittle more thanayear of preparatory study, doubtless
under Dr. Richard Salter, second pastor at Mansfield
(who fitted young men for college, and at one time took
twenty barrels of cider to pay for tuition), Andrew
entered Yale, Oct. 24, 1757, and graduated with the
class of 1760, so that he must have entered in advance
or gained a class in the course; but little more was
then required to graduate than is necessary now to
enter college. From a diary of his found this spring
in Milton, it transpires that he had poor health, which
interrupted his studies and made him pay repeated
visits to Oblong, west of Sharon, in New York, and

his trips there made him acquainted with this region,

and he probably passed through Northbury. The
year after his graduation Mr. Storrs united with the
Mansfield Church, and was licensed to preach by
Windham Association, May 18, 1762. A year after
he married the widow of Rev. Freegrace Leavitt, of
Somers, who married Dr. Bellamy, of Bethlehem,
after his death.

Mr. Storrs’ diary shows that he preached here first
May 26,1765. In July of that year he made a trip to
Eastern Massachusetts, and received the degreeof A.M.
at Harvard, a proof of his superior scholarship. Dur-
ing the summer of 1765, Mr. Storrs continued preach-
ing here, and on the first Monday in July the society
decided unanimously that they wished him to preach
for them. The first Monday in August they voted to
give him a call to preach the gospel among them as a
probationer, in order for settlement in the work of
the ministry. On the 30th of September the society
gave Mr. Storrs a call to settle, which he accepted.
He brought Mrs. Storrs here on the 20th of Novem-
ber, and the next day was observed as one of public
fasting preparatory to the ordination, which took
place on the 27th; Rev. Messrs. Leavenworth, of
Waterbury, Bartholomew, first pastor at Harwinton,
Newell, of Goshen, Champion, of Litchfield, and Pit-
kin, of Farmington, were present. In personal ap-
pearance Mr. Storrs was large, of commanding pres-
ence and grave and dignified demeanor; though

 

never in robust health, he had a look of strength, and
made a fine appearance in his new leathern breeches,
with buckles at the knees and on his shoes. His
voice was full and powerful, and one remembers that
his grandmother told him he could be heard in the
Sabbath-day houses. A fine marksman, he could
bring down a squirrel from the top of the tallest tree,
and his gun and elaborately marked powder-horn are
still in the possession of the Stoughtons. He was of
a calm and even temperament, and moved serenely
through the Revolution, which his ministry covered.
He built the house where Mr. Kelsy has lately lived,
on land bought of Caleb Humaston, putting it up in
1766. He set out the buttonballs and elms now
standing there.

The only entry on the society records indicative of
the Revolutionary struggle was a vote, Dec. 7, 1778,
in consideration of provision running to an extrava-
gant price, to furnish Mr. Storrs certain articles at
specified prices. In 1774, when Congress resolved on
non-intercourse with Great Britain, Phineas Royce
was moderator of a special town-meeting in Water-
bury, a mark of his prominence. At that meeting
Nathaniel Barnes, Dr. Roger Conant, and Jesse Cur-
tis, of Northbury, were on the committee to see that
no tea, molasses, sugar, coffee, spices, etc., were
brought into town and sold. At another meeting
held January 12th, Stephen Seymour, Randal Evans,
and David Smith, of Northbury, were on a committee
to receive donations contributed for the relief of the
poor in Boston, whose port was then closed by the
British fleet. Northbury sent Deacon Camp, father
of Deacon Camp, lately of Plainville, through the
wilderness of Maine with Arnold, to besiege Quebec
in the winter of 1775. Daniel Rowe, grandfather of
A. Markham on his mother’s side, was at the battle
of Saratoga, and was the first to reach Arnold after
he was wounded. David Smith, who lived where the
Quiet House now is, attained the rank of major, and
when the several Waterbury companies were formed
into a regiment in 1778, Jesse Curtiss, of Northbury,
was major. In the successful campaign in the French
war, too, when Ticonderoga and Crown Point were
taken, Waterbury furnished a company, in which
John Sutliff was lieutenant; in that war Daniel
Potter was ensign, and Asher Blakeslee, Enos Ford,
and others were engaged.

But this parish was a stronghold of Toryism in the
Revolution, a majority of the leading men west of the
river holding fast to their British allegiance. Bitter
enmities were engendered and violent acts committed,
but we are to judge leniently ; the Tories were con-
nected by ties of religious association and support
with the mother-country, and their pastors, sincere
men, taught them that the colonial cause was treason
against government and God, While all the action
against Tories was not justifiable, it was not to be
wondered at as human nature is constituted. A Tory
was hung up till almost dead on the green, and a hook

Ww
4

496

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

was shown in an old tavern, which stood where An-
drew Buel lives, where others were so hung. Devil’s
Lane was near that tavern, and County Sheriff Lord,
of Litchfield, afterwards made arrests there, so that
they said “the Lord came down from Litchfield and
took the devil out of Plymouth,” though he soon re-
turned. One man from this parish was arrested for
high treason, and executed at Hartford, March 19,
1777, though he was honest in his convictions and
offered to voluntarily confine himself to his farm.
This is the only one learned to have been executed
in the colony, and the death penalty against treason
was afterwards repealed. When this man was arrested,
his father offered to furnish hemp for a halter to hang
him with. This was about the middle of Mr. Storrs’
ministry.

March 2, 1785, Mr. Storrs died (and now lies in this
yard), two years after peace had been declared with
Great Britain. Five years before, in 1780, Westbury
and Northbury had been incorporated as a new town,
named Watertown, and transferred to Litchfield
County. These parishes were then the richest part
of Waterbury, the grand lists of the several societies
standing in 1749, Waterbury first, £12,181; West-
bury, £18,427; Northbury, £10,070. One of the
richest men in this society in the early times was
Jeremiah Peck, first deacon, whose property inven-
toried at £3702 when he died in 1752. Earlier than
that Barnabas Ford, the great land-holder, was one of
the wealthy men. He owned all Thomaston when it
“was Fordton, his rule seeming to have been to buy all
land joining his; he bought all Mr. Todd’s land in
the hollow before 1746, as appears by his will.

The only church record of the first five years of
Mr. Storrs’ ministry are three votes,—admitting mem-
bers of the Church of England, in good standing, to
occasional communion, forbidding the pastor to re-
ceive complaints against members, unless presented
in writing and signed by two witnesses, and appoint-
ing Sergt. Jesse Curtis to tune the psalm. The
church had seventy-seven members when Mr. Storrs
began his ministry, and one hundred and seventy-eight
united with it while he was pastor. When Mr. Hart
had been here twenty years, he said of him that the
aged people remembered him with affectionate rever-
ence as a Wise man and faithful pastor. Mr. Hart him-
self had formed a high opinion of his understanding
and heart, and said that he was distinguished by good
sense, wisdom, and prudence. Rev. Mr. Champion,
of Litchfield, preached his funeral discourse, and said
of him that, having lived greatly beloved, he died
equally lamented, and quitted this benighted world to
the inexpressible sorrow of his disconsolate surviving
partner, and to the universal grief of his church and
congregation. He says that he was endowed with
a good natural genius, improved by a liberal educa-
tion, and refined by divine grace. Descended from a
reputable family, his personal appearance was august
and venerable; his eye betokened sensibility, uncom-

 

mon composure, and mildness of temper. Blessed
with a commanding voice, his delivery was graceful,
solemn, and affecting. Sound judgment, singular
prudence, great stability, and Christian candor en-
tered deep into his character.

Besides his pastoral labors, Mr. Storrs fitted many
students for college, and instructed young men for the
ministry, after the custom of the times. Mr. Storrs
had no children, and Oliver Stoughton, a nephew of
his wife, lived with him, doing chores and going to
school. He came into possession of the place on Mr.
Storrs’ death, lived in it during Mr. Waterman’s min-
istry, and sold it to Mr. Hart on his marriage, moving
himself to Town Hill; his son, Andrew Stoughton,
thirteenth deacon of this church, was father of the
late and present deacon of that name.

Some time before Mr. Storrs died he was taken with
a pain in his left side, which extended down to the
foot, as well as to the shoulder and neck and across
the body, contracting the whole left side, so that his
body bent to the left. He was also troubled with a
cough and fever, and could get no relief from phy-
sicians. The course of his disease was so serious that
he desired to have a post-mortem examination of his
body, which was had. The left lung was found con-
tracted to the size of a goose-egg, full of knotty hard
parts, lying in the upper part of the breast, to which
it was fast at the back. The left side of the breast
below it was filled with five pints of watery matter.
The ribs on that side were very brittle and the flesh
hard, and full of horny kernels from the size of a pea
to that of a nutmeg, not connected with one another
or with the bones of the body. One bone of the size
of a chestnut was found in the cavity of the breast,
and the bowels adhered fast to the left side, but no
corrupted matter was found, nor were any of the other
organs of the body apparently affected.

Simon Waterman, the third pastor, here, was born
in Norwich, Jan. 17, 1787, to a family that originally
came from Norwich, in England. He was brought
up in Bozrah, where he doubtless joined the church,
though there are no church records of that time. He
graduated at Yale in the class of 1759, the year before
Mr. Storrs, whose friend he was in college, and who
probably mentioned him to his people as his successor
before he died. The first church in Wallingford
called Mr. Dana, of Harvard, without applying to the
Association for advice or to the Consociation for ordi-
nation. A minority applied to the New Haven Asso-
ciation, which had excommunicated Rev. Messrs,
Todd, Leavenworth, of Waterbury, and Humphreys,
of Derby, and which now excommunicated the Wal-
lingford Church, recognizing the minority as the
church, which called Mr. Waterman as its first and
only pastor. Being unable longer to support him, he
was dismissed May 8, 1787, by his church, which
threw up its organization and returned to its old fel-
lowship, a result which Dr. Bacon regards as to his |
credit, as some men would have exasperated the quar-
PLYMOUTH.

rel and made it incurable. While at Wallingford, in
1774, Mr. Waterman was the first missionary sent out
by the Congregational Association to the back settle-
ments in Vermont and Northern New York, largely
settled from this State. This was the first missionary
movement in the colony, and Mr. Waterman was one
of the first three home missionaries. During his pas-
torate here, in 1797, ‘he went on a similar mission, and
made a third trip to Central New York; thus this
church had an early part in the work of home mis-
sions.

Mr. Waterman was settled here Aug. 29, 1787, the
year the adoption of the federal constitution opened
a new era of consolidated national life. He brought
Eunice, his wife, to whom her father, Benjamin Hall,

a magistrate, had married him July 26, 1764, and six |

children, two having died in Wallingford: Eunice,
who married Dr. Wells, of Berlin, was nineteen;
Amanda, who married Aaron, son of Gen. David Smith,
fourteen; Philomela, who married Maj. Wright’s A
nephew Benjamin, and went to Rome, N. Y., then an |
Indian wilderness, eleven; Mary, who married Gen.
David Smith’s nephew Walter. eight; Simon, six; |
and Joshua, three. It was a pretty family, welcome
in a parish where the minister’s family had been
childless twenty years. Mr. Waterman lived in the
Warner house on South Street, next to Mrs. Smith’s,
and set out the great elms now towering before it.
His home life was pleasant, with happy gatherings of
young folks, with courting in the parlor as the years
went on. Not one of that family is now alive. Mr.
Waterman stood well with the ministers in the State ;
he was considered an able support of orthodoxy, and
the Litchfield County Association regarded it a favor
to receive him asa member. He preached the funeral
sermon of Rev. John Trumbull, of Watertown, and
at Dr. Bellamy’s funeral was assigned the distinction
of walking with his widow. He was dismissed in
1809, and resided here till his death in 1813, three
years after Mr. Hart came here.

Mr. Hart says that Mr. Waterman came here to do
good, and the first Sunday after his installation, the
state of piety being low, the covenant and confession
of faith being read, he prevailed on the members to
stand before the congregation and testify their assent
to it. Mr. Hart says, also, he was a man of active
habits, a good preacher, and truly devoted to the spir-
itual interests of his people, being ready, even at his
advanced age, to discharge parochial duty in fair
weather and foul, by night and day. One powerful
revival occurred during Mr. Waterman’s ministry,
and one or two seasons of less interest. He received
two hundred and twenty members, one hundred and
seventy-one by profession. Of medium height, he
was thin, very straight, of active motions, nervous
temperament, and an excellent horseman; graceful
in bearing, elegant and courtly in manner, a master
of ceremony, he was one of the most stylish of the

 

pastors of this church. He used to walk up the broad

497

aisle bowing and smiling on either side, the people
rising and bowing to him as he passed. Reaching
the pulpit, he first turned and bowed to the bass on

J his right, who filled the front gallery seat on the

south side, and rose to bow in return. This parade
was repeated with the treble in front, and with the
counter and tenor on the left. The dignity and cour-
tesy of this old-time style told with benefit on char-
acter and life. This was carried to excess by the
president of Yale, small in stature but great in dignity,
who, in passing into the chapel between two files of
seniors, ranged outside the door according to custom,
slipped and fell flat on his back in the mud. The
students were overcome with laughter. Rising and
casting a withering glance upon them, the prex burst
out, “Young gentlemen, do you not know how awful
a thing it is to laugh in the presence of God, and
much more in my presence?”

Traditions of Mr. Waterman’s masterly horseman-
ship are numerous, and he made a very fine appearance
on horseback. He rodea sorrel mare, and went “like
a streak,” erect as a ramrod, wearing his three-cornered
hat, and with his pipe in his mouth. He was a true
and high type of the old colonial minister and gentle-
man. His lot was cast here in the stormy political
times of Jefferson and Adams, when the feeling be-
tween Federalists and Republicans divided members
of the same church. Mr. Waterman, in common with
the clergy and most educated men in New England,
feared that the triumph of the infidel Jefferson would
prove the downfall of religion, and his strong expres-
sion exasperated the Jeffersonists in his congregation
and caused trouble. One of them gave him ten dollars
to allow him to publish one of his political sermons,
thinking its strong tone would react on him; but the
publisher would not take it, saying that it was so
strong it could not be answered, and would hurt Jeffer-
son. Some seceded from the congregation on account
of this political preaching, which was then usual. An
election sermon was preached at the time of the State
elections, sometimes when town-meetings were held,
and always on public fasts, when the clergy were al-
lowed and expected to discuss public questions. When
the news of the election of Adams as President and
Jefferson as Vice-President reached Litchfield in 1796,
Rev. Mr. Champion, an intense Federalist, in his
Sunday morning prayer implored the blessing of the
Holy Spirit on the President, and a double portion on
the Vice-President, “‘ for thou knowest, O Lord, that
he needs it.”

The second meeting-house was built during Mr.
Waterman’s ministry, and was a source of trouble.
The vote for a survey to find the middle of the town
was passed March 3, 1783, during the last of Mr. Storrs’
ministry, and it was found to be on Town Hill, where
the stake for the meeting-house was stuck in front of
Nathan Beach’s house. Mr. Storrs’ sickness and death
interfered with building then, but when Mr. Water-
man was settled the enterprise was renewed, though
498

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

there was trouble about the site at first. Jan. 11,
1790, it was finally voted to build the meeting-house
on a rock a little southeast from the house where
Samuel Lewis then lived, at the head of the road
leading from the old meeting-house eastward. The
23d of the next December it was voted to build a
steeple, and the 22d of October, 1792, it was voted to
dispose of the old house; on the 2d of the following
December liberty was granted to erect horse-sheds.
Dee. 7, 1806, a committee was appointed to confer with
Mr. Waterman regarding his uneasiness, with satis-
factory results, for no further trouble was had until
March 16, 1807, when another committee saw him in
reference to a communication of his to the society.
Sept. 25, 1809, it was finally voted to dismiss Mr.
Waterman, and he was dismissed by a Council on the
14th of November, he to retain the whole salary for
that year, and the society to pay him seven hundred
and fifty dollars in three annual installments.

Mr. Waterman died after a short illness, while on a
visit to a bachelor son in New York, who had left
home at the age of fifteen to serve a mercantile ap-
prenticeship with Messrs. Cutler & Smith, in Water-
town, and later in life did business in New Orleans
and New York. Mr. Waterman’s remains were brought
to Plymouth, where his wife had died on the 10th of
the previous March; a son, Simon, having also died
in Berlin on the 7th of the previous September.

The present pastor is Rev. E. B. Hillard.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, TERRYVILLE.

This church was organized Jan. 2, 1838, with the
following members, who had previously been con-
nected with the church at Plymouth: Philo Lewis,
Warren Goodwin, Mrs. Elvira Goodwin, John C.
Lewis, Mrs. Ann P. H. Lewis, Anna D. McKee,
Ezekiel Montague, Mrs. Janett Montague, William
E. McKee, Mrs. Adaline A. McKee, Milo Blakes-
ley, Mrs. Dorcas Blakesley, Daniel Beach, Mrs.
‘Sally Beach, Thaddeus Beach, Frederick H. Kel-
logg, Elam Fenn, Mrs. Lydia Fenn, Sherman Guern-
sey, John A. Warner, Mrs. Semantha Warner, Silas
B. Terry, Mrs. Maria W. Terry, Andrew Fenn, Mrs.
Rhoda Fenn, James Hunter, Hannah Goodwin,
‘Robert Johnson, Mrs. Wealthy Johnson, Linus
Blakesley, Abram S. Hemingway, Mrs. Ora Kim-
‘berly, Mrs. Polly Hemingway, Nathaniel Humiston,
Phineas Hitchcock, Mrs. Patty Hitchcock, David
Atkins, Mrs. Mary Fenn, Mrs. Keturah Fenn, Han-
nah Cook, Eli Terry, Jr., Mrs. Samantha Terry, Ju-
lius P. Bonney, Gaius F. Warner, Mrs. Harriet War-
ner, Eli Curtiss, Mrs. Emeline Perkins, Mrs. Heph-
zibah Cook.

Mr. Charles H. Porter, then a junior in Yale Col-
lege, spent the month of January in the place, and
by the blessing of God upon his labors Christians
were greatly revived, and many persons were hope-
fally converted. Two young ministers—viz., C. S.
Sherman and David Dobie—followed up the labors of

 

Mr. Porter, and in the six months between the organ-
ization of the church and the settlement of the first
pastor thirty-nine persons were added to the mem-
bership by profession of faith in Christ.

Aug. 8, 1838, was a great day with this people. In
the forenoon the completed house of worship was
dedicated, and in the afternoon three young men were
ordained to the gospel ministry, one of whom, Na-
thaniel Richardson, was installed (first) pastor of this
church. The preacher upon this occasion was Rev.
Dr. Noah Porter, of Farmington. The ministry of
Mr. Richardson extended to July 2, 1840. |

Rey. Merrill Richardson was the second pastor. He
came to this field with the experience of a year’s pre-
paratory labor in Salisbury, Vt. He was installed Oct.
27, 1841, and was dismissed July 1, 1846. He was in-
stalled pastor of this church a second time, May 16,
1849, and was dismissed Jan. 18, 1858. His entire
term of service was thirteen and a half years,—a period
nearly three times as long as that of any other pastor
of this church. He died Dec. 12, 1876, being at that
time pastor of the First Congregational Church of
Milford, Mass., and, in accordance with his own de-
sire, his body was brought here for burial.

During the time between the periods of Mr. Rich-
ardson’s labors, Rev. Judson A. Root was nominally
pastor. He was settled Oct. 7, 1846, and dismissed
May 16, 1849; but ill health had incapacitated him
for the performance of the duties of his office after
April 30, 1847, at which time he resigned the pastoral
charge. He continued to decline until his death,
During a portion of the time in which Mr. Root was
pastor, Rev. Samuel J. Andrews was employed as a
supply. He acted in that capacity about six months.

After the last dismissal of Mr. Richardson, Edward
A. Walker, a student from Yale Theological Semi-
nary, supplied the pulpit. In connection with his
labors an extensive revival began, which continued
under the efforts of his successor. There had been an
increase of solemnity in the parish before the depar-
ture of Mr. Richardson, who was confident the church
was on the eve of a revival. Mr. Walker was instru-
mental in the great enlargement of the Sabbath-
school, and in the resuscitation of the female prayer-
meeting.

John Monteith, Jr., was ordained pastor Oct. 27,
1858. His ministry is a memorable era in the history
of the church; a great accession of ‘converts was re-
ceived,—sixty-four in 1858, seven in 1859, four in 1860.

Following upon Mr. Monteith, who was dismissed
July 31, 1860, the dismissal to take effect the first
Sabbath in September, came another minister di-
rectly from a theological seminary, A. Hastings Ross,
who supplied the pulpit for six months.

His successor was Rev. Edwin R. Dimock, whose
labors covered a period of eighteen months.

After Mr. Dimock, Rev. H. H. McFarland sup-
plied for six months, and was succeeded by Rev.
Franklin A. Spencer, who was installed pastor June
PLYMOUTH.

499

 

24, 1863, and was dismissed May 1, 1865. A revival
attended his labors, and upwards of thirty were added
to the church by profession of faith.

Rev. E. M. Wright began labor as acting pastor,
March 11, 1866, and resigned April 17, 1870, broken

down in health and spirit by the sudden death of his

wife.

Henry B. Mead was ordained June 7, 1871, and dis-
missed May 12, 1874, During his ministry there was
an accession of thirty-three by profession of faith.

Rey. Leverett S. Griggs began labor as acting pas-
tor Oct. 25, 1874, and is the present incumbent.

In addition to the foregoing, Rev. A. C. Baldwin
has preached to this people many months in the ag-
gregate.

Of the seventeen ministers named, six have already
cease to live and labor among men, viz.: Messrs.
Porter, Merrill, Richardson, Root, Walker, Dimock,
and Wright.

The following figures exhibit in part the growth of

the church. Starting with a membership of forty-five
in 1888, it had an enrollment Dec. 31, 1850, of one
hundred and twenty-eight; Jan. 1, 1858, one hundred
and forty-nine; Dec. 31, 1860, two hundred and nine-
teen; Dec. 31, 1865, two hundred and thirty-one;
Feb. 1, 1879, two hundred ‘and seventy-seven.
_ During the forty-one years of its existence it has
had the privilege of furnishing four candidates for the
gospel ministry, viz.: Edwin Johnson, lately pastor of
the Second Congregational Church of Bridgeport;
Linus Blakesley, pastor of the First Congregational
Church of Topeka, Kan.; Horace R. Williams, pastor
of the Congregational Church of Almont, Mich.; and
Mosely H. Williams, engaged in the work of the
American Sunday-School Union, Philadelphia.

The Sabbath-school preceded the organization of
the. church, being first. held in the old red. school-
house in 1834, There were four classes, taught by
Milo Blakesley; Philo Lewis, Miss Rhoda Swift (now
Mrs, James. Hunter), and Mrs. Sherman Guernsey.
The session was at-nine o’clock in the morning, giv-
ing an opportunity to attend the morning service at
Plymouth.

After this Bible classes were held at private houses
until the new church edifice was occupied.

From that time until 1857 the school was organized
every year in the spring, and closed in the fall.

There were no records kept during those years, but,
it is remembered that Deacon-Milo Blakesley was first
elected superintendent, followed by Warren Goodwin,
Phinehas Hitchcock, James Edmunds, with Miss
Hannah Goodwin. as assistant, Deacon 8. B. Terry,
with Miss Eliza Bunnell (Mrs. Carpenter) as assistant,
Warren Goodwin, N. C. Boardman, Gaius A. Norton,
and perhaps others, each serving one or more years.
In May, 1857, R. D. H. Allen was elected, and it was
decided in the fall to continue the school through the
winter. The school had numbered about forty in 1845,
and forty-five in 1849, as we learn from private memo-

 

randa. During the revival of 1858, and under the min-
istry of Rev. E. A. Walker, the school received a new
impulse, calling into its membership nearly the entire
congregation. The school was reorganized, R. D. H.
Allen was again elected superintendent, B. 5S. Beach
chorister, which position he has since filled with little
or no intermission, and A. H. Beach was elected sec-
retary, acting also as assistant superintendent, to
which position he was elected in 1859. Mr. Allen
continued to hold the office of superintendent until
February, 1865, with the following assistants: O. D.
Hunter, appointed Oct. 26, 1860; W. H. Scott, Feb. 1,
1863; and A. H. Beach, Feb. 8, 1864. During all
these years Mr. Allen had charge of a class of
young men, and at his request A. H. Beach acted
(perhaps with the exception of one year) as an extra
assistant by relieving him of many of the details of
the superintendent’s office. During one year, also,
Miss Margaret McClintock assisted, having the ar-
rangement and oversight of the younger classes.
Feb. 10, 1865, James C. Mix was chosen superintend-
ent, and M. D. Holcomb assistant. Both having re-
moved from the place, J. P. Crawford was elected su-
perintendent, Oct. 29, 1865, and selected W. H. Scott
for assistant, who has served in that capacity ever
since.

Mr. Crawford was succeeded in 1866 by James
Hunter for five successive years, and he by N. T.
Baldwin for two years. F. W. Mix, appointed in
1873, has held the office until the present time. Since
1858 the numbers on the roll have varied from two
hundred and forty to three hundred and fifty, and the
average attendance from one hundred and thirteen to
two hundred and twenty-eight. Of the entire num-
ber (three hundred and ninety-two) received into the
church by profession since its organization, two
hundred and forty-three were from the Sabbath-
school. The school has succeeded remarkably in re-
taining the interest of our people of every age and
position. It has received the earnest, active co-oper-
ation of our most prominent business men. It has
done much to mould and guide the religious thought
of our community, and has turned the minds of many
to Christ and His salvation.

The house of worship was erected with funds se-
cured by a subscription bearing date Sept. 13, 1837,
which amounted to $3558. A small additional sum
was raised subsequently to complete the building.
The chairman of the building committee was Wyllys
Atwater, and the builder was Riley Scott, who is still a
member of this church.

The parsonage was donated to the ecclesiastical so-
ciety, Aug. 26, 1841, by Eli Terry, Sr.

In 1853, in the periodof the ministry of Rev. Mer-
rill Richardson, an enlargement of the capacity of the
house. of worship became necessary, and the galleries
were introduced, for which the sum of four hundred
and sixty-seven dollars was provided by subscription.

In 1878 the building was raised up and thoroughly
500

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

renovated, and the lecture-room and ladies’ parlor
constructed underneath. The total outlay was some-
thing more than eight thousand dollars, including the
cost of the organ, which was contributed by the Sab-
bath-school. The chairman of the building com-
mittee was O. D. Hunter. Services of rededication
were held Nov. 6, 1878,

The deacons of the church have been as follows:
Milo Blakesley, Eli Curtis, Silas B. Perry, Gaius A.
Norton, R. D. H. Allen, and Ira H. Stoughton.

The present officers of the church are as follows:
Pastor, Leverett S. Griggs; Deacons, R. D. H. Allen,
Tra H. Stoughton; Standing Committee, pastor, dea-
cons, clerk, Sunday-school superintendent, N. Taylor
Baldwin, James Hunter, George H. Plumb ; Sabbath-
school Superintendent, F. W. Mix; Assistant Super-
intendent, Walter H. Scott; Treasurer, Deacon Ira
H. Stoughton; Clerk, W. T. Goodwin.

ST. PETER’S CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1740, in Plymouth
Hollow, now Thomaston, where the first church edi-
fice was erected. . The rectors previous to the war of
the Revolution were Theophilus Morris, James Lyon,
Richard Mansfield, James Scoville, and James Nichols.
The society was reorganized after the Revolution
with the following members: Solomon Collins, Abner
Blakeslee, Titus Barnes, Asher Blakeslee, Eli Blakes-
lee, Hosea Blim, Moses Blakeslee, Samuel Blakeslee,
Philo Bradlee, Amos Bronson, Ebenezer Bradley,
Noah Blakeslee, Jude Blakeslee, Ebenezer Bradley,
Jr., John Brown, Thos. Blakeslee, Joab Camp, Abishai
Castle, Zadok Curtis, Amasa Castle, Ezra Dodge,
Samuel Fenn, Ebenezer Ford, Jesse Fenn, Lemuel
Funcher, Cephas Ford, Barnabas Ford, Isaac Fenn,
Enos Ford, Daniel Ford, Amos Ford, Cornelius
Graves, Benj. Graves, Simeon Graves, Zacheus Howe,
Eliphalet Hartshorn, Eliphalet Hartshorn, Jr., Jesse
Humaston, David Luddington, Zebulon Mosher,
Chancey Moss, Jacob Potter, Samuel Peck, Jr., Sam-
uel Potter, Gideon Seymour, David Shelton, Ezekiel
Sanford, Jr., Abel Sutliff, Jr., Samuel Scoville, Jr.,
Jesse Turner, Wm. Tuttle, Thos. Williams, Eli Wel-
ton, Thos. Way, Ogrius Warner, Thos. Williams, Jr.,
Samuel Way.

After its reorganization, the church to 1792 was
supplied by Ashbel Baldwin, Philo Shelton, Pillotow
Branson, and.Chauncey Prindle.

The present church edifice was erected in 1796, and
consecrated Nov. 2, 1797. The rectors from that
time have been Nathan B. Burgess, Roger Searle,
Rodney Rossiter. After Mr. Rossiter the following
officiated about six months each: Robert W. Harris,
Joseph T. Clark, Gurdon 8, Coit, Norman Pinney,
and Allen C. Morgan.

In 1831, Rev. Dr. Burhans became pastor. His
successors have been as follows: 1887, Rev. Mr. Wa-
ters (supply), Rev. William Watson ; 1851, Rev. Mr.
Denison ; 1854, Rev. A. B. Goodrich ; 1856, Rev. 8. H,

 

Miller; 1859, Rev. Dr. Berry; 1862, Rev. Mr. Lums-
den; 1864, Rev. B. Eastwood; 1869, Rev. Porter
Thomas; 1878, Rev. L. M. Dorman; 1874, Rev. 8,
B. Duffield; 1877, Rev. Mr. Bates; 1879, Rev. J. D.
Gilliland.

There is also an Episcopal Church,—St. Matthew’s,
—located in the northeast part of the town, but has
no settled rector.

CHAPTER L.
PLYMOUTH (Continued).

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.—CIVIL HISTORY.
THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS OF TERRYVILLE*

A SMALL stream rising in the northwestern part of
Terryville still bears the old Indian name, “ Pequa-
buck.” This receives before it leaves the village the
Poland River and a small tributary coming from the
“Old Marsh,” so called. Under this nanie the Pequa-
buck unites with the Farmington River at Farming-
ton, and thence flows into the Connecticut at Windsor:
These three streams have been utilized since the first
settlement of the country for sawing lumber, grinding
grain, and various other local purposes.

In or about the year 1824, Eli Terry (2d) re-
moved from the western part of Plymouth (Thomas-
ton), and built a shop on the Pequabuck, for the
manufacture of clocks, where the shop formerly
owned and occupied by the Lewis Lock Company
now stands, which shop was burned in 1851, and re-
placed by the present one. He was the eldest of
four sons of Eli Terry, who came from Windsor, Comn.;
in 1798, and established the clock business in Ply-
mouth Hollow, then Northbury, now Thomaston.
His father had been thoroughly educated by the best
English clock-makers of the country, and in his ex-
perience of more than thirty years had not only placed
the business on a solid foundation, but made it for
himself a financial success. He trained his three
eldest sons to the same trade, and furnished them
capital to commence, each for himself, in different
parts of the town. Eli Terry (2d) was at this
time about twenty-five years of age, and. evidently
possessed the elements of character which command
success: he was energetic, ambitious, industrious,
and economical.

As this was then only a farming community, he was
under the necessity of providing houses for himself
and his employees. He took great interest in the so-
ciety he gathered around him, and was a man of large
influence for good. The methods of business were
very different from those of the present: It will be
remembered that there were then no railroads to the
market, and goods were carted to the nearest water-
conveyances, and thence shipped to the cities, or they

 

* Contributed by R. D. H, Allen.
4

PLYMOUTH.

501

 

were distributed by peddlers to all parts of the coun-
try. Money was scarce, and a cash trade was the
exception. Many clocks were exchanged for goods
of every kind,—everything that was needed in such a
community,—hence the necessity that the manufac-
turers keep a store for the distribution of these goods.
Sometimes, if shrewd, he thus made two profits, but
perhaps quite as often the skillful manufacturer failed
to be qualified for a merchant, and made a loss instead
of a profit. The peddlers sold at high prices to parties
who would buy and give their notes in payment, and
these notes often proved worthless. The system of
barter, too, extended to the pay of the workmen.
Very little cash did they get, but orders on the store
instead, and at the settlement at the end of the year
for which each one was hired, he received a note for
the balance due. These were the serious drawbacks
to business of every kind at that time.

On the other hand, there were some favorable cir-
cumstances for Mr. Terry. The demand for clocks
was large, only limited by the limited means of the
people who wanted them. They were almost an ar-
ticle of necessity, but the extreme high price at which
they had necessarily been held in the market forbade
their use to those whose means were moderate;
but by the introduction of machinery in place of
hand-labor, and especially by the invention of the
shelf-clock, which had been introduced by the elder
Terry in 1814, they were placed within the means of
alarge class of people of more moderate incomes.
Moreover, by this same reduction in cost the manu-
facturer was placed beyond the reach of foreign com-
petition, while, protected by letters patent, it was
too early to be affected by the home competition.

During the later years of his life Mr. Terry suffered
much from the disease which terminated by his death
in 1841, at the age of forty-two. In his business life
of seventeen years he had accumulated what was
then accounted a handsome property, which was. dis-
tributed to his wife and six children. The clock
business was then sold to Hiram Welton & Co., who
continued it to 1845, when, upon the failure of the
company, caused in part by the failure of a party
whom they had underwritten, the business was closed
out.

-Silas Burnham Terry, a younger brother of Eli
Terry (2d), in 1821 erected a shop for the manufac-
ture of clocks at the confluence of the Pequabuck
and Poland Rivers. He was less a managing man
than his brother, but a man of unusual and varied in-
telligence, a superior mechanic, ingenious, and sur-
passed by no one in his knowledge of the mechanism
of aclock. His brother Henry says of him, in an
obituary notice published by the Waterbury American
of May 80, 1876,—

“After prosecuting the business many years, and making, for the most
Part, costly clocks, struggling through the financial troubles of 1837 and
1839, when most men not firmly established in business and capital were
broken down, he too became a sufferer, yet struggled on until he found

 

no way of emancipation from the burden of debt fastened upon him but
to relinquish a business ndt only not remunerative, but to him dis-
astrous. He had, however, during these years of business adversity in-
troduced new machinery, from which others derived more benefit than
himeelf, and had introduced newly-arranged clocks, which have: since
proved the best in the market. The clock known as the Seth Thomas
Regulator, Nos. 1 and 2, is one. It is a perfect time-keeper, and is as
reliable, even for astronomical purposes, as the more showy clocks cost-
ing ten times as much. The same clock is also made at Winsted, and
by the Waterbury Clock Company. He had also made a new gravity
escapement regulator, of which we propose to speak farther un.”

Farther on, after speaking of the three-legged
gravity escapement invented by E. B. Dennison,
LL.D., and described in a treatise written by him, he
claims that, though different in several respects, the
one invented by his brother antedates the former, and -
says,—

“This regulator, when put in its present locality, was kept running
four years steadily, during which time its rate of running was very per-
fect, requiring the use ot observatory instruments to ascertain the varia-
tion at the end of four years. The perfecting of this gravity escape-
ment we therefore claim as an American invention. It has been run-
ning five years longer than the Westminster clock described in the trear
tise referred to, and may be seen at the late residence of the deceased in
this city.”

About 1852 he invented the “torsion balance clock,”
so called. It was designed for a cheap clock. The
movement was carried by a spring, asin other marine
clocks, but the balance was a flattened wire stretched
from top to bottom of the clock, to which was attached
a horizontal rod or wire with a small ball at each end,
which by their vibrations served to regulate the mo-
tion of the clock, and took the place of the hair-
spring. A joint-stock company was formed for the
manufacture of this clock, and a new factory was built
a short distance below the depot, utilizing the dam
built by Eli Terry, Sr., in the later years of his life,
after he had retired from business. The directors of
this company were James Terry, William E. McKee,
Theodore Terry, and 8. B. Terry. The former was
president and financial manager, and the latter super-
intendent. The clock did not prove a success, owing
to the extreme delicacy of the balance, which ren-
dered it difficult to regulate. Asa consequence the
company relinquished the business. Mr. Terry, how-
ever, always insisted that the difficulties were not in-
superable, and in the later years of his life, when
doing business for himself, contemplated taking it up
again and perfecting it. Many will remember the
clock, and the beauty and delicacy of its movement.
Mr. Terry was afterwards in the employ of William
L. Gilbert, at Winsted, and of the Waterbury Clock
Company, and then, with his sons, organized the Terry
Clock Company, in which he was engaged till near
the time of his death, in May, 1876.

Origin and History of the Eagle Lock Company.—In
1832, Stephen C. Bucknell, a locksmith, came from
England and settled in Watertown. He was taken
under the patronage of a man of small capital, and
commenced the manufacture of cabinet locks. He
proposed to copy the finer qualities of English locks,
and to prepare, as soon as possible, a stock of one
502

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

hundred different varieties for the American market.
As he followed the English methods of hand-labor,
his progress was very slow, and his patron found that
his funds were likely to prove insufficient. He there-
fore sold out to Lewis, McKee & Co., of Terryville, a
company formed for that purpose, and consisting of
John E. Lewis, William E. McKee, and Eli Terry (2d),
then engaged in the clock business. They removed
the concern to Terryville, into a building standing
where the principal works of the Eagle Lock Com-
pany now stand. This building was burned in the
summer of 1859, and replaced by a larger and more
commodious one. The progress of this company was
very slow, as the business was first to be learned and
the facilities were few. The only man who had had
any experience was the Englishman referred to, and
he knew nothing of the wants of the trade or of the
use of machinery. Machinery adapted to clock-
making had been invented and used, but this was,
very little of it, adapted to the making of locks. The
equipment of any manufactory of that day was very
crude as compared with the present, and the income
of this company for many years did not seem to war-
rant any outlay not absolutely necessary. They had
no engine-lathe for many years, and no planer for
nearly thirty years. Their dies were forged by hand,
and faced by hand-files. Hand-presses were used for
cutting out the’ parts. of locks, and the power-press,
invented and first applied here, was not introduced
till a much later period. Lock-plates were imported
with selvages already bent, as they could be bought at
cheaper rates than the raw material.

But the difficulties of manufacturing were by no
means the most serious. When they attempted to
sell their. locks they encountered obstacles still more
formidable. Trade of almost every kind was in the
hands of importers, and they were, or thought they
were, interested to discourage American manufactures,
hence they rudely repulsed the agent or officers of
the company who wished to show up their locks. As
a consequence they found themselves stocked with
goods upon which they could not realize, and could
only work them off slowly through commission houses.
In 1841, Mr. Terry, the president of the company, died,
and the concern was sold to Lewis & Gaylord (John
C. Lewis and Sereno Gaylord) for six cents on the
dollar of the capital stock. They profited by the ex-
perience of their succession, adding new and improved
machinery, introducing styles of goods better suited
to the trade, and gradually overcoming their preju-
dice. In 1849, on the death of Mr. Lewis, the Lewis
Lock Company was formed, a joint-stock company,
whose stock was taken by the surviving partner, the
heirs of Mr. Lewis, and a few others.

In the mean time, Bucknell, McKee & Co. had
started the first manufactory of trunk-locks in this
country. They availed themselves of the experience
gained in making cabinet-locks, but failed to make
the business pay. About 1840 they sold out to War-

 

ren Goodwin, who removed to Wolcottville, was burnt
out, and returned to Terryville. Meanwhile, Williams,
McKee & Co. had commenced the: business anew at
Terryville, where they continued till 1846, when they
were bought out by James Terry—who had just closed

‘out an unsuccessful venture in the manufacture of silk

—and William E. McKee, under.the name of James
Terry & Co. They added to the business the manu-
facture of carpet-bag frames, which they conducted,
principally at Newark, N. J., with no small degree of
success. They also made asmall assortment of cheap
cabinet-locks. '

In 1854 the two companies were consolidated under
the name of Eagle Lock Company, retaining the
former managers and most of the workmen. James
Terry was made president and financial agent, Sereno
Gaylord superintendent of the shop formerly owned
by the Lewis Lock Company, E. L. Gaylord: super-
intendent of the other factory, Joseph H. Adams
secretary, and R. D. H. Allen treasurer. The New-
ark branch was sold to Cornelius Walsh. The capital
stock of the consolidated company was eighty-five
thousand dollars, distributed almost entirely: among
the stockholders of the two former companies. This
stock was increased. from its surplus at six successive
times, to accomplish some desirable new arrangement,
and now stands at three hundred and-seventy thou-
sand dollars. Three times have colonies gone out
from the original hive, but they have all returned, and
are now under one management.

The original directors were James Terry, William
E. McKee, Sereno and Ansel Gaylord, Joseph H. Ad-
ams, E. L. Gaylord, and R. D. H. Allen. The finan-
cial managers have been successively James Terry,
Joseph H. Adams, Nathan G. Miller, R. D. H. Allen,
N. G. Miller, and M. C. Ogden. Of the original
board of directors four have died,.viz.: James Terry,
William E. McKee, Ansel Gaylord, and Joseph H.
Adams; two have removed and -ceased to be stock-
holders, viz.: Sereno and Edward L. Gaylord; and the
remaining two are still on the board, which is rein-
forced by M. C. Ogden, D. C. Wilcox,'N. T. Baldwin,
and F. W. Mix.

The careful management of its first president,
James Terry, fully established its financial footing,
which it has always maintained undoubted: It is
now fully equipped with the best general and special
machinery, and manned by the finest workmen in
their line of work. The variety of goods made is
increasing every year, and embraces everything de-
sirable in cabinet- and trunk-locks, from the very
simplest and cheapest to the most elaborate and .
stylish..

The Malleable-Iron Works.—About 1847, Andrew
Terry, the second son of Eli Terry (2d), built the
foundry a little above the depot for the manufacture
of malleable-iron castings. The business was then
comparatively new in this country, there being but
few establishments of the kind. He had been a mer-
PLYMOUTH.

chant for a few years, and labored. under the disad-
vantage of not being bred to the business of his
choice, and having almost no experience in any kind
of mechanical employment. He was therefore largely
dependent on his employees, who thought their inter-
est lay in secreting from him the little knowledge they
possessed. The processes peculiar to this class of
castings were kept a profound secret by all engaged
in the business, and covered by a variety of intricate
manipulations wearing the veil of mystery, but for
the most part of no importance whatever; hence he
was obliged to keep his eyes open, and learn to dis-
tinguish the true from the false, and to learn by ex-
periments expensive, unsatisfactory, and often dis-
astrous. Though confessedly naturally averse to any
long-continued application to any one line of busi-
ness, he had the determination to win, the pride to
dread the disgrace of failure, and the grit necessary
to succeed. He labored indefatigably in every de-
partment, wormed out the secrets of the business,
established a reputation, secured customers, and put
the business into working order. In 1860 he asso-
ciated with himself O. D. Hunter, who had learned
the business in his employ, and R. D. H. Allen, who
had been in the office of the Eagle Lock Company,
and formed a joint-stock company, having a capital
of sixteen thousand dollars, under the name of An-
drew Terry & Co.

In 1861 he enlisted in the army, leaving the finan-
cial management to Allen, and the superintendency
of the work to O. D. Hunter, and after his return had
little to do with the executive management of the
concern. In 1871, Mr. Terry sold out his interest to
his former partners and went to Kansas. They ad-
mitted N. Taylor Baldwin and J. W. Clark, who (the
latter) had been trained to the business in their em-
ploy. In 1875, R. D. H. Allen returned to the lock
business, and N. T. Baldwin succeeded to the finan-
cial management, which position he still retains.

THe success of the company—for it has been reason-
ably successful—has been largely due to the fact that
ithas been for the most part under the immediate
supervision of its stockholders, who have carefully
watched every department, and kept it entirely under
their control. . It enjoys a good reputation, and has a
fair share of custom.

In 1877, Mr. Terry died, at the age of fifty-three
years, in Bristol, where he had established the gray-
iron business soon after his return from Kansas.

About the year 1862, Eli Terry (3d), youngest son
of Eli Terry (2d), manufactured clock-springs for a
few years in the shop built by S. B. Terry, and, though
‘the business paid reasonably well, sold out to Seth
Thomas Clock Company, who removed it to Thomas-
ton,

Soon after this the Inventors’ Manufacturing Com-
pany, managed by A. C. Felton, of Boston, with
8. W. Valentine resident agent, bought the factory
above mentioned and manufactured shears, but, owing

 

503

to some financial irregularities on the part of the
principal manager, it failed, and was wound up.
Since then the property has been owned by Wm.
Wood, and used for the manufacture of shears, and it
is now partly occupied by Ryals Brothers for that
purpose.

About 1865 the Eagle Bit and Buckle Company was
formed, and occupied the shop built for the clock
business, below the depot, for the manufacture of har-
ness trimmings. They bought and removed here a
Newark concern then in that business; but the time
was unfavorable, as after the close of the war the
United States government threw upon the market an
immense amount of harvess material at ruinous prices,
thus greatly demoralizing the business. The com-
pany, therefore, went out of the business.

The above is a concise history of the principal suc-
cessful and unsuccessful attempts at business in the
village of Terryville, which, we trust, will not be
without interest to the public, giving a lesson of
caution or cheer, as may be needed, to those who
shall come after us.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1795 TO 1882.

1795-98, 1803-5, 1811-12, David Smith; 1799-1801, 1809-11, Daniel Pot-
ter; 1806-8, 1812-13, Lake Potter; 1814, 1816-18, Calvin Butler ;
1815-18, Jacob Hemingway; 1817, Frederick K. Stanley; 1818,
Calvin Butler, Jacob..Hemingway ; 1819, Jacob Hemingway ; 1820,
Gideon Woodruff; 1821-22, Calvin Butler ; 1823-24, Thomas Mitchell;
1825, Elijah Warner, Jr.; 1826-27, Ransom Blakesley; 1828, Calvin
Butler; 1829-30, Samuel Guernsey ; 1831, Elijah Warner, Jr.; 1832,
Silas Hoadley ; 1833, Elijah Warner, Jr.; 1834-36, Eli Potter; 1837,
Silas Hoadley ; 1838-39, Tertius D. Potter; 1840-41, Apollos War-
per; 1842, John S. Warner; 1843, Hermon Welton; 1844, Henry
Terry; 1845, Barnabas W. Root; 1846, Silas B. Terry; 1847-48,
Levi Heaton; 1849, John C. Lewis; 1850, Sereno Gaylord; 1851,
Ammi Giddings; 1842, Edward Thomas; 1853, Silas Hoadley ; 1854,
R. D. H. Allen ; 1855, Lewis F. Grant; 1856, Ammi Giddings ; 1857,
William E. McKee; 1858, Noah A. Norton; 1859, George Lang-
don; 1860, James Terry ; 1861, Hiram Pierce; 1862, S. T. Salisbury ;
1863, Gaius A. Norton; 1864, Seth Thomas; 1865, Henry Sturgiss;
1866, N. Taylor Baldwin ; 1867, Seth Thomas ; 1868, Aaron P. Fenn;
1869, Edward Dailey; 1870, Thomas J. Bradstreet; 1871, L. B. Bald-
win; 1872, N. Taylor Baldwin; 1873, George A. Stoughton; 1874,
R. T. Andrews; 1875, Abijah W. Welton; 1876, Walter H. Scott;
1877, Lyman D. Balwin; 1878, Rollin D. H. Allen; 1879, Lyman
D. Baldwin ; 1880, Jason C. Fenn; 1881, N. Taylor Baldwin.

MILITARY RECORD.*

Peter Jones, Co. G, Ist Cav.; en]. August, 1864; disch, Aug. 2, 1865.
John Allen, Co. H, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 10, 1863; died Sept. 27, 1864.
G. C. Royce, Co. K, Ist Cav., enl. Jan. 4, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.
Henry Bradley, Co. M, Ist Cav.; enl. Dec. 11, 1863; disch. Jan. 11, 1865.
William Clark, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864.

John Gorman, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 17, 1864.

John Garity, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864.

John Lawton, Ist Cav.; en]. May, 1863; disch. May 27, 1863.

John Murphy, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 12, 1864.

S. O’Brien, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864.

J. B. Andrews, 2d Light Bat.; enl. Feb. 20, 1864; disch. Aug. 9, 1865.
M. Carmen, 2d Light Bat.; enl. Feb. 26, 1864.

L. Mallet, 2d Light Bat.; enl. Feb. 23, 1864.

C. A. Blakesley, 1st Art.; en]. July 22, 1861; must. out July 17, 1862.
C. Paterson, Ist Art.; enl. Dec. 13, 1864; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

H. Fraskey, lst Art.; en]. Dec. 6, 1864.

G. Label, 1st Art.; enl. Dec. 6, 1864.

F. Meyer, lst Art.; enl. Dec. 6, 1864.

A. Bunnell, Ist Art.; enl. May 22, 1861; disch. May 21, 1864.

* For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V. -
504

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

M. Aylward, Ist Art.; enl. Nov. 24, 1864; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

H. C. Pond, 1st Art.; enl. Dec. 1, 1863; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

Andrew Terry, Ist Art.; sergeant; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Sept. 23,
1861.

W. B. Ells, Ist Art. ; sergeant; enl. May 23, 1861; ‘pro. to corporal, Co. D,
19th Regt., Aug. 1, 1862.

William Shadwall, 1st Art.; enl, May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

W. B. Atwood, Ist Art.; epl. May 23,1861; pro. to first lieutenant ; must.
out Sept. 25, 1865. .

E. H. Atkins, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

F. L. Grant, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; died Dec. 29, 1861.

W. R. Gurnsey, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; pro. to first lieutenant, Nov.
25, 1865.

E, Joln, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Jan. 29, 1863.

Henry F. Michael, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

Henry Mather, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; killed June 27, 1862.

Riley Marsh, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. ont Sept. 25, 1865.

W. R. Mott, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out May 22, 1864.

C. McElhone, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out May 22, 1864,

L. E. Nichols, lst Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

George D. Oliver, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

Edwin Post, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; pro, to second lieuteuant; res.
1863.

F. L. Pond, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; pro. to second lieutenant; must.
out 1864.

A. J. Seymour, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; died Jan. 1, 1864.

A. B. Smith, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1814.

J. Simpson, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

N. F. Stoughton, 1st Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.

E. P. Smith, 1st Art.; en]. May 23, 1861; died Dec. 10, 1861.

H. PD. Saul, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 6, 1862.

D. Schatzman, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

J. L. Wiltrim, lst Art.; enl. May 23,1861; disch. May 22, 1864.

W. Wright, Ist Art.; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.

O. B. Walter, enl. April 1, 1862; must. out May 10, 1865.

George Rogers, enl. Aug. 17, 1864; must, out Sept. 25, 1865.

M. C. Wedge, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; disch. Jan. 31, 1862.

John Wilson, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 20, 1863.

John Keene, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 22, 1863; must. out July 19, 1865.

John Jones, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 27, 1863; must. out July 19, 1865.

P. Marcus, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1863.

P. Kelley, 5th Regt.; enl. Aug. 28, 1863; must. out. July 19, 1865.

William Hewley, 6th Regt.; enl. Sept. 12, 1861; disch. Jan. 4, 1862.

S. Fenn, 6th Regt.; enl. Sept. 4, 1861; disch. Sept. 3, 1864.

Eugene Atwater, first lieutenant, 6th Regt.; pro. to captain; must. out
Aug. 21, 1865.

E. C. Hine, surgeon, 7th Regt.; com. Sept. 17, 1861.

E. C. Blakesley, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 5, 1861; died Aug. 8, 1863,

C. Pole, 7th Regt.; enl. Nov, 30, 1864; disch. Aug. 18, 1865.

Andrew Perry, 8th Regt.; com. Oct. 5, 1861, major; pro. to lieutenant-
colonel ; res. March 28, 1862.

Lewis Maths, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; captured May 16, 1864.

P. Marhleffety, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865.

William Garvin, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 4, 1864; trans. to navy.

Stephen Nelson, 8th Regt.; enl. Feb. 20, 1864; disch. Dec. 12, 1865.

M. Alfonse, 8th Regt.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865.

Charles H. Dingwell, 8th Regt.; enl. July 11, 1862; trans. to navy.

John Green, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 4, 1861; died Aug. 17, 1862.

Albert Blakeslee, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 4, 1861.

C. W. Alcott, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; must. out Ang. 3, 1865.

John Allen, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; must out Dec. 1, 1862,

D. H. Cowles, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 2, 1861; must. out Oct. 26, 1864.

E. T. Johnson, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 9, 1861; must, out July 3, 1863.

G.T. Scott, Jr., 9th Regt.; pro. to’captain: Oct. 1, 1861; must. out Aug. 3,
1865.

A. L. Smith, 9th Regt.; en]. Oct. 16, 1861; must. out Aug. 3, 1865.

Le Grand Todd, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 9, 1861; died Oct. 1, 1862.

John Conklin, 10th Regt.

William House, 10th Regt.

Charles Lohman, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 21, 1861; must. out Aug. 25, 1865.

George Jones, 10th Regt.; onl. Nov. 18, 1864; must. out Aug, 25, 1865.

T, Bleecher, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 24, 1864; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

Frank Peck, 10th Regt.; enl. Nov. 18, 1864,

P, Quin, 10th Regt.

J. R. Bassett, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 20, 1864; died Jan. 6, 1865,

William Taylor, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 21, 1864; disch, Dec, 21, 1865.

H. Horner, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb, 20, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865,

 

Edward Johnson, 11th Regt. ; en]. Feb. 20, 1864; disch. June 19, 1865,

William Lacy, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 20, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865,

Hiram Griggs, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; disch. April 4, 1863,

J.C. Ryan, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec, 22, 1861; disch. May 24, 1862,

F. Sutliff, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22,1861; died April 11, 1864.

E. R. Weed, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 22,1861; died May 27, 1863.

George Wright, 12th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. Jan. 27, 1863,

M. L. Andrews, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 8, 1862; disch. May 30, 1862, 5

Philo Andrews enl. Jan. 8, 1862; died Dec. 23, 1864.

A. Martinson, Co. D, 2d N. Y. Cav.; enl. Aug. 13, 1861; pro. to second
lieutenant; killed June 7, 1863.

W. A. Bishop, Co. D, 2d N. Y. Cav.; enl. Aug.j21, 1861; died Nov, 28,
1862.

D. Atwater, Co. D, 2d N. Y. Cav.; enl. Aug. 19, 1861; captured Feb. 29,

. 1862.

Erastus Blakeslee, adjutant, lst Cav. ; com. Nov. 26,1861; pro, to colonel;
must. out Oct. 26, 1864.

L. P. Goodwin, major, 1st Cav.; com. Dec, 16, 1864; disch. June 26, 1865;
enl. in Co, A, Oct. 26, 1861.

M. Smith, Co. A, 1st Cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861.

H. M. Beecher, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 19, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1862,

L. H. Dunbar, Co. A, 1st Cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. Feb. 13, 1862,

E. H. French, Co. A, 1st Cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; disch. Aug. 2, 1865,

Charles H. Page, Co. A, 1st Cav.; enl. Dec. 5, 1861; disch. Dec. 5, 1864,

William J. Renfree, Co. A, Ist Cav.; enl. Oct. 26, 1861; re-enl. as veteran
Jan. 1, 1864; disch. Aug. 2, 1865.

S. W. Beranc, Co. D, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 18, 1861; re-enl. U.S. A. Nov. 7,
1862.

Warren Briggs, Co. D, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 21, 1861; missing.

Orvill Bryant, Co. D, 1st Cav.; en]. Nov. 21, 1861.

Ira Hough, Co. E, Ist Cav.; enl. Nov. 24, 1863; died April 6, 1865,

W. W. Smith, 13th Regt.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Sept. 7, 1865.

H. Alexeit, 15th Regt.; enl. Aug. 8, 1864; disch. July 20, 1865.

E. H. Mix, 16th Regt.; captain; com. Aug. 1, 1862; drowned March 7,
1864,

William Cooper, 17th Regt. ; enl. Nov. 17, 1864; disch. July 12, 1865,

A. Walker, 17th Regt.; enl. Nov. 17, 1864; disch. July 12, 1865.

J. Hoyle, 20th Regt.; enl. Aug. 26, 1863; disch. July 12, 1865.

H. Adams, 25th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863.

A. A. Curtis, 25th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863.

H. D. Huut, 25th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863.

C. W. Hurlburt, 25th Regt.; en]. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863.

H. D. Saul, 25th Regt.; enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch. Aug. 26, 1863.

George Johnson, 29th Regt.; enl. Feb. 8, 1864; died April 18, 1865.

Jesse King, 29th Regt.; enl. Feb. 11, 1864.

T. Mott, 29th Regt.; enl. Feb. 9, 1864; disch. Nov. 7, 1865.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

JAMES TERRY.

James Terry, son of Eli Terry (2d), and grandson
of Eli Terry, was born July 5, 1828, in Plymouth
Hollow (now Thomaston), Conn., where his father
and grandfather then resided. His grandfather came
from Windsor, Conn., in his early manhood, and
established the manufacture of clocks, by which he
acquired a large property and laid the foundation for
an extensive business in that place, as well as else-
where. He was the inventor and patentee of the
mantel clock, as distinguished from the tall corner
clock of our forefathers. He had very little capital,
and his first thousand dollars, which he soon made
from the improvement, was a perfect surprise to him.
He said he didn’t know “what to do with it.’ He
soon learned its use, however. He was a man of
intelligence, having a vigorous mind, public-spirited,
 
PLYMOUTH.

and much interested in the welfare of the community
in which he lived. He removed to Terryville late in

life, 1888; subscribed liberally for the building of the

church in Terryville, and added to his subscription,
“Tf my health will permit, a clock for the steeple.”
This he was able to complete and present to the so-
ciety, as well as a large and commodious parsonage
which he built for it.

He was twice married. By his first marriage he
had four sons and three daughters. Three of the
sons were settled and engaged in the clock business
in Plymouth, two—Eli and Silas B.—in the village of
Terryville. The fourth is a patent broker in New
Haven, making a specialty of patents for chemical
inventions. His first wife dying in 1839, he married
the second time, and had two children,—Stephen, who
is a lawyer in Hartford, and Edwin, who died at the
age of thirteen years in Terryville. Eli Terry died
in 1852, at the age of eighty years.

His son, Eli Terry (2d), was born in Plymouth,
and removed to Terryville not long after the birth of
his son James, and commenced the manufacture of
clocks, which he continued with success till his death.
‘He was the founder of the village of Terryville, and
built many of its houses in its early days, and it was
named for him. He was an active member of the
church on Plymouth Hill till 1838, when the church
was organized in Terryville. In this he was very
much interested, and for its welfare had great anxiety.
He assisted in building the church by liberal con-
tributions, and was very liberal in its support. He
was a thorough business man, and left a handsome
property to his children. He died in 1841, at the age
of forty-two years. He married Samantha McKee,
a native of Bristol, Conn., and left a family of six
children,—three sons and three daughters,—of whom
the oldest was James, the subject of this sketch.

James received his education at the common schools
of the town, supplemented by two or three years at
the select school of Mr. Simon Hart, of Farmington,
Conn., for whom he always entertained the highest
regard. He made diligent use of his opportunities.
He was never a lover of the sports and games of boy-
hood, and seldom engaged in them. It would prob-
ably have been better for him if he had. He applied
all the energies of his active mind to the acquisition
of knowledge in the direction of his business or his
tastes. His general information was good, and in-
creased both by his reading and his intercourse with
men of education and culture. He had a remarkable
faculty of eliciting from others what information they
could give him on any question of interest, often
taking, with much apparent zeal and sincerity, what
he knew to be the wrong side of an argument for the
sake of informing himself more fully on the subject-
matter of his thoughts. Though somewhat brusque
in manner, and decided and outspoken in his opin-
ions, he seldom failed in gaining the respect and
esteem of those with whom he came in contact, which

 

505

was sure to increase with increasing acquaintance.
His reading, aside from the papers of the day, was
mostly confined to scientific works in the line of the
absorbing subject of his thoughts. His method of in-
vestigation was exhaustive. He confined himself to
a certain line of investigation till he had exhausted
his sources of information, which were somewhat
limited by the deficiencies of his early education. His
researches were not confined to his business. He was
fond of music, though not himself a musician in any
department. In pursuance of this taste, he read up
on the subject of pipe-organs, which were his favorite
instruments, and about the beginning of the war of
the Rebellion he ordered a large and expensive one
made for him by a competent maker, and he had so
informed himself that he could give clear specifica-
tions of what he wanted, and had it made by con-
tract; at the same time he had an addition made to
his house for it,—a room sufficiently high to take in
the sixteen-feet pipes. To this he added a water-
motor, carried by water from the service-pipes of his
house.

In this connection, as incidentally illustrating an-
other characteristic of his nature, when he found that
the contractor for his organ, who was a poor man,
had taken the contract at a ruinous rate,—a fact
which he ascertained only by diligent inquiry,—he,
to the unspeakable relief of the poor man, assured
him that he should be fully remunerated for all his
time and expense, which proved to be nearly a thou-
sand dollars more than the price contracted.

Mr. Terry was trained to habits of business in his
early life, to which he was naturally by, no means
disinclined. His father’s health was such during his
later years that he needed his assistance, and he was
left, before the age of eighteen years, to settle his
father’s estate, with the aid of his uncle, William E.
McKee. He had learned the art of land surveying
in his school-days, which was valuable to him in lay-
ing out and selling the lands which his father had
left.

He was much interested, too, in steam-engines, par-
ticularly in their application to travel on our common
roads, and he built a working model of one that would
walk on four legs like a horse. He also built a sta-
tionary engine of some ten horse-power, which was
used for some years to carry on the works of the lock-
factory of S. Terry & Co. His father, in his later
years, had turned his attention to the raising of silk-
worms, and had in mind to commence the manufac-
ture of silk. James, in pursuance of this plan, put
up a factory, and made a commencement of the busi-
ness, which, not proving remunerative, he soon aban-
doned.

In 1846 he formed a copartnership with his uncle,
William E. McKee, under the name of James Terry
& Co., for the manufacture of locks. They purchased
the trunk: lock business of Williams, McKee & Co.,
of Terryville, and added to it, little by little, the
506

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

manufacture of cabinet-locks, in competition with

Lewis & Gaylord, who had succeeded to that business '

on the death of Eli Terry (2d). They also made
carpet-bag locks and frames, the former at Terryville,
and the latter, after a short time, at Newark, N. J.
This latter business proved quite profitable, and put
the concern on a good financial footing.

In 1854 the competing concerns united their inter-
ests under the name of the Eagle Lock Company, a
joint-stock company with a capital of eighty-five
thousand dollars, of which James Terry was made
president and financial manager. The capital was
afterwards increased to one hundred thousand dol-
lars, where it remained till after his death. Suffice
it to say that its success in the years that have fol-
lowed is largely due to the wise and prudential man-
agement of Mr. Terry in its beginning.

The prominent characteristics of Mr. Terry as a
business man were strict’ honesty, method, caution
almost extreme, and untiring diligence, united with
that indefinable but very important qualification which
we call tact.

His sterling honesty and justice showed itself in his
dealings with his employees. They knew he could be
depended upon to fulfill all his agreements, and to give
them what he thought was a fair remuneration for
their labor. He was a man, to use a homely but ex-
pressive phrase, that “you could tie to.” He de-
spised trickery and underhanded dealing, and took no
advantage of these arts. He was, nevertheless, shrewd
in the sense of foreseeing and keenly discerning the
results of his doings, and not allowing himself to be
overreached in any business transaction. He pur-
sued a uniform method in his daily duties, and nothing
was left at loose ends or neglected because he had
overlooked it. His supervision extended to every de-
tail of the business, and nothing escaped his eye.

In his caution he attempted nothing that he could
not reasonably anticipate the means of carrying out.
In those early days business was done largely on
credit, very few concerns having the capital to invest
in uncertain speculations, or even to follow their
legitifmate business to its best results. Unlike many,
he preferred to defer even desirable improvements till
they could be undertaken with reasonable safety.

The years 1857 and 1858 were very trying ones, as
the panic following the failure of the Ohio Life and
Trust Company found most houses deeply involved
and the wheels of business completely blocked. This
naturally gave Mr. Terry no little anxiety, but he had
the confidence of the community and of the banks,
and weathered the panic with very little loss to the
company. The men were allowed to continue their
work on short time, trusting to the future for their
pay, and they were not disappointed, and the company
was able in a few months to sell advantageously the
goods that would not have been made except for the
benefit of the laboring men.

Mr. Terry was a very diligent man, putting in an

 

appearance at the office at the stroke of the bell, and
continuing at his work, with the exception of short
intervals for his meals, into the evening, when he
looked over the night mails and read his daily paper,
Undoubtedly this unceasing application to business
shortened his life, as he took no time for recreation,
and the constant strain broke down his system before
he knew it, and led to the terrible disease which ended
his days.

In politics Mr. Terry was a Republican, and repre-
sented his town in the State Legislature. He was
twice married, first to Elizabeth Hollister, of Glas-
tonbury, by whom he had four children,—Jane, Mary,
E. Clinton, and one who died in infancy,—all of
whom were born in Terryville. Mrs. Terry died in
1852, and he married for his second wife Valeria,
daughter of William Treat, Oct. 20, 1858. By this
union three children were born,—Lerria F., who died
at the age of eleven years; Nellie, who resides with
her mother in Terryville; and an infant.

Mrs. Valeria Terry was born in Euclid, Ohio. Her
father was a native of Glastonbury, Conn., and went
to Ohio when a young man, where he was engaged as
a farmer, and more especially as a ship-builder. He
died at his residence at Topeka, Kan., at the age of
seventy-seven years.

Mr. Terry was a member of the Congregational
Church in Terryville. He was very liberal to the
church, and charitable to the poor. He was consid-
ered one of the best business men in his town, and
his judgment was always sought on matters of public
interest. He died April 19, 1871, of paralysis, from
which he had long been suffering.

ANDREW TERRY.

Andrew Terry was born in Terryville, Conn., Dec.
29, 1824, at the old homestead, still standing, on the
south side of the road, west of the upper lock-shop.
He was the second son of Eli Terry, Jr., and Samantha
McKee. At the famous boys’ school kept by Deacon
Hart, in Farmington, Conn., he pursued classical
studies almost to the point required for entering col-
lege. Soon after his father’s death, and before be-
coming of age, he went to Washington, Pa., and
became clerk in a store. In that place he made the
acquaintance of Susan Orr, whom he married Oct. 16,
1844, and who is still living. They had two children,
—Gertrude, who died April 10, 1856, and Margaret,
who married C. 8. Treadway, cashier of the Bristol
National Bank, and died Sept. 17, 1880.

Returning to Terryville immediately after his mar-
riage, he established himself as a country merchant
in “the store,” which all Terryville boys remember,
and remained there for two years.

Noy. 24, 1847, the first ground was broken for a
foundry for the manufacture of malleable iron. The
business was then new to this part of the country, and
the difficulties to be surmounted were very great. By
 

tent
 
PLYMOUTH. .

his energy and courage the obstacles arising from lim-
ited capital and inexperience were overcome, and the
business was established on a paying basis. He con-
tinued the same under his own name until Feb. 2,
1860, when a joint-stock corporation was formed, to
which his name was given, and of which he contin-
ued as president and principal owner until April 26,
1871, when he disposed of his entire interest therein.
The business is still carried on under the old name of
A. Terry & Co.

In 1868, Mr. Terry removed to Waterbury, still
continuing to give his attention to the Terryville
business. In the summer of 1871 he took up his res-
idence in Lawrence, Kan., where he engaged in
private banking and real estate operations. Remov-
ing to Bristol, Conn., in July, 1875, in connection
with G. J. Bently, ihe entareive known as the Bristol
Foundry Company was organized in the summer of
1876, and Mr. Terry was actively engaged in it until
his last sickness.

As a citizen he realized his responsibilities, and
tried to discharge.them faithfully. Upon all ques-
tions of public policy he held decided opinions, and
did not hesitate to express them. Office he never
cared for. When the civil war broke out he gave
his time, money, heart, and body to the support of
the government. He enlisted as a private in Com-
pany I, First Regiment Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
and went out as orderly sergeant. A severe illness
rendered him unfit for duty, and he received his dis-
charge, for disability, Sept. 23,1861. On the 5th of
October he was commissioned as major of the Eighth
Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and was soon pro-
moted to the lieutenant-colonelcy. He took part in
Gen. Burnside’s expedition to North Carolina, and
participated in the capture of Roanoke Island, and in
the battle of Newbern. His commission was resigned
March 28, 1862. In the list of those uniting with
the Congregational Church in Terryville in 1842 oc-
curs the name of Andrew Terry ; he was then eighteen
years of age. In 1868 he removed his connection
to the Second Congregational Church in Water-
bury. On his removal to Kansas, he took a letter of
recommendation to the Plymouth Congregational
Church in Lawrence. A marked era, in his religious
life began with the death of his little daughter Ger-
trude. The revival of 1857-58, which brought “all
Terryville” into the church, found a most helpful la-
borer in him. He was not only active in the prayer-
meeting, but held personal conversation with individ-
uals, the result of which will only be known in eter-
nity. He taught a class of boys in the Sunday-
school, and had the pleasure of seeing nearly every
one brought to Christ. At Allentown a mission Sun-
day-school was sustained for a considerable time under
his superintendency, with very encouraging results.
‘Theological. questions then had for him a fascinating
interest; late into the night he would talk with
ministers and others interested in such thinking. His

 

507

library was well selected and well read. Many min-
isters shared the hospitality of his home, and were
assisted by him in substantial ways. Among the
number were the Rey. M. H. Williams, of Philadel-

phia, and the Rey. J. C. McClintock, of Burlington,
Iowa,

AUGUSTUS C. SHELTON.

Augustus Canby Shelton, the founder and senior
member of the firm of Shelton & Tuttle, carriage man-
ufacturers in the town of Plymouth, Conn., was born
in Plymouth, Feb. 7, 1816, and died in that town,
Aug. 27, 1880, at the age of sixty-four years.

He was of the fifth generation in descent from
Daniel Shelton, the founder of the New England
branch of the family, who came to this country from
England about 1687, and settled in Stratford, now
Huntington, in this State. The original home of the
Shelton family was Norfolk, England. In 1504, Sir
John Shelton, Knight of the Bath, was high sheriff of
Norfolk and Suffolk. His son John served in the
same office, which was also held in 1570 by Sir Ralph
Shelton. At an earlier date the family was distin-
guished, Sir Ralph de Shelton having been knighted
at the battle of Cressy in 1346, and Nicholas De Shel-
ton being one of the barons who rebelled against King
John and wrested from him “ Magna Charta.”

In the village of Shelton, Norfolk Co., England,
there is‘an old church with the remains of stained
glass windows, on which were blazoned the ‘heraldic
tokens signifying that one of the race had been a pil-
grim to the Holy Land., One of the family accompa-
nied the Prince of Orange in his invasion, being a
captain in the army which he led against James IL,
and was at the battle of the Boyne, July 1, 1690.

Daniel, the original ancestor of the New England
families bearing the Shelton name, came from the
town of Rippon, Derbyshire Co., England, from which
town the parish of Rippon took its name. He is
described in the Stratford records as ‘ merchant.”
His tombstone bears the inscription, “Saint Daniel
Shelton.” He was an extensive land proprietor, own-
ing large tracts of land in Stratford, Stamford, Far-
mington, Oxford, Woodbury, Darien, Rippon, and
Derby.

He was one of the non-resident proprietors of Wa-
terbury, as appears by the grant of Governor Sal-
tonstall, bearing date of Oct. 28,1720. He had nine
children, seven sons and two daughters. His fourth
son, Samuel, was born in 1704. He had fourteen
children, éight sons and six daughters. His third son,
Daniel, was born June 16,1741. He had nine chil-
dren, five sons and four daughters. His fourth son,
Joseph, was born Oct. 20, 1788. He had eleven chil-
dren, five sons and six daughters. Of these sons
Augustus Canby was the second, being the fourth
child. His middle name he took from his mother,
whose maiden name was Martha Canby.
508

The original proprietor of the Shelton estate in
what is now the town of Plymouth was David Shel-
ton, the grandson of the original Daniel, and the
grandfather of Augustus C. His estate lay in what is
now called Todd Hollow, and was an extensive one,
comprising some three thousand acres. He also
owned land in Stamford and Kent.

Joseph Shelton, the father of Augustus, was a mer-
chant and farmer. Augustus’ early years were passed
on his father’s farm, where he acquired those habits
of industry which characterized him through life.
At the usual age he went to Harwinton to learn the
trade of wheelwright, serving his time there with Lewis
Smith. From there he went to New Haven, where
he worked three years in the carriage establishment
of George Hoadley. He then returned to Plymouth,
and in 1887 entered upon the business of carriage-
making on his own account. For the first three years
he worked in a small building now occupied as a
dwelling-house. He then erected the first building
of the present establishment, which is now the engine-
room. In 1843 the building in which the office is
was built.

At that time the trade was mainly Southern. In
1855, Mr. Shelton took in as partner Mr. Byron Tut-
tle. For several years the business was prosperous.
For six years all the carriages made by the firm went
West. The Southern business was broken up by the
war, while the Western trade was improved. This
continued till 1868, when the business began-to wane,
and in 1870 the company sold out the Chicago estab-
lishment, and the partnership, so far as the business
of manufacturing was concerned, was dissolved, the
partners still holding the property together. From
that time till his death Mr. Shelton carried on the
business in a limited way.

Mr. Shelton was married, Nov. 19, 1858, to Ellen A.
Crook. His children are John Canby, born May 14,
1860, died Sept. 18, 1860; Mary Jane, born Sept.
29, 1862; Frances Pauline, born June 9, 1865; Ellen
Augusta, born May 20, 1870; Milla Canby, born Aug.
6, 1876.

The immediate occasion of Mr. Shelton’s death was
a slight wound in the finger, the inflammation of
which proved fatal. His death was unexpected, and
gave a great shock to the community, where he had
been regarded as yet in the fullness of health and
strength. In character Mr. Shelton was a man whom
all who knew him admired and loved. He was up-
right in business, honorable in spirit, of great indus-
try and perseverance, never surrendering a purpose
once formed, but by persistent endeavor carrying it
into execution. Positive yet candid, not to be co-
erced by argument, but yielding finally to the force
of just considerations, not as quick in making up his
mind as some, but coming to right conclusions with
time for reflection, industrious and successful, he
was a man of an eminently generous spirit, living not
to himself but to aid others, responding cheerfully to

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

all worthy appeals; a friend of the poor, and thor-
oughly enjoying doing good, he was a man who
thanked you for bringing to him a subscription-paper
for a worthy object, as though you had done him a
favor.

He was interested in the public welfare, though he
declined public office. All the interests of the villages
where he lived found in him a friend, and in the parish
with which he was connected he was the main stay,
He had a tender heart towards children, and not long
before his death gave the schools in the village, at his
own expense,acommonride. In his home he was most
loving and kind, both as a husband and a father, and
his death leaves there a group of deeply mourning
hearts. The life of such a man is not only an honor
to himself, it elevates and ennobles the idea of life
in those who witness it, and the memory of it relieves
the gloom of death.

Such a life does not end in death; in its influence
it lives on after death, inspiring those who survive it
to strive to imitate it.

BYRON TUTTLE.

The Tuttle family came from Devonshire, England,
and were probably of Welsh descent. In 1528, and
again in 1548, William Totyl was recorder of the
ancient city of Exeter, the capital of Devonshire, and
then the second city in England, beimg next to Lon-
don in population and importance. William Totyl
was high sheriff of Devonshire in 1549, and lord
mayor of Exeter in 1552. William Totyl had a son
Jeffrey, who was recorder in 1563. Jeffrey Totyl
bought a fine estate, called “ Pearmore,” in the neigh-
borhood of Exeter. This estate had belonged to
Gray, Duke of Sussex, who was executed for treason,
and his estate confiscated by the crown, of whom
Jeffrey bought it. Jeffrey had a son, Henry Tottle,
who was high sheriff in 1624, and from him William
Tuttle and three brothers descended. William Tuttle
and his three brothers came to America in the ship
“Planter,” and landed in Boston in 1685. The bro-
thers were Richard, who settled in Boston; John, in
Dover, N. H.; Simon, in Ipswich, Mass.; and Wil-
liam, removed to New Haven in 1639, and was a man
of wealth and consequence, and much employed in
public affairs. William Tuttle married Elizabeth
, in England, and had twelve children, eight
sons and four daughters. Elizabeth Tuttle, daughter
of William, married Richard Edwards, and had five
daughters and one son, Rev. Timothy Edwards,
D.D., minister at Windsor, Conn., sixty-four years.
Rev. Timothy Edwards had ten daughters and ove
son, viz., the famous Jonathan Edwards, president
of Princeton College. He had eight daughters and
three sons,—Pierpont, Hon. Timothy, and Rev. Jon-
athan, president of Union College, Schenectady,
N.Y. The eldest of Rey. Jonathan Edwards’ eight
daughters was Esther, who married Rev. Aaron Burr,

 
 

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Photographer, Wolcottville, Conn.

F. 0. Hills,
PLYMOUTH.

president of Princeton College, and was the mother
of Aaron Burr, Vice-President of the United States,
and the mother of Sarah Burr, who married Tapping
Reeves, afterwards judge of the Supreme Court of
Connecticut. A daughter of Tapping Reeves married
Timothy Dwight, and is the mother of Timothy
Dwight, President of Yale College.. The descendants
of William Tuttle are numerous and distinguished,
most of the clergymen in the United States of the
name being descendants of William Tuttle, of New
Haven, among which are Joseph F. Tuttle, president
of Wabash College ; Daniel S. Tuttle, Bishop of Mon-
tana; Isaac H. Tuttle, D.D., New York City; Rev.
J. M. Tuttle, Rahway, N. J. John Tuttle, the eldest
son of William Tuttle, was born in England, being
three and a half years old when he landed in Boston
with his father; married Catharine Lane, Nov. 8, 1653;
had a son Samuel, who married Sarah Newman in
1684; had a son Daniel, born Aug. 23, 1702, who mar-
ried Mary Mansfield, April 26, 1726; had a son Sam-
uel, born Feb. 12, 1727, who married Chloe Todd;
had a son Lemuel, born in 1760, who married Lydia
Bassett, of North Haven, Conn., June 12, 1788, and
moved to Plymouth. He had three daughters and
one son,—Philenda, Lua, Lydia, and Nelson. Phi-
lenda married Seth Thomas, died May 12,1810. Nel-
son Tuttle, born Nov. 21, 1798, married Hila Norton,
of Wolcott, Oct. 22,1820; had five children,—Jane
H. (deceased), Byron, Mary A., Martha A., and
Birney L.

Byron Tuttle, the second child and eldest son of
Nelson and Hila Tuttle, was born in Plymouth, Conn.,
Aug. 23, 1825. His early years were spent at home
in that best of training, the life of a New England
farmer’s son. The winter before he came of age he
taught school in the Buck’s Hill District, in the town
of Waterbury.

On the 26th of August, 1847, he entered the carriage
establishment of Augustus C. Shelton, the senior mem-
ber of the firm of Shelton & Tuttle, whose partner
Mr. Tuttle afterwards became. Commencing work
for thirteen dollars per month and his board, at the
end of three months he made a new engagement with
Mr. Shelton for three years at a dollar a day and his
board. At the expiration of this time he went out to
Milwaukee, Wis., to superintend the sales of the estab-
lishment at that place, thus laying the foundation of
the Western business of the firm. Returning, he re-
sumed work in the shop till, on the 1st day of Janu-
_ ary, 1855, he became Mr. Shelton’s partner in the
\, business. In 1854 he went out to Chicago and estab-
lished a carriage repository in that city, leaving Har-
low B. Hill in charge of the sales. Mr. Tuttle re-
turned to direct the preparation and shipment of
the goods, frequently visiting Chicago in person to
look after the business. The venture proved very
successful, and the firm made money rapidly. In
1864 they built a repository on Madison Street, which

they occupied until April 1, 1870, when, the business
33

 

509

declining, it was disposed of, and Mr. Tuttle began to
withdraw his interest from the business of manufac-
turing, the partners still holding the shops together.
In 1872, Mr. Tuttle disposed of his interest in the
shops to his partner and retired from the business,
though still retaining the care of Mr. Shelton’s finan-
cial affairs, and holding his power of attorney till his
partner’s death, Aug. 27, 1880.

Mr. Tuttle was married, April 10, 18538, to Candace
D., daughter of Oliver Smith, Esq., of Plymouth.
They have two children,—Harriet A. and William B.

Aside from his private business, Mr. Tuttle has oc-
cupied a prominent place in the affairs of the town,
having been elected a justice of the peace in 1864 and
selectman in 1878, which office he has since held. He
has also for a number of years been the agent of the
town, having filled this position with ability and
efficiency before the Legislature and in the courts in
cases where the interests of the town were involved.
Mr. Tuttle’s characteristics as a business man are
energy, promptness, thoroughness, and integrity,—
this is the secret of his success in life. In what-
ever he engages he does his part, and that in the
style in which his business affairs are conducted.
Nothing in his charge is left to suffer through inat-
tention or neglect. He is judge of probate in the
district where he resides, and in every respect is a
prominent member of the community, and among the
leading men of the town.

In politics Mr. Tuttle is a Republican, and is one
of the active men in his party. He is a member of
the Congregational society, the office of whose com-
mittee he has filled with advantage to the society and
credit to himself. As the surviving member of the
former firm of Shelton & Tuttle, he is engaged in
settling the affairs of his late partner and life-long
friend, thus concluding the history of one of the most
well-known and successful business establishments in
Plymouth.

GEORGE PIERPONT.

George Pierpont is of English descent, from James
Pierpont, who settled in Massachusetts at a very early.
day, and died at Ipswich, Mass. One of his children
was named John, who was born in London in 1619,
admitted a freeman in Massachusetts in 1652, repre-
sentative to the colonial Legislature in 1672. He
married Thankful Starr, and had five sons, viz.: Ben-
jamin, Joseph, Ebenezer, James, and John. Mr.
Pierpont died Dec. 7, 1682.

James Pierpont, son of John Pierpont, was born at
Roxbury, Mass., in 1659, graduated at Harvard in 1681,
and was ordained at New Haven in 1686. Descended
from an illustrious family, and gifted to a high degree
with intellectual endowments, eloquent of speech, a
graceful person, handsome features, and manners the
most courtly and winning, he appears to have been
from early youth too intently occupied with the mission
of saving the souls of his fellow-men ever to think of
510

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

himself. I suppose, of all the clergymen whose names
belong to the early history of New England, Pierpont
was the most lofty and pure in his aspirations, and of
the most spiritual temper, with none of the sternness
of Davenport, without the despondency of Wareham,
and free from the impetuous moods that proved such
thorns in the pillow of Hooker. His words, like the
live coals from the altar in the hand of the angel,
“touched and purified the lips” of those who listened
to his teachings. His moral nature was so softly dif-
fused over his church and people that they appeared
to lose themselves in the absorbing element, as dark
forms seem sometimes in pleasant summer days to
dissolve in an atmosphere of liquid light. This James
Pierpont was one of the founders of Yale College,
and died in 1714. His daughter Sarah was the wife
of the noted divine, Jonathan Edwards.*

One of the children of Rev. James Pierpont, D.D.,
was named James, who was a minister also. He was
a native of Connecticut, married, and had several
children, one of whom was James Pierpont, who was
born in New Haven, Conn., and early in life settled
in Litchfield (now Morris), Conn. He was engaged
for a number of years in the manufacture of woolen
goods, but later in life was farmer. He was twice
married, first to Elizabeth Collins, granddaughter of
Rev. Timothy Collins, of Litchfield, Conn., by whom
he had the following children, viz.: Sherman, John,
Elizabeth, Sarah, Abby, and James M., all of whom
were born in Morris, Conn. His second wife was the
widow of Rev. Mr. Crossman, of Salisbury, Conn.,
by whom he had one son, Leonard.

Mr. Pierpont was a member of the Congregational
Church of Morris (known then as South Farms). He
died in 1840, aged seventy-nine years.

Sherman Pierpont, eldest son of James Pierpont,
was born in Litchfield (now Morris), June 27, 1783,
married Sidney Humiston, daughter of Jesse Humis-
ton, of Plymouth, Conn., Dec. 1, 1807. They had
two children, viz., Minerva (who married Sherman
P. Woodward, a farmer; she died in 1837, leaving
two daughters) and George, born May 21, 1819.

Mr. Pierpont was a farmer during the earlier part
of his life, but later he was engaged in the manufac-
ture of screws at Unionville, in Hartford Co., Conn.
He was an enterprising business man, of cheerful
disposition, and a man universally respected. In
politics he was a Whig. He was lost on Lake Erie,
May 7, 1836, while on a voyage from Put-in-Bay to
Sandusky City, Ohio. His wife died May 18, 1841.
George Pierpont was reared on the farm till he was
fourteen years of age. He received a common-school
and academic education at Farmington, Conn. At
eighteen years of age he commenced to work for Dan
Catlin, of Litchfield, as a clerk in a dry-goods store,
where he remained two years, when he came to Plym-
outh, Conn., and entered the store as clerk of Stephen

 

* Extract from Hollister’s History of Connecticut,

 

Mitchel, and remained one year. On the 20th of
April, 1840, he married Caroline E. Beach, daughter
of Isaac C. Beach, of Plymouth, and began farming
in Plymouth (now Thomaston), and continued two
years, when he removed to South Farms (now Mor-
ris), and was engaged in the mercantile business in
company with William L. Smedley, under the firm-
name of Smedley & Pierpont. After one year he
went to Northfield, and engaged in the same business
with Samuel A. Merwin, where he remained two
years, when he settled at Plainville, Hartford Co.,
Conn., and was a book-keeper in the employ of H.M.
Welch & Co., merchants and lumber-dealers, where
he remained two years. Thence he went to Forest-
ville, Conn., where he continued to reside, and was
then engaged as a merchant till 1861, when he re-
moved to Watertown, Conn., and was engaged as a
farmer. In 1865 he settled in Plymouth, Conn.,
where he has continued to reside. :

In politics he is a staunch Republican, and as such
has held various offices of trust and honor. In 1861
he was appointed United States assistant assessor, and
continued to hold that position for eleven years, or
until the office was abolished. In 1857 he was a
member of the State Legislature from Bristol, Conn.
Since his settlement in Plymouth he has been select-
man, magistrate a number of years, judge of pro-
bate several years, town clerk several years. He was
elected by the Legislature county commissioner in
1877, and re-elected in 1880. His wife died Jan. 18,
1874, and he married for his second wife Nellie T.
Hazen, widow of Howard N. Hazen, and daughter of
J. Sherman Titus, of Washington, Conn., Jan. 19,
1875. By this union two children were born, George
Sherman and Flora (deceased).

Mrs. Pierpont is a member of the Congregational
Church, of which Mr. Pierpont is an attendant.

LYMAN D. BALDWIN.

Lyman D. Baldwin is of English origin. His an-
cestors settled in New England at a very early day,
and farming was their chief occupation for many gen-
erations.

The great-grandfather of Lyman D. Baldwin was
named Ebenezer Baldwin, who came from old Milford
and settled in the town of Plymouth, Conn. He was
a farmer by occupation. He had a family of children,
of whom Thaddeus Baldwin was one, who was born
in Plymouth and married Thankful Alcock, and had
the following children, viz.: Polly, Thankful, Hannah,
Thaddeus, Lydia, Lyman, David, and Nicy, who died
at twenty-one, and all the remainder of this large
family lived to be old people. Thaddeus Baldwin,
Sr., was a farmer. He died far advanced in life, and
his wife lived to be ninety years of age. Lyman Bald-
win was born near where his son, Lyman D., now re-
sides. He married Polly Alling, of Terryville, Conn.,
and had four ¢hildren, viz.: Hiram, Mary P., Lyman
 

See Oh. Byal Monee
 
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PLYMOUTH.

D., and Hannah, all of whom were born on the old
homestead, now in the possession of Lyman D. Mr.
Baldwin was a farmer by occupation, and a dealer in
lumber, which he manufactured. In politics he was a
Whig, and held some minor town offices. He was a
captain of State militia, and was known as Capt.
Baldwin. He received a severe injury, which, after
’ lingering seven months, caused his death, March 6,
1859. His wife died Aug. 29, 1860.

Lyman D. Baldwin, second son of Lyman and Polly
Baldwin, was born on the old Baldwin homestead, on
the 19th of January, 1825. He was reared on the
farm, receiving such advantages for an education as
the district schools of his day afforded. At nineteen
he commenced teaching school winters, which he
followed for seventeen years, in which he was very
successful. He is a farmer by occupation, and in
connection he owns and runs a grist- and saw-mill.
He has been “ acting school-visitor” of Plymouth for
eleven years, and a member of the school board for
twenty years. In politics he isa staunch Republican.
He has been assessor five years, and member of the
State Legislature during the years 1871-77 and 1879,
serving on the committees of constitutional amend-
ments, temperance, and education. Mr. and Mrs.
Lyman D. Baldwin are worthy members of the Con-
gregational Church at Plymouth, of which he is at
the present time a deacon. He is liberal towards the
church, and charitable to the poor.

On the 14th of May, 1854, he married Emily,
daughter of Erastus Fenn, of Plymouth. She was
born April 14, 1825, in Plymouth. Their children
were as follows, viz.: an infant son; Edward F., born
Dec. 16, 1859, died May 20, 1864; Minnie E., born
Dec. 24, 1864, and died Dec. 6, 1875.

WILLIAM B. FENN.

William B. Fenn, third son of Aaron and Sabra
Fenn, was born where he now resides, one and a
quarter miles north of Plymouth, Litchfield Co.,
Conn., July 11, 1818. His grandfather, Aaron Fenn,
8r., settled near by the same place, and had a large
family of children, viz.: Aaron, Lyman, Erastus,
David, Jeremiah, Sarah, and Polly, all of whom were
born here; all married and had children except Polly.
Aaron Fenn, Sr., was a successful farmer for those
days. He died at an advanced age; his wife survived
him many years.

Aaron, Jr., eldest son of Aaron, Sr., was born in
1774, and died in the fall of 1818. He married Sabra
Fenn, and had six children, viz.: Isaac, Burr, Rosetta
(Mrs. Joseph S. Peck, of Burlington), Nancy R. (Mrs.
William L. Gaylord), William Bennet, and Abijah,
all of whom were born in the house where William
B. now resides. Of this large family all grew to
maturity, married, and all except Burr have children.

Aaron Fenn, Jr., was a farmer by occupation. He
was a Federalist, and held some minor town offices.

 

511

He taught school many years, and was successful.
Mr. and Mrs. Fenn were members of the Congrega-
tional Church at Plymouth. Mrs. Fenn as July,
1867, aged eighty-eight years.

Willian Bennet Fenn remained at home on the
farm till he was sixteen years of age, attending the

| district school. At sixteen years of age he commenced

working for Seth Thomas, Sr., in the ornamental de-
partment of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, which
he continued to follow, in connection with farming,
until 1863, since which time he has confined his time
to agriculture. He owns a fine farm of one hundred
and fifty acres, which is in a good state of cultivation.
He has been quite largely engaged in dealing in fat
cattle for home market. In politics he is a Democrat,’
though formerly he was a Republican. He has held
several town offices to the general satisfaction of his
constituents. He was married to Mary, daughter of
A. Y. Culver, of Burlington, Conn., June 8, 1864.
She was born Nov. 28, 1839, in Burlington, Conn.

They have two daughters, viz.: Rosa Bella and Mary
Eloise.

AARON PECK FENN.

Aaron Peck Fenn, eldest son of Jeremiah Fenn
and Polly, only daughter of Hezekiah Peck, of Wood-
bridge, Conn., was born in the town of Plymouth,
Conn., Jan. 29, 1822. His paternal ancestor was
Benjamin Fenn, an Englishman, who came to Amer-
ica and settled, with the New Haven Company, in
New Haven in 1637. His maternal ancestor was
Henry Peck, who settled at New Haven with Gover-
nor Eaton and his company in 1637. The grand-
father of Aaron P. Fenn was Aaron Fenn, who was
born in Milford, Conn., Dec. 1, 1746, and settled in
Plymouth (then called Northbury) in 1767, about one
and a quarter miles north of Plymouth Hill. The
country was then an unbroken wilderness,—not asign
of any improvement near his log cabin. The wife of
Aaron Fenn was Mary Bradley, of Woodbridge.
Their children were as follows: Lyman, Sally, Aaron,
Erastus, Polly, David, and Jeremiah, all of whom
were farmers, every one of the sons receiving a farm
from his father. Jeremiah Fenn married Polly Peck,
and reared three sons, who grew to manhood, viz.:
Aaron P., Stephen, and Horace.

Stephen was born Oct. 6, 1824, graduated at Yale
College in 1849, studied theology at New Haven and
Andover. He was pastor of a Congregational Church
at Torringford three years, of the Congregational
Church at Cornwall nine years, and of the Congrega-
tional Church in Watertown four years. He died in
South Windham, Conn., in 1875.

Horace was born on the old homestead in Plymouth,
Aug. 8, 1833, He has been town treasurer of Plym-
outh for the last twenty consecutive years, and post-
master for nineteen years. In politics a Republican.

Aaron. P. Fenn was born and has always lived
within a few feet of the place where his honored
512

grandfather settled in 1767. He was educated in the
public schools, and taught school several years. He
has been a member of the board of education for
the last twenty-five years, and for ten years acting
school-visitor. He has been the leader of the choir
of the Congregational Church of Plymouth for the
last thirty years, and has taught singing-school in
most of the adjoining towns. In politics a Republi-
can, he has been first selectman of Plymouth for
eight years, and assessor eleven years. In 1868 he
was elected by the Republicans to the State Legisla-
ture. In 1880 he was appointed census enumerator.
On the 5th of October, 1864, he married Florence,
youngest daughter of Alva Wooding, of Bristol, Conn.
Their children are Clara, Kate, Aaron W., and Flor-
ence J.

OLIVER SMITH.

Oliver Smith, son of Theophilus M. and Salome
Smith, was born in Milford, Conn., Sept. 15, 1800,
and settled in Plymouth with his parents in the spring
of 1808. His father was a native of Milford, Conn.,
and was a shoemaker and farmer by occupation. He
was twice married. By his first marriage he had two
children,—Nathaniel and Abigail,—and by his second
marriage seven children,—Miles, Theophilus, Oliver,
Samuel B., Edwin, Thaddeus, and Salome, who mar-
ried Chauncey Jerome, a celebrated clock-maker of
Plymouth. Mr. Smith settled in Plymouth in 1808,
where he continued to reside till his death, Sept. 10,
1849. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war,
and a captain of State militia for many years. His
wife died Dec. 3, 1849. Oliver Smith was reared on
the farm, which honorable business has been his chief
occupation. He has been engaged somewhat as a
tanner, and worked for a while at joinering. He has
been successful at whatever he has undertaken, and
is esteemed by his neighbors as an upright, honorable
man. He married Harriet, eldest daughter of Allen
Bunnel, of Plymouth, Oct. 16, 1822. She was born
Jan. 31, 1801. Her father was a son of Titus Bunnel,
who settled in Plymouth, Conn., in an early day, and
was afarmer. Allen Bunnel married Clarissa Alvord,
and had five children, of whom Mrs. Smith is the
eldest.

Mr. Smith had the following children, viz.: Lyman,
born Feb. 5, 1824, and died in California Aug. 10,
1862; Edwin, who died young; Candace, born June 14,
1830 (married Bryon Tuttle, an enterprising business
man of Plymouth, Conn., and has two children, viz. :
Hattie A. and William B.); James E., born March 11
1833 (married Angeline Wadsworth, of Hartford,
Conn., and had three children, viz.: Fannie W,, Ed.
ward L., and James E.), James E., Sr., died Sept. 24,
1872.

Mr, Smith is a staunch Republican in politics. He
has held various town offices, such as selectman twelve
years and magistrate several years, to the general sat-
isfaction of his constituents. Mr, and Mrs. Smith

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

have been members of the Congregational Church
for more than sixty years. They have been married
more than fifty-eight years, yet they are hale and
hearty, and do their own work. As a citizen, hus-
band, and father, Mr. Smith is one of the best in old
Plymouth, Conn.

CHAPTER LI.
ROXBURY.

Organization—Topographical—The Indians—The First Exploration—
The First Settlements—Initial Events—The War of the Revulution—
Ethan Allen—Col. Seth Warner—Capt. Remember Baker—War of
1812—The Schools—Prominent Citizens—Physicians, etc.—Ecclesias-
tical History—Congregational Church—Episcopal Church—The Bap-
tist Church—The Methodist Church—Civil and Military—Organization
of Town—List of Representatives from 1797 to 1881—Organization of
Probate District—List of Judges—Military Record.

THIs town lies in the southern part of the county,
and is bounded as follows: On the north by Wash-
ington, on the east by Woodbury, on the south by
New Haven County, and on the west by the towns of
Bridgewater and New Milford. Its surface is hilly,
and the soil is fertile. It is watered by the Shepaug
River, which flows southerly through the western part.

A little more than two centuries ago its territory
had been unexplored by white men. Along these
hills and through these valleys roamed, in all their
native freedom, the red men of the forest, possessors
of the soil by rights primordial. The unbroken forest
had not as yet resounded with the strokes of the
woodman’s axe, nor the reverberating echo responded
to a lisp of the white man’s dialect. Nature, rude
and uncultivated, supplied the daily wants of her sav-
age children, and the necessity for physical exertion
in order to obtain the necessaries of life was with them
almost totally unknown. Of this wild race, which has
now passed away, we know but little. They have
left us no sculptured monuments inscribed with their
deeds of valor, no written records which will enable
us to remove the veil which conceals the past. Tra-
dition informs us that from the top of Pulpit Rock,
on the east side of the river, and a little northerly
from the railroad station in this place, prominent
chiefs were wont to harangue their dusky followers
with rude eloquence, and stimulate them to deeds of
bravery. The name of the beautiful river Shepaug,
and the occasional finding of a stone axe or arrow-
head, are all that now remain to remind the dwellers
of to-day of the existence of a race rude and bar-
barous, yet possessing many ennobling traits of char-
acter.

THE FIRST EXPLORATION.

The first exploration of this region of which we
have any account was early in the spring of 1678,
when a party of fifteen persons, under the guidance
of Capt. John Minor (a surveyor and interpreter of
the Indian language), started from Stratford on a tour
 

 

Oboe brite
ROXBURY. -

of exploration. They proceeded up the Pootatuck or
Housatonic River as far as the mouth of the Shepaug,
thencé up the Shepaug to a point near Mine Hill,
and proceeding eastwardly across the country, they
encamped for the first night upon Good Hill. Capt.
John Minor, the leader of the expedition, was a man
every way calculated to take charge of that little band
of pioneers who were seeking for homes in the then
wild region of Northwestern Connecticut. Educated
as a missionary to the Indians, he was thoroughly
versed in the dialects of the different clans inhabiting
these valleys, and his services to the early settlers
were invaluable. From the top of Good Hill he
offered up that memorable prayer that his posterity
through all coming time might be a God-fearing and
God-serving people, and invoked the blessing of
heaven on all their undertakings. Capt. Minor and
his party afterwards settled at Pomperaug, now Wood-
bury.
THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.
The first settlement in this section was made about.
the year 1713, by a man by the name of Hurlbut.
He located on the spot a few rods north of the resi-
dence of the late Treat Davidson, and a little south-
easterly from the house once occupied by Peace Minor,
where they built a small fort for security against the
Indians. This section was called “the Upper Farms.”
At about the same time a family of Hurds erected a
house or fort on Good Hill, eastwardly from the pres-
ent residence of Mr. John Minor. These forts were
probably nothing more than log houses, surrounded
by palisades, or logs set thickly in a vertical position,
and, being thus protected from Indian invasion, they
afforded security at night. About the year 1716,
Lieut. Henry Castle settled a little southerly from
where the school-house in the Warner’s Mills District
is now situated. This location was called ‘the Lower
Farms.” Each of these settlements provided itself
with a cemetery, which accounts for the location of so
many places of burial within the town limits. Dr.
Ebenezer Warner, the progenitor of five generations

of physicians, and the grandfather of Col. Seth War-,

ner, removed here from the Pomeraug settlement, and
commenced the practice of medicine. Soon after a
number of Castle families settled upon what was
called “the lower road.”

THE WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

The American Revolution may justly be considered
as one of the most thrilling and interesting of any of
the events in our history. On the 3d of September,
1774, the people of this vicinity were alarmed by the
report that British ships-of-war were cannonading
Boston. The people flew to arms, and many joined
in the march towards the supposed scene of conflict.
Counter intelligence was received on the way, and
the troops returned peaceably to their homes. The
honor of the first conquest made by the united colo-
nies during the war of the Revolution belongs chiefly

 

513

to Roxbury. This was the capture of Ticonderoga,
May 10, 1775, one of the most brilliant exploits of
the war. Sixteen men were collected in Connecticut,
who were joined by forty or fifty volunteers from
Massachusetts. At Bennington, Vt., this force was
augmented by nearly one hundred volunteers. Col.
Ethan Allen, a native of Roxbury, was appointed
commander of the expedition. Col. Seth Warner and
Capt. Remember Baker, both natives of Roxbury,
were appointed officers in the expedition. A part of
this small force having been sent in another direction,
Allen, with only eighty-three men, assaulted the fort,
and captured the garrison without the loss of a man.
Subsequently, Col. Seth Warner captured Crown
Point, and in both these forts were found cannon and
military stores, which were greatly wanted. One
thousand men were afterwards sent from Connecticut
to garrison these furts. The remark has often been
made by aged men residing in this vicinity that, ‘‘three
men, born in Roxbury, and within a stone’s throw of
the Shepaug River, contributed more than any others
towards the achievement of our national independ-
ence, because they struck at a time when ‘hearts
were faint,’ and when their achievements tended to
give the people courage to hope for the ultimate suc-
cess of the colonial arms.” These three men were
the heroes of Ticonderoga. Roxbury was also repre-
sented at Bunker Hill. In that memorable engage-
ment, on the morning of June 17, 1775, was Philo
Hodge, another citizen of Roxbury. He assisted in
making up the scanty ammunition possessed by the
Americans into the form of cartridges, and in the
final charge of the British forces stood firm as a rock,
clubbing them with his musket until Gen. Warren
gave the signal for retreat.

Gen. Ethan Allen was born in Roxbury, Conn.,
Jan. 10, 1737-88. He married Mary Brownson, of
Roxbury, June 28, 1762. He emigrated with the first
settlers to Vermont, and was a prominent member of
the social and political compacts into which the in-
habitants formed themselves. The territory com-
prising the present State of Vermont was comprised
within the New Hampshire grants; it was also
granted to the Duke of York. A controversy arose
relative to the title which culminated in a valorous
defense on the part of the early settlers, nearly all of
whom favored the New Hampshire grants. Vermont
is indebted to Roxbury for the spirited defense.
Ethan Allen, Seth Warner, and Remember Baker
were all prominent in resisting the encroachments of
New York, the Governor of which first offered twenty
pounds, and afterwards fifty pounds each, for the
arrest of these persons. Allen and the others offered
areward for the arrest of the officers of New York.
He was bold and courageous, and even went so far as
to go to Albany and take a bow] of punch in presence
of his enemies on a bet. He drank the punch, and,
giving a “ Huzza for the Green Mountains!” departed
unharmed. He was in many of the engagements of
514

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the Revolution, and at one time a prisoner. He died
at Burlington, Vt., Feb. 12,1789. His epitaph is as
follows :

“The corporeal part of Gen. Erman ALLEN rests beneath this stone.
He died the 12th day of February, 1789, aged 50 years. His spirit tried
the mercies of his God, in whom he believed and strongly trusted.”

Col. Seth Warner was the son of Dr. Benjamin
Warner, and grandson of Dr. Ebenezer Warner,
one of the first settlers of Roxbury. He was over
six feet in height, and was courageous and command-
ing. Engaged in the controversy with New York,
he was fully prepared to engage in our Revolution-
ary struggle. He was personally present in many
of the engagements in the Northern colonies, and it
has been reported that Gen. Washington relied espe-
cially upon Allen and Warner, considering them as
among the most active, daring, and trustworthy of his
officers. Col. Warner died in Roxbury, Dec. 26,
1784. His place of residence at that time was in a
small house situated on the west corner of the high-
way leading northerly, near the present dwelling of
Hon. H. B. Eastman. From this humble cottage his
remains were carried by hand (as hearses were then
unknown) to the place of burial. His funeral was
attended on the 29th of December, when Rev. Mr.
Canfield preached a sermon from 2 Samuel, i. 27:
“ How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war
perished!” A detachment of military, consisting of
thirty men, guarded his body after his decease until
his burial. By a law of the colony at that time, the
body of an individual could be attached after his de-
cease and sold to satisfy his creditors.
had expended all his estate in the war, and his family
were destitute, hence the necessity of a guard to pro-
tect his body after his decease is apparent. The mili-
tary fired a volley over his grave and retired. Some
years since a statement appeared in the papers to the
effect that Gen. Washington visited Col. Warner’s
widow, and relieved her from pecuniary embarrass-
ment. This has been doubted by some, but when we
take into consideration the facts that Washington
visited Woodbury more than once, that Col. Warner
was his especial favorite, and that he left his family
in straitened circumstances, have we not reason for
believing that the “Father of his Country” actually
visited and relieved the family? The following in-
scription was on the old tablet placed over the grave
of Col. Warner :

“In memory of Col. Seth Warner, Esq., who departed this life Decem-
ber 26th, A.D. 1784, in the forty-second year of his age.
“Triumphant leader at our armies’ head,
Whose martial glory struck a panic dread,
Thy warlike deeds, engraven on this stone,
Tell future ages what a hero’s done.
Full sixteen battles he did fight
For to procure his country’s right.
Oh! this brave hero, he did fall
By death, who ever conquers all.
When this you see, remember me.”

On the 20th of October, 1858, the remains of Col.
Warner were removed from the “old burial-ground

Col. Warner »

 

on the hill” to the Centre of Roxbury, and on the
30th of April, 1859, a monument was erected over his
remains by the State of Connecticut and the citizens
of Roxbury.

Capt. Remember Baker was born in Roxbury in
June, 1737. He removed to Bennington, Vt., in 1764,
and was engaged, with Allen and Warner, in the con-
troversy with New York. He fell at the opening of
the Revolution, near St. John’s, Canada, by the hands
of hostile Indians, being shot through the head. A1-
though we can never point to fields of carnage or to
victories won within our town limits, yet there arein the
eastern part of Roxbury, about half a mile eastwardly
from the residence of Mr. Henry H. Fenn, the re-
mains of an old encampment, where a detachment of
the army of the Revolution, the brigade of Gen. Nixon,
passed the winter. It extended nearly a quarter of a
mile, and a few years since mounds of earth and stone,
and rude wells for obtaining water, marked the lo-
cality. But the plow, that great leveling instrument
of civilization, has obliterated many traces of its ex-
istence, and only a few of the mounds, and but one of
the wells, now remain. A complete list of the soldiers
from this place can never be obtained. In 1776 all the
able-bodied men in Western Connecticut between the
ages of sixteen and sixty years, were by order of Gen.
Washington marched to New York. This wholesale
conscription divested the parish of Roxbury of the
best portion of its male population. Just eight years
after the battle of Lexington, Great Britain proposed
peace and hostilities terminated.

WAR OF 1812,

In the war of 1812 many citizens of Roxbury were
marched to New London for the defense of that place,
which was menaced by the British. It is said that
fifteen men were drafted from the infantry company
here, and that a number of others volunteered. The
company raised in this vicinity was marched through
Roxbury on a Sunday, with drums beating and colors
flying, and was quartered for the night in the Congre-
gational church in Woodbury. Dr. Curtis Hurd, of
Roxbury, went as surgeon, and was stationed for some
time at New London. A complete list of the men
cannot be obtained. In the war with Mexico, Rox-
bury, true to her former patriotism, furnished three
soldiers,—Ool. Justin Hodge, Hiram Curtis, and John
J. Squier. In the last, the great Rebellion, the
number of soldiers from this place was sixty-three.
Capt. Cyrus E. Prindle and Capt. Lewis Judd each
raised a company of volunteers and went to the scene
of conflict. The total amount paid by the town for
the last war was $16,057.25; by private individuals,
about $4000.

SCHOOLS.

At an early period schools were established here.
Among the teachers of those times the names of
Thomas Canfield and Timothy Talman may be men-
tioned: Mr. Canfield was the son of the Rev. Thomas
 

\

RESIDENCE OF CHARLES R
 

 

ut

ii

 

 

 
ROXBURY.

Canfield. It is said that he was very eccentric, and
that he always made it a rule to punish corporeally
his whole school on every Saturday afternoon, in order
that those who had offended during the week might
receive merited punishment. About 1834 or 1835,
Mr. A. B. Campbell established a private school in
this place, and later still another was established
and continued for several years by the Rev. George
L. Foote. The reputation of these schools was ex-
tensive, and pupils from other places were frequently
found here. Many now living can attest to the thor-
ough training received in these institutions, and the
remark was frequently made by persons from abroad
“that our young people, collectively, were better edu-
cated than those of other localities.” Roxbury has
within its limits seven public schools. Roxbury con-

tinued to be a parish, attached to the town of Wood- |

bury, until October, 1796, when, after a long and
arduous struggle, it was incorporated as a separate
town. The ancient name of Roxbury was Shepaug,
a Mohegan word signifying the Rocky River. On
the west of the Shepaug River is Mine Hill, celebrated
for its large deposits of spathic iron, for its chalybeate
springs, and for its stone quarries, which furnish a
large quantity of excellent stone for various purposes.
A railroad was constructed through the Shepaug val-
ley in 1870 and 1871. A telegraph was soon after con-
structed contiguous to the railroad. In the easterly
part of Roxbury is Jack’s Brook, so named from a
native African who committed suicide upon its banks.
He pined for his native land, and was thoughtlessly
told by others that when he died he would return to
his beloved Guinea. He was buried by the highway,
southwesterly from Pulford’s Swamp. Several years
since an ancient relic, representing a human figure, of
sculptured stone, was found in the northeastern part
of Roxbury. With a superstitious fear that it might
be worshiped, it was placed low down in the wall of a
well, where it now remains.

PROMINENT CITIZENS, PHYSICIANS, Erc.

Gen. Ephraim Hinman, a native of Southbury, re-
moved to Roxbury in 1784. He erected the large
house now occupied by the Rev. Mr. Jones and Mr.
Gillett. He was a man of great eccentricity of char-
acter, and many of his original expressions are still
quoted by the people of Roxbury. Hon. Royal R.
Hinman, for many years Secretary of the State of
Connecticut, was his son. He was an attorney, and
practiced his profession here for nearly twenty years.

Hon. Nathan Smith was born in Roxbury in 1770.
As an attorney he became eminent in his profession,
holding many important places of trust. In May,
1832, he was elected a senator in the Congress of the
United States, and died some three years, while hold-
ing the position.

Hon. Truman Smith was a native of Roxbury.
Prominent among the leading men of that day, he
was for several terms elected a member of Congress.

 

515

In 1849 he was elected a senator of the United States
for the term of six years.

Hon. John Sanford was a native of Roxbury. He
removed to Amsterdam, N. Y.; he was elected a
member of Congress from the State of New York.
Mr. Sanford died some years since.

Hon. Henry Booth was the son of Ely Booth, of
Roxbury. He graduated at Yale College, and main-
tained for some time a law-school in Pennsylvania.
He removed to Chicago, and was elected a judge of
the Superior Court of Illinois, which office he now
holds.

Lieut. Thomas Weller was a recruiting officer in
the war of 1812. He was killed in an altercation
with Archibald W. Knapp, May 16, 1814.

Charles K. Hodge was the son of Chauncey Hodge,
of Roxbury. He was a young man of great promise,
and was appointed a cadet at the United States Mili-
tary Academy at West Point. He died suddenly,
while on a visit to his parents, at Roxbury, on the
81st of August, 1839, aged nineteen years, nine
months, and four days. His classmates erected a
monument to his memory in the cemetery here, on
one panel of which is this inscription :

“Called from us in the buoyancy of youth and the brightness of hope,
earth’s cares had not chilled, nor life's vicissitudes changed, the warm
current of his feelings.”

The following clergymen were natives of Roxbury :
Revs. Charles Thomas, Burtis Judd. David Davidson,
Charles Norton, Charles Bradley.

The graduates from Roxbury were Hon. Truman
Smith, Hon. Nathan Smith, Phineas Smith, Henry
Booth, Charles S. Minor, Rev. David B. Davidson,
Hervey M. Booth, George W. Warner, Rev. Charles
F. Bradley, Naaman Shepard.

State Senators: Hon. Nehemiah C. Sanford, Hon.
Frederick W. Lathrop, Hon. Herman B. Eastman,
Hon. Frederick Hurlbut.

The following physicians were residents of Rox-
bury: Drs. Ebenezer Warner, Azariah Eastman,
Silas Castle, Josiah R. Eastman, Azariah Shipman,
William Blakeman, Curtiss Hurd, Henry Whittlesey,
Reed, Theodore Hurd, William Williams, Amos
Williams, Philander Stewart, Myron Downs, Aaron
W. Fenn.

William Hull, professor of elocution in Pennsyl-
vania, also was a resident of Roxbury.

 

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized on the 22d of August,
1744, when the first minister, the Rev. Thomas Can-
field, was installed. At that time twenty-seven per-
sons subscribed to the covenant. In 1732 or 1733
the first Congregational church was erected, near the
old graveyard, on the hill a little southwesterly from
the present residence of Mr. RB. B. Patterson. This
building being small, in 1746 another was erected on
the same location. The year 1795 dates the removal
516

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

from the hill, and the erection of another church in
the present Centre of Roxbury. Many now living
can remember its lofty spire, and the two huge stone
horse-blocks near by for the accommodation of the
worshipers, many of whom came to church on horse-
back. The present church edifice was erected in
1838. On a weather-beaten stone standing near the
centre of the old burial-ground is this inscription :

“ Here lies the relics of the Rev. Tho. Canfield, who died Jan. 16, A.D.
1795, in the 75th year of his age, and in the 51st of his ministry.

“0, what is man, poor feeble man,
Whose life is but a narrow span.

 

“ Here lies, intombed in earth and dust,
The Reverend, meek, the mild and just.”

The following clergymen succeeded Mr. Canfield
in the ministry, with the date of ordination and dis-
mission of each:

Rev. Zephaniah Swift, ordained July 5, 1795; dis-
missed April 1, 1812.

Rev. Fosdic Harrison, ordained June 2, 1813; dis-
missed June 30, 1835.

Rev. Austin Isham, ordained June 5, 1839; dis-
missed June 1, 1863.

Rev. Oliver S. Dean, ordained July 6, 1864; dis-
missed Dec. 17, 1867.

The Rev. David E. Jones, the present pastor, was
ordained and installed, June 21) 1871.

The present deacons are Dr. A. W. Fenn and Shel-
don Camp. Dr. Fenn is also superintendent of the
Sunday-school, and has been since 1860.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The Episcopal Church in Roxbury. is probably the
oldest in the county of Litchfield, dating its organiza-
tion as far back as the year 1740, a period earlier
than that of any other parish of which we have the
written records. It was organizéd by the Rev. Mr.
Beach, of Newtown, and was for a considerable time
the only parish in the town of Woodbury, of which,
at that time, Roxbury formed a part. The first
church edifice was erected on the hill, contiguous to
the old cemetery, in 1768. At the time the Rey.
Thomas Davies, a missionary for the propagation of
the gospel in foreign parts, preached in Litchfield
County. He occupied this pulpit one-fifth of the
time. At that time there were twenty-eight commu-
nicants. A new church edifice was subsequently
erected in the present Centre of Roxbury, which was
rebuilt in 1861. The present rector is Rev. William
C. Cooley.

THE BAPTIST CHURCH.

A Baptist Church, of which cértain citizens of Rox-
bury composed a part, was constituted at South Bri-
tain, Jan. 21,1790. That part of the church com-
posed of people from other places soon withdrew,
leaving the people of Roxbury in an organization by
themselves. On the 30th of December, 1800, the so-
ciety voted to build a meeting-house twenty-five feet
by thirty, with ten-feet posts. This church stood a

 

little northwesterly from the dwelling-house of Mr. .
George W. Smith, and was used until 1825, when it
was turned into a school-house, reserving the right to
hold. meetings in it. Rev. Mr. Fuller was ordained
May 18, 1803, at the meeting-house in Roxbury.
Seventy members were admitted to the church pre-
vious to Mr. Fuller’s ordination, and forty-one since.
THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

There have been a few Methodists in Roxbury for
the last forty-five years, with at different periods
occasional meetings, but it is believed that no church
was organized until about the year 1847, when, under
the ministry of the Rev. George B. Way, a small so-
ciety was formed, which continued in existence for a
few years, enjoying meanwhile the ministry of Rev.
Messrs. Wells, Redford, Curr, and others. Efforts
were made at this time to build a church edifice, but
for some reason were unsuccessful, and the society
became practically extinct. In the spring of 1862
the Rev. Spencer H. Bray commenced preaching
once in four weeks, in the house now occupied by
Rev. Mr. Jones. In the following autumn Mr. Shel-
don Leavenworth purchased the building now occu-
pied by Mr. H. W. Trowbridge as a wagon-shop, and
the upper room was fitted up for meetings, which were
held regularly in this place until the present church
edifice was erected in 1867. The society at its or-
ganization consisted of fifty-five members. The pres-
ent pastor is Rev. Sylvester Smith.

For the accommodation of the Roman Catholics
residing here, mass is celebrated once in four weeks
by Father Gleason, of New Milford.

CIVIL AND MILITARY.

The first vote of the society in relation to its or-
ganization as a town was taken Oct. 2, 1786, but it
was not until 1796 that its incorporation was effected.
The struggle was long and severe, as Woodbury was
vigorous in its opposition.

LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES.

The following is a list of representatives from 1797
to 1881:

Phineas Smith, 1797; Abraham Bronson, 1798-99, 1805; Ephraim Hin-
man, 1798, 1800-9; John Trowbridge, 1800-2, 1811, 1843; Elihu Can-
field, 1799, 1802, 1804, 1806, 1808-10, 1812-13 ; Abner Wakelee, 1803;
David Hammond, 1803; Wells Judson, 1804; Adna Mallory, 1805;
Gideon Leavenworth, 1806; Amos Squires, 1807; Samuel Weller,
1807; D. L. Painter, 1808; E. Burritt, 1811; Asahel Bacon, 1812,
1816; Miles Bishop, 1813; Royal R. Hinman, 1814, 1825, 1831; Silas
Minor, 1815-17, 1821; Josiah R. Eastman, 1818, 1823, 1833; Eli M.
Smith, 1819, 1827; Samuel Patterson, 1820; Stephen Sanford, 1822,
1835; Isaac B. Hawley, 1824; Elisha Patterson, 1817-18, 1826; Eli
M. Smith, 1827; Z. W. Weller, 1828; David Brothwell, 1829-30,
1836; Wm. Pierce, 1822; David Weller, 1834; Went Leavenworth,
1837; H. L. Randall, 1838, 1866; Charles Beardsley, 1839; Daniel
Botsford, 1840; A. Ward, 1841; Chauncey Hodge, 1842; I. G. Bots-
ford, 1844; George Hurlbut, 1845; E. A. Weller, 1846; Charles
Thomas, 1847 ; E. Beardsley, 1848 ; B.S. Preston, 1849 ; Stephen San-
ford, 1850; Myron Downs, 1851; Lacey Higgin, 1852; A. S. Hodge,
1853 ; Harvey Thomas, 1854; J. T. Davidson, 1855 ; Charles Burrows,
1856, 1867; H. B. Eastman, 1857; Eli Sperry, 1858; David Pierce,
1859; Chas. Beardsley, 1860; George W. Morris, 1861; Elliot Beards-
ley, 1862, 1869; E, E. Prindle, 1863 ; Albert L. Hodge, 1864-65 ; George
ROXBURY.

517

 

A. Northrup, 1868; C. A. Beers, 1870; C. E. Trowbridge, 1871; C. E.
Prindle, 1872; George W. Hurlbut, 1873; Henry S. Hurlbut, 1874;
Albert L. Hodge, 1875; Orlando Lewis, 1876; Merritt P. Beers, 1877;
George Thomas, 1878; John §. Smith, 1879; Samuel Thomas, 1880;
John H. Leavenworth, 1881. .

JUDGES OF PROBATE.

The Roxbury Probate District was set off from the
Woodbury District in 1842. The following is a list
of its judges:

Harmon B, Eastman, 1842-45; Aaron W. Fenn, 1845-46 ; Henry L. Ran-
dall, 1846-47; Aaron W. Fenn, 1847-49; H.B. Eastman, 1849-51 ; My-
ron Downs, 1851, 1857; Charles Beardsley, 1857-60; H. B. Eastman,
1860-78; Lyman P. Eastman, 1878, present incumbent.

MILITARY RECORD.

The following is a list of those who enlisted from
this town during the late Rebellion :

William Allen, Seth H. Addis, Edson Bradley, Ira S. Bradley, F. W.
Beach, Harmon Beers, Jeremiah P. Bronson, Charles F, Booth, Henry
A. Booth, Oliver Camp, Daniel Carrans, Jeremiah Donovan, David
Dickson, Henry Deacons, R. L. Fenn, James Glenn, R. L. Hurlbut,
Charles H. Hurlbut, James B, Holland, R. E. Hubbard, John D.
Hull, Capt. Lewis Judd, Charles Jackson, George Lake, David Lewis,
Israel Lucas, David, Frank, and Peter Miller, Lieut, Wm. E. Mor-
viss, Michael Madigan, Fred May, John McKenney, Henry Meirs,
C.F. Nicholson, John Neeson, John M. Oviatt, James O’Neil, Capt.
C. E. Prindle, Lewis Roche, John Rueck, Henry Smidt, John J.
Squire, Jeremiah Sullivan, Henry Smith, Wm. H. Smith, Fred
Thompson, James Percy, James Tracey, C. F. Terrell, Albert Vander-
beck, Peter Wessels, John Williams, John Wright, Charles Wright,
John and Henry Wells, William and George R. Walker, George W.
aud Seth Warner, Botsford Whitehead, and John Woodruff.

The total amount paid by the town for the war
was $16,057.25; by individuals, $4000.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

CHARLES BEARDSLEY.

Charles Beardsley, the subject of this sketch, was
born in Roxbury, Conn., Aug. 24, 1807. He was the
eldest son of Hunting Beardsley, of Roxbury, who
married Clarinda Hurd, daughter of Curtiss Hurd,
Esq., of Roxbury. He received a good common-
school education, and for two seasons attended a pri-
vate school taught by the Rey. Fosdic Harrison, of
Roxbury. At the age of eighteen he was apprenticed
to his uncle, Heman Beardsley, of Roxbury, to learn
the trade of a carpenter and joiner. After he became
twenty-one he continued with his uncle for a time,
and then commenced business for himself, continuing
in the same to the present time. He married Jerusha
Ann, daughter of Capt. Ely Booth, of Roxbury, Jan.
26,1831. She died April 14, 1862, leaving no chil-
‘dren. Married, second, Eliza, widow of the late Sam-
uel Smith, Esq., of South Britain, Conn., Sept. 24,
1863.

Soon after attaining his majority he became a
member of the Congregational society of Roxbury,
and has ever been active in its support, and zealous
for its prosperity. In 1837, the old meeting-house

 

becoming dilapidated, the society decided to build
anew. Mr. Beardsley, being a builder, was called
upon to take an active part in the building, was ap-
pointed one of the building committee, and employed

 

Che Lin

to go forward and build the house, commencing in
the autumn of 1837, and in 1838 he completed it to
the satisfaction of all interested. In 1874, thirty-six
years from its completion, it became necessary to
make some general repairs and remodel the interior.
Mr. Beardsley gave liberally for the object, was again
appointed building committee, and employed to assist
in the work. He has always been liberal in his
charities, as well as prudent and economical in his
business. Mr. Beardsley united with the Congrega-
tional Church in Roxbury, in the month of May,
1848, and has continued an active member up to the
present time, a period of thirty-seven years. He says
his religious life is far from being perfect, but the
writer would say that, from his own observation, and
from public sentiment, we are convinced that there
are many—yea, very many—whose religious attain-
ments are decidedly of a lower order, and whose lives
as Christians do not as nearly reach the standard of
perfection as Mr. Beardsley’s.

He early manifested an active interest in public
affairs, and before he was thirty years of age was
elected one of the selectmen, his colleague being
James Trowbridge, Esq. As an evidence of the con-
fidence reposed in him by the people of Roxbury,
the records show that he hag been elected, and has
served, as selectman for the period of thirty-two years.
518

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

He has also held the office of justice of the peace
more than a quarter of a century, and was holding
said office on his seventieth birthday, when the con-
stitution of the State debarred his further action. He
was appointed judge of probate three years in succes-
sion, but, feeling unqualified to judiciously perform
the duties of the office, he requested that some other
person be appointed to fill his place, and H. B. East-
man, Esq., was appointed. He was elected town
treasurer of Roxbury in October, 1865, and has held
the office to the present time, A.D. 1881, a period of
sixteen years.

In 1839 he was elected to represent the town in the
General Assembly of the State, and was appointed
one of the committee on contested electors. In 1860
he was again elected, and for a second time represented
the town in the General Assembly. During the war
of the Rebellion he was holding the office of select-
man, a position of much responsibility, on account of
the excitement, turmoil, and many new enactments
at special sessions of the Legislature, rendering it
necessary that all papers relating to town-meetings
should be legally drawn, in order to avoid litigation.
Any one examining the records of the town will be
satisfied that the drawing up of warnings, votes, and
resolutions during that period will compare favora-
bly, for legal ability and talent, with those of any
other town in the State; and no man in the town had
more responsibility resting upon him during the war,
and no one did more to secure the greatest good of the
whole community, than Mr. Beardsley. He also
took an active part in the building of the Shepaug
Railroad, subscribing liberally for its stock, according
to his means, and in order that it might be successful,
used his influence, as far as proper, to induce others
to favor the project, conscientiously believing that,
although pecuniarily it might prove a failure, yet it
certainly would be a great convenience to the people
of Roxbury, and time has fully demonstrated that
the views which he entertained were correct.

GENEALOGY OF THE BEARDSLEY FAMILY.*

William Beardsley, aged thirty years (by trade a
mason), with his wife Mary, aged twenty-six, and
daughter Mary, aged four years, and sons John, two
years, and Joseph, six months, embarked from Lon-
don for Massachusetts in the ship “ Planter,” in
April, 1635. At the settlement of Stratford, Conn.,
in 1639, he was among the first settlers, and one of
the original proprietors. He was a deputy of the
General Court of Connecticut in 1645, and for seven
annual sessions from 1649. He is mentioned in a
committee of that body as “Goodman Beardsley,” a
title at that time frequently applied to persons of solid
worth and respectability. In his “Early Puritan
Settlers of Connecticut,” Hon. R. R. Hinman says,
“This has been a respectable family from the first
settlement at Stratford.”

 

* By Rey. E. E. Beardsley, D D,

 

Children of William: Mary, born in England in
1631; John, born in England in 1633; Joseph, born
in England in 1634; Samuel, born in Massachusetts
in 1638; Sarah, born in Stratford in 1641; Hannah,
born in Stratford; Daniel, born in Stratford in 1644,

Joseph, second son of William, had Joseph, Jr.,
born June 10, 1666; John, born Nov. 1, 1668; Han-
nah, born April 18, 1671; Elizabeth, Thomas, Eph-
raim, Jonathan, Josiah.

Josiah married Mary Whittemore, Dec. 24, 1712.
Children: Katharine, born 1713; Hannah, born Feb-
ruary, 1715; Josiah, born December, 1716; Samuel,
born June, 1719; Israel, born March, 1721; Benjamin,
born July, 1723, died 1726; Isaac Judson, born Octo-
ber, 1725; Benjamin, born February, 1727 or 1728.

Benjamin, son of Josiah, had Whittemore, Thomas,
born Nov. 28, 1764; Dunning, Benjamin, Mary,
Nancy, Ephraim.

Thomas, son of Benjamin, married Mabel, daughter
of Nathan Thompson, of Stratford. He was a private
of cavalry during the war of. the Revolution. In
1776 was stationed in New York City; was in the
battle on Long Island, Aug. 27, 1776, and in the en-
gagement at Danbury, Conn., April, 1777; was hon-
orably discharged, and received a pension for life of
fifty-four dollars and sixteen cents annually. In 1800
he purchased the old homestead, on the west side of
Good Hill, in Roxbury, now occupied by his grand-
son, Minott L. Beardsley, and removed with his
family from Stratford. He was appointed selectman,
and held other positions of trust and responsibility,
and died March 28, 1842, aged eighty-seven years.

Children of Thomas Beardsley: Hannah, born 1777;
Abby, born 1778; Aner, born 1780; Hunting, born
1783; Ezekiel, born 1785; Heman, born 1788; Na-
than, born 1790.

Hunting married Clarinda, daughter of Curtiss
Hurd, Esq., of Roxbury. Children: Charles, Julia
Antoinette, Minerva, Grandison.

CHAPTER LII.

SALISBURY.

Geographical—Topographical—The Indiaus—The First Purchase of
Lands—The First Grant—The First Settlements—Early Highwaye—
The Pioneers—Early Schools—Iron Interests—Lawyers, Physicians
—Prominent Citizens—Grand List, 1742—Market-Place—The First
Post-office—Pioneer Mill—Indian Mounds—The Revolution—War of
1812—The Iron Interests.

THE town of Salisbury is located in the northwest
corner of the county and State, and is bounded as fol-
lows: on the north by Berkshire Co., Mass., on the
east by Canaan and North Canaan, on the south by
Sharon, and on the west by the counties of Columbia
and Dutchess, in the State of New York. The sur-
face of the town is broken, consisting of elevated hills
and deep valleys. The valleys are generally lime
stone, while on the hills granite predominates.
 

COL. GEORGE HURLBUT.

The subject of this sketch was born at Rox-
bury, Litchfield Co., on the 14th of October,
1809. His family was one of the earliest col-
onial stocks that came to Connecticut. Early
in life he learned the hatter’s trade of Col.
William Odell, of Washington.

On the 7th of January, 1833, he married
Miss Thalia A. Merwin, of Brookfield. Their
children were Caroline S., born Oct. 22, 1833 ;
Thalia M., born Feb. 9, 1836; Emily E., born
May 7, 1839; George W., born March 10,
1841; Samuel W., born Dec. 29, 1843; Wil-
liam H., born March 11, 1846; Charles W.,
born June 8, 1849; Adelaide A., born June
12, 1851; and Frank W., born Sept. 20,
1853,

Col. Hurlbut was engaged in the manufac-

ture of hats in his native town from 1840 to

 

1860, and during that time acquired a hand-
some property, which, by good management,
has grown into a fine estate.

In 1845 he was elected a member of the
Legislature of Connecticut. He was appointed
postmaster at Roxbury on the election of Presi-
dent Lincoln, and has held that office until the
present time.

Col. Hurlbut has lived a very quiet life, and
has kept himself within the sphere which he
originally marked out,—to live on terms of
charity with all men, to help the needy, and,
so far as lay in his power, to do no wrong, nor
suffer any to be done. It is believed that few
men in Litchfield County will leave behind
them a more unsullied record for honesty and
purity of character. Certainly no one ever
exhibited a more steadfast fidelity to his friends.
SALISBURY.

THE INDIANS.

Upon the advent of the white settlers many of the

aborigines still remained, clustered in the valleys
-along the streams and lakes, but the fearless inde-
pendence and noble bearing of the Indian character
were gone. They had been too long within the reach
of the enervating influence of the whites, and were
peaceable, harmless, and servile.

“There seems to be much plausibility,” says the
late Judge Church, “in the conjecture that the race
of Indians found here by our fathers was not the orig-
inal tenantry of this region, but had come in as wan-
dering tribes or bands from other forests, driven,
perhaps, by wars to take the place of an earlier and
more noble people. The tradition is, with much
probability, authenticated that King Philip, the last
of New England’s proud sachems, and the relentless
foe of the Puritans, extended ‘his ravages on this side
of Connecticut River, and that he burned, or other-
wise broke up, some settlements of English and
friendly Indians in the present town of Simsbury,
and particularly an Indian village there called Wea-
togue, the name of which still remains; and these
Indians, flying from Philip, settled down upon the
banks of the Housatonic, within the present limits of
Salisbury and Canaan, giving the name of their
former home to their new residence.”’

Hubbard, in his “‘ History of Indian Wars,” affirms
it that the Indians as far west as Hudson’s or Dutch
River were concerned in Philip’s wars, and Bancroft,
speaking of the Indians of New England, says, ‘The
clans that disappeared from the ancient hunting-
grounds did not always become extinct: they often
migrated to the North and West. The country be-
tween the banks of the Connecticut and the Hudson
was possessed by independent villages of the Mohe-
gans, kindred with the Manhattans, whose few smokes
once rose amidst the forests of York Island.” The
Indians of these villages spoke the same language,
the Mohegan or Pequod dialect, and which was, with
perhaps some variation, the language common to the
Indians of New England. The Indians here were
probably connected in some relation with the Stock-
bridge or Moheaconnuc tribe, and perhaps made

part of the tribes or clans lower down the river, at.

Kent and New Milford, and connected in amicable
relations with the Indians who acknowledged the
sachem Wyantenock as their common protector. This
chief resided near the Great Falls, in New Milford.
Ihave myself, when a child, conversed with old men
who could recollect the remnant of tribes considerably
populous in Weatogue, near the former residence of
the White family, and on the northern margin of
Wonunscopomuc Lake (now called Furnace Pond),
and also on the eastern shore of Indian Pond, in
Sharon.

There was, upon the first arrival of the Dutch
settlers here, a well-defined Indian trail or path lead-
ing from the Stockbridge tribe, along the valley of

 

519

the Housatonic, through Weatogue, to the Scaticoke
settlement of Indians in Kent. Apple-trees had
sprung up, and were growing along that path through
its whole extent at unequal distances, accurately
enough marking its course. Many of these were stand-
ing when I was a youth, and some, I believe, remain to
this day. Tradition has pointed out the spot, on the
easterly side of Wonunscopomuc Lake, upon which
the Indians held their councils and pow-wows. It is
in the grove, a little west of the road leading from
Furnace Village to Town Hill, and near a tall pine-
tree, now standing, overlooking the lake. Frequently,
when I have stood upon that interesting spot, I have
attempted to call up before me the groups of savage
men who congregated on that ground. I have, in
fancy, there looked upon the grave, stern face of the
counselor, the fierce visage of the impatient warrior
in his listening attitude, and the encircling group of
women and children around. It was, and still is, a
plat of romantic beauty, well fitted to call forth the
innate religious feeling of those men of nature. This
spot was frequently visited by wandering Indians in
after-days, and the stately pine which then marked
the place was long known to the.white inhabitants as
the Indian tree.

Although the Indians of this neighborhood were
friendly, yet such was the well-known treachery of
the Indian character, and so frequent were the causes
of disturbance among the Northern and Western tribes,
and so dreadful were the tales of savage cruelty, that
the early white settlers were cautious in their inter-
course with them, and were constantly on their guard
against surprise and attack. A supply of ammunition
was always on hand, furnished at the expense of the
town, forts or block-houses were erected for defense
and refuge, and the house first erected for the min-
ister, and which was improved as the house of relig-
ious worship, was constructed with a view to defense,
and with port-holes, through which a fire of musketry
could be kept up against assailing Indians. Our
fathers assembled to worship God with arms in their
hands; unlike us, their children, who have none to
molest or make us afraid.

“ One of these block-houses was erected at the junc-
tion of the roads opposite the late dwelling-house of
Nathaniel Church, at Weatogue, and its stone foun-
dations have been visible in my day. Another, a
little southerly from the present dwelling-house of
William P. Russell, Esq., the first location of the
Dutcher family, nearly then inclosed by deep coves
and dense thickets; and still another, on the north-
erly side of Wonunscopomuc Lake, not far from the
present residence of Newman Holley, Esq.” (1841.)

There is a tradition that a large body of Indians
were defeated in the northerly portion of the town
before the settlement by the whites. In the year
1676, and just before the death of the proud chief
King Philip, Maj. Tallcott, of the Connecticut forces,
pursued, from Westfield towards Albany, a flying
520

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

body of Indians, who, after their defeat in King
Philip’s war, were flying for safety among the war-
like and,powerful Mohawks. These fugitives, under
the command of sachem of Winnimissett, or Brook-
field, were surprised on the Housatonic River, at the
fording-place, a short distance south of the State line,
and about fifty of their number, including their sa-
chem, were either killed or taken prisoners.

There were several Indian burying-grounds in this
town.

“One,” says Judge Church, in his address, in 1841,
‘was on the eastern side of the north pond, another
on the east side of the road leading through Weatogue,
and a little southerly from the old burying-yard on
my late father’s farm, and still another on the bank
of the Housatonic, on the old White farm. This
probably belonged to an earlier race than the Indians
found here by our fathers. The annual encroachment.
of the river by the spring freshets upon the banks
frequently exposed the bones of the buried Indians,
which upon exposure became dust.”

THE FIRST PURCHASE OF LANDS.

The first purchase of thé Indians of lands lying
within the present bounds of this town was made by
William White and Abraham Vandusen, Dutch emi-
grants from the province of New York, supposing
this section to lie within the boundaries of that prov-
ince. This tract was located about two miles south of
the falls.

The second purchase was made in January, 1720,
by John Dikeman and Lawrence Knickerbocker, of
Livingston’s Manor, New York, of a tract lying on the
west side of the Housatonic River, “beginning at the
Upper Falls, south of Wootauk (meaning Weatogue) ;
thence, running along the side of a hill called Wooto-
wanche, now called Sugar Hill, two miles to the land
purchased of the Indians by White and Vandusen;
thence, with a straight line, to a mile above the falls of
a brook called Wachocastinork (probably the falls at
Lime Rock); thence south three miles, thence east
to the forks, etc.”

Before the charter of the town was granted, Thomas
Lamb, in behalf of the Governor and Company of
the Connecticut colony, purchased certain Indian
rights of land in the present town of Sharon, and in
Weatogue, ‘“‘for the consideration of eighty pounds
and divers victuals and clothes.” This deed was
signed by the marks of many Indians, who described
themselves as of the Indian nation belonging to Mut-
tapacuck. The name of one of the signers of this
deed was Tocconuc. Soon afterwards the Indians
complained to the General Court that they had been
defrauded by Lamb in this purchase, and a committee
was appointed to investigate the alleged causes of
complaint. Lamb afterwards received a grant of land
from the colony for his services and expenses in the
negotiation.

bury, about the same time, made a very extensive
Indian purchase, including, as they probably sup-
posed, nearly all the! feasible land of the town, de-

scribed in their deed as lying on the river, six miles’

in length north and south, and four miles wide east
and west. These grants, however, were afterwards
all relinquished to the colony, the Indian’s right
being considered then, as now, only as a right of
occupancy, not of sale, the right of pre-emption being
solely in the colony. All these grantees, however,
as a compensation for their expenses, received grants
of land from the colony. After the charter of the
town was granted, and as late as 1742, the Indians
made claim to lands here; and in October of that
year Daniel Edwards, of New Haven, was appointed
to purchase of the Indians two miles square, at the
northeast corner of the town, and to deliver to one
Toccunus two blankets’ to resign his claim.

THE FIRST GRANT.

The territory now including the towns of Salisbury,
Sharon, Canaan, and Norfolk, before the survey of
these towns was made, was known as the “ Western
Lands.” The first grant made of lands in this town by
the General Court was made to William Gaylord, of
New Milford. This grant embraced nearly the whole
of the Weatogue intervals. Many other grants were
subsequently made before the sale of the town to pro-
prietors ; among these were Woodbridge’s,
Lamb’s, Fitch’s, Knickerbacor’s, Bissell’s, Dutcher’s,
Wadsworth’s, Whiting’s, Hinman’s, Stiles’, Lewis’,
Newtons’, Knowles’, and perhaps some others.

The General Court made no grants of land here to
Yale College, although in all the other towns embraced
within the “ Northwestern Lands” a grant of three hun-
dred acres in each was made to that institution ; but
as early as 1780 the trustees of the college received a
deed of six hundred and twenty-eight acres of land
from Rey. John Fisk and James Leavens, of Killingly,
in exchange for land of equal value in that town.
This land was located southeasterly of the centre of
the town.

Fisk and Leavins had received from the colony a
grant of this land in October, 1729.

 

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

Settlements of white people commenced within the
present limits of this town several years before the
public sale of the lands. Three Dutch families from
Livingston’s Manor, in the province of New York,
commenced the settlement in Weatogue. Their lands
were purchased of William Gaylord and Stephen
Noble, of New Milford, by deeds dated Aug. 29, 1720.
These were the families of William White, Abraham

- Vandusen, and Ruluff Dutcher. They probably took
possession of their lands the same season. White
was by birth an Englishman, but had long -before
been connected with the Dutch inhabitants of the

 

Thomas-Knowles and Andrew Hinman, of Wood- | New York province. He married a Dutch wife, and
SALISBURY.

had reared a family. He located himself upon a
farm subsequently owned by Nathaniel Church, and
a few rods north of the small stream which flows east-
wardly across the highway to the cove below. White
had several sons, who settled around him,—George,
on the west side of the road, opposite his father’s
house ; Benjamin, a little south of the brook; Joshua,
still farther south, and near the river; and Isaac, who
resided with his father. Benjamin was a man of con-
siderable repute. He afterwards returned to the
province of New York, where he died. The other
sons of William White lived and died here.

The Knickerbacor family came into the town soon
after White and others. John Knickerbacor occu-
pied the Knickerbacor grant at the mouth of Salmon
Kill River. Cornelius Knickerbacor, a brother of
John, settled at Lakeville about the same time that
John came here. Cornelius Knickerbacor’s was for
some time the only white family in that section of
the town. He afterwards removed to Sharon.

Thomas Lamb was the first New England man who
settled in this town. He emigrated from Springfield,
but the precise time of his settlement here cannot
be ascertained. He received several grants of land
before the sale of the town. He located a tract of fifty
acres at Lime Rock, upon a grant made to a Sergt.
Tibbals for services in the Pequod war. He received
another grant of one hundred acres on the northeast
side of the Furnace pond, and after the sale of the
town he became the owner of four and one-half
rights. He secured the water-privileges at Lime
Rock, at the outlet of the Furnace pond, at the falls
west of the Centre, as well as the outlet of the pond
on the mountain. He was the distinguished specu-
lator of his day. His place of residence was prob-
ably first at Lime Rock, but he afterwards resided on
the hill southeasterly of Lakeville. He left the town
about the year 1746, and became a mariner, and re-
sided successively in New Jersey, Maryland, and
North Carolina.

Mr. Caleb Woodworth was the first white man
who settled with a family in the neighborhood of the
Ore Hill. He came into the town as early as 1738.
Thomas Baylis settled at the Centre as early as 1740.
John Weldon came into the town in 1740, and Isaac
Vosburgh in 1742. Both located themselves in the
north part of the town, near where the late Col.
Elijah Stanton lived and died. Samuel Beebe settled
near the Upper or Little Falls of the Housatonic about
the year 1740. Within one year after the incorpora-
tion of the town there were forty-five tax-paying
inhabitants here. The'ore-bed, the iron-works of
Thomas Lamb, at Lime Rock, and the various water-
privileges discovered here, probably invited emi-
grants, though the appearance of the Jand was at first
uninyiting: the hills appeared barren, and with little
wood’ to cover them,—the frequent Indian fires had
nearly destroyed the timber,—and the valleys were
covered with a tall and useless grass called bent-grass.

 

521

EARLY HIGHWAYS.

“Previous to the act of incorporation,” says Judge
Church, “there were no public roads here, yet there
were some well-defined paths. The most prominent
among these was the one leading from Dutcher’s, in
Weatogue, and following, as I suppose, the general
direction of the present highway, to Furnace Village,
and thence along nearly to the Ore Hill, and down
through Sharon valley to Sackett’s farm, in Dover,
nearly west of the southwest corner of the town of
Sharon. Another path led from the Ore Hill, and in
the vicinity of what we call the Under Mountain road,
to the iron-works at Ousatonic, now called Great Bar-
rington. This was called the Ore path, and iron ore,
in leathern bags, was transported on horses over this
road from the Ore Hill to the forge. Another path
connected the Ore Hill with Lamb’s iron-works, at
Lime Rock, and another extended from Lamb’s works
to the fording-place, about one-half mile below the
present Falls bridge.”

In the division of the town by the proprietors an
allowance for roads was made over nearly all the lots,
but none were actually located by them, unless it was
the six-rod highway over the first division lots, across
Town Hill. The first recorded survey of a highway
was made Nov. 6, 1744, from Gabriel Dutcher’s, in
the northeast section of the town, to Benjamin White’s;.
another, the same year, from Cornelius Knickerbacor’s,
at the Furnace, to Samuel Bellow’s, at the eastern foot
of Smith’s Hill; another, in 1746, from White’s, in

“Weatogue, westerly to the foot of the hill, called by

us Frink’s Hill. This road has been discontinued.
Another, the same year, from Furnace Village to the
colony line; and another, the same year, from the
centre easterly to the foot of the mountain near
Chauncey Reed’s, the late, and thence southerly to
Lamb’s iron-works. These were among the first le-
gally established highways.

“The first bridge erected across the Housatonic
River was the Falls bridge, for many years known as
Burrall’s bridge. This bridge was built about the
year 1744. Dutcher’s bridge was erected in 1760. A
bridge at the south part of the town, about one-half
mile below the present bridge, was erected about the
year 1790. It was built by funds raised by a lottery
granted by the General Assembly, and was long
known as the Lottery bridge. It was discontinued
upon the opening of the present road, called the
Johnston road, leading from the late Nathaniel
Green’s to South Canaan, in the year 1808. Before
the erection of these bridges, access to this town was
difficult from the east. There were but few fording-
places upon the river, and these could only be im-
proved when the river was very low, in the summer
or fall. Indeed, I believe no more than one fording-
place was improved, which was about one-half mile
below the Falls bridge. The river could be forded
with some difficulty near William Sardam’s. Canoes
were used for the transportation of persons, and I
522

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

have not been able to learn whether any ferries were
at any time established; I believe there were none.
Horses and cattle could cross the river only by swim-
ming.

“In investigating some titles, some years ago, of
lands in Weatogue, I found the prominent description
of one corner of a tract to be ‘Christopher’s canoe-
place.’ I infer, therefore, that this was a well-known
crossing, and near to the present residence of Ruloft
Dutcher, in Canaan, whose ancestor was Christopher
Dutcher.

“ Perhaps there is not an ancient highway in the
town which can now be accurately defined. We can
depend only upon the practical location, or the dedi-
cation of the highways by usage, as the legal evidence
of their existence and extent.

“Rev. Mr. Crossman, in his sermon, says that
the charter of this town was granted in 1746, and
signed by Governor Law. This is an error. Mr.
Crossman has confounded the charter of the town
with the deed of confirmation, which deed was exe-
cuted in May, 1745, and signed by Governor Law.

“This town was originally attached to the county
of New Haven, and remained a part of that county
until the county of Litchfield was constituted in
1751.”

THE PIONEERS.

Thomas Newcomb resided here before the sale of
the town, and wasa large land-holder, and a prominent
inhabitant. He presided at the first town- meeting,
and was the first selectman chosen in the town. His
place of residence was on the road leading from Lime
Rock to Town Hill.

Cyrenus Newcomb, the first town clerk, was the son
of Thomas Newcomb.

The Chipman family was numerous and highly
respectable. Thomas Chipman, the ancestor, and
who was the first officiating justice of the peace in
the town, emigrated from Barnstable, Mass., to Groton,
in this State, and from Groton he came here in 1741.
He settled near Lamb’s iron-works, and was a pro-
prietor in the saw-mill and grist-mill there. He was
a member of the first church organized here. He was
appointed an associate judge of this county, but died
in the summer of 1752, at the age of sixty-five, be-
fore he entered upon the duties of the office. His
sons were Thomas, John, Samuel, Amos, and Jona-
than. Thomas, the eldest son, was one of the first
elected members of Assembly. He died a bachelor
here at an advanced age. John also died in this
town. The other sons removed to Vermont before
the Revolution.

Capt. Samuel Beebe was the first treasurer of the
town. He emigrated from Litchfield; was a large
land-holder in the eastern part of the town.

Benajah Williams was a selectman in 1748; he re-
moved from Goshen here in 1742, and settled near
the Furnace pond, and was one of the first eleven
members of the church.

 

John Smith was one of the first elected selectmen,
and a gentleman of considerable estate and respect-
ability. He removed from the town, and settled at
Beeckman’s patent, in the province of New York,
about the year 1746.

Thomas Austin, the first constable of the town,
was a bloomer at Lamb’s iron-works, and resided in
that neighborhood, and was an ancestor of the late
Hon. Aaron Austin, of New Hartford.

Nathaniel Skinner was a selectman in 1748, and
one of the first members of the church. He was the
son of Nathaniel Skinner, Esq., of Sharon.

Deacon John Hutchinson came here from Lebanon
in 1748. He was for several years one of the justices
of the peace in the town. He was the third town
clerk, and was elected in 1747, and held the office
thirty-one years, and was succeeded in the office by
his son, Asa Hutchinson, who held the same office
thirty-eight years. Deacon Hutchinson was one of
the first deacons of the church here.

Josiah Stoddard emigrated from Litchfield in 1748,
He was the second town clerk, and for several years
a member of the General Assembly. He was the
father of Major Luther Stoddard, of the Revolution-
ary army, and ancestor of Hon. Josiah J. Johnston,
senator of the United States from Louisiana.

Samuel Moore came originally from Southold, on
Long Island, to Litchfield, and from thence to this
town in 1748. He settled at the foot of Barack-Ma-
tiff, near Deacon Hutchinson. He was for many years
treasurer of the town.

The Landon family in England was located in
Nottinghamshire, on the Welsh border. That branch
of it which settled here came from Southold, on Long
Island, to Litchfield, and settled about one-half mile
north of the village. James and John Landon,
brothers, came to this townin 1749. James settled in
the south part of the town, near the small pond
called by the Indians Non-Cook. He was one of the
first magistrates in the town, and for many years a
member of the General Assembly. His descendants
were numerous. John Landon settled on Sugar Hill,
in the east part of the town. He married a grand-
daughter of William White, the first settler.

The family of Camps was an early and respectable
one. Deacon Hezekiah Camp, the ancestor, came
from New Haven, now East Haven, in 1746. The
sons of Deacon Camp were Hezekiah, Abial, Luke,
John, and Samuel.

The Chapin family for many years was numerous
in this town and highly respectable. The brothers
Charles and Reuben Chapin emigrated from Enfield
in 1746.

Of the Binghams it was once said that they and
their kindred constituted half of the population in
the northern section of the town. Jabez, Silas, and
Daniel Bingham came from Windham in 1750. They
were the sons of Jabez Bingham, formerly of Leb-
anon.
SALISBURY.

John, Nathaniel, and Sylvanus Everts, from Guil-
ford, settled in the vicinity of the Furnace pond in
1749. John was the first representative in the Gen-
eral Assembly. e

Thomas Chittenden, the first Governor of Vermont,
and Capt. Timothy Chittenden, sons of Ebenezer
Chittenden, of Guilford, settled here in 1750. -

Noah Strong was the ancestor of the Strong fam-
ily, once numerous here, but now nearly gone. He
rentoved from Coventry in 1747, and settled on Town
Hill. c

Joseph Bird removed from Litchfield in 1748.

Lot Norton (1st) was a native of Farmington, the
son of Thomas Norton, one of the original proprietors
of the town. This gentleman was long a respectable
magistrate, and one of the most prominent of the
early inhabitants.

EARLY SCHOOLS.

In New England the church and the school were
equal objects of care, and, although our Salisbury
ancestors professed as their first object a desire to be
gathered into church estate, yet this estate was un-
derstood by them to include the school as a con-
sequence.

In 1748, and before the settlement of a minister,
the town voted to procure a schoolmaster for one
year, and directed a school to be kept, under the
superintendence of a committee, three months at
Weatogue, four months near Cornelius Knickerbac-
ors, at Lakeville, and three months in the Hollow
or Lime Rock. Robert Waln was probably the first
schoolmaster in the town, but his services were con-
fined to the Dutch population at Weatogue. In De-
cember, 1748, the town ordered the building of two
log school-houses, one at Weatogue, and one at
Lime Rock. Dr. Wilson, or Williams, was the first
schoolmaster employed under the authority of the
town.

In January,.1745, five schoo] squadrons, as they
were then called, were established, and the public-
school money was distributed to them, in proportion
to the number of scholars in each. At that time
money for the support of the schools was raised by a
general tax upon the inhabitants of the town, and
also from the rents of the school lands.

In 1743, Thomas Newcomb, Benajah Williams,
Thomas Lamb, Benjamin White, and Samuel Bellows
were appointed a committee to lease the lands on the
school right for nine hundred and ninety-nine years,
taking security for the avails.

In 1766 the number of scholars receiving instruc-
tion in the common schools was four hundred and
eighty. Reading, writing, arithmetic, and the As-
sembly’s catechism constituted the full course of
school instruction for many years.

In the winter of 1804 the town was highly excited
by a collision between the school-visitors and the in-
structors, occasioned, as the instructors claimed, by

 

523

an unwarrantable interference with the religious opin-
ions of some of them. Many of the schoolmasters
were dismissed from their schools, and their school-
houses closed a while. But harmony was restored
again, and no evil abiding consequences resulted.*

LIBRARY.

Before the Revolutionary war successful measures
were adopted to establish a public library in the
town. Mr. Richard Smith, an English gentleman of
respectability, was a proprietor of the Furnace, and
felt a deep interest in the welfare of the town.
Through his agency, and from funds raised by several
public-spirited individuals a library, consisting of
about two hundred volumes, was procured from Lon-
don, and received the name of ‘Smith Library.”

In January, 1803, Mr. Caleb Bingham, of Boston,
a native of this town, influenced by a generous re-
gard for the youth here, presented a small library of one
hundred and fifty volumes to the town, for the use of
the young, and appointed a board of trustees for its
management, consisting of Rev. Joseph W. Crossman,
Samuel Lee, Luther Holley, Asa Hutchinson, Peter
Farnam, Phineas Chapin, Timothy Chittenden, Elisha
Sterling, Lot Norton, Jr., and Benajah Bingham.
These trustees had power to fill vacancies in their own
board. At that time, when books especially useful to
youth were comparatively scarce, this donation was
of peculiar value and gratefully received by the town.
The library received the name of the “Bingham Li-
brary for Youth.” It was a small beginning, but it
infused into the youthful population a new impulse,
and a taste for reading, before unknown, was soon dis-
coverable among the young. The books were sought
for and read with avidity. The town from time to
time, by grants from its treasury, has contributed to
its enlargement, and generous individuals too have
made to it valuable additions. Among the benefac-
tors of this cherished institution have been the late
Professor Averill, of Union College, and the late Dr.
Caleb Ticknor, of New York, a nephew of its founder,
and both natives of this town, and who, in common
with many others, have acknowledged their obliga-
tions to this library for much of their success and dis-
tinction in after-life. The generous and unwearied
efforts of our respected friend, Mr. John Whittlesey,
in aid of the “Bingham Library for Youth” will be
long remembered. The present number of well-
selected volumes is about five hundred.

In 1810 there were received by subscribers through
the post-office in this town only eighteen newspapers
weekly.

The following persons have received academical
literary degrees from American colleges while inhab-
itants of this town, viz., Hon. Nathaniel Chipman,
James Hutchinson, Samuel Camp, Jonathan Lee (2d),
Elisha Lee, Chauncey Lée, Gen. Peter B. Porter,

 

* For present condition of schools, see General History.
524

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Caleb Bingham, Thomas Fitch, William L. Strong,
Myron Holley, Horace Holley, Samuel Church,

Thomas G. Waterman, Jonathan Lee (3d), Orville
L. Holley, Isaac Bird, Lot, Norton, Jr., John M.
Sterling, John M. Holley, Jr., Eli Reed, Graham H.
Chapin, George A. Calhoun, Chester Averill, Albert
E. Church, Caleb Ticknor, Roger Averill, George B.
Dutcher, Edward Hollister, Gurdon Spencer, Charles
A. Lee, Edmund Reed, Churchill Coffing, Joseph
Pettee, Amos B. Béach, Josiah Turner, William G.
Sterling, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Jr., Charles Whittle-
sey, George Bartlett, Samuel P. Church, and Jona-
than Edwards Lee.

The State of Vermont owes something to the men
of Salisbury for its present position among the States
of this Union. As early as 1761, John Everts, the
same gentleman who was our first representative to
the General Court of this colony, procured from Gov-
ernor Wentworth, of New Hampshire, the charters or
grants of the towns of Middlebury, New Haven, and
Salisbury, in the former State. The first proprietors
of Middlebury were almost all of them inhabitants of

this town ; and these proprietors held their first meet-.

ing at the house of Landlord Everts, in Salisbury, and
elected Matthias Kelsey, Ebenezer Hanchett, and
James Nichols to be the first selectmen of Middle-
bury.

Some of the most energetic, and resolute of the
Green Mountain Boys emigrated from this town; and
among these boys were Thomas Chittenden, Ethan
Allen, Ira Allen, and Jonas Galusha. Thomas Chit-
tenden was Governor of Vermont, with the exception
of one year, from 1778 to 1797. In the early disputes
between the Province or State of New York and the
settlers of the New Hampshire grants, no man was
more active than Ethan Allen. He defied the admo-
nitions and the threats of the Governor of New York,
contained in a proclamation addressed to the settlers,
and says, in a manifesto signed by himself and others,
on the 5th day of April, 1774, ‘We flatter ourselves
we can muster as good a regiment of marksmen and
scalpers as America can afford, and we give the gen-
tlemen (of New York) an invitation to come and view
the dexterity of our regiment,” etc. Ira Allen was
for many years the treasurer, and Jonas Galusha the
Governor, of Vermont.

The history of the Western Reserve, in Ohio, is
familiar with us. That tract of country was surveyed
into townships by Augustus Porter, son of our distin-
guished townsman, Col. Joshua Porter, assisted by
other gentlemen, among whom was our late excellent
and much-lamented friend, John M. Holley, Esq.
Among the original purchasers and proprietors of the
towns of Canfield and Johnston, in Trumbull Co.,
Ohio, and some other towns in that reserve, were
James Johnston, Daniel Johnston, Nathaniel Church,
David Waterman, and Timothy Chittenden, of this
town. Many of the earliest settlers of the town of
Canfield were our inhabitants, viz., Champion Min-

 

ard, James Doud, Aaron Collar, William Chapman,
Ziba Loveland, Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, Ensign
Church, and some others.

There has been a manufacturing interest in Salis-
bury from the beginning, and yet we have been, pre-
eminently, an agricultural people. There have been
but few places in which the agricultural facilities have
been more diversified than this, although the commit-
tee which first explored our territory had some doubts

whether it could sustain a sufficient population to sup-.

port a minister.

Formerly there were not more than three well-es-
tablished mercantile concerns in the town,—Holley’s,
at the Furnace; Moore’s, at the Centre; and Chapin’s,
at Camp’s Forge.

IRON INTERESTS.

The iron ore, the forests, and the frequent water-
power found here at a very early period introduced
the manufacture of iron, and we have had but few
other manufactories. The first forge was erected by
Thomas Lamb, in the Hollow, as it was formerly
called, now called Lime Rock, before the charter of
the town, and before its sale at Hartford, in 1738,
Lamb’s iron-works are referred to as existing in the
earliest conveyances. They were probably erected
as early as 1734. Soon afterwards a grist-mill and
saw-mill were built just below, upon the same fall
of water, by Lamb and others. The Lime Rock forge
and furnace of Messrs. Canfield & Robbins now oc-
cupy the sites of these ancient works. Iron ore was
first taken from the Hendricks ore bed, now called
the Davis ore bed, to supply Lamb’s iron-works.
Lamb was a proprietor of that ore bed. These works
have subsequently been occupied by Thomas Starr,
Martin Hoffman, Joel Harvey, Thomas Chipman,
Jr., Ebenezer Hanchett, Thomas Austin, and James
Johnston, and for many years were known only as
Johnston’s forge.

FIRST BLAST-FURNACE.

Thomas Lamb, who owned the outlet of the Fur-
nace Pond, conveyed it in 1748 to Benajah Williams,
Josiah Stoddard, and William Spencer. These per-
sons soon after built a forge, near where the remains
of the old furnace now are. Afterwards, Moor-
house, Caleb Smith, John Dean, John Pell, Gideon
Skinner, Joseph Jones, Eliphalet Owen, John Cobb,
and Leonard Owen were at different periods its pro-
prietors. It was called Owen’s iron works. In 1762,
Leonard Owen conveyed this property to John Hasel-
tine, Samuel Forbes, and Ethan Allen. These gen-
tlemen erected the first blast-furnace ever built in this
State, as I suppose. Charles and George Caldwell,
of Hartford, purchased this property in 1768, and
they conveyed it to Richard Smith, of Boston, in
1768.

Thomas Lamb was proprietor of the water privi-
lege on the mountain, since called Riga, and had con-
trol of the stream flowing therefrom. Very early he

 
SALISBURY.

erected asaw-mill and grist-mill on that stream, about
one-half mile northwest of the Centre village, at or
near the falls upon which Clark’s mills now stand,—as
early as 1744. This property was soon afterwards
owned by Joel Harvey and Joseph Parke, and from
them has been transmitted through various proprietors
to the present owners.

Nathaniel Jewell, in 1753, built a grist-mill on
the northern line of the town, near Sage’s present
works.

No business was done at the great falls of the
Housatonic before the erection of the paper-mill, in
1783. That manufactory was established by the late
Samuel Forbes, Esq.; and Nathaniel Church, and for
several years was an active and prosperous concern.
Paper was then made exclusively of linen rags, and
by the slow process of the hand mould. A saw-mill
and fulling-mill were erected there about the same
time. An extensive lumber business was prosecuted.
Pine timber, in large quantities and of excellent
‘quality, was by the spring freshets annually drifted
down the river from the towns above.

About the year 1797, Charles Loveland erected an
extensive manufactory of gun-barrels there. The
entire works, except the saw-mill, were destroyed by
firein February, 1800, and never rebuilt. For several
years thereafter no active business was done in that
neighborhood.

Abner or Peter Woodin erected a forge at Mount
Riga about the year 1781. Daniel Ball succeeded,
and the forge was for many years known as Ball’s
forge. Seth King and John Kelsey commenced build-
ing a furnace there about 1806, but were not able
to complete it. The entire property in the forge and
furnace came into the hands of Coffing, Holly & Pet-
tee in the year 1810, who the same year finished the
furnace, and for many years prosecuted a very exten-
siveand profitable business. Pig iron, anchors, screws,
and various kinds of manufactured iron were made
there. This establishment, including the works at
Lime Rock, was incorporated in 1828, by the name
of the Salisbury Iron Company.

The furnace near the Falls bridge was built by
Leman Bradley in 1812. It was burnt in 1814, and
immediately rebuilt. The refining forge there was
built by Canfield, Sterling & Co., in , and the
neighborhood, about that time, received the name of
Falls Village. The iron-works there and at Lime
Rock are now the property of Messrs. Canfield &
Robbins.

The iron-works at the upper or little falls of the
Housatonic were built in 1833, by Eddy Ames &
Kinsley, but have since that time been much ex-
tended.

The ore-bed in the west part of the town, called
by way of distinction the Old Ore Hill, is a tract of
one hundred acres, originally granted by the General
Court in October, 1731, to be laid out by Daniel Bis-
sell, of Windsor. It was soon after surveyed and located

34

 

 

525

by Ezekiel Ashley and John Pell. The descendants
of Ashley are at this day proprietors of the ore-bed.
From this mine the most abundant supplies of ore
have been furnished. For many years the mineral
was easily obtained and with little excavation.

The Chatfield ore-bed, so called from its original
proprietor, Philip Chatfield, lies in the vicinity of the
old ore-bed.

Hendrick’s ore-bed, now called the Davis Hill,
was ata very early period owned by Thomas Lamb,
the Salisbury speculator, and ore was taken from it to
supply his forge at Lime Rock. This ore-bed is sit-
uated about a mile southwest of the Centre village.
The Bingham ore-bed, since called the Scoville ore-
bed, lies about three miles northwest of the Centre
village. Still farther north is Camp’s or Chapin’s
ore-bed. In the extreme southwest corner of the
town is the Bradley ore-bed. On the Sharon side of
the town line ore in considerable quantities is taken
from this mine. The ore from our mines yields from
forty to forty-five per cent. of iron. The ore is of the
brown hematite variety.

Copperas, or sulphate of iron, has been found on
Barackmatiff Hill, and at a place called Samuel
Moore’s mine, on Sugar Hill.

ATTORNEYS.

For many years Salisbury had the reputation of
affording a successful field for gentlemen of the legal
profession. This was not the result of a litigious
spirit in the people, nor of any unusual propensity of
the lawyers, but rather of the active and business-like
enterprise of the population. The first lawyer who
settled here was Jabez Swift, Esq., a native of Kent.
Upon the breaking out of the war of the Revolution
he joined the army in Boston, and there died. The
late Adonijah Strong, Esq., was a pupil of Mr. Swift,
and succeeded him in practice. Col. Strong was a
man of vigorous mind; had a large practice, but pos-
sessed none of the graces of eloquence. For many
years he was an efficient magistrate, and a member of
the General Assembly. He died in February, 18138.

Joseph Canfield, Esq., commenced his professional
studies with Col. Strong, and finished them at the
Litchfield law-school. He commenced his practice
at Furnace Village, about the year 1789. Mr. Can-
field was a gentleman of graceful manners and good
talents; he died in September, 1803, having been
several times a member of the Assembly.

Gen. Elisha Sterling was a graduate of Yale Col-
lege, and a member of the law-school at Litchfield.
He commenced his professional life in this town in
1791, and he prosecuted his profession with great in-
dustry and success until the year 1830, when he re-
tired to his farm at Furnace Village, where he died,
Dec. 3, 1886. Gen. Sterling was a well-read lawyer,
and possessed a discriminating mind. Twice he rep-
resented the Seventeenth Senatorial District in the
senate of this State, and for several years represented
526

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

this town in the General Assembly. He was many
years a magistrate, nine years a judge of probate for
the district of Sharon, and for a considerable period
State’s attorney for this county. The name of no
other citizen appears more frequently upon our town
and society records than his.

Hon. Martin Strong was the eldest son of Col.
Adonijah Strong. He commenced the practice of
law here in 1801. Several years before his death he
exchanged the legal profession for agricultural pur-
suits. Judge Strong was for many years one of our
most active magistrates, and an associate judge of the
County Court. He had been a member of both
branches of our Legislature. The following also
commenced business in this town, and subsequently
removed to other places: Chauncey Lee, Myron Hol-
ley, Hon. Ansel Sterling, Ezra Jewell, John M. Ster-
ling, Edward Rockwell, Churchill Coffing, and Norton
J. Buell.

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician was Dr. Solomon Williams, who
emigrated from Lebanon. He died in the year 1757,
and in the same year was succeeded by Dr. Joshua
Porter, from the same place. Dr. Porter graduated
at Yale College in 1754. His place of residence was
at Furnace Village, on the farm originally occupied
by Cornelius Knickerbacor. For half a century his
professional practice was very extensive, and he was
esteemed as one of the most skillful physicians of his
day. But his profession did not engross his whole
attention. He was much in public life, both civil
and military. For twenty years he was a selectman,
a justice of the peace thirty-five years, and associate
judge of the County Court thirteen years, chief justice
of the same court sixteen years, judge of probate for
the district of Sharon thirty-seven years. In the
year 1764 he was first elected a member of the As-
sembly, and was a member of that body fifty-one
stated sessions.

Col. Porter was not attached to the Continental
army in the Revolutionary war, but was an efficient
militia officer. As a colonel of mititia, he was in
service with his regiment at Peekskill, and again at
Saratoga, at the capture of Burgoyne. This venerable
and much-esteemed gentlman died on the 2d day of
April, 1825, aged ninety-five years.

Dr. Lemuel Wheeler commenced practice here
about the year 1765. He too was a public man, and
several times a member of the General Assembly.

Dr. Samuel Cowdray settled near Chapinville;
subsequently he was attached to the navy of the
United States. He was a surgeon on board of the
unfortunate frigate “ Philadelphia,” when that vessel
was captured by the Barbary pirates, and he was a
long time detained as a slave in Tripoli, and until
reclaimed by his government.

Other physicians have been Drs. Jonathan Fitch,
Darius Stoddard, John Johnston, William Wheeler,
Samuel Lee, William Walton, the elder, William

 

Walton (2d), John P. Walton, Samuel Rockwell,
Joshua Porter; Jr., James R. Dodge, Abiram Peet,
Benajah Ticknor, now of the United States navy,
‘Perry Pratt, John J. Catlin, Caleb Tickor, and Moses
A. Lee.

EPIDEMIC.

The geographical features of the town truly indi-
cate a healthful climate. For the last twenty years
the annual average number of deaths has been from
thirty to thirty-five, or about one and a half per cent,
of our population. Yet, in common with most other
healthful localities, we have been occasionally visited
with fatal pestilence. About the year 1784 a fever of
uncommon mortality raged in the north part of the
town, and in the vicinity of the ponds, called then
the pond fever, and supposed to have been produced
by the unusual accumulation of water in the ponds.
Many names, before frequent and prominent upon our
civil and ecclesiastical records, ceased thereafter to be
any more seen. Again, in the years 1812 and 1818,
a fever, called, from its general prevalence, The Epi-
demic, swept over this and some neighboring towns
with fearful mortality, uncontrolled by medical skill.
During the first of these years there were about eighty
deaths, and in the latter nearly seventy, and chiefly
from that disease. Indeed, all other maladies seem
to have fled before it, and to have given place, that it
might rage and conquer alone. It was the pneumonia
typhoides of the books, or a typhoid pleurisy.

Samuel Moore was the first land-surveyor in the
town, and was the eldest son of the first emigrant
here of that name,—Sergt. Samuel Moore. He was a
distinguished mathematician of his time, and was
the author of a valuable and extensively-circulated
treatise upon surveying, which I believe was the
first American work on that branch of mathematical
science. He died in the year 1810, aged seventy-three
years.

PROMINENT CITIZENS.*

“Tt is a just occasion of pride in any community
that it has sent forth from its numbers to other re-
gions men of eminence and usefulness; and perhaps
this town has furnished other sections of our con-
federacy its full proportion of distinguished men.
Hon. Thomas Chittenden, though a native of Guil-
ford, was for many years a resident here, and repre-
sented this town many times in the General Assembly.
He emigrated to Vermont before the war of the Rev-
olution, and was Governor of that State for many
years. His son, Hon. Martin Chittenden, also Gov-
ernor of Vermont, and a member of Congress from
that State, was born here.

“Col. Ethan Allen, the hero of Ticonderoga, resided
in this town some years before his emigration to Ver-
mont, and was one of the original proprietors of the
old furnace.

 

* This list is taken from Judge Church’s address. For additional names
see Governor A. H. Holley’s address elsewhere in this work.
SALISBURY.

“Hon. Jonas Galusha was oneof our citizens. He
was theson of Jacob Galusha, who removed from Nor-
wich to this town in 1771, and settled on the north
side of the north pond. Jonas Galusha, for several
years, was a very popular Governor of Vermont. -

“Hon, Nathaniel Chipman, late chief justice of the
State of Vermont, and a distinguished member of the
senate of the United States, was born and educated
here. He was the son of Samuel Chipman. .

“Hon. Daniel Chipman, youngest brother of Judge
Chipman, for many years one of the most prominent
members of the Vermont bar, was also a native of this
town.

“Hon. Ambrose Spencer, late chief justice of the
State of New York, was born here on the 13th of De-
cember, 1765. He was the son of Philip Spencer, Esq.,
whose place of residence was near the western ex-
tremity of the town. The character of Judge Spencer
is extensively known as one of the most accomplished
members of the judiciary department of the State of
New York.

“Gen. Peter B. Porter was the youngest son of Col.
Joshua Porter. Soon after he completed his colle-
giate and professional studies, he, together with his
elder brother, Hon. Augustus Porter, emigrated to the
county of Ontario, in the State of New York. Gen.
Porter was a member of Congress, and very early laid
before that body the great national importance of the
Erie Canal. In the late war, 1812, with England, he
took a conspicuous part, as commander of the New
York volunteers, upon the northern frontier. He
was actively engaged against the enemy at the cele-
brated sortie from Fort Erie and other important oc-
casions. During a part of the administration of John
Q. Adams as President of the United States, Gen.
Porter was Secretary of War.

“Hon. Augustus Porter, second son of Col. Porter,
was equally useful and respected in civil life.

“Hon. Josiah S. Johnston, late of Louisiana, and a
much valued member of the senate of the United
States, was the son of Dr. John Johnston, of this
town. He removed, when a child, with his father to
Kentucky. He fell a victim to a fatal explosion of a
steamboat on the Mississippi River.

“Among the members of Congress from other
States who were born or reared in this town appear the
names of Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, of Ohio, and Hon.
Graham H. Chapin, Charles Johnston, and Theron
R. Strong, of New York.

“Rey. Horace Holley, D.D., a distinguished scholar
and eloquent divine, president of the Transylvania
University, was the son of the late Luther Holley.

“Rey. Isaac Bird, a devoted missionary in Asia, a
descendant of Joseph Bird, Esq., one of the earliest
settlers and first magistrates, was born and educated
here.

“Myron Holley and Orville L. Holley, Esqs., sons
of the late Luther Holley, distinguished as scholars
and gentlemen, and by various responsible employ-

 

527

ments in public life, were nurtured and educated, if
not born, here.

“Chester Averill, late Professor of Chemistry in
Union College, who died in 1836, just as he began to
give certain promise of extensive usefulness and high
literary distinction. He was the son of Mr. Nathan-
iel P. Averill, of this town.

“ As no colony tax was assessed and collected of the
people of this town before the year 1756, so we were
not, until that time, entitled to a representation in the
Colony Legislature. Previously, however, the town,
on special occasions, appointed and paid special
agents to the General Court.

“Tn 1748, Samuel Bellows was appointed an agent
to attend the Assembly at its October session for that
year to get a land tax for the town.

“Tn the following October, Benajah Williams and
Thomas Newcomb were appointed agents to get an
explanation of the tax of the previous year.

“Tn January, 1745, Samuel Bellows was appointed
an agent to procure a patent, or deed of confirmation,
of the lands in the town.

“Tn February, 1747, Thomas Chipman, Esq., was
appointed an agent to procure a location of a site for
the meeting-house.”

THE GRAND LIST FOR 1742.

The following is a copy of the grand list of the
town for the year 1742:
“The List of the Ratable Estate of Every Person In ye Town of Salis-

bury In The County of New Haven In The Colony of Connecticut for
the Year 1742, as they Brought Us the subscribers:

  
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
  
 
  
 
  

£. 8
Thomas Newcomb 137 0
John Smith......... 112 0
Joseph Knickerbaker.. 83 00
Thomas Baylys.... 51 10
Thomas Lamb.. 66 10

Nath’l Buell
Thos. Starr...
Caleb Woodw
Caleb Smith........
Nath. Gellet....
—Sam’l. Goodrich ..
Sam’l. Welch...
Tho. Austin.
Anthony We
Anson Austin...
Zachria Eddy..
Timothy Edwards
Zephaniah Hoff...
Samuel Towsley..
James Burton...
Matthew Towsley
Sam’] Clark.
Isaac White.
Jacob Vandusen...
Henry Dutcher.......
Christopher Dutcher...
Ruluff Dutcher
John Dutcher..
Gabriel Dutche:
Cornelius Dutche

 

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Abraham Vandusen » 62 1
John Weldin...... » 41
John Landon.. 21
Robert Name .. 18

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Henry Vandusen.
James Vandusen.
Widow Dutcher..
William White...
John Challenger. 8
George White..... 69
Joshua V. White.
Benjam. White
Samuel Beebe.
Samuel Bellow

Sum total......ccssecereceersenereveceooers £2279 10

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528

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“The Within is a True List According as is was Given to Us.
“Test
“Cyrentus NEwcoms,
“RoLurr DuTcHER,
“SAMUEL BELLEWS.
“ Assessors for ye Year 1742.
“ Entered pr. C. NEwcoms,
“ Register.
“The rate that was Made Upon Sd. List Amounted to £28 83s, 8d.”

MARKET-PLACE.

In laying out the first division lots a green and
market-place was reserved in Town Hill, but was
never appropriated to that use. In 1785, however,
the General Assembly established a public market
upon the meeting-house green, which had been orig-
inally designed for a parade, and the selectmen were
empowered to make by-laws and regulations for the
market, and to design its limits. Twice in each year
it was made lawful for all merchants, handicraftsmen,
dealers, and voters to resort to the market with their
vendible commodities. Such fairs were then common.

THE FIRST POST-OFFICE.

Although this town had for many years previously
been a centre of importance, it was not until 1792
that the first post-office was established. This was at
Lakeville, then called Furnace Village, and Peter
Farnum was the postmaster. There are now five
offices, as follows: Salisbury, Donald P. Warner,
P. M.; Lakeville, Thos. L. Norton, P. M.; Ore Hill,
Homer A. Gibbs, P. M.; Chapinville, John G. Lan-
don, P. M.; and Lime Rock, James H. Barnum, P. M.

PIONEER MILLS.

The first privilege for a saw-mill was reserved on
the Great Falls of the Fellkill, and also “at Succo-
nup’s brook, near the place where the same runs out
of the southermost of two large ponds, lying almost
close together.” The first of these locations was near
the Lime Rock furnace, and the latter a short dis-
tance below Chapinville. Thomas Lamb, however,
soon after procured a privilege of erecting a saw-mill
at Lime Rock.

A grist-mill was built at the Upper or Little Falls
of the Housatonic as early as 1742 by Capt. Samuel
Beebe, and in 1746, John Corbit erected a grist-mill
in the southwestern part of the town. In 1748, Jacob
Bacon and Daniel Park built a grist-mill and forge
on Succunop’s brook, in Chapinville.

The first bridge erected across the Housatonic
River was the Falls bridge, for many years known
as Burrall’s bridge, in 1744. Dutcher’s bridge was
erected in 1760, and one in the southern part of the
town in 1790. The latter was built by funds raised
by a lottery, and was long known as the Lottery
bridge. It was discontinued in 1808. Previous to
the erection of these bridges access to the town
from the east was very difficult, as there were but
few fording-places upon the river, and these could
only be improved when the river was very low, in
the summer or fall.

 

“An incident worthy of relation occurred at the
Great Falls of the Housatonic in the spring freshet
of 1837. Two of the men employed by Mr. Ames at
his iron-works attempted to cross the river in a boat;
such was the force of the current that they were pre-
cipitated over the cataract. One of them, David
O’Neal, an Irish laborer, was killed; the other, Wal-
ter Holley, almost miraculously escaped with little
injury.

“The late Dr. Dwight, in one of his volumes, speaks
of the moving rocks in the North or Washington
pond, in this town. There are several rocks, and one
of considerable size, near the southern margin of that
pond, which appear to have been propelled by some
powerful force towards the shore, leaving deep trenches
or gutters behind, and accumulating mud and gravel
before them. Such appearances alone would not per-
suade me, uncorroborated by the credible testimony
of observers, that these rocks had changed position.
But I am compelled to yield my assent upon evidence
of the actual observation of men of respectability,
whose means of knowledge have been accurate. I
am not sure that these are unusual phenomena; and
perhaps they are the result of the immense pressure
of the ice upon the rocks, connected with what may
be the peculiar state of the earth or bottom upon
which they rest.”

INDIAN NAMES.

Housatonic signifies ‘‘Over the Mountain,” or “the
River of the Hill.” The Furnace pond was called
Wonumscopomuc. The two lakes in the northeastern
part of the town (Twin Lakes) were called Washniee
and Washining. The long pond in the southeast
part of the town was called Wononpakook. The
stream flowing through the Centre village was called
Wachocastinook. The stream flowing through the
pond at Chapinville was called Succunop’s. The
eastern range of hills, parallel with the Housatonic,
were called Wotowanchu.

THE REVOLUTION.

“Tn the war of the Revolution this town was not
inactive. Few towns in the State of only equal popu-
lation contributed more efficient means in the prose-
cution of that eventful struggle. An embarrassment
severely felt at the commencement of the war was
the want of a cavalry force. Sheldon’s regiment was
the first body of cavalry of considerable efficiency
which joined the army. That regiment was raised
in this town and this vicinity. Col. Elisha Sheldon,
Lieut.-Col. Samuel Blagden, and Maj. Luther Stod-
dard were attached to it.

“The services of Sheldon’s regiment are frequently
alluded to by writers of American history. In 1780
malicious charges were preferred against Col. Shel-
don; he was tried by a court-martial, of which Col.
Hazen was president, at Fishkill, on the 25th day of
October of that year. He was acquitted ‘ with honor
SALISBURY.

and full approbation,’ and his accuser, Dr. Darius
Stoddard, of this town, severely censured.

“The enthusiasm and excitement occasioned by the
aggressive acts of the British Parliament can hardly
be appreciated by us of this generation. There was
an electric spark communicated to the extremes of
the colonies, producing a simultaneous action every-
where. In this town a meeting was called on the
22d day of August, 1774, to deliberate upon the
threatened state of the colonies. Spirited resolutions
were adopted, accompanied by a preamble of the fol-
lowing tenor:

“ After reading and deliberating upon the several acts and laws, de-
nouncing dangerous exertions of Parliamentary power, as well as a par-
tial, absurd, and self-confuted spirit of punitive malevolence, particu-
larly leveled against the Province of the Massachusetts Bay; and being
deeply impressed with the visible declension of the virtue and rectitude
of British administration, which threaten insupportable convulsions to
the whole empire; and willing, as far as in us lies, to ward off the im-
pending ruin, and revive the expiring liberties of the country; We re-
solve,” &c.

The resolutions which followed denounced the
acts of Parliament, especially the Boston Port Bill;
approved the proposed call of a General Congress, and
pledged the contributions of the inhabitants for the
relief of their suffering brethren of Boston “from
their plentiful harvest; and concluded by appoint-
ing a committee to take up subscriptions, consisting
of Hezekiah Fitch, Esq., Capt. Elisha Sheldon, Luke
Camp, Lot Norton, and Samuel Lane; and also con-
stituting Col. Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch, Abial
Camp, Dr. Lemuel Wheeler, and Josiah Stoddard a
committee of correspondence.

On the 5th day of the succeeding December the
town expressed its acquiescence in the then recent
resolutions of the Congress, and appointed Col. Joshua
Porter, Luke Camp, Lieut. Nathaniel Buell, Lot Nor-
ton, Dr. Samuel Lee, Capt. James Bird, John Camp,
Samuel Lane, William Beebe, Hezekiah Fitch, and
Capt. Elisha Sheldon a committee to carry them into
effect, At the next meeting of the town, a committee
of inspection was appointed, and a committee of the
same character was constituted annually during the
war. The duties of this committee were various, such
as to look well to disaffected persons, to approve of
substitutes for drafted men, to inspect all provisions
intended for the army, etc.

The spirit of the people did not waste itself in reso-
lutions and the appointment of patriotic committees.
What was expressed was intended, and was carried
out in calmer moments by continual and efficient
action. Every requisition of the General Assembly
was complied with,—men were raised, supplies were
furnished on all occasions when the emergency of
the war demanded them, and to an extent much be-
yond the requisitions of the General Assembly.

On the 7th day of April, 1777, Col. Nathaniel
Buell, Lot Norton, Abial Camp, Daniel Bingham,
and George Marsh were appointed a committee to
encourage enlistments into the Continental army, and

 

529

to furnish the families of such as should enlist with
necessaries during their absence. A similar commit-
tee was annually appointed while the war continued.

On the 6th day of January, 1778, the town, by
resolution, approved the Articles of Confederation of
the Thirteen United States, and instructed their rep-
resentatives in the General Assembly to confer upon
the delegates from this State, in Congress, sufficient
authority to ratify them.

In the spring of 1780 the General Assembly
ordered the raising of five regiments for the Conti-
nental service, and in June of the same year the
town levied a tax of threepence on the pound, to be
paid to the non-commissioned officers and soldiers
who should enlist into the regiments., In January
following the town voted to hire six men to serve for
one year, and appointed Luke Camp, Joshua Stanton,
Timothy Chittenden, Nathaniel Buell, Lot Norton,
and Capt. James Watrous a committee for that pur-
pose.

In June, 1781, Governor Trumbull issued his
proclamation, offering a bounty to encourage enlist-
ments. This town forthwith authorized a grant of
three pounds to every non-commissioned officer and
private who should enlist here for every three
months’ service, in addition to the offer made by the
Governor; and previously, in February, 1781, Col.
Nathaniel Buell and the late Samuel Lee, Esq., had
been constituted a committee to hire the enlistment
of four men for the defense of the Western frontiers.
And again, in February, 1782, six men, in addition,
were raised, with an extra pay of twenty shillings
each per month, and a pair of shoes for each man,
upon his marching to join the army. And on many
subsequent occasions necessary supplies for destitute
soldiers serving in the Continental army were raised
here and forwarded to the suffering troops.

Yes, men, as well as money and supplies, were
found here, ready to serve the country and the cause,
both in the army and at home. Many of the most
prominent, wealthy, and influential citizens joined
the troops, either in the militia or Continental ser-
vice; and young men, sons of our best inhabitants,
sought no exemption, but left cheerfully the endear-
ments of home in exchange for the privations of the
camp and the dangers of the battle-field.

Among the officers were Cols. Elisha Sheldon,
Samuel Blagden, Joshua Porter, and Nathaniel Buell,
Majs. Luther Stoddard and John Chipman, Capts.
Roger Moore, James Claghorne, James Holmes,
Joshua Stanton, Nathaniel Everts, Timothy Chitten-
den, James Watrous, Jesse Sawyer, Samuel Lane,
and Ebenezer Fletcher, and Lieuts. Nathaniel Chip-
man, Richard Bignall, Adonijah Strong, Daniel
Brinsmaid, and James Skinner.

Messrs. John Russell, Joseph Hollister, and Archi-
bald Campbell enlisted and served before they became
residents of this town. Mr. Russell was a sergeant of
artillery in the New York Line of the army, and was
530

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

for some time attached to the military family of the
commander-in-chief. Mr. Hollister was a sergeant
from Glastonbury, and commanded a guard upon the
Hudson River, attached to Gen. Putnam’s command,
which captured a British agent, supposed to be a
messenger with dispatches from Gen. Burgoyne to
Gen. Clinton.*

It is not to be denied that among the inhabitants
were some who doubted the propriety of opposition
to the demands of the mother-country, and who be-
lieved themselves restrained by their oaths of alle-
giance from taking part in the contest, or who con-
sidered armed opposition as premature and hopeless.
But none here gave aid to the enemy, nor did any
oppose the efforts of the Whigs.

At length, in 1783, the battle ceased, the victory
was achieved, and the war-worn soldier returned to
his home. The gratitude of the people was expressed
‘in rejoicings and thanksgivings. On the 6th of May,
1783, this town appropriated thirty pounds of powder
“to congratulate the Continental soldiers belonging
to this town upon their return and discharge.” A
day of rejoicing was set apart, and Col. Nathaniel
Buell was appointed “to address the returned Conti-
nentals, and present them with the thanks of the
town for their generous and ce exertions in the
cause of their country.”

In May, 1783, the people, i in town-meeting, gave
what they called instructions to their representatives
in the General Assembly. They declared it ‘‘to be
their indispensable duty to use their influence, and
make the most reasonable efforts, for the security both
of their interests and rights, and early to have a stop
put to injustice and oppression.” They say, moreover,
that “we are sensible, when you come to act in your
public characters, you will be under the obligation
and solemnity of an oath, and we mean not to desire
or request anything that shall infringe on your con-
science or judgment.” The true relation between the
representative and the constituent is here expressed.

The town proceeded to recommend the following
particulars :

1. That our public accounts may be settled, so that
a reasonable account may be rendered of the expen-
diture of such vast sums of money as have been
granted and collected in this State since the com-
mencement of the late war.

2. That effectual care be taken to prevent such per-
sons as have been known to be inimical to these
States from being admitted to be free citizens of this
State.

3. That the recommendation of Congress respect-
ing pay to the officers of the army for a number of
years after the war be wholly rejected as unjust and
oppressive upon the people.

4. That a suitable address be made to Congress to
suppress, prevent, and remove such placemen. as hold

 

* Dwight’s History of Connecticut, 376.

 

trifling offices with large and unreasonable salaries,
which must ultimately be drawn from the people.

These instructions were addressed to Hezekiah
Fitch and Elisha Fitch, Esqs.; who were at that time
our representatives in the General Assembly. They
breathe the true spirit. They:recognize no submission
to cliques or caucuses,—the tyrants of the present
day; and they dare to rebuke even the Congress
itself.

Elisha Fitch, Esq., for many years had been a
distinguished and popular man, and frequently repre-
sented the town in the General Assembly. ‘In the
spring session of 1787 he made a very active opposi-
tion to the proposed call of a convention to revise the
Articles of Confederation. This opposition destroyed
his popularity, and extinguished him as a public man.
The Articles of Confederation were revised, and the
present Constitution of the United States was recom-
mended to the people of the respective States for
adoption. The convention of this State assembled to
deliberate upon the Constitution at Hartford in Jan-
uary, 1788. The delegates who represented this town
in that convention were Hezekiah Fitch and Joshua
Porter, Esqs., both of whom voted for the adoption of
the Constitution.

The Revolutionary struggle had. imposed impov-
erishing burdens upon the country. The times in
prospect were gloomy, and the hearts of many were
desponding. An immense debt had been contracted,
commerce annihilated, the currency depreciated, the
public faith distrusted. In this state of affairs a town-
meeting was called on the 11th day of March, 1785,
by which it was

“ Resolved, That we will continue to maintain harmony, good order,

and unanimity among oursel¥es, as well as the good and wholesome
laws of society.”

WAR OF 1812. .

In the war of 1812 several non-commissioned offi-
cers and privates enlisted from this town, although it
is not known that more than one of them was slain in
battle. John O’Kain was killed in the battle of
Bridgewater. It is said of him that while lying upon
the ground, after receiving his mortal wound, he twice
discharged his musket at the enemy.

THE IRON INTEREST.

The three principal mines from which the celebrated
Salisbury iron ores are obtained are called respectively
the “Old Hill,” “ Davis,” and “ Chatfield” ore-beds,
and are situated on the eastern slope of the Tacconic
range of hills.

The Old Hill ore-bed is a tract of land of one hun-
dred acres, originally granted by the General: Court
in October, 1781, to be laid out by Daniel Bissell, of
Windsor. It was soon after surveyed and located by
Ezekiel Ashley and John Pell. The descendants of
Ashley are still proprietors in the mine. The supply
of ore from this mine has been very abundant, and
for many years was easily obtained, but latterly the
 

BAIR NW UM.

Mm Lu O
SALISBURY.

cost of mining has been greatly increased. Up to
about 1840 the average yield was estimated to be
about four thousand five hundred tons per annum.
The production has gradually increased until the
average yield at present is estimated at fifteen thou-
sand tons annually. The largest production in any
one year was about twenty thousand tons. The pro-
prietors of the mine were incorporated many years
ago under the style of “The Salisbury Ore-Bed Pro-
prietors.”

The Davis ore-bed is so called from a gentleman of
that name who at one time owned it. It was origi-
nally called Hendricks ore-bed, and was owned be-
fore the organization of the town of Salisbury, by
Thomas Lamb, one of the first settlers in the town.
The ore was mined in this bed as early as 1730 or
1781, and was taken by Lamb to supply his forge at
Lime Rock. It was in early days transported in
leathern bags on horses. This mine has been worked
almost constantly since first opened, showing an in-
creased production. The average yearly yield at
present is estimated to be about fifteen thousand tons.
The property has passed through several different
ownerships, and the proprietors are now incorporated
under the name of “ Forbes Ore-Bed Company.”

The Chatfield .ore-bed was originally owned by
Philip Chatfield, from whom it takes its name, and
was opened about the same time with the other beds
or soon after. It has been steadily worked since first
opened, showing, as do the others, an increased pro-

duction. Its annual yield at present is estimated to.

be twelve thousand tons. Notwithstanding the fact
that these mines have been so long and so constantly
worked, the supply of ore is still abundant, and is
apparently inexhaustible.

There has been no special effort made to increase
the production, as these ores are not in the market,
and it is only desired to raise a sufficient supply for
the furnaces in the immediate vicinity of the mines.
The ores are all of the brown hematite variety, and
of the same general character, yielding about forty-five
per cent. of iron. . The process of raising the ore and
making it ready for the furnace has been much im-
proved within the past twenty years, and the ore now
goes into the furnace as free as possible from refuse
matter of all kinds. It is now crushed and washed
by machinery before leaving the mines. The ore is
raised entirely by open mining, and the beds are now
being worked at a depth of from seventy-five to one
hundred feet.

In addition to the mines mentioned above, this
company is working mines at Aménia and Riga, both
on the New York and Harlem Railroad, just over
the New York State line, and on the western slope of
the Tacconic Hills, referred to. These mines produce
ores very similar in ‘character and value to- the ores
first described.. wo

The first forge in this vicinity was erected on Lime:
Rock by Thomas Lamb as early as 1734. He took

 

531.

his ore from the Hendricks (now Davis) ore-bed,
which he then owned in part. Several different
parties succeeded to the ownership of this property,
and among those who occupied it longest and operated
it most successfully were James Johnston and Messrs.
Canfield & Robbins, who succeeded him. The last-
named parties owned and operated a forge and blast-
furnace on this site for many years, and also had a
forge and blast-furnace, which was built by Leman
Bradley in 1812, on the Housatonic River, just below
the Canaan Falls, using at both places the Salisbury
ores. The Lime Rock property came into the pos-
session of its present owners in 1863, and in 1864 a
new blast-furnace was erected, which has been in
operation up to the present time. About the year
1748 a forge was erected in the present village of
Lakeville (then called Furnace Village), and in 1762,
John Haseltine, Samuel Forbes, and Ethan Allen
purchased the property and built a blast-furnace.

This is supposed to be the first blast-furnace built
in the State. This property, in 1768, came into the
possession of Richard Smith, of Boston, who, being
a loyalist, returned to England upon the breaking
out of the war. The State took possession of the
works, and appointed Col. Joshua Porter their agent
in its management, and upon orders of the Governor
and Council large quantities of cannon, shot, and
shell were made during the Revolutionary war for the
general government. John Jay and Gouverneur. Mor-
ris were often there, superintending the casting and
proving of the guns, and it was there that the supe-
rior quality and. strength of this iron was proven.
The cannon were intended chiefly for the navy, and
after the war the navy, to a considerable extent, was
supplied with guns made from this iron. The ship
of Commodore Truxtun, the “ Constellation,” and the
popular ship “Constitution,’—“ Old Tronsides,”—
were supplied with Salisbury cannon.

This furnace was afterwards owned and operated
for many years by Messrs. Holly & Coffing, who also
operated a forge and furnace at Mount Riga. The
forge on Mount Riga was built about the year 1781,
by Abner or Peter Woodin. Daniel Ball succeeded,
and the works were for many years known as Ball’s
Forge. Seth King and John Kelsey commenced
building a furnace there about 1806, but were not
able to complete it, and in 1810 it came into posses-
sion of Messrs. Holly & Coffing, who the same year
finished the furnace, and for many years carried on
an extensive and profitable business. Pig iron,
anchors, screws, and various kinds of manufactured
iron were made there.

These works and the ones at Lakeville were aban-
doned many years ago, and the property at Mount
Riga, including the water-privilege, which is very
valuable, and are the finest in the State, is now owned
by Barnum, Richardson & Co., and used by them to
supply water-power in part to the furnace and foun-
dries at Lime Rock.
532

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

There were also built at East Canaan two blast-
furnaces for the manufacture of pig iron from Salis-
bury ore,—one about 1840, by Samuel Forbes, and one
about 1847, by John A. Beckley.

The first foundry for the remelting of pig iron was
built in Lime Rock about the year 1830, and soon
after came under control of Milo Barnum, who was
the founder of the present company.

Milo Barnum was born in Dover, Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., July 16, 1790; married at twenty-three years
of age, and in the spring of 1820 settled in Lime
Rock, and engaged in business as a merchant. Soon
after getting possession of the foundry he associated
with him his son-in-law, Leonard Richardson, and
within a few years his son, William H. Barnum, was
taken into the partnership. The foundry business
was carried on in a small way, in connection with the
store (the firm-name at this time being Barnum,
Richardson & Co.), their production consisting chiefly
of clock- and sash-weights, plow castings, and other
small work. The business gradually increased until
about 1840, when they began the manufacture of
railroad work. The first railroad work made was
chains, frogs, head-blocks, etc., for the Boston and
Albany Railroad, then being built from Springfield to
Albany, and the castings were transported by teams
to Springfield and Chatham, a distance of about fifty
miles. The great tensile strength and natural chill-
ing qualities of the Salisbury iron proved it of great
value in the manufacture of cast chilled car-wheels,
which naturally followed in a few years the making
of smaller railroad castings. The iron early obtained,
and has still held, the reputation of being the best
known for this purpose.

In about 1852, Milo Barnum retired from active
participation in the business, and the firm-name was
at that time changed to Richardson, Barnum & C©o.,
and the business rapidly increased. In 1858 they
obtained possession of the Beckley furnace, at East
Canaan, and in 1862 purchased the Forbes furnace,
at the same place. They also, about this time, pur-
chased the foundry at 64 South Jefferson Street, Chi-
cago, and organized a joint-stock company, under the
name of the Barnum & Richardson Manufacturing
Company, for the continuance of the foundry business
at that place: Leonard Richardson died in January,
1864, and in the May following the Barnum-Richard-
son Company, a joint-stock company, was organized,
with William H. Barnum as president and general
manager, the heirs of Leonard Richardson retaining
their interest in the business. The new company
succeeded to all the iron interest of Richardson, Bar-
num & Co., and since that time have largely increased
their works by building, and have from time to time,
as occasion afforded, acquired further interest in
mining companies and in furnace companies already
established. They built a third furnace at East
Canaan in 1872, with many improvements upon the
old method of construction, and in 1870 built a second

 

foundry at Lime Rock. A new wheel-foundry was
built in Chicago in 1873 by the company there. The
foundries at Chicago use the Salisbury iron, and have
a capacity in the two shops of three hundred wheels
per day. The company use at their Lime Rock works
Salisbury iron also, and have a capacity of two hun-
dred wheels per day.

In 1840 there were in this vicinity four blast-fur-
naces in operation, using an average of six hundred
bushels of charcoal and producing three tons of pig
iron per day to each furnace. There are now eight
blast-furnaces, of which Wm. H. Barnum is president
and general manager, using an average of twelve
hundred bushels of charcoal and producing eleven
tons of iron to each furnace per day. The new fur-
nace at East Canaan at its last blast ran one hundred
and four consecutive weeks, making an average of
eighty tons of iron per week, this being the most
advantageous blast known to have been made ina
charcoal furnace.

The eight furnaces are located within a radius of
eight miles from Lime Rock, and are situated as fol-
lows: three at East Canaan, one at Lime Rock, one
at Millerton, one at Sharon Valley, one at Cornwall
Bridge, and one at Huntsville, in connection with
which latter furnace is a car-wheel foundry at Jersey
City, having a capacity of one hundred and fifty
wheels per day, and using the iron exclusively from
this furnace. The Salisbury iron shows a tensile
strength of about thirty thousand pounds to the
square inch, and besides being valuable for ordnance
and railroad purposes is extensively supplied for mal-
leable and machinery uses. The wheels made from
these works have been largely used in the United
States, Canada, and foreign countries, particularly in
South America, and have the hearty indorsement of
competent engineers and practical railroad men as to
their superior quality. They are not affected by
extremes of heat or cold, as is instanced by their
large use in South America and Canada, while the
chilling of the tread gives a wearing surface about as
durable as steel. A test was made of the strength of
the wheels before a number of prominent English
engineers and railway officials in August, 1875, at the
machine-works of Mr. Horn, Millbank Row, West-
minster. The wheel was struck with two sledges,
weighing twenty-eight pounds and thirty-one pounds
respectively, and it was not until the three hundred
and sixty-seventh blow that the iron partially gave
way. The opening of the Connecticut Western Rail-
road has brought these mines and furnaces within
easier access of each other, and has also enabled the
furnace companies to procure a portion of their supply
of charcoal from a distance, most of it being brought
from Vermont, and the companies own the ore- and
coal-cars used for this business.

In the various departments of this business, from
the mining of the ore and so on, including the labor
of colliers, teamsters, furnace-men, foundry-men, and
 
SALISBURY.

533

 

common laborers, the companies, of course, furnish
work for a great number of men and horses.

The different companies are as follows:

Barnum-Richardson Company, owners of three fur-
naces at East Canaan and foundry at Lime Rock.
President, Hon. William H. Barnum; Treasurer,
Hon, William H. Barnum; Assistant Treasurer, Milo
B. Richardson ; Secretary, Charles W. Barnum; Agent
at East Canaan furnaces, Nathaniel C. Ward.

Lime Rock Iron Company, owners of furnace at Lime
Rock. President, Samuel 8. Robbins; Treasurer, Wm.
H. Barnum; Secretary, Milo B. Richardson.

Hunts-Lyman Iron Company, owners of furnace at
Huntsville. President, George Church; Treasurer,
Wn. H. Barnum; Secretary, Samuel W. Bradley.

Sharon Valley Iron Company, owners of furnace at
Sharon Valley. President, Wm. H. Barnum, Treas-
urer, Charles W. Barnum; Secretary, Milo B. Rich-
ardson.

Cornwall Bridge Iron Company, owners of furnace at
Cornwall Bridge. President, Wm. H. Barnum ; Sec-
retary and Treasurer, James A. Bierer.

Millerton Iron Company, owners of furnace at Mil-
lerton, N. Y. President, Wm. H. Barnum ; Secretary
and Treasurer, George S. Frink.

Old Hill Ore-Bed.—Owners, proprietors of. the ore-
bed in Salisbury; Miners, Brook Pit Mining Com-
pany.

Davis Ore-Bed.—Owners, Forbes Ore-Bed Company ;
Miners, Davis Digging Company.

Star Pit—Owners, heirs of John M. Holley and
John C. Coffing; Miners, Davis Digging Company.

Chatfield Ore-Bed.—Owners, Barnum-Richardson
Company, Cornwall Bridge Iron Company, Adams-
Chatfield Company, heirs of John M. Holley and
John C. Coffing, heirs of Hon. John H. Hubbard,
heirs of Josiah M. and Chauncey Reed; Miners,
Chatfield Mining Company.

CHAPTER LIII.
SALISBURY (Continued).
HISTORICAL ADDRESS OF EX-GOV. A. H. HOLLEY.*

“Mr. MoDERATOR AND FELLOW-CITIZENS,—We
have gathered here to-day with patriotic hearts, I
doubt not, warmed with a deepening devotion to the
interest and honor of our beloved country. We meet
under the influence of the better impulses of our na-
tures, with broader charities towards each other, and
towards our fellow-men everywhere, and with a full
purpose to fraternize cordially in celebrating another
anniversary of the nation’s birth.

“With deep thankfulness for the innumerable

 

* By general request, the publishers reproduce the following address,
which was delivered July 4, 1876. It is an invaluable addition to the
historic literature of this section. The closing remarks, which are not
strictly historical, are omitted.

 

blessings which have been so abundantly bestowed
upon us as a people, we would acknowledge with un-
feigned gratitude our obligations to the Giver of all
good.

“We have met on similar occasions in years past to
celebrate the day which gave us liberty as well as
birth and national life. We met then, as we meet
now, to revive our recollections of the noble men and:
the glorious deeds through which our independence
was achieved,—to reinvigorate our own hearts with a
truer appreciation of the perils which were encoun-
tered and overcome to accomplish our emancipation
from one of the mightiest nations of the earth. A
just appreciation of these events should now lead us
to a firmer purpose of maintaining in its integrity
this glorious inheritance bequeathed to us by an hon-
ored ancestry.

“ Fellow-citizens, it is good for us to be here. It is
wise for communities, as well as nations, to commem-
orate peculiar events in their history by some appro-
priate demonstration that shall fix in the minds of
men the eras which mark their progress through the
centuries, and which shall serve as landmarks from
which to date subsequent history. Such events are
the birthdays of nations, the founding of states, the
incorporation of towns, the organization of churches
and schools, the establishment 6f hospitals and kin-
dred institutions. A due consideration of such acts
will enable us to determine whether we are discharg-
ing our whole duty to those who are to come after us.

‘It is eminently appropriate, therefore, that we
should, on this more than ordinarily interesting occa-
sion, renew and perpetuate the history of our own
town; revive our recollections of those heretofore
among us, native-born or long resident, who have oc-
cupied prominent positions in our own or other com-
munities; to refer briefly to the progress of our fel-
low-citizens in the arts and improvements of civilized
life; to recur to some of the reasons which have given
us an honorable position among surrounding commu-
nities, and to leave such data as will enable the future
historian to make up the record of the century
through which we are passing, and at the close of
which so few of us will be able to present personal
reminiscences.

“More than a third of a century and an entire gen-
eration of our race have passed from the earth since
those of us who are still living, together with multi-
tudes of others who have gone down to honored
graves, assembled under the ancient roof of yonder
Congregational church to celebrate the first. centen-
nial anniversary of our existence as an incorporated
community. Your venerated predecessor, Mr. Mod-
erator,—the two honorable gentlemen who addressed
us on that occasion,—the reverend father and his
younger legal friend, who together composed the
hymns that were sung on that day, and four of the
committee who made the arrangements for the cele-
bration, all now sleep in the dust.
534

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“To those of us who remember the high social en-
joyments of our own citizens, and the kindly meet-
ings and greetings of friends and kindred whom we
welcomed from far-off homes to their native town on
that hallowed day, pleasant memories come to warm
our hearts anew; yet they are shadowed by the con-
sciousness that most of those friends have passed from
our midst, and from all the cares and enjoyments of
earth to the purer enjoyments, as we hope, of a higher
life. We may turn, however, from thoughts saddened
by their departure to brighter scenes and incidents,
that should cheer and encourage us as we move along
in our progress through our second century.

“The historical sermon which was delivered by the
Rev. Joseph W. Crossman on the fiftieth, and the one
subsequently delivered by Judge Church on the one
hundredth anniversary of the organization of the
town, leave but a comparatively brief history to be
added since 1841.

“Referring first, then, to individuals, as indicated
above, I may, I think, appropriately speak more at
length of those to whom allusion has already been
made, as our record commences with that notable day.

“The venerable and much-respected chairman of
that meeting, Lot Norton, Esq., was a native-born
citizen, who, after a useful and honorable life, in
which he served the town in various public capaci-
ties, as its records will show, died in 1847, on the es-
tate long occupied by his ancestor. The historian of
the day, Hon. Samuel Church, also native born, con-
tinued to reside among us a loved and honored
citizen until, in the course of the practice of his pro-
fession, he was elected a judge of the Supreme Court,
when his duties called him to the county-seat in 1847,
where he made his residence for the remainder of his
life. Judge Church was for eleven years judge of
probate for this district,—from 1821 to 1832,—and
State’s attorney for Litchfield County from 1823 to
1832. In 1847 he was elected chief justice of the State,
which office he filled acceptably until his decease in
1854. Judge Church also delivered a county centen-
nial address in 1851. Having recently looked over
both of these addresses, I commend them most earn-
estly to the men now conducting our public affairs,
not only on account of their historical reminiscences,
but for the suggestions they contain of the best meth-
ods of perpetuating an honorable history, and also of
maintaining our good name and standing in the State.
The gentleman who supplemented with a short ad-
dress that of Judge Church, in relation to his native
town, and on behalf of the emigrant friends who were
then our guests, Hon. John M, Holley, died in Flor-
ida in 1848, while a member of Congress from a west-
ern district in New York. He had also represented
the district of his residence in the State Legislature.
The Rev. Jonathan Lee (already referred to) com-
posed two of the hymns that were sung on that anni-
niversary, as did Churchill Coffing, Esq., two others,
which were also sung on the same occasion. Mr. Lee

 

died in Salisbury in September, 1866, and Mr. Cof-
fing in Chicago in 1873. Both of these gentlemen
were writers of considerable ability, and both were
native-born, educated, and cultivated gentlemen.

“Of the committee of arrangements for that day, six
in number, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., died in 1859,
John C. Coffing in 1847, Jared 8, Harrison in 1864,
and Samuel C. Scoville in 1865. These four gentle-
tlemen all died in their ‘respective homes, Mr. Whit-
tlesey and Mr. Coffing in this village, Mr. Scoville
on his farm in the northeast part of the town, and Col.
Harrison at his pleasant home in Lakeville, on the
old home of the Chittendens. All of them had served
the town acceptably in various public capacities,
having honorable records, as will subsequently ap-
pear; their descendants still dwell among us. Of
the two living members, it does not become me to
speak, only to state the historical fact that both of
them became Lieutenant-Governors of the. State,
and one of them Governor also. Mr. Coffing be-
queathed to the town by his will a fund designed to
promote the comfort and the welfare of all such as
may become inmates of the town asylum, as well as
in aid of our religious societies, and some minor ob-
jects. It may be proper to mention in this connec-
tion that Messrs. Moore and Timothy Chittenden
each left funds in aid of the Congregational society
worshiping in this village. It gives me pleasure, also,
to state that our esteemed young friend, Henry Clark,
who died in 1872, left funds in aid of the Episcopal
society worshiping here. Mr. Clark’s:bequest to that
society, making such a provision for the support of
religion while engaged in the active duties of middle
life, does honor both to his judgment and his memory.

‘Of the gentlemen of the legal profession who have
deceased since 1841, or who have gone out from
among us into’ other communities, I may mention
the Hon. Thomas G. Waterman, son of David Water-
man, who lived in town, and was once associated with
Ethan Allen in the ownership of the furnace at Lake-
ville, many years ago. Thomas G. taught school in
Lakeville, studied law with the late Gen. Elisha Ster-
ling, and left town more than half a century since.
He delivered, it is said, the first Fourth of July ora-
tion ever delivered in this town. He became a prom-
inent member of the bar in Binghamton, N. Y., and
was twice elected to the senate of that State. He
died in Binghamton in 1861.

“Hon. Peter B. Porter, alluded to in Judge Church’s
address, was born in Lakeville, and died at his home
at Niagara Falls in 1844. He was in Congress in
1810, and also Secretary of War under President J.
Q. Adams. | :

“Campbell Bushnell studied law in Hudson, N. Y.,
practiced there several years, and then removed to
New York City, where he continued to practice until
his death, which occurred in 1839.

“Orsamus Bushnell practiced in New York City
during the whole of his professional life, and died
 

 

 

 

   

rer
freririry

“HOLLEY Woao.” - :
. GOV. A.H.HOLLEY, Lakevitte, Conn.

RESIDENCE OF EX
 

RESIDENCE OF Mrs. MH. WILLIAMS, LarweévitLe Conn.

ERECTED BY HER FATHER SOHN MILTON HOLLEY 1 1807.
SALISBURY.

535

 

there in 1868. Both of these gentlemen were born in
town, near the New York State line, and were promi-
nent lawyers,

“T cannot refrain from giving an extract from a
letter recently received from Pope Bushnell, Esq., the
oldest of the many brothers of this Bushnell family,
in which he says, ‘I am now in my eighty-eighth
year, and think I am devoutly grateful for a com-
fortable measure of health. Bruised and battered in
a conflict of more than four and a quarter score of
years, I am in almost childlike feebleness, leaning on
my staff, patiently waiting for those better days to
come.’

Hon. Theron R. Strong, son of Hon. Martin Strong,
was born in town, 1802, practiced law in Palmyra and
Rochester, N. Y., was elected to Congress for one ses-
sion in 1839, and also to the Supreme Court of that
State for seven years from January 1, 1851, and was
one year in the Court of Appeals. He died in New
York City in 1878, leaving an honorable record. ,

“Hon, Graham H. Chapin was born in Chapinville
in 1800, studied law in Canandaigua with John C.
Spencer, removed to and practiced law in Lyons,
Wayne Co., N. Y., was elected to Congress from that
district in 1836, and served one term, and died at
Mount Morris in 1848. Mr. Chapin was for some
years surrogate of Wayne County. He, with other
respected members of that family, were born on. the
estate now owned by Horace Landon, Esq.

“Orville L. Holley, Esq., lawyer, editor, and author,
was born in Lakeville in 1791, and died in Albany in
1861. He was for several years surveyor-general of
the State of New York.

“Hon. Norton J. Buel and his brother, Theodore,
were both born in the Harrison District, both prac-
ticed law.in Waterbury, and both died there, the
former in March, 1864, and the latter in 1872. . Nor-
ton J.’s professional career was one of considerable
eminence. His practice was chiefly in New Haven
County. He represented Waterbury, the place of
his residence, in the General Assembly in 1856, and
was, during one session, a member of the State nets
also a judge of probate for five years.

Hon, John M. Holley was born in Lakeville in
1802. He died in Florida while a member of Con-
gress from the Twenty-seventh Congressional Dis-
trict of New York. He has already been alluded to.

“Hon. George Bartlett, son of the late Loring
Bartlett, was born near the Twin Lakes, practiced
law in Binghamton, N. Y., and died there. Mr.
Bartlett represented his district in the New York
Legislature.

- “Hon. John H. Hubbatd was born on Town Hill,
practiced law in Lakeville for several years, was a
member of the State senate from this Seventeenth
District in 1847 and 1850, removed to Litchfield in
1855, where he died in July, 1872. Mr. Hubbard
was elected to Congress in 1863 and 1865. He was
also States’ attorney from 1849 to 1854. His record

 

testifies to his ability and standing enne his fellow-
men.

“Churchill Coffing, Esq., son of fhe late John C.
Coffing, was born in the Centre District, practiced
law in Peru, Ill., and died in Chicago in 1873.

“Luther -T. Ball, son of the late Robert Ball, was
born in the Chapinville District, studied law with D.
J. Warner, Esq., and subsequently at Ballston, N. Y.,
and was admitted to the bar in this State in 1854.
Mr. Ball removed quite early from town, and finally
located in Keithsburg, Ill., where he took a high
stand, both as a lawyer anda citizen. At the com-
mencement of hostilities on the part of the South,
Mr. Ball and his partner raised a company of volun-
teers, of which he was chosen first lieutenant. This
company was attached to the Eighty-fourth Illinois
Regiment. He fell in the defense of his country at
the battle of Murfreesboro’, in December, 1862, and,
in obedience to a previous arrangement, was buried
on the field hallowed by his blood.

“John H. Russell, Esq., was born in Canaan, prac-
ticed law in this town, and died on his farm in Lake-
ville in 1871. Mr. Russell represented the town in
the Legislature, as will appear from the record, in
1853 and 1854.

“Charles Whittlesey, Esq., was born in the Whit-
tlesey District, graduated at Williams College in 1840,
practiced law in Middletown and Hartford, and from
the latter city went into the war in 1862 as captain. of
Co. I, Twenty-second Regiment of Infantry, and was
honorably discharged in 1868. He died in Alex-
andria, Va., in 1874, while in the practice of his pro-
fession there.

“John G. Mitchell and Philander Wheeler, Esqs.,
both practiced law in Lakeville, but neither of them
were born in town. The former died in Chicago in
1868, and the latter'in town in 1852.

“ All the above professional gentlemen to whom I
have alluded are in their graves. - :

“John M. Sterling was born at Lakeville in 1800,
graduated at Yale College in 1821, practiced law in
Lakeville several years, and then removed to Cleve-
land, Ohio. I believe Mr. Sterling gave less attention
to the law than to land speculations in Ohio, where
he acquired a considerable fortune, and is still living.

“The attorneys at present practicing in town are
Donald J. Warner, Esq., and his son Donald T., both
located at the Centre, and Hubert Williams, at Lake-
ville. Donald J. represented this town in the Legis-
ture in 1848 and 1866.

“William G. Sterling, son of W..C. Sterling, Esq.,
was born in: Lakeville, commenced the practice of
his profession in New York City in 1841, is still in
practice there, and is, or has been, a judge of one of
the city courts.

“ Among the living lawyers who had their birth or
education in town, and who are now practicing else-
where, I recall readily the names of Hon. Roger
Averill, who was born in the Wetaug District, prac-
536

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ticed law in this town some twelve years, during

which period he held several important positions, and

in 1848 represented the town in the Legislature. Mr.
Averill removed to Danbury about 1850, held the
office of probate judge for that district three years,
was elected Lieutenant-Governor four consecutive
years, from 1862 to 1866, and represented that town
in the General Assembly in 1868.

“Lyman D. Brewster is a graduate of Yale College,
is now practicing law in Danbury, has held the office
of judge of probate there several years, was judge of
the Court of Common Pleas for that county four
years, in 1870 was representative in the General As-
sembly, and is now a member of the State Senate.

“Charles B. Dutcher, born in Wetaug District,
practiced law in Spencertown, N. Y., from whence he
removed to New York City, and is now a resident of
White Plains, N. Y.

“Jared F. Harrison, Esq., son of the late Jared S.
Harrison, of Lakeville, was born in the Harrison Dis-
trict, studied law with Hon. J. H. Hubbard, at Lake-
ville, and subsequently with Hon. T. R. Strong, in
Palmyra, where he commenced practice, but is now a
practitioner in New York City.

“Charles C. Barton, Esq., son of Hon. Pliny L.
Barton, was born in Salisbury, graduated at Trinity
College, and is now practicing in Boston, Mass.

“George W. Peet, Esq., born in the house now oc-
cupied by Hon. P. L. Barton, in 1825, commenced
practice with the Hon. William M. Burrall, of Canaan,
and represented that town in the Legislature four ses-
sions, was elected president of the Iron Bank in 1864,
and now resides in North Canaan.

“Judson S. Landon was born in the Lime Rock
District in 1832, received his education chiefly in
the State of New York, was employed as a teacher
of mathematics and natural sciences at Princetown,
N. Y., for two years; subsequently attended the law-
school at Yale College, was admitted to the bar, and
commenced practice at Schenectady in 1856. The
same year he was elected district attorney of that
county, which office he held six years; he also held
the office of county judge for that county two terms.
In 1874 he was elected justice of the Supreme Court
of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of New
York, which office he now holds.

“Charles B. Landon, brother of Judson 8., was also
educated in the State of New York, commenced the
study of law with D. J. Warner, Esq., of this town,
in 1859, was admitted to the bar in 1862; the same
year entered the army as a chaplain in the Twenty-
eighth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers ; returning
from the army late in 1863, he commenced the prac-
tice of law in Columbia County, N. Y. In 1867 he
entered the ministry in the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and is still a member of the New York Con-
ference.

“Tt will appear from our history thus far that the
legal profession has been numerously, and often with

 

eminent ability, represented both at home and abroad,
and chiefly by native-born citizens.

“ Of clergymen,* whose history is more or less con-
nected with our own, but who now sleep in their
graves, having died since 1841, I may repeat the name
of Jonathan Lee, who has already been alluded to.

“Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, who preached thirteen
years in the Congregational church in this village,
removed to, and preached in Auburn, N. Y., several
years, returned in July, 1854, to Connecticut, was set-
tled in Sharon, and died there in 1857. Dr. Lathrop
was an able and eloquent divine.

“Revs. W. L. and Henry P. Strong, brothers, were
born on Town Hill, and went abroad in early life to
preach as Congregational clergymen. William L.
died in 1859, and Henry P. in 1875.

“Rey. Edward Hollister and Rev. Edwin Holmes
were sons of our soil, but I have been unable to trace
their history.

“Rey. Edwin Janes, born in Sheffield, Mass., was
educated among us, became a valuable member and
preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
died in 8

“Of the living clergymen, born or educated here, I
recall the names of the venerable and Rev. Isaac Bird,
born in the west part of the town in 1794, who was
for some fourteen years a missionary, residing at dif-
ferent periods in Palestine, at Beirut, and Mount
Lebanon, and subsequently became the principal of a
flourishing school in Hartford. Mr. Bird is now a
resident of Great Barrington, Mass., at the advanced
age of eighty-three years,

“Rey. Edmund Janes, a prominent and much
valued preacher in the Methodist denomination, was
born in Sheffield, but came early to Salisbury, and
secured his education while a resident here. He was
elected bishop. The duties of his office required
or induced him to travel extensively, both in this
country and in Europe. His varied and extensive
acquirements have rendered him an honored and
much loved member of the clerical profession, irre-
spective of denominational distinctions.

“Revs. Eliphalet and Elisha Whittlesey, sons of
the late Eliphalet Whittlesey, Esq., were both born in
the Whittlesey District. The former was a missionary
for some ten years at the Sandwich Islands, from
about 1844 to 1854. The latter is now a resident of
North Canaan, and the rector of the Episcopal Church
in that place.

“Rey. Joseph Pettee graduated at Yale College in
1833, studied with Dr. Lathrop, preached for a short
time as a Congregational clergyman, and subsequently
became a Swedenborgian minister. Mr. Pettee is

 

 

* Salisbury has given birth or education to several ministers of the
gospel, among whom have been James Hutchinson, Samuel Camp,
Chauncey Lee, D.D., William L. and Henry P. Strong, Horace Holley,
D.D., Isaac Bird, Jonathan Lee (3d), George A. Calhoun, Edward Hollis-
ter, Edwin Holmes, Josiah Turner, Joseph Pettee, Edmund and Edwin
Janes.
SALISBURY.

highly esteemed among his brethren, and is an excel-
lent man.

“ Revs. Peter M. and Alexander Bartlett, both born
in the Whittlesey District, and both at present resi-
dents of Tennessee. The former is president, and the
latter professor, in Marysville College in that State.

“Rev. Albert Bushnel, son of the late Albert Bush-
nel, was born in the Ore Hill District, and is now, I
believe, preaching in a Congregational Church in
Sterling, Il.

“Of the living clergymen who have been rectors of
the Episcopal Church at the Centre I am enabled to
give the following names: Rev. Charles Devins was
rector in 1841; William Warland’s rectorship com-
menced in 1842; George H. Nichols’ in 1846; Ruel
H. Tuttle’s in 1855; Samuel Jarvis’ in 1860; J. A.
Wainwright’s in 1865; William A. Johnson’s in 1871.

“Mr. Johnson is much esteemed not only for his
earnestness in preaching, but for his faithfulness in
the discharge of his pastoral duties.

“The Episcopalians in town have recently acquired
a new and beautiful church edifice at Lime Rock, of
which Rev. Millidge Walker is rector.

“The requirements of itineracy in the Methodist
Episcopal denomination have rendered it difficult for
me to ascertain who, among those that have been
stationed in town, are now among the living. The
more recent incumbents have been Oscar Haviland,
Q. J. Collins, Nathan Hubbell, Clark Wright, William
8. Bowton, William Stevens. The latter was trans-
ferred in April last, and John G. Oakley is his suc-
cessor.

“The Congregational society worshiping in this
village has been subjected to no change in its pulpit in-
cumbentsince 1841. Its present (1876) able and beloved
pastor, Dr. Adam Reid,* is now in the fortieth year of
his pastorate, and is probably the oldest clergyman
having but a single settlement in the State. In 1836
he was engaged to preach for a single year, at the
close of which he was settled as permanent pastor.
Frequent efforts have been made to obtain his services
in other localities, notably at Boston, Hartford, and
Brooklyn. Dr. Reid delivered the centennial address
of his church in 1844.

“ Prominent among our medical practitioners who
have deceased since 1841 was Luther Ticknor, who
had an extensive practice in this town and vicinity.
He was at one time president of the State Medical
Society, before which he delivered the annual address
in —. He also represented the town in the General
Assembly, as its record shows.

“Henry Fish, born in New York City, married in
Salisbury, came here to practice about 1820, remained
about twenty-five years, removed to Lee, Mass., about
1845, and died there in 1850, aged sixty-two years.
He was a graduate of Yale College, and was a sur-
geon in the war of 1812.

 

# Dr. Reid died November 2, 1878.

 

537

“ Asahel Humphrey came into town from Norfolk,
was both physician and druggist, and died here in
April, 1852.

“ Ovid Plumb, born in Canaan, came into this town
in 1830 from Dutchess Co., N. Y., practiced exten-
sively in the vicinity until 1856, when he died at his
home near the Twin Lakes.

“Chauncey Reed was born in Salisbury, practiced
in Sharon, was a much respected citizen there, as
well as an intelligent physician. He died in Sharon
in 1856.

“Professor Charles A. Lee was born in the Ticknor
District, practiced some years in the city and vicinity
of New York, but was more extensively known as a
medical lecturer, having for several years lectured in
five different States.

“Ferdinand F. Fish, son of the late Henry Fish,
was born in New York City, but came to Salisbury
when quite young, studied medicine, but did not prac-
tice. He spent some years in New York and be-
came quite an eminent chemist. He removed to Wa-
terbury, in this State, was twice elected mayor of that
city, and died in Lee, Mass., in 1868.

“ Benajah and Caleb Ticknor, brothers of Dr. Lu-
ther, were both eminent practitioners, the former as
surgeon in the United States navy, and the latter as
a homeeopathist in New York. Caleb wrote several
medical works. He died in New York in 1840.

“ William J. Barry came into town from Hartford,
located in Lakeville in 1835, practiced there eleven
years quite successfully, and then returned to Hart-
ford, where he died in 1847, much lamented.

“William Worden came from Richmond, Mass.,
located at the Centre village, practiced here about
seven years, and died in 1853. Dr. Worden had se-
cured a strong hold upon the people here, and was in
full practice up to the time of his death.

“Benjamin Welch, a native of Norfolk, Conn.,
commenced practice in Lakeville in 1845, and re-
mained here until his decease in 1874. He, too, was
highly esteemed in his profession, and was much
beloved, especially by the poor, whom he cheerfully
attended.

“The preceding physicians are all dead.

“ Adonijah Strong, son of the late Hon. Martin
Strong, born in Salisbury, studied with the late Dr.
Luther Ticknor, and is now in practice at Honesdale,
Pa.

“J. O. Niles practiced in Salisbury about eight
years, went into the army (for a few years) about
1861, returned to Salisbury, from whence he went to
Schenectady, N. Y., and from thence to Chatham,
N. Y.

“Samuel P. Church, son of Judge Samuel Church,
was born in Salisbury, commenced practice in Derby
in 1847, removed to Newburgh, N. Y., in 1857, where
he is still actively engaged in his profession.

“Elisha W. Cleveland went from Lakeville to New
York City in 1826, practiced there thirty years, and
538

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

returned to Lakeville in 1856, and still resides among
us, at the age of seventy-eight.

“George Sterling, son of George W. Sterling, of
Sharon, practiced in town a year or two about 1864.

“Dr. J. H. Blodgett practiced in town from 1866
to 1873.

“The venerable moderator, William H. Walton,
first chosen to preside over this meeting, was once, I
believe, a medical student.

“The medical gentlemen now in town are William
Bissell and John L. Orton, located in Lakeville, and
Bradford J. Thompson, at Salisbury Centre.

“Henry M. Knight* came into town from Stafford
Springs, and commenced practice in 1851 with Dr.
Benjamin Welch. |

(The only physician in town not named in Gov-
ernor Holley’s address is Robert Phelps Knight,
M.D., son and successor to the late lamented Henry
M. Knight, M.D., the organizer and efficient head of
the ‘‘Connecticut School for Imbeciles,” at Lake-
ville.]

“The political interests of the town have been rep-
resented in the State senate at five different sessions
since 1841, viz.: by Hon. John H. Hubbard, in 1847
and 1851; by Charles E. Botsford, in 1857; by George
Coffing, in 1861; and by Pliny L. Barton, in 1878.

“ Among gentlemen who have held honorable posi-
tions in our own and-other communities who have
not already been alluded to in one or the other of the
professions, and who had their birth in Salisbury, I
may mention Prof. Albert E. Church, son of the late
Hon. Samuel Church, who was educated at the United
States Military Academy at West Point, where he was
graduated in 1828. In 18388 he was appointed pro-
fessor of mathematics, which position he still holds
after nearly forty years of service,—proof beyond ques-
tion of the value of his services. Prof. Church has
published four mathematical works. He still claims
to be a citizen of Salisbury,—having from his major-
ity been in the service of the government, he has
gained no residence elsewhere.

“George W. Holley, educated in part at West
Point, but unable to continue his duties there on
account of his deafness, has been a member of the
New York Legislature, is the author of a work on
Niagara, and has written extensively for the public
press. He isa resident of Niagara Falls, where he
has resided for ‘many years.

“Hon. W. H. Barnum, though not a professional
gentleman, has not only represented the town in the
General Assembly, but has also been a member of
the House of Representatives in Congress for some
nine years, and was a member of the United States
Senate one term.

“The following gentlemen, natives of this town,
have represented other towns in this State in the
General Assembly since 1841:

 

* See biography.

 

1850-58-62.—George W. Peet, for Canaan.
1852.—Chauncey Reed, for Sharon.

1857 and 1864.—Fitch Landon, for Sharon.

1865.—F. N. Holley, for Wolcottville.

1865.—N. E. Wood, for North Canaan. .

1866.—N. M. Brown, for North Canaan.

1869.—E, J. Reed, for Sharon.

1869.—J. §. Wheeler, for Colebrook.

1866 and 1868.—Egbert Bartlett, for Derby.
1870.—Lyman Brewster, for Danbury, present senator.

“The list of town officers for a generation past is,
of course, too numerous to record here. The magis-
trates who have been most frequently called upon as
trying justices, so called, have been Robert N. Fuller
and John H. Russell, both deceased, and Lorenzo
Tupper, James Ensign, and Andrew J. Spurr.

“ James Ensign has been county surveyor for some
years past, and is still in office. Since 1841, John G.
Mitchell, Robert N. Fuller, Albert Moore, and Silas
Moore have each held the office of judge of probate
in the order named; the latter still holds the office.
Daniel Pratt has held the office of town clerk since
1863, and still acts in that capacity. His predeces-
sors since 1841 have been Roger Averill, for five years;
Robert N. Fuller, for one year; D. J. Warner, for
eight years; Newton L. Dexter, for four years; Henry
J. Reed, who died soon after his appointment, and D.
J. Warner was appointed to fill his place. Henry
Hubbard filled the office four years.

“The manufacture of iron in various forms has
been one of the leading industries of the town from
its earliest settlement, and without going back to the
period of our Revolution, when cannon were cast
here for the service of both the army and navy of the
United States, and without referring again to iron-
masters, who have been particularly alluded to in our
Centennial history, I may and do refer with pride and
pleasure to some of those who have given an impetus
to our prosperity as a town in this department of in-
dustry since that period. Of those who have passed
from among us within the last generation I recall the
names of John C. Coffing, Milo Barnum, Lee Can-
field, Leonard Richardson, Nathaniel Church, New-
man Holley, Samuel C. Scoville, Robert Bostwick,
George Coffing, Horatio Ames.

“Among those who are still living, but who have
retired from this branch of business, the names of A.
and 8. Moore, William C. Sterling, and John H. Cof-
fing occur to me. Mr. Albert Moore and Mr. Sterling
have passed respectively the ages of seventy-eight
and eighty-two, while our respected townsman, Hor-
ace Landon, Esq., remains in active business at the
ripe age of nearly eighty years.

“Others of our townsmen actively engaged in this
industry in town and elsewhere are Hon. William H.
Barnum, Samuel 8. Robbins, George Landon, George
Church, J. and C. Scoville, and Frederick Miles.
Among their products are car-wheels. These, of a
superior quality, are extensively manufactured by the
Barnum Richardson Company, at Lime Rock. They
are so extensively used in the country that there are
SALISBURY.

but few of us who travel that do not find ourselves
borne along over almost any part of our railway sys-
tem on Salisbury car-wheels.

“Our iron-masters of the present day, however, are
chiefly makers of pig iron.

“The manufacture of wrought iron in its various
branches, once so important a business in town, has
become, I believe, entirely extinct, or nearly so, with-
in a comparatively few years. Anchors, chain-cables,
and musket-iron, car and locomotive axles, heavy
screws for cotton and other presses, and a great
variety of merchant and machinery iron were manu-
factured at Mount Riga, at the Centre, Lime Rock,
and Falls Village. Very large and superior wrought-
iron cannon were made at Ames’ works at Falls Vil-
lage during the late war, and were sold to the War
Department. The great anchors that were furnished
for the two war frigates built in New York for the
Greeks, in their struggle for independence in their
war of 1821, were made at Mount Riga. The musket-
iron and railroad axles of various kinds, so extensively
manufactured a few years since, have been nearly su-
perseded by the use of Bessemer steel. The manufac-
ture of this steel has been largely introduced into this
country by a Salisbury engineer, who learned the
process in England, and who has built some of the
most extensive steel-works in this country.* He is
now president of the American Association of Mining
Engineers, and is still actively engaged in his pro-
fession.

“The principal improvements that have been made in
our manufactures within the period since 1841 have
been the extension of the car-wheel business and the
works of the Barnard Hardware Company, both lo-
cated at Lime Rock, the erection of cutlery-works by
A. H. Holley in Lakeville in 1844, and now carried
on by the Holley Manufacturing Company, and the
manufacture of woolen and other fabrics by the
Washinee Company, at the Centre. These establish-
ments have all accomplished their purpose in pro-
ducing excellent work, but they have not all been
equally successful in a pecuniary point of view.

“ Our agriculturists have not fallen behind the sur-
rounding communities in their various occupations,
and have contributed their efforts towards maintain-
ing the reputation of the town as one of the best
farming towns in the county, if not in the State.

“The committee appointed by the General Assem-
bly in 1732 to examine ‘the colony lands west of the
Ousatonic River, and lay out a township in the
northern section thereof, reported six lakes estimated
to contain two thousand acres, and a rough waste
mountain in the northeast corner of said township
estimated to contain four thousand acres, the re-
mainder they thought would accommodate a sufficient
number of inhabitants for a town.

“Our mining interests were greatly extended during

 

* Alexander L. Holley.

 

539

the war of the Rebellion, and were sources of wealth.
But for the past few years they have experienced the
depressing influences of previous excessive produc-
tion, although they are still. wrought to a very con-
siderable extent.

“The Salisbury Savings Society, located at Lake-
ville, is another of our institutions brought into ex-
istence since our centennial history was written, and
has proved to be as beneficial as it is popular. It was
organized in 1848, and Walter R. Whittlesey was
elected its first treasurer. He was succeeded in 1865
by Thomas L. Norton, who still holds the office.

“A banking firm has also been established at Lake-
ville, under the nameof Robbins, Burrall & Co., which
has proved to be a source of great convenience to our
business community.

“The Iron Bank,t which was chartered in May,
1847, is virtually a Salisbury institution, although it
is located on the Canaan side of the Housatonic
River.

“ The first newspaper established in town, and which
is still successfully conducted, was started by J. L.
Pease, who came into town from Lee, Mass. The first
number of the paper, the Connecticut Western News,
was issued July 14, 1871.

“The construction of the Connecticut Western Rail-
road, one of the most important contributions to the
business interests, as well as to the facilities for.com-
munication ever established in this vicinity, not only
for Salisbury but for all Northwestern Connecticut, is
more indebted for its organization to Salisbury than
to any other town on its line. We concede to other
towns active and efficient aid in the procurement of
its charter and in liberal subscriptions to its stock,
but the efficient work of its organization began here.
The contract for its construction was made in 1869,
and the first train over the road (except construction
trains) was an excursion to Poughkeepsie from Hart-
ford, in December, 1871.

“Our educational interests have kept pace with
those of surrounding communities, and are decidedly
in advance of what they were five-and-thirty years
ago; more pains have been taken to secure edu-
cated and efficient teachers; greater facilities have
been furnished for the acquirement of an education,
and our public schools are not only free but attend-
ance is compulsory. We have no institutions for ed-
ucation higher than the common school, except two
or three select schools, of which favorable reports are
given. Our school-houses are a great improvement
upon those of even a quarter of a century since, and
are generally a credit to the town. On the whole,
Mr. Moderator, I think that our children are better
taught in the district schools than those adults are
whom we endeavor annually to instruct in reading in
our town-room.

 

+ See history of town of Canaan.
t Now published at Canaan.
540

“The Roman Catholics in this vicinity have erected
a beautiful and convenient church edifice at Lake-
ville within the past eighteen months, which does
credit to their taste, and which we hope and trust will
have a healthful influence upon all who worship there.
The temperance reform which they have instituted
has already been productive of good.

“The order of ‘Good Templars,’ established at
Lakeville, numbers about one hundred members, and
is in a flourishing condition; T. L. Norton, Esq., is
the presiding officer. The object is the promotion of
temperance.*

“The war of the Rebellion was not an institution of
Salisbury origin. As it occurred, however, within the
lifetime of the present generation, and as it was one
of the most gigantic and causeless of modern times,
and having been suppressed also by as brave and
patriotic a people as ever drew the sword in defense
of liberty and law, of home and country, it is proper
that it should be referred to even here in our limited
community. It demands a record indeed if for no
other reason than to testify to posterity the efforts
and sacrifices which were made on our part to trans-
mit to them an unimpaired Union. Salisbury did its
full share in the accomplishment of this work, having
sent to the army three hundred and fifty-three men,
of whom fifty-three laid down their lives either on the
battle-fields of Olustee, Petersburg, or Drury’s Bluff,
Port Hudson, Murfreesboro’, Deep Bottom, and
Cold Harbor, or died of wounds or disease contracted
in the service. As far as this feeble effort of mine
will avail, the names of these patriotic men shall be
preserved in the archives of the town, and transmitted
to coming generations, who will follow our example,
and forever hold in grateful remembrance their deeds
and their memories. Their names alone, however, do
not constitute the entire roll of honor for our town,
but they are the only persons whom we know that
sacrificed their lives in the service; other noble men,
equally patriotic and devoted, who escaped with their
lives, merit and will receive equal honor with those
who fell on the battle-fields. Their names already
form a part of our recorded history.

“The following is a list of the dead referred to
above :

Orin H. Knight, Charles Caul, P. Ostrander, James Ostrander, Adam Os-
trander, Monroe Whiteman, Amos Woodin, Robert W. Bragg, Ed-
mond Hickey, Ezra B. Morris, Walter C. Sparks, Reuben R. Speed,
Henry Volker, Jacob F. Rapp, Chester A. Johnson, John Lapham,
G. W. Mansfield, Guerdon Davidson, Daniel Glaren, John W. Surner,
Henry S. Wheeler, Joseph Hooper, Barnard Woodhead, Aaron F.
Babcock, 8. W. Wolcott, H. Pitt Bostworth, A. E. Barnes, Peter Fin-
kle, Orville D. Owen, Elisha Cleveland, Owen McNeil, Alfred De
Bois, Joseph B. Bond, Egbert F. Nott, Ovid P. Shaw, Orville 0. Blake,
Andrew Bull, Andrew W. Durrall, Renslaer McArthur, Egbert

Rowe, J. W. Speed, D. Owen, Eben P. Wolcott, Henry 8. Wright, J.
Melton Bishop, J. Harper Smith, Cornelius Turner, John Brant,

 

* The present (February, 1881) officers in the Templars’ lodge are John
Cleveland, W. C. T.; Miss Lillian Bundy, W.V.T.; George Bundy, S.;

Ella Wood, F. 8.; F. Wheeler, T.; Henry Wilson, C.; Henry Beers, M.;
Mrs. James Miller, G.; Will White, S. i

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Peter Burns, John Donohue, Jourdan Brazee, Henry Surriner, John
§. Addison, Charles Brown.

“The following persons were elected or promoted
to the offices named:

Rev. Samuel §, Jarvis, chaplain, First Regiment Heavy Artillery.
James Hubbard, brigadier-general by brevet, Second Heavy Artillery.
Orin H. Knight, captain, Second Heavy Artillery.

William A. Bailey, chaplain, Twenty-eighth Regiment.

Milton Bradley and Wilfred Matison, quartermasters; Charles B. Lan-
don, captain; Joseph Bostwick, first lieutenant; Warren C. Daily,
second lieutenant.

E. Lewis Moore, adjutant, Seventh Regiment.

Edward 8. Hubbard, second lieutenant, Nineteenth Regiment.

Joseph Slater, second lieutenant, Eleventh Regiment.

Admatha Bates, second lieutenant Co. L, Second Heavy Artillery.

“This reference to our late war reminds me of some
facts regarding the French war of 1756-57, that were
not referred to particularly by Judge Charch in his
address. As Salisbury has the credit of furnishing
its full share of aid in all the wars that have occurred
in our country since its settlement, the fact should be
stated that at the early period of 1756, one hundred
and twenty years ago, we had in this town two well-
organized military companies, from which ‘enlist--
ments and impressments’ were made from time to
time, and requisitions were also made upon captains
to hold their men in readiness to go into service at a
moment’s notice, who were called ‘Minute-Men.’ I
have in my possession orders issued chiefly by Col.
Marsh, of Litchfield, to Capts. Moore and Landon,
ordering them from time to time to send men to the
northern frontier. They did so not unfrequently, but
I do not know in what numbers. The Capt. Moore
referred to was grandfather of Messrs. Albert and
Silas Moore, and Capt. Landon was the ancestor of
Messrs. Horace and James Landon.

“There is abundant evidence, I believe, to establish
the fact that several of the regiments surrendered by
Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga, in our war of the Revo-
lution, were quartered for several days in this town, a
part of them at Lakeville, and a part of them on the
farm of the Messrs. Moore. One of those soldiers
(John Lotz) deserted from one of those regiments,
and was for many years an inhabitant of Salisbury,
and served as a miller for my grandfather and my
father.

“Rey. Edmund 8. Janes and his brother came from
Sheffield with their parents in 1812. They attended
the district schools of this town for a few years, and
subsequently advanced their education, each of them,
by teaching some six years. Edmund §. entered the
Christian ministry in 1830. In 1840 he was elected
financial secretary of the American Bible Society,
and in 1844 was elected bishop of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church. In the course of his ministry he re-
ceived the respective degrees of Doctor of Medicine, :
Law, and Divinity.

“David Lyman was born near the Centre, was ad-
mitted to the bar of this county in 1841, practiced
law some five years, and then entered the ministry of
SALISBURY.

the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he still
remains.

“Jonathan T. Norton, son of Henry S. Norton,
studied law with D. J. Warner, Esq., was admitted to
the bar in this county, practiced a short time in Corn-
wall, and then removed to Brooklyn, N. Y., where he
now resides.

“William Norton, brother of the above, is now prac-
ticing law with Judge Treat, of Bridgeport.

“J. Newton Dexter read law in Salisbury with D. J.
Warner, Esq., entered the army during the late Rebel-
lion, subsequently resumed the study of the law, was
admitted to the bar in this county, and is now prac-
ticing in Waverly, N. Y.

“Milton J. Warner, son of Noadiah Warner, grad-
uated at Williams College, read law with D. J. Warner,
and now practices in Waverly, N. Y. =

“James L. Orr was_born in Hudson, N. Y., came
into town quite young, and was educated by the late
Albert Bushnell. He read law with the late Hon.
John H. Hubbard, was admitted to the bar in this
county, and practiced a few years in Sharon, from
whence he removed to Michigan City. After a few
years’ practice there, returned to, and died in, Salis-
bury.

“John G. Reid, son of Rev. Adam Reid, read law
with D. J. Warner, admitted to the bar in this county,
practiced a short time in Kent, in this county. He
entered the army during the Rebellion, where he dis-
tinguished himself as a brave soldier. He is now in
practice in Chicago.

“George L. Hubbell read law with D. J. Warner,
Esq., practiced in New Haven, removed to Davenport,
Iowa, where he is now in practice.

“Henry and Daniel Smith, sons of Samuel Smith,
were both born in Salisbury. Both were able preachers
in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Henry, the elder,
still lives in Canaan, Columbia Co., N. Y. Daniel
filled several important stations in some of our prin-
cipal cities, and was quite an author. He died some
years since.

“ Alanson Reed, son of the late Merwin Reed, was
also a preacher of considerable ability in the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church.

“Dr. Gordon C. Spencer, born in town in 1789,
practiced in Jefferson Co., N. Y., and died in Water-
town, in that county, in 1859.

“Natives of our own soil, or gentlemen trained
among us from early life, have occupied many promi-
nent positions in our own and other States, who have
done honor to themselves and to their country.
Among the positions thus occupied I recall those of
one secretary of war, three United States senators
and seven representatives in Congress, three eminent
chief justices of three different States, four Governors
of States at home and abroad, two Lieutenant-Gov-
ernors, many senators in our own General Assembly,
two presidents and several professors in colleges, one
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, military

35

 

541

and naval officers, and several lawyers and clergymen
of high repute.*

“In contemplating this array of worthy names, a
pertinent inquiry suggests itself to my mind in this
connection. Shall we continue to send forth men
from our town who will dignify the positions they
may occupy, and do equal honor to the town with
those who have preceded them? Shall we prove to
the world that in education and refinement, in social
culture, political integrity and sagacity, far-reaching
and wise plans for the future of our country, we may
be able to controvert the oft-repeated assertion that
we are degenerating; that our ancestors were wiser
and better than the later generations of men? Have
we no reason to apprehend that the corruption and
extravagance of the age, the bitterness of party spirit,
the want of charity towards each other, the malig-
nity with which candidates for and incumbents of
exalted political and social positions are pursued and
traduced, will compel the future historian to verify
and emphasize the charge of degeneracy?

“In connection with this subject, I cannot refrain
from giving a short extract from Judge Church’s
‘Centennial Address.’ He says,—

“This is not the time nor the proper occasion to indulge in political
reflections, but I cannot discharge a duty which I owe to the young men
of my native place—the persons with whom, in part, the destinies of the
country are soon to be intrusted—without entreating them to divest
themselves of party and political prejudices. What is prejudice but an
opinion formed without impartial examination? This is a crime, and in-
excusable in this age and country. My young friends, never be afraid
of bringing preconceived opinions to the test of a patient and disinter-
ested inquiry.” Y

“‘He being dead, yet speaketh,’ and speaketh
wisely.”

CHAPTER LIV.
SALISBURY (Continued).

Congregational Churcht—St. John’s Church—Trinity Church, Lime Rock
—Methodist Episcopal, Lakeville—Methodist Episcopal, Lime Rock—
Catholic, Lakeville.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

“ Ag one of the most prominent purposes to be ac-
complished by corporate privileges was the support
of the gospel ministry here, so the earliest efforts of
the town were directed to that object. As early as
January, 1742, a committee was appointed ‘to seek
out for a minister to preach to us three months.’ As
yet there was no established place of public worship
in the town, and no building which could accommodate
even the then few inhabitants, and therefore the town

 

%* Secretary of War, Peter B. Porter; United States Senators, Nathaniel
Chipman, J. S. Johnston ; Representatives in Congress, Peter B. Porter,
M. Chittenden, G. H. Chapin, T. R. Strong, J. M. Holley, J. H. Hubbard,
‘W.H. Barnum; Governors, Chittenden, Galusha, Skinner, Holley ; Lieu-
tenant-Governors, Holley and Averill; Presidents of Colleges, Holley and
Bartlett; Bishop, Janes.

+ From Judge Church’s address.
542

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

designated places of worship in its different sections,
that all might be alternately accommodated. The
house of Henry Van Dusen, at Weatogue, of Corne-
lius Knickerbacor, at Lakeville, and of Nathaniel
Buell, at Lime Rock, were established as places of
meeting; and this system was pursued until after the
call of Mr. Lee.

- “In June, 1742, a gentleman whose name was Hes-
terbrook was employed to preach three months. In
April, 1748, an unsuccessful attempt was made to calla
minister. In the succeeding month the effort was re-
newed, and Mr. Thomas Lewis was invited to preach
on probation. He preached seventeen Sabbaths, but
not proving acceptable to the people, no call for set-
tlement was given. On the 3d day of January, 1744,
Mr. Jonathan Lee, of Lebanon, received a call for
settlement, which was accepted. The letter of accept-
ance was as follows:

“<SaxisBurRy, Aug. 19, 1744.
“© To the inhabitants of the town aforesaid :

“GENTLEMEN AND BRETHREN,—I have again carefully considered
your call to me to labor with you in the sacred work of the gospel min-
istry. I have endeavored to hear and discern the call of God, which is
my only rule to act by. I have considered your proposals for my main-
tenance and support, among which, as I understand them, are as follows:
You have voted annually to give me £40, lawful money, which, in Old
Tenor money, amounts to £160; and for the fourth year of my ministry
you have voted to add 50s., lawfully money; and for the fifth year, you
have voted to add 50s. more of the same tenor, and so to continue, which
amounts to £180 of Old Tenor bills, being £45 of lawful money. And
having received encouragements of other needed assistances and helps,
and, as far as I can discover, I being called not only of you, but of God,
I therefore do hereby testify mine acceptance of the call and your pro-
posals, and hereby profess my willingness to labor for your good in the
work of the gospel ministry, according as I may be assisted by the grace
of Almighty God; and hoping and trusting in his goodness, and depend-
ing upon a continual remembrance in the fervent prayers of the faithful,
I give and devote myself to Christ, and my services to you for his sake,
who am your friend and servant.

“<JoNATHAN LEE,’

“He had preached on probation for a short time
before. Previous to Mr. Lee’s call the town had
voted to erect for the minister a log house thirty feet
long and twenty-four feet wide. This house, too, was
intended, and used temporarily, as the meeting-house.
The terms of Mr. Lee’s settlement, aside from the right
of land appropriated to the first minister, were forty
pounds, lawful money, with an annual increase until
it should amount to forty-five pounds, or one hundred
and eighty pounds in old tenor bills, as appears by
his letter of acceptance.

“The log house erected for the minister was not
finished when Mr. Lee came here with his family, and
his first dwelling-place was an apartment temporarily
fitted up in the end of a blacksmith’s shop, with stools
for chairs and slabs for tables; and the poor minister
was often compelled to carry his bushel of wheat
upon his back to Lamb’s mill for grinding.

“Mr. Lee, having accepted the call to settle here,
he and Thomas Chipman, Esq., were requested by
the town to fix upon the time of ordination, and
“agree upon the men to do the work.’ On the 23d day
of November, 1744, Mr. Lee was ordained by a select

ordaining council,—the men agreed upon to do the work

 

at the log house which had been erected for his use.
Why aselect council was called to perform this ser-
vice, instead of the Consociation to which the town be-
longed, we are not informed. The proceeding was
afterwards condemned as irregular, and as a depart-
ure from the Saybrook canons; and several of the
council were censured for participating in the ordina-
tion without the advice of the Association. No evil,
however, resulted to the town from this procedure,
nor was Mr. Lee at all implicated in its irregularity.
The connection of Mr. Lee with this people was long
and successful, and attended, perhaps, with as much
harmony as was usual in those days of acquiescence in
ecclesiastical measures.

- “Mr. Lee continued to be the sole settled minister
here forty-four years. He died Oct. 8, 1788, and was
interred in the old Centre burying-yard. He wasa
graduate of Yale College, of the class of 1742. The
family of Mr. Lee was numerous, and some members
of it in after-life distinguished.

“Tt was not until the 28d day of April, 1746,”
says Judge Church, “that the town voted to build a
meeting-house, and the place first designated for
this purpose was the elevated ground north of John
C. Coffing’s dwelling-house. This location was op-
posed by the people at the north part of the town, and
in May, 1747, a committee, consisting of Ebenezer
Marsh, Joseph Bird, and Joseph Sanford, was ap-
pointed by the General Court to designate the place
for the meeting-house. The committee designated
two places: one where the town had by its vote fixed
it, and another a little north of Joseph Lee’s dwell-
ing-house. Joseph Lee dwelt where William Bush-
nell now (1841) lives, nearly opposite this house.
The General Court directed the house to be built near
Mr. Lee’s, and that the sills of it should inclose the
stake placed by the committee exactly in the centre.
Measures were immediately taken to build the house;
the time of the raising was fixed, and the town voted
that Ensign Samuel Bellows should procure sixteen
gallons of rum, and Sergt. Samuel Moore eight bushels
of wheat, to be made into cake, for the raising. The
meeting-house was raised on the 24th and 25th days
of March, 1749, on the spot where the hotel now
stands, opposite this house. The town had no title
to the land on which they erected their meeting-
house; but Mr. Robert Walker, of Stratford, one of
the original proprietors of the town, by deed dated
29th May, 1750, gave to the town a small triangular
piece of land, on the west side of the highway, in-
cluding the meeting-house, for a burying-yard. This
piece of land extended from the south line of the old
burying-yard northerly along the highway, forming
an acute angle on the highway, nearly opposite the
present school-house.

“At the same time Mr. Walker conveyed to the
town, for a parade, a piece of land on the east side
of the highway, on which the Congregational meet-
ing-house now stands. It was bounded south by the
SALISBURY.

543

 

highway, then open and running easterly, through
Stiles and College grants, to Lamb’s iron-works; it
was six rods in width, and extended north from the
aforesaid road twenty rods. The old meeting-house
continued to be used as such fifty years only, and until
the present Congregational meeting-house was finished,
in the year 1800. It was used for town and society
meetings until the year 1818, when, by lease dated
the 19th day of January, 1813, the town conveyed it
to the late Simeon Granger, on condition that he and
his assigns should at all times furnish the town with
a convenient room for town and society purposes,
public libraries, etc. The lease included, also, the
vacant lands derived from Mr. Walker, on the west
side of the highway, which had not been before dis-
posed of nor included within the burying-yard. A

considerable portion of this was then used as a public |

highway, ‘extending westerly up the hill, and has
never been discontinued as such, but still remains
open and used as the only practicable way to the
burying-yard.

“Tn 1789 the parsonage committee was directed to
apply to Mr. Chauncey Lee, son of the deceased min-
ister, to preach here on probation.

“Tn November, 1790, a call was given to Rev. Wil-
liam F. Miller, and in 1791 a call was given to Rev.
John Elliott to settle here in the ministry ; but both
invitations were declined. On the 2d of October,
1792, a call was unanimously given to Rev. James
Glassbrook to become the minister of this people,
under restrictions and conditions such as I suppose
the ecclesiastical authorities could not have approved.
The call was accepted. It was a mere hiring for an
unlimited time, with liberty to either town or minis-
ter to dissolve the connection upon a previous six
months’ notice. The assent of the Association was
neither asked nor given. Mr. Glassbrook was a
Scotch gentleman of popular talents, but for some
cause, not now very well defined, his popularity waned
fast, and before the expiration of his first year’s ser-
vice the town gave him notice to quit. Mr. Glass-
-brook did not long survive this event, but died at his
residence, where Mr. Revilo Fuller now lives, on the
8th day of October, 1793.

“The Rev. Timothy Cooley was invited to settle
here on the 30th day October, 1795, but refused. On
the 27th day of March, 1797, Rev. Joseph Warren
Crossman, of Taunton, Mass., accepted a call here,
and was soon after ordained, and continued a success-
ful ministry until his death, on the 13th day of Decem-
ber, 1812. Mr. Crossman was a graduate of Brown
University, Rhode Island. Of this good man we have
not yet ceased to speak. He was a man of great ex-
cellence of character. As a preacher, many excelled

him; as a pastor, he exhibited a model worthy of |

all imitation. Prudence was prominently displayed
in all his intercourse with this people. The religion
he preached was exemplified in himself. He loved
his fellow-men, not because they bore the same sec-

 

tarian name with himself, but because they were his
fellow-men. He was the minister of a denomination,
but he was the friend of all. His piety was not
spoiled by prejudice, and he could joyfully recognize
a disciple of his Master, as well among the ministers
as the people of other denominations. _

“The ecclesiastical concerns of the Congregational
parish, in conformity with the general usage of this
colony and State, had been managed by the town
previous to the year 1804, in which year a Congrega-
tional society, distinct from the town, was organized,
and succeeded in all the property and interests which
the town had managed in its ecclesiastical capacity.

“ After the death of Mr. Crossman no minister was
settled here until the year 1818.

“On the 5th day of April, 1818, the society, by a
divided vote, called Mr. John B. Whittlesey to become
its minister. This was an occasion of much subse-
quent excitement. The friends of Mr. Whittlesey
were numerous and respectable, and his opponents
influential and determined. For a time the perma-
nent union of the society seemed to be in danger.
Mr. Whittlesey at first accepted the call; the opposi-
tion to him continued and increased; he doubted,
then declined. His friends persisted, and again he
accepted the call, but finally declined altogether.
During this strife much exasperated feeling was
manifested. But new candidates begat new prefer-
ences, so that harmony was again restored, and the so-
ciety, by a united vote, on the 26th day of July, 1815,
invited the settlement of Mr. Chauncey A. Goodrich,
later professor in Yale College, but without success.
Again another unsuccessful call was given, and on
the 29th day of November, 1816, Mr. Federal Burt,
of Southampton, Mass., was solicited to become the
minister.

“But in November, 1817, a call was given, under
some opposition, to Mr. Lavius Hyde, of Franklin,
which was accepted, and Mr. Hyde was ordained on
the 18th day of March, 1818. Soon, however, in-
creased opposition appeared, and the harmony of the
society was once more broken up. Councils were
called for consultation and advice, and at length,
after a faithful but unhappy service of about four
years, Mr. Hyde was dismissed from his charge.

“The society remained destitute of a settled minis-
try until Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop was installed on
the 2d day of February, 1825. Mr. Lathrop was a
distinguished graduate of Middlebury College, Ver-
mont, and had been ordained as a Presbyterian min-
ister, and had been settled as the pastor of a Presby-
terian parish in Wilmington, N.C. Few clergymen
possess to such an extent the confidence of the entire
community, as did Mr. Lathrop the respect of all
classes and denominations in the town. The regret
at parting was deep and mutual. Mr. Lathrop, at his
own solicitation, was dismissed from his society here
on the 25th of October, 1836, and was soon after set-

‘tled in Auburn, N. Y.”
544

He was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Adam Reid, who
died Nov. 2, 1878. He was one of the most eloquent
and effective clergymen that ever preached in Litch-
field County, if not in the State. He came from
Scotland, his native country, in 1885; preached one
year in Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y.; was then in-
vited to supply the pulpit of the Congregational
Church in Salisbury for one year, which invitation he
accepted. At the close of that year, in 1836, he was
settled as pastor. His pastorate continued for forty
years, when, on the 23d of September, 1877, his res-
ignation was reluctantly accepted by a saddened con-
gregation. Strenuous efforts were made during the
first twenty years of his settlement to induce him to
accept calls from churches at Boston, Hartford, and
Brooklyn, N. Y. But he had become attached to the
people of his charge, and he chose to spend his life
in Salisbury. Members of his society furnished him
with the means of visiting his native country on three
different occasions. The society also continued his
salary and supplied his pulpit in his absence. His
successor, Rev. Cornelius Ladd Kitchel, was installed
on the 20th of December, 1877, and is the present in-
cumbent, April, 1881. The church edifice was erected
in the year 1800, and in its exterior presents the same
general appearance that it did when first completed.
Several interior alterations have been made.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH.*

Of the early introduction of the Church of Eng-
land into Salisbury we have but traditional informa-
tion. Settled principally from the neighboring prov:
ince of New York by persons of Dutch descent, there
is reason to infer that, in common with many of their
co-religionists in other localities, the deprivation of
the services of the National Church of Holland led
them to look kindly upon those of the Established
Church of England. At least traces of this leaning
towards Episcopacy are found at an early period;
and, doubtless, but for the loss of records and docu-
ments, the introduction of the Church of England‘in
this town might be antedated by a number of years.
Of this we are certain, that in 1764 the number of
church families in Salisbury was sufficient to attract
the notice and enlist the pastoral care of the Rev.
Thomas Davies, A.M., the faithful and successful
missionary of the venerable Society for the Propaga-
tion of the Gospel in Foreign Parts in Litchfield
County. In a letter addressed by this excellent
missionary to the secretary of the society under date
of this year, after mentioning “ Litchfield, Cornwall,
and Sharon” as the places “where a missionary will
officiate on Sundays,” Mr. Davies proceeds,—

“There are a number of towns more in this county which will natu-
rally be included in that part of the mission, viz., Goshen, Torrington,
Harwinton, New Hartford, Norfolk, Salisbury, and Canaan, in which
places are a few church people who desire to come under the society’s
protection.”

 

* Contributed by Rev. William Allen Johnson.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Nor was Mr. Davies content with merely represent-
ing this desire on the part of the “few church
people” in Salisbury. His “ Notitia Parochiales,”
a fragment of which has been preserved, has the fol-
lowing entries, noting the dates of his visitations of
the town, the names of those he baptized, and even
the texts of the sermons he preached to the little
gatherings of Episcopalians who assembled at his
coming:

“1764, July 15, Salisbury, 2 Tim., ii. 19; 2 Peter,i.10. August 19th,
Salisbury, Ezek., xviii. 31; Phil.,iv. 13. September 23d, Salisbury, Titus,
ii. 11, 12; Hebrews, xl. 6. Baptized Sarah Jeffreys, daughter of Ebenezer
Jeffreys. October 23d, Salisbury, Hebrews, x]. 6, 7. Baptized Sarah
Charity and Hyman, children of Hyman Bozrough; Samuel and Eliza-
beth, of Lawrence, and Molley and Jane, of Abraham Knickerbocker;
Elisha, Josiah, and Bartholomew, of Elisha Hurlbut; Solomon, of Wil-
liam Whitney ; Hannah and Charity, of Ruluff Dutcher.”}

No further entries or sermons or baptisms at Salis-
bury are found in these interesting memoranda, and
their sudden cessation would appear to strengthen
the statement of Judge Church in his “Centennial
Address” that

“Before the war of the Revolution there were so many families be-
longing to the Church of England in this town that some efforts were
made at organization, but nothing effective.”

At the same time the fact that Mr. Davies made
four visits, and baptized fourteen individuals within a
space of three months, and the allusion to this por-
tion of his mission in his correspondence with this ven-
erable society, together with Chief Justice Church’s
later statement in his Litchfield centennial address,
that a congregation “ worshiping with the Liturgy of
the English Church” was “soon found” in Salisbury
“in common with other towns where organized par-
ishes are known to have existed from time to time,”
lead us to infer that the Salisbury congregation, if not
a parish organization, was undoubtedly of older origin
than even Mr. Davies’ earliest visit, and that it either
grew out of the love of the original settlers for the
church, or sprang from the same causes that induced
the change of ecclesiastical relation by the Rev. Sol-
omon Palmer, of Cornwall, from the “Standing
Order” to Episcopacy, full ten years prior to the
date of these “ Notitia.” Besides, the application
of the churchmen in Salisbury to the venerable
society through Mr. Davis, already referred to, was
of itself a sufficient “ organization.” By this act the
Episcopalians in Salisbury became legal parishioners
of the Church of England in Litchfield County, and
would be recognized as such by him. This applica-
tion and recognition freed them from the taxes laid
by town-vote for the support of the Congregationalist
establishment, and turned their assessments into an-
other channel. The examination of the town-records
of Salisbury would doubtless afford evidence of the
number and wealth of the Episcopal community at
this time, and might, if done, add much to our knowl-
edge of the strength of Episcopacy in the town. In

 

+ Mr. Dutcher was buried at New Milford, where his tombstone may
be seen.
SALISBURY.

545

 

any event this little band of churchmen did not die
out. Though there are no records extant of any min-
istrations in Salisbury by the Rev. Mr. Palmer, who
was again appointed to the Litchfield mission after
the death of Mr. Davies, tradition recalls the occa-
sional services of the Rev. James Nichols, both be-
fore and subsequent to the war of the Revolution,
and the following extract from the register of the
Rev. Gideon Bostwick, of Great Barrington, Mass.,
communicated to the writer by the Rev. A. H. Bailey,
D.D., of Sheldon, Vt., are evidences of the life of
this little band of churchmen, and gave good promise
of a better day to come:

“1780, Salisbury, July 9th.—Baptized Harriet, daughter of Josiah
Hawley and Hannah, his wife; Mary, daughter of Timothy Chitenden
and Rebecca, his wife; Giles Bird, son of Giles Hall and Electa, his wife.

“1783, June 22.—Baptized Ursula, daughter of Jacob Bogardus and
Patience, his wife.”

This register, showing official acts performed in
Litchfield, Canaan, Salisbury, Norfolk, and Cornwall,
from 1778 to 1785, is a noble attestation of the mis-
sionary spirit of this excellent clergyman, while these
laborious services seem in one sense a graceful recog-
nition of the establishment of the Great Barrington
parish by the Rev. Mr. Davies years before. And
this kind oversight on the part of the few clergymen
in this section of the State was shown by occasional
ministrations rendered by the Rev. Ashbel Baldwin,
of Litchfield, the Rev. Daniel Burhans, of Newtown,
and the Rev. Truman Marsh, of Litchfield. A ser-
vice held in this town by the Rev. Mr. Baldwin is
thus noticed in the Litchfield Monitor, Vol. IV., No.
191:

“Salisbury, Sept. 6, 1788.—Died in this town, on the 2d inst., Mr.
George Marsh, in the sixty-third year of his age. On the 4th his funeral
rites were performed, and a sermon adapted to the occasion was preached
by the Rey. Ashbe] Baldwin, of Litchfield.”

Other notices of these visits from the neighboring
clergy might, doubtless, be found on a further exami-
nation of the files of this venerable repository of town
and county items.

Land was purchased for parish use in 1792, and
from this time for a number of years, lay reading was
regularly kept up by Capt. Timothy Chittenden. At
the convention of the diocese in 1801, Capt. Chitten-
den was in attendence as a delegate, and at the clerical
convocation held at the same place and time the Rev.
Caleb Child, of Massachusetts, who appears to have
been fora time in charge of this parish, though only in
deacon’s orders, was tried, on a deposition of Mr.
Beriah Chittenden, of Salisbury, for doctrinal defec-
tion and error in life, and was deposed from the
ministry.

At the convention in 1808 the committee ‘“ap-
pointed to ascertain the bounds of the several cures
in the diocese” report “Salisbury and Canaan” as
vacant, thus recognizing the continued existence of
the parish, which had doubtless suffered bitterly in
consequence of ministerial unfaithfulness, succeeded
by utter want of pastoral care. The following year

 

Rev. Sturges Gilbert, who had himself but lately been
admitted to the diaconate, was assigned to the care
of the “churches in Kent, Sharon, and Salisbury,”
and reported from his associated parishes to the con-
vention of 1809 forty baptisms and three funerals.
In later reports the name of Salisbury is dropped,
and nothing more appears of this “ little flock” till
the mention of their visitation by the Rev. Aaron
Humphreys, missionary of the Society for the Promo-
tion of Christian Knowledge, appended to the con-
vention journal of 1820. Mr. Humphrey, after stat-
ing that he had “visited in his missionary capacity
Canaan and Salisbury,” proceeds as follows :

“ At Salisbury there are also a few Episcopalians, destitute of the means
of procuring the services of a clergyman and deprived of the regular ad-
ministration of the ordinances of the gospel. The aid of the society ex-
tended to these congregations might be productive of great usefulness.”

A brighter day had dawned for the church in this
town. The appointment of the Rev. George B. An-
drews to the care of the “church of Sharon, Kent,
and New Preston” brought into the vicinity of this
struggling parish an earnest-minded and devoted mis-
sionary; and in 1823 the convention journals, long
silent as to this portion of the diocese, have reference
to the erection of “‘a new brick church,” and report
fifty-five families as comprised in the parish. The
bishop, in announcing this and other proofs of fruitful
labors, adds,—

“These exertions, so honorable to the church and so animating to the
cause of piety, have been stimulated in no small degree by the zealous
labors of the Rev. Mr. Andrews.”

At the next convention, that of 1824, held in Litch-
field, the name of Daniel Landon appears as represent-
ing the parish in Salisbury. In 1824, Samuel Church,
afterwards chief justice of the State, and long a
prominent member of St. Michael’s Church, Litch-
field, was associated with Mr. Daniel Landon as
deputies to the convention; the Rev. Stephen Beach
is reported as “ missionary at Salisbury and’ parts ad-
jacent,” and sixteen is given as the number confirmed
at the first Episcopal visitation since the days of
Bishop Seabury. In his annual address the bishop
thus notices the completion of the church : :

“During my visit to the parish of Salisbury, on the 15th of September
last, I consecrated the new church in that place by the name of St. John’s
Church. This edifice is constructed of brick, in the Gothic style of archi-
tecture. It is neatly furnished, and its accommodations are judiciously
arranged. The expense of its erection, though pressing heavily on in-
dividuals, has been borne with cheerfulness, and it is trusted that no one
feels impoverished by his exertions. The zeal and liberality which this
parish has evinced afford an eucouraging promise of its future pros-
perity.”

The Rev. Mr. Beach reports to this convention 55
families, 18 communicants, 4 marriages, 35 Sunday-
school scholars, 7 infant and 6 adult baptisms, and 7
funerals, as the summary of the year’s work.

Rev. Stephen Beach resigned the rectorship in the
year 1833. Rev. Lucius M. Purdy was called to suc-
ceed him, and continued in his office until May, 18387.
From 1837 to 1846 there were four brief pastorates, of
the Rev. C. W. Bradley, Rev. S. T. Carpenter, Rev.
546

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

David L. Dains, and Rev. William Warland. Rev.
George H. Nichols became the rector in April, 1846,
and remained until Easter, 1854. Rev. Revel H.
Tuttle succeeded him the same year, and remained
five years. He was followed by Rev. Samuel IF. Jar-
vis, who was rector for three years and a half. Dur-
ing his ministry the parish church was altered and
much improved. Rey. Jonathan A. Wainwright,
M.D., became rector on March 29, 1863, resigning in
the fall of 1871, when he was succeeded by the pres-
ent incumbent, Rev. William Aller Johnson.

From the accession of Rev. Mr. Beach, in 1824, to
the beginning of the rectorship of Rev. J. A. Wain-
wright, in 1868, 247 persons were baptized and 156
were confirmed, the average number of communi-
cants reported being 50. During Mr. Wainwright’s
rectorship 96 persons were baptized and 58 confirmed,
the communicants numbering over 70.

In October, 1874, Trinity church, Lime Rock, a
costly and beautiful edifice, was opened within the
old limits of the parish, and now organized as a sep-
arate parish, St. John’s losing by this friendly divi-
sion a large number of the families who had hitherto
worshiped in Salisbury.

Since the close of Mr. Wainwright’s rectorship there
have been 141 baptisms and 51 confirmations, the
communicants last reported being 68.

TRINITY CHURCH, LIME ROCK.*

The parish of Trinity Church, Lime Rock, was the
natural outgrowth of the Episcopal Church in the
old parish of St. John’s, Salisbury. The distance
from the old church in Salisbury was long felt to be
a great burden by those people of Lime Rock who,
week after week, toiled through mud and snow to at-
tend the worship of the house of God. Occasional
services held in the village fostered a desire long en-
tertained of having a church of their own close at
hand. This desire took definite shape in the spring
of 1873, when means were procured, chiefly through
the liberality of the Hon. William H. Barnum, to
justify the undertaking. Accordingly, on the 10th of
July the corner-stone of the present handsome edifice
was laid by the Right Rev. John Williams, D.D.,
Bishop of Connecticut, assisted by a number of cler-
gymen, including the rector of the parish (the Rev.
William A. Johnson).

The building, which was construgted of a light
brown stone from plans by an architect from New
York, was completed during the fall of the following
year, and was consecrated, by the name of Trinity
Church, to the worship of Almighty God, according
to the rites of the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States, on the 5th of November, 1874, by
the same bishop who laid the corner-stone.

In order that a rector might be called to the charge
of the new church, it was necessary to have a parish

 

organization separate from the parish of St. John’s,
Salisbury. This was effected on May 8, 1875, the
original incorporators being as follows: William H.
Barnum, W. A. Crowell, J. H. Hurlbut, C. H. Row-
ley, J. H. Barnum, G. Wiesing, G, S. Burrall, J. L.
Richardson, J. T. Levi, M. B. Richardson, W. A.
Dean, L. Astrum, F. Hanger, H. Arnold, R. Winter-
bottom, G. Thorpe, 8. P. Ensign, L. A. Bulman. In
the meanwhile regular services were maintained by
the Rev. A. 8, Clarke and other clergymen until the
beginning of 1876, when a call to the rectorship was
extended to the Rey. Millidge Walker, and was ac-
cepted by him, the charge being assumed on the 27th
of February. Since that time no changes have been
made, the work of the church has: prospered in the
community, and now, after a lapse of five years from
the time when the present rector took charge, the list
of communicants has been doubled.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LAKEVILLE.+

The first Methodist preacher who visited the town
of Salisbury was Samuel Q. Talbot, who held meet-
ings here in the fall of 1788. The following year, in
the month of June, the first class was formed at Ore
Hill. In the same year a society was organized by
John Bloodgood, and connected with Columbia Cir-
cuit, on which John Bloodgood and Samuel Wigton
were the traveling preachers.

The circuit preachers visited the place and gave
week evening lectures, generally in private houses,
once in four weeks. The number of original mem-
bers and their names are now unknown. The society
seems to have been attached to Columbia or Dutchess
Circuit. until the Rhinebeck Circuit was formed in
1816, when it was connected with that. In the latter
year (1816) the church at Lakeville was built, and
dedicated to the worship of Almighty God by Na-
than Bangs, D.D., then presiding elder of the Rhine-
beck District. The church edifice was erected princi-
pally through the efforts of John Brimsmode, Eli-
akim Smith, Abiathar Wolcott, Josiah Woodworth,
and Nathaniel Everts. The house of the latter had ,
long, been the preaching place of the society. In
1838 the church was repaired, modernized, and pewed,
and from that time the society raised money to meet
its current expenses by the annual renting of the
pews. In 1869 the church was thoroughly renovated
and enlarged by the addition of a vestibule at a total
cost of five thousand two hundred dollars. The par-
sonage was built in 1832,

This society has raised’ up several ministers of the
gospel; among them, E. S. Janes, D.D., elected a
bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844;
Edwin Janes, a twin-brother of the former; Ezekiel
Canfield, of the New York Conference; Daniel Smith,
of the New York Conference; and Henry Smith, his
brother, now of the Troy Conference.

 

* Contributed by Rev. Millidge Walker.

 

t Contributed by Rev. S. F. White.
SALISBURY.

The society is at present (1880) in a flourishing
condition. It numbers one hundred and eighty full
members, and eighteen probationers.

There is a Methodist Church in Lime Rock, but we
have been unable to secure its history. It is supplied
by the resident pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
‘Church at Falls Village. There is also a flourishing
Roman Catholic Church located at Lakeville.

CHAPTER LV.
SALISBURY (Continued).
CIVIL AND MILITARY.

First Proprietors’ Meeting—Incorporation of the Town—The First Town-
Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary—Origin of the Name of Town
—Representatives from 1757 to 1881—Military History.

In May, 1738, Nathaniel Stanley, Esq., and Capt.
John Marsh were appointed by the General Court to
take in subscriptions for the lands in township M,
and the avails of the sales were to be appropriated
for the support of schools in such towns as had before
been settled. Probably nothing was ever done under
this appointment. But at the October session of the
Assembly (then called the General Court), in the
year 1787, the lands in this town were ordered to be
sold at Hartford on the third Wednesday of May,
1738, with a reservation of former grants. For this
purpose the lands were divided into twenty-five
tights. One of these rights was appropriated to the
first settled minister; one for the use of the ministry
forever, settled according to the. constitution and or-
der of the churches established by law in this colony ;
and one for the support of schools. Here is the origin
of the ministerial and school funds of the town. The
remaining rights were purchased by individual propri-
etors. The original proprietors were Thomas Lamb,
‘Thomas Fitch (afterwards Governor of the colony),
Christopher Dutcher, Elias Reed, John Beebe, James
Beebe, Daniel Edwards, Joseph Tuttle, David Allen,
George White, Joshua White, Titus Brown, Edward
Phelps, Thomas Pierce, Thomas Newcomb, Benjamin
White, Eleazar Whittlesey, Richard Seymour, Robert
Walker, and Thomas Norton.

FIRST MEETING OF PROPRIETORS.

The following is a record of the first meeting of the

proprietors of the town of Salisbury :

“ At a Meeting of ye Proprietors of the Township of Salisbury, in y°
County of New Haven and Colony of Connecticut, in New England, law-
fally Convened, and at sd Salisbury holden on Thursday, y° 12th Day of
April, Anno Domini 1739. Annogs Regni Regin Georgii Secund, Decimo
Secondo. ;

“Personally present, Thos. Walker, Thos. Lamb, Thos. Newcomb,
Bidman Seymour, Joseph Tuttle, Jr., Christopher Dutcher, Benjamin
White, James Beebe, Daniel Edwards, Titus Brown, Elias Reed, John
Bebee. Also were present Mr. Elleazer Whittlesey by his attorney,
the said Mr. Daniel Edwards, and Mr. Thomas Norton by his attorney,
yesd Mr. Lamb, who were both likewise proprietors.

“Thos. Fitch was chosen chairman of the first meeting, and Daniel
Edwards clerk.”

 

 

547

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.

The following is a literal copy of the act incorporat-
ing the town of Salisbury :

“Att a General Assembly, holden at Newhaven on the 2d Thirsday of
october, Anno Domi: 1741.

“Upon the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Township of Salisbury,
praying for Town Priviledges, and Liberty to Imbody in Church Estate.

“ Resolved and Enacted by this Assembly, that the Inhabitants of the
said Townsbip of Salisbury be and they are hereby Erected, Constituted,
made, and Imbodyed into a Town by the name of the Town of Salis-
bury, and that they and Such others as Shall become Inhabitants there-
of, and their Successors, shall have, Exercise, and Enjoy the authoritys,
Powers, and Privledgs, and be Under the Regulations that the Other
Towns in this Colony by the Laws of this Government have, Exercise,
Enjoy, and are Under, and that the Brand for Said Town be the same
as is provided For Weatang, viz., this figure, ¢; and Liberty is hereby
granted To the Inhabitants of said Town to Imbody into Church Estate,
According to the Laws of this Government, and Liberty is also hereby
granted to the Inhabitants of said Town to meet and Assemble in The
Month of November next for the Electing proper Town officers for Said
Town, which being Done the Said officers Shall Be Esteamed as Lawfully
Elected, and Shall continue the year next Ensuing as the Elected in the
Month of December next; and this Assembly authorizes and appoint Mr.
Benjamin White, of Said Town, to Warn the Said Inhabitants to meet ~
and Assemble att Some place by him to be appointed in Said Town Some
time In November or December next, for the purposes aforesaid. —

“A True Copy.

“ Georce WYLLY, Secretary.”

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held Nov. 9, 1741, when
the following officers were chosen: Selectmen, Ben-
jamin White, Thos. Newcomb, and J ohn Smith;
Town Clerk, Cyrenus Newcomb ; Treasurer, Samuel
Beebe; Constable, Thomas Austin. Thomas New-
comb was chosen moderator of the meeting.

EXTRACTS FROM EARLY RECORDS.
At a town-meeting held Jan. 9, 1742, it was

“Voted, That Thomas Newcomb Shall be Moderator of Said Meeting.

“Voted, That their Shall be a Sign post Erected Witbin fourty Rods of
the house of Mt Thomas Baliss.

“Voted, That there Shall be a pound Erected and built Within fourty
Rods of the house of Mr. Thomas Bayles.”

On the 16th of the following February it was
“Voted, That We Call a Minister To preach to Us three Months.”

The following votes were also taken at this meeting:

“Voted, That We Shall have a Committee To Seek out fora Minister
to preach to Us.

“Voted, That Mess" John Smith, Samuel Beebe, And Thomas Newcomb
bea Committee to Look Out And to agree with a Minister to preach to
Us for the Term of three Months.”

April 20, 1742, it was

“Voted, That We Send a petition to ye General Assembly, With the
Rest of the New Townships, that their be a County Set off In the Northey
Part of the government, and that Litchfield be the County Town.”

Among the early records of births are the following:

“ Areonchee Vandusen, daughter of Hendrick Vandusen and Nelche
his wife, was born April 3, 1740.
“Yockamenche Vandusen, daughter of the same parents, was born

March 26, 1736. ‘ oe
“ Jacimitia, daughter of Henry Dutcher and Eleanor his wife, born

Sept. 15, 1736. 3
« Jamaca, daughter of the same parents, born Aug. 3, 1741.
This town was originally known by the Indian
names of Weatog and Ousatonic, and subsequently,
548

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

after it was located, and before the charter was given,
as town M. It is said to have taken its name from
an early settler named Salisbury. Rev. J. W. Cross-
man, in a discourse delivered in 1803, says, “It is
currently reported, and by good authority, that this
Mr. Salisbury, after moving from here, had an unruly
servant girl who had run away from him; that he
went after her, bound her with a rope, and tied her to
his horse; then rode so as to pull her down, and
drawed her in such a cruel manner that she died in
consequence of the abuse. The matter was taken up
in the State of New York, and he, then in old age,
was sentenced by the court to be hung when he should
be a hundred years old. About four years ago he
arrived to this age. A reprieve was granted him for

a certain time, and if he has not died lately he is liv-.

ing to this day.” Hon. Samuel Church, in an address
delivered Oct. 20, 1844, in referring to this, says,
“There is much reason to doubt the authenticity of
this tradition; some parts of it are incredible, and I
am disposed to reject it altogether.”

This town was originally attached to the county of
New Haven, and remained a part of that county until
the county of Litchfield was constituted in 1751.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1757 TO 1881.

1757.—John Everts, Thomas Chipman, Josiah Stoddard.

1758.—James Landon, John Everts, Josiah Stoddard, John Hutchinson.
1759.—James Landon, Samuel Moore, Josiah Stoddard.

1760.—John Everts, Josiah Stoddard.

1761.—John Everts, Josiah Stoddard, Timothy Brownson.

1762.—John Everts, Josiah Stoddard.

1763.—John Everts, James Landon,

1764.—James Landon, Amos Fulter, Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter.
1765.—Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter, James Landon, Samuel Moore.
1766-67.—Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter.

1768.—Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter, James Bird.

1769.—Thomas Chittenden, Joshua Porter.

1770.—Joshua Porter, James Landon.

1771.—Joshua Porter, Thomas Chittenden, John Everts.

1772.—Thomas Chittenden, John Everts, Joshua Porter, James Landon.
1773.—Joshua, Porter, James Landon.

1774.—Joshua Porter, James Landon, Hezekiah Fitch.

1775.—Joshua Porter, Abial Camp, James Bird.

1776-77.—Abial Camp, Joshua Porter.

1778.—Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch.

1779.—Timothy Chittenden, Joshua Stanton, Hezekiah Fitch.
1780-81.—Joshua Porter, Hezekiah Fitch, Abial Camp.

1782.—Joshua Porter, Elisha Fitch, Hezekiah Fitch.

1783.—Hezekiah Fitch, Elisha Fitch, Joshua Stanton, Lot Norton.
1784,—Lot Norton, Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter.

1785.—Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter.

1786,—Elisha Fitch, Lot Norton, Lemuel Wheeler.

1787.—Elisha Fitch, Lemuel Wheeler, Hezekiah Fitch.

1788.—Lemuel Wheeler, Hezekiah Fitch, Samuel Lee.

1789.—Lemuel Wheeler, Adonijah Strong, Hezekiah Fitch,
1790,—Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter.

1791-92.—Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter, Adonijah Strong, Samuel Lee.
1793.—Hezekiah Fitch, Adonijah Strong.

1794,—Joshua Porter, David Waterman, Hezekiah Fitch.
1795.—Hezekiah Fitch, Joshua Porter, Samuel Lee.

1796.—Joshua Porter, Adonijah Strong, Samuel Lee.

1797.—Joshua Porter, Samuel Lee, Elisha Sterling.

1798-99.—Joshua Porter, Joseph Canfield, Jr.

1800.—Samuel Lee, Jeremiah Dauchy, David Waterman.

1801.—Joshua Porter, Jeremiah Dauchy, Samuel Lee.

1802.—Jeremiah Dauchy, Nathaniel Church, Adonijah Strong.
1803.—Timothy Chittenden, Jr., Phineas Chapin.

1804.—Phineas Chapin, Elisha Sterling, John Whittlesey, Lot Norton, Jr.

 

1805.—James Johnston, Jeremiah Dauchy, Timothy Chittenden, Jr,
Phineas Chapin.

1806.—Phineas Chapin, Stephen Reed, Samuel Lee.

1807.—Phineas Chapin, Nathaniel Everts, Samuel Lee.

1808.—Elisha Sterling, Lot Norton, Jr., Peter Farnam.

1809.—Lot Norton, Jr., Phineas Chapin, Samuel Lee.

1810.—Silas Moore, Peter Farnam, Lot Norton.

1811.—Luther Holley, Lot Norton.

1812.—Timothy Chittenden, Peter Farnam, Lot Norton, Luther Holley.

1813.—Peter Farnam, Lot Norton, Martin Strong, Eliphalet Whittlesey.

1814.—Lot Norton, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Elisha Sterling.

1815.—Elisha Sterling, John C. Cofling, Lot Norton.

1816.—Elisha Sterling, Jonathan Scoville.

1817.—Daniel Johnston, Abijah C. Peet.

1818.—Daniel Johnston, Abijah C. Peet, Silas Reed, Alexander Lamb.

1819.—Daniel Johnston, Abijah C. Peet.

1820.—Silas Reed, Samuel Church.

1821.—Samuel Church, Newman Holley.

1822.—Martin Strong, Thomas N. Smith.

1823-24.—Samuel Church, Parley Hubbard.

1825.—Seneca Pettee, Newman Holley.

1826.—Silas Reed, Newman Holley.

1827.—Newman Holley, Robert Ball.

1828.—Phineas Chapin, Thomas N. Smith.

1829.—Samuel Church, Robert Ball.

1830.—Abijah C. Peet, Jared S. Harrison.

1831.—Samuel Church, Lot Norton.

1832.—Jared 8. Harrison, Luther Ticknor.

1833.—Luther Ticknor, Nathaniel Benedict, Jr.

1834.—Nathaniel Benedict, Jr., Frederick Plumb.

1835.—Jared 8. Harrison, Frederick A. Walton.

1836.—Frederick A. Walton, John Ensign.

1837.—John Ensign, William P. Russell.

1838.—Nathaniel Benedict, John Russell, Jr.

1839.—William H. Walton, Thomas B. Bosworth.

1840.—Thomas B. Bosworth, Nehemiah Clark.

1841.—No choice,

1842.—William P. Russell, Wm. H. Walton.

1843.—Samuel C. Scoville, Roger Averill.

1844.—No choice.

1845.—Robert N. Fuller.

1846.—Horace Hollister, Albert Moore.

1847.—Amos L. Patterson, Wm. H. Walton.

1848.—Donald J. Warner, Horatio-Ames.

1849,—William Bushnell, Leonard Richardson.

1850.—Horatio Ames, Schuyler Pratt.

1851.—Nathaniel Benedict, Wm. H. Barnum.

1852.—Milton Hubbard, Pliny L. Barton.

1853.—James S. Ball, John H. Russell.

1854.—John H. Russell, Wm. A. Crowell.

1855.—Charles E. Botsford, Heury M. Knight.

1856.—Peter P. Everts, James Landon,

1857.—Lot Norton, Martin Harris.

1858.—Charles E. Botsford, James Ensign.

1859.—James Landon, James H. Barnum.

1860.—George Coffing, Horace Landon.

1861.—Wm. P. Burrall, Silas B. Moore.

1862.—Silas B. Moore, George Wood.

1863.—Leonard Richardson, Peter Friss.

1864.—Lorenzo Tupper, Albert Sellick.

1865.—Frederick A. Walton, George Landon.

1866.—D. J. Warner, John Wardwell.

1867.—Norman Spurr, Goodrich N. Gibbs.

1868.—Jonathan P. McNeil, James Van Deuzen,

1869.—Phiny L. Barton, Erastus D. Goodwin,

1870.—J. G. Landon, Sidney P. Ensign.

1871.—Wm. H. Walton, Jr., Henry Woodworth.

1872.—John R. Ward, H. P. Harris.

1873.—Daniel Pratt, George B. Clark.

1874.—Martin Harris, Milo B. Richardson,

1875.—John P. Walton, C. R. Morris.

1-76.—Robert Ball, 0. Benjamin.

1877.—Horace Landon, Charles H. Bissell.

1878.—Goodrich S. Gibbs, Charles E. Graves

1879.—Wm. B. Perry, George N. Clark.

1880.—Wm. A. Crowell, Edward Ward.

1881.—Gibson Gillette, Edward Barton.
SALISBURY.

MILITARY RECORD.*

M, Flanagan, lst Art. ; enl. May 23, 1861.
C. Brum, Ist Art.; enl. Dec. 6, 1864; disch. Sept. 25, 1865.
M. Carlo, 1st Art.
G. Cella, Ist Art.

M. Caruellis, 1st Art.

J. H, Sherwood, 5th Regt.; enl July 22,1861: must. out July 19, 1865,
D, A. Ayres, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 22, 1864,
F.F. Calendar, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out Aug. 1, 1863.
J. Carrington, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 21, 1864,
M. Gughengs, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

J, A. Sherwood, 5th Regt.; enl. July 21,1861; must. out July 22, 1864.
H. W. Simmons, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 22, 1864,
§. B. Squires, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; must. out July 22, 1864.
E. Van Dergan, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861.

John Woodin, 5th Regt.; en). July 22, 1861; must. out July 22, 1864.
B. Woodhead, 5th Regt.; enl. July 22, 1861; died June 23, 1862.

I. H. Rossell, 5th Regt.; enl. March 15, 1864.

. John Smith, enl. March 9, 1864,

A. E. Babcock, 6th Regt.; enl. Sept. 12, 1861; died Sept. 26, 1861.
Michael Dunn, 6th Regt.; en]. March 9, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865,
Henry Morris, 6th Regt.; enl. Dec. 6, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865.

J. Pennet, 6th Regt.; enl. Dec. 6, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865.

M, Maloy, 6th Regt.; enl. March 9, 1864; disch. Aug. 21, 1865.

Peter Turner, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept.7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.
A.E. Barnes, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; died Dec. 17, 1863.

H. P. Bosworth, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; killed Feb. 20, 1864.
George Bundy, 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1865.

J. H. Dexter, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 6, 1864.

A. Landon, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; discb. Sept. 12, 1864.

V. G. McNeil, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.
Ezra L. Moore, 7th Regt. ; enl. Sept. 7, 1861 ; pro. to adjutant; must. out

Nov. 22, 1864.

P. L. Norton, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept 12, 1864.
George W. Olin, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.
W. D. Reid, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 19, 1864.

John H. Sweet, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Jan. 3, 1862.
George L. Wells, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 12, 1864.
8. Judson, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept. 17, 1864.

Henry McLean, 7th Regt.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. July 20, 1865.

A. Dupont, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 15, 1864.

E.J. Frink, 8th Regt.; enl. July 30, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865.

M. J. Kilmer, Sth Regt.; enl. Aug. 12, 1864; must. out Dec. 12, 1865.
A. Columbo, 8th Regt.; en]. Aug. 8, 1864.

M. Ostrander, 9th Regt.; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; disch. Oct. 26, 1864,

J. Silvernail, 9th Regt.; enl. Jan. 13, 1864; disch. Oct. 26, 1864.

A. T. Breed, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 26, 1864.

Peter Finkle, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died July 14, 1862.

F, Tyler, 9th Regt.; enl. Oct. 3, 1861; disch. Dec. 1, 1862.

George E. French, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 1864.
_W.E, Jones, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 9, 1861; disch. Oct. 7, 1864.

H. Brazic, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Aug. 25, 1865.

W. Fish, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Nov. 23, 1863.

Judson P, Ham, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 3, 1861; disch. Aug. 12, 1862.
E.8. Hubbard, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 3, 1861; pro. to second lieutenant;

disch. Aug. 22, 1863.

J.B Haldsted, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 3, 1861.

G, W. Newell, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Dec. 25, 1865.

D. Owen, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. June 6, 1865.

0. D. Owen, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; died Feb. 17, 1862.

RG. Palmater, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. July 12, 1862.
Alex. Palmater, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 9, 1861.

E. Rowe, 10th Regt.; enJ. Oct. 3, 1861; died June, 1863,

R. R. Speed, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; disch. Dec. 18, 1862.

J. W. Speed, 10th Regt.; enl. Oct. 16, 1861; died March 17, 1863.

E. Dobson, 11th Regt.; enl. March 22, 1864; must. out Dec. 21, 1865,
Thos, Jones, 11th Regt.

Owen McNeil, 11th Regt. ; enl. March 21, 1864; killed May 16, 1864.
C. Most, 11th Regt.; enl. April 30, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

A. Brun, 11th Regt.; enl. April 30, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

M. Doherty, 11th Regt.; enl. March 20, 1864.

Alfred Duboise, 11th Regt.; enl. April 30, 1864; killed June 18, 1864.
Charles Allen, 11th Regt. ; enl. April 5, 1864.

M. Green, 11th Regt. ; enl. Feb. 27, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

 

* For list of 19th Regiment, see Chapter V.

 

549

Henry Mann, 11th Regt.; enl. April 8, 1864; disch, Dec. 21, 1865.

G. Brelleman, llth Regt.; enl. March 9, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

Jas. Burns, 11th Regt.; enl. April 5, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

A. Day, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 13, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

A. Fowler, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Nov. 1, 1864.

J. McElroy, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

George Arnold, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861 3 disch. Oct. 25, 1862.

C. Arnold, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. May 30, 1862.

H. Brazee, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Nov. 16, 1864,

C. W. Harvey, 11th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861.

A. N. White, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 3, 1861; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

W. Morehouse, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 27, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

John Murphy, 11th Regt.; enl. April 5, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

Jobn Masner, 11th Regt.; enl. April 17, 1864; disch. July 12, 1865,

W. Ostrander, 11th Regt.; enl. Feb. 27, 1864; disch. Dec. 21, 1865.

George Riley, 11th Regt.; en]. April 5, 1864; missing.

W. H. Wooden, 11th Regt.; enl. April 7, 1864; died Sept. 4, 1864.

J. Cable, 11th Regt.; enl. March 21, 1864.

John Hughes, 11th Regt.; enl. April 22, 1864.

John King, 11th Regt.; en]. April 14, 1864.

E. Longley, 11th Regt.; enl. April 14, 1864.

J. Lopez, 11th Regt.; enl. April 14, 1864.

C. Warrington, 11th Regt.; enl. April 8, 1864.

C. R. Wright, 13th Regt.; en). Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Jan. 6, 1865.

J. McLowan, 15th Regt.; enl. Jan, 24, 1865; disch. July 20, 1865.

A. W. Starr, 15th Regt.; enl. April 22, 1864; disch. July 21, 1865,

N. Robinson, 15th Regt.; enl. Dec. 29, 1863; disch. July 20, 1865.

A. W. Driscoll, 20th Regt.; enl. March 14, 1864; disch. July 14, 1865.

J.S, Addison, 29th Regt.; eul. Dec. 23, 1863; died April 23, 1864.

Charles Brown, 29th Regt.; enl. Jan. 4, 1864; died June 18, 1864.

S. M. De Witt, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 21, 1863; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

S. H. Foote, 29th Regt.; enl. Dec. 23, 1863 ; disch. Oct. 24, 1865,

J. W. Davis, 29th Regt.; enl, Jan. 5, 1864; «lisch. Oct. 24, 1865.

C. Brown, 29th Regt.; en]. Dec. 23,1863; disch. Feb. 29, 1865.

S. Lyons, 29th Regt. ; enl. Dec. 30, 1863; disch. Oct. 24, 1865.

A. Wethington, 29th Regt.; enl. April 8, 1864; disch. Nov. 7, 1865.

M. J. Bradley, 28th Regt.; quartermaster; enl. Sept. 1, 1862; resigned
March 5, 1863.

Rich. Wheatley, 28th Regt.; chaplain; enl. Nov. 12, 1862; disch. Aug.
28, 1863.

W. H. Matson, 28th Regt. ; quartermaster’s sergeant; enl. Aug. 16, 1862;
pro. to quartermaster ; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

L. S. Clemus, 13th Regt.; enl. Nov. 27, 1861; disch. Ang. 5, 1862,

C. H. Dauchy, 13th Regt.; eul. Nev. 27, 1861; disch. Dec. 9, 1862.

N. Mansfield, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 17, 1861; disch. Oct. 12, 1862.

P. E. Hurter, 11th Regt.; enl. Oct. 25,1861; disch. Dec. 25, 1865.

COMPANY E, TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT.
Mustered into United States service Nov. 15, 1862.

Charles B. Landon, captain; com. Aug. 16, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Joseph Bostwick, first lieutenant; com, Aug. 16, 1862; disch. Aug. 28,
1863.

Warren C. Dailey, second lieutenant; com. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug.
28, 1863.

Calvin N. Sage, sergeant; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Edward Pitkin, sergeant; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ward W. Sweet, sergeant; enl. Aug. 18, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

John Brant, sergeant; enl. Sept. 2,1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Smith Scribner, sergeant ; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Egbert F. Knott, corporal; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; killed June 14, 1863, at
Port Hudson, La.

Frederick Cleveland, corpural; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Judson T. Ham, corporal; enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Morgan Tyler, corporal; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

Walter Niver, corporal; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

C. Martin Turner, corporal ; enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Walter Turner, corporal; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

Henry Rowland, corporal; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ovid P. Shaw, musician; enl. Sept. 3, 1862; killed June 14, 1864, near
Petersburg, Va.

Whiting L. Ayres, wagoner; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ball, Harvey L., enl. Sept. 5, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ball, Andrew, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch, Aug. 28, 1863.

Blake, Orville 0., enl. Sept. 6, 1862; died Aug. 2, 1863, at Port Hudson, La.

Blake, George H., enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Benedict, John, enl. Sept. 11, 1862.
550

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Bishop, J. Milton, enl. Sept. 13, 1262; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Bragg, Robert W., enl. Aug. 26, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Briggs, Nicholas 0., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Broderick, Thomas, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Bushnell, George, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Burns, Peter, en]. Sept. 4, 1862; disch. for re-enlistment July 23, 1863.

Braize, Jourdin, enl. Aug. 22, 1862; died June 28, 1863, at Baton Rouge,
La.

Coon, Robert A., enl. Sept. 12, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Decker, George, enl. Aug. 19, 1862; disch, Aug. 28, 1863,

Donahue, John, enl. Sept. 16,1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Dunbar, Harlan, enl. Sept. 13, 1862; disch, Aug. 28, 1863.

Dutton, Joseph, enl. Sept. 3, 1862.

Duvall, Daniel W., enl. Sept. 11, 1862; died July 23, 1863, of wounds re-
ceived at Port Hudson, La.

French, Sanford W., enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

French, Calvin N., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Fuller, William H., enl. Sept.5, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Jewell, Augustus L., en]. Sept. 3, 1862; disch, Aug. 28, 1863.

Jones, Nelson, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Jones, John D,, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Knickerbocker, M. H., enl. Sept. 6,1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Knickerbocker, G. A., enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Mason, Elijah F., en]. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. for disability March 17, 1863.

Masner, John, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

McArthur, Rensler A., enl. Aug. 20, 1862; died July 12, 1863, of wounds
received at Port Hudson, La.

Morgan, William H., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Moore, Dwight, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch, Aug. 28, 1863.

Newberry, Stephen, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Niver, Elias D., enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Orton, Thomas B., enl. Aug. 28, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Oviatt, David F., en]. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Ostrander, Myron, enl. Sept. 3, 1862.

Ostrander, Walter, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863,

Palmer, Smith, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; died Sept. 27, 1864, at New Orleans,
La.

Rosseter, Reuben, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Smith, Dwight, enl. Aug. 18, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Surener, Henry E., enl. Aug. 21, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Smith, J. Harper, enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Schlittenhart, Michael, enl. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Stuppulbeen, Henry M., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Speed, Reuben R., enl. Sept. 2, 1862.

Speed, Andrew, enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Speed, Bradford, enl. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Storms, Peter C., enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Scutt, Jerry, enl. Sept. 8, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Sherman, Jeremiah P., enl. Sept. 6, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Silvernail, Silas, en]. Sept. 15, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Silvernail, John, en]. Sept. 15, 1862.

Turner, Cornelius, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died July 30, 1863, at Baton Rouge,
La.

Tyler, Gordon, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Thornton, Henry, enl. Sept. 15, 1862.

Tallardy, Seneca, enl. Sept. 5, 1862.

Wright, Henry V., enl. Aug. 20, 1862; disch. for re-enlistment July 23,
1863.

‘Woodworth, Charles, enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Wike, Leopold, enl, Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Wolcott, Eben P., enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Welch, John, enl. Sept. 3, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

Williams, John, enl. Sept. 2, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

JOHN MILTON HOLLEY.
John Milton Holley, son of Luther Holley, was the
oldest son of a brotherhood of six remarkable men ;
remarkable for the manly beauty and perfection of

their physical organization, for marked mental vigor.

 

——
and vivacity, combined with most genial and attrac-
tive social qualities, and unusual conversational gifts,
which were aided by an extraordinary compass, har-
mony, and flexibility of voice. Each of them was
more than six feet in height and finely proportioned.
All of them received the rudiments of their education
at the then good common schools of their native town,
in which their honored father had been in early life
a successful and popular teacher.

John M. finished his studies at Boston and Wil-
liamstown, Myron and Horace at Yale College,
Orville at Cambridge, and Newman at a popular
academy nearer home. John M. was born at Salis-
bury, Conn., on the 7th of September, 1777, and died
there Nov. 14, 1836. In 1798 he took charge of one
of the corps of surveyors that ran out the “Connecti-—
cut Fire Lands,” as they were then called, now called
the ‘‘ Western Reserve,” in Ohio, and before leaving
the State he laid out the city of Cleveland. Soon
after his return to Salisbury he embarked in the for-
warding business at Poughkeepsie, with Livingstone
& Bogardus, of New York. A few years later, his
father having purchased the old furnace property at
Salisbury, where so many of the cannon and shot were
made that were used in the war of the Revolution,
he returned to Salisbury and joined his father in the
manufacture of pig iron.

In 1814, Luther Holley having purchased the beauti-
ful farm on the shore of the Lake Wononscopomue,
in Salisbury, on which he afterwards lived and died,
was succeeded in the iron business by John C. Coffing,
thus forming the long and well-known firm of Holley
& Coffing,—a firm which, for extended business en-
terprise, active public spirit, and high integrity of
character, ranked among the foremost of the time. -
Their manufacturing operations in cast and wrought
iron for government and private armories, and for
general uses, were extended into Massachusetts and
New York, and were uniformly and largely successful
for that early period.

In January, 1800, J. M. Holley married Sally Por-
ter, the youngest daughter of Col. Joshua Porter, of
Salisbury (whose life has been more particularly al-
luded to in a sketch of his grandson, Alexander H.
Holley). She became the mother of John M. Holley,
Jr., who was a graduate of Yale in 1822, where he
acquitted himself with honor, and subsequently mar-
ried a daughter of Gen. Joseph Kirkland, of Utica,
N. Y.; practiced law in Western New York, repre-
sented his district twice in the General Assembly of the
State, and died in Florida while a member of Congress.
She was also the mother of Alexander H., a sketch of
whose life appears in another part of this work, and
of George W. Holley, of Niagara Falls, all of whom
were born in Salisbury. George W. was educated
chiefly at Capt. Patridge’s military school in Vermont,
and at West Point. He also represented his district
in the General Assembly of the State, and is the
author of works on the geology of the country about
 
 

Me CIV~AUM LE
er Vv

 

So ~, Moll y
SALISBURY.

551

 

Niagara.. He was for several years the agent of Gen.
Peter B. Porter, his uncle, and after the general’s
death was guardian of his children.

Luther Holley’s. grandfather was the first of the
family to settle in Litchfield County, he having re-
moved from Stamford, Conn., to Sharon, where Luther
was born July 12,1751. The following extracts from
a letter of his to his son Horace will give some ac-
count of his earlier life: “After I had advanced to-
wards manhood, say at the age of sixteen or seven-
teen, my father was ill for several years. My two
older brothers were of age and had gone from home.
It fell to my lot, therefore, to carry on the farm. I
worked hard during the day, and at night had to go
after doctors and medicine, sometimes riding eight or
nine miles, and often becoming so weary that I have
fallen asleep on my horse. My father continued ill
for years after I was of age; but, by my own exertions
and the persevering industry of my mother and sisters,
we lived in good style for that day, and-punctually
paid every demand.” A practice for which he was
quite remarkable through his whole life. ‘ When at

work on a plow one day I cut my knee, and lay for.

ten or twelve weeks under the care of doctors, expect-
ing to have my leg cut off. Meantime I studied hard
to qualify myself to teach school, and succeeded so
well that I obtained a small school the next winter,
and gave so much satisfaction that I was engaged for
the next year. I agreed for six months for seven dol-
lars and fifty cents per month, which was then a great
price. I continued to keep school for three years,
the salary being raised from time to time until it
reached five pounds.” Wearying of teaching, he em-
barked in trade. “T then formed a partnership with
William Davis, of Sharon. We made a large pur-
chase of goods of Richard Smith, of New London,
who, being in Holland, had assisted our government
in its struggle for independence to procure a quantity
of gunpowder. For this service the Legislature of
Connecticut granted him the privilege of bringing
into the country thirty thousand dollars’ worth of
goods. This purchase of Richard Smith was made
just before the news of peace reached the country; the
price of goods fell; Mr. Davis became discouraged,
sold out, and quit business; I carried it through, paid
Smith, and made some money.” Subsequently he en-
gaged in business in Redhook, on the Hudson, and
in Dover, Dutchess Co. He represented one of the
districts in the latter county in the General Assembly
of the State. Soon after he removed to Salisbury,
where he engaged in business as above stated. He
also represented the town of Salisbury during three
sessions of the General Assembly of the State of
Connecticut.

Myron Holley, the second son of Luther, engaged
in business in Western New York in early life, repre-
sented the district of his residence during several
sessions of the Legislature, and with voice and pen
was very efficient in advancing the Erie Canal project.

 

When its construction was decided upon he was made
one of the commissioners to carry forward the work,
and devoted his best energies to it until it was made
available for use.

Horace Holley became a popular preacher in Bos-
ton, where he remained about eight years, and from
whence he removed to Lexington, Ky., to accept the
presidency of Transylvania University.

At his decease, in 1827, Professor Caldwell, of Lex-
ington, pronounced a funeral oration, from which the
following extract is taken. Referring to his decease,
he says,—

“Tt announces to you that Holley, who lately presided in this institu-
tion with unrivaled lustre, to whose peerless eloquence this temple has
so often resounded, whose jndgment and taste were standards by which
to decide on excellency both in literature and arts, whose soul, as if obe-
dient to an impulse of prophecy, often sprung forward into future times,
and bodied forth the thick coming glories of his country, with a potency
of reason, a richness of color, that gave to them the charm of existing
realities; whose hospitality knew no limit but that of his means and op-
portunities to extend it; who was a finished model of elegance in man-
ners and refinement of breeding, and whose manly beauty and graceful
deportment were as attractive to the eye as the mellifluent tones of his
voice in conversation were delightful to the ear.”

Orville L. Holley spent most of his life in the cities
of New York and Albany, practiced law in both, be-
came editor and author for many years, and for several
years was surveyor-general of the State. He died in
Albany, in March, 1861.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON HOLLEY.

Alexander Hamilton Holley was born in Salisbury,
Litchfield Co., Conn., on the 12th of August, 1804.
His father, John Milton Holley, was also born in Sal-
isbury, 7th of September, 1777. His father, Luther
Holley, was born in Sharon, Conn., July 12, 1751.
Luther’s grandfather was the head of the family in
this county, having moved into Sharon from Stamford,
Conn., and was one of its earliest settlers. A more
detailed sketch of Luther’s life may be found in con-
nection with that of his oldest son, John Milton. The
grandfather of Alexander on his mother’s side was
Col. Joshua Porter, who was the first of his family in
this county. He was born in Lebanon, Conn., in
1780, was a graduate of Yale College, removed to Sal-
isbury in 1754 or 1755, and made the town his place
of residence for the remainder of his life, which was
terminated in April, 1825, at the age of ninety-five
years. He was a marked man, and spent many years
of his long life in the public service. He was elected
to the General Assembly of the State fifty-five times,
was a judge of the County Court twenty-eight years,
judge of probate over thirty years, and held minor
offices in town from ten to forty years. He was also
colonel in the army, and was with his regiment at the
surrender of Gen. Burgoyne at Saratoga. He was
for six years agent of the State, superintending the
making of cannon in the Salisbury furnace during
the Revolutionary war. His sons, Augustus and
Peter B., became very distinguished men. They were
552

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

both born in Salisbury, and soon after the graduation
of Peter B. at Yale College the brothers both re-
moved into Western New York as pioneers, and be-
came extensive land-holders. Both represented their
respective districts in the General Assembly of the
State, and Peter B. was twice elected to Congress, in
1809 and 1812. He was also Secretary of War during
a portion of John Q. Adams’ administration, Augus-
tus was agent for the Holland Land Company for sev-
eral years, and was also a judge of Common Pleas.
Sally Porter was the youngest daughter in this family,
and was married to John M. Holley in January,
1800, at Salisbury. She became the mother not only
of the subject of this sketch, but also of John M.
Holley, who graduated at Yale College in 1822, prac-
ticed law in Western New York, represented his dis-
‘trict during two terms of the General Assembly, was
elected to Congress in 1847, and died in Florida in
1848, and of George W. Holley, now a resident of
Niagara Falls, who married a daughter of the late
chief justice of our State, Samuel Church. Mr,
George Holley has also represented his district in the
General Assembly, and is the author of works on the
geology of the country in the vicinity of the Falls.
It.was the design of the father of these gentlemen
that the subject of this sketch should also receive a
classical education at Yale, but the plea of ill health,
interposed by himself and his mother, and the desire
of the former to enter upon an active business life,
finally induced the father to excuse him from the
further pursuit of academical studies at the age of
sixteen; not, however, without the prediction that
the rejection of the proffered education would be
deeply regretted in future life,—a prediction that has
since been fully verified. The educational advantages
enjoyed previous to that date were under the tui-
tion of Rev. Orville Demy, of Sheffield, Mass., and of
Rev. Daniel Parker, of Ellsworth, in Sharon, whose
son, Hon. A. J. Parker, was then a school-fellow. In
1820, Mr. Holley entered as clerk in the business
of his father and his partners, who were then among
the most extensive iron-masters in the State. They
were makers of pig iron in Lakeville, at Mount Riga,
Lime Rock, and Falls Village, all in Salisbury, and
at Vandeusenville and Richmond, in Massachusetts.
They were also extensive manufacturers of wrought
iron for the government armories at Springfield and
Harper’s Ferry, as well as for private armories, and also
of cotton-screws, anchors, steamboat machinery, etc.
In the business connected with these establishments,
as clerk, agent, and partner, together with the estab-
lishment of cutlery-works at Lakeville on his own
account, he was actively engaged for more than forty
years. The only relaxation of any consequence in-
dulged in in early manhood, except six months spent
in Western New York for the benefit of impaired
health, was in occasional military service. Before
the militia system of Connecticut became demoralized,
when the regiments numbered from seven hundred to

. scholar.

 

a thousand men at annual muster, he filled the re-
spective offices of adjutant, brigade inspector, and di-
vision inspector, and found an annual tour of a week
with pleasant companions a more agreeable relaxation
from business cares than many subsequent visits to
sea-shore or watering-places.

In October, 1831, Mr. Holley married Jane M. Ly-
man, daughter of Hon. Erastus Lyman, of Goshen,
Conn. She became the mother of Alexander Lyman
Holley, who was born in Salisbury, July 20, 1832,
graduated at Brown University, R. I., in 1854, subse-
quently became a civil engineer, and was also honored
with the title of LL.D., conferred by his Alma Mater.
He introduced into this country the process of man-
ufacturing Bessemer steel, and has also published a
number of scientific works. His mother died in his
infancy. In September, 1835, he married Marcia Cof-
fing, daughter of his father’s partner, John C. Coffing,
Esq. With her he lived nearly twenty years. She
became the mother of John Coffing Holley, who grad-
uated at Yale College in 1859 with an honorable rec-
ord. He was a genial gentleman and cultivated
He died in San Francisco in 1865. Mrs.
Marcia Holley was also the mother of Mrs. William
B. Rudd, now residing with her husband at Lake-
ville. In November, 1856, he married Sarah Coit
Day, daughter of Thomas Day, of Hartford, who was
for twenty-five years Secretary of State, by annual
election.

In 1854, Mr. Holley was nominated and elected Lieu-
tenant-Governor on the ticket with Hon. Henry Dut-
ton, of New Haven, as Governor. In 1857 he was
elected Governor, Hon. A. A. Burnham, of Windham
County, being elected Lieutenant-Governor on the
same ticket. During his term of office, Mr. Holley made
several official visits into other States, in which he
formed many pleasant associations, which have con-
tinued as among the most agreeable of his life. Not-
able among the visits were one to Bunker Hill, to
participate in the ceremony of unveiling the statue
of Gen. Warren, of Revolutionary memory. Among
the visitors from the Southern States at that time
was James M. Mason, of Virginia, who admonished
the assembled multitudes from the North of their duty
to adhere to the union of the States, a union which, in
less than three years thereafter, he attempted, with his
associates, to overthrow, and who, with his associate
Slidell, were subsequently captured on board of a
British vessel on their way to Europe in behalf of
the cause of the Confederacy.

Another was to Richmond, Va., to witness the same
ceremony of unveiling Crawford’s statue of Washing-
ton. Other chief magistrates were present on the oc-
casion, and all were cordially received and hospitably
entertained; nevertheless there were then slight
breathings of discontent, which finally culminated
in the great Rebellion.

Mr. Holley was not an exclusive devotee to his own
private business, but was an earnest promoter of pub-
 
SALISBURY.

lic improvements, taking a lively interest in the con-

struction of the Housatonic, Harlem, Dutchess and.

Columbia, and Rhinebeck and Connecticut Railroads,
notably in the Harlem and the Connecticut Western.
He spent many months in 1851-52 and 1858 in aiding
and urging forward the extension of the Harlem road,
and was efficient in aiding to organize the Connecti-
cut Western, of which he has been a director from
the commencement. He was also one of the origin-
ators of the Iron Bank at Falls Village, Conn.; was for
twelve years a director, and for two years president of
the same. He was also warmly engaged, with officers
of other New England banks, in the establishment of
the Bank of Mutual Redemption, in the city of Bos-
ton, and was for several years one of a committee to
make semi-annual examinations of its condition.
Having withdrawn somewhat from the active busi-
ness of life, Mr. Holley indulged himself in visiting
various parts of his own country, and made three
voyages to Europe, the first in 1862, with his son, the
engineer, who has recently crossed the ocean for the
twenty-sixth time, the second with his family, for a
year, and the third, with his valued and esteemed
friend, H. M. Knight, M.D., who was the founder of
the “Connecticut School for Imbeciles.” His im-
paired health rendered a voyage necessary, and on
Mr. Holley’s part it was undertaken for the doctor’s
sole benefit. All of them were enjoyed, and were no
doubt promotive of his own health, as he is now liv-
ing, at the age of seventy-seven years, in vigorous
health, at his pleasant home at Lakeville, on the
banks of one of the most beautiful lakes in the State,
evidently enjoying the respect of his fellow-citizens,
having made his native village his home for his en-
tire life,

MOORE FAMILY OF SALISBURY.

Thomas Moore during the sixteenth century came
from Wales to Southold, Suffolk Co., Long Island,
then the province of New York, and settled there.
Two or three generations of Moores have existed
there, dispersed, and died; as many as four Thomas
Moores have lived there.

The records of Southold as early as 1698 show that
the families of Moores were numerous.

Samuel Moore, son of Thomas, was born at South-
old in 1715. Leaving there in early life, as tradition
says, for a locality where firewood could more easily
be obtained, he located in Litchfield, Conn., where he
purchased land, as appears by deeds, in 1785, 1736, and
1787, and was married Oct. 9, 1735, at Litchfield, to
Rachel Landon, by Rev. Nathaniel Marther; com-
menced housekeeping there, and continued in the
capacity of a farmer from 1785 to 1743.. Two of their
sons, Samuel (2d) and John, were born here. During
the year 1743 Samuel Moore disposed of his real
estate at Litchfield and removed to Salisbury, where
he purchased the property of Aaron Austin, where
Silas B. Moore resides.

 

553

Samuel Moore was made a resident and an inhab-
itant of Salisbury, by taking the oath of allegiance,
Dec. 24, 1744, in the eighteenth year of the reign
of our sovereign lord, George the Second, of Great
Britain, and was appointed one of the town officers
that year.

Was appointed town treasurer in 1748, and held
the office consecutively until 1776; represented the
town in the General Court in both sessions of 1759 and
1765. When Samuel Moore first settled here there
were but nine English families in this section of the
town. Dutch families from the province of New York
had settled in Weatogue and along the Housatonic
River; the population being sparse, the Indians at
times became warlike and troublesome. Block-houses
were built about the town for protection of the fam-
ilies; one of these block-houses was built southeast of
the centre of the town, on Stiles’ grant, so called.
Samuel Moore’s wife and children were occasionally
taken there nights for protection.

Samuel Moore in early life was made a sergeant,
and finally captain, of a military company. Military
supplies were kept at his house during the French
war of 1756-57. The war then existing was a war
between England and France in relation to the Can-
adas.

Capt. Moore was ordered from time to time to im-
press men for soldiers into His Majesty’s army, of
which the following is one of said orders:

“Salisbury, Aug. 8, A.D.1757. To Elijah Russell, Greeting: You are here-
by Commanded in his Majestie’s name To impress Luman Surdam and
Ruluff Dutcher, Son of John Dutcher and Cornelius Dutcher, and Ruluff
Dutcher, 2d, forthwith to procede for the relief of Fort William Henry,
&c., with arms and ammunition complete, and provision for the march,
to be under the command of Capt. John Marsh, of Litchfield, who will
join them on the road or at Fort Edwards.

“By order of Samvet Moors, Captain.

The children of Samuel Moore and Rachel Lan-
don, his wife, were born and died as follows:

Samuel Moore (2d) was born in Litchfield, Oct. 27,
1736; was an eminent mathematician of his day.
Judge Church, in his centennial address, in 1841,
speaks of him as follows:

“In connection with the professional gentlemen who have been our
inhabitants I ought not to omit the name of the late Samuel Moore (2d).
He was the first of our inhabitants who practiced the science of land
surveying, and was the oldest son of the first emigrant here of that
name, He was a distinguished mathematician of his time, and was the
author of a valuable and extensively circulated treatise upon surveying,

which, I believe, was the first American work on that branch of mathe-
matical science. He died in the year 1810, aged seventy-five years.”

John Moore was born in Litchfield in 1739, and
died at Salisbury, May 6, 1802, aged sixty-three years,
married Mary Bingham, of Salisbury, March, 1762.

Mary, daughter of Samuel and Rachel, born Jan.
28, 1748, and married Capt. Nathaniel Evarts, Dec.
12,1770; died March 9, 1841, aged ninety-two years.

Hannah, daughter of Samuel and Rachel, born
Nov. 15, 1751, and married Samuel Lee, Esq., Oct. 12,

1779.
Phebe, daughter of Samuel and Rachel, born Jan.
554

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

17, 1756, and married Hon. Joseph Ketcham, attorney-
at-law, Plattsburgh, N. Y.

David, son of Samuel and Rachel, born Sept. 2,
1758; died at Salisbury, aged twenty-four years.
Single.

Silas Moore, son of Samuel and Rachel, was born
Sept. 9, 1762, and married to Marville Brewster, June
24, 1798, in the brick house built by Governor Chit-
tenden, on the Brewster farm, so called now, owned
by Alexander Surdam; was a farmer by occupation
the principal part of his life, represented the town in
various capacities, was a member of the General As-
sembly for both sessions of 1810, lived and died in
the same house in which he was born, Jan. 21, 1830,
aged sixty-seven years. Marville Brewster, his wife,
was born at Preston, New London Co., Conn., Jan.
81,1771. The late Joseph Brewster, of New Haven,
says that she was of the fifth generation in a direct
ancestorial line of Elder Brewster, of the Pilgrims,
and died at Salisbury, Aug. 28, 1855, aged eighty-four
years.

Albert Moore, son of Silas and Marville, was born
at Salisbury, May 12, 1799; followed agricultural pur-
suits principally, was treasurer of the town from 1833
to 1847, represented the town in the Gcneral Assem-
bly at its session, May, 1846, and succeeded the late
Hon. Robert N. Fuller, in 1861, as-probate judge for
the district of Salisbury, which office he occupied
until relieved by the limitation of statute, having
arrived to the age of seventy years, and died at his
residence after a short illness, Feb. 3, 1877, aged
seventy-eight years.

Albert Moore married for his first wife Jane W.,
daughter of the late Dr. Bradford Hubbard, of New
Haven, June, 1833, and died at Salisbury, March 26,
1866, aged fifty-seven years. No heirs exist from this
marriage.

Albert Moore married for his second wife Mrs.
Cordelia P. Hulbert, of Great Barrington, Mass.,
June 4, 1868, who survives her husband.

Silas Brewster Moore, son of Silas and Marville,
was born at Salisbury, Oct. 21, 1808; commenced the
business of merchandising at Falls ‘Village, May,
1832, with Asa S. Brewster, the surviving partner of
the firm of J. & A.S. Brewster, and continued in that
occupation until 1835, returning to Salisbury that
year in connection. with his brother and others en-
gaged in the manufacturing of wrought iron of fine
quality, which was then extensively used by the na-
tional armories for arms and other uses, also in the
manufacturing of pig metal with others at Chapin-
ville; was made town treasurer from 1849 to 1855,
and town treasurer again in 1863, which office he con-
tinues to hold to the present time (1881) ; represented
the town in the Legislature of 1861, the year of the
Rebellion, witnessed the first soldiers passing through
Connecticut on their way to the seat of war in the
Southern Confederacy, and was returned the next
year to the General Assembly of 1862. Succeeded

 

his brother in the office of probate judge from 1869

to 1876, and arriving near the age of seventy, law re-
quired him to retire, and Hon. Lorenzo Tupper suc-
ceeded him in said office, which he continues to hold,

Silas B. Moore was married to Cornelia, daughter
of Horace Landon, Esq., and Cornelia, his wife, June
15, 1864, at Chapinville.

Samuel Landon Moore, son of Silas B. and Cornelia,
his wife, was born Sept. 20, 1865, and died Dee. 1,
1865, aged two months and eleven days.

Hattie Landon Moore, daughter of Silas B. and
Cornelia, his wife, was born June 11, 1869.

In the: early part of this century the family name
was quite numerous, Samuel Moore (st), having a
number of grandchildren living in Salisbury and
married,—John, Luther, Calvin, and William, each
of them respectively having families of eight and ten
children. The name has become nearly extinct,—
cannot recall but one male member bearing the name
in town, and his sands are fast running out, and the
glass is nearly empty.

FREDERICK MILES.

The ancestry of the Miles family is traced in this
country to one Richard Miles, who emigrated from
England, landing at Boston in 1635, subsequently
settling in New Haven.

Hon. Frederick Miles was born in Goshen, Conn, in
1815. He received a common-school and academic
education, and in 1832 entered a dry-goods store in
New Haven as clerk at thirty dollars per year and
board. In the fall of 1838 he returned to Goshen,
and entered his father’s store as clerk, in which ca-
pacity he remained until 1888, when he became a
partner in the establishment. He continued in this
business until 1857, when he removed to Twin Lakes,
Salisbury, and engaged in the iron business, which he
has continued with success to the present time.

Mr. Miles is an enterprising and popular citizen.
In November, 1877, he was elected to the State
senate from the Seventeenth Senatorial District, and
in November, 1878, was elected member of Congress,
and in November, 1880, was re-elected, representing
the Fourth Congressional District, composed of Litch-
field and Fairfield Counties.

HENRY M. KNIGHT, M.D.

Henry Martyn, fifth child of Joseph and’ Reuba
Knight, was born Aug. 11, 1827, at Stafford, Conn.,
where his father was then settled as pastor of a
Congregational Church. Mr. Knight was a divine of
the old school, sound in Calvinistic theology, revered
in later years by younger men in the ministry, who
affectionately termed him “Father Knight.” During
his long ministry he suffered from the effects of a
fever sore, which, however, did not prevent his faith-
ful discharge of all pastoral duties, though rendering
 

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SALISBURY.

him almost a cripple. It is said that this faithful
man of God, when absolutely unable to walk, preached
frequently from a seat in his own house, packed with
his congregation, while his wife in her lap held the
aching limb. This quality of steadfast discharge of
duty at no matter what cost of physical suffering
was fully transmitted to his son. Henry’s boyhood
was passed in the pure and healthful atmosphere,
moral and physical, which surrounded the home of
the good old minister at Stafford and at Granby, and
Peru, Mass., later on.

As the boy grew up he was subjected to that best of
all disciplines, the practice of a rigid economy. A
country minister with a family of eight children on a
salary of five hundred dollars per annum could barely
afford even the necessaries of life, and luxuries were
unknown at the parsonage, the father’s mantle doubt-
less descending in a literal way in divers forms upon
Henry and the other boys, and spending money being
unheard of in the youngsters’ pockets. So, when
the grand idea of obtaining an education began to
develop itself in the boy’s capacious brain, he knew
well that his own energy, his own denials, his own
frugality must win for him the coveted prize. At
the age of sixteen then we find him a student in
Easthampton, at the already celebrated Williston
Seminary, building upon the good foundation laid at
the common schools of Stafford and Granby. His
vacations were occupied in teaching, and this led him
one season to Norfolk, where he became acquainted
with his future wife, Miss Mary Fitch Phelps. His
want of time and means did not permit him to grad-
uate at Williston, and, having decided upon the study
of medicine, he entered the office of Dr. Smith, at
Monson, Mass., in 1847, at which place, and also at
the office of Dr. Minor, in South Braintree, afterwards,
he obtained sufficient medical knowledge to qualify
him for a course at the Berkshire Medical College,
from whence he graduated in 1849. He was married
in October, 1850, and began to practice medicine at
Stafford Springs, Conn., having charge also of the
post-office and a drug-store. In November, 1850, he
removed to Lakeville, entering into partnership with
Dr. Benjamin Welch, then a noted surgeon and gen-
eral practitioner.

In 1855, while a member of the State Legislature, he
was appointed by that body one of a committee to
ascertain how many imbecile children there were in
this State. His previous reading and observation,
and the knowledge acquired while serving on this
commission, inspired him with the idea of founding
that school which is his best monument and memorial.
In 1856 he presented his plans to the Legislature and
asked that Connecticut should establish a school for
imbeciles similar to those already conducted by Mas-
sachusetts, Pennsylvania, and other States. The
measure, after passing the House, was defeated in
the Senate by one vote. Defeated but not discour-
aged, the doctor in 1858 retired from general practice

 

555

and opened his own house for the reception of feeble-
minded patients.

In due time, with meagre aid from the State, and
more from his friends, he was enabled in 1863 to
erect a more suitable building, which has since been
enlarged, and at the time of his death, 1880, about

eighty of this unfortunate class of all ages were

gathered into an orderly, comfortable, and happy
community. The school from 1861, when Dr. Knight
was appointed superintendent of the “Connecticut
School for Imbeciles,” has been nominally a State
institution. The State has never been very liberal
in its support, although from time to time aid has
been given towards construction of buildings and for
indigent pupils. Legislative committees have annu-
ally visited the school from that time, and have uni-
formly recommended its support by the State. Dr.
Knight published annual reports of the condition
of the inmates and the results of education among
them, and lavished upon his school a tenderness and
force of character which, evinced in other direc-
tions, would have assured him of a prominent place
in political or professional life. Cunningly, tenderly,
in the care of his pupils, the doctor would feel about
all the dull gateways of their minds, until at last, in
every case, some way of approach, however slight,
could be found, and then, with intelligent individu-
ality, he would enlarge and develop it. This was
his life-work, and he brought into its service all the
strength, firmness, decision, benevolence, charity,
and hope of a nature possessed of these qualities in
a much more than ordinary degree.

Dr. Knight was a member of the “ Connecticut
Medical Society,” “ American Medical Association,”
and honorary member of the ‘“‘ New England Psycho-
logical Society,” “ New York State Medical Society,”
and “California State Medical Society.” Endowed
by nature with a splendid physique, which is in itself
the promise of great length of days, he also possessed
that nervous, ardent, impetuous temperament which
lavishes itself on the moment, and consumes itself be-
fore its time. In 1874 he was deeply interested in tem-
perance, and delivered in many places a lecture, illus-
trated with colored plates, showing the effect of alcohol
on the human stomach. Greatly exhausted, and suffer-
ing from violent pains in the head, he still insisted
on keeping an engagement at New Britain, though
unable, while he spoke, to see his audience, so se-
vere was his agony. There followed this an attack of
cerebro-spinal meningitis, from which he never fully
recovered. Near the lst of January, 1880, he found
that, while at home, he could not resist the demands
made upon him, not only by his institution, but by a
multitude of causes in which he was deeply inter-
ested, and, also, that his strength seemed steadily
ebbing away, and left home to spend a few months at
Onovo, on the upper St. John’s, in Florida. Seized
by a chill between Savannah and Fernandina, his
disease became so aggravated that after four days’
556

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

illness he died at Fernandina, Jan. 22, 1880. He

left two children, Robert P. and George H.

In his chosen field Dr. Knight had a national
reputation, and his help was sought by other States
in forming similar schools to his. In England he
was known even better than in America. His loss is
felt in many places. In the church, where he gave
the service of an earnest Christian, in the community,
among the whole extent of a large circle of tenderly
attached friends, in every enterprise of benevolence,
reform, or spiritual endeavor, there is no one to lift
his mantle or occupy his place. As deacon of the
Congregational Church for a long time, as superin-
tendent of the Sabbath-school for many years, as citi-
zen, physician, and friend, he won the ever-widening
love of all who knew him, and had an influence be-
yond the expression of words. We cannot better
close this sketch than by publishing the following
from the proceedings of the General Assembly of Con-
necticut.

Mr. Colyer, of Darien, introduced the following
resolutions :

“That in the death of Dr. H. M. Knight, late superintendent of the
Connecticut School for Imbeciles, the State has sustained a great loss,
humanity is deprived of one of its noblest benefactors, and science will
miss an earnest disciple.

“That as a mark of respect to his memory a committee, consisting of
one senator and two representatives, be appointed to attend his funeral,
and that these resolutions be placed upon the journals, and an engrossed
copy, signed by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House,
be forwarded to the family as an assurance of the deep sympathy of the
State Legislature.”

Mr. Colyer, of Darien, said,—

“These resolutions give but a faint expression to the profound sorrow
felt by many hearts within these halls to-day. This State, as well as
humanity at large, has sustained a great loss in the death of Dr. Knight,
of Lakeville. For over twenty years, in his quiet retreat among the
hills at Lakeville, he has labored with aself-denying devotion to which no
words of mine can do justice.

“Selecting as the objects for his benevolence the poorest, most despised,
and forsaken of his heavenly Father's children, the wretched imbeciles,
he lifted them out of their degraded helplessness and made them, in a
large degree, self-sustaining and objects of respect,

“Peace, Mr. Speaker, peace has its triumphs as well as war, and there
are other fields of human activity worthy of honor besides the field of
battle. To labor unseen by the admiring eye of man, and unceasingly
to ameliorate the condition of the neglected and the outcast of the earth,
is an occupation only undertaken by the noblest natures and the most
unselfish among men. We justly honor the soldier who lays down his
life on the battle-field for his country ; to-day let us honor the hero who,
in the quiet, retired halls of the asylum, sacrifices his life for the eleva-
tion of humanity. Thus died Dr. Knight, following the sublime example
of his Master, the Saviour of mankind. There are many in this hall who
knew him and loved him. The duties of his office called him annually
to the capital, and always on the one errand,—the care of the poor people
whose care he had undertaken ; but in these halls, Mr. Speaker, we shall
see his manly face, note his eager, intelligent look, or hear his pathetic
appeals no more. He always got what he asked for, because he always
asked for that which was reasonable. We know all about hig pleasant,
unpretentious home, a plain, neat wooden building, so charmingly located
by the side of the beautiful Twin Lakes in Northwestern Connecticut. We
knew of his economy, and, better, we knew of his splendid success; up-
wards of thirty-five per cent. of his pupils were changed from being a
burden to their friends to a blessing to those around them.

“Mr, Knight was born in Stratford, the son of a Congregational clergy-
man, and studied for the medical profession. It is over twenty years ago
since he began this benevolent work on which rests a fame which has
reached the farther side of the civilized world. In England, a land

_near the southwest corner of the town.
‘the sister of Thomas Chittenden, the Governor of Ver-

 

famous for its organized benevolence, he was even better known than in
thie country. Minnesota had just invited him to help her organize an
institution similar to the one at Lakeville, and other fields were opening
to him, when he was suddenly called home. All honor to his memory,
for in honoring him Connecticut but honors herself.” \

Mr. Hollister, of Litchfield, said in substance,—

“Mr. Speaker, I rise with pleasure to second the passage of the reso-
lutions offered by the gentleman from Darien. I do it, sir, because I
have known Dr. Knight long as a citizen, a friend, and a scholar. He
was a man who devoted his life to the care of those who could not take
care of themselves. In the adoption of these resolutions the Assembly
will give a fitting recognition to the honorable services of one of its best
citizens.”

The resolutions then passed unanimously, and were

immediately transmitted to the senate.

PETER POWERS EVERTS.

Peter Powers Everts was born in Salisbury, Conn.,
July 17, 1811, and has always resided in said town.
He is descended in the seventh generation from John
Everts, the emigrant, who was one of the early settlers
of Massachusetts Bay colony. In 1688 we find him
at Concord, Mass.; about 1649 he moved from thence
to Guilford, Conn. July 29, 1651, he purchased the
home-lot on State Street now owned by John Benton.
He is the ancestor of ex-Secretary of State Wm. M. Ev-
arts, and all bearing that name who have come to our
knowledge. One hundred years after his settlement in
Guilford (1749), four of his great-grandchildren, broth-
ers andchildren of Nathaniel Everts (1st), cameto Salis-
bury. John settled on the place now the residence of
Samuel 8. Robbins. He kept a public-house, was one
of the king’s magistrates, and the first representative
from this town in the General Assembly, which honor
he received in eleven sessions of that body. He pro-
cured from Gov. Wentworth, of New Hampshire, the
charters for the towns of Middlebury, New Haven, and
Salisbury, in Vermont. The proprietors of Middle-
bury, mostly of this town, held their first meeting at
his hotel, and elected their first selectmen. He died
in 1786, and he and his wife are buried south of the
highway, near their former residence. Silvanus settled
He married

mont from 1778 to 1797, and removed to Vermont
before the Revolution.

Nathaniel (2d) settled on the place now the estate
of Esther Everts Bradly, his granddaughter, who
died Jan. 8, 1879. He was a large, powerful man,
weighing more than three hundred pounds. He was
an officer in the French and Indian war, and was
under fire at Lewisburg, Cape Breton, where they say
the bullets flew as thick as hailstones. He traded
swords with an English officer, getting two shirt-
cloths in the bargain. The sword is shown by his
great-grandson, Peter P. Everts. On his return he
had sent for his son Nathaniel, then about eight
years old, to meet him on horseback, which he did
at Spencertown, N. Y., after resisting several efforts
of returning soldiers to get the horse away from him.
SALISBURY.

Capt. Nathaniel Everts (8d) was brought from
Guilford, Conn., on horseback, in his mother’s arms.
Mrs. Lemon Bradley, his granddaughter, has a rose-
bush that was brought from Guilford at the same
time, now one hundred and thirty-two years old. He
possessed the homestead and the large landed estate
of his father, nearly all of which is still in the family.
He possessed great physical strength and dexterity.
He was a proprietor in the Old Hill ore-bed and the
forge at Mount Riga from 1788 to 1816. He was cap-
tain of militia, and served with Gen. Putnam at Horse-
neck. He and his widow were Revolutionary pen-
sioners. He and his father were active supporters of
the Congregational Church. But when the Methodists
came around, his daughter Hannah, his wife, and soon
himself became zealous Methodists, and his house ever
after was the preaching-place and home of the Method-
ist itinerant. His name is on the bell of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Lakeville as one of the build-
ing committee in 1816. His daughter Hannah was
a member of the first class organized in town. His
wife, Molly, as she was called, was the daughter of
Capt. Samuel and Rachel Moore, of this town. She was
noted for her gift and power in prayer. In her family
devotions she always prayed for her children and
her children’s children down to the latest generation.
Nine of her ten children became heads of families,
and her descendants are numerous and highly re-
spectable. Bishop C. D. Foss, of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, married her granddaughter. She
died in 1841, aged ninety-five. _

Silas Everts, oldest son of Capt. Nathaniel Everts
(8d), inherited the sterling character of bis fathers.
He was a zealous Methodist, active in social meetings,
and very seldom absent from the regular services of
the sanctuary. He was a staunch Democrat. He
was a frugal farmer and husbanded well his inherit-
ance. He was a man whose advice was sought, and
was universally esteemed, and strictly temperate in
his habits. His first wife was the mother of his chil-
dren. His homestead was at the Corner, just west of
his father’s. His youngest son, the subject of this
sketch, received a common-school education. When a
young man he was noted for his agility. While yet a
boy he drove ox-team, drawing ore from the Old Hill.
When of age he commenced life for himself as an
‘ore-digger, which business he has followed in some
capacity ever since. For several years life was a
struggle almost unaided, but he was successful. He
has owned and worked various mining claims in the
Old Hill bed, and has been longer than any other
person connected with fhe working of this mine. In
1848 he bought one-sixteenth of the proprietors’ right
of Thomas Chittenden, which he still retains. In
1849 he was appointed agent for the proprietors, to
look after their interests at the mine. This position
he retained until 1871, when he was succeeded by his
son Charles. He was active in forming the Brook
Pit Mining Company, and was appointed its first

86

 

557

superintendent, also secretary and treasurer. He
owns about one-seventh of the stock, and has been
a director and officer of the company since its incor-
poration in 1864. He married Tryphene Barnett,
daughter of John and Amelia Knapp Barnett. His
mother-in-law celebrated her eighty-ninth birthday
a few days since. <A few months after his marriage
he bought (1835) the homestead where he resides,
near the east boundary of the ore grant. He has
added to his estate till he now owns his father’s and
much of his grandfather’s landed estate. He is sur-
rounded by his children and their children with one ex-
ception. His youngest son, William P. Everts, is in
the office of the Michigamme (iron) Mining Com-
pany, Marquette Co., Mich. He represented his
town in the Legislature in 1856, and has been a
Republican since the organization of the party.

He has held various town offices, and has often been
intrusted with public business, and is known as a
reliable business man. He and his wife are members
of the Methodist Church at Lakeville, of which he
has been an official member some thirty years. He
always contributes liberally to the church, and has an
open hand to encourage every public enterprise in his
native town. His son, Col. Charles Everts, who has
to a certain extent superseded him in the mining
business, was in 1879 appointed aide on Governor
Andrews’ staff.

FAMILY GENEALOGY.

John Evarts, the emigrant, was born about 1620,
and died May 10, 1669. Had children,—Elizabeth,
James, Daniel, John, and Judah. His son John was
born Feb. 29, 1640, married Mary French, Sept. 14,
1665; also Mary Bow, second wife;.died Dec. 28, 1692.
Had ten children,—Mary, John, Hannah, Sarah, Na-
thaniel, Mehitabel, Ebenezer, Silence, Elizabeth, and
Patience.

Nathaniel (1st) was born July 24, 1675, married
Margaret Hastings, May 11, 1707, died June 18, 1739.
Had five children,—John, Margaret, Elijah, Na-
thaniel, and Silvanus.

Nathaniel (2d) was born May 9, 1718, married
Esther Jones, died June 2,1792. Had seven chil-
dren,—Nathaniel, Esther, Eber, Abner, Sybil, Silas,
and Mabel.

Nathaniel Everts (8d), born June 17, 1748, married
Mary Moore, Dec. 12, 1770, died May 17,1835. Had
ten children,—Mary, Silas, Hannah, Sarah, David,
Nancy, Betsy, Orra, Phebe, and Esther.

Silas, his son, born. Oct. 1, 1778, married Betsy
Warner Underwood; also Betsy Lee, second wife;
died March 10, 1859. Had three children,—Milan,
Electa, and Peter P.

Peter P. Everts, born July 17, 1811, married
Tryphene Barnett, Dec. 28, 1834. They had seven
children, viz.: George, born March 22, 1836, died
April 2, 1851; Jeannette, born May 10, 1838, mar-
ried Elias F. Sanford, July 8, 1867 (one child,
Mary Dalzell, born May 6, 1871); Charles (colonel),
558

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

born Dec. 20, 1840, married Mary C. Gibbs, Jan. 22,
1878 (has two children,—Peter P., (2d), born in 1874;
Arthur M., born July 29, 1877); Frederick B., born
Feb. 28, 1844, married M. Emma Dauchy, April
6, 1869 (one child, William F., born Dec. 17, 1875) ;
William P., born Jan. 4, 1849, married 8. Jennie
Knox, Oct. 28, 1879 (one child, George B., born Nov.
5, 1880); Emma Julia, born March 27, 1857.

NEWTON J. REED.

Newton J. Reed, son of Josiah M. Reed, was born
in Salisbury, Litchfield Co., Conn., April 18, 1817.
The Reed family is scattered through various parts
of the adjoining towns, and, in fact, throughout the
entire West. We have no date at hand telling us
when or where the first of the name settled in Litch-
field County. Joshua M. Reed, a worthy man of
Salisbury, had a large family of children, all of whom
were among the most highly respected citizens that
ever lived in the county.

Newton J. Reed was a farmer by occupation. He
had also an interest in the “ ore-bed’” at Ore Hill,
where he always resided. He married Mary, daugh-
ter of Charles McArthur, a son of a Scotchman, Dec.
29, 18388. She was born Oct. 24, 1817, in Hillsdale,
N.Y. Of their three children, one only, Sarah A., is
living. In politics he was a Republican, in religion
a member of the Methodist’ Episcopal Church. He
died Feb. 3, 1860. Mr. Reed had gathered around
him all the conveniences of life, and was just prepared
to live and enjoy life, when, lo! ‘‘ He was not, for God
had taken him.” The estimate placed upon him by
the community in which he lived was indicated by
one of the largest funerals witnessed in the place for
many years. His loss will be long and severely felt,
as well by the church and community as by the
family he left.

COL. HARLO P. HARRIS.

Col. Harlo P. Harris is a lineal descendant from
John Harris, who emigrated from Wales, and settled
in Columbia Co., N. Y., at an early day. He was a
farmer, and had a son John, born there, who became
a farmer also, and was in comfortable circumstances.
This John had six children,—John, David, Daniel,
Milo, Luther, and Olive, all born in Alford, Berk-
shire Co., Mass.,—and died at a good old age. Milo,
born in 1797, married Abigail Sugdan, whose ances-
tors came from Holland, and was father of eleven chil-
dren,—Eleanor, Orra, Miles, Martin, Abigail, Milo,
Susan, Calista, Llewellyn, Harlo P., and Hannah D.
They were all born in Salisbury, Conn., but Milo and
Susan, whose birthplace was Canaan. Mr. Harris
was a farmer and charcoal-burner. He held several
town offices, and died in 1875.

Harlo P. had very limited advantages for edu-
cation, never attending school in the summer-time
after he was eight years, and never but one term at

_pany,” at Ore Hill.

 

an academy. He began at the early age of eight
years to work in the “coal bush,” and continued
burning charcoal (in various States) until he was
thirty-three years old. At that time he bought his
father’s farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Sal-
isbury, east of the Twin Lakes, and owned it until
1867.

In 1865, Mr. Harris became superintendent of the
“Richmond Iron-Works.” Holding that position
two years, in 1867 he became book-keeper for the
“Davis Digging Company,” and remained there one
year. With other parties, he formed a land company
in the spring of 1868, and purchased twelve thousand
acres of land in Iowa. He passed the winter of
1868-69 in Vermont, and in September, 1869, again
returned thither, in the interests of the ‘“ Millerton
Iron Company,” and Barnum, Richardson & Co.,
and superintending the opening of coal-kilns until
April, 1871, when he returned to Salisbury. He was
connected with the construction of the Connecticut
Western Railroad as foreman, remaining in this posi-
tion till January, 1872, and during the same time
built seventeen miles of fence under contract. From
1872 until the present (April, 1881), Col. Harris has
been superintendent of the “Chatfield Mining Com-
Col. Harris has always been
active in everything in which he became interested.

Business, politics, local improvements, all were

“pushed” by the main strength of an active and
vigorous nature. He was a Democrat in politics
until 1855, when he joined the American or ‘“Know-
Nothing” party. In 1856 he became identified with
the Republican organization, just formed, and voted
for the Fremont electors. He continued to act with
that party until 1872, when he supported Horace
Greeley for President, and has since been a Demo-
crat. He was a candidate for member of Legislature
in 1860 and 1865, and again in 1872, when he was
elected. In 1868 he was commissioned by President
Johnson assistant assessor of the Thirty-second Dis-
trict of the State of New York, and performed the
duties of that office for a short time. Jan. 27, 1877,
he, Guernsey S. Parsons, of Waterbury, and Charles
M. Joslyn, of Hartford, were appointed by Governor
Richard D. Hubbard “ aides-de-camp,” with rank of
colonel. He is assistant quartermaster on the staff of
Maj.-Gen. F. M. Brown, of the “ Putnam Phalanx,”
receiving that appointment in 1878. Col. Harris has
never been a candidate for local office, with the single
exception of member of school board, which position
he has held since 1879.

Col. Harris married, April,2, 1854, Margaretta A.,
daughter of L. B. Sweet, of Copake, N. Y. They have
had two children,—Maggie (born in 1868, and died in
1865) and Harlo, Jr., born Aug. 12, 1866.

Mrs. Harris is a member of the Congregational
Church, and Col. Harris is a supporter of the same.

 
 

NEWTON J. REED.
 
 

DAN* B. COOK.
 

Barclay St WY

 
SALISBURY.

DANIEL B. COOK.

Daniel B. Cook, second son of Henry and Hannah
(Bowen) Cook, was born in Harwinton, Conn., March
26, 1808. His father was son of Jonathan Cook, of
Harwinton, where Henry also was born, and where
he (Henry) married Hannah, daughter of Bazeliel
Bowen, and where his six children were born. He
moved to Salisbury about 1819, brought all of his
children with him, and settled permanently at Ore
Hill. He was actively engaged as a farmer all his
life, and died at the age of fifty-seven years. His
wife survived him several years, and was at her death
seventy-six years old.

Daniel B. Cook commenced life poor, but by his
industry, economy, and careful management he has
made money. He was brought up a farmer, and a
farmer he has continued to be through life, although
he has dealt more or less in real estate, and been con-
cerned in several mining companies at Ore Hill. In
politics Mr. Cook has, from the organization of the
Republican party, been a supporter of it. He has
been called to the office of selectman by his fellow-
townsmen, and discharged the duties faithfully and
well.

Mr. Cook married Harriet, daughter of Alexander
McAllister, of Northeast, N. Y., on April 11, 1839.
Her grandfather, Archibald McAllister, was an emi-
grant from County Antrim, Ireland, and settled in
Northeast before the American Revolution, and be-
cameafarmer. He had several children, one of whom
was the father of Mrs. Cook. He was a farmer and
miller, and was a well-to-do person, and had the
characteristics of the Gaelic nature,—intelligence, in-
dustry, frugality, and honesty,—and the impress of
that nature is stamped on all its descendants.

Mr. and Mrs. Cook are both members of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, and both have been liberal
in its support, as well as all good works. Their chil-
dren are Edward D., George, Cassius, and Henry A.,
all married, and settled near their parents.

ROBERT LITTLE.

Robert Little, son of Ralph Little and Maria Fox,
his wife, was born in Sheffield, Mass., Oct. 5, 1822.
His father was a_good business man, and combined
the avocations of merchant and farmer. Robert was
early inducted into the practical details of farming,
and his advantages for education were only those
derived from attendance at the district schools of
Sheffield, until he was fifteen years of age, when he
became a clerk in the store of his brother, Lucius
Little, where he remained until he was of age.

In the spring of 1844 he married Cornelia M.,
daughter of Erastus Eldred and Maria (Ball), his
wife. Mrs. Eldred being a widow, Mr. and Mrs.
Little commenced their married life on Mr. Eldred’s
former place, in Salisbury, where they have since re-
‘ sided. Mr. Little’s farm consists of about four hun-

 

559

dred acres of land, beautifully situated in the pleasant
valley of the Housatonic, and the buildings on the
farm are the best to be seen in Salisbury. In politics
Mr. Little is a staunch Republican, and earnest in his
support of the principles of that party. He is a di-
rector of the ‘“ National Iron Bank” of Falls Village.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Little are attendants at, and lib-
eral supporters of, the Congregational Church. Mr.
Little is one who stands high in the estimation of all,
and one who is in full accord with all things tending
to improve, advance, or elevate humanity, or develop
the resources of his town.

Erastus Eldred, father of Mrs. Little, was born in
Warren, Conn., and settled in Salisbury when a young
man, became a farmer and merchant, and died Nov.
18, 1830, at the early age of thirty-nine years, leav-
ing two children,—Elizabeth (deceased) and Cornelia
M., now Mrs. Little. Mrs. Eldred survived him
nearly fifty years, dying Jan. 25, 1880.

Minnie, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Little, was
born Feb. 7, 1857. She married, Oct. 23, 1879, Mr.
E. J. Hornbeck, and after only seven short months
of married life died, May 30, 1880. Although tread-
ing only the flowery paths of life’s morning, she had
already made many warm and loving friends by the
many beautiful traits of her lovely character. Her
kind and loving ministrations to the poor and needy,
her tender regard and solicitude for her friends, her
kindly feelings towards all, had won for her that uni-
versal esteem which is enjoyed by comparatively few
of her years. When but nineteen she united with
the Congregational Church of Salisbury, and was
devoted to her church, Sabbath-school, and all re-
ligious things. She seemed set apart as one too pure
and delicate for the harsh scenes of life, and so, ere the
way grew rough, and ere the meridian heat of life’s
noontide could scorch her fragile form, she was called
away, leaving a whole community wrapped in gloom.
In this we cannot enumerate all the influences which
caused her associates to feel such regret for the de-
parted, or such a great heart-throb of sympathy for
the bereaved. From an article in the Connecticut
Western News, shortly after her death, we extract the
following: “An only child, reared in luxury, in love,
in indulgence, the idol of her tender parents’ hearts,
just beginning life, with everything that this world
can give to bind her here. . . . Seldom have we seen
so few dry eyes as in the assemblage which attended
her funeral. Her remains were arrayed in her bridal
robes, unfolded for the first time since her marriage,
placed in an elegant casket, surrounded by lovely
flowers, and all that wealth and affection could do.
Prayer was offered at the house of her father, after
which the funeral cortege, consisting of some sixty
carriages, proceeded to the Congregational church.
The services commenced by the singing of the hymn
‘Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore
thee.’ Appropriate selections of Scripture were then
read by the pastor, Rev. C. L. Kitchel, after which
560

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

was sung that touching piece of music, ‘Watching
and Waiting,’ a favorite of our departed friend. Then
followed the sermon, by Mr. Kitchel, from the text,
‘She is not dead, but sleepeth.’ The services closed
by the singing of the hymn, ‘My Jesus, as Thou
wilt,’ and the long line of weeping friends proceeded
to the cemetery, where all that was mortal of the
loved one was committed to the dust, whence we are
sure she will come in the resurrection morning, far
brighter and more beautiful than ever, to a blissful
immortality.”

JAMES M. SELLECK.

James M. Selleck, son of Albert and Celina (Mor-
gan) Selleck, was born in that part of Salisbury
known as Selleck Hill, Nov. 27, 1886. His paternal
ancestor, Bethel Selleck, was a native of Darien, Fair-
field Co., Conn., and settled on Selleck Hill, Salisbury,
Conn. Tradition says the first of the name to settle
here was John Selleck.

Bethel was a farmer ; died in 1818, inthe eighty-sixth
year of his age. He had five sons and five daughters.

Samuel Selleck, son of Bethel, was born on Selleck
Hill; was alwaysa farmer, and a member of the Con-

gregational Church. He married Olive Andrews, and

had seven children, viz.: Samantha, Harmon, Albert,
Harvey, Sarah A., Maryette, and Phebe. Mr. Selleck
died Jan. 6, 1849, aged eighty-one years.

Albert Selleck, son of Samuel and Olive (Andrews)
Selleck, was born on the “old Selleck homestead,”
on Selleck Hill, Conn., June 29, 1802. In his younger
days he was engaged in the manufacture of cloth. At
the age of thirty, in 1832, he turned his attention en-
tirely to farming, which he followed till his death,
Jan. 11, 1868. In politics a Democrat. He was a
member of the State Legislature, besides holding
minor town offices. He married Celina Morgan,
daughter of James Morgan and Sally Booth, of New
Milford, Feb. 7, 1829. Mrs. Selleck was born July
21, 1802. Their children are as follows:

(1) Samuel H., deceased at thirty-three, was a
merchant at Lakeville, Conn.

(2) Laura A., wife of Edmund Conklin (deceased),
of Salisbury.

(3 and 4) James M. & George Booth, twins.
George was a farmer with his brother, James M.;
died Nov. 19, 1873, leaving a wife and four children.

(5) Maryette (Mrs. George Bower, of Salisbury).

(6) Phebe S. (Mrs. James R. Eggleston, a merchant
miller in Salisbury).

Mrs. Selleck is a member of the Congregational
Church, and Mr. Selleck was an attendant of the
same.

James M. Selleck has always been an enterprising
farmer. He received his education at the district
schools of his native town. He has dealt more or less
extensively in cattle, and stock generally, and has
been successful. In 1874 he entered into partnership

 

with his brother-in-law, James R. Eggleston, and
purchased the Salisbury Flouring-Mills, the firm being
known as Eggleston & Selleck. He is one of'the
largest farmers in Salisbury, and a man who has the
confidence of his fellow-townsmen. In politics a Re-
publican, and as such has been assessor and select-
man. On the 20th of December, 1866, he married
Mary P., daughter of Charles A. and Maria (Pierce)
Hollister. : :

 

ERASTUS D. GOODWIN.

Ozias Goodwin, an Englishman, born in 1596, set-
tled in Hartford in 1636, and died in 1688. He was
a Revolutionary soldier, and settled in Sharon after '
the close of the Revolution; became a farmer and
public man, and reared a large family. He was the
first American ancestor of Erastus D. Goodwin.

Hezekiah Goodwin, son of Hezekiah, was born in
Sharon, March 21, 1796, married Harriet Deming,
Feb. 18, 1819. He served an apprenticeship to the
combined trades of tanner and currier in his younger
days; went to Central New York and followed that
business for several years, when he returned to Sha-
ron, and after remaining a short time settled in Salis-
bury, where he was an agriculturist until his death,
Nov. 27, 1848. He was a modest, unassuming man,
never aspiring to political positions; was an active,
enterprising, accommodating business man, and very
successful. He served as soldier in the war of 1812.
His wife died Oct. 11, 1829. Their children were
Laura A., wife of John E. Ensign, of Tennessee;
Charlotte G., wife of Henry Daball, of Onondaga

‘Co., N. Y.; Erastus D.; Julia G., wife of James En-

sign, now residing on the old homestead; and Har-
riet, who died, aged twenty-three. By a second mar-
riage, to Fanny Lowrey, he had one child, Frances
(deceased), wife of Joseph Hallock, a prominent citi-
zen of Catskill, N. Y. Mrs. Fanny L. Goodwin
survived her husband many years.

Erastus D. Goodwin was born in Sharon, Jan. 7, 1828,
and was conveyed by his parents to Salisbury in April
of the same year; came up under his father’s instruction
on the farm; was educated at common schools and
academy ; became a farmer, and is truly a representa-
tive of the better class of agriculturists, owning a
farm of several hundred acres. He is a Democrat
in politics, and, elected by that party, represented
Salisbury in the Legislature of 1869. He was select-
man of Salisbury for two years. He married, Nov.
29, 1865, Julia, daughter of Samuel Emmons, of New
Marlboro’, Mass. Their children are Julia E., Heze-
kiah, Martha E., and Mary E.

JAMES LANDON.

James Landon, of Salisbury, is a lineal descendant
from one James Landon, who was a native of Wales,
and who emigrated to America and settled in the
vicinity of Boston, Mass.; married and had a family
aa

eho:

Besa

 

ALBERT SELLECK.
 
 
 

aL
SALISBURY.

of children, one of whom was named = born in
Boston in 1685, and removed to Southold, L. I., where
he married Nancy Vaill, and had the following chil-

dren, viz.: Joseph, James, Daniel, David, John, Mary, |

Rachel, and Lydia.
or death.

Daniel Landon, grandson of James Landon, who
came from Wales, was born at Southold, L. L., in 1714;
married Martha Young, daughter of Rev. John Young,
a Presbyterian minister of Southold, May 22,1786. He
was the first of the name to settle in Litchfield, Conn.,
and was numbered among her early settlers. He was
very zealous in working for the welfare of St. Michael’s
Church, at Litchfield, Conn. From records we quote
the following: “Capt. Daniel Landon officiated as
lay-reader, being always anxious to promote the wel-
fare of the church; all his family attended with him,
through honor and dishonor, through good report and
evil report.” The war coming on, the salary ceased.
Churchmen became unpopular. They were persecuted
throughout the war of the Revolution. The church
of St. Michael, in Litchfield, was a mark for the ma-
liciously disposed, and its windows stood as shattered
monuments of the vengeance of adversaries. When
Gen. Washington passed through Litchfield in the
Revolutionary war, the soldiers, to evince their at-
tachment to him, threw a shower of stones at the
windows; he reproved them, saying, “I am a church-
man, and wish not to see the church dishonored and
desolated in this manner.”

Capt. Daniel Landon died suddenly, July 11, 1790,
aged seventy-seven years. The following is the in-
scription on his monument in the West graveyard at
Litchfield, Conn. :

“Sacred to the memory of Daniel Landon, of Litchfield, who died
July 11, 1790, aged 77 years; who served as clerk .to the Episcopal
Church in Litchfield forty years.

There is no record of his name

“ His God he served with pious zeal,
The sacred dome was his delight ;
Far distant from his holy hill
He took his everlasting flight.
Lo! here I leave this earthly clay,
And fly beyond the ethereal blue,
Unchained into eternal day,
To sing the praise of God anew.”*

Seth Landon, son of Daniel Landon, was born in
Litchfield, Conn., Dec. 18, 1749; married Anna Beach,
Dec. 26, 1771. He was a gentleman of good mental
powers, amiable in the relations of life, of strict hon-
esty, unbending integrity, and exemplary piety. He
died Feb, 4, 1832, leaving children; one, Seth, Jr.,
born April 18, 1777, married Sally Catlin, March 11,
1802, and died Oct. 18, 1843, leaving children; one,
Huldah Seymour Landon, married Frederick W.
Plumb, of Litchfield.t

James Landon, an extensive farmer in Salisbury,
is a son of Ashbel Landon, and grandson of James
Landon, the first of this family to settle in Salisbury,

 

* Composed by himself. + See history of Plumb family.

 

561.

Conn., before the Revolutionary war, on the place
known as “Tory Hill’ Said James Landon, Sr.,
was a Tory during the Revolutionary war, and a firm
adherent of the old Episcopal Church, as his ances-
tors had been. He had eleven children, of whom
Ashbel was the tenth, born Aug. 7, 1778, on the farm
now owned by his son James.

James, Sr.’s, conduct during the Revolutionary war
cost him his real estate during his lifetime. He was
a member of the Colonial Legislature in May, 1759,
and took an active part in everything that had for
its object the building up of society. He was a farmer
by occupation, and died at a ripe old age.

Ashbel Landon married Lorain Chapman, April 3,
1783. She was born June 8, 1764. ‘Their children
were Betsey, Letty, Edmund, William, Horace, and
James.

Mr. Landon was a well-to-do farmer, and a man re-
spected by all. He was a warden in the Episcopal
Church, and held various town offices. He died Sept.
11, 1846, and his wife died Oct. 11, 1835.

James Landon, son of Ashbel, was born on the old
Landon homestead, at Tory Hill, Salisbury, Conn.,
Oct. 2, 1804. His advantages for an education were
very limited, yet, by that same indomitable energy
which is a very marked characteristic of his nature,
we find him able to teach school ere he had reached
manhood’s years. This he followed several winters ;
but as his father desired him to remain at home with
him on the farm, he did so, and upon the death of
his father, in 1846, came in possession of the old home-
stead by paying the other heirs.

To his once small farm he has kept adding little by
little, until now (1881) he and his only son own
some twelve hundred acres of as good land as there
is to be found in old Litchfield County. He has dealt
extensively in stock, and in that way has made money.
In politics a Republican.

In the May session of the State Legislature of 1859,
just one hundred years after his‘honored grandfather,
James Landon, had occupied a place in the halls of
legislation, we find him there, serving as a member
on the bank committee. He also has filled many
town offices to the general satisfaction of his constitu-
ents.

He has been twice married, first to Jane E. Heath, .
daughter of Stephen Heath, March 6, 1833. Their
children are Jane L., wife of George B. Clark, of
Salisbury; and James H., a large farmer in Sharon.
Mrs. Landon died March 24, 1836. Mr. Landon’s
second wife was Mary Darrow, whom he married Oct.
10, 1838. She died June 11, 1868.

James H. Landon was born March 14, 1836; married
Mary Barton, daughter of L. Barton, of Salisbury, and
to them have been born three children, viz.: Harriet,
Albert, and Edith.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

CHARLES H. BISSELL.

Charles H. Bissell, son of William and Ann Eliza
(Loveland) Bissell, was born on the farm where he
now resides, in Salisbury, Conn., Oct. 24, 1829. His
great-grandfather was Col. George Bissell, who came
probably from Litchfield, and settled on the farm
above mentioned long before the Revolutionary war.
He settled on “Tory Hill,” and his property has
always been in possession of the family. He had
brothers and sisters, and married for his first wife a
Gay, for his second, a Hoskens. He at the Revolu-
tion swore allegiance to George III.; was drafted,
and fled; was pursued and captured, and was released
by his sons. His children were Joseph, George,
Azubal, Elizabeth, and John. This John was a cap-
tain, married a Kilbourn, of Litchfield, and died, a
farmer, at an old age. Their children were Charles,
Milo, Monrovia, Benjamin, Charlotte, William, Her-
man, Mary, John, and Lucy. Benjamin enlisted in
the war of 1812, was wounded, and drew a pension
for his services. Lucy married a Meigs, an army
officer. Milo was killed by a horse. Monrovia was
drowned. Herman died in the island of Cuba.*

William Bissell was born March 380, 1794, and died
April 5, 1869. He settled on the homestead, and
married Ann Eliza Loveland, by whom he had
children,—Marion, Mary, Maria, Charles H., Jane,
William, and Ann Eliza, He afterwards married
Roxanna Nobles. Their only child, Frank, died,
aged nine years. All are now (1881) living but Ann
Eliza and Frank.

William Bissell was a farmer, and did well his part
among the people. He was selectman, and held other
town offices. He was a Democrat in politics.

Charles H. Bissell was reared to a farmer’s life, and
entered into his work, and is to-day, with his two
hundred and thirty acres of fertile land, one of Salis-
bury’s substantial and representative farmers, He
married, Oct. 27, 1859, Thankful Ann, daughter of
John Cleveland, of Salisbury. Their son Frank
died young.

Mr. Bissell believes in the Democratic principles of
government, and is a supporter of the candidates of
that party. He has been selectman, member of board
of relief, assessor, and represented his town in the
Legislature of 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Bissell are sup-
porters of Christianity, and attendants on its services,

During all his life Mr. Bissell has walked among
the people of Salisbury, and has won many friends.
He is deeply interested in everything tending to ad-
vance the interests of Salisbury, and is respected and
honored by a large circle. He is a true type of the
genial New England farmer, whose local attachment
is strong, and who, with intelligence, industry, and
economy, is making those improvements and advance-
ments which are the wonder of the world.

 

* For further history of Bissell family, see biography of H. B. Bissell
Litchfield, :

 

JOHN F. CLEAVELAND.

John F. Cleaveland, son of Bradford and Eunice
(Farnum) Cleaveland, was born in Copake, N. Y.,
Feb. 18, 1802. His father was a son of P. Cleaveland,
and was born in Canterbury, Conn.; married Eunice
Farnum, of Salisbury, and settled in Copake, N. Xj
where six of-his seven children were born, viz.:
Elisha W., Mason, John F., Bezaleel '(deceased),
Cyrus, Mary J., and Frederick F. (deceased), born in
Salisbury. In 1810, Bradford Cleaveland settled in
Salisbury, Conn., with his family, where he continued
to reside till his death, April 21, 1849. His wife died
the same day, and was buried in the same grave with
her husband. Mr. Cleaveland was a cooper by trade
while a resident of Copake, N. Y., but after his set-
tlement in Salisbury, Conn., he followed the occupa-
tion of a farmer, and in connection owned and ran a
saw-mill.

John F. Cleaveland removed to Salisbury with his
parents when but eight years of age, and with the
exception of three years which he spent in the mer-
cantile business in Livingston Co., N. Y., has resided
in Salisbury. Mr. Cleaveland worked four years by
the month at eleven dollars a month for his wife’s
uncle, Thomas N. Smith.

About 1826 or ’27, Mr. Cleaveland went to Living-
ston Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in the mercan-
tile business some three years. July 1, 1829, he mar-
ried Mary S., daughter of Thaddeus and Hannah
(Curtis) Smith. Mrs. Cleaveland was born Jan. 27,
1805, and at five years of age went to live with her
uncle, Thomas N. Smith, and continued with him till
her marriage. In March, 1830, Mr. Cleaveland re-
turned to Salisbury, and took Mr. Thomas N. Smith’s
farm on shares, which he continued to work till the .
death of Mr. Smith (March 1, 1857), when he pur-
chased the same of the heirs, his wife receiving about
the half interest as a munificent gift from her uncle.
Mr. Cleaveland now owns some five hundred acres of
well-improved land on Town Hill, Salisbury, Conn.
In politics a Republican. He has held various town
offices. Mr. and Mrs. Cleaveland are regular attend-
ants and supporters of the Congregational Church.
Their children are Thankful A., wife of Charles H.
Bissell, and Smith, who resides at home, unmarried.

THOMAS N. SMITH.

Thomas N. Smith, son of Jared Smith and Dorcas,
daughter of Ebenezer Beecher, was born in Southbury,
Conn., Sept. 10,1768. He settled in Salisbury, Conn.
(that part known as Town Hill), some time previous
to the year 1800, where he owned some three hundred
acres of good land, and where he followed the occu-
pation of a farmer. He was twice married, first to
Thankful, daughter of Aaron Page. She died in
1837, and he married for his second wife Susan Hin-
man, of Southbury, Conn. She died in 1867. In
politics a Republican, he was a prominent man in
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SHARON.

Salisbury, having been selectman fourteen years, mem-
ber of the State Legislature three terms, besides hold-
ing many other town offices. He was often called
upon to settle estates, which he did with credit to him-
self, and generally to the satisfaction of the parties
interested. He was a member of the Congregational
Church, and a liberal supporter of all religious insti-
tutions. He died March 1, 1857, aged nearly eighty-
nine years. He lived respected and died regretted.

Thaddeus Smith was born in Southbury, Conn.;
married Hannah Curtis, and had four children, viz. :
Tra D., Maria, Harriet, and Mary S., wife of John F.
Cleaveland. Mr. Smith settled in Salisbury about
1803, and continued there till he was killed by a horse,
in June, 1805.

CHAPTER LVI.
SHARON.*
Geographical—Topographical—Conflicting Claims to Territory—Survey

of the Town—Line Between New York and Connecticut Defined—
Indian History—The First Settlement—Richard Sackett—Sale of the

Town—List of Original Purchasers—Patent of the Town—The Settle- |

ment in Distress—The First Death—The First Birth—First Marriage
—The Moravians—The Revolutionary War—Shay’s Rebellion—List of
Early Settlers.

THis town is located in the western part of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Salisbury ; on the east by the Housatonic River, which
separates it from Cornwall, on the south by Kent,
and on the west by Dutchess Co., N. Y. The surface
of the town is hilly in the eastern part, while the
western portion forms a part of an extensive valley.

“The northwestern part of Connecticut was sold
and settled at a much later period than any other
portion of the State. As early as the year 1686 nearly
all the lands in the colony had been disposed of, ex-
cept those lying north of Waterbury and Woodbury
and west of Simsbury. Under the charter of Charles
IL, obtained in 1662, the colony of Connecticut,
though nominally dependent on the crown, enjoyed,
in fact, a strictly republican form of government, the
only service they were required to render to the crown
of England being the one-fifth part of the produce of
such mines of gold and silver as should be discovered.
Charles was succeeded by his brother, James II., a
prince of very arbitrary and vindictive propensities,
and no sooner was he firmly seated on his throne
than he began to manifest his tyrannical disposition
by causing the charters which had been granted by
his predecessors to be vacated, and by assuming to
himself the right of appointing Governors for the
different colonies. It was feared by the people that
these royal Governors would seize upon all the public
lands which had not been sold and granted by the

 

* Condensed, by permission, from Hon. Charles F. Sedgwick’s excellent
“ History of Sharon.”

 

563

colony, and measures were taken to prevent such un-
justifiable proceedings. It was believed that if the
public lands were sold, and the title to them guaran-
teed by the Governor and Company of the colony, they
could not be seized for the king, and under this im-
pression the lands within the limits just mentioned
were, on the 26th day of January, 1686, conveyed to
the towns of Hartford and Windsor. The grant,.
however; did not include the lands west of the Ousa-
tonic River, the Assembly probably supposing that,
on account of their great distance from the settled
parts of the colony, they were beyond the reach of
the royal Governor’s rapacity. In October, after the
grant just mentioned, Sir Edmund Andross came into
the colony, and, by virtue of a commission from King
James, took upon himself the administration of the
government, and continued in it about two years, or
until the deposition of King James, when the people
quietly resumed their ancient form of government
under the charter.

“The lands above mentioned being deemed of little
value, and the more fertile parts of the State being
but thinly populated, it was more than thirty years
before any attempts were made to settle them. About
the year 1722 the public attention was turned to the
‘Western Lands,’ as they were called; and as they be-
gan to rise in value the towns of Hartford and Wind-
sor laid claim to them, under the ancient grant which
had been made to them under the circumstances which
have been mentioned. This claim created a strong
excitement throughout the colony, and a long and
bitter controversy ensued, which resulted in a division
of the lands between the towns and the colony, the
towns taking the eastern portion and the colony the
western.

“This contention with Hartford and Windsor had re-
tarded the sale of the ‘ Western Lands,’ but that diffi-
culty was now adjusted, and the Assembly took meas-
ures, soon after 1730, to effect this object; and for this
purpose they were surveyed, and laid out into town-
ships of suitable dimensions. At the session in May,
1732, Edmund Lewis, Esq., Capt. Stephen Noble, and
Mr. William Gaylord were appointed a committee to
view the colony lands west of the Ousatonic River,
and to lay out a township in the northern section of
them. They were also endowed with discretionary
power to lay out a township on the south of the one
just mentioned, if, upon viewing the lands, they should
be of opinion that they were of such a quality as to
render them a desirable place for a new settlement.
This committee entered promptly upon their duties,
and by their report, dated at New Milford, Oct. 9,
1782, it appears they laid out both townships. The
north township, now Salisbury, they denominated
‘the township of M,’ and the south township they
called N. 8. The remainder of the country lands
west of the Ousatonic River were afterwards annexed.
to Kent. The boundaries of the second township are
thus described by the committee:
564

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“¢Then, having taken a view of the whole tract, we proceeded and Jaid
out a second township, which begins at the southwest corner of the
aforesaid township of M, it being a stake set in the ground, and many
stones laid to it, standing on the east side of a pond, as above set forth;
and from thence the line runs 1214 D. W., with the line of partition be-
tween said province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut, nine
miles to a heap of stones laid on a rock, in the aforesaid line of partition,
and is about two miles east from Captain Sackett’s dwelling-house, which
is the southwest corner bounds of said second township,—from thence we
run the south line of said second township E. 914 D, south four miles and
‘a half and 115 rods, to the Ousatonic River, where we marked a white-
oak tree, and laid many stones to it, for the southeast corner bounds of
said second township, and we have marked many trees and made many
monuments in the said south line. Thus we have surveyed and laid out
the township of N.S., and it is bounded north on the township of M.,
south on the country lands, west on the aforesaid line of partition between
the province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut, and east on
the Ousatonic River.’ The above work was completed October 7, 1732.

“Tt would seem that the way was now prepared for
the sale and settlement of the township, but the Hart-
ford and Windsor lands, being nearer the settled por-
tions of the colony, probably afforded a more desirable
field for the enterprise of new settlers, and the colony
lands were neglected. Other circumstances also ex-
isted which produced a serious delay in bringing the
lands in Sharon into market. The line of partition
between the colony of Connecticut and the province
of New York was defined and established in May,
1731. The commissioners to settle the boundaries
between the different jurisdictions on the part of Con-
necticut were Samuel Eells, Roger Wolcott, and Ed-
mund Lewis; on the part of New York, Cadwalader
Colden, Vincent Mathews, and Jacobus Bruyn, Jr.;
and the articles of settlement are dated Dover, May
14, 1781.”

INDIANS IN SHARON.

“There was a somewhat numerous tribe of Indians
in Sharon before its settlement by the white inhabit-
ants. Their principal village was on the eastern
border of Indian pond, in the northwest corner of the
town, where they had considerable clearings. The
Indian name of this pond was Weequagnock. There
were numbers of them, too, on the borders of the
other pond, and in the valley of the Ten-Mile River.
The Indian name of this stream was Webotuck.
They were never sufficiently numerous to prove dan-
gerous to the safety of the settlers, but their dissatis-
faction because of the refusal of the proprietors to
acknowledge their claims to a certain quantity of land
which they insisted was reserved to them in their sale
to Thomas Lamb, and the agitation of that matter for
nearly fifteen years, was a cause of fear and anxiety to
their immediate neighbors during that period. The
matter was brought before the Assembly by a joint
memorial of the proprietors and Indians, presented
in 1742, which will at once give an explanation of
the pending troubles, and which was in the words
following :

“*To the Honorable, the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut in
General Court assembled, at Hartford, in said Colony, on the second Thurs
day in May, A.D, 1742.

“The memorial of Peter Pratt, Nathaniel Skinner, and Jonathan Dun-

ham, agents for said town, and Stephen Nequitimaugh Nanhoon; and others
of the Indian nations, residing in said Sharon, humbly showeth—

 

“That they, the said Stephen Nequitimaugh Nanhoon, and others of the
Indian natives, residing in Sharon, were the proper owners of the lands
contained in the said township of Sharon and Salisbury, adjoining to
said Sharon, and that a considerable part of said lands was honorably
purchased of said Indians, and paid for by Thomas Lamb of gaid Salis-
bury, and that he, the said Lamb, in negotiating the said purchases of
said Indians, did take advantage of their ignorance, and as they have
since understood, did obtain a deed or deeds from them or some of them
for more of said land than ever they sold or intended to sell to said
Lamb, and particularly the place at the northwest corner of Said Sharon,
where the said Indians live and improve, and always designed to re-
serve to themselves for a settlement, besides several other parcels that
have never been sold to the English; that the Government’s Committee
have obtained the rights purchased by said Lamb of the Indians, and
have sold all the lands in the townships of Salisbury and Sharon to the
proprietors of said Towns, who are now improving and are entering on’
the said lands still claimed by the said Indians, which: has aroused a
great deal of uneasiness among the Indians, they looking upon them-
selves as defrauded of their rights.

“That many of the Proprictors of Sharon are likewise inclined to
believe that the said Indians, who were the proper owners of said land,
did never, to this day sell to the said Lamb or to this government, all
the lands in said Sharon or Salisbury, but that they have still an honest
right to that said tract where the said Indians now live, as also to one
mile in width across the south end of said town of Sharon, and that they
are willing the said tract where the Indians now live should be restored
to them and confirmed to the said Indians, though the Proprietors have
purchased the same of the government, Provided they can have it made
good to them by other reasonable satisfaction.

‘“ Whereupon your Honors’ memorialists humbly pray that the Hon-
orable Assembly would take the case into their consideration and would
appoint a Committee to repair to Sharon to hear and examine and to en-
quire into the claims of the said Indians, and purchases that have been
obtained from them either by the said Lamb or others, with power to
agree, settle, and determine all matters of difference and controversy
relating to the premises, and for the quieting the said Proprietors and
the said Indians, or that your Honors would in some other way, asin
your wisdom you shall think fit, find a remedy.

“*Your memorialists further show that their is a very considerable
number of said Indians, living at said northwest corner of said Sharon,
and others not far from them, that are desirous of being instructed in
the Doctrines of the Gospel; to be taught to read the Holy Scriptures,
and be informed of the way of salvation therein revealed ; and that their
children may be educated according to Christianity ; which your memo-
rialists also recommend to your Hvunors consideration, hoping that your
Honors will be inclined to do something towards their encouragement;
and your Honors’ memorialists as in duty bound shall ever pray. Dated
in Hartford this 13th day of May A.D. 1742”

“Upon this memorial a committee was appointed,
consisting of the Hon. Thomas Fitch, afterwards
Governor of the colony, Daniel Edwards, Esq., of
Hartford, afterwards a judge of the Superior Court,
and Robert Walker, Esq., of Hartford, who was a
large proprietor of the lands in Salisbury, whose duty
it should be to investigate the subject matter of the
memorial ; and they met the parties in Sharon on the
11th day of October, 1742, and heard them by their
interpreters and witnesses.

“They made a long and elaborate report, in which
they gave a history of Lamb’s purchase, and, believing
that the Indians had misunderstood the bargain, rec-
ommended that a certain quantity, not exceeding fifty
acres, should be set off to them, that some equivalent
should be allowed the proprietors, and that some pro-
vision should be made for the religious teachings of
the Indians.

“The Assembly approved the views of the com-
mittee, and requested Mr. Pratt, the minister of
Sharon, to devote some time to the advancement of
SHARON.

565

 

the spiritual interests of the tribe, but, as they made
no provision to remunerate the proprietors, no final
adjustment of the difficulty was effected. The Indian
improvements contained some ninety acres, and, be-
sides this, they demanded a large tract on the adjoin-
ing mountains for firewood. To this the proprietors
would not consent without a compensation from the
government, and the old troubles returned with in-
creased acrimony.

“In 1745 another effort was made to call the atten-
tion of the Assembly to these Indian troubles. The
proprietors of Sharon advised their honors that the
Indians were uneasy and restless, in view of the state
of their affairs, and they added: ‘ We can’t but think
needful for some proper care, in this difficult time, to
be taken.’

“This memorial was continued in the Assembly till
1746, when William Preston, of Woodbury, and Sam-
uel Canfield, of New Milford, were appointed a com-
mittee to lay out the Indian lands by metes and
bounds. This committee, in the prosecution of their
duties, employed the celebrated Roger Sherman, then
ahumble shoemaker at New Milford, to lay out the
Indian lands, in his capacity of county surveyor, and
to mark out definitely their boundaries. All this was
accomplished by Mr. Sherman, but nothing was done
to remunerate the proprietors, and both parties were
left to contest their rights as best they could. The
Indians were stimulated in their quarrel by certain
disorderly persons, who made them believe they were
their special friends, whose counsels were prevalent
in shaping their course. Under the guidance of those
persons they were emboldened to resistance, and gave
great uneasiness and trouble to the proprietors. One
Van Arenan, a Dutchman, pretended to make a new
purchase of their lands, and it became necessary to
take strong measures to prevent open and forcible col-
lision. This state of things portended so much danger
that Governor Law found it necessary to issue a for-
mal proclamation to the intruders, warning them that
their Indian titles were worthless, and that the rights
of the proprietors would be protected at all hazards.

‘About the year 1750, Thomas Barnes moved into
the town from New Fairfield, in Fairfield County,
and purchased a large tract of land in the neighbor-
hood of the Indian territory. In the course of a yéar
or two he persuaded the Indians to sell out their lands
to him, and took a formal deed of their possessions
from two of their chiefs, Nequitimaugh and Bar-
tholomew. It was contrary to law to take deeds of
the Indian proprietors in that way, but the Legis-
lature, on the petition of Barnes, confirmed his title,
and he took possession of the disputed territory, the
Indians having gone to other parts. They carried
with them, however, a deep sense of the wrongs they
had sufferd, and some of them were often back among
the inhabitants, complaining that they had been over-
reached, and often giving significant hints of the re-
Sentment which was rankling in their bosoms. The

 

old French war com menced about this time, and the
stories of Indian atrocities which were borne on every

breeze filled the whole country with terror and alarm.

Four persons were murdered about this time between
Stockbridge and Lenox, and this, with other alarming
incidents, produced a very general consternation in

‘Sharon.

“In 1754 one Thomas Jones had purchased a tract
of land near the Indian pond which had been claimed
by the Indians, and built a log house upon it. His
family were frequently disturbed in the night season
by what they supposed to be the noise of Indians
about the house, and an armed guard was kept there
during nights for several weeks. A memorial was
presented to the Assembly detailing the causes of
danger from the Indians, by which the settlers were
alarmed, and the statements of the memorial were
fortified by the depositions of some half-dozen per-
sons who kept the guard, detailing with minuteness
the incidents of one night. The testimony of one
witness was as follows:

“*Johnu Palmer, of lawful age, testifieth and saith, that some time ago
Icame to dwell, as a hired man, with the above named Mr. Thomas
Jones, and have been a member of his family in the time of the late dis-
turbances, which he has testified about, but have not seen any Indians but
one night, when I was upon the watch with several other men, but have
frequently heard their whoops and whistles near his house, which noises
of the Indians I am well acquainted with, having been a considerable
time a captive among them and released from them last May. The time
when I saw the Indians near Mr. Jones’ was the latter part of the Sab-
bath day night before last. He came and put his head partly in at the
door-way, against a blanket that hung before the door. This he did
twice. A man near me proposed to shoot, but I prevented him, hoping
for a fairer shot, but he not coming there again, I went to the side of the
house and looked through a crack between the logs of which the house
was made, and saw an Indian but a few rods from the house, it being
clear moon light. I then put my gun through the crack and shot, but
not having advantage to take good sight, suppose I did not hit him. I
then went to a-place cut out for a window and saw him clearly, and shot
again with a gun that was put into my hands, and supposed J had killed
him, for I thought he fell down, upon which I took another man’s gun
and went out to see what I could discern, but not finding him at the
place, scouted some time for him, at length discovered him at a small
distance behind a tree. I endeavored to shout again, but my gun missed
fire. I called to know if any one of the company was near me when
one man came to me. He went further in search of him, and presently
had a sight of him, when the other man presently shot. Afterwards I
shot at him again, but don’t know that we hit him, except my second shot.
I supposed him to be much wounded then, for he walked very poorly,
stooping near the ground, his left hand holding up his blanket to his right
side and his right arm hanging asif it was broken. But the men all
coming out of the house after I had shot the last time, I run to the house,
fearing lest some other Indians might get into the house in our absence
and kill the women and children, so I saw the Indians no more. I saw
no more Indians, but one of the company said he saw another, which
by his account I believe he did. I have since seen no more, but heard
their whoops and whistles as aforesaid. Dated October 14, 1754, and
sworn before John Williams, Justice of the Peace.’

“Such is a specimen of the exciting incidents of
the early years of the history of the town. The peace
between England and France in 1761 put an end to
all Indian claims.

“ There is no tradition or record bearing upon the
history of the town which has any reference to the old
French war other than these Indian alarms, except
the simple fact that Col. Elmore, of the war of the
566

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Revolution, was a lieutenant in the service of the pre-
vious war.” *

THE FIRST SETTLEMENT.

“Several years before the settlement of the bound-
aries one Richard Sackett had located himself at
the place now called the Steel-Works, in the beautiful
valley of the Ten-Mile River, about seven miles south
of the now village of Sharon. The whole region was
a wilderness, and, it being in the time of Queen Anne’s
war, he was exposed to imminent peril from hostile
savages. He acquired large possessions of land, and
his settlement is spoken of in contemporary docu-
ments and records as Sackett’s Farm. He had been
a sea-captain in early life, and, in connection with
wealthy individuals in the city of New York, he com-
menced at an early day to purchase the Indian title
to the lands near him. The colony line not having
been established, he probably availed himself of his
knowledge of astronomy, acquired in the study of
navigation, and made experiments and observations,
based upon a treaty of partition made in 1683, but
which had never been carried out by actual survey,
and persuaded himself that the boundary line, when
surveyed, would run within about two miles of the
Ousatonic River. In this belief he purchased of Me-
toxon, the great chief of all the Indian tribes in that
region, whose residence was probably at Copake Flats,
N. Y., about twenty-two thousand acres of land, more
than seven thousand acres of which the survey of the
boundary line showed to be in Connecticut. The
boundaries were definitely traced in the treaty of pur-
chase, but in general terms they were as follows:

“The east line commenced at a place which the In-
dians called Wimpeting, at the western base of a range
of mountains, about seven miles south of Sharon vil-
lage, and from that point it followed the western base
of the mountain-range northerly to a point in Salis-
bury a little east of Town Hill, so called. . From that
point the line ran northwesterly to the base of the
mountain north of the Ore Hill, which in the Indian
deed is called Ponsumpsie, thence southwesterly to
the foot of the mountain west of Spencer’s Corner,
then, following that range, southerly through the Was-
saic valley to Sackett’s other possessions. Looking
at this territory, in all its characteristics and resources,
we can hardly conceive of any other which exceeds
it in rural beauty or sources of wealth.

“He, believing that the whole tract was within the
territory of New York, obtained a confirmation of his
title from the provincial government, and from Queen
Anne’s Most Excellent Majesty. He exercised acts of
ownership in different parts of the territory. He
built a dwelling-house in what is now called Sharon
Valley, which stood west of the Ten-Mile River,
a little west of the malleable-iron works, and just
within the territory of Connecticut. There he settled
a tenant by the name of Baltus Lott, a Dutchman.
There can be no doubt that the house occupied by

 

this individual was the first house built by a white
man in Sharon, and that he was the first white in-
habitant of the town. Sackett also made other im-
provements in various portions of the lands claimed
by him; but the running of the boundary line in
1731 showed him that a large and valuable portion of
them were within the jurisdiction of Connecticut, and
that so much of them would be lost to him unless he
could obtain a confirmation of his title from that
colony.

“He immediately commenced petitioning the Gen-
eral Court of Connecticut for the recognition of his
title, and prosecuted his suit for nearly seven years,
He urged, from time to time, his claims to the land for
the reasons that he had expended large sums of money
in the purchase of it, in the full belief that it was in
New York; that he had braved many dangers during
a long residence in the wilderness, encountered perils
and privations of various kinds, had built a grist-
mill for the benefit of the neighboring inhabitants,
and in various other ways urged a confirmation of his
title. His petitions were uniformly rejected by the
Legislature, and he, after several years of effort, satis-
fied that a further prosecution would be useless, aban-
doned it forever; but his tenant, Baltus Lott, held
on to his possession for several years after the town
was settled, despite the many efforts of the proprietors
to dislodge him, and finally compelled them to pay
him a liberal price for his improvements.

“The colony of Connecticut ever made it a prac-
tice to deal justly by the Indian claimants before
they attempted to dispose of its land by settlements.
Treating Sackett’s purchase as a nullity, the Governor
and Company employed Thomas Lamb, who lived at
Lime Rock, in Salisbury, to buy up the Indian title
to the lands in Sharon, and in October, 1738, he
effected a purchase from the tribe claiming title to
them for about four hundred and fifty dollars. The
indefiniteness and uncertainty of this contract with
Lamb as to how. much, if any, land was reserved to
the Indians afterwards, as will be seen, caused no
little trouble to the settlers.

“Tt will be observed that the committee who laid
out the township mention in their report to the Leg-
islature that there had been laid out in country grants
about four hundred acres of land. This was the des-
ignation given to lands patented by the colony to
individual purchasers. The land thus described was
near Hitchcock’s Corner. It was laid out in two par-
cels,—one, of three hundred acres, to Samuel Orvis, of
Farmington, and another, of about one hundred acres,
to Jonathan Bird, of the same town. Both pieces
were surveyed by Mr. Lewis about the time of the
original survey of the town. This grant included
lands of the very first quality, and extended as far
north as ‘to include the farm of the late Southard
Hitchcock, Esq. Orvis and Bird never occupied
their lands, but before 1734 sold them to one Daniel
SHARON.

Jackson, and the patent was taken out in Jackson’s
name, and the land for many years was called Jack-
son’s patent. Daniel Jackson was the first New Eng-
Jand man who lived Sn Sharon. His house stood
where the house lately owned by the Sharon Manu-
facturing Company stands. He was originally from
Newtown, in Fairfield County, but at the time of his
purchase he resided in Dover, N. Y. His son, Jehiel
Jackson, who once lived where George Maxam now
lives, in the Great Hollow, was the first white child
born in Sharon. Mr. Jackson lived but a few years
in town. In February, 1739, he sold his patent to
Garret Winegar, and removed to Great Barrington,
Mass.”
‘ THE SALE OF THE TOWN.

“The town was divided into fifty-three rights, and
sold at public auction at New Haven, in October,
1788. The following is a list of the original pur-
chasers: Nathaniel Skinner, Thomas Skinner, Na-
thaniel Skinner, Jr., Samuel Calkin (two rights),
Samuel Gillet, Joshua Lyon, Joseph Skinner, Icha-
bod Foot, Stephen Calkin, Samuel Hutchinson, Tim-
othy Pierce (three rights), James Smith, Ebenezer
Mudge, John Sprague, John Pardee, Niles Coleman,
Matthew Judd, Jabez Crippen, tien
(tworights), Jonathan Petit, Zephaniah Swift, Joseph
Parke, Joseph Holley, Caleb Chappel, Josiah Gillet,
Jr., Samuel Beach, Joseph Monroe, Eben Case, Sam-
uel Butler (three rights), Benjamin Johns, James
Talmadge, Daniel Hunt, Thomas Spafford, John
Goold, Benjamin Owen, Ebenezer Norton (three
rights), Samuel Comstock, Jonathan Peck, Jonathan .
Case, Moses Case, John Woodin.

“These purchasers formed a legal corporation,
whose designation was and is ‘The Proprietors of
the Common and Undivided Land in the Township
of Sharon.’ The clerks of the corporation have been
Nathaniel Skinner, John Williams, Daniel Griswold,
Samuel Canfield, Samuel E. Everitt, and Eben W.
Chaffee. The corporation had power to set out to
each proprietor in severalty his share of the lands,
and at different times they have been* thus deeded,
and each right has furnished to its owner nearly
seven hundred acres of land. The average price of
each right was about one thousand dollars, and each
deed to the purchaser contained the following condi-
tion, which would insure the speedy occupancy of
the lands:

“* Always provided, and these presents are upon this condition, that
if the said —, shall by himself or his agent, within the space of two
full years next after the date hereof, enter upon the said granted prem-
ise, build and finish an house thereon not less than eighteen feet square
and seven feet stud, subdue, clear, and fence six acres of said land, and
continue thereon for the space of three successive years, commencing
after the two years aforesaid (unless prevented by death or inevitable
Provjdences), and do perform all duties and orders, pay all taxes that

shall be granted, then the aforesaid deed shall remain in full force and
virtue.’

“The records do not show how much, if any, of

 

the purchase-money was paid on the sale, or that any

567

other security than the personal bond of the purchaser
were required before giv#hg the deeds. -

“Of the original proprietors the following became
inhabitants of the town: Nathaniel Skinner, Nathan-
iel Skinner, Jr., Joseph Skinner, Stephen Calkin,
Samuel Hutchinson, James Smith, Ebenezer Mudge,
Joseph Holley, John Sprague, John Pardee, Jabez
Crippen, William Goodrich, J onathan Petit, Joseph
Parke, James Talmadge, and Daniel Hunt.

“Many of the original purchasers sold their rights
to those who were also among the first settlers of the
town. Some of them were as follows: John Williams,
Ebenezer Jackson, Jonathan Dunham, Caleb Jewett,
Obadiah Chapman, Caleb Strong, John Corbet, Caleb
Curtice, Ebenezer Frisbie, Benjamin Fuller, John
Gay, David Hamilton, Thomas Hamlin, Bartholomew

eath, Samuel Hurlburt, Jonathan Lord, John Mar-
vin, Jonathan Rowley, Matthew St. John, John Tick-
ner, Bezaleel Tyler, George Way.

“Immediately after the sale of the township a
number of the purchasers came on for the purpose of
exploring, and to determine in what part of the town
the settlement should be made. After exploring the
lands and viewing their situation, it was found that
the centre of the township was very unfavorably situ-
ated for the town-plot. Itwas on a high ridge of land,
where the face of the country was forbidding and un-
comfortable. After mature deliberation it was deter-
mined to fix the settlement on a street, laid out from
Jackson’s patent'to Salisbury line, and the place de-
signed for the centre, or site of the public buildings,
was laid out in squares of a half-mile each.

“ All the individuals who came on to explore in the
fall of 1738 returned to their families, except one,
who was William Goodrich. He brought his family
with him and Spent the winter, which was a very
severe one, with no other neighbors than the Indians
nearer than the Dutch settlements in the oblong.
The next spring, however, brought a large accession
to the number of inhabitants, and from that period
the settlement of the town may be said to have com-
menced.

“The first division was into lots of about eighty
acres each, which was to furnish the home-lot, or resi-
dence, of the proprietor. A committee was appointed
to lay out a lot of eighty acres, which was called the
standard lot, and all the other lots were made to con-
form to this in value, the quantity to be more or less
according to the quality. Some of the home-lots
were laid out wholly on one side of the street, and
some on both sides, according to the situation of the
land, The standard lot was the one adjoining Jack-
son’s patent, owned by the late Charles T. Lovell.
The settlers principally located on the main street lead-
ing from Jackson’s patent, now Hitchcock’s Corner,
to Salisbury. Some, however, settled on the moun-
tain and some in the valley, and in the course of a
year or two nearly the whole territory of the first
society was occupied. A large proportion of the first
568

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

inhabitants of Sharon were from Lebanon and Col-
chester, in the county of Wimdham ; some few were
from Norwalk and Stamford, in Fairfield County, and
several families were from the old Plymouth colony.
As they removed into the town they located them-
selves upon the several home-lots which they had
taken up, and by the next fall were all comfortably
provided with homes and other necessaries.”

PATENT OF THE TOWN OF SHARON.

“THE GoVERNOUR and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in
New England, in America: To all to whom these presents shall come.

“Greeting: Whereas, The said Governour aud Company in General
court assembled, at Hartford, on the 11th day of May, a.p. 1732, did
order that a township should be laid out in the Southwest parts of the
country lands, on the west side of the Ousatonic River, and appointed
Messrs. Edmond Lewis, Stephen Noble, and William Gaylord a commit-
tee to lay out the same.

“And, Whereas, In pursuance of said order, the said committee laid
out the same, and bounded it as follows, viz.: Beginning at the South-
west corner of the township of M, it being a stake set in the ground and
many stones laid to it, standing on the east side of a pond; from thence
the line runs south 12 degrees 30 minutes west, with the line of partition
between the Province of New York and the Colony of Connecticut, nine
miles to a heap of stones laid on a rock, being in the aforesaid line of
partition between the Province of New York and the Colony of Connec-
ticut, and is about two miles east of Captain Sackett’s dwelling-house,
which is the southwest corner bound of said township; and from thence
the south line runs B. 10° 30 S. four miles and one-half and one hundred
and fifteen rods, to the Ousatouic River, where they marked a white-ash
tree and laid many stones to it, for the southeast corner bounds of said
township, and marked many trees and made many monuments in the
said south line, which township in their survey is called the township
of N.§&., and is bounded north on the township of M., south on country
lands, west on the aforesaid line of partition between the Province of
New York and Colony of Connecticut, and east on the Ousatonic River,
as by the return of said committee bearing date October 7th, a.p. 1732,
entered on the records of said colony Liber. 4th for patents, Deeds and
survey of land, folio 472-3, in the Secretary's office, reference thereto
being had more fully and at large may appear.

“And, Whereas, The said Governour and Company in General Court
assembled, at Hartford, on the 10th day of May, a.p. 1733, did enact that
said township, among the townships then lately laid out, should be dis-
posed of and settled according to such time and regulations as the said
assembly should order. And, Whereas, The said Governour and Company
in General Court assembled, at New Haven, a.p. 1737, by their act did
order that township should be divided into fifty-three rights, of which
fifty-three rights one should be for the use of the ministry that should
be settled in said town, according to the regulation in said act provided,
one for the first gospel minister settled as aforesaid, and one other right
for the support of the school in said town, and ordered that fifty of said
rights should be sold, and that the other three rights should be for the
uses aforesaid ; and that the committee by said act appointed should sell,
and, in the name of the Governor and Company aforesaid, execute deeds
of conveyance of the said several rigbts to the purchasers thereof re-
spectively, with conditions to such deed annexed according to the direc-
tions in the said act contained. And, Whereas, The said committee, in
pursuance of and according to said act, have sold, and by their several
deeds under their hands and seals, have granted unto Samuel Hutchin-
son, Nathaniel Skinner, John Sprague, John Pardee, and to the rest of
the original purchasers of rights in said township, fifty rights or fifty-
third parts of said township, upon condition as aforesaid, which town-
ship is now called and known by the name of Sharon. And, Whereas,
Mr. Peter Pratt is settled in the ministry in said town, according to the
directions aforesaid, their heirs or assigns having performed the condi-
tions in the said deed expressed, and nuw moving for a more full confir-
mation of the said lands sold and granted them as aforesaid,

“Now know ye, that the said Governour and Company, by virtue of
the powers grauted and derived to them by His late mnajesty, King
Charles the Second, of blessed memory, in and by his Letters Patent,
under the great seal of England, bearing date the three and twentieth
day of April, in the fourteenth year of his reign, and in presence of the
several acts and orders of assembly before in these acts referred to, have
therefore given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents do fully,

 

freely, and absolutely give, grant, ratify, and confirm for themselves and
their successors unto, to the said Samuel Hutchinson, Nathaniel Skinner,
John Sprague, John Pardee, and to the rest of the original purchasers
aforesaid, and to their heirs and assigns and such as legally represent or
hold under them, in proportion to their“tespective purchases, and in
such proportion as their assignees and legal representatives do hold un-
der them as aforesaid, the said fifty rights or fifty-third parts, and to the
said Peter Pratt, the said settled minister, the said one right or fifty-third
part of all the lands in the township of Sharon aforesaid, and the said
two rights ordered for the use of the ministry and school in said town,
which two rights are hereby granted and confirmed unto the said pur-
chasers and the said Peter Pratt, their heirs and assigns to and for the.
use aforesaid, and all and singular the lands, trees, woods, underwoods,
ponds, rivers, fishings, fowlings, huntings, mines, minerals, and precious
stones within the said township, and all the rights, royalties, powers,
privileges, profits, and services to the premises belonging. To have and
to hold the said granted, or hereby intended to be granted, premises, to-
gether with the privileges and appurtenances thereof, unto the said
Samuel Hutchinson, Nathaniel Skinner, John Sprague, John Pardee,
and Peter Pratt, and to the rest of the said purchasers, and to their heirs
and assigns and such as legally represent and hold under them in man-
ner as aforesaid, and to their only use, benefit, and behoof as aforesaid
forever, as a good, sure, and indefeasible estate.in fee simple to be holden.
of our Sovereign Lord the King, his heirs and successors as of his ma-
jesty’s manor of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent and Kingdom
of England, in fee and common socage, and not in capite nor by Knights’
Service, yielding and paying therefor to his majesty King George the
Second, his heirs and successors only the fifth part of all the ore of gold
and silver that shall be there gotten or obtained, in lieu of all other ser-
vices, duties, and demands. i

“Tn witness whereof the said Governour and Company have caused’
these presents to be signed by the Governour and Secretary, and the
public seal of the said Colony to be affixed. Dated in Hartford, the 26th
day of May, Anuo Domini, 1747.

“J. Law, Governor.

“By order of the Governour and Company of the Colony of Connec-
ticut in ‘General Court assembled, May, Anno Domni, 1747.
“GEORGE WYLLYS, Secretary.

“Received May 30th, 1747, and here recorded.
“Test, GeEorGE WYLLYSs, Secretary.”

THE SETTLEMENT IN DISTRESS.

“The first year (1739) was one of great promise
and prosperity. The population rapidly increased
and the productions of the soil richly rewarded the
toil of its’ cultivators, but the month of May, 1742,
was marked by the commencement of a wasting sick-
ness which overwhelmed the settlers with distress and
threatened the entire breaking up of the enterprise.
This calamity put it out of their power to comply
with the condition of their bonds, and in ‘their ex-
tremity they made application to the Assembly for
relief. The following is a copy of their memorial,
drawn up by the Rev. Mr. Pratt, which is a remark-
able specimen of suppliant eloquence. It was ad-
dressed to the Assembly in the usual way, and pro-
ceeded to say,—

“«That notwithstanding the smiles of Divine Providence upon us at
our first settling in this .place, in which we thankfully encouraged our-
selves, yet so numerous have been the frowns, and so heavy the strokes
of the Almighty in the year past, and sv dark is the countenance of our
present state, that we have not only been brought to uncommon con-
tinued distress, but even to despair of future prosperity unless relieved
by your Honors’ favor. In May last it pleased the Almighty to send a
nervous fever among us, which continued eleven months, in which time
more than one hundred and twenty persons were long confined with it;
some have lain more than one hundred days, some eighty, many sixty,
and few have been capable of business in forty days after they were seized
with the distemper, by reason of which many were unable to plow for
wheat in the year past, many who had plowed were unable to sow, and
some who had sowed unable to secure it:by fence, and much wheat that
SHARON.

was ripe rotted on the ground. By reason of the sickness of the people,
which was not only exceeding expensive to the persons and families sick,
but also to those who were in health, their time being taken up in tend-
ing those that were sick, many of whom were obliged to suffer for want
of help. Twenty are dead, nfiny widows and fatherless children are left
among us, not a man but that has sustained loss; many who were more
than level with the world are impoverished. The distress of the winter

has beeu exceeding great and impoverishing. Our cattle are so destroyed

that there is not a cow left to half the families in the town, and now many
men are obliged to leave their business at home and go twenty miles to
labor for bread and corn, and so must continue to do until harvest; so
that we are not now able to take up our bonds without being wrecked
in our estates, some torn, others quite broke, so that not above three-
quarters of us can save our home-lots and pay our purchase. Neither
can we maintain our minister or build our meeting-house, but must quit
the place or become tenants, we and our children, to neighboring rich
merchants who are seeking our lands, but at their own price.

“‘Therefore we, a withering branch of this commonwealth, and the
poor of this colony, would now humbly pray for your Honors’ assistance
and gracious notice. And as our industrious improvements have been
the admiration of all who have beheld our settlement, and far exceeding
any other instance of late plantation, we trust we may not, after three
years’ toil, sickness, and want, be turned off from our lands, become ten-
ants, or seek another settlement under worse circumstances than when
we settled in this place, which, that your Honors would take into your
wise consideration, and upon it graciously act towards ua, is the earnest
and necessary prayer of your Honors’ dutiful and humble memorial-
ists,”

“The second application was successful to this ex-
tent, that the time for the payment of the bonds was
‘extended some two or three years, and thus the set-
tlers were able to meet their payments without further
embarrassments.

“These memorials explain how Philip Livingston
and Martin Hoffman became large owners of real es-
tate in Sharon at an early day, a fact which before
was obscure. They were, undoubtedly the rich neigh-
boring merchants réferred to in the memorial. The
representatives of Philip Livingston are still proprie-
tors of the common land in Sharon.

“The first death recorded of those residing in Sha-
ron is that of Miriam, the wife of William Goodrich,
Jr, which occurred on the 22d of April, 1740. The
following persons also, as appears of record, departed
this life during the same season, viz.: Asa Rood, Da-
vid Skinner, Mary, wife of Nathaniel Skinner, Esq.,
Deacon Hezekiah King, Benjamin Fuller, Jonathan
Dunham, Jr., Daniel Bouton, Daniel Bouton, Jr.,—in
all, nine persons.

“The first person born in the town after Jehiel Jack-
son, before mentioned, was Sarah Bates, daughter of
John and Anna Bates. She was afterwards the wife
of John Randall, and lived to a very advanced age.
The first marriage in the town was that of Elnathan
Goodrich to Elizabeth Showers. It was celebrated
on New-Year’s Day, Jan. 1, 1740.”

THE MORAVIAN MISSIONS.

“The diligent and successful labors of the Mora-
vians for the conversion to Christianity of the Indians
in Sharon is an item in the history of the town well
worthy of record. This body of Christians established
a mission among the Indians in this region as early as
1740, Their special fields of labor were at Shekomeko
(Pine Plains), in New York, and at Wequagnock

 

569

(Sharon) and Schaghticoke (Kent), in Connecticut.
The first minister who labored here and established
the mission was the Rev. Christian Henry Rauch.
He was succeeded in 1742 by the Rev. Gotlieb Buet-
ner, who labored in the mission until his death, in
1745, at the age of twenty-eight years. He was buried
in the field of his labors, and his memory is well pre-
served by an enduring monument and an appropriate
epitaph. If the fact were not well authenticated as a
matter of history, it would scarcely be credited now
that the mission was broken up in 17465 by the gov-
ernment of New York from the belief that the mis-
sionaries were Jesuits and Papists, and emissaries of
the Pope and the French king. On the occurrence
of this event many of the Christian Indians of Sheko-
meko joined the tribes of Sharon. Several clergymen
labored here at stated periods up to 1749. In that
year David Bruce, then the missionary here, died, and
was buried in the beautiful field of his labor, on the

-eastern shore of the Indian pond. He was a Scotch-

man from Edinburgh. He was not a clergyman in
the Moravian sense, but an assistant. He acted rather
as a teacher or catechist. He labored in the mission
at Sharon but a few months. As everything relating
to his history is interesting, a more extended notice of
him is copied from Loskiel’s ‘History of Moravian
Missioners :’

“¢ Brother David Bruce was now appointed to the care of the Christian
Indians at Schaticook and Wequagnock, who since the forementioned
visit of the bishop had formed a regular settlement. He resided chiefly
in a house at Wequagnock, belonging to the brethren called Gnadansee
(Lake of Grace), but sometimes resided at Schaticook, whence he paid
visits to Westenhunk, by invitation of the head chief of the Mohikan
nation, sowing the seeds of the gospel wherever he came; but as he was
not ordained, Bishop Camerhoff with Brother Beyold, went again to We-
quagnock to strengthen the brethren and to administer the sacraments
there. Twenty Indians were added to the church by baptism. Brother
Bruce remained in this station till his happy departure out of time,
which, to the great grief of the Indian congregation, took place this
year. He was remarkably cheerful during his illness, and his conversa-
tion edified all who saw him. Perceiving that his end approached, he
called the Indian brethren present to his bedside, and, pressing their
hands to his breast, besought them fervently to,remain faithful unto the
end, and immediately fell asleep in the Lord. His funeral was com-
mitted to one of the assistants, who delivered a powerful discourse upon
the solemn occasion to the company present, among whom were many
white people, who had often heard our late brother's testimony of the
truth with blessing.’

“So reads the book, and so died the missionary.
The exact date of his death was July 9,1749. The
missionary at Schaghticook in 1752 wrote as follows:

“*They have permitted me to put a stone on Brother Dayid’s grave,
and then inclose it with a fence.’ ‘

“The stone was in good preservation in 1825, but
has since been broken into many fragments. What
remains of it isin the possession of the Moravian His-
torical Society of Nazareth, Penn. It contained the
following epitaph :

“‘Davip Bruce,
From Edinburgh in Scotland.
Minister of
The Brethren’s Church,

Among the Indians.
Departed 1749.’
570

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“The Indians of Sharon having sold their lands in
1755, and dispersed to different parts of the country,
the mission was then abandoned by the brethren ; but
a congregation of white people built a meeting-house
on the western border of the Indian pond, on land
now owned by Col. Hiram Clark, and retained the
services of one of the missionaries, the Rev. Joseph
Powell, until his death in 1774.

“Tt will be observed that all the missionaries who
labored here were under the direction of the Moravian
authorities at Bethany, Pa., from whom they received
their appointments. After the breaking up of the
mission here, and the death or removal of the mis-
sionaries, missionary stations were established in parts
of the country west of Bethany, and for nearly a cen-
tury the scene of the labors and place of the graves
of the faithful and devoted missionaries in this region
had passed from the knowledge of the Moravians at
Bethany ; and it was owing to investigations made by
the Rev. William J. McCord and the Rev. Sheldon
Davis, of Dutchess County, that this field of mission-
ary labor, so interesting in Moravian history, was
brought to their knowledge. The Moravian Histori-
cal Society, at Nazareth, Pa., on the 11th day of July,
1859, determined to mark the resting-places of the
missionaries by the erection of suitable monuments,
and thus to revive and perpetuate their memories, so
long neglected and forgotten. These monuments
were set up under the direction of the Rev. Mr.
Davis, and of Benson J. Lossing, Esq., and a single
monument over the remains of David Bruce is for a
memorial of him and of the Rev. Joseph Powel. The
inscriptions on that monument were as follows:

“On the north side:

“*JoszrH Powel,

A Minister of the Gospel,

in the
Church of the United Brethren.
Born in 1710,
Near White Church, Shropshire, England.

Died Sept. 23, 1774,

At Sichem in the Oblong,
Dutchess Co., N. Y.’

“ On the south side:
“Davin Bruce,
A Minister of the Gospel,
in the
Church of the United Brethren,
from
Edinburgh, in Scotland.
Died July 9, 1749,
At the Wechquadnock Mission,
Dutchess Co., N. Y.’

“On the east side:

“* How beautiful upon the mountains
Are the feet of him that bringeth
good tidings, that publisheth peace,
That bringeth good tidings of good,
That publisheth salvation.
Isaiah lii. 7.’
“On the west side: ,
“«Trected by the
Moravian Historical Society,
October 6, 1859,’

 

“Solemn and impressive, as well as instructive, ser-
vices, performed by the Moravians from Bethany,
were rendered at the dedication of that monument,
on the 6th day of October, 1899. As the remains of
the missionaries had been committed to the grave
without the performance of the cherished rites of that
body of Christians, it was deemed appropriate that
those portions of the Moravian ritual which relate to
death and the resurrection should be employed in the
ceremonies. For the same reason, the Easter Morning
Litany, which is prayed annually on Moravian bury-
ing-grounds, and the choral music of trombonists, a
characteristic element of Moravian obsequies, were
added to the programme of religious exercises. The
services were held in the open field. in which the
monument stands, and were performed by the bishop
and several Moravian clergymen, with a select band
of trombonists and choir of singers, in the presence
of some seventeen hundred people. The venerable
Bishop Wolle had the principal charge, and his white
locks, his clerical costume, and his solemn and delib-
erate utterances, with a slight German.accent, of the
various portions of the Moravian funeral ritual, with
the earnest and solemn responses from the people, and
from the trombonists, gave an indescribable interest to
the ceremonies. After a historical discourse by the
Rev. Mr. De Schweinitz, in which a minute history of
the mission and missionaries was given, the following
stanzas from the Moravian Hymnal were sung by the
congregation :

“« How sweetly these our brethren sleep,
Enjoying endless peace !

The grave in which their Saviour lay
Is now their resting-place.

“¢Naught can disturb these heirs of life—
All earthly cares are fled,—
To be with Christ was their desire,
And now they’re perfected.

“To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
One God, whom we adore,
Be glory as it was, is now,
And shall be evermore.’

“« And thus ended the solemn burial services.”

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.*

“We have now arrived at the period of the com-
mencement of the Revolutionary war. The citizens
of Sharon, almost without exception, partook largely
of the feeling which pervaded the whole country at
the commencement of the struggle. Parson Smith,
like the other clergymen of the day, was 4 most
ardent and decided Whig; and his personal in-
fluence contributed not a little to lead the public
mind in the right channel. In his public minis-
trations, too, there was mingled much of the stirring
patriotism of the times. In the prayers which were
offered, and in the praises which were sung, there
were interspersed many allusions to the tyrannical
edicts of the British king, and to the degraded

 

* From Sedgwick's “ History of Sharon.”
SHARON.

and suffering condition of the colonies. Hymns
were written, and music was composed, which were
used for public worship on the Sabbath, the effect of
which would seem to be to stir up martial rather than
devotional feelings, and to excite in the worshipers
the deepest hatred of their oppressors. The following
stanza was the commencement of one of the hymns
which was frequently sung for Sabbath worship :
“¢¢ Let tyrauts shake their iron rod,
And slavery clank their galling chains,
We fear them not, we trust in God,—

New England's God forever reigns.’

“The intelligence of the battle of Lexington was
brought to Sharon on the Sabbath, and Mr. Smith, at
the close of the morning exercises, announced it from
the pulpit, and made some remarks tending to arouse
the spirit of the congregation to firmness and to re-
sistance. Immediately after the congregation was
dismissed, the militia and volunteers to the number
of one hundred men paraded on the west side of the
street, south of the meeting-house, and prepared to
march immediately to the scene of action. David
Downs, Esq., was captain, James Brewster lieutenant,
and David Gould ensign. After further deliberation,
however, it was determined to send Lieut. Brewster
to Litchfield, to inquire more fully into the accuracy
of the intelligence, and whether the service of the
nilitia would be required immediately. Lieut. Brew-
ster* performed this mission, and learning that the
British had returned to Boston, and that no pressing
necessity existed for further military aid, it was deter-
mined not to march until further hostile movements
on the part of the enemy should render it necessary.

“The General Assembly was forthwith convened,
and a large military force raised. One company was
raised in Sharon and its vicinity. Samuel Elmore
received a major’s commission, and also had the com-
mand of this company. Amos Chappell was the lieu-
tenant.

“The last survivors of this company were Thomas
Heath and Adonijah Maxam. Deacon Isaac Cham-
berlain, Capt. Sylvanus Gibbs, and Mr. Ebe Everitt,
lately deceased, were also members of this company,
as were William Gray, Samuel Lewis, Jr., and David
Goff. This company was attached to a regiment
which marched to the Northward in 1775 for the con-
quest of Canada, under Gen. Montgomery. .

“Before St. John’s was taken it was determined by
Cols. Allen and Brown to make an attempt upon the
city of Montreal with a few volunteers, if they could
be obtained. The troops were paraded, and Allen
marched in front of the Connecticut Line, and invited
volunteers to join him. Of the soldiers who belonged

to Sharon, Adonijah Maxam, David Goff, William f

Gray, and Samuel Lewis stepped forward and offered

 

*« This young gentleman was at this time a clerk in Col. Gay’s store.
He was originally from Windham, and came to Sharon in a.p.1770, with
his mother, who was the second wife of Capt. Caleb Jewitt. He died,
much lamented, of a consumption, on the 22d day of February, 1777.”

 

571

to share in the perils of the expedition. It was ar-
ranged between Allen and Brown that the latter
should land on the island, below the city, while Allen,
with about eighty men, should land above the city,
and there wait until they should hear the firing from
Brown’s party, when they were to rush on to the at-
tack. Allen crossed the river St. Lawrence with his
detachment on the evening of the 24th of September,
on a raft, and waited in the expectation of hearing
the firing from Brown’s party through the whole
night, but he waited in vain. For some reason the
expedition on Brown’s part had failed, and the morn-
ing light found Allen altogether in the power of the
enemy. This rash adventurer, however, determined
to defend himself to the last extremity against the
seven or eight hundred men that were brought
him, and he fought until twenty-five of his men were
killed and seven wounded, when he and his brave as-
sociates, including Maxam, Goff, Gray, and Lewis,
from Sharon, and one Roger Moore, of Salisbury, were
compelled to surrender. They were loaded with
irons and sent to England, for the avowed object of
receiving the sentence and punishment of traitors.
The threat of retaliatory measures, however, on the
part of the Americans, prevented such summary pro-
ceedings against them, and after being kept in close
confinement in England and Ireland during the
winter, the prisoners just named were brought back
to New York in the spring of 1776. They were con-
fined in an old church, with a large number of others
who had been taken during the campaign at Fort
Washington and other places. From this place the
persons above named contrived to make their escape
within a few days after they were put into confine-
ment. The old church in which they were confined
was surrounded by a high fence, and thus a little
daily out-door exercise was allowed the prisoners.
While enjoying this liberty, William Gray managed
to loosen one of the long planks of which the fence
was made, but did not remove it, and the appearance
of things were so little disturbed by the act of Gray
that it escaped the observation of the officers in charge
of the prisoners. Through the opening in the fence,
thus made practicable, the five soldiers above named
made their escape as soon as it was sufficiently dark
to conceal their operations. They had been habited
in sailors’ clothes during their captivity, and on this
account they were less liable to be detected. They
divided into two parties, Maxam and Moore forming
the one, and Gray, Goff, and Lewis the other. The
three latter very soon found means to land on Long
Island, and from thence passed over the Sound to the
continent, and returned to their friends in Sharon.
Maxam and Moore had more difficulty. They were
two or three days in the city before they found it pos-
sible to leave it, and after landing on Long Island
they suffered much from hunger. After traveling
several days they found means to embark in a boat
on the Sound, and to reach Saybrook. Their return
572

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

to Sharon astonished their friends, who, having

learned from Gray and his comrades the circumstance
of their escape from confinement, and having heard
nothing further from them, had concluded that they
had been retaken by the British. The last survivor
of this band of sufferers was Mr. Adonijah Maxam,
who died at the age of ninety-seven years.

“In the campaign of 1775, Parson Smith went with
the army to the Northward as chaplain to Col. Hin-
man’s regiment, and spent several months in the
service.

“There was one soldier from Sharon who joined
the expedition led by Gen. Arnold through the wil-
derness of Kennebeck to Canada, whose name was
Alexander Spencer. He died, however, on the march,
from sickness.

“The exigencies of the times calling for a large
army at the commencement of 1776, a large number
of men, more than one hundred, enlisted from the
town of Sharon. One company marched for Canada.
It was commanded by Capt. David Downs, already
mentioned. The first lieutenant was Adonijah Gris-
wold, and the second lieutenant was David Doty.
The last survivors of this company, which was a large
one, were Joel Chaffee and Adonijah Pangman, of
Cornwall. Charles Gillet, another member of the
company, was killed near the ‘ Cedars,’ so called, by a
party of Indians in ambush, as he was riding along
the road, having gone on some business connected
with his duty as commissary. The other soldiers
raised in Sharon for the campaign of 1776 were dis-
tributed among three other companies, and all
marched for New York, against which an attack by
the British was now apprehended. Of one company
Dr. Simeon Smith was captain, of another Elijah
Foster was captain, and of the third, Nathaniel Ham-
Jin was lieutenant. These companies were in the
campaign of 1776, under Gen. Washington, on Long
Island, and in the vicinity of New York, and shared
in the fatigues and perils of that disastrous period.
David Wood, Nathaniel Buel, Josiah Coleman, Jabez
Jennings, Asahel Somers, John Randall, Jr., and
‘Thomas Ackley were taken prisoners at Fort Wash-
ington, of whom Wood and Ackley died during their
captivity, and Buel and Coleman on their return.
The British having obtained possession of New York,
Gen. Washington determined to make an effort to
dislodge them during the winter which followed the
unfortunate campaign of 1776. For this purpose a
large military force was raised in the fall of that year
for two months’ service, and one company was enlis-
ted in Sharon. William Boland was captain, Heze-
‘Kiah Frisbie lieutenant, and Azariah Griswold en-
sign. As the period of enlistment was so short, there
was no difficulty in filling the company. The survi-
vors of this company were Messrs. Adonijah Maxam
and Thomas Heath. New York was not attacked,
and the company was discharged at Kingsbridge at
the expiration of their term of service.

 

“The forces that had hitherto been called into the
service were raised on the authority of the State. To
provide for the campaign of 1777, Congress undertook
to raise an army, which was called the Continental
army; and of this army, two regiments, Swift’s and
Bradley’s, were raised in the western part of Connec-
ticut. Of one company David Strong was appointed
lieutenant, and he enlisted a number of recruits, one
of whom, David Goodrich, was killed at the battle of
Brandywine, in the subsequent campaign. Of another
company Reuben Calkin was lieutenant, and a number
of men enlisted under him.

“A large depot of provisions and military stores
had been established at Danbury, and in the month
of April an expedition was sent out from New York
to destroy them. It was commanded by Maj.-Gen.
Tryon, of the British army, and consisted of two
thousand men. They landed at a place called Compo,
in the southwest part of the town of Fairfield, and,
proceeding through the towns of Weston and Redding,
reached Danbury, and effected their object, which was
the destruction of the stores. The most active meas-
ures were taken to spread the alarm through the ad-
jacent country, and to collect the militia to repel the
invaders. On the evening of the 26th of April a
messenger arrived in this town bringing the intelli-
gence, 4nd requiring the immediate marching of such
forces as could be collected to meet the enemy. The
bellcommenced tolling, and it was kept tolling through
the night, and it was a night of great terror and so-
lemnity. Col. Ebenezer Gay, who then commanded
the militia in this vicinity, gathered together as many
troops as could be collected on so short notice, and
marched for the scene of action ; and on the morning of
the 28th reached Danbury, and, finding that the British
had retreated, pursued them. The route which the
British had taken on their retreat brought them on the
west side of the Saugatuck River, which empties into the
Sound a mile or two west of Compo, where their fleet
lay. They were intercepted in their attempt to reach
the bridge over this stream by Gen. Arnold, who was
then in command of a few regular troops, and were
guided by some Tories to a regular fording-place a
little higher up, and it was while they were marching
up on the west side of the stream to reach this fording-
place that they were first observed by the troops from
Sharon, who were endeavoring to reach the bridge,
and to join the corps under Arnold. As the British
marched by them on the low grounds which bordered
on the river, Adonijah Maxam, who had not forgotten
the injuries which were heaped upon him while a
prisoner in England, begged permission of the com-
manding officer to steal down the hill from the left
flank and shoot a few of them. He was strictly for-
bidden, however, to execute this perilous undertaking.
The British marched by unmolested, and our troops
took undisputed possession of the bridge. The enemy
came down on the east side of the river, and, having
taken ground a little to the east of the bridge, fired
SHARON.

upon our men who were stationed there. Arnold,
perceiving the danger to which his men were exposed,
brought his artillery to bear upon the new position
of the enemy, and firing upon them over the heads
of such of his men as were upon the bridge, soon
drove them beyond the reach of his cannon. They
-took new ground a little to the southeast of their
first position, and it was determined to attack them
there with small-arms. A few regular troops, under
Arnold, commenced the action with great bravery,
and our men at the bridge were ordered to join them.
They marched up the hill with a good degree of reso-
lution to sustain the regular troops. As they came
within the reach of the enemy’s musketry, however,
some one, and it was never known who, cried out ‘ Re-
treat’? As this word was uttered, Lieut. Samuel Elmer,
Jr.,* perceiving the effect it was producing, and the
trepidation which was taking hold of his comrades,
stepped up on a stone wall, and cried out, ‘ For God’s
sake, men, don’t retreat, don’t run, march up the hall
and drive them off!’ He had barely uttered these
words when he was shot through the body. The
only words he spoke afterwards were addressed to his
uncle, Mr. George Pardee, who was near him: ‘Uncle
George,’ said he, ‘I am a dead man.’ A general re-
treat of our men then followed, and the British, being
left unmolested, marched to their shipping, and sailed
for New York.

“ A large depot of provisions had been established
in this town early in the war. The store-house stood
a little west of the Messrs. Goodwin’s, on the old road
that formerly ran through their land, before the present
turnpike-road was established, and a guard was con-
stantly kept at the depot during the war. The fate
of the stores at Danbury caused much apprehension
for the safety of those here. There were frequent
alarms, and the citizens frequently collected in arms
to defend the public property at the store-house. On
one Sabbath day, during the sermon, Jonathan Gillett,
who lived directly opposite the meeting-house, came
out of his house during the public service, and pro-
claimed with a loud voice that the British were coming.
A dense smoke was seen rising beyond Tower Hill, a
mountain in the State of New York, a few miles

 

*“ This brave young officer was a son of Col. Samuel Elmer, and a lieu-
tenant in the New York Line of the Continental army. He had returned
home on a short furlough the very day the intelligence of the invasion
of Danbury was received in Sharon, and was one of the first to volun-
teer to drive off the enemy. He was buried on the spot where he was
killed by two of his comrades soon after the battle. His body was after-
wards removed to the burying-yard at Green’s Farms, where it reposes to
this day.

EPITAPH.

“¢Tieut, Samuel Elmer, son to Col. Samuel Elmer of Sharon, was killed
at Fairfield, fighting for the liberties of his country, April 28th, 1777, in
the 25th year of his age.

“¢ Our youthful hero, bold in arms,
His country’s cause his bosom warms ;
To save her rights fond to engage,
And guard her from a tyrant’s rage,
Flies to ye field of blood and death,
And gloriously resigns his breath.’ ”
387

 

573

southwest of Sharon, and the belief was general that
the enemy was at hand. Parson Smith was foremost
in exhorting the people to firmness and resistance,
and he entreated them to stand firm, not only as sol-
diers of the cross, but as soldiers of their country and
of liberty. The alarm, however, proved groundless.
“The approach of a large British army from Can-
ada, under Gen. Burgoyne, and the expedition up the
North River, under Gen. Vaughan, filled the whole
country with terror and despondency, and frequent
alarms were spread, requiring the constant and active
duty of the militia. The Tories, too, in Dutchess Co.,
N. Y., where they were numerous, took courage from
the prospect of success which the progress of the
British arms afforded, and embodied themselves into
a formidable force. Information was brought to this
town during the summer that four hundred of them
had assembled at Carpenter’s, as it was then called,
now Washington Hollow, and that they were threat-
ening destruction to all the Whigs in the neighbor-
hood. An expedition was immediately set on foot to
break up the gang. Volunteers to the number of
fifty or sixty immediately assembled. They marched
immediately for the Hollow, and were joined by others
in their progress, so that when they arrived at Bloom’s
Mills, which is about four miles north of the Hollow,
their numbers amounted to two hundred men. There
they encamped for the night, and marched the next
morning to attack the Tories. They found them
paraded in the meadow just north of the public-house,
and, marching up with spirit, fired upon them. The
Tories fled immediately, and as many as could made
their escape. About thirty or forty of them, how-
ever, were made prisoners and brought to this town,
and locked up in the old church at the head of the
street. They were taken to Exeter, in New Hamp-

‘shire, where they were kept in close confinement for

two years. This proceeding broke up the gang, and
no further trouble was had from this class of persons
during the war.

“A company of light-horse, which belonged to
Sharon and its vicinity, were kept on duty during the
whole summer of 1777, on the North River, watching
the motions of the enemy in that quarter. It was
commanded by Capt. Dutcher, of Salisbury, and
David Boland, of Sharon, was the cornet of the com-
pany. The smoke of burning Kingston was distinctly
seen from our mountain when it was destroyed by the
Hessian troops. Adonijah Maxam belonged to this
company.

“A large number of men marched from this town,
under the command of Col. Gay, to the Northward to
oppose the progress of Burgoyne’s army, and shared
in all the conflicts which preceded its surrender.

 

ie The following is the record of an adjourned church-meeting, holden
on the 23d of September, 1777: ‘Met according to adjournment, but by
reason of a great number being called off into ye service of their country,
and but a few members met, adjourned to the 4th Tuesday of November
next ensuing.”
574

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

John Hollister, one of the soldiers from this town,
was killed at the battle of Stillwater, on the 7th of
October.

“The intelligence of the surrender of Burgoyne’s
army was received here under circumstances which
produced a deep impression. Nothing had been heard
respecting the state of affairs at Saratoga, excepting
that two severe battles had been fought without any
very decisive result. This state of uncertainty pro-
duced extreme anxiety regarding the issue of the
campaign, and many trembled at the prospect of
defeat and disgrace to the American arms. The
firmness and confidence of Parson Smith, however,
never forsook him, and he did everything in his
power to rouse the drooping spirits of his people.
On Sabbath, the —— day of October, he preached a
sermon from Isaiah xxi. 11: ‘Watchman, what of
the night? the watchman saith the morning cometh.’
The discourse was entirely adapted to the condition
of public affairs. He dwelt much upon the indica-
tions which the dealings of Providence afforded, that
a bright and glorious morning was about to dawn
upon a long night of defeat and disaster. He told
the congregation that he believed they would soon
hear of a signal victory crowning the arms of America,
and exhorted them’ to trust with an unshaken and
fearless confidence in that God who, he doubted not,
would soon appear for the deliverance of his people,
and crown with success the efforts of the friends of
liberty in this country. Before the congregation was
dismissed a messenger arrived bringing the intelli-
gence of the surrender of Burgoyne’s army. Parson
Smith read the letter from the pulpit, and a flood of
joy burst upon the assembly.

“During the next year a large part of Burgoyne’s
army was marched through this town on their way to
the South. They were met here by a regiment of Con-
tinental troops, under the command of Lieut.-Col.
Jameson, who was afterwards somewhat conspicuous
in the affairs connected with the capture of Major
Andre, and who here took charge of the prisoners.*
One of Burgoyne’s soldiers, by the name of Robert
Gibbs, a Scotchman from Dundee, who was wounded
and taken in the battle immediately preceding Bur-
goyne’s surrender, was here left by his comrades. He
died at the age of ninety-four.

“ After the campaign of 1777, the seat of the war was
removed to so great a distance that no further call was
made for the militia of the town, except for the pur-
pose of keeping guard on the sea-coast. The burdens
and privations of a pecuniary kind, however, which
are incident to a state of war, were borne by the peo-
ple of this town without a murmur, and the almost

ee

*“A large proportion of the prisoners of this detachment were Hessians,
They were subjected to the most severe discipline, and were entirely
offensive. Each regiment was furnished with a chaplain, and divine ser-
vice was frequently performed. They encamped here over-night, and
when they started in the morning, tho whole body sang devotional music:
on the march. Governor Smith informed the author that he, then a lad,
followed them some miles to hear their singing.”

 

unanimous feeling in favor of the cause which marked
the commencement of the war continued with un-
abated ardor to the close of it.

“The records of the County Court show that several
of the citizens of Sharon were delinquent in respond-
ing to the calls for temporary service in the army, but
it does not appear that their neglect was owing to any
want of fidelity to the cause of the country; but it
was probably for some reasons which were deemed
satisfactory to themselves, but which were not deemed
sufficient by the court. Abner Curtice, David Hol-
lister, Elijah Pardee, and Apollos Smith were each
fined ten pounds and costs of prosecution ‘for refusing
to muster and march to the assistance of the Continen-
tal army,’ about the time of the apprehended inva-
sion of this part of the country by Burgoyne’s army.

“Stephen Sears was fined ten pounds for not march-
ing to the relief of Peekskill. Theodore Elmer,
Thomas Hamlin, Jr., Joseph Barrows, Jesse Good-
rich, Amasa Hamlin, Robert Whitcomb, David Hol-
lister, James Henry, and Nathaniel Curtis were prose-
cuted for the same offenses, but were able to show good
reasons why they had not reported for muster, and
were discharged.”

The following list of names of soldiers of the
Revolution belonging to Sharon, who served in 1775,
were taken from the controlley’s books, in Hartford:
Reuben Cartwright, David Manning, Reuben Calkin, sergeant, Jehiel

Jackson, Jude Bill, Zenas Goodrich, John Hollister, Isaac Chamber-

lain, Solomon Goodrich, Southard Swetland, Aaron Swetland, Syl-

vanus Gibbs, William Goodrich, corporal, Ebe Everitt, John Tickner,

Jesse Calkin, Asa Rogers, David Ackley, Elisha Calkin, Thomas
Heath.

SHAY’S REBELLION.

In the spring of 1787, during the existence of the
insurrection under Shay, in Massachusetts, Dr. John
Hurlbert, who resided in the town of Alford, Berk-
shire Co., Mass., and who was an active partisan of
Shay’s, came to Sharon for the purpose of awakening
a similar spirit in this vicinity, and of producing an
efficient co-operation. Having received his medical
education here, and possessing qualities calculated to
give effect to his representations, Hurlbert soon suc-
ceeded in organizing a considerable number of men,
under the guidance of one William Mitchell, who was
constituted their captain, and who, in as private a
manner as possible, and chiefly in the night season,
trained and drilled them for service. Hurlbert,
Mitchell, and two others were arrested, and taken to
Litchfield for examination. Hurlbert was prosecuted
under the act against “vagrants, vagabonds, and
common beggars,” but on his solemn promise to leave
the State forthwith he was suffered to depart. The
others, being charged with treasonable practices, were
bound over to the next term of the Superior Court.

The following account of these proceedings is copied
from a Litchfield paper of May 21, 1788:

“Last Thursday evening arrived in this town from Hartford Col. Sam-

uel Canfield and Uriah Tracy, Esq., with orders from the General Assem-
bly to repair to the town of Sharon and put astop to the insurrection
SHARON.

that appeared to be raising in that town. The same evening they set off,
accompanied by the sheriff and one of his deputies, and arrived at Sha-
ron about daybreak, and soon after arrested five persons who were sup-
posed to be the principal actors and abettors in the insurrection. They
were conducted to and safely lodged in our gaol on Saturday last, in or-
der for examination. It is hoped the early and spirited exertion of our
Assembly will prevent further disturbance in that town. Much praise
js due to the gentlemen employed on that occasion for their prudence,
humanity, and judicious proceedings.”

The insurrection in Massachusetts was soon after

suppressed, and the prosecutions against Mitchell and
others were discontinued.

LIST OF EARLY SETTLERS.*

David Abel was from Lebanon, and came to Sharon
in 1760.

Thomas Ackley, from Chatham, came to Sharon
in 1768. He had three sons,—Thomas, David, and
Abraham., Thomas entered the Revolutionary army
in 1776, was taken prisoner at the capture of Fort
Washington, and died in captivity. y

James Atherton was an early settler from Coventry.

William Avery was from Lyme in 1777.

Jacob Bacon was from Canaan in 1741.

Zebulon Badcock was from Coventry, and came in
1745.

Joseph Bailey was from Lebanon, and came to
Sharon in 1774.

Thomas Barnes was an early settler in the north-
west part of the town, and lived near the present
residence of Mr. Roswell H. Hazzard. He came into
the town in 1750. He had three sons,—Thomas,
Dan, and Jonah. Jonah, the youngest son, was a
physician, and a man of great wit and shrewdness.
He lived at what is now called’ the Evertson place,
west of the Governor house.

David Barrows came from Mansfield before the
Revolutionary war.

Amos Barrows was a brother of the preceding, and
lived many years where Stephen White lately lived,
in the Great Hollow. He kept a tavern, and was
accidentally killed by falling from the hay-loft in his
barn, on the 5th day of December, 1779, at the age
of fifty years.

Seth Barstow was from Rochester, Mass., in 1771.
He lived at the lower end of Abel Street, where his
grandson, Seth B. St. John, now lives. He had five
sons,—Allen, Samuel, Seth, Gamaliel, and Charles.
Samuel was a physician, who formerly lived in Great
Barrington, Mass., and who died there in 1813. Gama-
liel was also a physician, residing in Broome County,
N.Y. He was a member of Congress, and a member
of the Senate and treasurer of the State of New York.

John Bates was one of the first settlers of the town.
He lived a little below Henry Reed’s present resi-
dence. His daughter Sarah, who was born on the
%th day of February, 1739, was the first white child
born in Sharon, except Jehiel Jackson.

Nathan Beard was from Milton, in Litchfield. He

 

* Condensed from Sedgwick’s excellent “ History of Sharon.”

.

 

575

came to Sharon in 1779. He for several years carried
on the forge in Hutchinson Hollow.

John Beardslee was from Newtown in 1760.

Capt. Edmund Bennet was from the parish of Co-
lumbia, in Lebanon, and came to Sharon soon after
the Revolutionary war. He was a blacksmith by
trade. One of his sons, Hon. Milo L. Bennett, was
a judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont.

James Betts was from Norwalk, and came to Sharon
at an early day. ;

Dr. Simeon Blackman was from Newtown, and
came to Sharon in 1789, and settled on the moun-
tain, where John Jackson, Sr., now lives. He studied
medicine with Dr. Shepherd, of Newtown, and here
acquired eminence and distinction in his professional
career. He enjoyed a large share of the public con-
fidence, and represented the town in the Legislature
at five sessions. He left no children.

Benjamin Boardman came to Sharon in 1742.

Jacob Bogardus, merchant, came from Amenia,
N. Y., in 1764.

David Boland was from Woodbury in 1767.

Ephraim Botsford was from Newtown, and came to
Sharon in 1765.

Daniel Bouton was from Stamford, and was the first
settler on the lot owned by the late Cyrus Swan, Esq.
He died Nov. 14, 1740, at an early age. :

Walston Brockway, the first of the Brockway family
in Sharon, came from Branford in 1752. He settled
in the southwest part of the town, near the line of
Kent, and died there in 1813, at the age of ninety.
His son, the late Asa Brockway, was a soldier of the
Revolution, and a pensioner.

Eliphalet Buel was from Salisbury, and was brother
of the late Col. Nathaniel Buel, of that town. He
came to Sharon in 1767, and settled where Homer
Pardee lived. He died of the smallpox, on the 5th
of February, 1777, aged forty-nine. His only son,
Nathaniel, died a prisoner in New York, a short time
before, and his wife soon after, of the same disease.

\

Walter Burr was from Fairfield. He lived at what :

is called the Burr place, in the valley.

Lieut. Stephen Calkin was from Lebanon, and was
an original proprietor of the town. He drew the
thirty-first home-lot, and lived where Abraham Weed
lately lived.

Abel Camp, from New Milford, came to Sharon in
1769.

Hon. John Canfield was a son of Samuel Canfield,
of New Milford, who was one of the judges: of the
County Court for Litchfield County, and a deacon of
the church in New Milford. Mr. Canfield was born
at New Milford in 1740, and graduated at Yale Col-
lege in 1762. He studied law, and established himself
in the practice of his profession in this town in 1765,
being the first lawyer that lived here. He purchased
of Parson Smith the lot next south of Judge Ster-
ling’s, and built the old brick house owned by that

gentleman. Mr. Canfield enjoyed an enviable repu-
576

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

tation, and was held in high estimation by his
fellow-citizens. He represented the town in the Leg-
islature at ten different sessions. He was a professor
of religion, and enjoyed the reputation of a sincere
and humble Christian. In 1786 he was elected a
member of the Continental Congress, and had he
lived to.take his seat in that body, would probably
have been a distinguished member. He died, how-
ever, on the 26th day of October, 1786, at the age of
forty-six. The grief of the community at his death
was general and deep, and the old men in after-years
spoke of him with unbounded confidence and attach-
ment. He left but one son, John M. Canfield, Esq.,
who resided at Sackett’s Harber, N. Y., and a number
of daughters. The Hon. John C. Spencer, Secretary
of War, was his grandson.

Hon. Judson Canfield was a son of Col. Samuel
Canfield, of New Milford, and a nephew of Hon.
John Canfield. He graduated at Yale College in
1782. He came to Sharon in 1787, and commenced
the practice of law. He was a member of the House
of Representatives at seventeen sessions, and for
several years a member of the Council. He was also
a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He left
Sharon in 1815, and removed to the State of Ohio,
where he died in 1839, at the age of more than eighty
years.

Col. Samuel Canfield was a brother of the preced-
ing, and came to Sharon in early life. He was an
assistant commissary of issues in the war of the
Revolution, and towards the close of his life drew a
handsome pension. He was for many years a mer-
chant of extensive business, and was town clerk from
1792 to 1815, having succeeded Daniel Griswold, Esq.,
in that office. He was a member of the Assembly at
several sessions. He died while on a visit at Pough-
keepsie, N. Y., on the Ist day of October, 1837, at the
age of eighty-three.

Deacon Timothy Carrier was from Colchester in
1747. He was appointed a deacon of the church in
1766, which office he held until his death.

Nicholas Cartwright was the common ancestor of
the Cartwright family, which have been numerous in
the town. He was originally from Barnstable, Mass.,
and lived a short time on Philip’s patent, now South-
east, N. Y. He came to Sharon in 1756. He died
in May, 1782. He had three sons,—Reuben, Christo-
pher, and Samuel. Christopher, in 1775, joined the
army under Gen. Montgomery, and was in the battle
of Quebec, in which Montgomery fell. He died of
the smallpox, in the American camp, on the island
of Orleans, before the retreat from Canada. Samuel
was also in the army with his brother Christopher,
but escaped his untimely end.

Joshua Chaffee was from Mansfield, and came to
Sharon in 1755.

Deacon Isaac Chamberlain-was born in New Marl-
boro’, Mass., and came to Sharon with his step-
father, Mr. John Hollister, in 1756. He was a car-

| nal proprietor.

 

penter and joiner by trade. He entered the army
early in the Revolutionary war, and was sergeant of
artificers. He was appointed deacon of the Congre-
gational Church in 1799, which office he held till his
death.

Obadiah Chapman was from Colchester, and came
to Sharon in 1741. He settled in the south part of
the town. He had four sons,—Obadiah, Pelatiah,
Matthias, and Robert. Robert, the youngest, was a
soldier in the old French war.

Samuel Chapman was from Colchester. He came
with the first settlers, and settled on the forty-sixth
home-lot.

Amos Chappel was a son of Caleb Chappel, of
Lebanon, one of the original proprietors. He came
to Sharon in 1760, and settled in Ellsworth where
Charles B. Everett lives.

Jehiel Church was from Great Barrington, Mass.
He died May 1, 1819, at the age of seventy-seven.

‘He had nine children.

Samuel Cluxton was originally from the old Plym-
outh colony. He came to Sharon in early life. He-
was a faithful soldier in the Revolutionary war, and
died in 1820.

Caleb Cole was from Norwalk, and came to Sharon
in 1748.

Josiah Coleman came from Hebron in 1771. ‘He
was a practical surveyor, and was considerably em-
ployed in that business. He was a member of the
General Assembly in October, 1788, and in May,
1784, and again in May, 1788. He was also a
delegate to the convention which ratified the Consti-
tution of the United States, to the adoption of which
he was very strongly opposed. One of his sons,
Josiah, was taken prisoner at Fort Washington, in
1776, and on his return died at Milford, Jan. 8, 1777,
of disease contracted in the British prison-ships.

Samuel Comstock was from Lyme, and came into
Sharon with the first settlers.

Capt. Benjamin Conkling was from Norwalk, and
lived for many years where Charles Van Dusen lived,
in the valley. He was often appointed selectman of
the town, as well as to other offices.

John Corbet was from Lebanon in 1748. He built
a saw-mill at an early day near Abel Benedict’s.

Jabez Crippen was from Colchester, and was an
original proprietor of the township. He drew the
twenty-first home-lot, and his house stood on the
ground now occupied by the Grosvenor house, so
called, nearly opposite Governor Smith’s. He was
the first selectman ever chosen in the town. He had
sons Jabez, John, Samuel, Thomas, and Joseph.

Oliver Crocker was from Lebanon before the Rev-
olutionary war.

Caleb Curtice was from Hebron, and was an origi-
He drew the thirtieth home-lot, and
lived where Ezra H. Bartram, Esq., now lives.

Seth Curtis was from Danbury, and came to Sharon
in 1782,
SHARON.

577

 

Thomas Day was from Colchester, and came to
Sharon in 1755. J

Jonathan Davis was from Rutland, Mass., and came
to Sharon in 1746. He purchased of Jacob Bacon
the sixth home-lot.

Deacon Thomas Delano was from Wareham, Mass.
He lived ashort time in Tolland, and came to Sharon
in 1759.

Daniel Deming was from Saybrook, and came to
Sharon in 1782.

Capt. Ebenezer Dibble was from Salisbury in 1776.

Ebenezer Dibble was a son of Rev. Ebenezer Dib-
ble, of Stamford, formerly Episcopal missionary in
Sharon. He was a merchant, and owned the brick
house now known as the Taylor house.

Capt. Samuel Dotey was the ancestor of the Dotey
family. He was from the old Plymouth colony, and
came to Sharon in 1747. He had ason David, who
was a physician and lived near Hitchcock’s Corner,
and was for a while a captain in the Revolutionary
service.

David Downs, Esq., was from New Haven, and
came to Sharon about the year 1768. He was a tailor
by trade. He was captain of a company in the Rev-
olutionary service, and was, with his company, taken
prisoner at the “ Cedars,” in Canada,in 1776. He was
for many years one of the magistrates of the town,
and one of its representatives in the Assembly at
eleven sessions.

Capt. Jonathan Dunham was from Colchester, and
was a leading man in the first settlement of the town.

He lived opposite Richard Smith’s, and there kept the ]

first tavern in the town. He was the agent to the
Assembly to procure the incorporation of the town-
ship, and was appointed to call the first town-meet-
ing. He was standing moderator of all the town-
meetings held during his lifetime, and selectman
of the town during the same period. His race, how-
ever, was a short one, as he died on the 28th day of
February, 1745, at the age of fifty-nine.

Samuel S. Elliott was from Killingworth, and came
to Sharon in 1780.

Deacon Jonathan Elmer was from Norwalk, and
came to Sharon in 1746.
: Martin Elmer was a son of the preceding, and was a
cooper by trade, and a Baptist by religious profession.

Col. Samuel Elmer was a son of Deacon J. Elmer,
and was a brave officer in the Revolutionary war. He
was appointed a major in Col. Hinman’s regiment in
1775, and was engaged in active duty in the campaign
of that year. The next year he was appointed a, col-
onel inthe New York Line, and continued in command
of a regiment while he remained in the army.

Ebenezer Everett was from Hebron in 1745, and
settled where Adolphus Everett lived. He had three
sons,—Isaiah, Ebe, and Eliphalet, the two latter of
whom were Revolutionary soldiers. Eliphalet was
for several years the steward of Gen. Washington’s
military family.

 

John Everett was a brother of Ebenezer Everett,
and came to Sharon from Windham in 1757. He was
a blacksmith by trade, and lived on the road which
formerly led north from Joel Whitford’s, now discon-
tinued.

David Foster was from Lebanon in 1750. He was
a leading man in the affairs of the town for many
years. He was a member of the Assembly at the Oc-
tober sessions in 1763 and 1764, and selectman eight
years.

Elijah Foster was a son of the preceding, and was
a highly respectable man. He entered the Continen-
tal army as a lieutenant in the campaign of 1776, and
was in active service till the close of the year.

Deacon Ebenezer Frisbie was from Branford, and
was the first settler at the place occupied by the late
Benjamin Bailey, on the Ellsworth turnpike. He
came to Sharon with the first settlers, and, being a sur-
veyor, he was much employed in laying out lands in
the early location of the township. He was town
clerk from December, 1748, to January, 1746, and one
of the deacons of the church: nearly the whole of the
time of his residence in the town.

Benjamin Fuller was,'from Colchester, and came
with the first settlers. He was among the first who
died in the town.

Dr. Samuel R. Gager was born at Norwich, May
23, 1763, and was an assistant surgeon in the navy in
the Revolutionary war. Soon after the close of the
war he visited England. He established himself in
Sharon in the practice of surgery in 1788. He was
long celebrated in his profession, and was much re-
spected as a citizen. He represented the town in the
Assembly in the years 1821-22 and 1829. He was
also for many years a justice of the peace. He died
Aug. 4, 1835.

Joseph Gallow was from Hudson, N. Y., in 1785.

John Gay, Esq., was born in Dedham, Mass., and
in early life settled in Litchfield, and was among the
first white inhabitants of that town. In 1748 he came
to Sharon, and purchased of Israel Holley the thirty-
ninth home-lot, which was in the north part of the
town. He had sons John, Ebenezer, Fisher, and
Perez, John was the father of the late Capt. Daniel
Gay. He died Jan. 1, 1776, at the age of forty-eight
Ebenezer was a merchant, and built the brick housé
lately owned by Reuben K. Hunt. Hewas a colénel
in the militia, and frequently commanded detach
ments in the Revolutionary war. He was the father
of the late Mr. David Gay. SEL

Job Gibbs was from Wareham, Mass., and came to
Sharon in 1747. His house,was the one next souti
of the Governor’s mansion. Mr. Gibbs was a mer
chant, and did a large business for those times. ve
had three sons—Sylvanus, Heman, and Job. Capt
Sylvanus Gibbs, the eldest, was an officer in thle
Revolutionary war, and died on the 19th of June,
1834, at the age of eighty-one. uf

Jonathan Gillett was from Colchester in 17 45 He
578

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

was representative to the Assembly at the May and
October sessions in 1788, and a delegate to the con-
vention called to ratify the Constitution of the United
States. :

Charles Gillett was a brother of the preceding, and
came to Sharon from Colchester in 1755. He was a
blacksmith by trade. He was town treasurer from
1760 to 1771. He enlisted into Capt. Downs’ com-
pany, and marched to the Northward in1776. While
the army lay at the “Cedars,” in Canada, he was killed
by a party of Indians lying in ambush, as he was
riding out on business connected with his duty as
commissary. He left several children, one of whom
was the wife of the late Capt. Edmund Bennett. —

Eleazar Gillson was from Goshen, Orange Co.,
N. Y., and came to Sharon in 1784. He had been a
soldier in the Revolutionary war, and settled a little
north of Elijah Juckett’s. He was one of the first
emigrants to Ohio, and the first mail-carrier on the
post-road between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He
carried the whole mail in his pocket on foot. He
died at the age of nearly ninety years.

William Goodrich was the ancestor of the Good-
rich family, which has been quite numerous in the
town. He was originally from Wethersfield, and first
moved to Litchfield, where he remained ten years.
He afterwards removed to Sheffield, Mass., and when
the township of Sharon was sold he became the pur-
chaser of two rights. He brought his family to the
town in the fall of 1788, and built a hut near the out-
let of Mudge pond. Here he spent the winter, with
no neighbors, except Indians, nearer than the Dutch
settlements at Leedsville. He went to mill on foot
during the winter, once to New Milford, and once to
Red Hook, N. Y., on snow-shoes, and carried his
wheat on his back. That he was a sincere Christian
we may well believe from the introductory clause in
his last will and testament, the first recorded on the
probate records for the district of Litchfield. After
speaking of the uncertainty of life as a reason for
making his will, he says, ‘“ Wherefore, committing
my body to the dust from whence it was taken, and
iy soul to the bosom of my dear Lord Jesus Christ,
hoping and believing that he will raise me up with
all his saints at the glorious morning of the resurrec-
tion, I give, etc.” Mr. Goodrich died on the 31st day
bf; March, 1748, at the age of fifty-six. He had sons
Samnel, Jared, William, Elnathan, David,. Elisha,
and Solomon, and their descendants have been very
numerous.
ot dehn P. Goodwin was from Hartford, and came to
Sharon in 1784. He was a corporal in the Continen-
taliarmy, and was eight years in the service. His dis-
eharge, under -the hand of Gen. Washington, spoke
highly of his merits. He was a representative to the
‘Assembly in May, 1818. He was killed at the raising
@fin small building belonging to Benjamin Hollister,
Esq., on the 15th of May, 1833, and his untimely end
ads deeply lamented. 7s

 

i

John Gould was an original proprietor from Hebron,
and drew the thirty-fourth home-lot. He was grave-
digger for many years.

Job Gould was from New Milford in 1768, and pur-
chased of Deacon Jackson the place on the mountain
lately owned by his grandson, Major David Gould.

John Gray was from Scotland, and came to Sharon
in 1748. He first settled in the valley, and his house
stood on the bank, a little east of the valley store.

Joseph Gregory was from Norwalk in 1759, He
was a merchant for many years,

Ephraim Griswold was an early settler. He had
three sons,—Azariah, David, and Jabez. Azariah was
a subaltern officer in the Revolutionary army.

Daniel Griswold, Esq., was from Norwich in 1756,
He lived where Richard Smith, Esq., now lives. He
was a physician, and pursued the practice of his pro-
fession for many years.’ He was appointed a justice
of the peace at an early day. On the death of Col.
Williams, in' 1774, he was appointed town clerk,
which office he held till his death. He also succeeded
the latter gentleman as deacon in the church.

Francis Griswold was a brother of the preceding,
and came to Sharon in 1762. He was a tanner and
currier.

Capt. Adonijah Griswold, another brother of Daniel
Griswold, Esq., came to Sharon in 1762. He was a
lieutenant in Capt. Downs’ company in 1776.

David Hamilton was from Lebanon, and was the
first settler on the place owned by Judge Sterling.
He afterwards lived opposite Governor Smith’s. He
appears to have been the great land speculator of the
day, his name appearing on the records as the grantor
or grantee in deeds more frequently than any other.
He was also for a time deputy sheriff. He died in
1781, leaving sons Dudley, John, and Joseph. ' Joseph
was a physician, and practiced medicine in the town
for several years. Dudley formerly lived where Wil-
liam Marsh now lives. Mr. Hamilton disposed of
most of his real estate in town previous to his death.
He was largely interested in land in Vermont, and in
what was called the Susquehanna purchase.

Cornelius Hamlin was an early settler from Ware-
ham, Mass. ,

Deacon Ebenezer Hamlin was also from Wareham.

Deacon Benjamin Hamlin was son of Deacon Ele-
azar Hamlin, of Fredericksburg, now Carmel, in

‘Putnam Co., N. Y. He came to Sharon in 1780, and

lived at different places in the northwest part of the
town. He was elected deacon of the Congregational
Church in 1798, and held the office till his death.
Sylvanus Hanchett was from Salisbury in 1769.
He is celebrated as being the first person who formally
invited the Methodist preachers into Sharon, in 1788.
It was at his house that the first Methodist society
was formed by Rev. Freeborn Garretson, and where
public worship was celebrated for'several years. He
removed to the State of New York many years sincé,
where he died. :
SHARON.

Joel Harvey was from New Milford in 1742, and
settled in the valley. He built a grist-mill, which
stood more than sixty years. He also built the stone
house in the valley in 1747. He was a large land-
holder, and had a very numerous family.

Capt. Ebenezer Hatch was from Kent in 1768,

Bartholomew Heath was from Lebanon, and was
among the first settlers.

David Hide was from Lebanon in 1748. He was
appointed constable in 1750, and served in that capac-
ity, and as collector, ten years. He was also a deputy
sheriff for several years.

William Hide was from Lebanon in 1759.

Samuel Hitchcock was from Norwalk in 1752. It
was at his house that the first Methodist sermon
preached in the town was delivered.

Israel Holley was an early settler from Stamford.

Joseph Holley was from Stamford, , and was the
original owner of one-half of the thirty-sixth. home-
lot, the same on which the late George Bissell after-
wards lived.

Josiah Hollister, from Glastonbury, was the com-
mon ancestor of the Hollister family which resided
in the south part of the town.

Samuel Hollister, from whom the family of. that
name in the southeast part of the town are descended,
was from the parish of Kensington, in Farmington,
now Berlin. In 1744 he purchased of Dr. George
Holloway, of Cornwall, one hundred acres of land on
the Ousatonic River, which had formerly been laid
out by Joseph Skinner. There he settled and died.

Rev. Aaron Hunt, who for the last thirty years of
his life was a citizen of Sharon, was a Methodist cler-
gyman of high standing in that denomination of
Christians, and whose reputation is eminent among
the early lights of the church. He commenced
“ preaching in 1791, and for more than fifty years was
an able, active, and efficient itinerant minister.

Daniel Hunt was from Lebanon at the earliest set-
tlement of the town.

Phineas Hunt, a brother of the preceding, was from
Lebanon in 1747.

Jonathan Hunter was from Wareham, Mass., where
he had been deacon of the church. He came to Sha-
ron in 1747, and purchased of Benjamin Richmond
the farm on which Benjamin Sears lived.

Ebenezer Hunter was from Norwich about the year
1760. His'son, Nathaniel Hunter, was a soldier in
the Revolutionary war.

Capt. Samuel Hurlburt was from Lebanon in 1748.

Samuel Hutchinson, Esq., was one of the first set-
tlers, and the second magistrate in the town. .He was
from Lebanon, and drew the tenth home-lot, the same
on which the stone house owned by Anson Boland
stood.

Deacon Ebenezer Jackson was from Norwalk, and
settled on the forty-second home-lot, now owned by
John Jackson, on the mountain. He was an early
deacon of the church, and was a useful man.

 

579

Capt. Caleb Jewett was from Norwich, now Lisbon,
in 1743. He was selectman of the town twelve years,
and representative to the Assembly at eleven sessions.

Joseph Jennings was from Fairfield in 1771.

Refaeli an early settler in the valley,
and lived on thé Burr place.

Evans Jones was the first settler upon the place
owned by Deacon William M. Smith, which was the
old parsonage of Parson Smith.

Elijah Juckett was originally from old Plymouth
colony, Mass. He served faithfully and honorably
through the Revolutionary war, and was a sergeant in
the light infantry under Gen. Lafayette. He was in
the severe conflict at Stony Point when that post was
taken by Ger. Wayne, as well as in several other
battles. He was a pensioner under the act of 1818.
He died in 1839, at the age of seventy-eight.

Oliver Kellogg, Esq., was from Sheffield, Mass.,
and settled in Sharon in 1788. He was a clothier by
trade, and lived at Hitchcock’s Corner. He was a
highly respectable and influential citizen, and was a
representative to the Assembly at sixteen sessions.
He was also for many years one of the magistrates
of the town. He died Sept. 17, 1830, at the age of
seventy.

Elihu Ketchum was the first settler on the Bates
place, so called.

George King was from Windsor in 1784. He had
previously been connected with the commissary de-
partment of the army, and at the close of the war
established himself as a merchant in company with
Eli Mills.

Rev. Ebenezer Knibloe. Some account of this gen-
tleman is given in a foregoing part of this work. It
may here be added that he had three sons,—William,
Elijah, and John P.,—all of whom were cut off
within a few weeks of each other by the epidemic
which swept over the town in 1812.

Cornelius Knickerbacker was one of the early
Dutch inhabitants of Salisbury, and lived at the Fur-
nace village. :

Joseph Lake was a soldier in the old French war
and in the war of the Revolution. He came to Sha-
ron from Stratford in 1772.

Joseph Landers was from Wareham, Mass., in
1748. He bought of Caleb Chappell the eighth home-
lot.

Joseph Landers, Jr., was a son of the preceding,
and lived with his father on the eighth home-lot. He
was appointed a deacon of the church in 1781, in the
place of Deacon Frisbie, resigned, which office he
retained till his death. He was a representative to
the Assembly at the May session in 1782.

_ Samuel Lewis was from Hebron in 1743. He was
the first settler on the ninth lot in the first hundred-
acre division in Ellsworth. He continued in town
about thirty years, and then removed to New Ashford,
Mass. His son, Samuel Lewis, Jr., was a soldier in
the early part of the Revolutionary war, and a history
580

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

of his captivity in England and his escape is given
in the former part of this work.

David Lillie was from Windham in 1765.

Nathaniel Lockwood was from New Canaan in
1784, and purchased the farm on the mountain known
as the Lockwood place, near Mr. Jewett’s.

Jonathan Lord was from Colchester, and was one
of the first inhabitants of Ellsworth, where he settled
in 1743.

Joseph Lord, Esq., was a son of the preceding, and
came to the town with his father in 1748. He was
for many years the only justice of the peace in Ells-
worth. He was for several years a selectman, and
member of the Assembly in October, 1777. He was
the first person buried in the burying-yard now used
in Ellsworth.

Baltus Lott. This individual appears to have been
a squatter upon the public lands before the township
was sold. He was probably a Dutchman, and had
taken possession of a considerable tract of land in
Connecticut and New York, and had erected a house
and barrack, and made considerable clearings. His
territory embraced what is now called the Burr farm.
The proprietors made many efforts to remove him, but
he resisted them all until March, 1742; when Joseph
Skinner purchased his possessions for three hundred
pounds, old tenor, and he went away. He afterwards
lived in the north part of Amenia, N. Y.

John Lovell came to this part of the country from
Rochester, Mass., in 1746.

Joseph Lovell was from Rochester, Mass.

Joseph Manrow was from Norwalk in 1744.

Noah Manrow was for more than forty years an in-
habitant of Mudgetown. He came from Salisbury in
1751. 2

Amos Marchant, from Newtown, came to Sharon in
1778.

Capt. Ephraim Marriner was from Colchester in
1765. He was a member of the Assembly in May,
1787, and in May and October, 1788.

Pelatiah Marsh was from Lebanon in 1764,

Eliphalet Martin was from Windham in 1786.

John Marvin, Jr., was from Norwalk in 1748. He
bought of Elihu Ketcham the farm called the Bates
place, about one mile easterly from the meeting-house,
and lived there. He was also a part owner in the
iron-works at the mouth of Mudge pond. Mr. Mar-
vin was a member of Assembly in May, 1756, and
1768.

Adonijah Maxam was from the old colony in 1748.
The name in the early records is spelled Muxam, and
is so pronounced by elderly people at the present day.
Mr. Maxam settled where Orrin Abel lived, on the
Ellsworth turnpike, where he died in 1760. He left
four sons,—Samuel, Benjamin, Adonijah, and Jacob.
The third son, Adonijah, after having gone through
the active and perilous services of the Revolutionary
war, died at the age of ninety-seven years.

Joshua Millard was from Cornwall in 1768.

 

Henry Miller was from Branford in 1750.

Deacon Gain Miller was born in Ireland in 1716.

Ebenezer Mudge was one of the original proprie-
tors of the town, and was from Colchester. He drew
the twenty-fifth home-lot, lying on both sides of Town
Street.

Capt. Thomas North was from Wethersfield in 1748,
He was one of the first proprietors of the iron-works
in the Hollow. He lived on the twenty-sixth home-lot.

Calvin Noyes was from Lyme, and was a direct de-
scendant of the Rey. Mr. Noyes, the first minister of
that town. He came to Sharon in 1792, and pur-
chased a large and valuable real estate in the neigh-
borhood of Benedict’s mill, where he resided. He
was distinguished for his public spirit, and for his
many acts of private charity. He lived a bachelor,
and for the last few years of his life was entirely
blind. By his last will he gave the greater part of his
estate to the Congregational society in Sharon, the
American Education Society, the Connecticut Mis-
sionary Society, and the Connecticut Bible Society.
Each of those societies has received nearly seventeen
hundred dollars from his estate. He died at the resi-
dence of: his brother, Deacon Moses Noyes, in Poult-
ney, Vt., Jan. 22, 1831, at the age of eighty.

Selden Noyes was a younger brother of the pre-
ceding, and came with him from Lyme in 1792..

John Orton was from Litchfield in 1764.

Lieut. John Pardee, the patriarch of the numerous
family of Pardee in Sharon, was from Norwalk, and
was an original proprietor. He was a shoemaker and
tanner by occupation, and settled near the stone
bridge, north of the meeting-house. He was a lead-
ing and prominent man in all the affairs of the town,
and was a very large land-holder. He was one of the
first representatives of the town in the Legislature,
being elected such in October, 1755, when the town
was first represented in that body ; and he was chosen
to that office at six sessions. He died July 18, 1766,
aged sixty-nine. He had six sons, who settled in the
town, and whose descendants are very numerous.

Joseph Park was from Middletown, and was the
first settler on the place owned by the heirs of the late
Samuel Beecher.

Capt. Enoch Parsons was from Newtown in 1768.
He was a carpenter by trade, and settled where his
great-grandson, Frederick L. Parsons, now lives.
Being a man of more than a common education for
those days, he was appointed for many years to
“line the psalm,” agreeable to the ancient manner of
singing in public worship. He served as selectman
and constable for several years, and was member of
the Assembly in October, 1795.

Abel Patchen was from Welton in 1783. He pur-
chased of Zebulon Badcock the south half of the
twenty-sixth home-lot, originally Deacon Skinner’s,
and kept a public-house during his life. He was a
representative to the Assembly in October, 1798, and
May, 1799.
SHARON.

581

 

Dr. Abner Peck was a physician, and came to
Sharon in 1751 from Salisbury. He purchased a
place of Luke St. John, a little south of Joel L.
Whitford’s. He died of smallpox, Oct. 11, 1756,
leaving a widow and two daughters.

John Pennoyer came from Stamford in 1742. He
purchased a part of the twenty-second home-lot,
originally owned by Samuel Calkin, being the place
where the late Gen. Augustine Taylor lived.

Jonathan Petit was from Stamford, at the earliest
settlement of the town. He owned the thirty-second
home-lot, and he lived on the road, which is now dis-
continued, leading north from Joel C. Whitford’s.
He was much employed in public affairs. He was
constable nine years. He died in 1772, at an advanced
age.

Samuel Petit was a son of John Petit, of Stamford,
and a nephew of the preceding.

Joel Petit was a brother of the preceding, and was
for many years an inhabitant of Sharon. He lived to
a very advanced age. His son, Joel T. Petit, Esq.,
was a young gentleman of great promise, who was
educated for the law, and settled in the town. .
a short professional career he died of consumption,
Sept. 18, 1807, aged thirty-two.

Jonathan Pratt was originally from the old Plym-
outh colony, and came to Sharon in 1753. He first
lived in the Hollow, near the outlet of Mudge pond,
and was a partner in the iron-works.

Capt. Abraham Pratt was from Saybrook in 1783.

Abner Quitterfield is supposed to have come from
Norwalk in 1752.

John Randall was from Wareham, Mass., in 1753.
His wife, who was the daughter of John Bates, was
the first female, and the second child, born in the
town.

Daniel Raymond came from Woodbury in 1748.

Moses Reed was the first settler on the place lately
owned by Capt. Abraham Pratt.

Arthur Rexford was from Wallingford in 1757.

Asa Rice was from Wallingford, now Meriden, in
1774.

Nathaniel Richards was from Norwich in 1744, and
settled on the lot lately owned by Samuel Beecher.

Benjamin Richmond was one of the first proprie-
tors and settlers, and came to Sharon in 1742.

Nathaniel Roberts was from Salisbury in 1759. He
lived in Abel Street, a little north of Stephen Tick-
ner’s. He died July 15, 1766, at the age of fifty-five.
He left sons John, William, Lebbeus, and Amos.

Samuel Roberts, Esq., was from Windsor, and came
to Sharon in 1784. He was at one time a magistrate
of the town, and twice its representative in the Gen-
eral Assembly.

Dr. Samuel Rockwell was born in East Windsor,
Feb. 18,1759. While he was young his father re-
moved to Colebrook, and was one of the first settlers
of that township. In 1776 he was in the army, for
which he drew a pension after 1831. He entered

After |

 

Yale College in 1779, but soon left that institution,
and commenced the study of medicine under the
celebrated Dr. Lemuel Hopkins. Hesettled in Sharon
in 1784, and, except about five years, when he lived
in Salisbury, remained here till his death, which oc-
curred on the 24th of June, 1836, at the age of seventy-
seven. He represented the town in the Legislature at
the session in 1815.

Jonathan Rowlee was from East Haddam in 1741,
and lived near Richard Woodward’s.

Deacon Matthew St. John was from Norwalk in
1745. He bought of Samuel Comstock the thirty-
second home-lot.

Timothy St. John came from Norwalk in 1756.

Daniel St. John was a brother to the preceding,
and came to Sharon in 1761. He was a blacksmith’
by occupation.

Silas St. John was also a brother of Timothy and
Daniel St: John. He lived in Ellsworth. He was
the first deacon of the church in Ellsworth, and was
for several years town treasurer. He died Sept. 21,
1805, at the age of sixty-four.

Amos Sanford was from Newton in 1768.

Capt. Stephen Sears was originally from Barnstable,
Mass., and came to Sharon in 1760.

Dr. Asher Shepherd came from Hartford in 1772,
and was a partner with Dr. Simeon Smith in the
druggist business.

Benjamin Skiff was from the town of Chilmark, on
the island of Martha’s Vineyard, and came to Sharon
in 1774. He lived in Ellsworth.

Samuel Skiff was a cousin of the preceding, and
came from the same place.

Nathaniel Skinner, Esq., was from Colchester, and
was one of the first and principal proprietors of the
township. He drew the twenty-sixth home-lot, known
as the Patchen place. He was the first magistrate,
first town clerk, and first deacon of the church. He
remained in town until 1760, when he removed to
Salisbury, and was an owner of the mill now known
as Benedict’s mill.

James Smith was from Bolton, and was one of the
original proprietors. He drew the eighteenth home-

‘lot, which lay on both sides of the Town Street, and

benndline south on the highway leading by Dwight
St. John’s. Mr. Smith was the first person ever chosen
constable in the town, and was elected to that office
for three successive years.

- For sketch of Hon. John Cotton Smith, see Chapter
II.

Theophilus Smith was a brother of the preceding,
and first lived near where Dr. Deming now lives. In
1749 he bought of Mica Mudge the grist-mill known
as Gay’s mill, which stood near Merrills McLean’s
present residence.

Samuel Smith was from the Great Nine Partners,
N. Y., and came to Sharon in 1754. He was a black-
ainieh by trade, and lived on the Burr place, in the
valley. He was a selectman for several years.
582

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

+—

Dr. Simeon Smith was a younger brother of the }

Rev. Cotton Mather Smith. He came to Sharon
about 1756, and was a physician of extensive practice.
He kept a large store of drugs and medicines, import-
ing his articles direct from London. In 1776 he com-
manded a company of six months’ men, and was on
service in the vicinity of New York. He was a large
land-holder, and built the large stone house now known
as the Governor’s house. He represented the town
in the Legislature at several sessions. He went to
West Haven, Vt., in 1787, and there resided till his
death, February, 1804. He left no children. He
was a man of great activity and enterprise.

Paul Smith was the youngest brother of Rev. Cot-
ton M. Smith, and came to Sharon in 1770. He lived
in the house originally built by Job Gibbs, next north
of Jay 8. Canfield’s, now demolished. He was a con-
stable of the town oe a great number of years. He
died March 28, 1825, at the age of ninety.

Dr. Phineas Smith was a son of Dan Smith, an
elder brother of Rev. Cotton M. Smith. He came to
Sharon when young, and resided with his uncle, Dr.
Simeon Smith, by whom he was educated as a physi-
cian. He relinquished the practice, and engaged in
mercantile pursuits. He built the house owned by
the late Cyrus Swan, Esq. He died June 4, 1794, at
the age of forty.

Apollos Smith was a younger brother of Phineas
Smith, who came to Sharon in early life, and resided
with his uncle, Dr. Smith, by whom he was assisted
in establishing an extensive pottery before the Revo-
lutionary war, which proved a profitable business.

Deacon Paul Smith, Jr., was a son of Paul Smith,
and was born in Suffield in 1768. He came to Sharon
with his father, and resided here until his death. He
was elected a deacon of the church in 1798, and dis-
charged the duties of that office with great fidelity
and acceptance for forty-six years.

David Smith was from Litchfield, and came to
Sharon in 1801.

Thomas Spafford was an original proprietor from
Lebanon, and drew the thirteenth home-lot, on which
Samuel Beecher lived.

Alexander Spencer was one of the first settlers from
East Haddam, and he lived opposite Dwight St. John’s
present residence.

Capt. John Sprague was from Lebanon in 1739.

Hon. Ansel Sterling was born in Lyme, and settled
in Sharon as a lawyer in 1808, where he spent his
life. Asa lawyer his forensic ability was of a high
order, nor was he deficient in legal science. His lan-
guage flowed readily and rapidly, and sometimes his
appeals to the jury were very effective. He held a
seat in Congress for two terms. He died Nov. 5,
1853, at the age of seventy-three years, leaving a
large estate to his numerous family.

Robert Stedman was one of the first settlers, and
came to Sharon in 1748,

Caleb Strong was from Colchester in 1743.

 

Josiah Strong was originally from Colchester, but
lived a while in Litchfield. He came to Sharon in 1747,

Josiah Strong, Jr., was a son of the preceding, and
was born in Sharon, June 16, 1758. His life was
eventful as illustrating the dangers and sufferings
of a Revolutionary soldier-.in the course of two
years’ active service. He enlisted into Capt. Downs’
company in 1776, and marched to Canada. He was
taken prisoner, with the rest of the company, at
the ‘‘ Cedars,” on the 19th of May following. They
were released by Gen. Arnold on his return from
Quebec, and Mr. Strong returned to Sharon. He im-
mediately enlisted into Capt..Smith’s company, and
joined the army under Gen. Washington. ‘He was in
the battles of White Plains, Trenton, Princeton,
Brandywine, and Germantown, in which last, action
he was so severely wounded in the leg as to render
amputation necessary. He was, of course, compelled
to leave the army, but he carried with him an honor-
able discharge from Gen. Washington. He was placed
upon the roll of invalid pensioners. He died at Ge-
neva, N. Y.

Joshua Studley was from Hanover, Mass., in 1771.
He settled in the south part of Ellsworth.

John Swain was from Branford in 1745,

Cyrus Swan, Esq., was born in Stonington in 1770.
He was in early life engaged in mercantile pursuits
in the district of Maine. He afterwards pursued the
study of law, and established himself in the practice
in this town in 1798. He was a successful practi-
tioner, and acquired a respectable standing at the
bar. He died Aug. 20, 1835, aged sixty-five.

Rowland Swetland was the first settler on the place
where Lyman Merwin lives.

Gen. Augustine Taylor was from New Milford in
1784. He purchased of Robert C. Livingston, who
had come to Sharon during the Revolutionary war,
the place now called the Taylor place, where he re-
sided until 1815, when he left the town. He rose to
the rank of major-general in the militia, and for
a while commanded the troops which were stationed
for the defense of New London, during the late war
with England. He died soon after he removed. |

Amos Thurston lived in the Great Hollow, near the
school-house. He came to Sharon in 1768.

William Tickner was from Lebanon in 1739. He
drew the thirty-eighth home-lot, next north of Mr.
Spragues’, in Gay Street.

John ‘Lickner was a brother of the preceding, and
came from Lebanon in 1749.

Elisha Tobey was from the old Plymouth colony.

Bezaleel Tyler was from Branford.

Cyprian Waldo was from Windham in 1770.

Lieut. James Warren lived on the place now owned
and occupied by Edwin N. Hartwell.

George Way was from Lyme.

George White was from Wareham, Mass., and was
the first settler on the place owned by Chesterfield
Chapman. He came to Sharon in 1747.
SHARON.

Israel White was from Danbury in 1775. He set-
tled in the Great Hollow, where he purchased a large
and valuable farm of David Wood.

Capt. John Wilson came to Sharon, after the Revo-
lutionary war, from Westchester Co., N. Y.

Col. John Williams was originally a physician, and
_came to Sharon in 1743 from Lebanon. He was for

many years a very distinguished inhabitant of thetown.
He lived nearly opposite Judge Sterling’s, and the
house which he occupied was standing sixty years
since. He was elected town clerk in the fall of 1745,
which office he held twenty-nine successive years, till
his death. Previous to his appointment the records
had been badly kept, and a good part of them are
very unintelligible; but from the time they passed
into his hands they were kept with great accuracy. It
would seem that for nearly thirty years he wrote
almost every deed which passed title to real estate in
Sharon, judging from the fact that they were nearly
all witnessed by him and acknowledged before him;
and it is interesting to observe with what remarkable
accuracy and strict legal propriety they are all ex-
pressed. He held the office of selectman seventeen
years, and was chosen member of the Assembly at
twenty-seven different sessions, being the first ever
chosen to that office in the town. When the county
of Litchfield was organized, in 1751, he was appointed
one of the judges of the County Court, and in about
five years afterwards was made chief judge. He was
also the first judge of probate for the district of
Sharon, which was established in 1755, which office
he held while he lived. He also went through sey-
eral military grades, and for several years commanded
a regiment of colonial militia. He was a man of tall
and slender frame, but of great gravity and very dig-
nified deportment, and his word was law. He was a
deacon in the church from June, 1766, till his death.
He died on Sunday, March 14, 1774, at the age of
sixty-eight, and as it was in the exciting times which
immediately preceded the Revolution, and he had been
a military character, he was buried with military
honors. His sword was borne upon his coffin, and
volleys of musketry were fired over his grave. The
funeral services were performed under the direction
of Capt. David Downs.

Abel Wood was from Wareham, Mass., in 1748.

David Wood was from Ridgefield, and was the first
settler upon what is called the White place, in the
Great Hollow. He came to Sharon in 1754.

Elias Woodruff was from Southampton, L. I., in
‘1768, He purchased a part of the ninth home-lot of
Amos Tyler, and lived on it till his death, June 17,
1807, at the age of seventy.

 

583

CHAPTER LVIL
SHARON (Continued).

Congregational Church, Sharon—Congregational Church, Ellsworth—
Episcopal Church—Methodist Episcopal Church—Incorporation of the
Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Representatives from
1755 to 1881—Members of the Governor’s Council—Senators—J udges of
the County Court—Justices of the Peace—Town Clerks—Attorneys—
Physicians—College Graduates—Military Record.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

AT the first town-meeting a committee consisting
of Nathaniel Skinner, Jonathan Dunham, and John
Sprague was appointed “to go after a minister.”
The committee made application to Mr. Peter Pratt,
of Lebanon, a candidate for the ministry, and a grad-
uate of Yale College of the class of 1786, and on Jan.
8, 1740, the town called him “upon trial for some con-
venient time,” and laid a tax of fifteen shillings on a
right for the payment of his services, His labors

_ were acceptable to the people, and on the 14th day of

March following he was invited to settle over the
church and congregation in the work of the ministry.
The town voted him a salary which would amount to
about two hundred dollars per annum.* Mr. Good-
rich and Mr. Sprague were appointed to treat with
Mr. Pratt, and to present to him the offers of the
town. These were accepted by him, and the time
fixed for the ordination was the last Wednesday in
April. It is supposed that it took place at that time,
and that the services were performed in a private
dwelling, as no place of public worship had been pro-
vided at that time.

The records of the Congregational Church in
Sharon for the first fifteen years are lost. The exact
date of the organization of the church cannot, there-
fore, be determined. Ata meeting of the church in
Winchester, a parish of Colchester, Conn., on the
28th day of April, 1740, Nathaniel Skinner (deacon),
Jonathan Dunham, Jabez Crippen, Benjamin Fuller,
Nathaniel Skinner, Jr., Thomas Skinner, David Skin-
ner, Jonathan Skinner, Jabez Crippen, Jr., Samuel
Mudge, Micah Mudge, Cornelius Hamlin, Alexander
Spencer, and Josiah Skinner “ received letters of rec-
ommendation, in order to be embodied into a church
at Sharon, where they have for.some time resided.”

At a meeting of the same church on May 18, 1740
(about three weeks after the former meeting), Jere-
miah Foster, Mary Foster, Mary Skinner, Content
Fuller, Elizabeth Skinner, Abigail Mudge, Mary
Hampton, Mary Dunham, Mary Skinner, Jr., Eunice
Mudge, Elizabeth Tiuriiar, Lydia Crippen, Deborah
Crippen, Thankful Crippen, Waitstill Heath, Abigail
Skinner, Patience Fuller, Hannah Dunham, and Mar-
tha Mudge received a letter of recommendation “to

 

* “ March 20, 1740.—Voled, To Mr. Pratt for his stated salary 210 pounds
a year in money, which is as silver at 29 shillings per ounce, and for this
year 140 pounds, and to rise ten pounds a year until it comes to the 210
pounds, and there to stand during the time of his ministry amongst us.’?
‘

584.

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the church in Sharon,” which indicates that this
church was organized between the meetings of the
church in Winchester.

Mr. Pratt was dismissed in 1747, and after a num-
ber of candidates being heard, the Rev. John Searl
was chosen, and in August, 1749, was ordained. He
was dismissed June 4, 1754, and in the summer of
the same year the Rey. Cotton Mather Smith, of Suf-
field, was employed by the town to preach as a can-
didate for settlement. He came upon the recom-
mendation of Matthew St. John, who had been an
inhabitant of Sharon, but who had now removed to
Suffield, where he became acquainted with Mr. Smith.
Mr. Smith was a descendant of the Rev. Henry
Smith, the first minister of Wethersfield, who came
from England in 1638. The mother of Mr. Smith
was a daughter of Atherton Mather, a cousin of the
celebrated Cotton Mather, and she died in this town
at a very advanced age. Mr. Smith was born at Suf-
field, Oct. 16, 1731, and graduated at Yale College in
1751. He spent the year previous to his visiting
Sharon at Stockbridge, Mass., with the very cele-
brated Jonathan Edwards, engaged in the benevolent
duties of instructing the Indians. Mr. Smith preached
as a candidate for more than a year, and in the mean
time boarded with John Jay, Esq., at the north part
of the town. He was ordained minister of Sharon
on the 28th day of August, 1755.

“He purchased the place which was owned by his
predecessor, Mr. Searl, the same which is now owned
by his great-grandson, Dr. Robert W. Smith. He
was married soon after his settlement to Mrs. Tem-
perance Gale, widow of Dr. Moses Gale, of Goshen,
N. Y., and daughter of Rev. William Worthington,
of the parish of Westbrook, in Saybrook. Mr. Smith
was the minister of Sharon for more than fifty years,
and during the whole of that period occupied a large
space in public affairs. Probably no minister ever
had in a greater degree the confidence and affection
of his people. He was never spoken of by those who
knew him but with the most unqualified respect and
veneration.

“During the early years of the history of the town
ecclesiastical affairs were the subject of business in
the town-meetings. Churches were built, pastors set-
tled, and taxes laid for their support in the same
manner that all other public expenses were provided
for. This method of the support of religious insti-
tutions was continued long after the dissenters had
become numerous, and after they had been relieved
from taxes levied for the support of the standing
order. Before the close of the last century the in-
convenience of conducting ecclesiastical and civil
business by one organization had become so great
that a law was passed authorizing the formation of
ecclesiastical societies in the different towns, from
which all secular business was to be excluded and
turned over to the towns in their corporate capacity.
The law required that, on the application of a certain

 

number of the principal inhabitants of a society thus
proposed to be organized, a warrant might be issued
by a justice of the peace, summoning the members to
meet at the place of holding town-meetings, to organ-
ize the society, and assume the charge of ecclesiastical
affairs in the town. The warrant in this case was
issued by David Downs, Esq., a justice of the peace,
on the application of Pelatiah Pierce, Paul Smith,
Jr., Nathaniel Lowrey, David Gay, Silas St. John,
Thomas St. John, Eliphalet Martin, and Edmund
Bennett.

“ At this first meeting of the society, Deacon Isaac
Chamberlain, Mr. Pelatiah Pierce, and David Downs,
Esq., were chosen society’s committee, to act in society
matters in the same capacity as selectmen act in the
town affairs. Col. Samuel Canfield was chosen soci-
ety’s clerk, which office he held till 1805, when Dr.
Samuel Rockwell was chosen clerk, which office he held
till 1836. Richard Smith, Esq., was then chosen clerk.
Parson Smith, when in the maturity of his powers,
was deemed one of the best preachers of his time in
the ministerial circle with which he was connected.

. Other elements of character combined to make him

very strong in the affection and respect of his people,
and when old age with its attendant infirmities came

upon him, it does not appear that the parish enter-

tained any desire for a change of its clerical relations.

The first movement in that direction was from Parson

Smith himself. At a meeting of the society held

on the first Monday of March, 1802, the following

communication was laid before the meeting:

“*To THE CHURCH AND First Socrery IN SHARON:

“BELOVED BRETHREN AND Frrienps,—The fifth of October last com-
pleted a period of seven and forty years since I first came into this town
to labor with you in the work of the gospel ministry ; however, I was not
ordained to that sacred work until the 28th of August following. Dur-
ing this length of time I have labored with you by night and by day, in
season and out of season. I could have wished that my labors might
have proved more successful, but this was not in my power to command,
however siucerely desired and ardently prayed for; and now, at length,
worn down with age and bodily infirmities, I find myself unable to dis-
charge the duties of that sacred office in such a manner as would be most
useful and beneficial to you, The support of the gospel ministry will
richly compensate for the good derived to society, as it respects the life
that now is; but if we take eternity into view, it becomes an object of
infinite magnitude and importance.

“It is, therefore, brethren, my sincere desire that you would invite
and call in some suitable person to take part with me in the evangelical
ministry, as a colleague and fellow-laborer in this vineyard of our com-
mon Lord; and I shall always be ready to afford you my assistance, 80
far as my strength and abilities will permit. And that the burden of
support might not be too great I offer to resign my salary, except the
parsonage money, which is about twenty pounds ten shillings, and nine
pounds ten shillings in addition, which will amount to one hundred
dollars, whenever another minister shall be settled in this place.

“*This small compensation you will not think unreasonable te graut
towards my support and comfort during the remainder of my days, which
in all probability will be but of short continuance. And if any other
method can be devised which will be more agreeable to the church and
society, it shall meet with my hearty concurrence.

“May the great Head of the Church guide and direct you in this im-
portant affair, and that the result may be for the honor of God, the inter-
est of the Redeemer’s kingdom, your present peace and future tranquil-
lity and happiness, is the most devout wish and fervent prayer of your

sincere friend and aged pastor and teacher,
“Corton M. SMITH.
“SHARON, Feb. 9, 1802.’
{

SHARON.

585

 

“The only action taken by the society at its first meet-
ing called to consider the application of Parson Smith
was a vote directing the committee to hire some per-
son'to assist him in preaching, but at a subsequent
meeting, held April 12, 1802, the society voted to
comply with his request. During the two years
which elapsed before the settlement of a colleague,
Mr. Smith must have preached for a considerable
portion of the time, as the society paid him two
hundred and twenty dollars for his services for the
first year, and two hundred and eighty-seven dollars
for the second.”

Oct. 3, 1808, the society voted a call to Rev. David
L. Perry, as an assistant to Rev. Mr. Smith, which he
accepted, and was ordained June 6, 1804. Rev. Mr.
Smith continued in the ministry until his death, which
occurred Nov. 27,1806. The following epitaph is in-
scribed upon his monument :

“he Rev. CoTron Matuer Smiru,
Born in Suffield, Oct. 16, 1731, ordained in Sharon,
Aug. 28, 1755, died Nov. 27, 1806, in the 76th year of
his age and 52d of his ministry.
Sound in the faith, in life and conversation as becometh the
Gospel, in doctrine incorrupt; in manner forcible and persuasive ;
A fond husband; a tender father; an unvarying friend;
Having for more than fifty years earnestly contended for the
faith once delivered to the saints, he is gone to render his
final account to the great captain of his salvation.
People of his charge, he still speaks to you in a voice
awful as death, solemn as the grave,
Prepare to meet your God.”

Mr. Perry continued in the ministry until his death,
Oct. 25, 1835.

The following-named gentlemen have been pastors
of the church since Mr. Perry’s death for the times
indicated: Rev. Mason Grosvenor, installed Sept. 28,
1836; dismissed May 14, 1839. Rev. Grove L. Brow-
nell, installed May 20, 1840; dismissed Aug. 1, 1848.
Rev. Thomas C. Carver, installed Oct. 1, 1851; dis-
missed Aug. 6, 1853. Rev. Leonard E. Lathrop, in-
stalled July 18, 1854; died Aug. 20, 1857. Rev.
Daniel D. T. McLaughlin, installed Jan. 18, 1859;
dismissed June 7, 1865. Rev. Alexander B. Bullions,
D.D., installed May 28, 1868; dismissed in 1878.
Rey. John C. Bourne is the present pastor.

The following is a list of the deacons in the church :
Nathaniel Skinner, Ebenezer Jackson, 1739 ; Matthew
St. John, 1745; Jonathan Elmer, 1746; Ebenezer
Frisbie, 1755 ; John Williams, Timothy Carver, 1766 ;
Daniel Griswold, 1774; Gain Miller, Joseph Landon,
1781; Benjamin Hamlin, Paul Smith, Jr., 1793;
Isaac Chamberlain, 1799; Aaron Read, 1812; William
Mather Smith, 1828; Charles Sears, 1854; John Cot-
ton Terrett, 1864; Abel C. Woodward, Edward F. Gil-
lette, 1874, ‘

Services were first held at the houses of Capt. Dun-
ham and Mr. Pardee, and in the milder seasons of the
year in Mr. Pardee’s barn. The first meeting-house
was a log structure thirty-six by twenty feet, erected
in 1741. This, however, was used but a short time,
as the erection of a new house forty-five feet by

 

thirty-five, with twenty-feet posts, was commenced in
1742, and in October of that year services were held
in it, although it was not completed until five or six
years later. A new church building was commenced
in 1767, and completed in the following year. This
was occupied until 1824, when the present brick
church was erected. This structure was remodeled
and beautified in 1863, and was dedicated March 2,
1864.
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ELLSWORTH.

In May, 1800, a new society, named Ellsworth, was
incorporated in the southeastern part ot the town, em-
bracing a part of Sharon and a small portion of Kent,
and two years later, March 15, 1802, the Congrega-
tional Church of Ellsworth was organized with the
following members: Samuel and Martha Young,
Ebenezer and Lucy Everett, Timothy St. John, Anna
Rice, Silas Newton, Bathsheba Newton, Enoch Par-
sons, Abigail Parsons, Stephen Skiff, Dennis Skiff,
Mary Chaffee, Anna Studley, Phinehas Benjamin,
Jemimah Benjamin, Benjamin Young, Mehitabel
Young, Joel Chaffee, Dolly Chaffee, Calvin Peck,
Betty Peck, Rebecca Foster, Prudence Frink, Heph-
zibah Swift, Esther Skiff, Silas St. John, and Abigail
St. John.

The following-named clergymen have been pastors
of the church: Daniel Parker, ordained May 26,1802; °
Orange Lyman, ordained Aug. 26, 1818; Frederick
Gridley, ordained June 7, 1820; John W. Beecher,
installed Dec. 1, 1841; William J. Alger, ordained
Feb. 4, 1852; Robert D. Gardner, installed June 9,
1858; John D. Stevenson, ordained Oct. 26, 1875.

The following is a list of the deacons: Silas St.
John, July 1, 1802; Abel Woodward, May 3, 1805;
Amos Seymour, Sept. 6, 1806; Jabez Swift, Jan. 17,
1812; Calvin Peck, July 8, 1829; Nathan Dunbar,
June 2, 1839; Abel C. Woodward, June 2, 1839;
William Everett, June 2, 18389; Gibbs W. Skiff,
March 4, 1859.

The first meeting-house was located near the ceme-
tery, on the Ellsworth turnpike, but it was subse-
quently removed to its present location. A new
house was erected in 1838, which was destroyed by
fire in 1847. The present church edifice was erected
during the following year.

A boarding-school was established by the Rev.
Daniel Parker, which attained to considerable celeb-
rity, and was continued by him for some time after
his dismission. Several men who have risen to emi-
nence are said to have been members of this school.
A fund was raised by subscription about the time of
the organization of the church, amounting to one thou-
sand pounds (to which was added two thousand five
hundred dollars in 1813), the subscription payable in
farmers’ produce or bar-iron, at the market price,
with provision that it should be loaned on mortgage
for double the amount, and in case of any loss it was
to be made good by the society, under the penalty of
the incomes reverting to the subscribers, or to their
586

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

heirs, until the conditions are complied with. A
similar penalty is annexed to a failure to provide
preaching for the term of a year, either by a pastor
or candidates for settlement.

Another religious society was formed at an early
day at the south part of the town, embracing inhabit-
ants of both colonies. The meeting-house stood near
the colony line, and was known for many years by
the name of the Round Top meeting-house. The
Rev. Ebenezer Knibloe was its minister for more
than twenty-five years. The Round Top meeting-
house was built previous to 1755, and in 1786 was re-
moved to the present site of the Oblong Presbyterian
church, —

EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

From the first settlement of the town there had been
several families of the communion of the Church of
England, as it was called, before the Revolutionary
war, but they were never sufficiently numerous to
form a separate congregation, or to maintain public
worship, until about the year 1755. On the 14th day
of April of that year leave was given by the town
to those of that communion “to erect a church at
the corner of the highways that come from the upper
end of the town and the Iron-works Hollow.” This
was at the head of the street, near Capt. King’s. This
building was erected, and stood for nearly forty years.
It is mentioned as a singular circumstance, in regard
to its construction, that its external covering was a
coat of mortar. Public worship was maintained in it
for a number of years, the desk being supplied by
missionaries sent out by the ‘“ Honorable Society for
Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts.” The first
of the missionaries who labored here was the Rev.
Ebenezer Dibble, whose permanent residence was at
Stamford, but who had the care of many of the
churches in the western part of the colony. After
Mr. Dibble, the Rev. Solomon Palmer and the Rev.
Thomas Davies had the charge of the church, in con-
nection with those at New Milford, Roxbury, New
Preston, and New Fairfield. The leading churchmen
in the town were Messrs. Joel Harvey, Job Gould,
Elnathan Goodrich, John Pennoyer, Simeon Rowley,
Samuel Hitchcock, Solomon Goodrich, and perhaps
some others. At one time during his ministry Mr.
Davies reported the number of ‘families belonging
to the parish to be twenty-two, and the number of
communicants to be nineteen. During the Revolu-
tionary war the church building was deserted, turned
into a barrack, and never afterwards occupied as a
place of worship. Mr. Richard Clark succeeded Mr.
Davies in the mission, and resided in New Milford
until the close of the war. It would seem that there
was perfect harmony and good feeling between the
two denominations. At the annual town-meetings
for a great number of years Charles Gillett was ap-
pointed key-keeper to the meeting-house, and John
Pennoyer key-keeper to the church; and this prac-
tice was continued as long as the church was used for

 

public worship. For many years after the Revolu-
tionary war the Episcopalians in Sharon had no reg-
ular stated worship, There were several families in
the town who conformed to that church, but they
were never organized as a legal ecclesiastical corpo-
ration until the formation of the present society in
1809. In 1809 the number of Episcopal families in
Sharon: had increased to about twenty, and it was
deemed expedient that they should be organized into
a legal corporation, under the laws of the State, so
that they could be empowered to hold property, lay
tax, and enforce other legal rights. A legal warrant
was issued on the 18th day of May, 1809, by Gen.
Augustine Taylor, a justice of the peace, command-
ing him to summon sundry persons named in the
warrant to meet at the academy in Sharon on the
27th day of the same month, “to form and regularly
organize themselves as an ecclesiastical society of the
order and denomination called Episcopal, and to

- choose the proper officers for the society.”

At the meeting thus warned the society was duly
organized according to the ritual of the Protestant
Episcopal Church of the United States. The follow-
ing-named persons were the first members of the so- .
ciety: David Lambert, Samuel Jarvis, Jr., Asa Hitch-
cock, Barnabas Tobey, Luther Gay, Thomas §. Bar-
num, Simon Beebe, Isaac Daw, Samuel R. Gager,
Simon Blackman, David Parsons, Israel] Camp, Wil-
liam Chapman, Daniel Patchen, Peter W. Smith,
Abel Hall, John Griswold, and Rufus Wright.

The following were the first officers elected, May 5,
1810: Israel Camp, Clerk; Thomas 8. Barnum, David
Lambert, Wardens; Thomas 8. Barnum, Treasurer;
Dr. John Sears, Collector; Samuel R. Gager, Isaac
Daw, Asa Hitchcock, Samuel Jarvis, Vestrymen;
David Lambert, Delegate to Conventions.

The Rey. Sturges Gilbert was employed soon after
the society was organized to perform clerical services,
in connection with a like engagement at Kent, where
he resided; he conducted public worship at each
place on alternate Sundays. The place of worship
here for two or three years was at the academy, which
stood on the present site of the Sharon Hotel. The
upper room of the building was fitted up for the pur-
pose, and was sufficiently large to accommodate the
worshipers.

In 1812 the first steps were taken towards the erec-
tion of a church building. “Ebenezer Dibble, of Pine
Plains, N. Y., Col. Reuben Warner, of New Milford,
and Moses Seymour, Esq., of Litchfield, were chosen
by this society to establish the site, and such progress
was made in raising funds that at the close of 1818
the present commodious building had been erected,
and temporary interior accommodations furnished, so
that public worship was celebrated in the church early
in 1814. It was not furnished within until 1819, when
it was completed in a neat and comfortable state. It
has undergone several modifications since, to conform
to the conditions of public taste in regard to church
SHARON.

architecture. It was dedicated by Bishop Brownell,
with solemn ceremonies, on the 24th day of Novem-
ber, A.D. 1819.

Rev. Ebenezer Dibble served here as a missionary
from the venerable society in England, commencing
in 1754; Rev. Thomas Davies from 1763. The fol-
lowing clergymen have served as rectors of the
church in Sharon from the dates indicated: Rev.
Sturges Gilbert; 1818, Rev. George B. Andrews; 1833,
Rey. Lucius M. Purdy; 1887, Rev. Charles W. Brad-
ley; 1839, Rev. S. T. Carpenter; 1844, Rev. Martin
Moody; 1849, Rev. Alonzo G. Shears; 1852, Rev.
Ezra Jones; 1856,.Rev. Louis French; 1857, Rev.
John V.Striker ; 1866, Rev. Henry R. Howard; ——,
Rev. David N. MacDonald; 1871, Rev. Joseph W.
Hyde; 1873, Rev. Edwin J. K. Lassell; 1877, Rev.
P. H. Whaley.

In 1866 the parish erected a commodious parson-
age, and its close contiguity to the church makes it a
very convenient residence for the rector.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

Methodist services were first held in this town in
1788 by a Mr. Cook, an Englishman, who preached
several times at Samuel Hitchcock’s, in the south part
of the town, and also in the ball-room at Gallows
Tavern. The celebrated Freeborn Garretson also held
services in this town.

“Mr, Alpheus Jewett, father of the late Rev. Wil-
liam Jewett, of the New York Conference, and of the
late Hon. Judge Jewett, of Skaneateles, N. Y., and
his wife were the first persons who joined the Meth-
odist Church in this State.

“The young society in Sharon was supplied with
preaching once in two weeks, in the afternoon of a
week-day. Mr. Jewett was a farmer, and in the sea-
son of haying and harvest employed a number of ex-
tra laborers. He always invited his workmen to ac-
company him to the preaching, and they usually went.
One day a Mr. Maxam, a poor man, declined thus
going for the reason that he was poor and could not
afford to lose the time. On Mr. Jewett’s offering to
pay him for the time thus spent he went, was awak-
ened and converted, and lived to extreme old age, a
faithful and useful member of the church.”

As the Methodist society in Sharon is located con-
tiguous to the State of New York, it has always been
connected with circuits and districts in that State.
Meetings were held at private houses, and the preach-
ing-place in Sharon was at Mr. Jewett’s. The old
gentleman used to speak with great satisfaction of the
large number of Methodist ministers, including Bishop
Asbury, whom he had entertained at his house. The
society has never been destitute of regular preaching
since its formation.

THE FIRST CAMP-MEETING IN CONNECTICUT.
The first camp-meeting in Connecticut was held

in the summer of 1805, in a grove near the road lead-
ing north from Austin Cartwright’s, and such success

 

587

attended the proceedings that another was held the
next year near the house of Mr. Jewett.

The first house of worship was erected in 1808 in
Calkinstown, so called.

The church was reorganized in 1835 with the fol-
lowing members: Zaccheus W. Bissell, Ira Williams,
Elijah H. Williams, John Williams, Daniel G. Mil-
ler, Samuel Roberts, Jr., Samuel Fenn, John Senigo,
Ely Rowley, Frederick A. Hotchkiss, Henry Wil-
liams, David H. Cole, James Calkin, Horace Reed,
Merrills McLean, James .R. Jenkins, Ezra H. Bar-
tram, Hector W. Roberts, Edgar J. Reed, Jr., Miles
B. Lewis, Alden Bryan, Dennis Brusie, Gilbert Bryan,
and D. Gibson.

The following is a record of the proceedings of the
first meeting of the society :

“Ata meeting of the Methodist Episcopal Society of Sharon, holden
on the 13th day of January, A.D. 1835, in pursuance of a warrant under

the hand of Charles F. Sedgwick, Justice of the Peace for the County of
Litchfield— .

“Rev. Julius Field was chosen moderator.

“Zaccheus W. Bissell chosen clerk pro tem. and duly sworn.

“ Horace Reed was chosen clerk for the year ensuing of the Society.

“ Elijah Williams was chosen treasurer for the year ensuing.

“ Zaccheus W. Bissell, Ira Williams, Richard Clark were appointed a
Society committee for the year ensuing.

“Richard Clark, Ira Williams, Zaccheus W. Bissell were appointed
trustees of the Society.

“Virgil B. Roberts, Horace Reed, Zaccheus W. Bissell, Ira Williams,
and Elijah H. Williams were appointed a building committee.

“ Voted, That the church about to be erected by-this Society shall be
located in Sharon Village, on such piece of land as may be purchased by
this Society for the erection of said church, and of which a deed shall be
executed by the owner of said land to the Society, for the purpose afore-
said.”

The new church building was erected and fin-
ished in 1836, and in the spring of 1837 was dedi-
cated by the Rev. Nathan Bangs, D.D., an eminent
clergyman of the denomination. The house has since
been altered and improved, and is now one of the
finest churches of that denomination in the county.

The following is a list of the preachers who have
supplied the pulpit in Sharon since 1828: David Mil-
ler, Phineas Cook, Billy Hibbard, Aaron Pearce,
Theodore Clark, T. Sparks, Julius Fields, J. B.
Wakely, Richard Wymond, Sanford Washburn,
George D. Sutton, Fitch Reed, D. Holmes, William
K. Stopford, Hart F. Pease, Fitch Reed, S. N. Vail,
William §. Stillwell, Lucius H. King, M. R. Lens, D.
B. Turner, Benjamin M. Adams, Elbert Osborne, Joel
Croft, Jason Wells, Clark Fuller, D. Gibson, William
8. Stillwell, G. Daniels, H. B. Mead, Ira Ferris, Wil-
liam Stevens, Clark Eggleston, 8. J. McCutcheon, H.
C. Humphrey, and J. C. Hoyt.

CIVIL.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN—FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The town was incorporated Oct. 31,1739. Dee. 11,
1739, the first town-meeting was held, and the follow-
ing is a copy of the proceedings:

“The Inhabitance of Sharon aplying Themselves to the Genral as-

sembly in October Last Past for Town Priviledges Cap Dunham was mad
Choice of to Represent the town to the Assembly, and having obtained
588

the Desiar of the town he being ordered by the Assembly to Warn the
Inhabitance in order To Chuse town officers which Being Dune the In-
habitance being met on the 11 day of December In ye yeare 1739 at the
house of Nath 11. Skinner In Sharon And then opened the meeting as
the Law Dricts

“Cap Dunham Was Chosen moderator

“Leu Jabez Creppen John Sprague and Cap Jonathan Dunham Was
Chosen Select men for the year insewing

“Nath Skinner Was Chosen town Clark

“James Smith was Chosen Constable and Sworn as the Law Directs

“George Way was Chosen Granjuery and sworn as the Law Directs

“Ebenezer Mudg William Tickner Ebenezer ffrishie and Cornelius
hamlin Was Chosen Surveys of high Ways and Sworn as the Law Di-
rects :

“Jeremiah foster Samuel Mudg and Thomas Creppen Was Chosen
fence vewers and sworn as the Law Directs

“Samuel Comstock Was Chosen Colector

“ Nath] Skinner Jun Was Chosen Leather Sealer

“Nathl. Skinner Jonathan Dunham and John Sprague Was Chosen a
Com’tt. to go after a Minister

“Nathl. Skinner and Lew Jabez Creppen chosen a Com’tt. to Lay out
a Beuring Place

“Tt was further voted that a Note or Warning In writing set up at
The house of John Sprague and Nath]. Skinner and at Garrit winegars
mill Six Days before a town meeting Given Reasons of Said Meeting,
Shall be a Lawful Warning for a town meeting

“farther voted, that Swin haven a Ring in their Noses Shall be ac-
counted an orderly Creater.”

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1755 TO 1881.

The following is a roll of the representatives from
the town of Sharon to the General Assembly, com-
mencing in 1755, when the town was first repre-
sented :

1755.—John Williams, John Pardee.

1756.—Johu Marvin, John Williams, John Pardee.

1757.—John Williams, Josiah Strong.

1758.—John Williams, Samuel Dunham, John Pardee.

1759.—No record.

1760.—Samuel Dunham, John Pardee, Josiah Strong, Caleb Jewitt.

1761.—Caleb Jewitt, John Gay, John Williams, John Pardee.

1762.—Johu Williams, John Pardee, Caleb Jewitt.

1763.—Jobn Williams, Caleb Jewitt, David Foster.

1764.—John Williams, Caleb Jewitt, David Foster.

1765.—Jobn Williams, Caleb Jewitt.

1766.—John Williams, Caleb Jewitt, Jeremiah Day.

1767.—John Williams, Jeremiah Day, Simeon Smith.

1768.—John Marvin, Thomas Pardee, John Williams.

1769.—John Williams, James Pardee, Thomas Pardee.

1770.—Simeon Smith, Thomas Pardee, John Williams, Caleb Jewitt.

1771-72.—John Williams, Simeon Smith.

1773.—John Williams, James Pardee.

1774 —James Pardee, Ebenezer Gay, Thomas Pardee.

1775.—Ebenezer Gay, James Pardee, John Canfield, Caleb Jewitt.

1776.—John Canfield, Caleb Jewitt, Ebenezer Gay, James Pardee.

1777.—John Canfield, Simeon Smith, James Pardee, Joseph Lord.

1778.—Ebenezer Gay, James Pardee, David Downs.

1779.—John Canfield, Samuel Elmore, Ebenezer Gay.

1780.—Samuel Elmore, James Pardee, David Downs.

1781.—Samuel Elmore.

1782.—David Downs, Joseph Landers, John Canfield.

1783.—Simeon Smith, David Downs, Ebenezer Gay, Josiah Coleman.

1784.—Ebenezer Gay, Josiah Coleman, John Canfield, Simeon Smith.

1785-86.—John Canfield, Simeon Smith.’

1787,—Jonathan Gillet, Ephraim Marriner.

1788.—Ephraim Marriner, Josiah Coleman, David Downs.

1789.—David Downs, Isaac Pardee.

1790.—David Downs, Isaac Pardee, Augustine Taylor, Phineas Smith,

1791.—Phineas Smith, Augustine Taylor, Judson Canfield.

1792.—Phineas Smith, Judson Canfield, Augustine Taylor.

1793.—Judson Canfield, John C. Smith, David Downs, Samuel Canfield,
. 1794.—Samuel Canfield, David Downs.

1795.—David Downs, James Pardee, Samuel Canfield, Enoch Parsons.

1796.—Samuel Canfield, John C. Smith, Augustine Taylor.

1797.—John C. Smith, Oliver Kellogg, Samuel Canfield.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

1798.—John C. Smith, Oliver Kellogg, Abel Patchen.

1799.—Jolin C, Smith, Abel Patchen, Isaac Pardee.

1800.—John C. Smith, Oliver Kellogg, George King. és

1801.—Oliver Kellogg, George King, Augustine Taylor, Isaac Pardee,

1802.—Judson Canfield, Augustine Taylor.

1803.—Judson Caufield, Daniel St. John.

1804.—Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee.

1805.—Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee, Daniel St. John.

1806.—Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee, John C. Smith.

1807.—John C. Smith, Judson Canfield, Daniel St. John.

1808.—John C. Smith.

1809.—John C. Smith, Judson Canfield, Isaac Pardee, Simeon Blackman,

1810.—Simeon Blackman, Oliver Kellogg, Cyrus Swan.

1811.—Simeon Blackman, Oliver Kellogg, Samuel E. Everitt.

1812.—Oliver Kellogg, Samuel E. Everitt, Isaac Pardee.

1813-14.—Oliver Kellogg, Samuel] E. Everitt, Cyrus Swan.

1815.—Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling, Samuel Rockwell, Daniel St,
John.

1816.—Oliver Kellogg, Samuel Rockwell, Cyrus Swan, Israel Camp.

1817. Oliver Kellogg, Israel Camp, Thomas St. John.

1818.—Hezekiah Goodwin, Thomas St. John, Oliver Kellogg, Ansel
Sterling.* .

1819-20.—Oliver Kellogg, Ansel Sterling.

1821.—Ansel Sterling, Samuel R. Gager.

1822.—Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Roberts.

1823.—Samuel Roberts, Horatio Smith.

1824.—Horatio Smith, Cyrus Swan.

1825.—Ansel Sterling, Cyrus Swan.

1826.—Ansel Sterling, Horatio Smith.

1827-28.—Cyrus Swan, Calvin Gray.

1829.—Ansel Sterling, Samuel R. Gager.

1830.—Charles F. Sedgwick, Clark Chapman.

1831.—Charles F. Sedgwick, Israel Camp,

1832.—Israel Camp, Samuel E. Everitt.

1833.—Clark Chapman, John C. Smith, Jr.

1834.,—Horatio Smith, John C. Smith, Jr.

1835.—Ansel Sterling, Ralph Deming.

1836.—Ansel Sterling, Zaccheus W. Bissell.

1837.—Ansel Sterling, Elmore Everitt.

1838.—EImore Everitt, Alanson Wheeler.

1839.—Alanson Wheeler, Ralph Deming.

1840.—Elmore Everitt, Horace Reed.

1841.—Zaccheus W. Bissell, Richard Smith.

1842.—Jvhn Cotton Smith, Jr., Eleazar Jenkins.

1843.—Lorenzo D. Smith, William Everitt. —

1844.—No choice.

1845.—Charles Sears, William Knibloe.

1846.—John P. Goodwin, Elmore Everitt.

1847.—John P. Goodwin, Charles Sears.

1848.—Rausom Smith, John Woodruff.

1849.—Ransom Smith, James Orr.

1850.—David S. Cartwright, Southard Hitchcock.

1851.—John §, Jewitt, Gibbs W. Skiff.

1852.—George D. Goodwin, Chauncey Reed, Jr.

1853.—John C. Smith, Zaccheus W. Bissell.

1854.—John C. Smith, George B. Bates.

1855.—Norman E. Wheeler, Horace Dunbar.

1856.—Henry V. King, Henry St. John.

1857.—Fitch Landon, James A. Bierce.

1858.—Erastus A. Deming, Charles M. Parsons.

1859.—Myron Dakin, Seth B. St. John.

1860.—Henry T. Finch, Chesterfield Chapman.

1861.—Reuben K. Hunt, Joel S. Chaffee.

1862.—Asahel A. Hotchkiss, John H. Per Lee.

1863.—Harry Lockwood, David F. Lambert.

1864.—Nathan Dunbar, Fitch Landon.

1865.—Edwin N. Hartwell, Miles B. Lewis.

1866.—Zaccheus W. Bissell, David F. Smith,

1867.—George D. Goodwin, Ralph Deming.

1868.—Walter M. Patterson, Isaac N. Bartram.

1869.—Edgar J Reed, David L. Smith.

1870.—John C. Smith, Baldwin Reed (2d).

1871.—Hilan Middlebrooks, Charles E. B: Hatch.

 

* Prior to 1819 representatives were elected semi-annually for May
and October sessions, The two latter in each year of the above list were
for the October session.
 

RESIDENCE OF JOHN C.JACKSON SHARON CONN.
SHARON.

1872.—George D. Goodwin, Isaac N. Bartram.

1873.—John Boyd, Robert D. Livingston.

1874,—Hermon C. Rowley, Ichabod S. Everitt.

1875.—William EB. Marsh, Baldwin Reed (2d).

1876.—John Cotton Smith, Isaac N. Bartram.

1877.—Seymour A. Frayer, George M. Walton.

1878.—John B, Smith, Gilbert L. Smith.

1879.—Erastus A. Deming, Clark M. Juckett. s
1880.—Robert Goodwin, Daniel Hall.

1881.—George D. Goodwin, Myron F. Whitney.

MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNOR'S COUNCIL.
Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith.

SENATORS.
Ralph Deming, Charles F. Sedgwick, Horatio Smith.

JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURT.
John Williams, Cyrus Swan, Judson Canfield, Ansel Sterling.

JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.

Nathaniel Skinner, Samuel Hutchinson, John Williams, Daniel Griswold,
Joseph Lord, John Gay, John Canfield, David Downs, Isaac Pardee,
Augustine Taylor, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, Daniel St.
John, Calvin Gay, Samuel E. Everitt, Oliver Kellogg, Cyrus Swan,
Ansel Sterling, Samuel Rockwell, Horatio Smith, Samuel Roberts,
Stephen Deming, StepLen Heath, Israel Camp, Charles F, Sedgwick,
Oliver Kellogg, Jr., Jacob Chamberlain, Ebenezer Blackman, Joshua
B. Chaffee, Richard Smith, Benjamin Hollister, Alanson Wheeler,
John W. McKoy, Ransom Smith, Zaccheus W. Bissell, Samuel Rob-
erts, Jr., Silas A. Gray, William Everett, Daniel Parsons, Ralph De-
ming, Zalmon §. Hunt, Orrin Hutchinson, Andrew Lake, John
Williams, Southard Hitchcock, Amos Prindle, James Orr, Eliakim
8. Stoddard, Jr., Eben W. Chaffee, Harry Lockwood, Norman E,
Wheeler, John T. Andrew, Fitch Landon, Garry 8. Morey, Samuel
Elliott, Cyrus W. Gray, William Stone, Horace Dunbar, Samuel 8.
Woodward, Ezra H. Bartram, Thomas N. Lucas, Heber Knibloe,
Walter M. Patterson, Judson St. John, Charles E. B. Hatch, Philo
Juckett, Edgar J. R. Reed, George Chamberlain, Robert D. Living-
ston, Charles L. Prindle, Daniel Hall, Chauncey W. Morehouse.

TOWN CLERKS.

Nathaniel Skinner, Ebenezer Frisbie, John Williams, Daniel Griswold,
Samuel Canfield, Israel Camp, George King, Jr., Henry H. Quintard,
Erastus H. Winchester, James Orr, Harry Lockwood, James E. Wat-
son, Aaron R. Smith, Samuel L. Gager, Robert E. Goodwin, Charles
C. Gordon, J. Wade Hughes.

LAWYERS.

The following attorneys and counselors-at-law have
practiced in the town:

John Canfield, Judson Canfield, John Cotton Smith, Cyrus Swan, Joel
T. Petit, William G. Williams, Ansel Sterling, Charles R. Brown,
Chauncey Smith, Ebenezer Blackman, Charles F. Sedgwick, Fred-
erick J. Fenn, Richard Smith, James Orr, Walter M. Patterson, J.
Wade Hughes.

PHYSICIANS.

John Williams, Abner Peck, John Lee, Daniel | Griswold, Simeon Smith,
Joseph Hamilton, Asbel Goodrich, David Doty, Jonah Barnes,
Phineas Smith, Samuel R. Gager, Samuel Rockwell, Simeon Black-
man, Nathaniel Lowrey, John W. Smith, John Sears, Curtiss J.

Hurd, Elmore Everitt, Milo L. North, Ebenezer H. Conklin, Jehiel:

Abbott, Russell Everitt, Ralph Deming, Horace A. Buttolph, Nathan
S. Perry, Chauncey Reed, Jr., William W. Knight, Charles H. Sears.

GRADUATES OF COLLEGES.

The following are the graduates of colleges who
have been citizens of Sharon:

Yale College.—Peter Pratt, 1736; John Searle, 1745; Jonathan Elmer,
1747; Daniel Griswold, 1747; Cotton Mather Smith, 1751; Jeremiah
Day, 1756; Thomas Davies, 1758; Fisher Gay, 1759; John Canfield,
1762; Augustine Taylor, 1776; Judson Canfield, 1782; John Cotton
Smith, 1783; Daniel Parker, 1798; Alanson Hamlin, 1799; William
A. Taylor, 1803; William M. Smith, 1805; Henry J. Canfield, 1806 ;
Milo L. Bennett, 1811; William R. Gould, 1811; Milo L. North, 1813;

“Ebenezer Blackman, 1817; William Rockwell, 1822; Milton P. Or-
38 :

 

589

=

ton, 1824; Richard Smith, 1825; John M.S. Perry, 1827; John Cot-
ton Smith, 1830; Milo N. Miles, 1831; Robert D. Gardner, 1833;
David C. Perry, 1833; Daniel D. T. McLaughlin, 1834; John T. An-
drew, 1839; George T. Pierce, 1843; Henry Roberts, 1866.

Williams College—Vinton Gould, 1797; David L. Perry, 1798; David
Beecher, 1804; Cyrus W. Gray, 1809 ; Orange Lyman, 1809; Charles
¥. Sedgwick, 1813; Chauncey G. Smith, 1814; Judah Ely, 1820; John
Cotton Territt, 1833; William R. Territt, 1871.

Union College.— Alexander B. Bullions, 1842.

University of the State of Vermont.—Grove L. Brownell, 1813.

Harvard College-—John Williams, 1725.

FORMATION OF NEW COUNTY.

In 1751 the town passed the following vote in re-
gard to the formation of a new county:

“Sept. 2, 1751 —Voted, That we do desire a new county in this part of
the government.

“ Voted, That we apply to the honorable assembly in May next for
that end.

“ Voted, That we do desire, with submission to the pleasure of the
assembly, that the limits or bounds may be, on the south, the south
bound of the government’s land on the west side of Ousatonic River, the
north bounds of New Milford and the south bounds of Litchfield. The
east line, the east bounds of Litchfield and of Torrington, and from
thence northward to the Massachusetts line; the north line, the line
between us and the Massachusetts; the west line, the line between this
government and the government of New York, and that Cornwall be the
county town.

“ Voted, That John Williams, Esq., be our agent to go to the Honor-
able General Assembly upon said business in October next.

“Dec. 17, 1751.—Put to vote whether we will send an agent or agents
to Kent, to meet some gentlemen from Woodbury to consult upon the
affairs of the county. Voted in the negative.”

MILITARY RECORD.

The town of Sharon responded promptly to the call
for troops during the late Rebellion, and at different
times more than two hundred of her citizens or their
substitutes were in the field. The following is a list
of those’ credited to Sharon in the adjutant-general’s
office :

John Anderson, Thomas R. Albro, Stephen B, Allen, Paul August, Wil-
liam Abbott, Lewis R. Ashman, Samuel J. Alexander, Bradford B.
Brown, George M. Bennett, William H. Bowen, Daniel Buxton,
Richard Beebe (killed in battle), Charles Barley, Myron Buttolph,
Samuel Beeman, Charles Bayard, Harry Belmont, George Brown,
Edward Baker, Nelson Bush, William Bush, Henry Bush, E. J.
Brazee, Seymour Buckley, John Brown, Henry Burke, Enoch B.
Benedict, Frederick 8. Beebe, Lorenzo C. Buttolph, William Brazee,
John Bates, Richard Booth, Joseph Belore, Charles Brown, William
Bartlett, Newton Bowen, N. Chapman, Edward H. Cross, John Chase,
John Curtin, Michael Curley, William Clinton, James B. Capron,
Charles F. Cain, George I. Conklin, Henry Cain, Jerome Chapman,
Edwin Cain, John Colder, Angevine Cook, Henry A. Chapman,
George Clinton, James Carl, Joshua B. Chaffee, Charles E. Cole, Wil-
liam Chapman (died in hospital), Julius N. Cole, William Clark,
Gustin Champlin, Charles Chapman, Michael Cullen, George Cuok,
Thomas Coliby, Henry S. Dean, James Doyle, James H. Divine, Ed-
mund Divine, John Dunbar, John B. Derich, Thomas Doty, Edmund
Dean, Everitt Dunbar, Garrett Dean, James Doty, William Frazier,
Peter Foster, Newell P. Foot, John Frawley, Carl Freidland, Michael
Frawley, William Fitzgerald, Peter Gimlet, Thomas Garvin, William
H. Gaul, Chauncey Griffin, George Gaston, Horace R. Griswold, John
Grady, Frederick D. Holmes, Charles F. Hinman, Edward E. Hoff-
man, N. L. Holmes, Michael Henry, John Hevley, Charles H. Ham-
lin, David Hector, George W. Hall, Joshua B. Hoxie, Peter Honey,
William H. Ingraham, Charles Ingersoll, Nathan H. Jewitt, William
Johnson, Henry Johns, Harvey Johns, Gilbert Ingraham, Andrew
Jackson (Iilled in battle), James B. Johnson, Thomas Jones, Wil-
liam C. Jacobs, James R. Jenkins, Galls Juans, Elijah Johns, El-
more F. Jenks, Martin B. Jenkins, Michael Kelly, Charles King,
Frederick King, Patrick Kinney, John Kelly, Henry Kelly, Gilbert
E. Lake, Walstein Loundsbury, William H. Logan, John Lynch,
590

Charles Loretta, Jos B. Loper, Stephen McIntyre, Oakley Middle-
brooks, William Mooney, Joseph Marline, James McMaster, Chris-
topher Muller, Cyrus Mitchell, John H. Mitchell, Andrew Morehouse,
Carlo Mosier, Jose Mayor, August Mitjen, John Mentin, William
H. Norton, Smith Olaw, George D. Palmer, John F. Peck, John
Palmer, Miles Pedro, Shephard Packhard, Sanford B. Palmer, Shel-
don F. Prout, John Quinn, Albert Robinson, Dayton Reed, Charles
J. Reed, Isaac L. Reed, Ralph Rowley, Charles E. Reea, John Rogers,
John Ryan, Thomas Redding, Milo Reynolds, John Rowley, Robert
A. Sedgwick, William Shephard, Dwight D. Studley, George W.
Studley, Elisha Soule, John Stevenson, Edward Saunders, Josiah
Starr, Lewis H. Starr, James Sullivan, James Sinton, George C.
Skiff, James Savoy, Chester Slover, William A. Smith, William
Smith, Almond Slover, Robert Shea, William Smith, Lyman Teator,
Charles P. Traver, Charles H. Treadway, John Tuttle, David Taylor,
John Taylor, John Thompson, John Tracy, Henry Tohoff, Henry
Valentine, William Waldron, Elmore E. Waldron, Henry Wheeler,
Joseph Wheeler, Benjamin Wilson, Peter Welch, William Waters,
Charles Witham, Ransom Welton, Lockwood Waldron, Thomas
Wilson, Horace C. Warner, Charles L. Wardwell, Edmund Whitney,
James Wilton, George Williams, Frederick White, and Napoleon
Wilson.

The following were drafted in 1862:

Gordon J. Peet, Cyrenus Hunter, Albert F. Roberts, William E. Brown,
Albert Scott, Daniel P. Griswold, Newton Bump, Aaron H. Dunbar,
George W. Birdsell, William E. Marsh, Frederick Northrup, Charles
P. St. John, Charles B. Everitt, Joshua B. Chaffee, Ezekiel 8. Whit-
ney, John Van Dusen, George D. Williams, Charles W. Reed, Rich-
ard Woodward, Asa Smith, Chesterfield Chapman, Hilan B. Eggles-
ton, Richard F. Everitt, Elias B. Reed, Henry Bush, William Bush,
William Chapman, Baldwin Reed (2d), James Kelly, and Charles
Hotchkiss.

All of the above named procured substitutes except
William Chapman, son of the late Lovell W. Chap-
man, who died in the hospital in Washington within
a few weeks after being mustered into the service.

—————+e»

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

JOHN OC. JACKSON.

John C. Jackson was born in Sharon, June 8, 1813.
He is a direct descendant of Deacon Ebenezer Jack-
son, who came from Norwalk and settled in an early
day on the same lot on Sharon Mountain now in
possession of his descendants. Deacon Ebenezer was
early chosen deacon of the church (the second who
held that office in Sharon), and was a highly-esteemed
and useful citizen. He had six sons, most of whom
settled in the eastern part of Sharon. An uncommon
interest attaches to the place on which he settled,
from the fact that it has been held by only two fam-
ilies from its settlement to the present time.

John C. was eldest son of Calvin and Mary (Wil-
liams) Jackson, and has resided during his whole life
within half a mile of his birthplace. His education
was confined to such attendance at the primitive
schools of Sharon as could be obtained by a hard-
working farmer’s boy, and that acquired by practice
with the axe and plow. He was brought up to thor-
oughly understand farming, and has never desired to
change his avocation. Nov. 18, 1840, he married
Jane, daughter of James Jarvis and Mrs. Lucy

“nent,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Sandford, his wife, whose maiden name was Platt,
They have six children, one other dying in early life;
they are Helen (Mrs. Hannon Fairchild, of Corn-
wall), Julia (Mrs. Martin Hungerford, of Gaylords-
ville), John C. (who married Fanny, daughter of
Nelson Landon), Frances (Mrs. Levi Blydenburgh, of
New Haven), Florence (Mrs. William Hawley, of
Sherman), and Charles Sedgwick, who lives with his
parents. Mr. Jackson has never wanted to attract
public attention, has never taken office, but patiently,
steadily, and unostentatiously has pursued a quiet
life, and has been highly favored with success in his
calling. In politics isa Republican; before that party
was formed a Whig.

We add some further facts of the early family here.

Ebenezer Jackson’s grandson John settled where
John Jackson, Jr., now lives. He was a thoroughly
unselfish man, and would always disoblige himself to
accommodate a neighbor. It was a common saying,
quaint but expressive, ‘He always took hold of the
butt end of the log.” He was particularly noted for
his strict honesty, which trait was also prominent in
his descendants, and strongly manifested in his son
Calvin, father of the present John Jackson. The
Jacksons were peaceable men, attending strictly to
their own business, yet always ready to extend a help-
ing hand to any one in time of need.

The Jarvis family, to which Mrs. Jackson belongs,
is one of the oldest and proudest families in America.
They are found in nearly every one of the United
States, and consequence of the firm loyalty to the crown
of some of those living in the Revolutionary days, in the
British provinces as well. It is generally conceded
that they are of English extraction, coming to England
from Normandy at the time of William the Conquer-
or. The Norman spelling of the name was Gervais.
The first name found is Jean Gervais, resident at
Bretagne about 1400. The changes of the name
from Gervasius, or Gervais, to Jervis, Jarvie, Jarvis,
have by no means clouded or in any way thrown
doubt upon its identity. It has been strikingly the
same through all its variations, as well as the features
and peculiar characteristics of the people. In every
generation have been found men of talent and exalted
worth. Probably a greater number of the name have
been professional men—clergymen, lawyers, judges—
than of any other family now resident on this conti-
“The name has given dignity to the bench
and bar; it has graced the professions of medicine
and surgery; it has adorned the pulpit and the stage;
it has entwined its garlands of poetry with music and’
painting ; it has thundered its deeds of daring over
the ocean wave, and among the distant isles of the
sea,.”” ,

Mrs. Jackson is a lineal descendant, in the sixth
generation, from William Jarvis, of Huntingdon, L.
I., whose sons, William and Samuel, and daughter,
Mary Seymour, settled in Norwalk, Conn., in the early
part of the eighteenth century. It is a pleasing task
 

TORN CTACKSON.
‘NNOQ NOYVHS ‘LLIMIL G'S 40 FINIGISIY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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JOHN 8. JEWETT.
 

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Engt by HB. Hat. & Sons 13 Barclay St N.Y.
SHARON.

to record the virtues and excellences of the brave men
and loyal women who have borne the name of Jarvis,
and to find the same characteristics in the present as
jn the oldtime generations, showing the same dis-
tinctive qualities of integrity, honor, and love of coun-
try. To show the atmosphere in which Mrs. Jarvis
was reared, we quote the following from a letter writ-
ten by her brother, David §. Jarvis :

“On the breaking out of the Rebellion I was on a
visit to my parents, whom I never failed to visit once
a year. I told them it was a critical time for our
country (this was in 1862), when both became much ex-
cited. They hoped I could give them some good news;
but I could not. My mother exclaimed, ‘ David, you
have three good boys, Abram, Charles, and Howard:
go yourself, with them, to the war, and I will go, as I
can take care of the sick, or make lint for the
wounded,—this government must be preserved! Your
forefather was of Revolutionary stock, and the coun-
try must live!’ My father also added that he hoped
to live long enough to see the Rebellion crushed,
when he would be willing to die. He wanted to feel
that he had left a country untorn by civil war, and as
it was designed by the founders of the republic.”

All three of the sons mentioned went to the war,
and one of them died in Charleston. The mother,
above alluded to, was then over seventy years old, and
the spirit she manifested would have honored many a
younger woman. It is a pleasure to add that both
she and her husband lived to see the long, dark night
of war succeeded by the sunshine of peace and the
triumph of the Union.

JOHN 8. JEWETT.

Capt. Caleb Jewett was from Norwich, now Lisbon,
in 1748. He first purchased the lot on which George
Smith lived, but sold it in 1744 to Deacon Elmer,
and bought the farm now in possession of his great-
grandson, Simeon B. Jewett. He was selectman of
the town twelve years, and representative to the Gen-
eral Assembly at eleven sessions. He was a man of
energy, and useful in his day and generation. He
died Jan. 18, 1778, in the sixty-eighth year of his age.
He had sons,—Caleb, Nathan, Thaddeus, and Alpheus.

Alpheus married Abigail Sears, Feb. 15, 1781, and
in Rev. Fitch Reed’s “History of Methodism in
Sharon” occurs the following: ‘Mr. Alpheus Jewett
(father of Rev. William Jewett, of New York Con-
ference, and of Hon. Judge Jewett, of Skaneateles,
N.Y.) and his wife were the first persons who joined
the Methodist Church in Connecticut. Freeborn
Garretson was the first Methodist preacher who visited
that section.” Mr. Jewett had a long life of much
public employment and of great usefulness, and died
Oct. 5, 1841, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
He had the great satisfaction of seeing his children
filling some of the most responsible positions with
credit to themselves, and to the thorough training of
their Christian parents.

 

591

John S. Jewett was born in Sharon, Sept. 19, 1806.
His years of childhood were passed on the homestead,
which has been for four generations in possession of
the family. He was educated at the public and
private schools of Sharon, and always resided on the
place where he was born. He was twice married,
first to Julia Ann Stephens, April 15, 1832, by whom
he had two children,—Mary W. (Mrs. John Sears, of
Cornwall, Ill.) and Julia A. S. (Mrs. V. G. Sears, of
East Bloomfield, N. Y.). She died March 8, 1835.
March 10, 1888, he married Caroline, daughter of
Henry Johnson, of Norwalk, Conn. They had four
children,;-Nathan H., Simeon B. (born June 22,
1846), Rebecca G., and William. Simeon is the only
one surviving. When he was of age, Mr. Jewett as-
sumed the management of his father’s farm, and was
ever after identified with the farming interests of
Sharon. About 1835 he engaged in manufacturing
at Sharon Valley, and continued for several years
making goods of malleable iron. After selling out
this business he remained a farmer only until his
death. He was a good and shrewd business man, was
often chosen to hold the various responsible offices of
the town, represented Sharon in the Legislature, and
was a railroad commissioner for the State of Con-
necticut. He died Oct. 18, 1878, of an apoplectic
stroke.

RALPH DEMING, M.D.

The first ancestor of Dr. Deming-in this country
was John Deming, who settled at Wethersfield, Conn.,
as early as 1635. He was a prominent man, often a
member of the colonial Legislature from 1641 to
1661, and his name appears in the charter of 1662.
His wife was: daughter of Richard Treat, an early
settler of distinction, and sister of Governor Robert
Treat, well known for his civil and military record,
and for fifteen years the chief magistrate of the Con-
necticut colony.

_ Dr. Deming’s father, Daniel Deming, came from
Saybrook to Sharon in 1782, and here Ralph was
born, Oct. 19, 1798. From a very early age he mani-
fested the traits of thoroughness and energy which
marked his whole life, and by his own exertions
obtained a good academic education. He studied
medicine under the instruction of Dr. John Sears,
attending medical lectures at the Medical Department
of Yale-College, New Haven, where he was gradu-
ated Feb. 25, 1824. Returning to Sharon, he com-
menced his professional life, which lasted for more
than half a century, during which time he attained a
professional standing second to none in the State.
One who knew him well says, “He possessed a
thorough knowledge of disease, its points of differ-
ence from other diseases, its symptoms, their relations
to each other, and to the state of the different organs
and functions of the body, generally comprehended
under the title of diagnosis in works of medical re-
592

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

search. He carefully studied the constitutions of his
patients, and adapted his treatment to the varied
temperaments of different and opposite physical or-
ganizations. This insured him wonderful success in
cases often of extraordinary delicacy of system.”
While Dr. Deming was moderate and conservative in
his theory and practice, he at the same time studied
with attention the works of the great writers, and was
often called in council by the ablest of the profession,
and his advice was heeded as that of a wise and safe
counselor. He was a good thinker, a careful ob-
server, and a close reasoner. His motives were right,
and he thoroughly believed in the power of con-
scientious action in the ministrations of his profes-
sion. “Character, Christian character,” he used to
say, ‘‘adds to the ability and power of the physician.”
Dr. Deming was an active member of the Connecticut
Medical Society, often a fellow of the State Society,
and for years a permanent member of the American
Medical Association, and was a delegate from Con-
necticut to a meeting of the last-named body at Chi-
cago.

Dr. Deming married, June 5, 1827, Miss Mary T.
Cornwall, of Paterson, N. Y. Two children, Erastus
A. and H. Eliza, survive him, and now reside in
Sharon.

Dr. Deming was as strong and prominent in politics
as in his profession. Believing, with Andrew Jackson,
that Democracy gave the “greatest good to the
greatest number,” he was unswerving in his allegiance
to its principles. He represented Sharon in the Legis-
latures of 1835, 1839, and 1867, and his district in the
State Senates of 1858 and 1854.

Dr. Deming commenced life with absolutely noth-
ing, acquired a large landed estate, was fond of agri-
culture and its improvement, and when he died left a
handsome property to his descendants. From early
manhood he was connected with the Episcopal
Church, and was for twenty-seven years a warden,
and contributed liberally to its support.

A wise physician, a cherished neighbor, a worthy
Christian, a kind and loving husband and father, he
died July 21, 1877, universally mourned, at the ad-
vanced age of seventy-nine years.

GAMALIEL H. ST. JOHN.

Gamaliel H. St. John was born Sept. 2, 1804, on
the same place, in Sharon, as his brother. When
about seven years old he had a severe attack of the
terrible epidemic which then raged in Sharon, and
never fully recovered. Being thus left weak, and not
fitted for the rough work of the farmers of that day,
he applied himself to study diligently at the district
schools, and under instruction of Rev. Mr. Gridley,
then pastor of the Congregational Church. He was
an apt student, and made good progress. He read
medicine with Dr. Clark Chapman, attended medical
lectures at Yale College, and was graduated from

 

that celebrated school as M.D. about 1826. Shortly
after he commenced the practice of his profession at
Gaylordsville, and by his attention to his patients,
and the skill manifested by him, he soon acquired
a large practice, which he held many years. He
worked hard, never sparing himself when suffering
humanity called for his aid. He was prospered finan-
cially, and at his death (as he was never married) he
was able to give (and did do so) substantial tokens of
remembrance to his near relatives. In 1873 he re-
moved to Sharon, retiring from practice, and made
his home with his sister, Mrs. Gibbs W. Skiff, of
Ellsworth. His death occurred Aug. 15, 1877, and a
handsome monument in the little cemetery of Ells-
worth, bearing his name and the inscription, “The
Beloved Physician,” testifies to the general belief of
his worthiness.

THE PECK FAMILY.

William Peck, the first of this family in America,
arrived in Boston, from England, June 26, 1637, with
his wife Elizabeth and son Jeremiah. He was born
in London or vicinity in 1601, and was there married,
about 1622. In 1638 he became one of the original
proprietors of New Haven, Conn., and his signature
is affixed to the agreement or constitution for the goy-
ernment of that colony, dated June 4, 1639. He was
made a freeman of the colony Oct. 20, 1640, and was
evidently a man of means and high social standing.
He was a merchant, and was also trustee, treasurer,
and general business manager of the “ Colony Colle-
giate School.” In the old records he is recorded as
“Mr.,” then a title of honor and distinction. From
1659 until his death, Oct. 4, 1694, at the advanced age
of ninety-three years, he was a deacon of the New
Haven Church. His four children, Jeremiah, John,
Joseph, and Elizabeth, all children of his first wife, .
Elizabeth, survived him. His grave is in that part
of the old burial-ground now under the Centre church,
in New Haven.

Jeremiah was born in London or vicinity in 1628.
He had a classical education, and had been preaching
or teaching school at Guilford, Conn., for some time,
when, Nov. 12, 1656, he married Johanna, daughter
of Robert Kitchell, a prominent man, and one of the
founders of Guilford. He continued in the same
calling until 1660, when he was invited to take charge
of the collegiate school at New Haven, Conn., insti-
tuted by the General Court in 1659 as a classical
school for the colony. It was not supported properly,

was temporarily suspended, afterwards revived, and ©

comes down to the present generation as “ Hopkins
Grammar School.” After a few years’ settlement as
pastor at Saybrook, he became one of the first settlers
of Newark, N. J., and finally was settled at Elizabeth-
town, N. J., about 1670, as their first minister. After
numerous calls to pastorates in divers places, in Octo-
ber, 1678, he accepted one from Greenwich, Conn.,
 

JOHN.

ST.

GAMALIEL
 

ENOCH P. PECK.
 
 
SHARON.

and became the first settled minister in that town.
His pastorate was a useful one, but, owing to differ-
ences in views about baptisms, he resigned his charge
in 1689. He then commenced preaching in Water-
bury, Conn., received and accepted the unanimous
call of the residents of that town to settle with them
in the ministry, removed thither in 1690, and became
the first settled minister in that town also. He was
then nearly seventy years of age, was always pos-
sessed of much energy and ability, and did much
good, both as teacher and minister. He continued,
with failing health, to discharge his official duties
until his decease, in Waterbury, June 7, 1699. His
wife survived him twélve years. Their children were
Samuel, Ruth, Caleb, Anne, Jeremiah, and Joshua.

Samuel,! eldest son of Rev. Jeremiah, was born in
Guilford, Conn., Jan. 18, 1659; came to Greenwich,
Conn., with his father, in 1678; was well educated ;
married, Nov. 27, 1686, Ruth, daughter of Peter, and
granddaughter of Jeffrey Ferris, of Stamford, Conn.;
became a man of large wealth and influence; for fifty
years was justice of the peace, held other prominent
positions, and was the progenitor of the numerous
Peck families of Greenwich, where he died, April 28,
1746, leaving children,—Samuel,? Jeremiah, Joseph.
David, Nathaniel, Eliphalet, Theophilus, Peter, and
Robert.

Samuel Peck? was born in Greenwich, March, 1688 ;
married in 1715; was a carpenter, and also a farmer.
He lived in Greenwich during his life, and died in
December, 1733. (His widow married John Clogston
in 1735, soon removed to Redding, Conn., where she
died, leaving two daughters, born in Redding, one of
whom, Abigail, married Capt. Enoch Parsons, and
died in Sharon, June 6, 1807. Betsy, their daughter,
was the wife of Deacon Calvin Peck, spoken of far-
ther on in this sketch.) The children of Samuel? and
his wife-Elizabeth were Mary, John, Samuel’, and
Ruth.

Samuel Peck? was born in Greenwich, Conn., in
April, 1720, and married Mary, daughter of James
Ferris, of the same town. Mr. Peck resided in old
Greenwich, was a valuable citizen, a man of great
force and decision of character, and for years was
deacon of the First Congregational Church in Green-
wich. His death occurred Jan. 29, 1793. He left
nine children, of whom Calvin was seventh child and

fourth son.

Calvin Peck was born in Greenwich, Dec. 4, 1764,
and married, as above stated, Betsy, daughter of
Capt. Enoch Parsons. Mr. Peck became a resident
of Sharon about 1788. He was a soldier in the Rev-
olutionary war, a carpenter by trade, and deacon of
the Congregational Church in Sharon. He was an
honest, industrious man, and held in high esteem by
his fellow-townsmen, and was intrusted with numer-
ous public trusts. He had nine children, of whom
Enoch P. was eldest son, and died Sept. 1, 1837.

Enoch Parsons Peck was born in Greenwich, Nov.

 

593

14, 1787, and came in infancy with his parents to
Sharon. He early learned the carpenter trade of his
father, and continued that avocation until about forty
years of age, earning by it the money which pur-
chased the place now owned and occupied by his son,
Augustus L., and after the death of his father he
bought the interests of the other heirs in the old home-
stead. He afterwards purchased the Tanner farm,
and became the owner of about four hundred and
forty acres of land in Sharon. He was married, Nov.
7, 1815, to Mary, daughter of Ebenezer and Hannah
(Lockwood) Peck, of Greenwich, and had three chil-
dren,—Augustus L., Elias R., and Charles W. He
at various times held important town offices, was a
lifelong member of the Congregational Church, and
for many years was connected with that of Sharon.
He was an “ Old-Line” Whig, as was his father, and
none of his sons have ever deviated from his princi-
ples. He died Aug. 24, 1858, in the same house that
his father built on his settlement in Sharon, and
where he also died. Mrs. Peck survived him, dying
March 28, 1866.

Augustus L. Peck was born in Sharon, Sept. 8,
1816. He spent his boyhood with his father on the
farm; had common-school advantages; stayed with
his father until his marriage to Mary, youngest daugh-
ter of Freeman W. Parsons, Jan. 6, 1841,* when he
moved to the place where he now resides. He always
has been a farmer, and has taken pride in his calling.
He has particularly devoted himself to producing fine
cattle, and has received very large prices for them. He
has never accepted office, but has been a hard-working,
energetic citizen of independent thought and action.
Knowing the secret of taking care of property, as well
as acquiring it, he is to-day in the front rank of Sharon’s
representative agriculturists, and possessed of a hand-
some property. He has been an active Republican
from the organization of that party.

Elias R. Peck was born Oct. 10, 1824. He was ed-
ucated at public and private schools in Sharon,
worked as a farmer at home till he was thirty years
old, when, Oct. 28, 1854, he married Miss Euphemia
E. Nodine, and soon moved to Stamford, Conn., and
entered into trade as a merchant in company with
Hiram Reynolds. He afterwards moved to South
Norwalk, was a merchant there a few years, but the
salt air not agreeing with him, he returned to Sharon,
and after his father’s death occupied a portion of the
old homestead, where he died, Oct. 21, 1864, leaving
no children.

Charles W. Peck was born Dec. 18, 1831. He
always lived with his father, working the farm for the
two years previous to his father’s death in 1858. He
had the instruction given at district schools, and also
attended a private school taught in Cornwall by a Mr.
Howe. He married, Nov. 8, 1858, Julia M., daugh-
ter of Austin and Thirza D. (Jackson) Cartwright.

 

* See biographical sketch of Charles M. and F. L. Pierson.
594

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD ' COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

This family is one of Sharon’s old families, and Mrs.
Peck is a distant relative of the celebrated Rev. Peter
Cartwright. Mr. Peck is a successful farmer, attend-
ing strictly to business, and by inheritance and dili-
gence, economy and industry, he is now in posses-
sion of a fine property. While a strong Republican,
he is not a politician, and voted for Horace Greeley
for President in 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have but
one child now living, Ella M., who was born Sept.
29, 1878.

LEMUEL PECK.

Julius Peck, son of. Amiel Peck, was born in
Brookfield, Conn. He was a tanner and currier,
and also a farmer. He married Sarah Dunning, and
had nine children,—Polly (deceased), Amiel, Betsy
(deceased), Lemuel, Sarah (deceased), Amanda (de-
ceased), Harriet, Julius B., and Cyrenus H.

Amiel now resides in Ohio, Julius B. in Illinois,
and Cyrenus H. in Brookfield, Conn.

Julius Peck settled in Sharon, on the farm now
owned by his son Lemuel, and where all the family,
save the eldest, were born. He died March 23, 1823,
aged fifty-eight years. Amiel, Sr., was a tanner and
currier, and shoemaker and farmer. He died far ad-
vanced in life.

Lemuel Peck was born July 25, 1802. He had no
other educational advantages than those secured by
attendance at the common schools of Sharon, and
about 1819 he began to learn the trade of country
cloth-dressing, and had finished it in 1822. For three
or four seasons he has worked at his trade, but farm-
ing has been his principal business. He was the
eldest son, and by his father’s death the responsibil-
ity of “head of the family” devolved on him, and
faithfully did he discharge this duty, changing for
this the whole tenor of this life. His infirm mother
and maiden sisters have never lost his care nor ceased
to experience his affectionate solicitude.

In politics Mr. Peck has been a lifelong Democrat,
and has been called to fill various town offices. He
has been frugal, and is in possession of a handsome
property.

CHARLES M. PARSONS AND F. L. PIERSON.

Stephen Pierson (called Parsons), who diedin Derby,
Conn., May 14, 1789, aged ninety-four years, is the
oldest ancestor that can be traced of this family.
His will was dated Sept. 2, 1733. He married Mary
Tomlinson, of Stratford, Conn., who died Sept. 25,
1715. His second wife, Esther, survived him. He
had six children (perhaps more),—Stephen, Abraham
(called Sergeant), John, Mary, who married Josiah
Baldwin, Sept. 19, 1700; Sarah, married to John
Twitchell, Jan. 21, 1679; Bathsheba (Mrs. Adam
Blackman, of Stratford). Mary Tomlinson was
daughter of Henry Tomlinson and Alice, his wife.
They removed from Watertown, Mass., about 1644,
to Milford about 1652, to Stratford about 1665, where

 

he died, March 16, 1681. His widow married John
Birdsey, under a contract of Oct. 8, 1688.

Stephen Pierson was born in England about 1645,
was apprenticed by his mother, probably a'widow, to
Thomas Mulliner, of Branford, Conn., to learn the
carpenter’s trade, and came to New Haven about
1654. The colonial records say he testified in court
at New Haven on a case of witchcraft, June 30, 1657.
He was a resident of Derby, then Pangasset, on
March 15, 1667, and was probably there in 1666.
The reservoir in Derby covers a part of the home-lot
of four acres where Stephen first resided in that town.

Abraham Pierson and Sarah, his wife, resided in
Derby, and had six children,—Sarah, Abraham, Mary,
Hannah, Stephen, and Bathsheba. His list in 1717
was forty-eight pounds ten shillings. His will
was dated April 26, 1750, and he died about 1773.
His son Stephen was born March 4, 1720, and mar-
ried Hannah Munson, June 15, 1738. She was born
in Derby, March 7, 1721, and was daughter of John
and Elizabeth Munson, of Derby, and granddaughter
of John and Hannah Munson, of Brook Haven, L. I.
Their children were Enoch, Elijah, Rachel, Daniel,
and Eli. Mr. Pierson’s will was dated Feb. 2, 1758,
and he died in Derby about 1754. His widow mar-
ried Elijah Davis, of Derby, survived him, and died
in Alford, Berkshire Co., Mass., Nov. 19,1815. (The
spelling of the name was by this time almost uni-
versally Parsons.)

Enoch Parsons was born June 18, 1739, in Derby,
and after the death of his father, being then about
fifteen years old, went as servant of a British officer
to Canada, in the French and Indian war of 1755.
After he returned he learned the carpenter’s trade,
and worked in Newtown, Conn., where, Feb. 11, 1761,
he married Abigail, daughter of John Clogston and
Elizabeth, his wife, widow of Samuel Peck, Jr., of
Greenwich, Conn. She was born in Redding, March
22,1738. They had two children born in Newtown,
Betsy and Mary Wakeman, and removed to Ells-
worth society, Sharon, April 9, 1764. There Abi-
gail, Amarillis, Stephen, Enoch, Freeman W., and
Amideus were born. Mrs. Parsons died in Sharon,
June 6, 1807. Capt. Enoch, as he was called, bought
the homestead where he settled of John Jackson, son
of Deacon Ebenezer Jackson, and it is in the posses-
sion of his great-grandson, F. L. Pierson, and his
present home. Capt. Enoch was a man of more edu-
cation than most of his day, and was appointed to
“line the psalm,” agreeable to the ancient manner of
singing in public worship. He became a large Jand-
owner, and was a man of great energy, prominent in
public affairs, represented Sharon in the Legislature
of October, 1795, and was selectman, assessor, etc.,
several terms. For his second wife Capt. Enoch
married Abigail, widow of Deacon Silas St. John, of
Ellsworth, Oct. 8, 1809. She died Nov. 12, 1823. He
died Oct. 1, 1827, at the hale old age of eighty-eight
years,
 

LEMUEL PECK
 
 

Eng ay HB Hall & Sons 12 Barciay ot VS
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SAMUEL SKIFF
SHARON.

595

 

Amideus was born April 29, 1780. He married

Aurelia Miles, and liad several children. Charles M.,
his son, was born March 12, 1812, in Ellsworth parish,
Sharon. He had a common-school education, and
never left his parents, but became a farmer, and lived
with his father until his death in 1866. He had the
management of the farm after he was thirty years,
and specially devoted himself to stock-raising, and
was very successful. Cflarles was a prominent man
in town affairs and local politics. He was selectman
for years, judge of probate, and represented Sharon
in the Legislature of 1858. He was an old-fashioned
Whig, but acted with the Republican party from its
formation. He was a generous and public-spirited
man, responding promptly to every call for aid,
whether in church matters, town improvements, or
individual charity. His health failed so that he dis-
continued farming for the latter part of his life. He
never married, and died at Norfolk, Aug. 2, 1872.
His mother died Jan. 18, 1871. Mr. Parsons was a
man who had an unusual number of friends, and at
the time of his death had probably not a single
enemy. ‘The memory of his deeds lives in pleasant
remembrances.” :

Freeman W. Parsons was born March 16, 1776, and
was not named when the news came that the “ Declar-
ation of Independence” was signed, and the patriotic
parents, to testify their joy and commemorate the oc-
casion, named him Free-man Washington. He was
born, lived, and died on the place in Sharon where
his father settled. He married Mary Skiff, in October,
1797, who was born in Ellsworth, Sept. 23,1774. She
was daughter of Samuel and Mary Skiff, from Mar-
tha’s Vineyard. (See biography of Samuel Skiff.)
They had five children,—John, Betsy, Daniel, Pau-
lina, and Mary L. (Mrs. A. L. Peck.). Mrs. Parsons
died Nov. 18, 1846, and he married Anna Maria
Boardman for his second wife. Mr. Parsons was
selectman and constable several times. He was a
good scholar, and was fond of an argument. His oc-
cupation was farming. He died July 21, 1861.

John, his son, was born Nov. 6, 1799, on the old
homestead, and married, in Greenwich, Conn., Nov.
30, 1821, Sarah, daughter of Frederick and Deborah
(Reynolds) Lockwood, of that town. She was born
Sept. 19, 1799, in Greenwich. Her grandparents
were Jonathan and Mercy (Finch) Lockwood, and
Nathaniel and Sarah (Lockwood) Reynolds. . They
had children,—Frederick Lockwood, Mary Eliza-
beth, Harriet Louisa, John Albert, Caroline (Mrs. F.
A. Hotchkiss, deceased), Sarah Augusta, Frances
Aphelia, Cordelia, and Augustus. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Pierson are living at this writing.

- Frederick Lockwood Pierson was born on the old
homestead, in Sharon, Sept. 28, 1822, in the same
house where he now resides, and which was built by
his grandfather, Freeman W., about 1800. Frederick
had a common-school education, and began to teach
district schools when eighteen years old. He taught

 

ten winters and two summers, and between his terms
of school was employed in farming. He married
Susan, daughter of Herman and Caroline (Whit-
comb) Skiff, in Ellsworth, Feb. 2, 1851. Their chil-

 

dren are Mary, Edward, Eliza, and George. Mr.
Pierson is an active man of good judgment, and oc-
cupies a high position in the estimation of his fellow-
citizens. He is an ardent advocate of education, and
a supporter of all things tending to the advancement
and betterment of society. He has steadily refused
office, and devotes himself fully to his “ profession,”
farming, and were all farmers to take the pride he
takes, and strive as he strives, to advance the dignity
of agriculture, it would not be long before it would be
really a “profession” to all, instead of a drudging
employment.

SAMUEL SKIFF, JR., AND GIBBS W. SKIFF.

,

The Skiff family was originally from England,
James Skiff and two brothers residing in London at
thetime of the “Great Plague” (1665). The brothers
fell victims to the epidemic, and James emigrated to
Martha’s Vinyard, settling there, or on the mainland
near by. The branch of the family of whom we
write are his descendants.

Samuel Skiff, Sr., was born in Martha’s Vinyard,
Mass., Jan. 23, 1744. In early life he was a farmer,
afterwards, becoming a sailor, went on four whaling
voyages. He married Mary, daughter of Benjamin
Skiff, and moved to Sharon, Conn., in 1774, when
it was almost a wilderness, and purchased the place
596

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

so long in the family when but one-half acre had
been cleared of the original forest. He was an
active, energetic man, well fitted to endure the hard-
ships of pioneer life. He had six children,—Arvin,
Gibbs, Mary (Mrs. Freeman W. Parsons), Asa, Eliza-
beth (Mrs. James Woodward), and Samuel, Jr. The
last four were born in Sharon. He and his wife died
within two days of each other, and both were eighty-
one years of age. He died Dec. 27, and she Dec. 29,
1824.

Samuel Skiff, Jr., was born in Sharon, Sept. 21,
1781, on the place now owned and occupied by his
son, Gibbs W., in the house built by his father. He
had a common-school education, became a farmer,
married, April 28, 1808, Jerusha, daughter of Abel
Woodward, of Watertown, and always resided where
he was born. They had threesons,—Gibbs W., Clark
S., and George L.; the last two are dead. Mr. Skiff
was a quiet man, a good eitizen, a consistent Chris-
tian,—a man who said but little, but who was esteemed
a worthy man in his day and generation, his actions
speaking louder far than words of a well-ordered life.
His word, when given, was as good as his bond, and
neither were ever repudiated. In the home circle he
was kind and affectionate, and enjoyed its society
more than that of any other place. He never cared
for office, but was a quiet voter of the Whig ticket.
He was much respected in his neighborhood and
church. He died March 2, 1862; Mrs. Skiff died
March 18, 1844.

Gibbs Woodward Skiff was born July 13, 1810, in
Sharon, in the house built by his grandfather on the
place where he first settled. He passed his early life
in the customary employments of a farmer’s boy, was
educated at the public and private schools of Sharon,
and commenced teaching winter terms of district
school when but seventeen years of age. He con-
tinued teaching for twelve winters, working on the
farm in summer. Jan. 1, 1834, he married Abigail
E., daughter of Silas and Olive (Barstow) St. John,
of Sharon.* She was born Noy. 8, 1811. For four
years the young couple lived at the old homestead,
for six years more on the place adjacent, where Gibbs
Skiff now resides. After his mother’s death, Mr.
Skiff moved again to the old homestead, and assumed
charge of the farm. For nearly fifty years this worthy
couple have walked hand-in-hand the pathway of
life, for forty years have belonged to the Congrega-
tional Church of Ellsworth, and in all ways have
given their best efforts to the advancement of every
good and Christian enterprise. For over twenty
years Mr. Skiff has held the honorable position of
deacon in his church, In politics he was formerly a
Whig, and is now a Republican. He has been select-
man, assessor for many years, and represented Sharon
in the State Legislature of 1851. His only child,
Lucy M., was married, April 4, 1835, to Giles Skiff,

 

“For fuller sketch of her family, see history of the St. John family,
on another page. :

 

and lives close to the old home. They have two sons,
Clark E. and Francis 8.

My. Skiff is justly entitled to take rank as one of
Sharon’s leading and successful agriculturists, he
and his son-in-law having about three hundred and
seventy-five acres of land in their possession.

®
SETH B. ST. JOHN AND HENRY ST. JOHN.

It is with pleasure that the historian records on
the pages of history a few words to tell to coming
generations something of the men engaged in the
work of the first century of civilization in Sharon.
In this welcome task perhaps no one family deserves
more notice, from their numbers, than that of St.
John. The branch of this family settling in this
town has borne the family characteristics, and its
members have been intelligent, industrious, reputable
citizens. Timothy, Daniel, and Silas St. John, broth-
ers, came from Norwalk, Conn., to Sharon,—Timothy
in 1756, Daniel in 1761, and Silas during the Revo-
lution. Silas purchased land in Ellsworth parish,
near where his grandson, Henry St. John, now re-
sides. He was the first deacon of the church in Ells-
worth, and was for several years town treasurer, and
died Sept. 21, 1805, aged sixty-four years. Silas St.
John, Jr., was born in Ellsworth, Sept. 11, 1772. He
learned the mason’s trade, but became a farmer, and
married Olive, daughter of Seth Barstow, of whom
Gen. Sedgwick’s “History of Sharon” says, “Seth
Barstow was from Rochester, Mass., in 1771. He
lived at the lower end of Abel Street, where his
grandson, Seth B. St. John, now lives. He had five
sons,—Allen, Samuel, Seth, Gamaliel, and Charles.
Samuel was a physician, who formerly lived in Great
Barrington, Mass., and who died there in 1818. Ga-
maliel was also a physician, residing in Broome Co.,
N.Y. He was a member of Congress and a member
of the Senate, and treasurer of the State of New
York. Mr. Barstow, the father, died in 1822.”

Mr. St. John was selectman for many years. In
politics he was a Federalist in early life, and after-
wards a Whig. He was highly esteemed by his fel-
low-townsmen, and noted for his conscientiousness
and strict honesty. He died Oct. 22, 1848. He left
three sons,—Seth B., Gamaliel H., and Henry.

Seth Barstow St. John, his oldest son, was born
July 19,1798. He passed his early life on his father’s
farm, and became a diligent farmer. From the time
he was of age until he was twenty-nine he worked
farms on shares. He was economical, as well as in-
dustrious, and was prospered. Nov. 27, 1827, he
married Henrietta, daughter of Aaron and Polly
Dunbar. They had four children,—Beriah B., Melissa
(Mrs, Leavitt Mills, of Bristol), Alvah R., and El-
more C. She died Sept. 16,1837. He married for
his second wife Emily Cartwright, March 12, 1889.
Her death occurred Oct. 10, 1852. They had one
 

 

 

      

O.p Home of ICHABOO S.EVERTIT, fusworrn CONN.

ie s . a

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

 
 

   
SHARON.

597

 

child, Henrietta. He subsequently married Marilla
S. Lyman, of New Hartford. Mr. St. John has
had an uncommonly vigorous constitution, and has
labored hard. He has been a successful agricul-
turist, and has amassed a good property as the result
of his skill. He has held many positions of trust,
has served various terms as selectman, has been asses-
sor many years, and represented Sharon in the Legis-
lature of 1859. At the first election by the people
for justice of the peace, Mr. St. John was elected, but
never qualified. He has been a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church in Ellsworth since 1865, and
has been treasurer and trustee of that society for
years. He is a man of positive convictions, and a
strong Democrat, ever clinging to the Constitution as
the bulwark of American liberty, and steadily oppo-
sing any departure from its teachings.

Henry St. John was born on the old homestead,
in Sharon, Oct. 10, 1806. He passed his early years
at home, received a common-school education, and
when about twenty-one years old commenced teach-
ing winter terms of district school. This he continued
for several years, working on the farm in summer.
From the time he was of age he had a share in the
products of the farm, and worked with his father
until 1848, when, on the death of his father, he pur-
chased the interests of the other heirs, and now occu-
pies the old home, one of the pleasantest places in
Sharon, a view of which may be seen on another
page of this history. He also is one of Sharon’s
leading farmers, owning about two hundred and thirty
acres in Elisworth. He has been prominent in local
matters, is always progressive, and ready to aid all
things tending to improve or elevate the community
ortown. His fellow-citizens have often called him
to offices in their gift. He has been, at different times,
selectman, assessor, member of boatd of relief, and
represented Sharon in the Legislature of 1856. He
was first a Whig, afterwards a “ Know-Nothing,” but
from the formation of the Republican party has been
an active member of that organization. He has been
twice married, first, June 10, 1835, to Catharine A.
Wheeler, of North East, N. Y. Their only child,
Catharine, married Richard F. Everett, and now re-
sides at Galva, Ill. Mrs. St. John died Jan. 3, 1837.
His second wife was Almira C., daughter of Amideus
and Aurelia (Miles) Parsons, of an old Sharon family.
They were married Nov. 1, 1838. She was born
March 6,1815. Their children are Charles P., Aurelia
M. (Mrs. William Marsh), Cordelia M. (deceased),
Pluma B. (Mrs. H. A. Stanard, of Norfolk), and
Belle.

SAMUEL DEAN. .

Daniel Dean was a resident of Cornwall, Conn., a
weaver by trade, and moved to Ellsworth, afterwards to
Amenia, where he died in April, 1850. He had five
children,—Joseph, Samuel, Ira, Clorinda, and Daniel.
Samuel was born in. Cornwall (Great Hill), Nov. 21,

 

1812. His early life was passed with his father, with
common-school advantages. He became a farmer,
living with and supporting his parents until his
marriage, Nov. 19, 1840, to Jennette, daughter of

 

SAMUEL DEAN.

Elijah Knibloe, of an early Sharon family. She
died Feb. 22, 1848. He then purchased the place,
of about one hundred acres, where his son, E. K.
Dean, now resides. The children of this marriage
were Ira, Edward K., and Clarinda J. Samuel Dean
was a quiet and retiring man, but accepted such town
offices as grand jurors, etc. He was an industrious,
law-abiding citizen, and early a member of the Meth-
odist Episcopal Church, of which he was a trustee
and steward. Feb. 20, 1850, he married Lucy E.,
daughter of Austin and Lucy (Morgan) Allen, of
Goshen, who survives him. His death occurred
Nov. 7, 1864. Edward K. Dean was born July 30,
1843. He had common-school education, supple-
mented by one term’s instruction at “Fort Edward
Collegiate Institute.” He has always lived on the
place of his birth, has been, and is, a progressive
farmer, using science as well as practice in his voca-
tion. He married Frances E., daughter of Henry
and Mary Calkins. She was born in Milton, Conn.
Mr. Dean has been selectman, and been elected to
other town offices, but refused to qualify, preferring
to attend to his own affairs rather than to public
matters. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have had six children,
—Lizzie, Samuel (deceased), Daisy, Wilbert, Harvey,
and Burton. ;
598

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ASA EVERITT.

On the Everitt monumental stone in Ellsworth
churchyard is this historic inscription :

“Ebenezer Everitt, died July 24, 1810, aged 88. Lucy Moulton, his
wife, diedi Sept. 28,1813, aged 85. ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but
joy cometh in the morning.’ They came from Hebron in 1745, and were
the ancestors of the numerous Everitt family of Sharon. Of nine chil-
dren, eight settled within one and a half miles of the paternal residence.
Their youngest and last surviving child died in 1854, one hundred and
nine years after they cume to Sharon. This monument is erected asa
tribute of respect by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

The names of the children of these worthy pio-
neers were Isaiah, Ebe, Eliphalet, Olive (Mrs. John
Lord), Lois (Mrs. Thomas St. John), Irene (Mrs.
Caleb Chapman), Lucy (Mrs. —— Avery), Sylvia
(Mrs. David Marvin), and Mehitabel. Isaiah was
twice married, first to Deborah Lord; their three
children were Martin, Cynthia (who married a Rex-

ford), and Adolphus. His second wife was Elizabeth |

Chaffee; they had nine children,— Asa, Deborah
(Mrs. Gillet), Betsy (Mrs. Beardsley), Roswell, Rus-
sell, Gamaliel, Lovina (Mrs. Joseph Lord), Ruth
(Mrs. Alpha Carrier), and William. Isaiah was a

farmer; in politics a Whig; was reputable and re- |

spected, and died Aug. 4, 1834, aged eighty-two.

Asa Everitt was born on the farm now owned by
Eben Chaffee, nearly opposite the present residence
of his son Joshua, in September, 1780. He always
was a farmer, and a plain, unassuming man. He was
three times married. His first wife was Mary Ann,
daughter of Joshua Studley; their only child was
Joshua. His second wife was Anner Hatch; his
third, Mary, daughter of William Kellogg, of Corn-
wall, Conn. Mr. Everitt began life in humble cir-
cumstances, and by prudence became a well-to-do
farmer. He, like his father, was a Whig, but had
little taste for office, yet held some of the minor ones
of Sharon as his part of public service. He died,
respected and mourned, March 2, 1857. His wife is
still living (1881), hale and hearty, at the age of
seventy-seven, and retains much of the vigor of ma-
turity. ;

Joshua Everitt, son of Asa, was born March 19,
1811, on the old farm, now in his possession. He,
too, has always been a farmer. He married, Feb. 12,
1834, Elmina, daughter of Walter Skiff, of Sharon.
She was born April 15, 1811. They have two chil-
dren,—Charles W., born May 8, 1841 (married J ane,
daughter of Horace Dunbar, and has one child,
Hattie L.), and Elizabeth A., born April 17, 1850
(married Edward Per Lee, a farmer in Sharon).
Joshua owns about three hundred acres of land in a
good state of cultivation, and erected his present
residence (on the place formerly owned by Charles
Parsons) in 1870-71. He is a useful and honorable
citizen of Sharon, doing faithfully and well the duties
of his station; isa regular attendant and liberal sup-
porter of the Congregational Church, of which Mrs.
Everitt is a consistent member. In politics Mr.
Everitt has been a Republican.

 

ICHABOD §, EVERITT.

Ichabod 8. Everitt, grandson of Isaiah, and oldest
son of Adolphus Everitt, died in 1867, aged 88; and
Lydia Studley, his wife, was born Jan. 22, 1808, on
the farm where Ebenezer settled. His father was
born on the same farm. Adolphus had nine children;
the seven attaining maturity were Thomas A. (de-
ceased), Ichabod 8., Ruby R. (deceased), Russell A.
(now of Ohio), Abby C. (Mrs. John Tichnor, deceased),
Betsy A. (deceased), and Caroline (Mrs. D. P. Gris-
wold, deceased). The advantages of young Ichabod
for learning were only those of the common schools of
Ellsworth. His political education was acquired from
his father, a Democrat, and he has never swerved
from those teachings. At the age of twenty-one, he
commenced life for himself, and became noted as a
layer of stone walls. These he constructed with skill
and rapidity, and his services were in demand in all
parts of the town. To a greater or less degree he has
been engaged in this all his life, and enjoys the repu-
tation of making the best wall in Sharon. His char-
acter is, like one of his stone walls, of solidity and
worth, and whatever has fallen to his lot to do in life
has been done thoroughly and well. He has held the
office of selectman several times, has been assessor,
and in 1874 was member of the Legislature. He oc-
cupies no unenviable place among the farmers of
Sharon, and is one of the pillars of society in that part
of his town. He settled on his present place in 1854.
He has been twice married, first, to Emily, daughter
of Thomas St. John, of Sharon, Nov. 28, 1836. Their
only child, Mary L., was born May 27, 1848, and
married David L. Smith, of West Cornwall, Conn.,
Feb. 26, 1879. Mrs. Everitt died July 20,1870. Mr.
Everitt, for his second wife, married, Sept. 6, 1876,
Louisa L., daughter of Erastus Lord, of Sharon. She
is a very intelligent person, and many of the younger
generation can testify to her skill and adaptation as a
teacher. Thus, in tracing the Everitt family from
its settlement in Sharon to the present time, we find
them to bear the same characteristics of defense to law
and order, devotion to principle, honest industry, and
prudent thrift, supporters of what tends most to im-
prove the town, its institutions, and its people, always
reputable citizens and law-abiding, a quiet, unosten-
tatious family of sterling worth, much appreciated by
their contemporaries, and of value to the community.

AUGUSTUS EVERITT.

Ebenezer Everitt was from Hebron, settling in
Sharon in 1745. He had three sons,—Isaiah, Ebe,
and Eliphalet, the last two of whom were Revolu-
tionary soldiers. Eliphalet was for several years
steward of Gen. Washington’s military family. Isaiah
died Aug. 4, 1834, aged eighty-two, leaving five sons,
—Adolphus, Asa, Gamaliel, Russell, and William.

Ebe Everitt was born in Ellsworth parish, in Jan-
uary, 1754, was a farmer, and purchased the place
ee
pers ee
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Ge

 

CD nels Cee
 
 

AUGUSTUS EVERITT.
 

. REED.

S

BEN
THOMASTON.

now the residence of his grandson, Samuel E. Everitt,
He was an ardent patriot, serving in the Revolution.
As his first son was born on this place in 1781, Ebe
must have settled here shortly after his return from
his service as soldier. He married Mabel Elmore,
who was born Jan. 14, 1756, and died Feb. 15, 1881.
They had seven children Sima E., Augustus,
Ann (Mrs. Clark Pardee), Elmore, John, Polly, and
Hovey,—all born on the same place. Mr. Everitt
died Jan. 5, 1840. He was a plain, unostentatious
farmer, but a man of fixed principles, a good type of
the man who endured patiently the toils, marching,
suffering, and bloodshed of the conflict from which
emerged the American republic.

Augustus Everitt was born May 17, 1788. When
nine years of age a white swelling came on his foot,
drawing it into such a shape as to make him lame for
life. When fourteen years old he was apprenticed to
a tailor in Warren, who, selling out and removing to
Troy, N. Y., was accompanied by Augustus. After he
became of ase, Augustus went to New York City, and
for a short time worked at his trade as journey-
man. He then returned to Sharon, where he mar-
ried, June 12, 1815, Abigail, daughter of Joel and
Dolly (Hyde) Chaffee, of Sharon. She was born July
17, 1790, and died Dec. 5, 1845. Their children were
Dolly Hyde (Mrs. Cyrus W. Gray), Mary Elmore,
Samuel E., Mabel (Mrs. Benjamin F. Barlow), Mary
L. (Mrs. R. K. Woodward), and Julia A. After his
marriage Mr. Everitt purchased a small place near
the old homestead, and, moving thither, pursued his
trade. He cut and made the first suit of clothes, it is
said, that Amasa Parker, afterwards judge of the
Court of Appeals of the State of New York, ever
wore. During the latter years of his life he suffered
much from his lame leg, which he endured with
Christian patience. He was a member of the Con-
gregational Church of Ellsworth from 1839, and died
Aug. 28, 1867, much respected by all who knew him.

Samuel E., his son, was born Dec. 15, 1822. He
was educated at the district schools, was brought
up a farmer, and always has continued one, com-
mencing life for himself when of age, by not only
working out by the month, but taking his uncle’s
(Samuel, from whom he was named) land “on
shares.” He married, Jan. 12, 1854, Ann Eliza,
daughter of George and Cornelia H. (Beecher) Can-
field, of South Britain, Conn. Both her father and
mother were of old Connecticut families, and she was
a niece of Rev. John W. Beecher, at one time pastor
of the Congregational Church of Ellsworth. They
have two children,—Mary Cornelia (Mrs. F. E. Buck-
ley) and George Augustus. Mr. Everitt cast his first
Presidential vote for Henry Clay electors, and has
since been Whig and Republican. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Everitt are members of the Congregational
Church. Mr. Everitt is an honest, hard-working far-
mer, a good citizen, and a charitable man.

 

599

BENJAMIN §8. REED.

Benjamin 8. Reed was a lineal descendant of the
fourth generation from John Reed, an Englishman,
who came from England at the time of the restoration
of the Stuarts, and settled in Norwalk, Fairfield Co.,
Conn., and hacanie the ancestor of a very fieaeeaae
and highly respectable family. It is said that all the
Reeds of Connecticut are descendants of him. Ben-
jamin Reed, father of Benjamin 8., was probably born
in Worvwaille, Conn., was a suirmeptit by occupation,
married, and camoned to Sharon, where he had a
family of children, among whom was Benjamin S.,
born March, 1810.

Benjamin. 8. was a farmer by occupation. In 1840
he removed to Fairfield County, and settled in the
town of Darien, where he continued to reside till his
death, Oct. 4, 1864. In politics a Republican, and as
such held many town offices, such as assessor, magis-
trate, selectman, and member of the State Legislature
several years. He took an active part in religious
matters, and was a member of the Congregational
Church. He was twice married, first to Elizabeth
Johnson, of Resale Conn., and to them were born
three dhilGren: viz.: (1) Anestine who died at
eighteen; (2 ) Benjamin F., and (3) Henry, both of
whom are farmers and reside at Hart, Mich.

Mr. Reed married for his second wife Mary J.,
daughter of Bradford and Eunice Cleveland, of Salis-
bury, Dec. 21, 1853. No citizen was more universally
respected and trusted than was Mr. Reed. He was a
good citizen, a kind husband and father, liberal to
the church, and charitable towards the poor. His
widow now (1881) lives with her brother, John F.
Cleveland, of Salisbury, and inserts this brief biogra-
phy and the accompanying portrait of Mr. Reed in
memory of him.

CHAPTER LVITII.
THOMASTON.

Geographical—Topographical—Thomaston in 1825—Seth Thomas—The
Seth Thomas Clock Company—Ecclesiastical History—Civil History—
Incorporation of the Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—
Present Town Officers—Representatives.

THE town of Thomaston, the youngest town in the
county, is located in the southeastern part of Litch-
field County, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by Litchfield and Harwinton, on the east by Plym-
outh, on the south by Watertown and New Haven
County, and on the west by Watertown and Litch-
field. The surface of the town is hilly, and soil gen-
erally fertile. The early history of the town has been
given in detail in the history of Plymouth, of which
this town formed a part until 1875. Names of the
early settlers, proprietors’ meetings, early rules and
regulations, etc., will be found in the history of the
mother-town.
600

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

THOMASTON IN 1825.

The section occupied by the village of Thomaston
was originally known as Plymouth Hollow, and fifty-
five years ago consisted of about thirteen dwellings,
located as follows: On East Main Street, on the site
of the Plume & Atwood office, stood a dwelling occu-
pied by Lyman Fenn, and on the premises now oc-
cupied by John H. Wood was also a house, but its
occupant is unknown. There was a house standing
on North Main Street, where Dr. B. W. Pease now
resides, and Junius Blakesley lived in a dwelling
which stood near the present residence of Henry R.
Warner. On the property now owned by Miles Morse,
on Main Street, stood a hotel. Bela Blakesley lived
on the premises now occupied by the Bradstreet
Block and the widow of Edward Thomas, and the
property now owned by Aaron Thomas was in the
possession of the Ford family. The premises now
occupied by T. J. Bradstreet and Mrs. Blakesley were
owned by Mica Blakesley, and on the place now occu-
pied by Mrs. George Reynolds was a tannery. The
next location on the north side of the street belonged
to Seth Thomas, and was occupied by him a number
of years ; it is now covered by the clock-shop. The
next place below has been occupied by the Blakesley
family a long time. One of the oldest buildings in
the village stood on Centre Street, and was occupied
by Levi Castle. The “ farm-house” of Seth Thomas,
so called, was also standing at the time of which we
are writing. ,

But all this is changed. The quiet little hamlet of
less than a score of buildings has grown to one of the
loveliest manufacturing towns in Connecticut, and is
due chiefly to the enterprise of one family, Seth
Thomas and sons. Seth Thomas, Sr., commenced
the manufacture of clocks in 1809, in company with
Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley, at what is now Hancock
Station, on the New York and New England Rail-
road. Here he remained until 1813, when he came to
Plymouth Hollow, now Thomaston, and purchased
the site where the case-shop is now located, and com-
menced the manufacture of clocks.* He gradually
increased the business, and in 1853 the Seth Thomas
Clock Company was organized under the joint-stock
laws of Connecticut. At the beginning of business
about twenty persons were employed, and the annual
product amounted to about ten thousand dollars, The
manufacture rapidly increased, until now the cor-
poration employs about nine hundred workmen, with
a monthly pay-roll of over thirty thousand dollars,
and a yearly production of about one million dollars.
About four hundred thousand clocks are manufactured
annually, and one hundred and seventy different
styles. The most expensive clock was manufactured
in 1876 for Independence Hall, Philadelphia, costing
six thousand dollars. The building covers about
twenty acres. The Seth Thomas clocks have obtained

 

* See biography.

 

a world-wide reputation, and shipments are made to
every civilized country on the globe.

The present officers are Aaron Thomas, President;
Seth Thomas, Secretary; and Seth E. Thomas, Treas-
urer.

THE THOMASTON WATER COMPANY.

The act incorporating the Thomaston Water Com-
pany was approved March 25, 1879. The incorpora-
tors were Aaron Thomas, William G. Woodruff,
George B. Pierpont, George A. Stoughton, Randal T.
Andrews, Bennett E. Osborn, James E. Bishop,
Chauncey Bidwell, Berry Platt, Edwin P. Parker,
Noah A. Norton, Nelson Bennett, Israel B. Wood-
ward, Ralph S. Goodwin, and Byron W. Pease.

THE THOMASTON EXPRESS

was started by three young men, April 1, 1880, as a
joint-stock concern, with a capital of five thousand
dollars. After running it a few months the company
became embarrassed financially, and sold the property
to C. James, who had a few months before sold the
Wolcottville Reporter to its present owner. OC. James
took possession Oct. 12,1880, and is the present editor
and proprietor. The paper is an eight-column folio,
and has already a circulation excelled by but two pa-
pers in the county.

THE THOMASTON WEEKLY NEWS,

the youngest paper in the county, was established in
March, 1881, by C. R. Smith & Co.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.+

The following we gather from Nehemiah Griffin, who
was identified with the church from its earliest his-
tory. Hecame to Plymouth in April, 1818, soon after
Aschel McKee and Alfred Myrich came, A Metho-
dist was a curiosity at that time. Lockwood Dickin-
son was the first local preacher. He preached in the
school-house near where the band-stand is now lo-
cated. That was in June or July, 1818. Rev. Cyrus
Silman preached in the door-yard of Herman Clark
about the middle of July. In the fall of 1820 the
first class was formed, with Amos Andrews leader.
The class consisted of Amos Andrews and wife, Nehe-
miah Griffin, Aschel McKee, and others. Since the
2d of June, 1833, Sabbath preaching has been con-
tinued in the Hollow, unless we except a short time
they were held in a school-house near Bennett Hib-
bard’s, The ministers that have preached are as fol-
lows: 1843-44, Charles Bartlett; 1845, George Kerr;
184647, Henry J. Fox; 1848-49, Moses Blydenburgh ;
1850-51, T. B. Chandler; 1852, John Pegg, Jr.; 1853,
William Silverthorn; 1854, William F. Smith; 1855,
supplied by Joseph Smith; 1859-60, Daniel Tracy;
1861, A. V. R. Abbott; 1862, John §. Breckinridge;
1863, Moses Lyon ; 1864, supplied by Beach and San-

 

+ Contributed by C. E. Morse.
THOMASTON.

ford, from university ; 1865-67, Elias B. Sanford ; 1868,
Alexander Graham ; 1869, Friend W.Smith. During
the year 1866 the society built a new church edifice,
and sold the old one to the Episcopal society. In the
spring of 1857, E. B. Sanford, having served his time
of three years as pastor, left the Methodist Church and
united with the Congregationalist. 1870, Frank W.
Lockwood ; 1871-72, William Make; 1873-74, C. P.
Corner; 1875, David Nash; 1876, Henry 8. Still;
1877, Josiah R. Bucklew; 1878-80, Horace L. Judd ;
1881, William H. Barton. ;

The stewards are William Bickley, William B. Fos-

ter, Henry O. Wood, Luther J. Holt, John N. Wat-

rous, C. H. Cables, Ambrose A. Curtiss, Daniel E.
McKinley, Charles E. Morse; Trustees, Joshua H.
Wood, George W. Baldwin, William W. Lees, Wil-
liam Bickley, William C. McKinley, Warren M.
Wood, Watson N. Smith, Bishop Smith, Charles E.
Morse; William Bickley, President; C. E. Morse,
Clerk; Lines C. Bushnell, Superintendent of the Sun-
day-school.

For many years previous to the erection of a house
of worship by the Methodists in this place it was
favored with circuit preaching by the New York Con-
ference. During these years the tide of opposition
was strong against this small band, which finally
eventuated in their being prohibited the use of the
school-house, which for some years they had occu-
pied.

The members here at the time, though small
and feeble, now felt the need of a house of worship.
The subject of building soon became agitated, which
in the course of two or three years resulted in the
erection of a very neat and commodious church.
This church was erected in the year 1842, principally
through the influence and labors of Bennett Hibbard,
a leader and steward in the charge. The house being
finished in the early part of the winter, was dedicated
by the Rev. L. D. Ferguson. During the winter they
were favored by the great head of the church with a
most gracious revival, which resulted in adding strength
and members to the society. After having these ac-
cessions to the church, and being under the strong
impression that it would be best for them, as individ-
nals and as a society, to be set off as a station, a pe-
tition expressing their desires to be thus set off was
sent to the Conference.

The first pastor was Charles Bartlett. The first
officers were as follows: Bennett Hibbard, Nathan A.
Daniels, Leaders ; Bennett Hibbard, Hiram 8. Turn-
ing, Stewards; Bennett Hibbard, Samuel Coley, Sher-
man Lines, Trustees.

The following is a list of the members in the year
1842: Bennett Hibbard, Laura Hibbard, William
McAliston, Hiram Turney, Jenett Turney, Ruth A.
Dunning, Emily Smith, Julia E, Thompson, Jane M.
Thompson, Mary Fuller, Fanny Munger, Lucius Al-
cott, Emily Alcott, Caleb Austin, Louisa Austin,
Abijah A, Dunning, Maria Fuller, and Lrey Yale.

 

601

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

This church was organized Dec. 7, 1837, with the
following members: Josiah Warner, Thomas Sutliff,
Abel C. Judson, Abel Judson, Hiram Pierce, William
P. Judson, Samuel Beach, Silas Hotchkiss, Edward
Nettleton, James Cargill, Seth Thomas, Joseph P.
Mansfield, P. D. Potter, Lafayette Comstock, Mun-
son Adkins, Nathan Cook, Fanny Warner, Nancy
Sutliff, Huldah Sutliff, Ruby Judson, Sabrina Hart,
Sally C. Northrop, Mehitabel Booth, Ruth Bush,
Harriet Nettleton, Martha Marsh, Chloe Boardman,
Eunice Cargill, Mary M. Judson, Hannah M. Com-
stock, Clarissa E. Cook, Laura Thomas, Martha
Thomas, Amanda Thomas, Mary E. Blakesley, Esther
Potter, Amanda Adkin. The pastors have been as
follows: Harvey D. Kitchell, Joseph D. Hull, James
Averill, J. B. Pearson, R. P. Searle, J. W. Backus,
H. C. Hitchcock, 8. M. Freeland, present pastor. C.
H. Gilbert is present deacon, and A. R. Nettleton
clerk and treasurer. The present church was erected
in 1887, but has since been repaired and improved.

TRINITY CHURCH, THOMASTON.

Trinity parish sprang from St. Peter’s, Plymouth.
The Rev. Benjamin Eastwood commenced holding
evening services in the Academy Hall, but in 1866
Academy Hall was sold to the school district. It was
then thought best to purchase the old meeting-house
of the Methodist society, and in March, 1867, it was
deeded to Randal T. Andrews, Edwin Welton, and
Robert Alcott, to be held by them in trust until such
time as a parish might be organized. In the fall of
the same year the building was enlarged by adding a
vestibule and belfry, and a bell in memory of Mrs.
Hannah Williams. The parish organization was ef-
fected Jan. 2, 1869. The names of the first members
were Robert Alcott, Augustus E. Blakeslee, Jerry M.
Curtiss, Herman D. Saul, David 8. Plume, Richard
Chapman, George G. Alcott, Harvey Sperry, Alfred
J. Winton, Randal T. Andrews, John Chapman,
Hugh Lawton, Edward T. Gates, William C. Gates,
Thomas Chapman, George W. Canfield, Martin L.
Judd, Augustus Merrill, and Daniel H. Stevens.

The first rector was Rev. David Bishop ; first clerk,
Robert Alcott; first treasurer, R. T. Andrews; first
wardens, Edward T. Gates, George G. Alcott; first
vestrymen, David S. Plume, Randal T. Andrews,
Robert Alcott, Augustus E. Blakeslee, Jerry M. Cur-
tiss, William OC. Gates, Hugh Lawton, Isaac R. Castle,
and John Chapman, The present church edifice was
erected on the site of the old one in 1871.

Rey. David Bishop resigned Feb. 1, 1874, and was
succeeded by the present rector, Rev. Thomas 8. Ock-
ford, Feb. 10, 1874.

The present church was enlarged, at an expense of
three thousand dollars, in the fall of 1879, and a fifteen-
hundred-dollar organ placed therein in memory of
George W. Bradley, a former organist of St. Peter’s,
Plymouth. The present officers are Robert Alcott,
602

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Clerk; Frank H. Hotchkiss, Treasurer; Wardens,
Edward T. Gates, Randal T. Andrews; Vestrymen,
Dwight L. Kenea, Edwin Alvord, Garwood B. Judd,
Homer W. Welton, Fred H. Ridpath, Jonathan
Brown, Daniel H. Stevens, James 8. Eastwood, James
White, Frank W. Filley, Augustus Merrill, and Au-
gustus E. Blakeslee.

CIVIL HISTORY.

The act of the General Assembly incorporating the
town of Thomaston was approved July 6, 1875.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held July 19, 1875, with
Miles Morse as moderator, and Albert P. Bradstreet
clerk pro tem., when the following officers were chosen :
Selectmen, Frederick E. Warner, Nelson Bennett, and
Morris Hummiston; Grand Jurors, Albert P. Brad-
street, Michael Ryan, David S. Potter, James E,
Bishop, Thomas D. Bradstreet, and William Barber ;
Constables, W. B. Gilbert, Wm. I. Judson, P.
Clyton, Edwin Alvord, Henry F. Bradford, James
B. Blakeslee, and John H. Taylor; Assessors, Israel
B. Woodward, Charles C. Potter, and E. Stevens;
Board of Relief, Miles Morse, Benj. Platt, Randal
T. Andrews; Town Clerk, Albert P. Bradstreet;
Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Albert P.
Bradstreet ; Town Treasurer, George P. North; Town
Agent, Miles Morse; Agent of Town Deposit: Fund,
George A. Stoughton; Registrar of Voters, Horton
Pease and A. E. Blakeslee; School-Visitors, Thos. J.
Bradstreet, Joseph W. Backus, Thomas S. Ackford,
Elias B. Sanford, Eugene Gaffney, and Daniel C.
Churchill.

Selectmen: 1875-76, Frederick E. Warner, Nelson
Bennett, and Ashbel N. French; 1877, Benjamin
Platt, Morris H. Guernsey, and Frederick E. Warner;
1878, Frederick E. Warner, Franklin B. Taylor, and
G. Perry Bennett; 1879, Frederick E. Warner, G.
Perry Bennett, and Aaron Thomas; 1880, Aaron
Thomas, Thomas H. Newton, and Frederick E. Warner.

The present town officers are as follows: Select-
men, Aaron Thomas, Thomas H. Newton, Morris Hu-
miston ; Grand Jurors, Thomas H. Newton, Samuel 8.
Lamb, Alfred B. Smith, Gilbert I. Wooster, Joseph
K. Judson, Peter Duff; Constables, William B. At-
wood, Joseph Wolf, Edgar W. Bennett, Edwin A.
Bradley, Robert B. Codling, William W. Morton,
Thomas Gotsel; Assessors, Israel B. Woodward, Jo-
seph K. Judson; Board of Relief, Benjamin Platt,
Edward P. Parker ; Registrar of Births, Marriages, and
Deaths, Albert P. Bradstreet; Town Clerk, Albert P.
Bradstreet; Town Treasurer and Treasurer of Town
Deposit Fund, George P. North ; Town Agent, George
P. North; Registrars of Voters, Augustus E. Blakes-
lee and Horton Pease; Collector of Taxes, George
H. Stoughton ; Auditors, James 8. Eastwood, D. 8. Pot-
ter; Agent of Town Deposit Fund, George H.
Stoughton ; School Committee, to fill vacancies for

 

three years, George A. Stoughton, Abel W. Smith,
Eugene Gaffney; Justices of the Peace, A. P. Brad-
street, T. H. Newton, G. I. Wooster, J. E. Bishop,
George A. Stoughton, Franklin B. Taylor, W. T.
Woodruff, Henry F. Bradford, Edgar Blake, R. T.
Andrews, Miles Morse, D. 8. Potter.

LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES.

1876, Benjamin Platt; 1877-78, Albert P. Bradstreet; 1879, Israel Wood-
ward; 1880, Benjamin Platt; 1881, Aaron Thomas.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

SETH THOMAS.

Seth Thomas, son of James and Martha Thomas,
was born in Wolcott, Conn., Aug. 19, 1785. His ad-
vantages for education were very meagre, consisting
of a very few days’ attendance upon a distant public
school. He served an apprenticeship to the trade of
a carpenter and joiner; a considerable portion of the
time was spent in the construction of Long Wharf, in
New Haven. Leaving at his majority, with a small
kit of tools and a very small amount of money, he
was strongly inclined to avail himself of water-power
to facilitate his business, and entered into negotiation
for asiteon Mad River, in Wolcott. Needing a short
piece of road the better to get to the site, he petitioned
the town to lay out and construct the same, which
petition in town-meeting was defeated, upon which
he abandoned the project and came to Plymouth.

He associated with Eli Terry and Silas Hoadley,
under the firm-name of Terry, Thomas & Hoadley,
in the southeast part of the town, now known as Han-
cock Station, on the New York and New England
Railroad, and commenced the manufacture of clocks.
After one year, in 1810, Mr. Terry sold his interest,
and the firm continued two years—viz., 1811 and 1812
—as Thomas & Hoadley. At the expiration of two
years he sold his interest to Mr. Hoadley and came to
Plymouth Hollow (now Thomaston), and purchased
the site where the case-shop is now located, and com-
menced the manufacture of clocks on his own account.

He was twice married, first to Philena Tuttle,
daughter of Lemuel and Lydia Tuttle, April 20, 1808.
She died March 12,1810. He was married, second, to
Laura Andrews, daughter of William and Submit
Andrews, April 14, 1811, who survived him. She
died July 12, 1871. He was the father of nine chil-
dren, issues of these marriages, three of which, and
all then living, died in September, 1815, in the year
memorable as the one of the dysentery scourge.

The business at that time was small, employing
about twenty operatives, which has steadily increased,
until the corporation now employs about nine hun-
dred, with a monthly pay-roll of over thirty thousand
dollars, and a yearly production of about one million
dollars. .
 

J

LO Ly zi / ae Pl

Ke
CO
 

Engthy EBGall & Sons 2? P

 
 
 

ae en oe ae
THOMASTON.

In 1858, feeling the infirmities of years coming upon
him, in order to avoid the stoppage of the works con-
sequent upon his decease, he organized the Seth
Thomas Clock Company, under the joint-stock laws
of the State of Connecticut. He died Jan. 29, 1859.
He built during these years a cotton-mill and brass-
rolling and wire-mill.

The building now used for the manufacture of pen-
dulum movements was originally built for cotton
sheetings, and part of the present brass-rolling and
wire-mills, now occupied by the Plume & Atwood
Manufacturing Company.

The village, which the writer remembers as contain-
ing thirteen dwellings, has grown to quite a respecta-
ble town, consequent upon the business founded by
the tact and energy of Seth Thomas.

Politically he favored the Whig party; religiously
he was a Congregationalist, and contributed largely
to the building of the present Congregational church
edifice of Thomaston.

SETH THOMAS, JR.

Seth Thomas, Jr., eldest son of Seth and Laura
Thomas, was born in Plymouth Hollow (now Thom-
aston), Dec. 31, 1816.

His educational advantages were such as were af-
forded in the common schools of those days and one
year at the Plymouth Academy and a little more than
one year at Farmington Academy, under the instruc-
tion of Deacon Simeon Hart.

He was engaged in mercantile pursuits in his native
place between twenty and thirty years.

He was commissioned postmaster under Francis
Granger, March 1, 1841, which office he held upwards
of twenty years.

He was appointed justice of the peace for several
years, and twice elected to represent the town of Plym-
outh in the Legislature.

He married Charlotte D. Parker, of Belchertown,
Mass., March 7, 1838.

Politically he is a Republican, and a member of
the Congregational Church.

He is secretary and assistant treasurer of the Seth
Thomas Clock Company.

EDWARD THOMAS.

Edward Thomas, second son of Seth and Laura
Thomas, was born in Plymouth Hollow (now Thom-
aston), May 28, 1824.

_ His educational advantages were in the public
schools of the day and two years in the Farmington
Academy.

He was engaged in the manufacture of clocks until
the founding of the corporation, in 1853, when he was
chosen secretary, which office he continued to hold
until his decease, Feb. 10, 1862. He married Clarissa
Marsh, Dec. 3, 1846. Their children are as follows:

 

603

Walter A., now connected with the clock company,
and one of its directors, Martha B., and Laura A.

Mr. Thomas was elected representative of the town
of Plymouth in the Legislature of 1852.

Politically he was allied with the Whig and Re-
publican parties, and was a member of the Congre-
gational Church at Thomaston.

Mr. Thomas was diligent and efficient in business,
and the company suffered a great loss in his waning
health and early departure, but the community in
which he lived hold him in tender remembrance for
that uniform kindliness of manner which he wore as
a garment.

AARON THOMAS.

Aaron Thomas, third son of Seth and Laura
Thomas, was born in Plymouth Hollow (now Thom-
aston), March 18, 1830. -His educational advantages
were in the public schools of the day.

He was engaged in the manufacture of clocks and
teaming until January, 1859, when he was chosen
president of the Seth Thomas Clock Company, Jan.
17, 1859, which position he holds to the present time.

A new clock company was started in October, 1865,
named Seth Thomas’ Sons & Co., and Aaron Thomas
was chosen president, and held that position until
the company consolidated with the Seth Thomas
Clock Company, Jan. 31, 1879.

He married Phebe A. Hine, Oct. 4, 1848. They
have three children now living, viz. : Edson , Thomas,
Minnie, and Aaron Thomas, Jr. He was elected
representative of the town of Thomaston for 1881.
Politically he is a Republican, and religiously he is
a member of the Congregational Church at Thomas-
ton, Conn. A friend being asked what are some of
his leading traits replied, “ Untiring devotion to busi-
ness, an indomitable will, with high and generous
impulses, ready, with a long and strong pull, for any
and all improvements.”

THOMAS JEFFERSON BRADSTREET.

Thomas Jefferson Bradstreet, now a resident of
Thomaston, Conn., traces his ancestry back eight
generations to a Non-conformist minister, who died
in 1617, leaving a son, Simon Bradstreet, who was
born at’ Horbling, Lincolnshire, England, in 1603.
Young Simon, soon after the death of his father, was
taken under the patronage of the Earl of Lincoln-
shire, by whom he was probably sent to Cambridge
for his education. His name is found entered on the
books of Emanuel College, Cambridge, in 1617 ; his
matriculation in 1618; and his admission, in due
course, to the regular degrees, the first in 1620, and
the second in 1624. After leaving the university he
was employed for several years as steward in the
household of his kind and generous patron. Here
he probably became acquainted with the family of
Thomas Dudley, who was also in the earl’s employ,
604

and whose oldest daughter, Anne Dudley, he married
in 1628. For reasons common to many of the emi-
grants at that period,—“ the constraints of the English
laws and the severities of the English hierarchy,”’—
Simon Bradstreet, Thomas Dudley, with many others
with similar feelings and purposes, came over to this
country, to the young settlement at Massachusetts
Bay, in 1680. Dudley and Bradstreet both took a
prominent part in the affairs of the new settlement,
and held many positions of trust and honor in
the Massachusetts colony,—positions, it should be re-
membered, very onerous in the establishment of a
new form of government that should give to all the
greatest freedom consistent with security and needed
protection. Thomas Dudley was one of the distin-
guished Governors of the colony. He died July
31, 1658, aged seventy-seven years. His virtues are
portrayed in an epitaph written in poetry by his
daughter Anne. His wife died Dec. 27, 1643, aged
sixty-one; and her character, in all her family and
social relations, her benevolence and piety, is also
commemorated by her daughter in verse.

Simon Bradstreet first settled in Cambridge, and
remained there for several years; afterwards he was
for a short time a resident of Ipswich, Mass., then of
Andover, Mass., and also of Salem, Mass., as most
convenient, probably for the discharge of his public
duties. In 1639 he received from the court a grant of
five hundred acres of land. He was the first secretary
of the colony. In 1641 he traveled on foot, with the
famous Hugh Peters, from Salem, to New Hampshire,
with a commission from Massachusetts to learn the
cause of a quarrel among the people in that colony.
When the confederacy of the colonies of New Eng-
land, formed in 1648, and its affairs were intrusted to a
board of commissioners, Bradstreet was appointed one
of the two from Massachusetts; and in 1653 his inde-
pendence and conservatism appear in his successful
opposition to his fellow-commissioners, who were
anxious to declare war first against the Dutch, and
then against the Indians.

In 1662 the Massachusetts colony, alarmed at the
apparent intentions of Charles II., commissioned
Bradstreet and Norton, a highly-esteemed and popular
minister, to proceed to England and plead their cause.
This was regarded as a perilous mission, for which
they were promised indemnity in case of detention or
loss. This mission was reasonably successful, but did
not secure all the people desired. A storm of abuse
arose, too severe for the delicate sensibilities of Nor-
ton, who was overwhelmed by the unreasonable
charges, and soon died of grief, Bradstreet, more
experienced in the inconsiderate charges of political
opponents, with his usual balance, outrode the storm
and again rose to public favor by his strenuous Op:
position to the arbitrary measures of Andross, and
was elected Governor of Massachusetts in 1689, an
office he had previously held. This office he held till
Sir William Phipps arrived with a new charter, 1692,

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

when Bradstreet retired from public life, in his nine.
tieth year, and died at Salem, 1697, aged ninety-four
years. By annual election he is said to have been in
public office for more than sixty years. He is credited
as having been one of the first of the magistrates of
the colony to come out for toleration; and in the case
of Elizabeth Morse, of Newbury, condemned by the
court in 1680 to die for witchcraft, Governor Brad-
street, by his prudence and firmness, undoubtedly
saved an innocent victim from the violence of that
popular delusion. Simon Bradstreet had several sons
and daughters; his fourth son, John, settled in Tops-
field, on a portion of the land granted to his father,
He was succeeded by his son Simon, who married a
daughter of Rev. Joseph Capen, of the same town.
Their son John, the grandfather of T. J. Bradstreet,
also a farmer, married Elizabeth Fisk, of Wenham,
Mass., March 2,1718. They had several daughters
and one son, Dudley,—a name that has been well
preserved among the Bradstreets, while Simon has
ceased to be a family name. Dudley Bradstreet was
born Oct. 8, 1765; he married Mary Porter, of Dan-
vers, Mass., Sept. 29, 1789. When young, Dudley
Bradstreet commenced the study of Latin, with the
intention of going to college; but his father, who
was forty-seven years older, and now well advanced
in years, needed him at home on the farm. By these
considerations he was induced to relinquish the higher
object of his ambition to follow in the humbler but
more independent employment of several generations
of his ancestors; he, however, retained a great fond-
ness for reading—besides his weekly newspapers—the
standard works of the best English authors.

As a politician, he was of the Jefferson school. As
soon as he was of sufficient age he joined a cavalry
company of the State militia, in his native town, and
was early promoted to its highest office, and ever after
went by the name of “Captain Dudley.” He was nota
professor of religion, and had not much respect for a
profession that was contradicted by practice; yet he
was very familiar with the Bible, believed in it, and
made it the text-book of the family, and was regu-
larly in his seat on the Sabbath, in the Congrega-
tional church, with a well-filled pew. In 1809, Dud-
ley Bradstreet left his farm in Topsfield—which he in-
herited from his father, still retaining the ownership of
the same, and which has been in the Bradstreet family
from the time of the grant to Simon Bradstreet to the
present time (1881)—for a larger farm in the adjoin-
ing town of Danvers. Here he remained, an indus-
trious and successful farmer, where his large family
of seven sons found plenty of room and labor so long
as they remained at home. In April, 1818, his wife,
Mary P., died,—a much-loved wife, mother, and friend,
—leaving, besides her seven sons, four daughters to
lament their loss. After a few years, Mr. Bradstreet
married Hannah Prim, a maiden lady of Marblehead,
Mass., who survived her husband for several years..
He died April 28, 1883.
 
THOMASTON.

Thomas G. Bradstreet, the sixth son of Dudley
Bradstreet, was born April 7, 1807, on the old farm at
Topsfield, and removed with the family to Danvers
in April, 1810.. As soon as old enough to be of any
service on the farm, he worked summers and went to
school winters until he reached his eighteenth year;
he then worked for his father until well advanced in
his twentieth year, when he entered the academy at
East Bradford, now Groveland, for the purpose of
better qualifying himself for whatever might be his
future condition and fortune. In the following spring
he returned to the homestead and its toils. The next
autumn he again went to the same school for one
term. During this term an aged physician invited
him to his house, and during the interview advised
him to go to college. The subject opened a new and
more advanced view of life. It looked like an up-
hill journey; and then there was that large farm and
that aged father, his strength and vigor diminishing
year by year, his sons all gone from him but one:
how could he leave him? Not only was his consent
to be obtained, but from him the means must come to
pay his way. He left the academy, and took a school
for the winter; went home in the spring, laid the
subject of going to college before his father, and
urged his motives for so doing. He was nearly one
and twenty: an education was what he wanted. His
course of life depended upon the decision ; the con-
ditions of a farmer’s life were not very inviting to him.
His father, now passed sixty years, offered him one-
half of his farm if he would remain with him so long
as he lived. To this proposition it was replied “that
that would be an unequal distribution of property,
and would justly entail upon him the ill-will of the
rest of the family.” The interview resulted in the as-
sent of his father, the son promising to help him
through his haying season, which he fulfilled till the
season he entered college. In the fall of 1830, Mr.
Bradstreet entered Yale College, with the intention of
studying law on the completion of his college course.
During the winter of 1830 and 1831 he became inter-
ested in the subject of religion, changed his’ plans,
and after graduating in 1884, he entered the theolog-
ical seminary in New Haven to study for the minis-
try. At the close of the usual term of three years he
received an invitation to preach to a church and soci-
ety just organized in that part of Plymouth that is
now Thomaston. After laboring here for about two
months his health began to fail, and he left for sev-
eral weeks, after which he returned and renewed his
labors, assisted for a short time by a young man who
had supplied his place during his absence. These
two men, fresh from the seminary, full of hope, en-
couraged by the earnest co-operation of many of the
members of this young church, prosecuted their la-
bors with ardor. A powerful revival attended them,
and in due time large numbers were added to the
church. Mr. Bradstreet’s health again failed, and he
spent the following summer in trying to restore his

89

 

605

strength. Having partially recovered, he engaged to
supply the pulpit of the Congregational Church in
Meriden for four months. At the close of this engage-
ment he found himself about as he was the previous
spring, and spent most of the summer in the same
struggle for health, attended with about the same
success. The following winter—1838 and 1839—he
preached in the Second Congregational Church, in
New London, Conn. These labors, with the confine-
ment of the study-room, were followed in the spring
by enfeebled health. By this time the subject of
health began to assume a serious aspect; stern neces-
sity suggested a more stirring life as the only hope of
recovery. After much deliberation, with many re-
grets, he gave up his chosen profession. The next
autumn, Nov. 4, 1840, he was married to Amanda
Thomas, daughter of the late Seth Thomas, and en-
gaged in his employ the next spring as superintend-
ent of his cotton-factory. In this occupation he con-
tinued for fifteen years, when he gave up his position
to travel for the Seth Thomas Manufacturing Com-
pany. In this employment he continued till the
commencement of the late civil war. Since then he
has been engaged in various kinds of business for
himself: improving land near the village, conducting
farm-work, doing such business as is usually connected
with house-building, running a saw-mill, grist-mill,
feed- and flour-store, etc.

Mr. Bradstreet has not been much of a politician,
but his sympathies on all public questions have been
on the side of Whigs and Republicans, and he has
uniformly voted for their nominees. For one year he
has been a member of the board of selectmen of the
town of Plymouth, and represented that town in the
House of Representatives for one term, and has served
on the board of education in the towns of Plymouth
and Thomaston for thirty-seven years. In the educa-
tion of the young for many years he has taken an
active part; served several years as chairman of the
district school committee, chairman of a private
school association, and president of an academical
association till merged in a public high school. In
the Congregational Church at Thomaston, of which
he is a member, he has been connected with the Sab-.
bath-school most of the time for nearly forty years,—
twenty-five years as superintendent. He has also for
a few years been a member of the board of directors
of the Connecticut Home Missionary Society.

Mr. Bradstreet has reached his seventy-fourth year
with such a degree of strength and vigor that he feels
authorized in recommending to health-seekers regular,
temperate habits, plenty of out-door exercise, and an
open fireplace in winter.

 

DR. WILLIAM WOODRUFF.
Dr, William Woodruff is the third and youngest
son of Dr. Gideon Woodruff and Sarah Heation, of
Plymouth, Conn. He was born in New Haven, and
606

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

traces his lineage to Matthew Woodruff, who came to
Farmington from Hartford in 1641; was one of the
original proprietors of the town, and is the ancestor
of the various branches of the Woodruffs of Connec-
ticut. The names Woodruff, Woodroffe, and Wood-
row (originally the same) first appear in English
history early in the fourteenth century, in the reign
of Edward III. In his infancy the parents of Dr.
Woodruff returned to Plymouth, where they had
previously resided, and remained till the death of the
elder Dr. Woodruff, who for many years was a medi-
cal practitioner in the town. The subject of this
sketvh, after completing his academical studies, be-
came the pupil for several years of the late Rev.
Luther Hart, and enjoyed the benefits of his training
and scholarship. About the year 1824 he commenced
the study of medicine under the care of Dr. Jonathan
Knight, and subsequently of Dr. Nathan Smith,
names known and honored by all who hold medical
science in esteem. He was graduated from the Med-
ical Department of Yale College in 1826, and began
professional life in Waterbury, but was soon and ur-
gently invited to return to Plymouth, where for many
years he controlled a large practice. In 1838 he mar-
ried Martha, the oldest daughter of Seth Thomas, an
extensive manufacturer, by whom he had four chil-
dren, of whom but one survives. About ten years
ago he relinquished the profession to a large degree,
and in travel sought to restore the health of an inva-
lid daughter (since deceased), visiting Europe, Cali-
fornia, and the various latitudes of our own country
and Canada, from Montreal to Jacksonville, Fla.
The variable, and to an invalid the most trying, seasons
of the year have been spent at various sanitary re-
sorts South,—St. Augustine, Aiken, and others. At
present he is enjoying the otiwm of life, without much
of the dignitate, and, with such philosophy as favor-
ing circumstances will permit, rests from the more
exacting labors of the profession, and in trusting
patience awaits the twilight.

GEORGE W. GILBERT.

George W. Gilbert, son of George Gilbert and
Sylvia Colton, and grandson of John Gilbert, of Bel-
chertown, Mass., was born in Belchertown, Mass.,
March 8, 1821. His father was a practical farmer,
and was born in Hebron, Conn., and at seventeen
years of age settled with his parents in Belchertown,
Mass., where he married Sylvia Colton, and had six
children, four sons and two daughters, only two of
whom—Charles and George W.—are living.

George Gilbert and wife settled in Thomaston
Sept. 8, 1859, and lived with their son, George W.,
till their death. He died Aug. 27,1862, and she died
March 20,1865. Mr. Gilbertwas a captain in the war
of 1812, and was familiarly known as “Captain Gil-
bert.”

Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were members of the Congre-

 

gational Church. John Gilbert, the grandfather of
George W. Gilbert, was a farmer by occupation, and
a lineal descendant of the Gilberts, who were among
the earliest settlers of Hebron, Conn. He was born
Feb. 26, 1749, and died April 16,1817. He was the
father of sixteen children. He was a major in the
Revolutionary war, and a member, of the Congrega-
tional Church. ‘

George W. Gilbert remained at home, working on
his father’s farm summers and attending school win-
ters, until he was nearly eighteen years of age.

On the 20th of October, 1838, he came to Thomas-
ton and entered the employ of Seth Thomas as clerk,
and soon after was clerk for Seth Thomas & Sons,
and remained nine years, during which time he mar-
ried Elizabeth, daughter of Seth Thomas, Dec. 8,
1845. They have had two children, viz.: Mary E,
(deceased), who married Dr. A. G. Heaney and left
one son, Harry Gilbert; George Colton, married Eliza
W., daughter of Garwood Judd, and is a farmer.
After the death of Seth Thomas, Jan. 28, 1859, the
Thomas Bros. Cotton Company was formed, with G.
W. Gilbert as its agent till the war of the Rebellion
put an end to their enterprise, and the factory was
changed to the Seth Thomas Clock Company, of
which he was its secretary and treasurer for a short
time, and at one time one of its directors. Since the
war he has not been very much engaged in any kind
of business. He owns a fine farm, which is in a good
state of cultivation. In politics he is a Republican.
He has been selectman of the old town of Plymouth.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert are members of the Congrega-
tional Church.

MARCUS PRINCE.

Marcus Prince, son of Truman Prince and Phebe
Thomas, sister of Seth Thomas, Sr., was born in Plym-
outh, Litchfield Co., Conn., Dec. 11, 1808. His father
was a native of Woodbridge, Conn., and settled in
Litchfield Co., Conn., when a young man. He was
twice married, first to Emma Lounsbury, and had one
son, Castle; second to Phebe Thomas, by whom he
had three children, of whom Marcus Prince was the
second.

Truman Prince was a farmer and teamster by occu-
pation. In politics he was a Democrat.. Mr. and
Mrs. Prince were members of the Baptist Church.
He died May 28, 1840, aged fifty-seven years. She
died on the 8d of March, 1869, aged eighty-eight
years.

Marcus Prince worked on his father’s farm summers,
attending the district school winters, till March, 1829,
when he settled in Thomaston, which has ever since
been his home. He immediately commenced to work
for Seth Thomas as an apprentice to the manufacture
of clocks, and after some fifteen years of close appli-
cation, having become thoroughly acquainted with his
trade, and having made in 1842 the first brass clock, he
 

 
 
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THOMASTON.

assumed the entire control of the manufacture of the
movements of Seth Thomas’ clocks, in 1844 or 1845,
and was made superintendent of this department of
the clock-factory, which position he held for more
than twenty-five years, since which time he has con-
tinued to work in the factory till the present time,
January, 1881. During these years he has made
many valuable improvements in the way of better
tools to use in the manufacture of brass clocks. He
was one of the earliest stockholders in Seth Thomas
Clock Company, and for several years one of its di-
rectors. He is decidedly Republican in his political
convictions. He has been twice married, first to
Harriet W., daughter of Austin Blakeslee, of Plym-
outh, April 29, 1835. They had three children, viz. :
{1) Charlotte D., who was the first wife of Geo. B.
Pierpont, and to them were born two daughters, viz. :
Mary E. and Lottie P. Mrs.Geo. B. Pierpont died
Jan. 28, 1867. (2) Phebe T., who is the second wife
of Geo. B. Pierpont, of Thomaston. (See sketch of
his life.) (3) Truman, who died at fifteen years of
age, April 15, 1854.

Mrs. Prince died Oct. 22, 1841, aged twenty-eight
years. She was a fine Christian lady, and a member
of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Prince married for his
second wife Sabra E., daughter of Otis Parsons, of
Granville, Mass., Jan. 2, 1844. Mr. Prince has been
a member of the Congregational Church of Thomas-
ton for many years.

 

 

RANDAL T.. ANDREWS.

Randal T. Andrews, only son of Randal T. Andrews
and Philena Blakeslee, was born in Thomaston, Conn.,
‘May 18, 1881. Randal T. Andrews, Sr., was a son of
Luther Andrews, who was of English descent, and was
born in Wolcott, Conn., in 1797, and died at his resi-
dence in Plymouth, Conn., Jan. 28, 1830. His wife
was a daughter of Micah Blakeslee. Their children
are as follows: Philenda, Harriet, and Randal T.

Mr. Andrews settled in Plymouth, now Thomas-
ton, when a young man, and was engaged in the
manufacture of clocks for Seth Thomas till his death.
Although he died in the prime of manhood, he was
very proficient as a workman.

Mrs. Andrews was a member of the Episcopal
Church at Thomaston. She died in 1876, aged seventy-
six years.

Randal T. Andrews received the advantages of a
common-school education till he was fourteen years of
age, when he commenced as an apprentice for Seth
Thomas, in the manufacture of clocks, with Marcus
Prince as foreman. In 1853 or 1854 he went to Cin-
cinnati, and was there engaged as a clerk in a clock-
store for an uncle by the name of Garret Blakeslee.
He returned in about a year, and was again engaged
for Seth Thomas as an engineer, and upon the organi-
zation of Thomas’ Sons & Co. he had charge of the
setting-up department, and was chiefly engaged in

 

607

making models for the company, which is his principal
business at the present time. Is known as a master-
mechanic, and has been a stockholder in the company
for many years. He is also one of the directors in
the savings bank at Thomaston. In politics a Demo-
crat. He has been selectman two years, and member
of the State Legislature, besides holding other town
offices. He is a member of the Episcopal Church,
has been a vestryman many years, and at present is
junior warden. Mr. Andrews is ingenious, industrious,
patient, cool, and calculating, and is well fitted for his
particular business.

BENJAMIN PLATT.

Benjamin Platt, second son of Benjamin Platt and
Nancy Bristol, of Milford, Conn., was born in Pros-
pect (formerly Waterbury), Conn., Feb. 22, 1806.
His father was born in Milford, Conn., in 1782, and
died Aug. 8, 1870, in East Hampton, Mass. He mar-
ried Nancy Bristol, and removed to Prospect in 1805.
They had seven sons and five daughters, all of whom
except one grew up to be men and women. Names
of children are as follows: Mark, Mary A., Benjamin,
Nancy B., Henry, Henry P., Adelia, Harris, William
B., Jane E., John R., and Augusta A. Benjamin
Platt, Sr., was a farmer and drover by occupation.
His wife died in Prospect, October, 1862, aged eighty-
two years. /

Benjamin Platt, the subject of our sketch, had very
limited advantages for an education. He remained
at home, working on his father’s farm, till he was
twenty-one years of age, when he removed to Water-
bury, Conn., and was there engaged in the employ of
Mark Leavenworth & Co. as a teamster for six years.
In 1828 he settled in Thomaston and entered the
employ of Seth Thomas, and continued for more than
forty years, performing faithfully whatever he had
to do. Some twenty years of the forty he had charge
of the packing department, and a portion of this
time he worked on contract. He has been a stock-
holder in the Seth Thomas Clock Company, and at
the present time (December, 1880) he owns an inter-
est in the Cheshire Manufacturing Company. In pol-
itics a Republican, he has been a member of the board
of relief for many years, and is at the present time.

During 1876 and 1880 he was a member of the
State Legislature. He married Agnes, daughter of
Willard Welton, of Hamilton, N. Y., May 1, 1839.
Their children are as follows:

(1) William Benjamin, born May 23, 1841; was a
soldier in the Union army, of the Fourteenth United
States Infantry band; served some two years, sickened,
and died Nov. 27, 1863, at Mine Ford, Va.

(2) Helen E., born Sept. 7, 1845, married Jonathan
M. Peck, a farmer of Bristol. They have three chil-
dren, viz.: Mary C., Arthur B., and William J.

Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Platt are members of the
Congregational Church of Thomaston.
608

4

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

GEORGE B. PIERPONT.

George B. Pierpont, second son of Edward Pier-
pont, and a descendant of the Rev. James Pier-
pont, one of the founders of Yale College, was born
in the town of Plymouth, Nov. 1, 1818. While very
young his parents removed to the town of Litchfield.
He received a good common-school education, and at
the age of twenty-one engaged in teaching, in which
occupation he was employed a greater portion of the
time until 1850, when he purchased an interest in the
American Knife Company and returned to his native
town (that part now lying within the limits of the
town of Thomaston), where he has since resided. In
1851 he was chosen secretary and treasurer of the
American Knife Company, which position he held
until the following year, when he was chosen president
and treasurer. These offices, as well as that of active
manager of the company, he has continuously occu-
pied up to the present time. Mr. Pierpont has held
several positions of public trust in his town; for six
years he has been a member of the board of educa-
tion, and in the general interest which he has taken
in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the town,
has made himself a respected and much-valued citizen
in the community where he has so long resided,

MILES MORSE.

Miles Morse, second son of Miles and Charlotte
(Wood) Morse, was born in the present town of
Thomaston (formerly Plymouth), Conn., Sept. 22,
1816. His father was a native of Litchfield, Conn.,
and settled in Plymouth, Conn., where he continued
to reside till his death, October, 1847. He was a
farmer and manufacturer. He married Charlotte,
daughter of James Wood, of East Windsor, Conn.
Five of their children lived to grow up, four sons
and a daughter, of whom Miles Morse is the second
son. Mr. and Mrs. Morse were members of the Con-
gregational Church of Plymouth. Mrs. Morse died
June, 1862. Miles Morse, Jr., worked upon his father’s
farm summers and attended school winters until he
was sixteen years of age, when he commenced pre-
paring for college, entering Yale in 1889. He taught
school while obtaining his education. In the fall of
1841 he began the manufacture of brass clocks where
the American Knife Company now do an extensive
business, with Jeremiah Blakeslee as his partner,
under the firm-name of Morse & Blakeslee. They
continued till 1849, when the factory was transferred
to the American Knife Company for the manufacture.
of pocket-cutlery.

In 1850, Mr. Morse built, in connection with Gen.
Thomas A. Davies, of New York City, a clock-factory
on the West Branch of the Naugatuck River. Here
they manufactured clocks, under the firm-name of
Morse & Co., till they were burnt out, in January,
1855, when Mr. Morse became the general agent for
the American Knife Company (in which he had a

 

large interest), and traveled some ten years through
various parts of the United States. He held his gen-
eral agency till 1874, when he retired from active
business. In his political convictions he is a Demo-
crat, and as such is one of the leading men in his
town. He has held various offices of trust and honor
with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constitu-
ents. He has been justice of the peace many years,
and in 1874 was a member of the State Senate, serving
on a number of committees, of which he was chair-
man. He is often a delegate to county and State
conventions. On the 25th of October, 1871, he mar-
ried Laura A., eldest daughter of Seth and Charlotte
(Parker) Thomas, of Thomaston. He built his present
beautiful residence during the years of 1869-70, and
settled here immediately after his marriage. Mr.
and Mrs. Morse are members of the Congregational
Church at Thomaston.

ISRAEL B. WOODWARD.

Israel B. Woodward is a lineal descendant from
Henry Woodward, an Englishman, who settled at
Dorchester, Mass., about 1650; thence he removed to
Northampton, Mass., thence to Westfield, Mass., and,
in consequence of Indian troubles there, finally settled
at Lebanon, Conn.

The great-grandfather of Israel B. Woodward was
named Capt. Israel Woodward. He served faithfully
through the French and Indian war, and was famil-
iarly known as “Captain Israel.” His wife was Abigail
Bayard. They had seven sons and two daughters.
One of these was named Abel, who married Lucy
Atwater, and had several children, viz.: Reuben &.,
Abel, James, David, John, Russel, Jerusha, and Eu-
nice.

Abel Woodward was a captain in the Revolutionary
war. He died at eighty-five years of age. His son
David was born in Watertown, Conn., and married
Lydia Welton, of Watertown, Conn. They had six
children, viz.: Samuel W., died at twenty, David,
Abby, Lydia, Israel B., and Andrew E. Mr. Wood-
ward was a successful tanner and shoemaker. He
was a captain of the State militia. He died Decem-
ber, 1822, aged forty-eight years, and his wife died
March, 1872, aged ninety-one years and six months.

Israel B. Woodward was born in Watertown, Conn.,
on the old homestead, March 12,1814. He received
a common-school and academic education, spending
his leisure months in his father’s tannery. At seven-
teen years of age he began to work for his brother
David in the tannery, and worked four years. In
1835 he went to Chicago, spent some time in travel,
and returned. In 1888 he went West the second
time, returned to Watertown, and in 1840 entered into
business with his brothers, David and Andrew, having
an interest in tanneries at Watertown and Thomaston.
In April, 1846, he settled in Thomaston, where he has
since continued to reside. For more than forty-five
 

‘
 
 
 
FREDERICK

FREDERICK E. WARNER, son of Randal
and Electa (Marsh) Warner, was born in the
town of Thomaston, Conn., March 7, 1827.
His father was born in Plymouth, Conn., Sept.
18, 1781, and died Nov. 25, 1853. He was
twice married : first, to Ruth Atwater, and had
two children who grew to maturity ; second, to

E. WARNER.

Electa, daughter of Jonathan Marsh, of New
Hartford, Conn., and had four children, three
of whom are living,—viz., Jonathan M., Ruth
A., Frederick E., and Horace, who died at
fourteen years of age. Randal Warner settled
on the farm now owned by his son F. E. when

a young man. He was a successful farmer.

 

SF OR anuer~

In politics a Democrat.
12, 1860, aged seventy-five or seventy-six.
Frederick E. worked on his father’s farm sum-
mers, and attended the district school winters.
He also went a few terms to an academy. He
is one of the successful farmers and business
men of Thomaston. He is quite extensively
engaged in dealing in horses and cattle, in

’

His wife died Feb. |

which he has been successful. On the 19th of
November, 1850, he married Sarah R. Lum,
daughter of Bennet Lum, Esq., of Oxford,
Conn. They have four children,—viz., Addie,
Henry R., Wilbur L., and Nellie.
Mr. Warner is a Democrat, and as such he has

In politics,

been a selectman of Thomaston ever since the
organization of the town.
 
THOMASTON.

years Mr. Woodward was successfully engaged in the
tanning business. Nov. 20, 1844, he married Caroline
"M., daughter of Charles Everett, by whom he has had
three children, viz.: Samuel W., died young; David
Arthur, died at ten years of age; and Emma A., wife
of Henry R. Warner, of Thomaston. Mrs. Wood-
ward died March 10, 1876, and Mr. Woodward married
for his second wife Mrs. Adeline E., widow of Samuel
E. Hotchkiss, and daughter of J. Blakeslee, of Thom-
aston, Oct. 7, 1880. In politics Mr. Woodward is a
Republican. He has been an assessor in Thomaston
ever since the organization of the town, selectman in
Plymouth two years, magistrate several years, mem-
ber of the Legislature in 1879, serving on the committee
of State-house and grounds. Mr. Woodward retired
from active business in 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Wood-
ward are members of the Congregational Church at

Thomaston. is

HENRY F. REYNOLDS.

Henry F. Reynolds is of Scotch-Irish descent ;
very little is known of his early ancestors. His
great-grandfather was James Reynolds, who was one
of the first settlers of Watertown, Conn., where he
married and had a family of children, one of whom
was Samuel, who was born in Watertown, Conn.,
married Sarah Foote, and had the following children,
viz.: Jonathan, Abigail (Mrs. Fenn), Russel, Char-
lotte (died young), Sarah (Mrs. Caleb Humiston),
Charlotte (the second), Samuel, and Polly (Mrs.
Abijah Painter). Mr. Reynolds settled in Plymouth
(now Thomaston) in 1795, with his family, on the
farm now owned by his grandson, Henry F. He was
a member of the Congregational Church. He died at
sixty-three years of age, and his wife died at seventy
years of age. Russel Reynolds, son of Samuel, was
born Jan. 25, 1781, in Watertown, Conn., and re-
moved to Plymouth with his parents in 1795. He
married Mary Castle, daughter of Amasa Castle, of
Plymouth, in January, 1800. Their children are as
follows: Pamelia, Clarissa, Emeline, George, and
Henry F., all born where Henry F. now resides,
and all are living. Russel Reynolds was a successful
farmer. In politics he was a Jackson Democrat.
He held various town offices, and was a member of
the Episcopal Church. He died May 38, 1869, aged
eighty-eight years, and his wife died in September,
1868, aged eighty-eight.

Henry F. Reynolds was born on the farm where he
now resides, in Thomaston, Dec. 4, 1820. His ad-
vantages for an education were confined to the com-
mon schools of his day, working on the farm sum-
mers. At nineteen years of age he left school and
commenced to work by the month for his father, and
continued till he was thirty years of age, when he
assumed control of the farm. In 1847 he built a
saw-mill, and has been extensively engaged in lum-
bering ever since. He owns a farm of three hundred
acres, which is in a good state of cultivation. In all

 

609

his business relations as a farmer or manufacturer of
lumber he has been moderately successful. He is a
lover of good music, and in 1839, at twenty years of
age, he was mainly instrumental in organizing a
brass band in Thomaston, called ‘‘ Reynolds’ Band,”
and for more than twenty-four years he was its fa-
vorite leader. In politics he is a Republican. He
has been selectman two years, and assessor several
years.

Sept. 24, 1842, he married Lorinda, daughter of
David Edwards, of Ware, Mass., and has one daugh-
ter, Elizabeth C., born Feb. 24, 1848, married to
Charles F. Williams, a druggist of Thomaston, Conn.,
Noy. 5, 1868. They have one son, Charles Henry.

Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds are members of the Con-
gregational Church at Eagle Rock. Mr. Reynolds
was principally instrumental in the building of the
Congregational church at Eagle Rock. He is very
liberal in all matters which have for their object the
advancement of society, and the poor have in him a
true friend.

WILLIAM P. JUDSON.

Deacon William P. Judson, of Thomaston, Conn.,
was a son of Joseph Judson, of Cornwall, Conn., and
a lineal descendant of the Judsons, who were among
the first settlers in Stratford, Conn. He was born in
the town of Cornwall, State of Connecticut, Oct. 8,
1799, and remained there, working on his father’s farm,
till he was sixteen years of age, when he went to
Watertown, Conn., and: learned the cabinet-maker’s
trade with one David Pritchard. During a portion of
this time he worked on the farm summers. In 1823
he settled in Thomaston, and immediately entered
the employ of Seth Thomas, and was with him and
his successors forty-nine successive years. During
more than thirty years of this time he was superin-
tendent of the case department. He retired from an
active and busy life some two years before his death,
which occurred Sept. 19, 1872. Early in life he made
a profession of religion and united with the Congre-
gational Church, of which he was ever a consistent
and worthy member. About 1835, through his per-
sonal efforts, assisted by Seth Thomas, Sr., and some
others, he organized, and was mainly instrumental in
building, the Congregational Church at Thomaston.
He was a deacon in the church for more than forty
years, and was always liberal to the church and char-
itable towards the poor.

In his political convictions he was decidedly a Re-
publican. He held various town offices to the satis-
faction of his constituents, but the main bent of his
mind led him to the church, and in it we learn he
worked with a will, ever trying to do his whole duty.

He married Mary M. Bancroft, of South Windsor,
Conn., Nov. 5, 1828. She was born in South Windsor,
Conn., Nov. 6, 1798, and died June 14, 1862.

Their children are Hiram P., born Feb. 17, 1833 ;
610

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Mary P., born Nov. 19, 1835, married Nathan F.
Smith, and resides in Williamstown, Mass.; Eliza-
beth H., born Aug. 25, 1837, married John M. Gross,
and resides in Providence, R. I.; Joseph K., born
Feb. 18, 1840, married Eunice M. Fenton, and has
two daughters, Helen 8. and Mary M.; and Wil-
liam 8., born Aug. 8, 1843. Allthe sons are at home,
and are good farmers, and are quite extensively en-
gaged in growing fine Jersey cattle. In politics they
are Republicans.

HIRAM PIERCE.

Hiram Pierce, born in Cornwall, Conn., Dec. 27,
1800, died Oct. 17, 1875. He was the son of John
Pierce, who was the son of Capt. Joshua Pierce, both
of Cornwall. Hiram received a common-school edu-
cation, his boyhood days being occupied with the du-
ties of farm-life, afterwards teaching in the district
schools of his native town. Subsequently he learned
the trade of a joiner and cabinet-maker, living in
Waterbury for a time, removing to Plymouth about
the time of his majority to engage in the business of
making clock-cases for Seth Thomas, and, in connec-
tion with Deacon W. P. Judson, for some years made,
under contract, all the cases for the Thomas clocks,
the work at that time being done almost entirely by
hand. In 1828 he married Miss Charlotte S. Ban-
croft, of East Windsor, Conn., afterwards purchasing
a farm in that town and removing thither, where he
resided about two years, when he returned to Ply-
mouth, at the solicitation of Mr. Thomas, to take
charge of his office as accountant and correspondent.
In addition to the clock business, Mr. Thomas also
carried on the manufacture of cotton goods and farm-
ing operations on a large scale, the details of which
all passed through the office. He possessed a good
constitution, and was a most indefatigable worker,
and in looking after the varied interests of his em-
ployer, outside of the office as well as in, carried bur-
dens that but few men are able to do.

On the formation of the Thomas Manufacturing
Company for the manufacture of brass he was made
secretary of the company, and in the early develop-
ment of that business had an active part. Of his rela-
‘tion to the educational and religious interests of the
town, itis but just to say that he bore a prominent
part, and helped to carry the burdens and develop the
best that circumstances present and prospective ren-
dered possible.

In 1880 he united with the Congregational Church
at Plymouth Centre, Rev. Luther Hart then the pas-
tor. He participated in the movement for the organi-
zation of the Congregational Church now in Thom-
aston, and on its organization transferred his mem-
bership to it. For more than forty years he was jus-
tice of the peace, and by long practical experience,
and having a mind fitted to judicial consideration,
became a trusted adviser and counselor for a wide

 

circle. In matters of law and business he represented:
the town of Plymouth in the Legislature in 1861,
and at various times served the town in an official’
capacity as assessor, selectman, etc. His character
was that of a man without fear and without reproach,
unostentatious, yet always felt in every effort for the
improvement of the moral, religious, or political wel-
fare of the people. In politics a Whig, an ardent ad-
mirer of Henry Clay; in later years a Republican.
He buried his first wife in June, 1848, being left with
five children ; was married again, about a year after,
to Miss Sarah E. Beers, of Cornwall,-Conn., by whom
he had one child. In later years he withdrew from
the more active duties that had occupied his business
life for half a century, and calmly awaited life’s de-
cline. Among his last efforts for the improvement of
the place was the planning and securing of the sub-
stantial addition to the beautiful cemetery on the hill-
side, where he sleeps, awaiting the resurrection of the
just. After his death the remains of his first wife were
removed from the old bury ing-ground and reinterred by
his side. His children are all married, and reside as
follows: William J., married Elizabeth A. Capron, of
New Britain, Conn., resides in Hartford; Joseph B.,
married Sophia A. Boardman, of Hartford, resides in
Hartford; Charlotte S., married Horace A. Potter, of
Thomaston, resides in Thomaston-; S. Maria, married
Alexander Hamilton, of West Hartford, Conn., died
March 17, 1863; Edward H., married Susan C. Beers,
of Stratford, Conn., resides in Brooklyn, N. Y.; Alice
E., married Dr. E. T. Bradstreet, of Thomaston, re-
sides in Meriden, Conn.

CHAPTER LIX.
TORRINGTON.*

Geographical—Topographical—Naming the Town—List of Proprietors—
Grand List, 1733—Division of Lots—The First Settlers and their Lo-
cations—Initial Events—First Deeds of Conveyance—The Indian Fort
—The First School-house—Pioneer Taverns—War of the Revolution—
Proceedings of the Town—Names of Officers and Soldiers—Taxes
During the Revolution—The Whipping-post—A Prosecution for Pro-
fanity—Slavery—Organization of County Anti-Slavery Society at Wol-
cottville—The Convention Routed by » Mob—“ Nigger Pew” in Tor-
rington and Torringford Churches—Emancipation of Slaves in Tor-
rington—John Brown.

TORRINGTON lies in the eastern part of Litchfield
County, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Winchester, on the east by New Hartford and Har-
winton, on the south by Harwinton and Litchfield,
and on the west by Goshen and Litchfield. The sur-
face of the town is uneven, and its soil is fertile. It
is watered by the Naugatuck River and its tributaries
and Still River.

The territory embraced within the limits, of this

 

* Condensed from Rev. Samuel Orcutt’s excellent and exhaustive
“ History of Torrington.”
TORRINGTON,

 

 

 
   
 
 
 
 
  
   
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
   
 
 
 

 

 

611
town was i ;
ae allotted to the Windsor proprietors by the ‘é
gisla - and it was named Torrington at the May eeuetaly Gibbs. 63 7
sgessi: : . 2 omas Hoskins..
ession of the General Court in 1732, by the following 8 oe
enactment : Haydon oan G
Mary Hoskins.. 2 a .
“Be it enact : ezer Hill......
a et oe = Governor, Council, and Representatives, in Gen- William Haydon Ho 0
sites ssembled, and by the Authority of the same: Martha Holcomb a a o
ie iat the, first or parcel of land mentioned in said instrument of par- pee 100 10 0
ion containing 20,924 acres, and bounded south partly in Litchfield Ichabod icon, ay ape
and partly on land belonging to said patentees in Windsor, called the Zachariah Long.. “1 % 0
Half Township; east and north, by land belonging to the Governor and ginnthy Loomi ; 51 0 i
company of the colony of Connecticut, is hereby named, and sh SG 88: (B80
hareuti 7 , and shall ever Joshua Loomis
reafter be called and named Torrington,’* Isaac Loomis.. a o
Moses Loomis, Jr.. o
In 1732 t : i i Job Loomis..... 280.20
tt : he taxable inhabitants of Windsor were Abraham Loomis a a8
divided into seven companies, each owning a town- tee, poms 72 4 0
shin. dakinecteds , g a town Jonathan Loomis.. 31 0 gS
p, taking their company names after the towns they Hote ee -100 7 6
: . ry, Eliakim Marshel..
owned, The Torrington company are specified as John Mansfield.. a ie Q
Matthew Allyn, Roger Wolcott, and Samuel Mather, Daward “Moor oat
Esqs., and others, of the town of Windsor, patentees et ee Boat
+ ” el ‘
of Torrington.” The number of these persons was air, Wallinm Mitchel mo
3 a : athaniel Moore...
one hundred and thirty-six, and their names and tax- Hannah Newberry 30 D0
list were as follows: Benjamin Newlerry: 2 5 0
Ruth Newberry.. 7 00
ad Joseph Newberry 7) 5 0
Matthew Allen, Esq...... 0 oe ALOE 2s 44 10 0
Roger Wolcott, Esq.... 06 Benamun Osborn.. 21 10 0
Capt. Thomas Stoughton 155 00 aug ne ue 30
Alexander Allyn. 47 19 6 Willi othe os Es
Benedict Alford. 385 5 0 J : ae elp Belz 0
Abiel Abot..... 41 0 0 Ranta! Plone ade a
paviel Bestel 32 16 0 John Phelps, Sr. i % 3
avid Bissell..... 115 10 0 Nathaniel Pinne:
Nathaniel Barber.. 37 12 0 Nee) 107 10) 20
TAA Base ica ta tp Hee Oren 91 #00
Joseph Barber.... 82 8 0 sep 2 ee
Nicholas Buckland él 7 0 Borel. Teano Ti a ee
Sohimier Banerote in. ae ab Sergt. Isaac Pinney.. 29 70
Benjamin Barber.. 43 18 0 Henna Port “hae s
Nathaniel Barber.. 21 00 Sune Poe 24 e °
Benoni Bissel.. 37 12 0 Jonathan P:
Jeremiah Birge.. 47 11 0 Samuel Rockwei 15 18 0
Jonathan Bissel. 41 00 Nathaniel Stoughto: 2 00
John C. Cross . 53 5 9 Ebenezer Styles.. “23200
William Cook. 3420 «0 Jacob Strong..... - 79 15 0
Nathaniel Cook. 55 1 0 R brance Sheldon 51 13 0
John Cook, Jr. 59 19 0 Thomas Stoughton, Jr. a 0
Mary Clark..... 32 00 Mary Stedman.. 0
Edward Chapman. 6 00 John Styles... 0
Jacob Drake, Jr. 3.00 Isaac Skinner.. 0
Abraham Dibble. 38 16 0 Samuel Strong 2
Joseph Drake.. 81 10 0 Henry Styles... 6
Isaac Davice 30 0 0 Elizabeth Thrall 0
Joseph Elmo 48 9 0 Aimmi Trumble. 0
Joseph Elswort 21 0 0 John Thrall... 0
Joseph Elgar..... 26 0 0 Simon Wolco ie 0
Thomas Egelston, Jr 18 0 0 Jed. Watson ...... 0
Abigail Eno..... 2 7 0 Stephen Winchel 0
John Egelston. 717 #0 0 John Wolcott.. 0
Mr. John Elliot.. 28 10 0 John Winchel.. 0
i 37 16 0 Robert Westland 0
24 15 6 Samuel Wilson. 0
James een ee ¢ 2 John Wood.. 0
r. John Fyler.. John Williams
Samuel Fitch.. 00 Ebenezer Watson. ‘
aiemes Hylen.. 26 John Wilson.......-+ w 56°00
aria en eae z . “ Recorded, March the 4th, Anno, Dom,, 1733-34, by me, Trmorny Loo-
Matthew Grant.. 10 0 is, clerk for sd. Torrington proprietors.
Josiah Gaylord 14 0 “The sum total of Torrington list is £6431 9s, 5d.”
yee Gillet. 0 0
saac Gillet..... 0 0
Francis Griswold 2? “The vote to lay out a proportionate amount of
John Grayhama lo 0 land to each proprietor was passed on the 10th of
1 Gibbs... 0 0
el 0:0. September, 1732, and on the 18th of the same month
Beaty Gib 40 ¢ the committee appointed for the purpose proceeded to
a Gaylord. a i draw the lots for the proprietors.
omas Grant’s heirs. i i 1
Thomas Grant.. 19 4 0 “The lots were laid half a mile in length, and
John Griswold. ee therefore every rod in width made one acre of land.

 

Nathan Gillet, Jr:

 

* Torrington was a hamlet on the hill called Cookbury Black, in the
southern part of Devonshire, the southernmost county in England. It
was also the name of a villagé on the Torridge River, a few miles north
of Cookbury Black.

 

  
  
   
   
  
  
  
  
   
 
 
 
  
 
   
 
  
 
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
 
   
 
 
  
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

In the first and second divisions there was appropri-
ated one acre to the pound of each owner’s list; in
the third there was not quite that amount.

“In the first division there was laid out five acres
612

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

as a meeting-house plot, and one hundred acres as a
ministry lot, and these were said to be near the cen-
tre of the town.

“The lots for the proprietors, when completed,
were all laid in thirteen tiers, except those in the
swamp, one, on the south side of the town, running
east and west, the other twelve running north and
south, and, with the highways, covering the whole
area of the town except the pine-timber. The swamp
was laid in three tiers of lots running north and
south,

“The first division was completed in November,
1734, Roger Newberry, Joshua Loomis, and Nathaniel
Pinney being the committee. The second, voted to
be made in March, 1736, was not completed until
October, 1742, John Cook (2d), Joshua Loomis, Roger
Newberry, and Daniel Bissell, Jr., being the com-
mittee.

“The third division was voted in October, 1742,
and was completed in December, 1750. In this di-
vision two hundred and twenty acres were appropri-
ated for the use of schools in the town. Samuel
Messenger, surveyor, Thomas Marshall, and Aaron
Loomis were the committee, and Rev. Nathaniel Rob-
erts drew the numbers for the lots.

“Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., was the first permanent
resident of the town. In January, 1735, his father,
Ebenezer Lyman, Esq., of Durham, bought of Job
Loomis lot 108, containing seventy-two acres. This
lot constituted a part of the farm known ever since as
the Lyman place, and upon it was built the fort, in
the western part of the town. In June of the same
year Ebenezer, Jr., bought the half of three acres,
lot 109, on the corner, and adjoining lot 108 on the
north, and erected a dwelling, undoubtedly a log
house. In this house was born, June 16, 1738, so far
as known, the first child born in the town, it being a
daughter, and was named Lydia.

“Jonathan Coe, of Durham, married Elizabeth
Elmer, of Windsor, Sept. 23, 1787, and brought his
bride to Torrington, the second woman in the town.
Mr. Coe had worked in the town two summers. This
house must have been a log house,* and stood about
eighty rods south of Ebenezer Lyman, Jr.’s, their
farms adjoining. Here were two dwellings in the
wilderness,—wilderness in every direction, and almost
without end in every direction. The nearest place
that looked like civilization was Litchfield, about six
miles distant, and but few houses had been erected in
that town before this time, and some of these were at
considerable distance from the centre of the town,
_ one or two being near the southern boundary of Tor-
rington. At this time there were no families residing
in Goshen, a few were in Harwinton, a few in New
Hartford, none in Winchester.

“ Abel Beach, of Durham, bought land in company
with Jonathan Coe, lot 128, containing thirty-one

 

* The lumber for making framed houses in 1740 must have been
brought through the forests from Litchfield or New Hartford.

 

acres, in 1735, where the second church was built, at
Torrington green.

“In June, 1739, Daniel Stoughton bought of Abel
Beach lot 82, with a dwelling-house on it, and made
his home in the town, probably in that house. Joel
Thrall became a settler during the summer of 1789.

“Thus did the work begin and go forward, so that
in October, 1739, in their petition for religious priv-
ileges, the petitioners say there ‘are nine families in
the town.’ It is impossible to say who all these fam-
ilies were. The petition, signed by twenty-five names,
says these names represent ‘inhabitants and proprie-
tors.’

“The oldest deed recorded of Torrington lands was
dated at Windsor, June 14, 1728, given by Daniel
Griswold, to his ‘dutiful and obedient son,’ Nathan
Griswold, for a right in undivided ‘ Western lands.’
From this time to the spring of 1735 sixty deeds of
rights were recorded in the Windsor company’s book.
Soon after the survey was made and the lots located
the sales became more numerous, and were mostly to
persons residing in Windsor, but in a few cases to
persons residing in other parts of the State. These
sixty deeds include nearly, if not all, the land sales
by the Torrington company previous to the rendering
of the report of the committee on the first division,
in November, 1734.

“The first land cleared and cultivated in the town
was located according to the following description :

“¢ Ata meeting of the proprietors of Torrington, held in Windsor, Feb.
10, 1734, voted Lieut. Roger Newberry be a committee, and he is hereby
fully empowered in the name of the proprietors to rent out to Josiah
Grant, of Litchfield, about four or five acres of land lying in said Tor-
rington, which is already broken up, as it lieth bounded south on Litch-
field and east on Waterbury River, until such time as said proprietors by
their vote shall see cause to call it in.’

“One deed, given by Joseph Ellsworth, of Litch-
field, dated March 21, 1734, says lot 77 was a home-
lot, which meant that it had a dwelling-house on it,
and had been the home of somebody. This lot joined
Goshen on the west, and was about one mile north of
Litchfield line.

“In October, 1744, the town voted thirty-five pounds
six shillings and sixpence, as one-half of the cost of
building a fort. It was located near Ebenezer Ly-
man’s dwelling, on the west side of the present road
at that place, and was built of chestnut logs split in
halves and standing in the ground, rising to the height
of about eight feet. The object of the fort was pro-
tection to the inhabitants from the ravages of the In-
dians, especially the raids of the Mohawks, which
were made for the one only purpose of pillage and
destruction. The Connecticut Indians had learned,
many years before, to make little trouble for the set-
tlers. Various narrations are still repeated about the
fright of the people, the haste with which they fled
to the fort, leaving nearly everything in their homes,
and remaining over-night, and sometimes several days,
in great anxiety as to their own lives, and also the
safety of their homes; and for a time the settlers
TORRINGTON.

sought homes near this fort. Several of them owned
lots on the east side, but sold them and bought on the
west side, and then brought their families into the
town near the fort; and others lived on the west side,
while they worked their lands on the east side.

“This fear of the Indians was the greatest disturber

of the peace of the people in the new settlements.
The dread of the wild beasts, though no inconsider-
able matter, was of little weight compared to the ter-
ror produced at the report of the coming of the Mo-
hawk Indians. The alarm at the approach of the
Indians was given by lighting signal-fires on the hills
from Albany eastward as the party advanced; hence
if an accidental fire occurred in the direction of the
Hudson River it was taken as an alarm-fire, and the
people hastened to the fort to wait until information
could be obtained of the cause of the fire. This state
of society came to an end soon after the close of the
French war in 1760. The old fort served its purpose
asa refuge in time of need, was‘a number of times
occupied by the frightened inhabitants for several
days at a time, then gradually tumbled down, leaving
nothing but a mound seventy-five feet by one hundred,
which still marks the place of its once warlike stand-
ing. There is said to be another mound about three-
fourths of a mile westerly from the site of this old
fort, which marks the place of some fortification,
either of the Indians before, or by the first settlers of
the town.

* 4 school-house was built within the fort in 1745,*
the first institution of learning in. the town. In this
house religious services were held several years.

“So far as ascertained, the first settler in Torring-
ford was Abraham Dibble, or his son Daniel, in 1744
or 1745, on the second lot laid out from Harwinton
line, the place still known as the Dibble place. The
next settler was Benjamin Bissell, a little north of the
Shubael Griswold place, on the east side of the street,
where Mr. Bissell kept a tavern a number of years.
He came probably in 1745. The third settler was
John Birge, on the present Roswell Birge place.
Nehemiah Gaylord made his home opposite Benjamin
Bissell’s, a little north, in a log house first, probably
in 1746. Elijah Gaylord settled on a farm that in-
cluded the site of the present Torringford church and
the burying-ground—his log house standing in the lot
southeast of the present church—in 1747. Shubael
Griswold built his house a little south of Nehemiah
Gaylord’s, in 1754, and made his home there. He
lived on the west side of the town a year or two before
this house was completed, and before he was married.
In 1752 or 1758, John Burr settled on the place long’
known by his name, and Benjamin Matthews came
about the same time, with Mr. Burr, from Farmington ;
the others were from Windsor. Soon after this came
Deacon Jonathan Kelsey and his son Nathan from

co ee ee SS

* Rev. J. A. McKinstry, in “ Manual of the First Church;” Deacon L.
Wetmore, in “ Wolcottville Register,” 1875.

 

613

Woodbury. Between 1753 and 1760 came Joshua,
David, Daniel, and Aaron Austin from Suffield, some
of whom settled on West Street, and Aaron Yale
from Wallingford, and some others from Windsor,
and Samuel and Ephraim Durwin from Waterbury.”

FIRST TAVERNS.

“One of the first taverns was erected and kept by
Epaphras Sheldon, a little north of Ebenezer Lyman’s,
on the east side of the road. Mr. Sheldon having
received quite a farm from his father, and having pur-
chased several pieces of land, made his home here
about 1760, and was of considerable importance as a
new settler, and for thirty years he was as prominent
as any man in the business transactions of the town,
and in social, military, and political positions. His
tavern was the headquarters for most doings of the
town. The road running north and south past his
house was the race-course for running horses, and the
fields near his house were the parade-grounds for mil-
itary drill until after the centre of the town became
established at the green, after the building of the
second meeting-house.

“Ephraim Bancroft lived a little north of Mr.
Sheldon’s, and also kept a tavern.

“Capt. Abel Beach kept a tavern, beginning some
time before the Revolutionary war, but at what time
he opened his house for public entertainment cannot
be definitely ascertained.

“John Burr, of Farmington, bought in 1751, and
in 1752, land amounting to over four hundred pounds
money, and settled in the town in 1753, on the farm
known many years as the Burr place, east of Burrville,
on the hill. Here Mr. Burr was keeping a tavern in

.1762, and may have opened such a house some years

earlier.

“Shubael Griswold built his house on the corner
of Torringford Street and what was afterwards the
Torrington turnpike, in 1754, and opened it as a
tavern about 1757. His son, Thaddeus Griswold, con-
tinued it as a public-house many years.

“ Benjamin Bissell’s tavern stood a little north of
Shubael Griswold’s, and was kept as a public-house
some years before the Revolution; and still later
David Soper kept a tavern on Torringford Street,
west side, near the first meeting-house.”

WAR OF THE REVOLUTION.

“The number of inhabitants in Torrington in 1774
was eight hundred apd forty-three, of which there
were only one hundred and thirty-two men and one
hundred and thirty-four women over twenty years of
age, leaving five hundred and seventy-seven persons
under twenty years of age, and in a great measure
dependent on the older people for sustenance, care,
and protection. Besides this, the country was new,
and the obtaining of food and comforts was much
more difficult than it would have been under other
614

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

circumstances. It is important to bear these things
in mind as we attempt to estimate the struggle through
which the inhabitants passed in order to obtain their
political independence.

‘“‘The two military companies in 1774 included one
hundred and sixty-nine men, or all the men in the
town over twenty years of age, and thirty-seven under
that age. When hostilities commenced at Concord,
in this same year, these companies were not called on
to go to Boston, but were notified to be in readiness
at a minute’s warning. In the autumn session of the
Assembly of that year an act was passed offering a
sum of money to every member of the military com-
panies of the State that would train twelve half-days
in the spring of the next year, and the officers were
required to report to the justices of the town, and they
to the Assembly and draw the pay. The following
are the reports made from Torrington. The report
was made by the clerk of the company, and addressed:

«To Captain Amos Wilson, 5th Company of the 17th Regiment in the
colony of Connecticut; and to John Cook and Epaphras Seldon, Esqrs.,
‘Justices of the peace, etc.

“*This may certify that the following persons, in pursuance of the
late act of law of the colony, passed October last, respecting the mili-
tary, each one has trained in his own person, according to order, as fol-
lows:

 

  

  

““THE TORRINGFORD COMPANY.
“To Capt. John Strong, of the 9th Company of the 17th Regiment.

Half- aes Half-Days.
12 Private John Birge, Jr.. « IL
1 Stephen Taylor...
“ Isaac Austin...
“Nathaniel Barber,
“  Tlisha Kelsey
“Asaph Atwater..
“ David Norton.
“ Daniel Winchel
“ Return Bissell
“John Marsh...
«Jesse Spencer.
“Ebenezer Rood...

    
  
  
 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
  
  
    
 
 
 

Sergt. Jesse Cook.......
“Charles Mather
«Augustus Haydon..
“Isaac Goodwin.....

Clerk Zachariah Mather.

Corp. Daniel Stow....
“Daniel Hudsor
“Daniel Dibble.
“Roswell Olmstead.
“John Gillett.......

Musician Timothy Soper.

fe Abraham Filley.

    
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
  
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
    

 

 

pe Ulisus Fyler..... “Hezekiah Bissell. lL
ee Nathaniel Frisbie.. “Jonathan Kelsey. - 10
Private Benjamin Bissell, Jr “Ichabod Stark, Jr.. 3
Samuel Austin... “ Levi Austin... 11.
“«Cyrenus Austin... “ ‘Samuel Averitt. 9
“Joseph Gaylord.. “ © Thomas Matthew 12
“Elisha Bissell... “ Timothy Kelsey. 12
“Nathaniel Aus «John Standcliff. 12
“Abel Clark..... “Oliver Bissell... . 12
“ Comfort Standcliff, «John Spencer. . 12
“Asa Loomis....... “Seth Coe... 12
“Joseph Austin. “Simeon Birg 12
“Thomas Goodman.. “Joseph Loomis. 12:
“Dan Austin “Samuel Kelsey, Jr. 12,
«Silas Whit “Andrew D. Austin. 10
“Timothy Gillett . “Daniel Kelsey..... 12
“ Timothy Loomis. “ Benjamin Gaylord. 12

«Job Curtiss...

“John Bury, Jr. on} nels
mos Miller.

“Cotton Mather.
“Ebenezer Bissell]
“ Eliphas Bissell.
“Ezekiel Bissell,
“Roger Sheldon.
Reuben Burr.
“Enos Austin...

“Abner Ives...
“David Soper..
«Michael Loomis..
“Nehemiah Gaylord...

S5E Jor OHN x Coox,
“© EpaPHRAS SHELDON,
“* Amount £19 6s. 6d.
~“* Received payment,
““* Joun Coor,

} Justices of the Peace.

  
 
 
  
    
   
    

 

  
   
   
    
 

  
   
  
   
  
   
  
  
    
  
 
 

Half- Days. Half-Days.
Lieut. Epaphras Loomis... Private Noah Thrall. ase
Sergt. Wait Beach..... Noadiah Bancroft. 12
“Noah Wilson ‘Noah Beach.. 12
“ Eli Loomis... “Roswell Coe... 6
“Benjamin Beach “Roger Wilson. 12
“Joseph Blake... “ Samuel Beach 12
rp. Abijah Wilson.. “«  Shubael Cook. 12
“Elijah Barber. «Thomas Marsh 10
“Caleb Lyman. “Timothy Barber. 12
“Urijah Cook..... 12
“William Grant, 11
“John Cook, Jr.. 7
“Oliver Cotton. 11
“ Daniel Benedict 12
“ Daniel Loomis.. 12
Abel Beach, Jr.. “Jacob Johnson.. 7
“ Asahel North. “Joseph Thompson. 12
“  Asahel Wilcox. “ Lott Woodruff... 12
“ Benjamin Eggleston 8 “Noah North, Jr. 12
“Caleb Leach......... 12 “Isaac Hull.. 12
“Ebenezer North, Jr. 12 “ Isaiah Tuttle. 12
“Ebenezer Lyman. 12 “Oliver Bancroft. 12
“Abel Thrall... T « John Whiting, 12
«Ambros Marshall. 12 “ Christopher Wh 12
‘*  Asahel Strong, Jr. 12 “Joel Miller
ff Epaphras Sheldon 12 “Benoni Loomis.....
nN i 12 “Abner Loomis, Jr.
: 12 “Charles Thrall.
“ Epaphras Loomis, 12 “Abel Stannard.

 
    
  
   
   
 
 
  
 

Elisha Smith

 

 

 

   
    
  
  
  

John Miner...

 

 

 

  

 

“ Epbraim Bancroft 12 «Ephraim Loomis, Jr. 12
“Friend Thrall... 12 «Joseph Drake, Sr. 12
“ George Miller. 12 “ Solomon Agar d.. 12
“George Allyn... 12 “Roger Loomis. « 12
«Joseph Eggleston. 1L “Ebenezer Leach 3
“Joseph Thrall. 9 “ David Alvord.. 9
«John Curtis: 11 AS Joseph Holmes. 12
“ John Beach... 12 es 4
“Josiah Whiting, Jr. 5 es 4
“Israel Averitt, Jr. 12 “Remembrance 4
“ James Leach.. 12 “Aaron Marshall. 24
« John Youngs. 12 “ Richard Loomis. - 4
“James Beach. 12 “John Richards 4
“Joseph Beach, 7 “Joseph Taylor. ~ 4
«Levi Thrall. 12 “ Daniel Grant.. «12
“ Noah North 11 “Joel Roberts, . <8
“ Noah Fowler.,........... 12

“*Joun Coox,
“* EPAPHRAS SHELDON,

“* Amount £24 6s. 6d,
“*Received payment, Hartford, July, 1775,

“DANIEL Grant, Clerk.

} Justices of the peace.

“¢Capr. Amos WILsoNn,
“¢EPAPHRAS SHELDON.’

 

“¢ EPAPHRAS SHELDON.’

“Capt. Shubael Griswold, as captain, was in the

war of the Revolution as early as 1775, in the North-

ern campaign, as the following receipts will show.

These receipts are preserved in the pocket of the
book in which he kept his journal in the French war,

and which he used many years afterwards, as an ac-

“*Elisha Andrus:
shillings, lawful money worth of your stores.

ees To Capt. Shubael Griswold: Sir.

count-book.

Sir.

“© James CowLes.’

“ ©CROWNPOINT, July 4, 1775.

Please to let Benjamin Gaylord have five.

““SHUBAEL GRISWOLD, Capt.

“*CRownpornt, July 26, 1775.
“*Mr. Andrus, Sutler, Sir: Please to let Edward Fuller have of your

stores three shillings, lawful money, by order of

“*SHUBAEL GRISWOLD, Capt.

“© CRowNPOINT, August 4, 1775.
“*To Mr. Bemus, Suttler : Please to let Edward Fuller have of your
stores six shillings, lawful money.

“*SHUBAEL GRISWOLD, Capt.

“*Crownpornt, Sept. 28, 1775.
“Received of Mr. Jothem Bemus sixteen shilling and three pence,

york money, which I desire Capt. Griswold to pay out of my wages, and

you will oblige, Sir, Your’s

“*BUSHNIEL BENEDICT.

This is your order to pay Elisha
Frisbie, of Torrington, two pounds money, out ef what is due to me for
my wages in last year’s campaign, it being for value received.

“*Dated, Farmington the 13th day of March, 1776.

“*Davip: Haypon.

“Tt is quite evident that a number of Torrington
men were in this campaign with Capt. Griswold.

“The following paper, found in the State Library,
explains itself, to the credit of Torrington:
TORRINGTON.

615

 

“To John Lawrence, Esq., Colony Treasurer for the State of Connec-
ticut : Sir, these are to certify that there were forty-one soldiers that went
into the service out of the town of Torrington in the year 1775, whose
heads were all put into the common lists and county rates made thereon,
18s, per head, which by a late act made and provided, they are all abated;
therefore, Sir, we desire that the same may be credited to our collector,
Elisha Smith, the whole thereof amounts to the sum of thirty-six
pounds, 18s. lawful money, etc. :

“These from your most humble servauts.

“¢Dated, Torrington 7th of April, 1777.

“* Joun Cook,
“*EPAPHRAS SHELDON,
“* JoHN STRONG,
“* Amos WILSON,
“¢EpuRAim BANCROFT,

“Tn 1775 Goshen sent thirty-nine soldiers, New
Hartford fifty-five, Cornwall twenty-nine, Harwinton
thirty-two. ,

“Early in August, 1776, the aspect of affairs at New
York was so threatening that, at the urgent request
of Gen. Washington, the Governor and Council of
Connecticut ordered the whole of the standing militia
west of the Connecticut River, with two regiments on
the east side of the river, to march to New York
City. This order took two companies from this town.

“For the comfort of the militia when they should
go into the service, the Assembly directed that each
town should provide one tent for every thousand
pounds on the list, and Torrington, standing five
thousand eight hundred and sixteen pounds fifteen
shillings, was required to provide five, if not six, tents ;
hence Deacon John Cook, then town treasurer, paid
one order to the Widow Mary Birge by the hand of
her son, John Birge, for tent-cloth, amounting to five
pounds and six shillings, and also paid Capt. John
Strong, one of the selectmen, seven pounds and six-
teen shillings lawful money for tent-cloth.

“Tn December, 1776, to raise an army for the fol-
lowing two years, ten pounds were offered as a pre-
mium or bounty, and the same pay continued; and
in 1779 the authorities of this town paid as high as
thirty pounds for one soldier for three years or during
the war.

“Capt. Epaphras Sheldon, of this town, was ap-
pointed captain in the second of the six battalions
ordered in June, 1776, to be ‘raised and marched
directly to New York, and there join the Continental
army.’ The other officers of this company were: first
lieutenant, John Rockwell; second lieutenant, Abner
Wilson; ensign, Charles Goodwin. In this company
were probably two of the sons of the captain, viz. :

“Epaphras, aged twenty years, served his time, re-
turned home, and after many years removed to Han-
nibal, Oswego Oo., N. Y., where he died in 1850,
ninety-four years of age.

“Remembrance, nineteen years of age, was taken
prisoner by the British at Fort Washington; was
poisoned by the water, and died in January, 1777.

“Wait, son of Capt. Epaphras, served in the war,
and must have entered the army when fourteen or
fifteen years of age; returned, lived in this town, and
died in 1849, aged eighty-four years. :

| Justices of the Peace,

} Selectmen.’

 

“The captain lived in this town until 1809, when
he removed to Winchester, where he died in 1812,
aged eighty years.

“Elijah Loomis, son of Ichabod, was probably in
this company, and died a prisoner.

“Capt. Shubael Griswold was appointed captain in
December, 1776, with the following officers in his
company: Jonathan Mason, first lieutenant; Theo-
dore Catlin, second lieutenant; Jesse Buell, ensign.

| The men were enlisted from Torringford, Litchfield,

and Cornwall. The pay-roll of this company is re-
ported in the State library as lost, yet Capt. Gris-
wold made an extra roll, which he placed in the
pocket of his journal, where it remained to the pres-
ent, in spite of three generations of children, and
more than a hundred years of wear and tear. It is
well preserved, and beautiful to behold, except some
hawk-eyed pictures, which have been scribbled on it
either by soldiers in the army or those of the house-
hold. ’

“The company marched to Sawpits, where it joined
the army.

“The marching roll of Capt. Griswold’s company,
March 4, 1777:

“From Torrington: John Burr, Seth Coe, Charles Roberts, Ambrose
Fyler, Jonathan Miller, Asaph Atwater, John Birge, Isaac Filley,
Timothy Loomis, Ebenezer Bissell, Return Bissell, Daniel Winchell,
Frederick Bigelow, Cotton Mather, Benjamin Frisbie, Thomas
Skinner, Nathaniel Barber, Timothy Kelsey, Thomas Matthews,
Stephen Rossiter, Elisha Kelsey.

“ From Litchfield: Stephen Smith, Gideon Phillips, Abel Catlin, Simeon
Ross, Timothy Gibbs, Benjamin Stone, Ashbel Catlin, Calvin Bissell,
Benjamin Palmer, John Way, Abner Baldwin, Philemon Wilcox,
Solomon Linsley, John Woodruff, Enoch Sperry, Dyer Cleaveland,
Enos Baines, Solomon Hurson, Harris Hopkins, Timothy Linsley,
Joel Taylor, J ohn Bissell, Solomon Woodruff. Philo Woodruff, Sim-
eon Gibbs, Belah Benton.

“From Cornwall: John Mebbins, Samuel Burton, Josiah Hopkins,
Asahbel Leet, Solomon Johnson, Henry Philemor, Samuel Emmons,’
Israel Dibble, Thomas White, Elisha Damon, Jernas Wadsworth,
Joshua Hartshorn, Noah Harrison, Asa Emmons, Jonathan Bell,
Simeon North.

“The Torringford and Cornwall men marched
eighty-five miles, and the Litchfield men seventy-five,
before reaching the army, on which account the
former received seven shillings and onepence each,
and the latter six shillings and threepence, as travel-
ing expenses. Tradition says this company was in
the Northern campaign, going to Crown Point and
Montreal, taking Fort St. John’s, and returning in
the winter; and this agrees with the reports preserved
by the State.

“Capt. Medad Hills was appointed captain in De-
cember, 1776, and raised his company from Goshen,
Torrington, and Winchester, with the following offi-
cers: Timothy Stanley, lieutenant, and John Dowd,
ensign. Capt. Hills resided in Goshen, near the
Torrington line, and is celebrated for the guns which
he made during the war more than for the battles he
fought; for the reason that his guns have been seen
more than his battles have been heard of, although
he was a brave and honored soldier. He is said to
616

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

have been in command of two companies at the taking
of New York City by the British, and to have con-
ducted himself and men to the honor of his country
in that perilous time.

“The several volunteer companies of the State this
year were put into one regiment, and the Assembly
appointed Noadiah Hooker colonel, James Root
lieutenaut-colonel, and Medad Hills major. Mr.
Hills was afterwards appointed colonel.

“The following persons being detached [drafted]
in 1777, paid their fines, each five pounds of money:
“Asahel Wilcox, Joseph Taylor, Isaiah Tuttle, Moses Loomis, Jr., Epa-

phras Loomis, Jr., Roger Wilson, Ephraim Loomis, Thomas Mar-

shall, Noah Fowler, Arial Brace, Samuel Beach, William Wilson,

George Baldwin, Moses Loomis (for his son, second time), George

Baldwin (second draft), Noadiah Bancroft, Pardon Thrall, Aggbel

North, [Samuel] Cummings, Benjamin Beach.

“In addition to these, Capt. Epaphras Loomis re-

, Vapt. up

ported the fines of nine others in 1777. Twenty-
three others gave their notes for these fines, and paid
the notes in 1779, one hundred and fifteen pounds,
amounting, in all, to two hundred and sixty pounds.
These funds were used by the town in giving extra
pay to those who did go and in hiring other soldiers.
Capt. Epaphras Loomis’ company received of this
forty-six pounds.

“Benjamin Phelps, in January, 1779, ‘paid two
hundred dollars for a fine for his son Jonathan; being
detached and not going, sixty pounds.’

“Tn 1779 the town treasurer pad the following
sums for men as soldiers:

“Paid Samuel Roberts for his service in the army, £6 10s, Paid an
order in favor of Noah North for his hiring a man in the service, £10;
to Capt. Amos Wilson for his hiring a man, etc., £10; to Urijah Cook for
his hiring a man, etc., £10; to Ebenezer Leach for his service in the
army, £10; to Daniel Grant for money paid for clothing, £43 7s. 6d.; to
Samuel Kelsey for his service in the army; to Bushniel Benedict for
cartouch-box, £4 4s.; to Daniel and Abraham Loomis for their hiring a
man into the army, £10; to Jabez Gillett for two soldiers’ blankets, £18;
to Daniel Waller for his hiring a man, etc., after he was detached, £10;
Dea. Miller for two blankets for the soldiers, £16; to Daniel Dibble for

a soldier’s blanket, £9; to Ambrose Fyler, a Continental soldier, £13; to

Jabez Gillett for a pot detached for the State use, £12 12s.; to Abner

Loomis to hire John Dear to go into the service in Phelps’ boy’s room,
who paid his fine, £60.’

“Tn 1780 the treasurer received fines as follows: by
Col. Sheldon, from Ulysses Fyler, Samuel Clark,
Clement Tuttle, William Wilson, and James Fer-
guson, two hundred and sixteen dollars; by Maj.
Strong, a fine from Stephen ———, two hundred and
forty dollars.

“Tn 1781 the following moneys were received: by

several notes given for fines by those who were de-.

tached, £5 each, £35; also by Ebenezer Bissell, as
fine, £10; sundry other notes, £5 17s.

“Tn 1781 the treasurer of the town paid the fol-
lowing for services in the army:

 

“© To Jesse Whiting for three months’ tour.....
“ George Baldwin for cloth blankets, pork, etc... 4
“ Nehemiah Gaylord, Jr., for hiring Brigadore
Loomis & tour,....cccscseeseesseeasvesesneeen: » 34
“ Elisha Kelsey for a six months’ tour..
“ Eliphalet Hough six months’ tour for Sam.
Cummings...... soesecses
“ Roger Marshall for six months tour.

 

oa co ac

 

yi Wilson for clothing and transporting to New

 

“ Timothy Loomis for hiring a man asix ee

 
  

tow
“ Andrew Ely for ai months’ tour..
“ Benjamin Gaylord for a six months’ tour. 20
“ Asahel Strong, conductor of teams...
“ Stanley Griswold for part of three mo
“ Capt. Noah Wilson for wheat for soldiers.
“ John Ellsworth for service as a soldier...
“ Nathan Sanders for his apprentice in service

ONE SUMMET.....cesescceerereeeserereeners !
“ Barber Moore for a six months’ tour.
“ Plijah Bissell for six months’ tour....
“ Ebenezer North, for one iron pot for service.
“ Nathaniel Kelsey, Jr., fur part of three months’

 

NoOsTorSe

 

a
a
i

 

   

“ Elisha Smith and Samuel Austin, receivers and
packers of beef and other provisions...
“ Zachariah Mather, Wait Beach, and ‘A ijah

oo esoeo s9eeocSooo &

 

Milford
“ John Standcliff for a six months! tour.
“ John Ellsworth for part of a six months’ tour..
“ Jared Palmer for part of a three months’ tour..
“ Noah North for hiring a six months’ tour...
“ Ensign [Benj. | Whiting for part of three

months’ tour.
“ Daniel Benedict was voted

 
 
 
 

 

  

on
~
>

So CMO Om

“The following are some of the actions taken in
town-meeting in support of the Revolution:

“¢Dec., 1777.—Voted, That Abner Marshall, Capt. Noah Wilson, Mr.
Ebenezer Coe, Sergt. Aaron Austin, and Capt. Shubael Griswold shall be
a committee to look into the matter, in respect to fines, and to do jus-
tice and equity to them that were fined.’

“¢ Voted, That Capt. Abel Beach, Capt. Ebenezer Coe, Capt. Noah Wil-
son, Mr. Aaron Austin, Capt. Benjamin Bissel, and Lieut. Nehemiah
Gaylord shall be a committee to get clothing for the Continental soldiers,
according to an act of Assembly, and that the committee give prizes as
they judge just and reasonable.’

“ Ata meeting of the town held Jan. 6, 1778, ‘to
try the minds of the town, whether they would ap-
prove and adopt the Articles of Confederation,’ —

“© Voted article by article, and adopted the Ist, 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th
articles, and approved the same by a very clear majority.’

“¢ Voted, That the selectmen let those families whose husbands are in
the service have what salt they judge reasonable.’ ‘That the widow
Preston have given to her gratis one bushel of salt, when it comes, as a
free gift from the town.’

“* Voted, That Nathaniel Barber, Jr., Samuel Kelsey, Jr., Clerk Rob-
erts, Ambros Fyler, Evenezer Scovill, Ebenezer Leach, who are now in
our service to fill our quota, and all those men who will enlist or are
detached, have given them twenty shillings a month for each month they
are in the service, until the first day of January next, except those who
take the benefit by Jaw provided to support their families.’

““¢ Voted, That Lieut. Ebenezer Miller and Ensign Elijah Gaylord,
Capt. Abel Beach, and Mr. Caleb Lyman be a committee to divide to
each family the town salt according to the number of inhabitants in the
town.’

“Tn March, 1778, they

“* Voted, That Capt. Noah Wilson, Capt. Abel Beach, Capt. Ebenezer
Coe, Capt. Benjamin Bissell, Mr. Aaron Austin, and Lieut. Nehemiah
Gaylord shall be a committee to provide for those families that are left,
and whose husbands are in the army, as the law directs,’

“© Poted, To appoint a committee to provide the clothing for our
quota, and that the committee divide into six districts, and that each
district provide their equal proportion, and that Lieut. Ebenezer Miller,
Mr. Daniel Hudson, Mr. Asahel Strong, Mr. Abner Loomis, Ensign
Daniel Grant, and Mr. Ashbel North be a committee to divide and pro-
cure their equal proportions of clothing.’

“In December, 1778, another committee was ap-
pointed to procure clothing, consisting of George
Baldwin, Dr. Elkanah Hodges, Ensign Benjamin
Whiting, John Wetmore, Ezekiel Bissell, Jr., and
John Birge.

“Tn September, 1779, a special town-meeting was
called for the purpose, and they directed the select-
TORRINGTON.

men, with the committee, to borrow money, if neces-
sary, to provide clothing and provisions for soldiers’
families.

“Jn the next December, at the regular meeting,
they decided that ‘ Daniel Dibble, Reuben Burr, Noah
Wilson, Jr., and Ensign Wait Beach be a committee
to take care of the soldiers’ families the year ensuing.’
And at the same time they appointed Nehemiah Gay-
lord, Jr., Michael Loomis, Elisha Smith, Caleb Ly-
man, Hewit Hills, and Eli Richards a committee to
procure clothing for the soldiers for the year ensuing.

“On Dec. 4, 1780, when war matters were looking

gloomy, and further call had been made for soldiers,
the town appointed Lieut. Jesse Cook, Ensign Daniel
Grant, Lieut. John Burr, Sergt. Benjamin Beach, Mr.
David Soper, and Mr. Ashbel North a committee to
procure men for three years or during the war, to fill
our quota of the Continental army ; and to leave the
matter with the committee now appointed, to get the
men as reasonable as they can, and for whatever they
do the town will be reponsible, and will satisfy their
contract with those they hire, and satisfy all reason-
able expenses.

“Tn this year, and in 1781, it required a great effort
to procure the number of men required of the town,
and the votes passed were of a very stringent and
thorough character, so as to meet the demands made;
extra taxes were levied, authority to borrow money
given; Daniel Grantwas kept in the saddle collecting
taxes almost the year round; three special town-
meetings were held in 1781; the town was divided
into classes or districts, and every district must fur-
nish the men adjudged to be its proportion; and the
very language in which the acts are expressed indi-
cate the extremity to which they were driven. Their
town-meetings were like councils of war rather than
anything else, and on one occasion continued (June
2d) in the old.Torrington meeting-house until after
dark, and they adjourned to the house of Ephraim
Bancroft to have light to see to record the transac-
tions. The great question was how to get men with-
out oppression and injustice, for they say to the com-
mittee ‘to make out the town quota in the most
equitable way and manner as they possibly can to do
equal justice,’ for the drafts fell so heavy that there
was danger of rebellion, and, if not, who could be
found to arrest a man, take him from his already suf-
fering family, and drag him into thearmy? One reso-
lution has the ring of defiance:

“Voted, That if the militia officers neglect to detach three weeks
(against the order), the town will defend from cost that may arise there-
from?

“That is, they must and would have a little time to
do the work assigned. This was not all: when the
men were procured, the demands for provisions must
be met.

“<Voted, That the civil authority and selectmen divide the town into

four equal classes by the lists, and draw lots which class shall pay the
first month’s beef, and so on for the four months.’

 

617

“This means that the authorities took a man’s ox
or cow whether he would or not, and sent it to the
army, that those sons and fathers already there might
not starve. For any such thing taken the town al-
ways paid a full price; but every ox and cow was
wanted in the town, and were not for sale.

“The year 1782 came, and with it another call for
men from this town, the number being eleven.

“*Voted, That the four classes as set out last year be assigned to pro-
cure eleven men for one year, as follows, viz.: That the first class be
divided into three classes, each to procure one man; the second class
remain as they were last year, to procure two men; the third class to
be divided into three classes, each to procure one man; the fourth class
to remain together to procure three men; and that the selectinen first
divide and set out by the list of 1781 into four classes or equal parts,
set out last year, and then divide as aforesaid,

* These eleven were State men, and others must be
procured. ,

“<Voted, That the committee above mentioned be a committee to hire
what men are wanted to fill our quota aforesaid of the Continental army,
as well as the State men.’

“This was the last draft they had to meet, and well
it was, for they could not have procured many more
soldiers, unless the women had volunteered.

“In all the votes of the town there appeared no
hesitancy, but great cheerfulness in meeting all re-
quirements as to the army and the care of the soldiers’
families at home, in hope of final and lasting success
in freedom.

“Not an intimation is given on the town records
of any person being disloyal to the American cause,
and, as far as can now be judged, those who took the
oath of fidelity to this cause, beginning in 1777, in-
clude all the voters in the town at that time, and
onward as they became of age or came into the town.
That list is a noble showing fcr the town.

“‘Epaphras Sheldon, as colonel, entered complaint
against Matthew Grant, Sr.,in May, 1777, as an officer
in the militia, that he neglected and hindered in the
exercising of the militia, and he was summoned be-
fore the Assembly; but he took the oath the next
September.”

TAXES DURING THE REVOLUTION.

“They were very high, and, on account of the
scarcity of money, extremely difficult to pay ; and the
actual suffering consequent was very considerable.

“The town tax in 1775 amounted to £27 1s. 73d.
for the west side, and £14 3s. 2d. for the east side, or,
both, £41 4s. 93d. In 1777 the two assessments made
amounted to £181 12s. 10d., or more than four times
that of 1775. In 1779 they amounted to £308 4s. 3d.
In 1780 the amount in figures was £3054 1s. 10d.,
which they could not have paid if the figures repre-
sented hard money, but they meant Continental
money, which was abundant, but worth very little.
In 1781 the two assessments amounted to £506 5s,
33d. in State money, which money was then be-
coming the reliable currency, gold and silver being
almost unknown practically.
618

“Tn the collection of these taxes Daniel Grant be-
came a celebrated and almost indispensable man, be-
cause of his success in obtaining the money, and also
in making it as easy as possible for the people.

“There was a company of troopers, or soldiers on
horseback, formed in this town in 1799 or ’80, who
took active part in the Revolutionary service, as the
records show that they received pay for such service
in the same proportion as the other militia companies.
Two horse-pistols are still preserved, and are in the
hands of Mr. George Allyn, that were a part of the
equipment of this company. They were made by
Medad Hills, and bear his inscription.”

OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS.

“Gen. Epaphras Sheldon was lieutenant under Gol.
Oliver Wolcott, and afterwards was made major, colo-
nel, and general after the war.

“Capt. Shubael Griswold was lieutenant in two
campaigns in the French war, in 1758 and ’59, and
was captain in two campaigns in the Revolution.

“Capt. John Strong was captain of the militia, and
was probably in two or three campaigns.

“Capt. Amos Wilson enlisted a company, went to
the war, but was taken ill by sunstroke, and returned
home.

“ Capt. Epaphras Loomis, probably, was elected to
Capt. Amos Wilson’s position in the commencement
of the war, and as captain of the Torrington company
was in several campaigns with the militia, and was
afterwards appointed captain of an enlisted company.

“Capt. Noah Wilson was the first captain of a
military company in the town, and he resigned, and
his brother Amos was elected in his place, and, as
near as can be ascertained, Amos resigned soon after
the commencement of the war, and was not in the
service long.

“Noah Wilson may have gone in the call for the
militia in 1775.

“David Lyman served in the army some time, and
was honorably discharged to run a grist-mill in New
Hartford for the supply of the Revolutionary troops;
resided in Torringford a number of years before his
death. He is said to have been known by the name
of Gen. Lyman.

“Capt. Jabez Gillett was in the service.

“Dr. Isaac Day, of Torringford, was appointed sur-
geon’s mate in the regiment of Col. Webb in 1777.

“ Dr. Oliver Bancroft was in the army.

“Dr. Elkanah Hodges was ‘probably in the army
with the militia two or three terms when they were
called out, as he received pay as others.

“Dr. Samuel Woodward was in the army, but
probably with the militia.

“Capt. Seth Coe was a soldier in the Revolution,
enlisting when but seventeen, and remaining through
the war, and was probably made captain in the war.

“Levi Watson was at Danbury when it was burned
by the British.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

“Thomas Watson was in the State service, which
he entered at the age of fifteen, and joined the Conti-
nental army when but nineteen.

“Shubael Griswold, Jr., was an officer in his
father’s company in the Revolution, and afterwards
became general of the militia at East Hartford.

“ Pardon Abbott, from Rhode Island, was a soldier
in the Revolution; drew a pension many years; lived
in the old house on the little hill below the nickel-
furnace in Torrington Hollow.

“ Asahel Strong was conductor of teams.

“The following persons are known to have been in
the Revolution for various lengths of time, some
in the militia, and some of them in the regular
army:

“Oliver Coe, Oliver Coe, Jr., Dr. Oliver Bancroft, Nathaniel Barber, Jr.,
Bushniel Benedict, Daniel Benedict, Simeon Birge, Elijah Bissell,
John Dear, Noah Drake, Sr., Andrew Ely, John Standcliff, John
Ellsworth, Ebenezer Scoville, Ambrose Fyler, Benjamin Whiting,
Benjamin Gaylord, Jesse Whiting, Stanley Griswold, Heary Whiting,
Shubael Griswold, Jr., Eliphalet Hough, Joseph Hoskins, Sr., Samuel
Kelsey, Elisha Kelsey, Nathaniel Kelsey, Samuel Kelsey, Jr., David
Lyman, Epaphras Loomis, Jr., Wait Loomis, Elijah Loomis, Richard
Leach, Ebenezer Leach, Roger Marshall, Barber Moore, Jared Palmer,
Abel Roberts, Samuel Roberts, Clerk Roberts, William Williams,
Stephen Rowley, John Williams.” .

THE WHIPPING-POST.

“This method of penalty was continued to a later
day in Torrington than in some other towns, but was
resorted to largely in cases of stealing. Mr. Israel
Coe, as constable, whipped two men about the years
1817 and 1818,—one for stealing a piece of broadcloth
at the woolen-mill, the other for stealing a silver spoon
at Capt. Samuel Bradley’s.

“At a justice court holden at Torrington, in the county of Litchfield,
on the 15th day of January, 1830, in presence of R. C. Abernethy, justice
of the peace for said county holding the same, Nelson Fyler, of said Tor-
rington, was brought Lefore said court by virtue of a warrant issued by
the said R. C. Abernethy, . . . on complaint of Luther Cook, grand juror
of said Forrington, charging the said Nelson Fyler that on the 14th day
of January, 1830, at Torrington aforesaid, did feloniously take, steal, and
carry away one certain gold finger-ring, with a stone set therein, of the
value of five dollars, the proper estate of Ransom Hine, of said Torring-
ton, against the peace and contrary to the form of the statute in such
case made and provided; and the said Nelson Fyler, being put to plead,
for plea says he is not guilty in manner and form as in such complaint
is alleged. And this court having heard the evidence, as well on the
part of the State as of the said Nelson Fyler, find that the said Nelson
Fyler is guilty in manner and in form as in said complaint is alleged,
and also find that the said ring was, when stolen, of the value of two
dollars fifty cents. It is therefore considered and adjudged that the said
Nelson Fyler pay a fine of five dollars to the treasurer of the town of
Torrington, together with the costs of the prosecution, taxed at nine
dollars and thirty cents, and also pay to the said Ransom Hine seven
dollars and fifty cents, being treble the value of said ring stolen, as afore-
said; and the said Nelson Fyler, neglecting and refusing to pay said fine
and costs, shall be punished by whipping four stripes on his naked body
and pay the costs of prosecution, and stand committed till this judgment
be complied with.

“«RusseLL C, ABERNETHY, Justice of the Peace.’

“The warrant for execution was granted, and de-
livered to William Leach, constable, the same day;
but tradition says the prisoner was whipped,.but on
his way to prison escaped from the constable.

“This is said to have been the last case of whipping
in the town.”
TORRINGTON.

619

 

A PROSECUTION FOR PROFANITY.

; “To Ebenezer Norton, Esq., his majesty’s justice of the peace for Litch-
field County, in Connecticut:

“* Benjamin Whiting, grand juror for said county of Litchfield for the
time being, and other informing officers for said town and county, on
their oath, in the name and behalf of our sovereign lord the now king,
complaint and information make against Matthew Grant, of Torrington,
in said county, for breach of law, for that he, the said Matthew, being at
the dwelling-house of Epaphras Sheldon, Esq., and at Mr. Ebenezer
Coe’s, in Torrington, on or about the 21st day of January last past, and
several of his majesty’s subjects being present, the said Matthew did at
‘the aforesaid place, in a very tumultuous and angry way and manner,
did with a loud voice swear by God vainly, rashly, and in a passion and
profanely, and used those vain words following: viz., “The south end of
Torrington is as bad as hell, and that the Wilsons would all go to hell,
and that they would go to the devil,” and many other rash and profane
words did then and there express in a very wicked way and manner,
all which the complainers say was contrary to the peace of our sovereign
Jord the king and the law of this colony, and pray that the said Matthew
Grant may be proceeded with as the law directs, made and provided in
such cases.

“*Dated at Torrington this 5th day of March, 1773.

“*JosEPH ALLEN,
“¢ JosePH TANTER,

| Ewidence for the king.
“* BENJAMIN BEacu,

“* Beng. WHITING,
“*Noan WILSON,

| Grand Jury.
“*Tsaac Goopwin,

“ “EPHRAIM BANCROFT,

i ,
“¢ Japez GILLETT, \ Constables of Torrington.

,

“On the back of this paper is written the order for
Mr. Grant’s arrest, dated Sept. 23, 1778, or six months
after the complaint was made, by which time the hot
excitement had probably cooled down a little.”

SLAVERY.

In January, 1837, a number of the citizens of this
county met in Wolcottville for the purpose of organ-
izing a county anti-slavery society ; but when they
“began to look around for a place for the meeting of the
convention,” says the Rev. Mr. Orcutt, “they found
every church and public and private hall closed against
thém; and heard whisperings of threatenings against
any who might have the noble daring to encounter the
pro-slavery element of the village and of the town. At
this juncture a barn was offered for the use of the con-
vention, and it was promptly accepted, and fitted for
the occasion. It was not the first time that strangers
found the shelter in a barn, ‘because there was no
room in the inn.’ In that barn the friends of impar-
tial liberty and justice gathered in goodly numbers,
some of them the most reliable and respectable citi-
zens of Litchfield County. The barn was filled,—the
floor, scaffolds, hay-mow, and stables. It was an in-
tense cold day in January, and there was much suffer-
ing from the severity of the weather. The conven-
tion was called to order, and Roger 8. Mills, of New
Hartford, appointed chairman. . The Rev. Daniel
Coe, of Winsted, offered prayer. After appointing a
committee to nominate permanent officers, the con-
vention was addressed by the Rev. Nathaniel Colver,
agent of the American society, and others. The county
society was then organized, and the following officers
appointed: President, Roger 8. Mills; Vice-Presi-

 

dents, Erastus Lyman, of Goshen, Gen. Daniel B.
Brinsmade, of Washington, Gen. Uriel Tuttle, of Tor-
ringford, and Jonathan Coe, of Winsted ; Secretary,
Rev. R. M. Chipman, of Harwinton; Treasurer, Dr.
E. D. Hudson, of Torringford. While thus peace-
fully engaged, though suffering with the cold, and
counseling together for the relief of the oppressed
and the elevation of humanity, a furious mob was col-
lecting in the village, and elevating their courage for
their deeds of violence by the intoxicating cup. A
class of men from the adjoining town, as well as from
Torrington, had gathered for the very purpose of dis-
turbing this meeting, if it should attempt to exercise
the liberties of religious and civil citizens. This mob,
after parading the streets, making hideous and threat-
ening noises, gathered around the barn, and by their
deafening shouts, the blowing of horns, and the ringing
the alarm of fire by the bell of the Congregational
church, and the display of brute force, broke up the
meeting, which hastily took an adjournment. Then
the old Puritan spirit was manifested by the Torring-
ford people, who offered the use of their meeting-house
to the convention, and it repaired to that place, and
continued the session two days. The opposition in Tor-
ringford, though violent, was undemonstrative, for lack
of the mob element and rum, and. partially from the
fact that the fury of the mob had run its race in Wol-
cottville. When the convention left the barn, the
shouts, thumping of pans and kettles, and the furious
ringing of the church-bell characterized pandemo-
nium broken loose. When the people were leaving
Wolcottville in their sleighs, the entire village seemed
to be a bedlam. That good man, Deacon Ebenezer
Rood, was set upon in his sleigh, to overturn him and
frighten his horses. This excited his righteous indig-
nation, and in a voice of defiance he shouted to them,
‘Rattle your pans, hoot and toot, ring your bells, you
pesky fools, if it does you anv good;’ then put his
horses on a run and cleared himself from the gang.

“When the meeting assembled in Torringford it
was inspired with new life, energy, and courage. The
beacon-fires of liberty and freedom blazed much
higher than they would but for the violence mani-
fested in the village. Deacon Rood’s spirit of defiance
to the mob took possession of the whole company,
and every man and woman enlisted in the cause glo-
ried in the name of Abolitionist, and felt anointed for
the work of preaching ‘ deliverance to the captives in
chains.’ Such was the beginning of anti-slavery
agitation and times in the town where John Brown—
‘Ossawattomie Brown’—was born.

“This society, moved now as well by the sense that
despotism had come to their own doors and threatened
the very sacredness of church and homes as by the
thought of freedom for the slave, proceeded to hold
monthly meetings throughout the county. These
meetings were held in barns and sheds, in groves and
houses, and anywhere that the people would assemble
for such a purpose. It raised funds by systematic
620

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

method, distributed tracts, books, and papers.
State Charter Oak Society was organized in 1838, and
employed lecturing agents, who besides lecturing so-
licited subscribers to the anti-slavery papers and
scattered anti-slavery literature.

“They were opposed everywhere, and yet moved on
in their work as though everybody knew they were
right. They were called all sorts of opprobrious
names; were proscribed and derided as ‘ nigger friends,’
disturbers of Israel.’ Some were unceremoniously ex-
communicated from the churches for no crime but
speaking against slavery,—the very thing that many of
the fathers had done for a hundred years without ob-
jection having been made. All argument with anti-
slavery men started with the Bible, where the Quakers
started nearly one hundred years before, and this
brought the question into all the churches as well as
committees. Some withdrew from the churches be-
cause they deemed it sinful to hold fellowship with
those who voted to uphold a system acknowledged to be

guilty of more crime than any other system in the land. |

“The opposition had but one argument, namely, it
offended the South; slavery was for their interest.

This argument had been gradually obtaining adher- |

ents from the time the Constitution of the United
States was adopted. Before that some of the Southern
States were as much anti-slavery as any in the North.
When the South changed the spirit of proscription
began to rise in the North, hence in the first meet-

ing-house in Torrington there was no slave pew nor |

nigger pew, but in the second one there were two.
These pews were located in the gallery over the stairs,
boarded up so high that when the colored people sat
in them they could see no part of the congregation,
and could be seen by no one in the assembly. Jacob
Prince, after being made a freeman by his master,
Abijah Holbrook, joined the church in Goshen, and
then, being placed in such a seat, and treated in other
ways by the same spirit, refused to go to church, be-
cause, as he said, he was not treated as a brother, and
thereafter held prayer-meetings in his own house on
the Sabbath, whereupon the Goshen Church pro-
ceeded to and did excommunicate him for neglect of
duty. This same Jacob is said to have been as fine a
looking man, head and features, as nearly any one in
the town, except the color of his skin.

“Two such pews were in the old church in Torring-
ford, but the Rev. Samuel J. Mills (whether as a re-
buke to the spirit of caste or not is not known) always
seated Henry Obookiah, Thomas Hooppo, and other
tawny brethren of the Sandwich Islands, when they
visited him from the Cornwall mission-school, in his
own pew, in the front of the congregation, quite to
the dissatisfaction of some even of that congregation.”

ABIJAH HOLBROOK’S LETTER OF EMANCIPATION.

“Know all men by these presents, that I, Abijah Holbrook, of Torring-
ton, in the county of Litchfield and State of Connecticut, being influ-
enced by motives of humanity and benevolence, believing that all man-
kind by nature are entitled to equal liberty and freedom; and whereas

|
The

I, the said Holbrook, agreeable to the laws and customs of this State, and
the owner and possessor of two certain negroes which are of that class
that are called slaves for life, viz, Jacob Prince, a male negro, and
Ginne, a female, wife of said Jacob; and whereas the said negroes to
this time have served me with faithfulness and fidelity, and they being
now in the prime and vigor of life, and appear to be well qualified as to
understanding and economy to maintain and support themselves by their
own industry, and they manifesting a great desire to be delivered from
slavery and bondage,

“T therefore, the said Abijah Holbrook, do by these presents freely and
absolutely emancipate the said Jacob and Ginne, and they are hereby
discharged from all authority, title, claim, control, and demand that I,
the said Holbrook, now have or ever had in or unto the persons or ser-
vices of them, the said Jacob and Ginne, and they, from and after the
date hereof, shall be entitled to their liberty and freedom, and to trans-
act business for themselves in their own names and for their own benefit
and use,

“To witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th

day of August, a.p. 1798.
“ ApigAH HoLproox.”

JOHN BROWN.

John Brown, known to history as “ Ossawattomie
Brown,” was born in this town,—in the house an en-
graving of which is herewith shown,—May 9, 1800.

 

 

HOUSE WHERE JOHN BROWN WAS BORN. «

The history of this in some respects remarkable man
is so well known that no extended notice is deemed
necessary in this connection. Sufficeth it to say that
he carried his Quixotic attempt to liberate the serfs
of American bondage into the heart of slavedom, and
met his tragic fate by hanging at Charleston, Va.,
Dec. 2, 1859.

CHAPTER LX.

TORRINGTON (Continued).

Wolcottville—Its Inception—United Movements—The Village in 1819—
In 1836—In 1881—Seneca Lodge, F. and A. M.—Wolcottville Savings
Bank— Brooks Brothers’ Banking-Office — Physicians — Attorneys—
Torringford—Holbrook’s Mills—Hart’s Hollow—Torrington Hollow—
Wrightville—Burrville,

VILLAGES AND HAMLETS.
WOLCOTTVILLE.*

“THE first business transaction that led the way of
all others in building Wolcottville as a village was

 

 

* Name changed to Torrington in 1881.
TORRINGTON.

the purchasing by Amos Wilson of the proprietors
of the town the mill-privileges on Waterbury River,
west branch, in March, 1751,—the site known since as
that of Wilson’s mill. He was then twenty-five years
of age; had been in the town less than a year; was
the owner of fifty acres of land given him by his
father; and by this transaction started himself in
business for life. His brother Noah had been in the
town seven or eight years, and was the owner, at this
time, of two or three hundred acresof land. The next
step of progress was the formation of the stock com-
pany, and the building of the mill soon after, prob-
ably the same year. The company bought at different
times various portions of the pine timber-land, and
Noah and Amos Wilson bought for their individual
possession strip after strip, as the owners were willing
to sell, until a considerable part of the pine-timber was
under their control. In October, 1752, Amos Wilson
married Zerviah Grant, daughter of William Grant,
one of the proprietors of the mill,—a transaction with
a foresight to business as well as domestic felicity,—
and made his home west of the mill, near the present
residence of Mr. Burton Patterson.

“The next enterprise of Amos Wilson was a store
and a shoe-shop. His account-book, still preserved,
reveals the extent of this department of usefulness, as
well as the work done at the mill. The earliest date
in this book is 1759, and the book shows that there
had been another previous to this, kept by Amos
Wilson.

“Tt was this saw-mill that was to clear the pine-
timber from the.swamp and open the way for a beau-
tifal village. This timber was valuable. Mast Swamp
has been represented as a worthless piece of territory,
so much so that the committee, in laying out the town,
could scarcely devise a plan to dispose of it, whereas
it was reserved during all the other divisions, for the
reason that it was of such value that every proprietor
demanded his share in proportion to the amount of
his list. For twenty years the proprietors, by various
committees, protected the pine-timber, and ordered
prosecutions in court, even at large expense, upon
any person who should cut it, and for what reason?
Because it was so worthless? Any of the old pro-
prietors would have laughed at the idea. They had
houses and barns to build; and they knew that pine-
lumber was far preferable and more durable than

‘hemlock for such purposes, and to suppose to the
contrary is a disparagement of the keen-sighted cal-
culations of the fathers of Torrington. Many of the
farmers cut this timber as they needed it; hired the
use of Wilson’s mill to saw it, and worked at the mill
night and day to that end, and then used it at their
homes; and after this process had been going on fifty
years and more, they sold their lots with what re-
mained on them, some of them, as the deeds show,
for sixty dollars and over per acre. Between 1790
and 1800, Roger Wilson and Roswell Wilson bought,
in company and separately, between twenty and
40

 

621.

thirty of these lots, paying the above prices for a
number of them.

“A highway through the swamp was laid at the
time of the first division, in 1734, half a mile north of
and parallel with the Litchfield line, and crossed the
West Branch some distance above Wilson’s mill, pass-
ing eastward a little north of the present Congrega-
tional parsonage, and was a traveled road very early.
It was, indeed, the only road through the swamp for
twenty or more years. In 1752 a highway was laid
through the swamp, near the middle, from north to.
south, twenty feet wide, which is now Main Street.
In the same year another one was laid from the mill-
place ‘east, twenty feet wide, until it comes into the
other road.’ That is now Water Street. The other
highway, known now as South Main Street, was made
at a later date. The first road leading to Waterbury
began at the west end of the bridge above Wilson’s,
mill, and passed down on the south side of the river,
crossing the brook below the park, and was called the
New Haven road. The old Litchfield road came down
the ravine into the New Haven road near this brook.
On the east side of the river a highway was laid in
1752, from the Litchfield line running north as far as
the pine-timber division of land. This road was ex-.
tended south into Litchfield, and became a traveled
road quite early, and several dwellings were standing
on it before 1800. .

“On the New Haven road there were settlers long
before any houses were built in Wolcottville. Paul
Peck had his hermit’s house near this road some time
before 1776. Samuel Brooker owned his hundred
acres of land in this vicinity, and built his house near
the site of Mr. Charles F. Church’s present dwelling,
about 1785. Below this dwelling resided a Mr. Elwell
and Solomon Morse. Capt. Perkins lived in a house
on the site of Mr. Frederick Taylor’s present home-
stead. On the Litchfield road, some distance west
from the New Haven road, were the homes of Thomas
Coe, Asahel Wilcox, Chester Brooker, and others. .
Some of the land along this New Haven road and.
near the river has been under cultivation longer than
any in the original town of Torrington. It was in
this vicinity or up the Litchfield road that Josiah.
Grant resided in 1734, when he hired four or five
acres of land then ‘broken up on Waterbury River,’
within the territory of Torrington. A carding and
cloth-dressing mill was built opposite Wilson’s saw-
mill, on the river, at an early period. Joseph Blake
dressed cloth at this mill many years, and is said to.
have come to the town for this purpose. Amos Wil-
son’s account with Mr. Blake begins in 1769, and.
therefore it is probable that the mill was built before
that time. This mill was gone in 1794. It is likely
that when it began to decay, Joseph Taylor built the
one that stood near the rock on the south side of the
river, some fifty rods below Wilson’s mill, and that
Joseph Blake continued to work for Mr. Taylor at:
this second carding-mill, which became a flax-mill,.
622

then a turning-mill, and was finally consumed by
fire.

““Wilson’s new grist-mill was built in 1794, below
and adjoining the saw-mill, where now the Messrs.
Hotchkiss’ planing-mill stands; and the old saw-mill
continued some years until rebuilt.

“Several dwellings were built very early on the
road east of Waterbury River, opposite the present
Valley Park, and in one of these John Brooker and
his wife Jerusha began housekeeping after their mar-
riage in 1783. They afterwards lived a number of
years in the house said to have been built by Ambrose
Potter, a little east of the foundry, now owned by
Turner, Seymour & Company. Mr. John Brooker built
a house where Mr. L, W. Coe’s dwelling now stands
in 1803, which was the first frame raised in Wolcott-
ville. Benoni Leach built a house the same summer
opposite Mr. Brooker’s, east side of the Waterbury
road, there being a strife as to which house should be
raised first. Mr. Brooker won the day by about a week.

“ The night after Mr. Brooker’s house was raised, a
large company of men engaged in raising a high pole
ornamented with rams’ horns and the like, and named
the place ‘ Orleans Village.’ This is the name used
in most of the deeds for ten or fifteen years afterwards.
After Mr. Brooker finished his house, he made it his
home for a few years only, keeping it as a tavern.

“Daniel Potter, of Johnstown, N. Y., bought in
1804, of Mr. Brooker and his wife, land where the Coe
furniture-store now stands, and built a store building
on it anda dwelling, which buildings were occupied
by his brother, Ambrose Potter. When this dwelling
was raised one of the sides fell, killing one man’ and
hurting a number of others, which fact was indelibly
fixed upon the mind of a young girl, and hence re-
membered to the present day. Mr. Potter sold this
property to Ephraim Sanford, of Newtown, Conn.,
who took possession and went on with the store, and
also bought the tavern, and about a year after Mr.
Sanford was on his way to New Haven with a load of
cheese, when the horses ran away and he was killed.
His executors sold the store to Russell Bull and Fred-
erick Robbins, of Wethersfield, in 1808. Mr. Bull,
soon after, bought Mr. Robbins’ half, and continued
the store a number of years. Ambrose Potter built
the tavern on the site of the American House for his
brother Daniel, and afterwards owned and occupied
it several years as a tavern. Between 1804 and 1812
a number of dwellings were erected in the village,
and in 1814 the school-house, which stood on the east
side of Main Street, where the present Register print-
ing-office stands.

“When John Brooker was making plans to build
his house, which became a public-house, Joseph Tay-
lor was arranging to build a tavern where the Allen
house now stands. His sudden decease in 1802 de-
layed the enterprise for a time, but about 1819, Mrs.
Taylor and her son, Uri Taylor, completed the house,
and thereafter kept it as a public-house for a number

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

of years. In the winter of 1813, Joseph Allyn, Jr.,
bought the water-power and privileges from Wilson’s
mill to the flax-mill of the following persons for two
hundred and eighty dollars: Roswell Wilson, Ben-
jamin Phelps, Norman Wilson, Lemuel North, Sam-
uel Beach and his wife, Keziah Beach, Joseph Allyn,
Jonah Allyn, Roger Wilson, and Guy Wolcott. He
sold it in the spring for the same price to Frederick
Wolcott, of Litchfield, and Guy Wolcott, of Torring-
ton; deed dated May 8, 1813. The Wolcotts pur-
chased another plot, below the first, at the same time;
and upon this they erected that year the woolen-
mill. They purchased several other pieces of land,
giving the owners until the next September to remove
the timber. On the day of the raising of the woolen-
mill, the Rev. Alexander Gillett being present, as
well as a large number of the people of the town, pro-
posed that the name of the place be changed; in re-
sponse to which a call was made: ‘ What shall we
call it? Name it.’ He answered, ‘Wolcottville,’
and to this all agreed, and Wolcottville it is.

“Tn 1818, Nathan Gillett, who married a daughter
of Deacon Guy Wolcott, was residing in the house
north of the bridge, on the west side of Main Street.
This house he built about 1808 or 1809, and occupied
it until 1817, when he removed West.

“There were two or three houses built on the north |
side of the river between 1806 and 1810. At the
northwest part of the village there were probably
but two or three dwellings before 1800 within the
territory now regarded as Wolcottville.

“Jn the Gazetteer of the States of Connecticut and
Rhode Island, printed in 1819, we have the following
description of this village:

“«Wolcottville, a village of eighteen houses, has been built principally
since 1802, and is an active, flourishing place. Its growth has been chiefly
owing to the establishment of an extensive woolen-factory, which now
is owned principally by His Excellency Oliver Wolcott. It is one of the
largest establishments of the kind in the State, employing about forty
workmen, and manufacturing from twenty-five to thirty-five yards of
broadcloth daily, of an average value of six dollars per yard. The cloths
made have a substantial texture, and are manufactured in a style scarcely
inferior to the highest finished English cloths.’

“ Barber’s ‘History of Connecticut,’ published in
1836, says,—

“‘Wolcottville, the principal village in the town of Torrington, is
situated in a valley near the southern boundary of the town, at the junc-
tion of the two branches of the Waterbury or Naugatuck River, twenty-
six miles from Hartford, forty from New Haven, and seventeen from the
New Haven and Northampton Canal at Avon. The village consists of
about forty dwelling-houses, a handsome Congregational church, a three-
story brick building used asa house of worship by various denomina-
tions, and also as an academy, four mercantile stores, two taverns, &
post-office, and an extensive wuolen-factory. The Congregational church
stands at the northern extremity of the village, but, owing to the limited
extent of the engraving, it could not be introduced. The brick building
used for a house of worship is on the left, over which is seen the Litch-
field turnpike, passing over the heights westward. The woolen-factory
is the large building with a spire. This factory went into operation in
1813. One of the principal owners was the late Oliver Wolcott, Esq.,
formerly Governor of the State; the village owes its rise principally to
this establishment. A short distance westward of the factory an estab-
lishment for the manufacture of brass is now erecting: it is believed to
be the only one of the kind at present in the United States.’
TORRINGTON.

623

 

“Wolcottville now contains thirty stores of all va-
rieties, two hotels, four churches, a town-hall, a town
clerk’s office, a graded school building, the granite
block, containing Wadam’s Hall, a large hall for
public assemblies, one bank, two daguerreian gal-
leries, a post-office, one printing-office, issuing a weekly
paper, and eight copartnership manufacturing com-
panies, employing acapital of seven hundred thousand
dollars.

“Tts professional men are four settled pastors, five
practicing physicians, and two lawyers. The graded
school has a gentleman as principal, and six lady
teachers.”

SENECA LODGE, F. AND A.M.

This lodge was chartered June 13, 1817, with the
following members: Chauncey. Humphrey, Samuel
and Leonard Hurlbut, Drake Mills, Henry Palmer,
Aaron Smith, Amos Bradley, Hugh Kearney, William
Crum, Lemuel Hurlbut, Truman 8. Wetmore, John
McAlpin, Daniel Phelps, Jr., William Bunnel, Ste-
phen Fyler, Joseph D. Humphrey, Charles Andrus,
John Wetmore (2d), Elisha Hinsdale, Raphael Mar-
shall, Russell C. Abernethy, Asahel Smith, Edward
Taylor, Samuel Bradley, Norman Wilson, Israel Coe,
Christopher Pierce, James Green, Miles Beach, George
Lyman, Norman Fowler, Alanson H. Kimberly, Jo-
seph R. Judson, Phineas Reed, Ichabod Loomis. The
lodge met at the dwelling of Stephen Fyler, at New-
field, until 1828, since which time it has been located
at Wolcottville. There was no communication of the
lodge from June, 1838, to December, 1886, after which
they renewed and continued them until 1840, and
then surrendered the charter to the Grand Lodge. In
1860, upon the petition of the following persons, the
charter was returned: Samuel Burr, Russell C. Aber-
nethy, Rey. J. F. Covell, Allen G. Brady, Henry J.
Allen, Sr., William H. Moore, George B. Fish, Uri
Taylor, James Palmer, Isaac C. Palmer, Edward Pier-
pont, James Ashborn.

The first officers were Truman S. Wetmore, W. M.;
Russell C, Abernethy, 8. W.; John McAlpin, J. W.;
Aaron Smith, Treas.; Daniel Phelps, Sr., See. ; Carl-
ton Humphrey, 8. D.; Alanson Kimberly, J. D.;
Ichabod Loomis, Tyler.

The present officers are J. W. Brothwell, W. M.;
Charles Alldis, 8S. W.; James Bell, J. W.; James
Alldis, Treas.; O. R. Luther, Sec.; John D. Bishop,
8. D.; Herman W. Huke, J. D.; Albert L. Tuttle,
Tyler.

THE WOLCOTTVILLE SAVINGS BANK

was organized in 1868, with Francis N. Holley, Presi-
dent; Joseph F. Calhoun, Vice-President; and Frank

L. Hungerford, Secretary and Treasurer. The present |

officers are as follows: Joseph F. Calhoun, President;
Jsaac W. Brooks, Treasurer ; Joseph F. Calhoun, Ran-
som Holley, Bradley R. Agard, Lyman W. Coe, Elisha
Turner, and Isaac W. Brooks, Directors.

 

BROOKS BROTHERS’ BANKING-HOUSE.

This is a bank of discount and deposit, established
by John W. and Isaac W. Brooks in 1872.

PHYSICIANS.

The following physicians have practiced in this
town:* Erastus Bancroft, William Bostwick, Stephen
E. Calkins, Adelbert M. Calkins, Jarvis Case, Isaac
Day, Penfield Goodsell, Edward M. Hatch, Thatcher
Swift Hanchett, Elkanah Hodges, Erasmus D. Hud-
son, Geo. O. Jarvis, Elijah Lyman, Jeremiah W.
Phelps, Bela St. John, Joel Soper, Samuel Wood-
ward, Elijah Woodward, L. H. Wood, Gideon H.
Welch, Edward A. Kunkle, and —— Cole. The
oldest settled physician is Dr. T. S. Hanchett, who
was born in Canaan, Conn., Nov. 8, 1838. He com-
menced the study of medicine with Dr. Homer Dar-
ling, of East Douglass, Mass. He subsequently at-
tended at the Medical Department of Harvard, and
after remaining there one year entered the United
States navy as hospital steward on the “ Wamsutta.”
After leaving the service he returned to Harvard,
later spent one year with Dr. A. W. Bennett, of Ux-
bridge, Mass., and in 1864 graduated from Bellevue
Hospital, New York. He was an assistant of Dr.
Wm. Welch, of Norfolk, one year, and in 1865 settled
in Wolcottville, where he has since resided.

TORRINGFORD.

“Shubael Griswold’s tavern was probably the first
institution of a public character in Torringford. It
is possible that it was something more than a tavern,
for he may have kept articles of merchandise answer-
ing to a store, such as teas, indigo, sugar, and farm
productions, as did Amos Wilson, John Whiting, and
Noah North, on the west side of the town. Not long
after Mr. Griswold’s tavern became established, Ben-
jamin Bissell opened a house of entertainment a little
farther north, on Torringford Street, east side of the
road, which was in full operation in 1776, for it is
stated that during the Revolution the women of the
eastern part of the town, whose husbands and ‘sons
were in the army, assembled at this tavern at certain
times to obtain information from or concerning the
soldiers and the army. Afterwards David Soper kept
a tavern near the First meeting-house, which he con-
tinued a number of years. Another tavern was kept
near the Greenwoods.

“William Battell, of Woodbury, bought ten acres
of land, adjoining Rev. Samuel J. Mills’ house on the
south, on the 9th of October, 1783, giving for it three
hundred and five pounds. On this land he erected a
store building, and in it kept a store for many years.
Mr. Battell was about thirty-five years of age when
he settled in Torringford, and entered upon his mer-
cantile business with energy and good judgment, as
is indicated by the location he chose for himself.
There was but one store in the town at the time, that.

 

* The list is given in alphabetical order, not in order of settlement.
624

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

being Dr. Hodges’, on the west side, and Torringford
was fast becoming a populous region by immigration
and the growing up of the young people of the fami-
lies of the first settlers. Dr. Samuel Woodward had
recently established his home here as a practicing
physician, and the place needed just such a store as
Mr. Battell opened to the public; and although he was
under the necessity of transporting his merchandise
to Hartford and New Haven at first with ox-carts,
yet he succeeded well, and his store became the place
of a large amount of business transactions. He
bought and shipped all kinds of farm produce,—
grains, butter, cheese, pork, beef, eggs, and flax,—and
brought in return all the articles usually sold at coun-
try stores in those days,—dry-goods, including silks
and satins, imported broadcloths of costly style, gro-
ceries, hardware, drugs, shoes, and leather. All the
various kinds of mercantile goods that at the present
day are found by visiting a dozen stores were then
crowded into one and called a country store. Such a
store was not complete without a choice variety of
wines, brandies, and liquors of all kinds, imported
and of home manufacture; and this was not all: the
people drank liquors by the gallon and barrel, and
some of them made themselves drunk, and wallowed
in the mire like beasts, as well as at the present day.
The familiar pretense that persons did not become in-
toxicated and stagger in the streets, swear and fight
and run horses and carouse, just like drunken men,
is too shallow to be repeated by intelligent people.
It may go for par a thousand years hence, but not
quite yet. It was nota peculiarity of one store nor
of one community to sell and use intoxicating drinks,
but was the practice of a great portion of both stores
and communities throughout the United States be-
fore and many years after the year 1800. Mr. Battell
had also a manufactory of potash, which was an article
of extensive sale in those days.

“He sold his store and the ten acres of land and
the potash-works to his sons William and J oseph ; the
latter being in Norfolk in 1808, and probably retired
from business life. His son William continued the
store until about 1830.

“Nathaniel Smith, of Milford, and later of Beth-
lehem, came to Torringford a young man, and was
clerk in the store of William Baittell three years,
when he engaged in the mercantile business for him-
self in a store at Griswold’s Corners, where he con-
tinued until his death, in 1854, a period of forty-six
years. He married Harriet, the daughter of Daniel
Winchell, and built and resided in the brick house
on the west side of the street at that place. He was
appointed postmaster in 1812, and held the office with-
out interruption forty-two years, a case probably with-
out a parallel in this country, and was a very upright
and careful business man, and highly esteemed among:
business men generally, his credit in New York and
elsewhere being of the highest kind, and for a number
of years he did a large business; but Wolcottville began

 

to be the market for farmers’ produce, and hence also
of mercantile trade, and especially after the railroad
was established. Therefore Torringford, as to com-
mercial life, must decline, while the valleys sur-
rounding it should increase. Mr. Smith’s son,
Charles B. Smith, came to Wolcottville as a mer-
chant, and the business at the old store was not great
during the last few years that it was continued.

“Quite an extensive tannery and shoe-shop had
been conducted in the early time of Torringford, on
the corner where Nathaniel Smith built his brick
house, and here also he set up, in the rear of his
dwelling, a leach for the making of potash.

“The brick building a short distance south of the
church was used some years, beginning about 1860,
by Darius Wilson, as a wagon- and blacksmith-shop.
He removed to Wolcottville, and then West. An-
other wagon-shop stood half a mile.east, and was a
busy place a number of years, several men being reg-
ularly employed in making wagons, some of which
were for the Southern market. This shop was started
about 1840.”

HOLBROOK’S MILLS.

“ Abijah Holbrook came from Bellingham, Mass., to
Goshen, and in July, 1787, bought, in company with
Fisk Beach, land of Daniel Mills, of Goshen, at the
place on Naugatuck River afterwards: known as Hol-
brook’s mills, and later as Appley’s mills. When
Mr. Holbrook and Beach made the purchase there
was a forge or iron-works on the land, an attempt
having been made to obtain iron from the ore found
in this region, but the quantity obtained was not
sufficient to encourage this kind of enterprise. Mr.
Holbrook and Beach built a grist-mill and saw-mill,
and Mr. Holbrook erected the building that is now
falling to the ground a little south of the mill. Its
ruins show that it was once more than an ordinary
house. Mr. Holbrook was a man of wealth, and a
‘polished gentleman, far in advance of his generation
in that particular.’ Elijah Pond, being brother-in-
law to Mr. Holbrook, removed from Grafton, Mass.,
about 1790, and engaged in the mill and other enter-
prises with his brother-in-law, and it is thought they
had a purpose or intent to work the foundry, in con-
nection with the iron mine on Walnut Mountain.
Sylvanus Holbrook, a nephew of Abijah, came from
Massachusetts very early in the present century, and
resided some years in the vicinity of his uncle, and
removed to Goshen, where he died. He did a mer-
cantile business in Baltimore, which required his ab-
sence from home some months of each year.

“ About the year 1800, Capt. Elisha Hinsdale came
from Canaan to this place and engaged in the manu-
facture of scythes and axes and general blacksmith-
ing. Here were made in large quantities for those
days the celebrated ‘ clover-leaf’ scythe and axes, and
were carried in wagons to water transportations.
Soon after, or about the time the Hinsdales came to
this place, Josiah Appley became a resident, and
‘TORRINGTON.

finally the owner of much of the property of the
place. He built a grist-mill a little north of Hol-
brook’s, on the Hall Meadow brook.

“ Abijah Holbrook died in 1812, and in 1814 his
widow, Mary, sold the homestead, grist-mill, and saw-
mill to Erastus Lyman and Thearon Beach, of Goshen,
for two thousand one hundred and fifty dollars, and
removed from the place to Western New York. In
1816, Elisha Hinsdale sold his lands to his brother,
Deacon Abel, and removed West, and from that day
all business interests in that locality have taken the
down-hill course until only one old mill building is
left,.and that looks‘as if ready to tumble down any
day. There are two dwellings that are occupied,
which are the only things that show signs of life ex-
cept the trees, which grow with a thrift almost sur-
prising to Connecticut people. The little graveyard,
filled with graves, stands on the bank of the river,
and is very beautiful, because of its quietness, in its
almost unbroken solitude, where the tumult of the
great city will never disturb the ashes that rest there,
while the wild birds of the woods will sing their mar-
velous songs above the dust of some of the noble sons
and daughters of the honored pilgrims.”

HART’S HOLLOW.

“ About a mile above Holbrook’s mills, at a place
called Hart’s Hollow, in the edge of the town of Go-
shen, quite a business was conducted in making clocks
about 1820; a number of buildings were erected, and
for a time the place assumed considerable importance,
and as the natural outlet of the place was through
Torrington, the place seemed a part of Torrington,
and the inhabitants usually attended Torrington
church.

TORRINGTON HOLLOW.

“This locality was originally known as Poverty
Hollow, subsequently Cotton Hollow, and finally Tor-
rington Hollow.

“Tn February, 1813, Elijah B. Loomis, of New York,
and Elisha Loomis and Abner M. Warriner, of Tor-
rington, entered into partnership, and built a mill or
factory for the purpose of manufacturing cotton,
woolen, and other goods at this place. The factory
was located near the bridge on Goshen turnpike, and
was built in 1813. The next January other persons
entered the partnership, under the name of the Tor-
rington Manufacturing Company, and the firm con-
sisted of Elisha Loomis, Elijah B. Loomis, Abner M.
Warriner, John W. Walker, Christopher Pierce, James
Green, and William Dexter, the stock being eight
thousand dollars.

“Tn the next September it was mortgaged to David
Wadhams and David Thomas, of Goshen, to procure
capital to insure success in the making of goods. This
business enterprise, like the first woolen-mill at Wol-
cottville, does not appear to have had any great success
in making money, for it struggled along some years
under disadvantages, yet with much apparent effort,

 

625

but did not prosper. The cotton was spun in the mill,
then sent abroad among the farmers to be woven, and
although it brought new work to many homes, it is
doubtful if every one who undertook to weave made
a success of it, and with all the difficulties attending
the work, there would have been no success but for
the high price of the cloth, which sold from thirty to
forty cents per yard.

“A store was also put up in connection with the
factory, or about the same time, and was conducted
by Mr. Green.

“In 1827 the cotton-factory was sold for debt, and
changed hands several times until it came into the
hands of Erastus Hodges, and as he had found success
in nearly every enterprise he had undertaken, he
pushed forward this with money and much energy,
and he also interested himself largely in the making
of clocks about the sametime. Norris North engaged
in the clock business about 1820, and Mr. Hodges be-
came interested with him, if he was not a partner.
The clocks were made at first in Harvey Palmer’s old
carding-machine, then in a part of Ormel Leach’s
grist-mill, and after that in a building called the clock-
factory. Mr. Hodges also took the store of James
Green, placing his sons in it and in the mill, to give
them a start in business life. The store was removed
to Wolcottville previous to 1834, and continued some
time by these sons, with the aid of their father.

“In 1835 the brass-foundry was started by Mr.
Hodges and others, and the. buildings were located
below the bridge on the east bank, where they are
now in a falling condition. ‘This business was started
with the purpose of making brass kettles by the bat-
tery or hammering process; the preparations for the
work were quite ample, and an agent was sent to Eu-
rope to procure men and machinery, and considerable
quantity of machinery was shipped from Europe, but
the vessel was wrecked and all was lost. Calamity
and disaster attended nearly every effort in this under-
taking, and after a little time the brass business at
this place was purchased by Israel Coe, then of Wol-
cottville, engaged in the same enterprise.

“ After some years these buildings were fitted for
smelting ore, in hope of obtaining nickel; but the
metal was not found to exist in sufficient quantities,
or the process of separation was too costly to make it
profitable to continue the work.

“ After the business of making clocks was discon-
tinued, a lock-factory was established, in which
George D. Wadhams, Mr. Goodwin, and Edmund
Wooding were interested and engaged. When the
lock business was closed, the building was used for
making skates until the skate company removed.

“Tn 1869, Chester L. Smith, from Litchfield, pur-
chased this property, which the skate company had
vacated, and commenced the manufacture of toys.
After one year he began the making of sleds for chil-
dren, which business he continued with success until
his decease, in August, 1876. Since then his sons,
626

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Ralph R. Smith and Chester L. Smith, have con-
tinued the same business.

WRIGHTVILLE.

“Wrightville, a cluster of a dozen houses, was the
outgrowth of the scythe-factory, organized in 1852 as
a stock company, mostly of farmers, for the purpose
of manufacturing scythes and hoes, with a certified
stock of six thousand dollars, the stockholders being
Uri L. Whiting, Robert Wright, Albro W. Cowles,
Rodney Brace, George W. Loomis, Daniel A. Grant,
William A. Grant, Augustus Grant, Daniel Brown,
Charles Hotchkiss, Frederick A. Griswold, Phineas
North, Rodney Pierce. The officers were Phineas
North president, with Rodney Brace, Albro W.
Cowles, Charles Hotchkiss directors. A commodious
building was erected of stone, and machinery for con-
ducting the work in an advantageous manner was
placed in the building. The company subsequently
failed.”

BURRVILLE.

This hamlet is located in the northeastern part of
the town, and its history is thus given in Orcutt’s
“History of Torrington”:

“Elias Gilbert, of New Haven, bought land at this
place of David Soper in 1812, on the west side of the
river. This he sold the next year to Isaac Gilbert,
with ‘bark-house and tan-vats’ on it. In 1816,
Newton Rossiter bought land of David Soper, on the
east side of the river, and in 1817 he bought of
Chester Loomis a hammer-shop, which had been
owned by Isaac Gilbert, and was probably built by
him. In 1818, Mr. Rossiter bought Isaac Gilbert’s
tannery, and engaged in the tanning and shoe busi-
ness extensively, and hence the name Rossiterville,
by which the place was known a number of years.

“Tn about 1828 or 1829, Mr. Rossiter, having ex-
changed with the State of Connecticut his property
at this place for ‘Western lands,’ removed West. The
old tannery is now owned and used by Mr. J. M.
Burr as a grist-mill and shingle-mill.

“Bricks were made at first on Torringford Street,

near the old Burr tavern, and afterwards two or three .

kilns were established between that place and the
Hollow, one of which, near Burrville, is still contin-
ued by Mr. John M. Burr. The Haydens, also on
Torringford Street, made large quantities of bricks.

“While the tannery was in successful progress, Mr.
Milo Burr entered upon the work of reducing the
pine-timber then covering the valley at this place to
lumber. For this end he had three saw-mills in full
operation a number of years, and the larger part of
his success in life resulted from this lumber trade.
Other enterprises he pursued with much energy, and
for the hope of public good, the enlarging of the
place; but most of these efforts were to his own dis-
advantage, while the pine-timber brought some com-
pensation of comfort.

“Tn 1851 he built a dam on the mountain west of

) milk by preserving with sugar.

 

the village, and constructed what is well known as
Burr’s reservoir, a most beautiful sheet of water, in
the woods among the rocky hills. The place and
scenery are as wild and lonely as any civilized crea-
ture could wish, except as to extent. Once the dam
gave way, and the rushing waters came down the
mountain gorge with such a noise as to give warning,
and no lives were lost except one little child. The
water in the reservoir is as clean and clear as is ever
secured for family use, and the people of Burrville
can have water with a hundred feet pressure in their
houses at very little cost. On the brook leading from
the reservoir to the village, near the latter, Mr. Milo
Burr built in 1854 a large building to be used as a
manufactory. This was occupied some time by Mr.
Gale, under the first patent for putting up condensed
He began this work
at Wolcottville, but removed to this place, as one
reason, because of the purity of the water here ob-
tained. He removed to Dutchess Co., N. Y., where
his enterprise is in most successful operation, it hav-
ing become of great importance to the people of large
cities.

“On Saturday, May 12, 1877, this building was con-
sumed by fire. mt

“ Newton Rossiter, while conducting the tannery,
kept a small store, probably in his own dwelling.
Afterwards Capt. Milo Burr and Beach Baker removed
the store building once used at Greenwoods Street for
a people’s store to Burrville, and Mr. Baker kept a
store for a short time. Nelson Roberts took this store
in 1848, and conducted it fourteen years, and then
sold it to Lewis Johnson, who remained in it two
years, and sold to Mr. E. S. Minor, who is still the
merchant and railroad agent at the place. There isa
post-office at the place, Mr. John M. Burr, post-
master.

CHAPTER LXL.
TORRINGTON (Continued).

Congregational Church, Torrington—Congregational Church, Torring-
ford — Wolcottville Congregational - Church — Methodist Episcopal
Church, Wolcottville— Trinity Church, Wolcottville — St. Francis’
Church, Wolcottville—Baptist Church, Newfield—Methodist Episcopal
Church, Newfield.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.*

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, TORRINGTON.

THE first movement towards the organization of
this church was a memorial presented to the General
Assembly by Daniel Stoughton in October, 1739,
asking to be organized into a society, and that taxes
might be imposed for the “support of a gospel min-
istry.” This memorial was signed by the following
names: Jacob Strong, Jr., Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., Wil-
liam Grant, Jonathan Coe, Daniel Thrall, Isaac Hig-

 

* Condensed from Orcutt’s “ History of Torrington.”
TORRINGTON.

627

 

ley, Joseph Beach, Joel Thrall, Abel Beach, Ebenezer
Coe, Nathaniel Barber, William Cook, Amos Filley,
John Cook (2d), Hezekiah Griswold, Daniel Stough-
ton, Joshua Loomis, Thomas Stoughton, Jr., Jacob
Strong, William Bartlett, Samuel Bartlett, Abraham
Dibble, Jr., Joseph Phelps, Aaron Loomis, Samuel
Phelps.

Torrington was made a town, with town privileges,
in October, 1740, and thereby became an ecclesiastical
society, and a tax of twopence on the pound for the
support of preaching was granted.

In the next spring another tax of twopence was
granted, but in the autumn it was changed to three-
pence on the pound, for the purpose of raising a fund
towards building a meeting-house.

An extra tax to raise five hundred pounds for the
settlement of a minister was also ordered by the As-
sembly, which was a much larger amount than many

ministers received, if the money was anywhere near’

par at that time. Another tax was granted in 1744,
and one in 1750, for the support of the gospel in the
town. These taxes seem burdensome in repetition
and amount, but the people were quite willing to pay
them. The first petition states that some of the sign-
ers lived in Windsor, “but, being desirous of having
their lands improved as fast as possible, they were
willing to be taxed.”

No information is given as to the success of this
effort to secure the preaching of the gospel before
October, 1741, but as Nathaniel Roberts was gradu-
ated in 1732, and was. probably through his theologi-
cal studies before 1739, he may have preached here
some time before he was settled as pastor.

The only records of the organization of the church
are those written by Mr. Roberts, the first pastor. He
introduces the matter and gives the record thus:

“Here I shall observe some things concerning the church in Torring-
ton in y® county of Hartford.

“let. It was first planted October 21, 1741, by Mr. Graham, Mr. Hum-
phrey, Mr. Leavenworth, Mr. Bellamy.

“2d. The first deacon that was chosen was Ebenezer Lyman (Sen’r.),
and was set apart to the office by prayer, and laying on of the hands of
the pastor of said church, January 1, 1742.

“3d. The first sacrament that ever was administered in the church
was January 3, 1742, and the communicants who were then members of
the said church; the number was seventeen; Dea. E. Lyman and his
wife, E. Lyman, Junr., and his wife, E. North and his wife, J. Coe and
his wife, Jacob Strong and his wife, Abel Beach and his wifo, Nathaniel
Barber and his wife, John Cook and his wife, Asahel Strong.”

In regard to his own marriages, he does not tell what
his wives’ names were before marriage, nor where they
resided, though he gives the number of the day of
the week on which the marriage occurred. He calls
himself Mr., and not Rey., as he does also Mr. Hum-
phrey and Mr. Bellamy, never usitig Rev. to a min-
ister. Mr.-was then the aristocratic class name, ap-
plied to persons only in certain stations in life.

According to this record, the first marriage cere-
mony he performed was July 8, 1747, over six years
after he was ordained, and the next one occurred two
years and a half afterwards, and therefore, to all ap-

 

pearance, marriages were not numerous in Torrington
in those days.

The record of baptisms runs in the same style:

“January ye 3, 1741-2, I baptized a child for Isaac Hygly, and her
name was Susannah.”

“August 29, 1742, I baptized a child for Nathaniel Barber, and his
name was Nathaniel.”

The church was organized at the house of John
Cook, the house yet standing and known as Deacon
John Cook’s. Tradition says that Mr. Roberts was
ordained in Deacon Cook’s house. Mr. Roberts says
the church was organized Oct. 21, 1741, and that he,
as the pastor of the church, ordained the first deacon,
Jan. 1, 1742, or two months after the organization of
the church. It is not probable that two meetings of
such a nature, one to organize the church and another
to ordain the minister, would be held within so short
a time, and therefore it is quite clear that the ordina-
tion took place at the time of the formation of the
church, and that the meeting was held in John Cook’s
house, and the services conducted in a regular form
by the ministers named by Mr. Roberts. It is also
probable that Mr. Roberts, being unmarried, was
residing with John Cook at the time,.and remained
there until his marriage, two years afterwards.

The first recorded act preparatory to the building
of a meeting-house was the increase of the tax from.
two to threepence on a pound, in 1740; the surplus,
after paying the minister’s salary, was to be placed in
the hands of Capt. Joseph Bird, of Litchfield, to be
“improved by him as best could be” until the in-
habitants should engage in building the house, when
it was to be used for that purpose.

In May, 1746, the Assembly appointed Ebenezer
Marsh and Joseph Bird, of Litchfield, and Nathaniel
Baldwin, of Goshen, a committee to locate a site for a
meeting-house, and report to the next session of that
body. Upon that report, rendered October, 1746, the
Assembly

“ Resolved, That the place to build a meeting-house in said town, shall
be about thirty rods northward of the house of Ebenezer Lyman, Esq.,
in the cross highway, which runs east and west, where said committee
have set up a stake with a large heap of stones about it, the sills of said
house to inclose said heap of stones.”

In the following winter a frame-was erected on this
site, thirty feet square, with eighteen-feet posts, under
the directions of a committee appointed by the town.
At this stage of the house somebody thought the house
too high, and this committee was dismissed and an-
other appointed, who cut down the posts to eight feet
in height. A memorial was then carried to the As-
sembly, which stopped the proceedings of the town,
restored the first committee, and ordered the house to
be built with eighteen-feet posts. An execution was
granted against the persons who cut down the posts
of the house, and a fine of twenty-one pounds six shil-
lings and fivepence imposed upon them. These pro-
ceedings delayed the building of the house more than
a year. f

A new memorial was presented in October, 1748, for
628

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

a change of the site; a committee was appointed to
look into the matter and report, which they did in
May, 1749, and the place was established at a stake
within the south line of a lot belonging to John Whi-
ting, between sixty and seventy rods northward of the
place which was heretofore affixed for a meeting-
house, so as to include the said stake within the sills
of the said house.

The meeting-house was built at the place last desig-
nated, and was standing there in October, 1751, when
the road was laid running northwest from the meet-
ing-house. It was a framed building, eighteen-feet
posts, and thirty feet square. How it was covered is
spoken of as a mystery, as something about the house
gave it the name of the Hemlock church. It was
built and seated, in the gallery and below, in the
simplest manner. It is said that the seats were made
of slabs, flat side up, with sticks for legs. This is tra-
dition. Deacon John Whiting’s account-book, still
preserved, tells us that he was engaged at different
times for many years to 1781 in repairing the seats
to the meeting-house. Therefore it is probable that
the seats were not stationary, and for that reason were
soon out of repair. ;

During ‘the summer of 1786 a meeting-house was
built as individual property, and was thus owned about
sixteen years, when it was made over to the Congre-
gational society, then the established legal body. It
was located a little north of Capt. Abel Beach’s tav-
ern, at the place known for many years afterwards as
Torrington green. It was two-story, having two rows
of windows on each side; one side of the house faced
the south. The belfry, built a few years after, with a
high steeple, was on the west end of the building, jut-
ting out from the body of the house so far that the
west door was on the south side of the belfry. There
was a door on the south side of the building, and one
on the east end. One of the conditions on the part of
the society when Mr. Gillett settled here, in 1792, was
that this meeting-house should be finished inside. In
the “Church Manual,” by Rev. J. A. McKinstry, we
are told that this steeple was built in 1797, and the
bell put in and the house thoroughly repaired. As to
this bell, tradition says that the inhabitants contrib-
uted one hundred silver dollars, which were sent to
the maker and the silver put into the bell.

The following have served thi. church as ministers
from its organization to present time: Rev. Nathaniel
Roberts, ordained October, 1741; died March 4, 1776.
Rev. Noah Merwin, ordained Oct. 25, 1776 ; dismissed
Noy. 26,1788. Rev. Alexander Gillett, installed May
23, 1792; died Jan. 19, 1826, aged seventy-seven.
Rey. William Ripley Gould, installed Feb. 28, 1827 ;
dismissed Feb. 12, 1832, Rev. Milton Huxley (sup-
ply), 1883 to 1842. Rev. John A. McKinstry, or-
dained Oct. 5, 1842; dismissed 1857. Rev. Charles
B. Dye (supply), one year. Rev. Sylvanus Marvin
(supply), four years. Rey. Jacob H. Strong (supply),
Nov. 12, 1865, to 1869. Rev. Michael J. Callan (sup-

 

ply), one year and a half. Rev. Samuel Orcutt,
(supply), one year and a half. Rev. Charles P,
Croft was a supply in 1876.

Ministers raised—Rev. Timothy P. Gillett, Rev.
James Beach, Rey. Luther Hart, Rev: Abel K: Hins-
dale, Rev. Miles Grant. :

Deacons.—Ebenezer Lyman, chosen in 1742, died
in 1762, aged eighty ; John Cook, chosen‘in 1755, died
in 1779, aged sixty-one; John Whiting, chosen in
1764, died in 1820, aged ninety-two; Wait: Beach,
chosen in 1794, died in 1810, aged sixty-four; Abel
Hinsdale, chosen in 1802, died in 1851, aged éighty-six;
Dr. Elijah Lyman, chosen in 1814, died in 1819; Guy
Wolcott, chosen in 1821, dismissed ;'Marvin Barber,
chosen in 1822, died in 1840, aged forty-four; Giles
Ward, chosen in 1838, died in 1845, aged seventy-six;
Rodney Pierce, chosen in 1846; Lorrain Hinsdale,
chosen in 1850, removed ; Frederick P. Hills, chosen
in 1869; Lyman R. Pond, chosen in 1877.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, TORRINGFORD.

Preaching services were held by Rev. Nathaniel
Roberts, on the east side of the town, six Sabbaths in
1744, and also in 1755, and the next year the preach-
ing was measured by the amount they paid to the
society. The town vote, however, gave them the
privilege of having preaching four months that year,
and released them from paying for the support of
Mr. Roberts. The meetings at this time were held
in the house of Nehemiah Gaylord and Shubael
Griswold.

“In 1757 a petition was sent to the Assembly,
signed by nineteen persons, asking the liberty to have
preaching such part of the year as they were able,
and to be released from supporting Mr. Roberts.
The number of families in that part of the town at
that time is stated to have been about twenty. The
following were the petitioners: Abraham: Dibble,
Jonathan Kelsey, Jonathan Gillett, Joshua Austin,
Shubael Griswold, Benjamin Matthews, Nathan Kel-
sey, Nehemiah Gaylord, David Birge, Ebenezer Win-
chell, Charles Mather, Aaron Yale, John Burr, Jane
Loomis, Benjamin Bissell, John Birge, Samuel Dur-
win, Thomas Dibble, Ephraim Dibble.

“Ata meeting, held in Oct. 27, 1757, a committee
was appointed to hire a minister, and a vote was
passed to raise ten pounds for defraying the expense
in so doing. on

“In April, 1759, the town expressed its willingness
by vote that four tiers and a half of lots in the eastern
part should be made into a society, and in May next
the people asked the General Assembly to incorpor-
ate a society to include these tiers and the western
tier in New Hartford; and if this could not be granted
they asked that the people might be exempt from
paying in New Hartford, and be allowed to support
preaching in the eastern part-of Torrington. They
entreated for the privileges of a society, though they
were scarcely able to support preaching in an honor-
TORRINGTON.

629

 

able manney, if the privilege was granted them.
This request was denied.

» “In October, 1759, they presented another petition,
which was denied, and the next spring they renewed
this petition, which met with the same result.

“In 1761, New Hartford gave its consent that four
miles of the west tier of lots might be annexed to
East Torrington for the support of the gospel. After
this full consent of. both towns, and their earnest en-
treaties heretofore, they were under the necessity of
petitioning the Assembly at four successive sessions
before they obtained their request.

“The society was incorporated in October, 1763,
under the hame of Torringford;* the territory in-
cluded four and a half tiers of lots on the eastern
side of the town and the western tier in New Hart-
ford, four miles in length. The half of another tier
was afterwards added, and thus the society at
for many years. °

“ At the first meeting after the incorporation they
say: ‘The inhabitants of “Torringford” (using the
society name for the first time) being’ convened to-
” gether, holden Dec. 21, 1763.’ They seem to use that
name with satisfaction, and well they might, for they
had petitioned’ long enough to obtain it; and then
they proceed to make arrangements for regular meet-
ings and to elect officers for the year, who were as fol-
lows: Deacon Jonathan Kelsey,t Moderator; Nehe-
miah Gaylord, Clerk of the society’; Deacon Jona-
than'Kelsey, Samuel Austin, and John Birge, Society
Committee ; Jabez Gillett, Society Collector.

“When the first meeting-house was proposed for
the west side of the town, an agreement was made
between the inhabitants that those on the east side
need not pay towards the building’ of the house, pro-
vided they would relinquish all right as to the loca-
tion or site, and a record of this agreement was en-
tered among the deeds of land dated in 1748. The
nates of persons thus agreeing stand as follows : East
side, Abraham Dibble, Benjamin Bissell, Nehemiah
Gaylord, Elijah Gaylord, Gideon Loomis, John Birge,
Thomas Dibble. These names probably represent
nearly all the families east of the swamp at that time.
West side, Noah Wilson, Israel Avered, Moses Loomis,
Aaron Loomis, Jacob Strong, Ebenezer North, Wm.
Grant, Joel Thrall, Asahel Strong, Ebenezer Coe,
Isaac Higley, Zebulon Curtiss, Thomas Stoughton,
Joel Loomis, Ebenezer Lyman, Thomas Curtiss,
‘Aaron Loomis, Jr., Beriah Hills, Jonathan Coe, Na-
thaniel Barber, Abel Beach, Joseph Fowler, Joseph
Beach, Thomas Marshall, Ebenezer Lyman, Jr., John
Whiting.

“Why the names of John Cook, Noah} Wilson,
and Abel Beach were not on ‘this paper is not
clear, for the agreement was such as to which none
seemingly could object, and, therefore, when the east

* Made from the names of the two towns.
+ Mr. Kelsey had been deacon in Woodbury, and hence is medaTea deacon

before any church was organized in Torringford.

 

side began to build they had no claim on the old
church for assistance, because of aid previously
rendered.

“The Torringford society, having made some pro-
vision towards building a meeting-house in 1763,
voted in’ December, 1764, to ‘add two feet to the
length and breadth,’ and arranged to obtain a comi-
mittée to ‘pitch the stake for a site which would ac-
commodate the whole society.’ In June, 1766, they
voted to ‘proceed to build a place of worship.’ In
April, 1768, they agreed to ‘raise the house as they
could: conveniently,’ ‘and in September of the same
year they ‘voted that the annual meeting of the so-
ciety should be held in the church,’ therefore the
house was built in the summer of 1768. In October
of the same’ year they presented a petition to the
General Assembly, showing that the territory of the
society embraced about ten thousand acres of land, of
which about seven thousand belonged to non-resi-
dents; that they had erected a church, which was
eomerel, had doors, a floor, convenient benehes, and
glass mintiowe for the lower story ; that they desired
to settle a minister as soon as they could; and that
the list of the present inhabitants is only two thou-
sand and eight hundred pounds,'and they pray that
the Assembly would grant a tax of threepence per
acre for thrée years on all the ‘land in the ‘society, to
provide a settlement for the’ first ‘settling minister,
and if any surplus remains it should be’ used to-
wards completing the church. The petition “was
granted. This house stood on the highway, on the
west side, some fifty rods south of the present church
edifice.

“Tn December, 1783, a committee'was appointed to
consider and decide whether the church stands in
the right place, and, if it did not, to pitch a stake
where it ought to stand, and at the same time they
voted to raise means’ to procure material to finish
the inside of the meeting-house. These acts were re-
scinded afterwards, but in January, 1785, a tax was laid,
payable by the Ist of June, to finish the house. In
obedience. to this movement, considerable work was
done that summer on the inside of the house, but it
was not plastered. In March, 1788, a committee was
appointed to settle with David Soper for plastering
the church. In ‘December, 1788, a seating com-
mittee was appointed, and the appointment there-
after was made annually while they worshiped in that
house.

“The house was painted in 1792, having neither
bell nor steeple. Repairs went on thus until 1818,
when a stove was placed in the house. In 1828 lib-
erty was given to alter the front gallery for the sing-
ers. In 1835 the thanks of the society were voted
unanimously to Uriel Tuttle, for the use of his organ
for the time past, showing that in instrumental music
they were in advance of many churches of that day;
and Charles B. Smith and Frederick Phelps were com-
plimented for their services at the organ ‘by a vote of
630

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

thanks from the society, and thereby, probably, re-
ceived a larger salary than they expected.

The present church edifice was erected in 1838 and
1839, and in 1874 the interior was remodeled.

The following is a list of the ministers: Rev. Mr.
Heaton (supply), in the autumn of 1760, some months.
Rev. Ebenezer Devenport (supply), from summer of
1764, one year or more. Rev. Samuel John Mills,
ordained June 28, 1769; died May 11, 1833. Rev.
Epaphras Goodman (associate), March 6, 1822; dis-
missed Jan. 12, 1836. Rev. Herman L. Vaill, July
5, 1837; dismissed Sept. 29, 1889. Rev. Brown Em-
erson, July 21, 1841; dismissed Sept. 24, 1844. Rev.
John D. Baldwin (supply), a short time, and received
acall. Rev. William H. Moore, Sept. 30, 1846; dis-
missed Sept. 26, 1854. Rev. Stephen Fenn, Nov. 16,
1854; dismissed Sept. 4, 1857. Rev. Charles New-
man, May 18, 1858; dismissed Oct. 28, 1862. Rev.
Spencer O. Dyer (supply), one year. Rev. Franklin
Noble, June 7, 1865; dismissed Nov. 80, 1866. Rev.
Joseph F. Gaylord (supply), two years. Rev. Dana
M. Walcott (supply), one year to 1871. Rev. Her-
rick Knight (supply), from 1872 to 1874. Rey.
George R. Ferguson (supply), 1875 to 1877; went to
Africa as a missionary preacher.

Ministers Raised in Torringford.—Rey. Luther Ros-
siter, son of Newton Rossiter, a tanner at Burrville,
became an Episcopal minister, and his life has been
spent at the West; Rev. Orange Lyman, Rev. Samuel
J. Mills, Jr., Rev. Jonathan Miller, Rev. Harvey
Loomis, Rey. "David Miller, Rev. Stanley Griswold,
Rev. Rragnias D. Moore, Rey. Lucius Curtiss, Rev.
Warren H. Roberts, Episcopal, in 1857.

Deacons.—Jonathan Kelsey, at Woodbury and here,
died in 1792, aged eighty-nine years; Nehemiah
Gaylord, died in 1801, aged eighty years; Abraham
Filley ; Ebenezer Miller, died in 1814, aged seventy-
nine years; Job Curtiss, died in 1807, aged sixty-two
years; Ebenezer Miller (second), appointed in 1807,
died in 1842, aged seventy-eight years; Elizur Cur-
tiss, appointed in 1808, resigned in 1848, died in 1868,
aged eighty-five years; Ebenezer Rood, appointed in
1826, resigned in 1843, died in 1851, aged seventy-five
years ; Thomas Watson, appointed in 1848, resigned
in 1855, removed to Winsted: Thomas A. Miller, ap-
pointed in 1843, died in 1861, aged fifty-five years; Har-
vey L. Rood, appointed in 1855; William Watson,
appointed in 1861; Giles L. Gaylord. Chester H.
Barber.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, WOLCOTTVILLE.

This church was organized June 11, 1832, with the
following members: David Baldwin, Mrs. Sarah
Baldwin, Sarah Ann Baldwin, Elizur Barber, Mrs.
Polly Barber, Mrs. Lucy Bissell, Ruth Brooks, Re-
becca Goadman, Sarah Hungerford, Mrs. Charlotte
Hungerford, Mrs, Elizabeth Eno, Mrs. Ursula Frost,
Nancy 8. Goodman,
Taylor, Lyman Wetmore, Mrs. Betsey Wetmore, Lor-

John Hungerford, Abigail’

 

rain Wetmore, Mrs. Frances Wetmore, Louisa Wet-.
more, Amanda Wetmore, Leverett Scott, Mrs. Leverett
Scott, Sarah Wilcox, Lydia Kimberly, MariaS. North,
Ruhama Smith, George D. Wadhams, Mrs, Lucy
Wadhams.

Rev. L. Perrin, in his centennial sermon, in 1876,
says,—

“During all the years of effort by the people of
Wolcottville to insure its rapid growth as a business
place, a little band of thoroughly earnest Christians
were watching, working, and praying, with a long-
tried patience and a wrestling faith, for the establish-
ment of a church of Christ, and for such help of the
Holy Ghost as would lift up a standard effectually
against the abounding wickedness of the place.
While Christopher Wolcott, the devout and efficient
agent of Frederick Wolcott, in managing the mill,
and other kindred spirits which his position enabled
him to bring to his aid, were trying to sow some good
seed, the Methodists were contending nobly for truth
and righteousness as well; and the older members
of this church speak with becoming respect and af-
fection of their fellow-disciples. of the common
Master.

“From the organization of the church the mutual
action of the church and society has been:‘harmonious,
and a commendable zeal, prudence, and liberality has
marked their efforts to sustain the ordinances of relig-
ion. Without zealous stickling for mere points of order
in their mutual work, they have accomplished much
toward the civil, social, educational, and religious cul-
ture of this community, and their outlook upon the
opening future is full of hope and promise. But since
the church is an institution of divine appointment,
and since it is by inspiration called the body of Christ,
it is meet and proper that in its relation to other
agencies it should always have the precedence, with-
out regard to numbers, wealth, or earthly distinctions.
Any society that does not choose to have this rule ob-
served is radically defective in its character as an eccle-
siastical society ; and any church that does not make
the fitness of this rule apparent fails to execute its
high commission.”’

The settled pastors have been Hiram P. Arms,
Stephen Hubbell, Samuel Day, Samuel T. Seelye,
Ralph Smith, Edward W. Bacon, arid Lavalette
Perrin, and the following have been stated supplies:
E. 8. Clark, R. M. Chipman, W. L. Adamson, George
B. Newcomb, and others. It will-be seen that during
the forty-four years of its history this church has
had a settled pastor about twenty-eight and one-
half years, and acting pastor about six and a ‘half
years.

“The benefit of the Home Missionary Society in
this State is realized to some extent in the aid this
church received for several years from its commence-
ment, making it possible to have a settled pastor when
otherwise it could not, and giving it strength until
it acquired strength of its own.
TORRINGTON.

631

 

“The membership of the church has slowly though
steadily increased in numbers, although its forty-four
years of effort and labor have been amidst great na-
tional struggles and calamities.

“The Sabbath-school, under different forms, with
such intervals as circumstances have made inevitable,
has been sustained from the first. Indeed, before there
was pastor, church, or society, Mrs. Charles Hunger-
ford maintained such a school on Sabbath morning,
and she attended service after it at Torringford.
From that time forward the school has steadily in-
creased until the numbers in it are nearly equal to
the numbers in the regular service of the congrega-
tion.

“The membership of this church has steadily
though slowly inéreased in numbers from the first.
There have been seasons of special religious interest
in the community, but no very remarkable times of
refreshing, such as are on the records of other churches,
have been experienced by this church. The following
are the years in which ten or more persons were added
to the membership of the church: 1834, thirteen ;
1848, fifteen; 1852, thirty-four; 1858, twenty-one;
1867, thirty-nine; 1873, ten; 1874, ten; 1876, ten.

“Other years of its history have indicated more or
less of spiritual vigor, but it has not been equipped
and furnished as some churches are for aggressive
work, From its membership of twenty-nine at the
start it has increased to one hundred and seventy-five
at the present time.

“ All the ordinary means of grace have been sus-
tained, and for a number of years the plan of Sab-
bath offerings has been successfully maintained, and
thereby the benevolent institutions of the times re-
ceive monthly attention to the noted credit and honor
of the congregation ; the average amount is about eight
hundred dollars annually.

“The service of song has quite uniformly been ren-
dered, to the edification and quickening of all true
worshipers, and from the beginning of its history this
society has been favored with a specially competent
choir, who have cheerfully and faithfully sustained
this important service.

“This church and society have occupied two, and
in a qualified sense three, houses of worship. This is
a matter usually controlled by the society, and from
the first there have been a few men of sound wisdom
and high-toned morality worshiping with the church,
though not members of it, who have infused energy
into all the movements of the society, and enriched
its records with many wise and liberal acts.”

The first church edifice was erected by Capt. Uri
Taylor. This was occupied until 1844, when exten-
sive repairs were made.

In 1864 the question of reconstructing the meeting-
house and building, or fitting up a conference-room,
was brought before the annual meeting, and this
proved to be the beginning “ of that protracted, per-
plexing, and nobly sustained effort of the society,

 

which, after long-continued struggles, resulted in the
solid, chaste, and truly beautiful granite edifice now
standing asa Sabbath home. Though the vicissitudes
of the enterprise were many, and made doubly bur-
densome by the failure of the contractors in the early
stages of the work to fulfill their engagements, yet it
was carried to completion by the force of unyielding
purpose and resolution, to the general satisfaction of
those interested. The contract was taken by a New
York firm for the sum of nearly nineteen thousand
dollars, and when the last bill was paid the sum had
increased to over thirty-two thousand dollars; and, as
in all such cases, those who do most at the commence-
ment are quite certain to do most in the final closing
up of indebtedness, so in this case ; the first were last.
It is, therefore, a beautiful monument of earnest, wise,
and well-directed energy in the accomplishment of a
noble Christian object.”

Ministers—Rev. Hiram P. Arms, D.D., installed
Feb. 7, 1883; dismissed July 6, 1886. Rev. Stephen
Hubbell, installed Feb. 29, 1837; dismissed Sept. 29,
1839. Rev. Samuel Day, installed Sept. 23, 1840; dis-
missed June 4, 1845. Rev. Samuel T. Seelye, D.D.,
installed June 17, 1846; dismissed March 21, 1855.
Rev. Ralph Smith, installed March 25, 1856; dis-
missed Sept. 29, 1857. Rev. George B. Newcomb
(supply). Rev. Edward W. Bacon, installed Sept. 29,
1869; dismissed Oct. 81, 1871. Rev. Lavallete Per-
rin, installed July 31, 1872; present pastor.

Ministers Raised.—Rev. Edward Hungerford, Con-
gregational ; Rev. John Barbour, Episcopal.

Deacons.—Lorrain Wetmore, Dec. 22, 1822; Silas
Humphrey, March 10, 1836; Amasa Scoville, June
29, 1837; Victorianus Clark, Nov. 7, 1841; Leonard
Blakeslee, Oct. 81, 1845; Darius Wilson, July 5,
1846; Addison Palmer, 1851; Nelson Alvord, June,
1857; Charles Hotchkiss, March 3,1861; Henry 8.
Barbour, Feb. 15, 1868; Samuel J. Stocking, Feb.
15, 1868. ;

THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first sermon in this town preached by a Meth-
odist was about the year 1787, by a Mr. Bloodgood, at
the house of Abijah Wilson.

“It is very probable,” says Rev. Mr. Orcutt, “that
there was a Methodist class in existence here not only
as early as 1807,* but possibly twenty years before, in
this immediate neighborhood ; for it is difficult to con-
ceive of two or three such families as Abijah Wilson’s
and Capt. Frisbie’s living in a community such as was
in this vicinity twenty-one or more years without a
class-meeting. Methodists were not of that kind in
those days. It would have been as easy for old Paul
Peck, if he had lived, to have entrapped an alligator
in the Pine swamp as to have caught a Methodist
living twenty years without a class-meeting in those
early days. It is therefore more than probable that

 

* See a memorial sermon, by Rev. T. D. Littlewood, in the Bridgeport
Standard, May 17, 1872.
632

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

class-meetings were held at Abijah Wilson’s and Capt.
Frisbie’s and other places some years before 1800.
Regular preaching by this denomination may have
been established at the school-house in the village in
1809 or 1810, and from that time greater improve-
ments in congregations and church enterprises may
have been experienced. In 1808 a Methodist camp-
meeting was held in Canada, in Goshen, which se-
cured a more prominent influence to that denomina-
tion throughout this region.

“The ministers who preached at Mr. Coe’s, and
afterwards at Newfield, doubtless preached here also.
‘A Mr. Sweet is mentioned as one of the early ones.
Mr. Laban Olark, celebrated for more than fifty years
in his denomination, preached here in 1810. Samuel
D. Ferguson and Elbert Osborn were among the early
ones, and two by the name of Hill, and Gad N.
Smith, Mr. Canfield, Mr. Beach. Col. John H. Perry,
aman of military education, became a minister, and
preached here; became a very influential minister in
New York and Brooklyn; went as a colonel of a
regiment into the army against the late Rebellion;
was promoted to a general’s commission; returned in
safety to his home in Brooklyn. Rev. Ebenezer
‘Washburn is also mentioned prominently in regard
to the prosperity of this denomination in this com-
munity.

“The real pastors, however, of Methodist churches
in early days were the local preachers. The circuit
ministers were preachers, traveling on tours that re-
quired their absence from each preaching-place two,
‘three, and four weeks; and hence the real pastoral
work, or care for the local churches, fell, in a great
‘measure, on the local ministers and class-leaders.
Such men as Daniel Coe, of Winsted, and David
Miller, of Torringford, were the men who preached
many funeral sermons, visited the sick, and supplied
vacant places with preaching at no cost to any one
but themselves.

“A number of families came into Wolcottville
soon after the woolen-mill was started, and united
with ‘the Methodist congregation and church, who
proved themselves true and faithful witnesses, and
were of much value to the denomination and to the
community in religious things. But the progress of
the enterprise of making woolen cloths was not an
even course of prosperity, and therefore the forward
movement in the church was impeded for a number
of years,”

The ministers who had preached here to that time
are mentioned in the following order:* Laban Clark,
James Coleman, in 1810, Arnold Scoville, Benjamin
Griffin, William Swayne, Gad Smith, Samuel Coch-
rane, Cyrus Culver, E: P. Jacobs, J. J. Matthias,
Datus. Ensign, Ezekiel Canfield, Nathan Emery,
Smith Dayton, Ebenezer Washburn, John Nixon,
James M. Smith, David Miller, Julius Field, Daniel

 

* Mr, Littlewood’s sermon.

Brayton, Elbert Osborn, Eli Barnett, John Lovejoy,
Bradley Silleck, Milo Chamberlain, David Stocking,
John Lucky, Richard Hayter, Morris Hill, David
Osborn, 8. W. Law, George Taylor, John M. Reid,
George A. Hubbell, Robert Codling, William B,
Hoyt, 8. C. Keeler, C. T. Mallory, Otis Saxton, A.
V.R. Abbott, Benjamin Redford, C. W. Powell, B.
T. Abbott, J. Vinton, L. W. Abbott, 8S. H. Bray, T,
D. Littlewood, H. L. Judd, 8S. K. Smith, George L.
Taylor, —— Burns, and Rev. Mr. North.

The first church edifice was erected in 1843. The
present building, which is one of the finest Metho-
dist churches in the county, was erected in 1865,
and is an honor to the self-sacrificing spirit of all
who have aided in making it what it is.

~ TRINITY CHURCH.

Trinity parish was organized in February, 1848,+
with the following members: Samuel Bradley, James
Gaunt, M. W. Fyler, Henry B. Richards, Rodney
Brace, James Ashborn, Samuel Workman, Charles B.
Smith, Nelson Alvord, James R. Coe, Benjamin H.
Morse, James H. Seymour, Edward Atkins, Charles
Cooper, Demas Coe, Janna B. Phelps, James Ogleby,
Allen G. Brady. The officers of the parish elected
on the day of its organization were James Gaunt and
Benjamin H. Morse, wardens; James R. Coe, Charles
Cooper, Samuel Bradley, vestrymen; Demas. Coe,
treasurer; Benjamin H. Morse, clerk. This society
continued to worship in the brick academy during
the summer of 1843, and until their house of worship
was completed in 1844.

This edifice is located on the corner of Water and
Prospect Streets, and was consecrated by Bishop
Thomas ©. Brownwell, Dec. 4, 1844.

Jan. 6, 1845, Rev. Henry Zell was elected rector of
the parish. At Easter, 1848, he resigned, and during
the succeeding year the rectorship remained vacant,
Revs. Enoch Huntington, Abel Nichols, and George
L. Foot officiating. Rev. David P. Sandford became
rector on Easter Day, April 8, 1849, there being then
forty families in the parish, and eleven communi-
cants. This relation Mr. Sanford held one year,
when he resigned, and Rev. 8. V. Berry was in tem-
porary charge of the parish a little more than a year.
In August, 1851, Rev. J. 8. Covell became rector, and
continued until October, 1855. Rev. Ezra Jones and
C. B. Seymour officiated nearly a year each in suc-
cession, when the parish was united with Christ
Church, Harwinton, as one cure, for one year, Rev.
+James Morton being the rector. On Oct. 10, 1858,

Rev. J. S. Covell was recalled to the rectorship, and
remained until 1863, when he removed to Hunting-
ton, Conn. Rev. David P. Sanford served his second
term of office in this church, commencing in April,

 

+ Occasional services had previously been held by the rectors of St.
Michael’s parish, at Litchfield, and Ohrist parish, Harwinton. At the
time of the organization of the church, Rev. Henry Zell was holding
regular services here. ;

 
TORRINGTON.

633

 

1864, and resigning Sept. 18, 1868. During this time
the house of worship was considerably improved: a
vestry-room was added, stained glass put into the
windows, and other improvements were made upon

the building. In 1868, Rev. Benjamin Eastwood be--

came the rector, and remained until 1874. In June,
1874, Rev. Henry B. Ensworth became rector-elect,
but resigned in the next December. He was suc-
ceeded, Sept. 1, 1876, by the present rector, Rev.
Henry M. Sherman.

ST. FRANCIS’ CHURCH.

Mass was first said in this village by Father James
Fitten in 1835. Since that time the following priests
have conducted services here as missionaries: Revs.
John Brady, Fathers Lynch, O’Niel, James Lynch,
Sillic, Quinn, Thomas Hendrickson, Richard O’Gor-
man, Michael Mangin, Daniel Mullen, Philip Sheri-
dan, and Father Leo, O.S.F., the present pastor at
Winsted. The first resident pastor was Father Isaiah,
the present incumbent. The church edifice was com-
menced in 1859, and completed in 1860. It was en-
larged in 1866, and beautified and improved.

BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWFIELD.

A Baptist Church was organized at Newfield, or
“Noppet,” as it is sometimes called, Sept. 17, 1788.
Among the original members of the church, and those
who united with it soon after, were Stephen Shepard,
Aaron Marshall, Silas Fyler, Gideon Smith, Esther
Beach, Chloe Marshall, Bethesda Brunson, Rhoda
Agard, Joseph Drake, Ashbel Bronson, Remembrance
North, Julia West, Sabra North, Esther Fyler, Jane
Loomis (2d), Hannah Bronson, Olive Agard, Noah
North, Levi Marshall, Norman Shepard, John Fyler,
Lemuel Loomis, Elizabeth North, and Elizabeth
Macomb. The first pastor was Stephen Shepard.
The first church edifice was erected in about 1800 or
1804, It was subsequently improved and repaired,
and July 5, 1875, was destroyed by fire. It has been
unused for a number of years.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, NEWFIELD.

The first Methodist services were held here in about
1816 by Rev. Daniel Coe, of Winsted. These servi-
ces were held in the Baptist church. Soon much in-
terest was manifested, meetings were multiplied, and
quite a number of persons were baptized in the brook
north of Harlow Fyler’s residence. A church was
organized, and Capt. Levi Munsill was appointed
class-leader. The church increased until it numbered
about fifty members, and the interest became so gen-
eral that the school children held prayer-meetings in
the-grove during the intermission of school exercises.
Capt. Stephen Fyler and his sons, Harlow and Juba,
the Munsills, Loomises, Grants, Thralls, Daytons, and
Capt. Asahel Smith and Amasa Wade, of Winches-
ter, and a number of other families, warmly espoused
this cause, and for some years a thriving society ex-
isted. Besides Daniel Coe, who always manifested a

 

fatherly interest in this church, David Miller, of Tor-
ringford, was a frequent early preacher. Afterwards
several other ministers are remembered as having
preached here, viz.: Mr. Canfield Cochrane, Billy
Hibbard, John Nickerson, Morris and Aaron Hill,
—— Washburne, Samuel D. Ferguson, John. Beach,
Gad N. Smith, Col. James Perry, Josiah Toy, Miles
N. Olmstead, and Henry J. Fox. Some of the pre-
siding elders were Nathan and Heman Bangs, Laban
Clark, John Lucky, —— Washburn, —— Martindale,
—— Ferguson, and Griswold. Among the class-
leaders after Capt. Munsill were Augustus Grant,
Archibald Dayton, and Chauncey: Riggs.

Several of these ministers resided in Newfield, the
circuit being at first, and for many years, a four weeks’
circuit, with two ministers, each preaching in the
same place once in four weeks, the other minister
living in Burlington; the four preaching-places being
Burlington, Newfield, Canada village (in Goshen), and
Cornwall.

The Methodists and Baptists occupied the old meet-
ing-house on alternate Sabbaths until a Methodist
quarterly meeting occurred on the Baptists’ Sabbath,
and was conducted with closed doors, according to
the custom of those days. Some young men insisted
on going into this meeting, and finally broke down
the door to effect an entrance. Much excitement fol-
lowed. The next quarterly meeting was held in Har-
low Fyler’s wagon-house, and a great company gath-
ered for the occasion. This occurred in the autumn
of 1832. A meeting of the members of this church
was held Nov. 26, 1832, when the Rev. Heman Bangs,
presiding elder, was chosen moderator, and Rev.
Charles Sherman, the pastor, was chosen scribe, and
they voted that “we deem it expedient to make an
effort to build a meeting-house.” They appointed a
committee, consisting of Levi Munsill, Harlow Fyler,
Archibald Dayton, Elihu Barber, and Amasa Wade,
to fix on a site and forward the movement as trustees
of the society. The house was built in 1833, and
seated with slips instead of the box-pew.

In November, 1833, a subscription of one hundred
and ninety-five dollars was raised, and a bell purchased
at Medway, Mass., and ordered sent by water to Hart-
ford; but, navigation closing, Mr. Harlow Fyler sent
his team to Medway for the bell, which had been
shipped to Boston to come by- water, and the team
went to Boston, and brought the bell in time for the
dedication. After a few years of full meetings and
general interest the cause began to decline; families
were removing from the community almost yearly,
some of them going to the far West. A debt of four
hundred dollars remained on the meeting-house prop-
erty, which continued to increase, although several
efforts were made to pay it, until about 1850, when it
was sold to the Advent society, and a series of meet-
ings were held by Elders Miles Grant and Matthewson.
For a time there was much interest manifested ; the
meeting-house was filled on the Sabbath, and some
‘

634

meetings were held in the Baptist house also, and a
Second Advent Church was organized with thirty
members; but after ten or twelve years the meetings
ceased, most of the members went to Wrightville, and
the meeting-house stood unused until 1876, when it
was sold and taken down.

CHAPTER LXII.
TORRINGTON (Continued).

The Coe Brass Manufacturing Company—The Coe Furniture Company
—The Union Manufacturing Company—The Turner & Seymour
Manufacturing Company --The Excelsior Needle Company — The
Hardware Company—C. H. Hotchkiss & Sons—The Alvord Manu-
facturing Company—The Hardware Manufacturing Company—The
Hendy Machine Company, Etc.

MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.*

The Coe Brass Manufacturing Company.—The first
effort to make brass kettles in America by the battery
process was commenced in Wolcottville in 1834. The
old Wilson mill-privilege and property was purchased,
and other lands on the south and west side of the river,
for a dam and a raceway, and for the location of build-
ings. The business was conducted in the name of
Israel Coe, then of Waterbury, but who removed to
Wolcottville. Anson G. Phelps, of New York City,
and John Hungerford were associated with Mr. Coe,
each owning one-third of the stock. The late Israel
Holmes, of Waterbury, had an interest in the business,
and removed to this village, and was the principal
manager of the manufacturing part of the business.
The enterprise included the rolling of brass in connec-
tion with the making of brass kettles. Christopher
Pope, an Englishman, was the prime mover in regard
to the making of brass kettles, although he was of no
benefit in the end to the business as introduced here.

Mr. Holmes went to England for the purpose of
procuring machinery and workmen. His efforts in
this respect were hindered by every possible ingenuity
and power of those interested in the same kind of
manufacturing in that country, but after a time he
sent two battery-men to Philadelphia, one of whom
died the next day after his arrival. Subsequently he
procured others, and thirty-eight men, women, and
children, in one vessel, arrived in New York. Con-
siderable trouble was experienced in transporting them
without a railroad to Wolcottville. When they were
landed here the mill was not ready for operatives, and
thereby the troubles were multiplied. The men re-
ceived their pay, and, having nothing to do, most of
them gave themselves to dissipation and disquietude
of disposition. Inthe mean time, Mr. Pope bargained
with other parties for a rival concern, and took three
‘of the men with him. This was at first thought to be
an injury, but eventuated in advantage, as these men
proved to be worthless in this business. However,

 

* Principally from Orcutt's “ History of Torrington.”

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

some of the workmen remained, and the quick eye
and ready hand of Wolcottville Yankees soon secured
experts in the making of brass kettles.

The next difficulty which arose was the proportion-

‘ing or mixing of the metal so as to form a compound

that could be subjected to the hammering and anneal-
ing without cracking, and for some years the company
were under the necessity of importing the metal
ready cast for this purpose. In 1842, Mr. Coe went to
England and obtained the right materials and mix-
ture, and thereafter this difficulty was overcome.
From this time the business in this form would have
been a great success but for the invention by Hiram
Hayden, of Waterbury, of a new process, called the
rolling or spinning process, by which a smoother sur-
face and uniform thickness of the kettle was secured.
This new method soon superseded the battery business,
and hence this part of the Wolcottville enterprise was
not very profitable thereafter. :
The rolling-mill part of the business was a success
until 1837, when by the general suspension of business
throughout the country, many who were indebted to
the concern being unable to pay, the company were in
a strait place, and for a time nearly suspended work
in the mill; but finally all claims were paid in full
and business resumed, and continued with success.
On the 19th of May, 1841, the special copartnership
of Israel Coe was dissolved, and a joint-stock company
formed under the name of the Wolcottville Brass
Company, with a capital of fifty-six thousand dollars,
of which Israel Coe, Anson G. Phelps, and John Hun-
gerford were the stockholders, each owning one-third.
Israel Coe was appointed president, and Lyman W.
Coe secretary and treasurer, and Israel Holmes the
general manufacturing manager. In 1842, Mr. Coe
went to Europe, and Mr. Hungerford was appointed
president. In 1843, Mr. Holmes retired from the com-
pany. In February, 1844, Israel Coe and L. W. Coe
sold their interest in the company to Anson G. Phelps,
and Mr. I. Coe then retired from the brass business.
L. W. Coe remained as secretary and treasurer until
1845, when he resigned, and subsequently was elected
secretary and treasurer of the Waterbury Brass Com-
pany, of which Israel Holmes was president. Mr.
L. W. Coe then removed to Waterbury, where he re-
sided until 1868, when he purchased the property of
the Wolcottville Brass Company, and formed a new
company under the name of the Coe Brass Company.
While Mr. Coe was at Waterbury, in March, 1848,
Mr. Phelps sold his interest in this mill to Mr. Hun-
gerford, and Mr. Hungerford, at different times, trans-
ferred portions of the stock to C. P. Marks, John Da-,
vol, J. H. Bartholomew, and Albert A. Mason, and
others. About 18538, Marks and Davol, being large
owners, sold their entire interest in this property to
J. Hungerford, and he and his family became the
owners of nearly all the stock.
Until 1852 the company had been moderately suc-
cessful, but from that period to 1863 the property
‘TORRINGTON.

635

 

steadily declined in value. This decline was owing
in part to the decline of the battery process in making
kettles and the great commercial panic of 1857, in
which the company were large losers by the failure
of their customers, from which they never fully re-
covered.

In April, 1863, L. W. Coe purchased the entire
capital stock, paying forty thousand dollars, and
thereby became possessed of all its franchise and
liable for-all its debts. The Coe Brass Company was
formed, with a capital of one hundred thousand dol-
lars, and the mill property and real estate of the old
eompany transferred to the new.

The new company immediately took its position in
the front ranks of the brass wire and German silver
business, and has steadily increased its business until
at the present time it is producing more pounds of
metal than any mill of the kind. It has attained its
former reputation as a water-mill of about one hun-
dred and fifty horse-power, but has now in addition
four steam-engines with a capacity of four hundred
horse-power. Their buildings cover an area of about
three acres; the whole mill property includes nine-
teen acres, 7

For the past five years it has made a specialty of
brass for small-arms, cartridges, and has had exten-
sive dealings with foreign governments for such metal.
The aggregate of this foreign trade has constituted
two-thirds of the production of the mills.

The annual aggregate of the business of the com-
pany now exceeds one and a quarter million dollars.
Its present capital is three hundred and thirty-five
thousand dollars. It employs directly from two hun-
dred to two hundred and fifty men, and indirectly
sustains a large proportion of the population of the
town. During the last three years of financial de-
pression in the country this mill has been under full
operation, and some of the time working over-time,
which fact has not only kept Wolcottville alive, but
growing at the rate of nearly fifty dwelling-houses per
year.

The annual consumption of wood at this mill is
two thousand cords, and of charcoal fifteen thousand
bushels, and of anthracite coal two thousand tons.
The present officers are L. W. Coe, President; Elisha
Turner, Vice-President; Charles F. Brooker, Secre-
tary ; Edward T. Coe, Treasurer.

The Coe Furniture Company.—This business was
commenced in about 1840 by a company consisting
of Henry P. Coe, Henry P. Ostrum, and Benjamin
Smith, in a shop about forty rods east of Main Street
bridge, on the north side of the river. After a short
time Mr. Smith sold his share to the two others.
About 1850, Mr. Ostrum sold to his partner, Henry
P. Coe, who continued the business with success
several years. When his sons, A. W. Coe & Brothers,

took the enterprise, before 1860, they took possession |

of larger buildings on the south side of the river, and
began to add the improvements in machinery by

 

which their products and sales were greatly increased.
This prosperity continued until 1870, when the Coe
Furniture Company was formed, with a capital of
twenty thousand dollars, for the purpose of making
household furniture.

The Union Manufacturing Company.—This company
was organized Feb. 18, 1845, with a capital of ten
thousand, dollars, and the same day purchased the
brick building and water-privileges which had been
used as a finishing-house by the old woolen mill com-
pany, and entered upon preparations for the manufac-
ture of woolen goods, the stockholders being John
Hungerford, president, and William R. Slade, superin-
tendent and secretary, and from this time forward
this mill appears to have been moderately successful.
In 1849 this mill was burned, and a building much
larger than the former was erected, and the business
conducted by F. N. Holly and William R. Slade as
the stock-owners, and success rewarded the efforts
and skill with which they conducted it. In 1856 this’
building was burned,.and all that was in it, leaving a
mass of ruins unseemly and discouraging. Another
one was soon erected and fitted for the same business,
and the work started anew. The business was pros-
perous, and in 1859, Jesse B. Rose, Samuel Workman,
and Ransom Holly became stock-owners, and the
owners thus continued until 18738, when the Messrs.
Holly retired, and others became members of the
company in 1867.

The present owners are Jesse B. Rose, Samuel
Workman, George D. Workman, Albert Tuttle, and
James Iredale. Mr. Rose came from Plymouth in
1850, and engaged with this company as foreman of
the carding-room, and continued in that relation
nearly fifteen years, when he became a stock-owner
and superintendent of the manufacturing work.

Mr. Samuel Workman came to New York, and
thence in 1836 to this place, having been employed
to work in the wool-sorting apartment in Wolcott-
ville Manufacturing Company, and has continued in
the same work to the present time. When the Union
Company started he engaged with them, and has be-
come largely interested in the business.

Mr. George D. Workman, son of Samuel, is the sec-
retary, treasurer, and agent of the company, and be-
came stock-owner in 1867.

Mr. Tuttle came from Woodbury in 1858, and was
employed as finisher of cloth, in which relation he
still continues. He became stock-owner in 1865.
Mr. Iredale, formerly from England, came from Mas-
sachusetts in 1865, and became overseer in the “ gig-
room,” or one department of cloth-dressing. He
became stock-owner in 1867.

This company commenced with a stock capital of
ten thousand dollars, which was increased to fifty
thousand, where it has remained. The sales of the
company amount to two hundred thousand dollars
annually, which indicates prosperity even in moderate
times. The capacity of the mill is much greater than
636

that usually attained. The main building is one
hundred and twenty-two feet by thirty-five, six stories
high, and has an “L” part thirty-five by forty feet,
three stories high. There is also a wing attached to
the main building that is eighty-five by thirty feet, one
story. The second building is one hundred by thirty-
eight, two stories and a basement, and is used fora
drying-house. The third building is eighty by thirty-
five feet, three stories high, and is used for office and
storage room; and besides the large water-power,
they have three steam-boilers, with an engine of one
hundred horse-power.

At first this company manufactured only plain
black doeskin cloths, and from this they have varied
but little until later years. They now make black
doeskins, ribbed and diagonal goods, — all single
breadth. Seventy-five persons are regularly employed
in the mill, producing on an average about five hun-
dred yards of cloth per day.

Jesse B. Rose, President; George D. Workman,
Secretary, Treasurer, and Agent; Directors, Jesse B.
Rose, Samuel Workman, George D. Workman, Albert
Tuttle, and James Iredale.

The Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Company oc-
cupy the privileges of the first woolen-mill in this
village. This woolen-mill was built in 1813 by Fred-
erick Wolcott. It passed through various hands, and
in. 1844 was burned. A cotton-mill was soon after
erected on its site, which passed through various vi-
cissitudes, being known successively as the Wolcott-

ville Manufacturing Company, the Torrington Manu- .

facturing Company, and the Wolcottville Knitting
Company. Before 1863 this property stood idle for a
time, which fact being known to the Waterbury Hook
and Eye Company, they began to consider the feasi-
bility of removing their business to Wolcottville. At
the same time the Wadhams Manufacturing Company
had stopped work, and the buildings were standing
idle. This latter was a company of more than twenty
years’ standing. In 1888 it was first organized, under
the title of Wadhams, Webster & Co., “for the pur-
pose of manufacturing gilt and other buttons, or any
articles composed of brass, copper, or other metals,”
and the officers were Russell C. Abernethy, Presi-
dent, and George D. Wadhams, Martin Webster, and
Laurin Wetmore, Directors, the capital stock being
fourteen thousand dollars. In 1851, after apparently
a successful term of twelve years, a new organization
was effected under the name of the Wadhams Manu-
facturing Company, taking the property of the old
company, and adding stock so as to make twenty
thousand dollars. The stock-owners were George D.
Wadhams, Phineas North, Demas Coe, Samuel T.
Seelye, H. P. Ostrum, J. F. Calhoun, Albert A. Ma-
son, Samuel J. Stocking, William S. Steele, Ebenezer
Wilson, and William De Forest. The building of the
old company was called the button-shop, and it stood
east of Main Street, on the old road to Torringford,
on the East Branch, at what is now called the iron

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

foundry. After 1851 it took the name of the papier-
maché shop, which indicated the character of an
additional part of the business of the firm,—the mak-
ing of daguerreotype-cases, work-boxes, writing-desks,
and other articles made in part or wholly of paper.
In the beginning of the war this company closed its
business.

Some of the members of the hook and eye com-
pany at Waterbury formed a company in 1868, called
the Seymour Manufacturing Company, to be located
at Wolcottville, and these persons were F. J. Sey-
mour, E. Turner, L. W. Coe, 8. L. Clark, and J. 8.
Elton. They, with a capital stock of twenty thousand
dollars, purchased the Wadhams property, or papier-
maché shop, and continued some of the kinds of
work which had been done there, and added others.
They made a specialty of brass window-trimmings,
including a variety of articles for hanging window-
curtains and ornamenting windows.

In 1864 the Turner & Seymour Manufacturing.
Company purchased the knitting-mill, or the old
cotton-mill property, the building standing on the
site of the old or first woolen-mill, and transferred
their hook and eye business from Waterbury to this
mill.

In 1866 these two firms consolidated under the
name of Turner & Seymour Manufacturing Com-
pany, retaining possession and continuing work in
both mills. After a short time an iron foundry was,
erected adjoining the papier-maché building, where
they have continued to cast a variety of articles,
mostly for household use, including American scis-
sors of several classes or sizes, ends or fixtures for
window-curtains, and many other items, varying their.
work according to public demand or invention and.
use. Their illustrated catalogue covers one hundred
and twenty pages, many of which pages are a con-
densed schedule of articles of the same name, but
varying in size or style or adaptability.

The capital stock is one hundred thousand dollars,
and their sales run from two to three hundred thou-.
sand dollars a year. They are now selling goods at
half the price they sold the same article seven years
ago. The wholesale store of this company is at 81
Reade Street, New York City.

The present officers are Elisha Turner, President;
L. W. Coe, Treasurer; L. G. Turner, Secretary. .

The Excelsior Needle Company.—This company was
organized March 2, 1866, with twenty thousand dol-
lars capital, and the following persons as directors:
Achille F. Migeon, President; Charles Alvord, Sec-.
retary; and Elisha Turner, James Wooding, George
M. Isbell. The superintendency of the work devolved
upon Mr. Isbell until 1869, since which time that posi-
tion has been filled by James Alldis.

This company has for its customers all sewing-
machine companies except those who make their
own needles. The Wheeler & Wilson Company, of

-Bridgeport, purchase their needles here, the contract.
TORRINGTON.

with them for several years having been one hundred
and fifty thousand needles per month.

The company have at the inventory of every year
between four and five millions of needles, or, in other
words, they carry about forty thousand dollars’ worth
of stock the year through. The capacity of the shop
is twenty-five thousand per day. The amount of
sales per year is about one hundred thousand dollars.

The Hardware Company.—This company was organ-
ized Jan. 1, 1864, with a capital of twelve thousand
dollars, and the stock-owners were George B. Turrell,
Franklin Farrell, and Achille F. Migeon. They com-
menced work in the old lock-shop in Torrington Hol-
low, formerly occupied by Edmund Wooding, where
they continued one year and a half, during which
time they purchased land- and water-privileges half a
mile down the Naugatuck, and erected commodious
buildings about one hundred and fifty feet long, and
removed into them in the autumn of 1865. The lead-
ing work at this time was the making of skates of all
sizes and various styles. In February, 1870, the cap-
ital stock was increased to fifty-two thousand dollars,
and in October of the same year they bought of
George B. Turrell, of New York, a patented heer-
cooler, and increased their capital to one hundred
thousand dollars. The work of making this beer-
cooler has constituted a considerable portion of the
business of the company since that time, being one
important branch of business.

On Feb. 18, 1872, they bought the skate-manufactur-
ing business of Frederick Stevens, of New York, and
increased the capital to one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars, and erected a new three-story building one
hundred feet long by forty wide, thus greatly increas-
ing the manufacture of skates, and many other arti-
cles have been added to the goods produced of iron,
wood, and leather.

- The company employ in good times about one
hundred men, using both water- and steam-power,
and their sales amount to about one hundred and fifty
thousand dollars a year. Their buildings are located
at the northwest corner of Wolcottville, and have
been the occasion for the erection of a number of fine-
appearing dwellings in that part of the village. This
is one of the largest parlor-or roller- skate manufac-
turing establishments in the world. The present
officers are George B. Turrell, of New York, Presi-
dent; Achille F. Migeon, Secretary; and J. F. Cal-
houn, Treasurer.

C. Hotchkiss & Sons—In 1857, Deacon Charles
Hotchkiss and his son, Edward C., purchased what
was known as the Wilson mill property and fitted it
for their work as builders, under the name of C.
Hotchkiss & Son. This name was changed afterwards
to C. Hotchkiss & Sons, in which form it still stands.
Mr. Hotchkiss had been engaged in building pre-
vious to this, in Wolcottville and the country around,
more than ten years, but his mill was two miles north
of Torrington Hollow and inconvenient; now he se-

41

 

637

cured this mill property, and arranged it for all the
various parts of a complete business of building dwell-
ings, meeting-houses, mills, and the like throughout
the region. During the twenty years this firm have
been engaged in this business, with what Mr. Hotch-
kiss had done previously, they have put up a large
proportion of the buildings in the village, besides
doing much work at distances from five to twenty
miles.

The Alvord Carriage Manufactory was founded in
1831, and was a large concern. Its officers were Nel-
son Alvord, president; and among the directors were
Henry Hopkins, A. G, Bradford, Charles B, Smith,
and B. R. Agard. It closed upon the breaking out of
the late Rebellion.

The Wolcottville Hardware Manufacturing Company
was organized with the following stockholders: Wol-
cottville Brass Company, Norman Cady, Gordon
W. Quinby, Elezur D. Harrington, Nelson Alvord,
George D. Wadhams, Henry Hopkins, Charles G.
Pond, George N. Pond, Virgil C. Goodwin, N. B.
Lathrop, Darius Wilson, Edwin W. Moseley, and
George P. Bissell.

The Hendy Machine Company was started in 1870 by
Henry J. and Arthur Hendy, and is in successful
operation.

THE WOLCOTTVILLE REGISTER

was established by Henry Bolton in August, 1874,
by whom it was continued about three years and then
sold to C. James, A.M. Mr. James published it three
years, when it was sold to Mr. E. A. Hayes, the present
proprietor. It is an excellent local journal, and justly
merits its present prosperity. Independent. It is now
called the Zorrington Register, to conform to the
change of name of the village.

CHAPTER LXIII.
TORRINGTON (Continued).
CIVIL AND MILITARY HISTORY.

Incorporation of Town—Representatives from 1762 to Present Time—
Military Record, 1861-65.

Tis town was incorporated in 1782. +

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1762-1882.

1762.—Jobn Cook, Jonathan Coe.

1763.—John Cook, Epaphras Sheldon.

1764-65.—John Cook, Jonathan Coe.

1766-70.—John Cook, Noah Wilson.

1771.—John Cook, Noah Marshall.

1772.—Ephraim Bancroft, Capt. Amos Wilson, John Cook.

1773.—Epaphras Sheldon, John Cook.

1774-75.—John Cook, Epaphras Sheldon, Noah Marshall.

1776.—Ephraim Bancroft, Capt. Shubael Griswold.

1777.—Col. Epaphras Sheldon, Capt. Shubael Griswold, Abner Marshall,
John Cook.

1778.—Abner Marshall, Aaron Austin, Capt. Shubael Griswold.

1779.—Noah North, Abner Marshall, Col. Epaphras Sheldon.

1780.—Col. Epaphras Sheldon, Noah North.

1781.—Noah North, Capt. Shubael Griswold, Col. Epaphras Sheldon.

1782,—Col. Epaphras Sheldon, Abner Marshall, Aaron Austin, David
Grant, Eliphalet Eno.
638

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1783.—Noah North, Eliphalet Eno, Col. Epaphras Sheldon, Samuel
Woodward.

1784,—Col. Epaphras Sheldon, Samuel Woodward, Eliphalet Eno, Noah
North, Capt. Jabez Gillett.

1785.—Daniel Grant, David Soper, Gen. Epaphras Sheldon, Samuel
Woodward...

1786.—Capt. Amos Wilson, Samuel Woodward, Elisha Smith.

1787.—Noah North, Eliphalet Eno, Capt. Amos Wilson, Capt. Shubael
Griswold.

1788.—Gen. Epaphras Sheldon, Eliphalet Eno, Elisha Smith.

1789.—Elisha Smith, Eliphalet Eno, Capt. Shubael Griswold, Dr. Samuel
Woodward.

1790.—Elisha Smith, Dr. Samuel Woodward, Eliphalet Eno.

1791.—Epaphras Sheldon, Shubael Griswold, Eliphalet Eno.

1792.—Dr. Elkanah Hodges, Eliphalet Eno, Elisha Smith, William Bat-
tell.

1793.—Hlisha Smith, Shubael Griswold.

1794.—Seth Wetmore, William Battell.

1795.—Elisha Smith, William Battell.

1796.—Elisha Smith, Jabez Gillett, Epaphras Sheldon,

1797.—Elisha Smith, Jabez Gillett.

1798.—Elisha Smith, Jabez Gillett, Wait Beach, Ebenezer Miller.

1799,—Elisha Smith, Jabez Gillett, Nathaniel Austin.

1800.— Wait Beach, John Gillett, Phineas North, William Battell.

1801.—Elisha Smith, William Battell.

1802.—Elisha Smith, William Battell, Phineas North, Jabez Gillett.

1803.—Elisha Smith, Jabez Gillett.

1804.—Phineas North, William Battell, Jr., Elisha Smith.

1805.—Phineas North, William Battell, Elisha Hinsdale.

1806.—Elisha Hinsdale, William Battell, Jr.

1807.—Elisha Smith, Norman Griswold, William Battell.

1808.—Elisha Smith, William Battell.

1809.—Elisha Smith, William Battell, Lyman Wetmore, John Gillett, Jr.

1810.—Lyman Wetmore, John Gillett, Jr., Thaddeus Griswold.

1811.—Elisha Smith, Norman Griswold, William Battell.

1812.—Elisha Smith, Thaddeus Griswold, Lyman Wetmore.

1813.—Erastus Hodges, Thaddeus Griswold, John Gillett, Jr.

1814.—Lyman Wetmore, William Battell, John Gillett, Jr.

1815.—Lyman Wetmore, John Gillett, Jr., Abel Hinsdale, Uriel Tuttle,
Russell C. Abernethy, William Battell.

1816.—Russell C, Abernethy, Thaddeus Griswold.

1817.—Lyman Wetmore, William Battell, John Gillett, Jr.

1818.—Lyman Wetmore, John Gillett, Jr., Abel Kinsdale, William Bat-
tell.

1819-20.—Elihu Cook, John Gillett, Jr.

1821.—Johu Gillett, Jr., Abel Hinsdale.

1822.—Matthew Grant, Samuel Woodward.

1824.—Levi Munsell, John Gillett, Jr.

1824.—Levi Munsell, Isaac H. Dibble.

1825.— Russell C. Abernethy, Isaac H. Dibble.

1826.—Erastus Hodges, Uriel Tuttle.

1827.—Erastus Hodges, William Battell.

1828.—Russell C. Abernethy, William Battell.

1829-30.—Noah Drake, Jr., Horace Gillett.

1831.—Asaph Gillett, Griswold Woodward.

1832.—Erastus Hodges, William Battell.

1833.—Martin Webster, Levi Munsell.

1834.—Noah Drake, Cicero Hayden.

1835.—Ralph Deming, Noah Drake, Jr.

1836.—Zaccheus W. Bissell, Giles Whiting.

1837.—Giles Whiting, John Gillett.

1838.—Lorrain Thrall, Israel Holmes.

1839.—Elkanah H. Hodges, Anson Colt, Jr.

1840.—Luman Munsell, Anson Colt, Jr.

1841,—Uri Taylor, Luman Munsell.

1842.—Uri Taylor.

1843-44.—Griswold Woodward, Asaph Gillett.

1845.—Lyman W. Coe, Dennis Coe.

1846-47.—Lorrain Hinsdale, Nelson Roberts.

1848.—Jannah B. Phelps, Frederick P. Whiting.

1849.—Jannah B. Phelps, Homer F. Thrall.

1850.— Albert Bradley, Henry 8. Barbour.

1851.—Lewis Whiting, John W. Cooke.

1852.—Edmund A. Wooding, Leverett Tuttle.

1853.—Noah Drake, L. Thompson.

1854.—Nvah Drake, Henry Hopkins.

1855.—N. Roberts, CU. A. Winship.

 

1856-57.—George P. Bissell, Lewis A. Thrall.
1858.—Thomas A. Miller, Samuel J. Stocking.
1859.—Thomas A. Miller, Andrew Roberts.
1860.— Harlow Fyler, Francis N. Holley.
1861.—Harvey L. Rood, George L. Whiting.
1862.—B. R. Agard, Roderick Bissell.
1863.—Alonzo Whiting, Henry G. Colt.
1864.—Lauren Wetmore, James Ashborn.
1865.—Henry 8. Barbour, Elijah Woodward.
1866.—0. R. Fyler, W. H. Barber.
1867.—Roger C. Barber, Elisha Turner.
1868.—Joseph F. Calhoun, Thomas A. Starks.
1869.—Charles Hotchkiss, Edward B. Birge.
1870.—J. W. Phelps, Luther Bronson.
1871.—E. C. Hotchkiss, John M. Burr.
1872.—F. J. Seymour, Wait B. Wilson.
1873.—Charles McNeil, James Alldis.
1874.—Charles McNeil, Charles F. Church. ~
1875.—Charles F. Brooker, Edward C. Hotchkiss.
1876.—Charles McNeil, John W. Gamwell.
1877.—Levi Hodges, Achille F. Migeon.
1878.—Jesse B. Rose, Henry J. Allen.
1879.—Bradley R. Agard, Achille F. Migeon.
1880.,—Charles Alvord, Avery F. Miner.
1881.—Gideon H. Welch, Wibur W. Birge.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.
FIRST REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Sanford H. Perkins, captain, Co, I; com. May 23,1861; pro. to major 14th
Regt. June 7, 1862.

Albert F. Brooker, first lieutenant, Co. 1; com. May 23, 1861; pro. to cap-
tain Co. B May 23, 1862.

Edward H. Mix, second lieutenant, Co. I; com. May 23, 1861; pro. to first
lieutenant Co. C; res. Feb. 6, 1862.

Collis 8. Hough, sergeant, Co. 1; enl. May 23, 1861; re-enl. as veteran
Dec. 17, 1863.

David W. Smith, corporal, Co, I; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 23, 1864,
term expired.

King Walbridge, corporal, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 23, 1864,
term expired.

Charles Huxford, corporal, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 23, 1864,
term expired.

Frank R. Brooker, Co. 1; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 21, 1864, term
expired.

Wilbur W. Birge, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. for disability Sept. 23,
1861.

Edward C. Castle, Co.I; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 23, 1864, term
expired, :

Clement Griffin, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; died Nov. 23, 1862.

Asahel C. Johnson, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Feb. 5,
1864,

James H. Mott, Co. 1; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. May 23, 1864, term ex-
pired.

Hayden D. Palmer, Co. T; enl. May 23, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 30,
1863.

Eber N. Stocking, Co. 1; enl. May 23, 1861; disch. for disability Sept. 23,
1861.

Elisha J. Steele, Co. I; enl. May 23,1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 30, 1863.

Charles W. Smith, Co. I; enl. May 23,1861; re-enl. as veteran Nov. 16,
1863.

Henry M. Stocking, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Nov. 16,
1863.

Lambert W. Steele, Co. I; enl. May 23, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 10,
1863,

Company I, Recruits,
John Keaton, Co. I; enl. April 12, 1862 ; re-enl. as veteran April 19, 1864.

SECOND REGIMENT HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Dr. Jeremiah W. Phelps, first assistant surgeon; com. Sept. 5, 1862; res.
Sept. 15, 1862.

Jonathan A. Wainwright, chaplain ; com. Sept. 8, 1862; res. Jan. 20, 1863.

Wilbur W. Birge, sergeant-major; enl. July 28, 1862; pro, to first lieu-
tenant Co. F Feb, 6, 1864.

William T. Spencer, first lieutenant, Co. C; com. July 22, 1862; pro. to
captain of Co. K Aug. 11, 1863.
 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CM

|

i

 

BURR, BuRRvie, Conn.
,
TORRINGTON.

Morris H. Sanford, second lieutenant, Co. C; com, July 21, 1862; pro. to
first lieutenant Aug. 11, 1863.
George K. Hyde, sergeant, Co. C; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; pro. to second lieu-
tenant Co. G Feb. 6, 1864. .
Orsamus R. Fyler, sergeant, Co. C; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; pro. to second lieu-
tenaut Co. I Feb. 6, 1864.
David C. Munson, corporal, Co. C; enl. Aug. 4, 1862.
Albert P, Newberry, corporal, Co. A; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; died in Virginia
April 14, 1864.
David J. Thorp, corporal, Co. C; enl. July 28, 1862; killed at Cold Har-
bor, Va., June 1, 1864.
Martin L. Judd, corporal, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
William H. Hyde, corporal, Co. C; enl. July 24,1862; disch. for disability
Aug. 8, 1863.
John Wilcox, Co. A; died from wounds June 16, 1864.
Andrew J. Brooker, Co. A; died from wounds Oct. 8, 1864.
Hicks Seaman, musician, Co. C; enl. July 28, 1862.
Andrew E. Workman, musician, Co. C; enl. Aug. 4, 1862.
Milo F. Barber, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; disch. for disability April 18,
1864.
Anson F. Balcom, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died from wounds in Vir-
ginia Sept. 19, 1864.
Edward M. Balcom, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
John R. Blakeslee, Co. C; en]. July 28, 1862.
Virgil R. Bissell, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
Giles A. Come, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died in Alexandria, Va., April
1, 1863.
Orrin H. Cooke, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
Alfred Calkins, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died at home from disease
contracted in the army.
Edward M. Dunbar, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
Joseph Durocher, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
Orlando D. Evans, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11,1862; died Feb. 28, 1863.
John Friend, Co. C; enl. Aug. 6, 1862.
Cornel A. Hammond, Co. C; enl. July 24, 1862; disch. Nov. 9, 1862.
Frederick 0. Hills, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
William H. Hart, Co. C; en]. Aug. 11, 1862; died in hospital in Virginia
Tune 24, 1864.
Harlow §. Johnson, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died at Baltimore, Ma.,
Sept. 23, 1864.
James Jukes, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
John De Lowry, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; discharged.
Dennis Murphy, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
McKenzie Millard, Co. C; enl. Aug. 4, 1862.
James Moran, Co. C; enl. Aug. 7, 1862.
Charles E. Morse, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862.
Carrel F. North, Co. C; enl. Aug. 14, 1862.
Alonzo Smith, Co. C; enl. July 25, 1862.
David J. Thorp, Co. C; enl. July 25, 1862; killed at Cold Harbor June
1, 1865.
George C. Thompson, Co. C; enl. July 23, 1862.
“Wright Waterhouse, Co. C; enl. July 28, 1862.
Henry M. Woodruff, Co. C; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died in hospital at New
Haven July 22, 1864.
Lucien N. Whiting, Co. C; enl. Aug. 4, 1862.
Harrison Whitney, Co. C; enl. Aug. 4, 1862.
Milo Young, Co. C; enl, Aug. 11, 1862; died in hospital May 14, 1865.
Charles G. Mason, Co. E; enl. July 30, 1862.
Hubbard E, Tuttle, Co. E; enl. Aug. 6, 1862.
Lant Ryan, corporal, Co. K; enl. Aug. 12, 1862.
Asahel N. Perkins, Co. K; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; died from wounds.
Patrick Farrell, Co. K; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. June 1, 1864,
Enoch G. Warhurst, Co. K; enl. Aug. 6, 1862.
Patrick Peacock, Co. K; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; discharged.
Company C, Recruits.
Newton A. Calkins, enl. Dec. 9, 1863.
John Delowry, enl. Jan. 2, 1864.
William H. Hart, enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
Andrew Harris, enl. Dec. 23, 1863.
James M. Hayes, enl. Dec. 15, 1863; died in Virginia July 24, 1864.
Patrick Kenedy, enl. Feb. 11, 1864.
Lewis A. Luddington, enl. Jan. 5, 1864.
Jeremiah McCarthy, enl. Dec. 28, 1863; killed in Virginia Sept. 19, 1864.
Patrick O’Connor, enl. Dec. 15, 1863.
Henry W. Ostrum, enl. Dec. 28, 1863.
George W. Pierce, enl. Dec. 15, 1863 ; killed at Cold Harbor June 1, 1864.

 

639

Albert M. Scoville, en]. Dec. 28, 1863; died in Virginia Oct. 19, 1864.
Horace A. Thompson, Co. M; enl. Feb. 12, 1864.
George H. Wheeler, Co. M; enl. Feb. 12, 1864.

SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Henry G. Colt, enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861,
George M. Evans, enl. May 7, 1861; disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

THIRD REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Allen G. Brady, lieutenant-colonel; com. May 14, 1861; disch. Aug. 12,
1861.

William G. Brady, sergeant-major; enl. May 14,1861; disch. Aug. 12,
1861.

Joseph P. Reed, Rifle Co. F; enl. May 14,1861; disch. Aug. 12, 1861.

George M. Evans, Cav., Co. D; enl. Nov. 2, 1861; re-enl, as veteran Dec.
17, 1863.

FIRST REGIMENT CAVALRY RECRUITS.

Nelson Hodges, enl. Nov. 30, 1863.
Cornelius Horgan, enl. Dec. 22, 1863.

EIGHTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Henry H. Riggs, corporal; enl. Sept. 25, 1861.

Thomas J. Hubbard, corporal; enl. Oct. 5, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec.
24, 1863. ;

William H. McCarty, enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. for disability March 4,
1863.

John Collins, Co. F; enl. Sept. 4, 1863; substitute or drafted.

James Churchill, Co, I; enl. Sept. 4, 1863; substitute or drafted,

John Hern, Co. F; enl. Sept. 4, 1863; substitute or drafted.

William Matice, Co. I; enl. Sept. 4, 1863.

Frank Miller, Co. A; enl. March 29, 1864.

Henry C. Woodward, Co. I; enl. Feb. 25, 1864.

TENTH REGIMENT.
Simon Lathrop, Co. A; killed in North Carolina, Dec. 14, 1862.

ELEVENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY RECRUITS.

John C. King, enl. March 30, 1864; not taken upon the rolls June 30,
1864.

Lewis Dayton, Co. D; killed Sept. 17, 1862. ‘

Thomas Lackey, Co. H; enl. March 30, 1864,

James McGrath, enl. April 1, 1864,

George Sinclair, Co. K; enl. April 1, 1864; trans. to U.S. navy April 29,
1864.

Michael Welch, Co, K; enl. March 30, 1864.

Henry Williams, Co. K; enl. April 1, 1864.

Lewis E, Walling, Co. E; died during the war.

THIRTEENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Hurlburt ©. Hayes, corporal, Co. B; en]. Jan. 11, 1862.

Charles F. Cleaveland, Co. B; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; died April 8, 1862.

Edward M. Dunbar, Co. B; enl. Dec. 2, 1861; disch. for disability June
30, 1862.

Edward A. Foot, Co. B.

Frederick E. Hawley, Co. B; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; disch. for disability Feb.
28, 1863.

Dennis Hegany, Co. B; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Feb. 8,
1864.

George E. Hewlett, Co. B; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; trans, to 1st Louisiana
Regt., Aug. 8, 1862.

Edward Murphy, Co. B; died April 7, 1862.

Michael Higany, Co. B; re-enl. as veteran Feb. 29, 1864,

Henry A. Hurlbut, Co. G; discharged.

FOURTEENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

William Bradshaw, Co. A; died Aug. 16, 1864.
Edward Carroll, enl. July 8, 1862.

Fourteenth Regiment Infantry Recruits.

Frederick Cheever, Co. D; enl. Sept. 17, 1863; substitute or drafted.

Nicholas Deane, Co. C; enl. Sept. 7, 1863; substitute or drafted; sup-
posed prisoner, Feb. 6, 1864.

Ferdinand Grossloff, Co. D; enl. Sept. 17, 1863.

John Fitzpatrick, Co. E; enl. Sept. 17,1863; discharged.

Thomas Rumble, Co. A; enl. Sept. 11, 1863 ; supposed prisouer, October,
1863.

George Smith (2d), Co. H; enl. Sept. 8, 1863.

John Suffang, Co. C; enl. Sept. 8, 1863.
640

‘

SIXTEENTH REGIMENT.
Christopher C. Johnson, Co. E; died in Andersonville prison.

SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Allen G. Brady, major; com. Aug. 29, 1862; disch. for disability Oct. 21,
1863.
TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT INFANTRY.
Riley Dunbar, enl. Sept. 20, 1862; disch. July 7, 1863.

TWENTY-THIRD REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Henry Barber, Co. A; discharged.
John Deloury, Co. A; enl. Aug. 30, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1862.
Andrew Barrett, Co. H; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; disch. Aug. 31, 1863,

TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Lucius E. Bissell, corporal, Co. F; enl. Sept. 1, 1862.

Lafayette Bailey, Co. F; enl. Aug. 21, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.
Erwin W. Curtiss, Co. F; enl. Sept. 1, 1862; died May 27, 1863.
Lewis E. Dailey, Co. F; enl. Sept. 1, 1862; disch. Aug. 28, 1863.

TWENTY-NINTH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Henry S. Freeman, Co. H; enl. March 2, 1864.
Edward Freeman, Co. C; died in Texas Oct. 13, 1865.
George Wright, Co. I; enl. Dec. 31, 1863.

THIRTIETH REGIMENT INFANTRY.

Thomas W. Browne, Co. F; enl. March 28, 1864; not taken on the rolls
June 30, 1864.

COLORED DRAFTED MEN AND SUBSTITUTES, ASSIGNED TO
FOURTEENTH REGIMENT R. I. HEAVY ARTILLERY.

Richard Harrison, Co. D; enl. Sept. 9, 1863.

Nelson Harrison, Co. D; enl. Sept. 9, 1863.

Hannibal Randall, Co. D; enl. Aug. 22, 1863 ; died, place unknown.

John N. Smith, Co. B, 21st Mass. : died during war.

Harvey F. Bellamy, Co. B, 21st Mass.

Russell P. Fellows, enl. at Bristol in Co. K, 16th Regt., early in the war;
was taken prisoner April 20, 1864.

Harvey Fellows, enl. in Co. C, 25th Regt.; was taken prisoner, but was
exchanged.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

MILO BURR.

Milo Burr was born at Torrington, Conn., Jan. 1,
1797. He was a lineal descendant of Benjamin Burr,
who settled in Hartford in 1689, and was one of the
original proprietors of that town. John Burr was the
first of the family who settled in Litchfield County.
He purchased land in Torrington, Torringford parish,
in 1747, where he kept a public-house, which is now
standing. His second son, Reuben, was a farmer,
and resided about a half-mile east of the present vil-
lage of Burrville, where he raised a large family, of
whom Milo, the immediate subject of this sketch, was
the youngest son. His early life was spent on his
father’s farm, with limited educational advantages.
His only capital was his strong arm and resolute will.
He first went to work by the month, and soon pur-
chased land where the village of Burrville now stands,
and commenced the task of making a home and for-
tune for himself. By his energy and judicious man-
agement he soon took rank among the leading busi-
ness men of his day. He purchased a large tract of
timber-land, and engaged in the lumber business, At
one time Mr, Burr had three saw-mills engaged in

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

the manufacture of lumber. He erected a dam, and
constructed what is known as the Burr reservoir, west
of the village. Other enterprises he pushed with
much energy and vigor for the public good and the
enlargement of the village. There were no sudden
accessions of wealth, but year by year the improve-
ments were made and other branches of business
established. As the timber was taken from the land
farms were made, houses erected, etc. In the loca-
tion and construction of the Naugatuck Railroad Mr.
Burr took an active part, with other leading men
along the line. Upon the completion of the road a
station and post-office were established, under the
name of Burrville. Mr. Burr lived to see quite a pre-
tentious village, bearing his own name, and of which
he was the principal owner. He died in his seventy-
sixth year, respected by all. He married Mary Skin-
ner, of Winsted, by whom he had four children, of
whom John M. is the only survivor. He was born
March 8, 1833, and resides in his father’s homestead,
which was erected in 1827, and to which he has made
substantial improvements, a view of which may be
seen in this work. John M. Burr inherited not only
the estate of his father, but in a large degree the en-
terprise and sagacity exhibited by him, and continues
the improvements, in‘ harmony with the spirit of the
founder. He has held several town offices, and rep-
resented the town in the Legislature of 1871; has
been postmaster of the village for more than twenty
years, and is one of the active representative men of
Litchfield County. He married Lavinia A., daughter
of Samuel Hurlbert, of Winchester. They have one
son, John Hurlbert, born Sept. 17, 1860.

JESSE B. ROSE.

Jesse B. Rose, son of Bela and Mary (Brockett)
Rose, was born in the town of Wolcott, Conn., Jan.
10, 1821. The grandfather of Mr. Rose was from
Branford, Conn., and his ancestors were from Massa-
chusetts, where they were among the early settlers and
influential people. Jesse B. Rose worked on his
father’s farm until he was sixteen years of age, when
he went to Bristol, where he was employed in a
woolen-mill until he was twenty-one. Soon after
that he was employed in a woolen-mill at Naugatuck
as foreman in the carding-room. He served in the
same capacity in other mills until 1849, when he came
to Wolcottville in the employment of W. R. Sladt,
of the Union Manufacturing Company. Here Mr.
Rose occupied the position of foreman of the carding-
room until 1859, when he became a stockholder and
superintendent. In 1873 he was chosen president of
the company, which position he still occupies. Mr.
Rose has been connected with the Union Manufac-
turing Company through all its changes, from its or-
ganization to the present time. He is also inter-
ested and is a stockholder in other manufacturing
enterprises of the town. Politically, Mr. Rose is a
 

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WARREN.

Republican, and has been since the organization of
the party. He has held several town offices, and rep-
resented the town in the Legislaturein 1877. He has
been twice married; his first wife was Perlina Hart,
by whom he had three sons, two of whom are now
living, Edwin E. and Willis A. His second wife was
Mrs. Harriet E. Griswold, formerly Harriet E. Hum-
phrey, of Goshen. She has one son, Frederick H., by
her former husband.

FREDERICK P. HILLS.

Deacon Frederick P. Hills was born Sept. 1, 1808,
in Goshen, and died at his residence in Torrington,
April 10, 1881, where he had resided since 1846. He is
descended from Benoni Hills, who was born in North-
ampton, Mass., in 1700. He moved to Suffield, thence
to Durham, and settled in Goshen about 1740, where
he raised a large family, of whom Medad was the fourth
child. He was known as “Colonel” Medad Hills;
was a Revolutionary soldier, and a man of note; was
a large land-owner in Winchester, where he resided.
He raised a family of five children, of whom Miles
was the youngest. He was born Aug. 31, 1766; was
twice married, first to Abigail Wilcox. After her
death he married Anne Butrick, by whom he had nine
children, viz.: Levi, born May 29, 1795; Medad,
born June 17, 1797; Abigail, born July 17, 1799;
Eben, born Oct. 8, 1801; Mary A., born Sept. 2,
1804; Frederick P., born Sept. 1, 1808; Lucy A.,
born March, 1810; Elisha, born May 23, 1812; Roxy,
born Oct. 6, 1814.

Deacon Frederick P. Hills, the immediate subject
of our sketch, married first Lucy E., daughter of John
Wetmore, of Winchester, Sept. 11, 1833. She died
Dec. 26, 1858, leaving one daughter, Lucy A., born
Sept. 7, 1841. She married Leroy Wetmore, and died
Aug. 24,1871. Mr. Hills was a second time married,
Dec. 7, 1859, to Mrs. Harriet B. Bailey, formerly Har-
riet B. Frisbe, oldest daughter of Levi Frisbe, a
prominent farmer of Litchfield.

Deacon Hills was a man well known in this part of
the county for his upright character and strict integ-
rity ; he was slow in coming to conclusions, but when
once established he was as firm as the granite hills of
Connecticut. His word was unquestioned, and his
character above reproach. He was an active and
consistent member of the Congregational Church, and
a deacon for many years. He was called to fill many
positions of trust and honor, especially as trustee to
settle estates, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem
of all who knew him.

 

‘ORSON BARBER.

Orson Barber was the youngest of five children of
Elihu Barber, and the only survivor of the family.
His grandfather was Joseph Barber, an early settler
in Windsor, Conn.

 

641

Elihu Barber was born April 19,1765. He came
to Torrington when a young man; married Jemima
North, April 19,1787. Their children were Mary,
born June 22,1793; Elihu, born Feb. 24, 1798; Je-
mima, born April 16, 1800; Elkanah, born June 25,
18038; Orson, born Noy. 6, 1806. When Elihu Barber
came to Torrington his only capital was his strong
arm and his resolute will. He became a large land-
owner, and was a man of considerable property. He
gave to each of his sons a farm, and to the daughters
an equivalent in other property. He was a man of
great physical strength and endurance. He is said
to have been drawing a load of rye from the field
with a yoke of oxen, and, going down a steep hill, the
yoke dropped from one of the oxen, whereupon he
took up the yoke and carried it, in place of the ox,
down the hill safely. Orson, the youngest of his
children, received the home-farm in Newfield, where
he now resides. He is a man of strong common
sense and good judgment, and commands the respect
of all who know him. Has always taken a deep in-
terest in the schools of his district, and for more than
thirty years has held some office on the school board.
Has been for more than forty years a member of the
Methodist Church. Mr. Barber has been twice mar-
ried, first to Roxy Ann Eggleston, in 1829. She was
born May 16, 1811; died June 29, 1840. He was
again married, Dec. 4, 1842, to Martha, daughter of
Roger Starks, of Winchester. She was born Aug. 9,
1823. Children are: by first wife, Elihu D., born
Aug. 28, 1881, died May 27, 1839; Louisa R., born
May 15, 1840, married Carlton C. Fyler, Aug. 1,
1861 (children are Carlton C., Sheridan B., and
Walter S). By the second wife Mr. Barber has one
daughter, Frances M., born April 29, 1854, married
John W. Gamwell, Nov. 28, 1874; children are Louis
J., Charles W., and Carrie F.

CHAPTER LXIV.
WARREN.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlements—Names of Settlers
—Early Marriages—Organization of Parish and 'Town—The First
Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary History—Ecclesias-
tical History—Representatives from 1786 to 1881.

Tur town of Warren lies near the centre of the
county, and is bounded as follows: on the north by
Cornwall, on the east by Litchfield, on the south by
Washington, and on the west by Kent. The surface
is hilly and mountainous, and is better adapted to
grazing than the raising of grain. The town is
watered by the Shepaug River, a branch of the
Housatonic. Lake Waramaug, a beautiful sheet of
water, and a popular place of resort, is located partly
in this town and partly in Washington.
642

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

The first settlements were made in about the year
1787. Among the pioneers were Eleazar Curtis,
Joseph Carter, Nathaniel Swift, John Brown, Benoni
Carter, Ward Eldred, Gershom Holmes, Joseph An-
drews, John Brownson, Silas Curtis, B. Carter, Sam-
uel. Whitlock, Jr., Judah Eldred, Silvester Finney,
Thomas Beeman, Philo Strong, Jr., Joseph Peters,
Ephraim Tanner, Asahel Wedy, Justus Sackett, Sol-
omon Carter, Platt Starr, Homer Sackett, Miltin Cur-
tis, Daniel Hendrick, Nathan Hopkins, Barzallia
Carter, John Finney, Lysander Curtis, William Stone
(2d), 1787, Capt. Peter Porter, A. Beeman, C. Strong,
U. Hunt, Timothy Beeman, Justice Sackett, Gershom
Holmes, Eli Spooner, Peleg Holmes, Dr. Cyrus Berry,
Elias Taylor, D. Kent, Stephen Hoit, Jabez Swift,
Bey Saunders, Lewis Swartland, Reuben Beach,
Homer Sackett, and H. N. Comstock. .

EARLY MARRIAGES,

“Benj. Hopkins, Rebeckah Goodrich, Joined in Marage May 8, 1788.

“Samuel Hopkins, son to the above Parents, Born Apl 5, 1789.

“Ephraim Hubbell & Arns Carter Joined in Marriage Oct. 15, 1789,
by Peter Starr, Pastor.

“Jonathan Hart & Lucia Clark Joined in Marrage May 2, 1790.

“Isaac Hawes & Hannah Whitock Joined in Marrage May 14, 1772.

“Liman Hawes, son to the sd Parents, born’ Apl 6, 1773.”

The first white child born in the town was Rhoda,
daughter of Stephen Paine, who came from Canter-
bury and located near the lake, on Potash Hill.

ORGANIZATION OF THE PARISH AND TOWN.

Warren originally comprised a portion of Kent, and
was organized as the Society of East Greenwich in
1750. It remained as such until 1786, when it was
constituted a town and society by itself, and was
named in honor of Samuel Warren, who fell at
Bunker Hill.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held June 27, 1786.
The following is the record:

“Ata Town meeting legally warned & held in Warren on the 27 Day
of June, A.D, 1786, In pursuance of a Resolve of the general Assembly
holden at Hartford on the 2d thursday of May, 1786, Incorporating the
Eastern part of Kent into a Distinct Town by the name of Warren, and
appointing Jedediah Hubbel, Esq", Moderator, to lead the inhabitants of
Warren to the Choice of necessary Town officers, who proceded as fol-
lows (viz.), and the people

“Made Choice of Eleazer Curtiss, Town Clerk.

“Made Choice of Capt. Joseph Carter first Selectman,

“Made Choice mr. Nathal!! Swift & John Brownson 24 & 34 do,

“ Made Choice Benoni Carter, Town Treasurer.

“ Made Choice of Ward Eldred, first Constable, and Gershom Holmes 24,

“Surveyors of Highways for the year insuing, Benoni Carter, Joseph
Androus, John Brownson, Silas Curtis, Bradock Carter, Samuel Whit-
lock, Jur, Judah Eldred, Silvester Finney, Thomas Beeman, and Philip
Strong, Jur.

“Fence viewers, Benoni Carter, Joseph Peters.

“Leather Sealer, Capt. Joseph Carter,

“Sealer of weights and measures, Benoni Carter,

“Key keeper, Ephraim Tanner.

“Voted, that Eph™ Tanner's East Barn be a Pound.

“Listers, Major Curtiss, Garshom Holmes, & Benoni Carter,

“Grand jourers, Nath" Swift, Jt., Ashel Wedg.

“The above is a true Record.
“Pr ELEAZER Curtiss, Register,

“Tithing men, Ebenezer Tanner, Luther Comstock.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

“At a Town meeting held in Warren on the 27th of June, 1786,

“ Voted, that the Select men Settle the line of premblerJation Between
this Town and the Town of Kent according to the original agreement of
the Committee appointed by this Town. Kent to ascertain the Dividing
line Between said Towns whenever the Select men of the Town Kent
shall call for a prembulation.

“The above is a true Record,
“ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.”

EXTRACTS FROM TOWN RECORDS.

“Ata Town meeting holden on the 19 day Sept. 1786, Capt, Justus
Sackett, Moderator.

“ Voted, that Capt. Joseph Carter, Capt. Justus Sackett, and Major Elea-
zer Curtiss, Be a Committee to Settle all Company accounts with Kent &
Debts that had accrued while the Tow Towns were one, and Divide all
Joint Stock upon the List agreeable to the Bill in form Constituting War-
ren into a distinct Town.

“Voted, that the Select men go & Lay out a Road from near Abel
Page’s in Litchfield till itinterceps that from Marsh Forge, and make
such other alterations from there to W™. Spooners in the Road as they
Shall think necessary at their own Discression and Defend against Major
Welch’s suit for s4 Road in the best manner.

“ Voted, that the Select men be instructed to take care of the Town's
Poor at their own Discression.

“ Voted, that Sheep Rams be contined from the 20 of Sept. to the 10th
of November from runing at Large on pain of the owners paying a fine
of Six Shilings L. m. to the Town Treasurer.

“ Pr ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.

“Ata Town Meeting Legaly warned & held the Eleventh Day Decem-
ber, a.D. 1786, Voted & made Choice of Eleazer Finney, Town Clerk.

“ Voted, that Capt. Joseph Carter be Moderator And Adjourned to thirs-
day the 14 day of Instant December at ten o’clock in the morning. De-
cember 14 Meet according to Adjournment, Reconsidered the vote
making Eleazer Finney Town Clerk and made Choice of Eleazer Curtiss
Town Clerk for the year insuing.

“ Voted, that Capt. Joseph Carter, Leiut. Nathaniel Swift, and John
Brownson be Select men for the year insuing.

“ Voted, that Ephraim Tanner be first Constable & Gershom Holmes 24,

“ Voted, that Benoni Carter be Town Treasurer.

“ Voted, that the Surveyors of Highways for the year insuing be Eleazer
Curtiss, Jut., Platt Starr, Ward Eldred, Ebenezer Tanner, Capt, Carter,
M. Luther Comstock, Joseph Hopkins, Benjamin Duning, Samuel Lettle-
field, Salmon Sackett. ~

“ Voted, that Isaac Haws & James Robins be fence viewers.

“ Voted, that Capt. Joseph Carter be Leather Sealer.

“Voted, that Ephraim Tanner be Gauger, Packer, Key keeper, and
Sealer of Measurs. PA e

“ Voted, that Gershom Holme, Ebenezer Tanner, & Ward Eldred be
Listers.

“ Voted, that Howard Fuller & Ebenezer Hye be gran jourers.

“ Voted, that John Thomas & Alexander Sackett be Tythingmen. ~

“ Voted, tha Platt Starr be Sexton.

“ Voted, to Raise three pence on the pound on ye

“ Voted, that Gershom Holmes be Collector of

“Pr ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.

 

 

“At a Town Meeting held at Warren on the 12 Day of November, A.D.
1787, for the Purpose of Chosing a Delagate to meet in Convention at
Hartford for taking into Consideration the new proposed Constitution,
Made Choice of Capt, Sackett, Moderator, and after having Largely De-
bated the matter, the question being put whether they would addopt s¢
Constitution or not, & Passed in the affirmative, 40 to 19, after wich they
made Choice of Major Eleazer Curtiss to Represent the Town in said
Convention and adjourned to a day without Date.

“Test, ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.

“Ata Legal Town Meeting held in Warren on ye 34 Day of December,
A.D. 1787, for the purpose of Chusing Town officers, After haveing Chose
Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator, Proceeded as follows and Chose the fol-
lowing gentlemen to the following offices in their order (viz):

“Major Eleazer Curtiss, Clerk Capt, Joseph Carter, 1 Select man; Mr.
Samuel Carter, 24 Do.; Mr. Ebenezer Tanner, 34 Do,

“Mr. Benoni Carter, Treasurer and first Constable,

“Nathaniel Palmer & Reuben Beach, Grandjours.

“Bleazer Curtiss, Jur, & Elisha Eldred, Tything men.

“Ebenezer Tanner, Capt. Curtiss, & John Talmadge, Listers.

“Surveyors of Highways, Alexander Sackett, Truman gilbert, Samuel
WARREN.

Weston, Samuel Whitlock, Solomon Carter, Prince Hopkins, John Fin-
ney (34), Nath" Johnson, W™ Spoone, Jur, Nath" Spoone, Reuben Beach;
fence viewers, Joseph Peters & Benoni Carter. ;
“Leather Sealer, Capt. Carter; Sealer of measurs, Eph™ Tanner; Key
keeper, Eph™ Tanner; Sexton, Platt Starr.
“ Voted, to Leave the Destricting of the Surveyors and the Care of the
poor at the Discression of the Select men.

“Test, ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.

“ Ata Town Meeting held in Warren on the 20 day of March, 1788,
Esq? Sackett, Moderator.

“ Voted, that Every Surveyor of Highways in the Town of Warren Shall
go out with all the men in His District on the Road from Abel Page’s till
it Intersects the Road that Leads from Warren to Marshes Iron Works
one Day this Spring as soon as may be Conveniant.

“ Voted, that Capt. Carter be an Agent to Carry the Town Vote to Major
Welch & See if he will withdraw his action against the Town, if not, to
take Care of it at the Court.

“ Voted, to abate on Elezer Finney’s Town Rate Bill, Nathan Wheeler's
Rate of 3s. 6d., & Daniel Page’s of 4s, 3d.

“ And to rectify two Mistakes with the Town of Kent with Respect to
the Kents Rates, & James Hucorn & amiriah Lion’s Rate being an over
Charge. *

“Test, ELEAZER Curtiss, Register.

“Ata Town meeting legally warned & held in Warren on the 13th
Day of October, 1788,

“ Voted, & made choice of Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator. Also

“ Voted, & made Choice of Gershom Holmes, Town Clark.

“ Also Voted, that James Robens & Ezekiel Palmer & Pebody Smith &
Daniel Comstock’s Town Rates be Abated.

“ Also Voted, that this meting be Desolved.

“Test, GersHom Houmes, Register.

“ Ata Town meeting legally warned & holden in Warren on the first
day December, a.p. 1788, Captain Joseph Carter, Moderator of si Meeting.

“ Voted, made Choice of Capt. Gershom Holmes, Town Clerk.

“Voted, to raise one penny half penny on the pound on the list 1788,
Peleg Holms to collect s4 Rate.

“Then proceeded & made choice of the following Gentlemen for Town
Officers for the Insuing year (viz.): ‘

“Select men, Capt. Joseph Carter, Mr. Samuel Carter, Mr, Ruben Sack-
ett; Mr. Ephraim Tanner, Town Treasurer; Joseph Peters, first Consta-
ble; Ward Eldred, 294 Do. Also Voted, & Made choice of the following
Gentlemen for surveyors of Highways (viz):

“ Misters John Brownson, Amos Fuller, Augustin Curtis, Pebody Smith,
Gershom Holmes, Peleg Brownson, Samuel Carter, Jun", Ward Eldred,
Elijah Hopkins, Truman Beeman, Isaac Wedges, Capt. Joseph Carter,
William Stone, Junr.

“ Also Made Choice of Capt. Juseph Carter, Leather sealer.

“ Algo Made Choice of Homer Sackett, Ephraim Tanner, fence Viewers.

“ Also Voted, made Choice of John Tallmade, Ward Eldred, Phinehas
Catlin, Peleg Sturtavant, Nathaniel Swift, Grt Listers.

“ Algo made Choice of Asael Wedges, Josiah Webb, Grand Juryrs.

“ Also Ephraim Tanner, Kee keeper, & Ji ohn Tallmadge, sealer of Waits
& Measures; Elisha Eldred, Packer; Elias Taylour, Sylvester Finney,
Tithing men. Also Truman Beeman, Tithing man for the Baptist Society.

“ Ago Made Choice of Peleg Holmes, Town Collector.

“ Also Voted, to Raise a penny halfpenny on the pound on the List 1788.

“ Also Voted, that there be a sign-post Erected Near the House of Elna-
than Mitchel, in Warren, in Order to get up warnings for Town & Free-
man’s Meetings.

* Also Voted, that the Selectmen act Discretionary in Districting the
surveyors of Highways.

“ Algo made choice of Nathaniel Swift, Jun, Peleg Sturtavant, Joseph
Peters, Benoni Carter, Benj. Duning, Capt. Carter, Gershom Holmes a
committee to District the Town for Schooling.

-“ Voted, that this Meting be Adjourned to the next Freeman's meting
day after Freeman’s Meting is over immediately.
“Test, GERsHOM HOLMES, Register.

“Ata Town Meting Holden by Adjournment in Warren 2224 of De-
cember, 1788, Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, made Choice of Nathaniel Swift, Jun‘, Peleg Sturtavant, Joseph
Peters, School Committee.

“ Voted, that the Select men act discretionary with Regard to the Town
Poor. :

“ Voted, that a Rate of one penny on the pound on the List of 1788 be
raised, payable in Wheet, Rye, Indian Corn, Buck wheet, & Bard Iron,

 

 

643

to be Delivered at the House of Mr. Ephraim Tanner, Receiver of s¢ Rate,
to be paid in January, a.p. 1790, at the prices Affixt to those Articles by
Mess. Joseph Peters, Peleg Sturtavant, & Nathaniel Swift, Jur, Committee
for the purpose.

“ Voted, Ephraim Tanner be Store keeper to Receive the above s1 Rate.

“ Voted, Joseph Carter be Collector for the special tax for the Town.

“ Voted, to Except the doings of the committee for Districting the Town
for Schooling,

“ Voted, that the Money Drawn from the State Treasurer in order for
Schooling be divided According to the number of Schoolars in Each
Destrict. .

“ Voted, that Simon Newcom’s Rate be abated on the Pool tax on Elea-
zer Finney’s Bill.

“ Yoted, that this Meeting be Desolved.

“ Attest, Gershom Hoimes, Register.

“ Ata Town meting holden at Warren on Monday the 7th of December,
1789, Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator of st meting, Gershom Holmes, Clerk.
Voted, & made choice of the following Gentlemen: Select men, Mess.
Samuel Carter, Ruben Sackett, John Brownson.

“ Voted, Made Choice of Mr. Ward Eldred, first constable; Mr. Ephraim
Tanner, 24 Constable.

“Surveyors, Mess. John Tallmadge, Peleg Sturtavant, Samuel Carter,
Sylvester Finney, Joseph Peters, Abel Beeman, Peleg Holmes, Josiah
Webb, Eleazer Curtis, Phinehas Catlin, Levy Palmerly, William Stone.

“Fence Viewers, Mr. Joseph Peters, Mt. Homer Sackett.

“Listers, Mess. Phinibas catlin, Joseph Peters, John Tallmadge, Peleg
Holmes, Benjamin Carter.

“Made choice of Capt. Joseph Carter, Leather sealer.

“ Grandjurers, Decon Ebenezer Tanner, M*. Phinehas Catlin.

* “tithing men, Ruben Beach, Nathaniel Johnson, M. Luther Comstock,
Joseph Carter.

“Blisha Eldred, Packer; Joshua P. Iles, sealer of Measures.

“Mr. Ephraim Tanner, kee keeper. Voted, that Mr. Samuel Carter
shall have the state money that is now in the Treasurer at five shillings
on the pound in cash, Except what the Town Owes the s4 Carter, that to
be six shillings on the pound.

“ Voted, to raise one penny on the pound on the list 1789, Payable in
Jenuary, 1791, in the same species that the tax is to be paid in the year
1790. Voted, that the tax raised on the Ratable Estate of Samuel Morris,
now Deceased, be Abated on Eleazer Finney’s Bill.

“ Voted, to adjourn this Meting toa day with out date.

“ Attest, GERsHoM Hotmes, Register.

“ Ata Town meting Legally Warné & holden in Warren at the Meting
on April the 12 day 1791.

“ Made Choice of Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, made choice of Mess. Nathaniel Swift, Peleg Sturtavant, Jo-
seph Peters, Committee to Draw the School Money. Voted, to pay out
the School Money According to the Poll. Voted, to Dissolve sd Meting.

“ Attest, GersHom Hotes, Clerk.

“ Ata Town Meting Legally warned & Holden in Warren, September
14th, 1790, Made Choice of Capt. J oseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, to Direct the Select men of the Town of Warren to act Dis-
cretionary with the Town of Kent With Regard to Alice Yong.

“ Voted, to Dissolve Said Meting.

“ Att A Town Meting Legally warn? & Holden in Warren, October 21*,
A.D. 1790.
“Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.
“ Voted, to Adjourn s4 Meting to a day without date.
“Gersnom Hoxmes, T. Clerk.

“ At a Town meting legally warné & Holden in Warren, December 64,
A.D. 1790, Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator. Proceaded made Choice of
Gershom Holmes, Town Clerk.

“ Voted, made Choice of Ephraim Tanner, Treasurer.

“Made Choice of the following Jentlemen Selectmen (viz): Capt. Jo-
seph Carter, Ms. Samuel Carter, Howard Fuller.

“Constables, Made Choice of M». Benoni Carter, Nat. Spooner, in
room of Ward Eldred, Excused.

“Voted, made choice of Joseph Peters, Nathaniel Johnson, Grand
Jurors. ;

“ Voted, made choice of Elisha Eldred, Salmon Sackett, Tithingmen.

“ Surveyors of Highways, Mssr. Amos Swan, Thomas Beeman, Truman
Gilbert, Elisha Eldred, Elius Taylor, Judar Eldred, James Robins, Nat.
Spooner, Pebody Smith, Ebin Strong, Joseph Carter, Elnathan Palmer.

“ Voted, that the Select Men District the Surveyors.
644

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“ Voted, made choice of Joseph Peters, Benjamin Carter, James Robins,
Isaac Hawes, Peleg Holmes, Doc. Eb» Beeman, Listers.

“Made Choice of Nathaniel Swift, Esqt, Joseph Peters, School Com-
mittee.

“ Capt, Joseph Carter, Leather Sealer; Joseph Peters, Homer Sackett,
fence Viewers; Mt. Ephraim Tanner, keeper.

“ Voted, that there be a District formed for Schooling Called by the
name of Town hill District, taking in Wido Pandos East line to Thad.
Peets, then to Kents, then to Isaac Wedges, then to Augustin Curtises,
then to the first Bounds. ;

“ Voted, to Reconsider the penny rate Raised on the list 1789, payable
in January, 1791.

“ Voted, to Direct the Select men to lay out a Highway from James
Robbinses to Plat Starrs.

“ Voted, to Adjourn said Meting to day without date.

“Ata Town Meting Legally warnd and Holden in Warren on Monday
the Eleventh day of April, 1791, Made choice of Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voled, to prefer a Memoral to the General Assembly to see if the As-
sembly will giv liberty to the Town of Warren to Tax them selves, in
order to do their Highway work.

“ Voted, to send Esq. Swift as agent to transact the Business of said
Memoral.

“ Voted, tu giv liberty to Doct. Syrus Berry to set up anoculation under
the Direction of the Athority & Select men of the Town of Warren.

“ Voted, to Dissolve this Meting.

“GersHom Hotmes, Town Clerk.

“Ata Town Meting Legally warn’d & holden in Warren the 5th day of
December, 1791.

“Proceaded to Business & Made Choice of Mt. Samuel Carter, Modera-
tor. Also made Choice of Gershom Holmes, Town Clerk ; said Holmes
being absent, Mr. Ephraim Tanner was chosen Clerk Protemry.

“Then proceaded & made choice of Joseph Carter, Samuel Carter, &
Howard Fuller, Select men.

“ Voted, to Excuse Mr. Samuel Carter from Serving on his own Desire
as Select man; then made choice of Mt. Ebent Tanner for the Third
Select man.

“ Voted, & made choice of Ephraim Tanner, Town Treasurer.
made choice of Ephraim Tanner & Nat. Spooner, Constables.

“ Voted, & made choice of the following Persons for surveyors of High-
ways (viz):

“Isaac Hawes, M. Luther Comstock, Milton Curtis, Benoni Carter,
Salmon Brownson, Augustin Curtiss, Adouijah Carter, Asael Wedge, Jo-
seph Carter, Jur, Nat. Jonson, Joseph Bunnel, Truman Beeman, Isaac
Wedge.

“Made choice of Alexander Sackett, Thomas Beeman, Grand Jurors,

“Made choice of Josiph Peters & Homer Sackett, Fence Viewers.

“ Voted, & made choice of the following gentlemen for Lysters (viz):
Benoni Carter, James Robins, John Brownson, Peleg Holmes, Benjamin
Carter.

“Made choice of Joseph Carter, Leather sealer.

“Voted, made choice of Phinihas Peck, Ebent Tanner, Silas Curtiss,
Asael Wedge, Tithingmen.

“Made choice of John Tallmadge, sealer of waits and Measurs, & Eph,
Tanner, kee keeper.

“ Voted, to raise A Rate of one penny on the pound on the list 1791 and
made choice of Mr. Nat. Spooner, Town Collector. Made choice of Peleg
Sturtavant, Nathaniel Swift, & Joseph Peters, Committee to Draw the
School money from the State Treasurer. Also,

“Made choice of Elijah Hopkins, W™, Hitchcock, Amos Swan, Platt
Starr, Peleg Sturtavant, Nat, Swift, Elias Taylor, Peleg Holmes, Committee
to Draw the Money for Each District. Also made choice of the Last
mentioned Committee to Regulate the Several Districts for Schooling
& to Report to the Meting their Doings Monday next Insuing.

“Voted, that Samuel Whitlock be anext to the North West District for
Schooling. Voted, to adjourn this Meting to Next Monday, to be At-
tended Immediately after Suciety Meting.

“Gersiom Hoimes, Town Clerk.
“ Attest, Epuraim Tanner, Clerk Protemry.

Also

“Town Meting Opened Acording to Adjournment.
“Voted, made choice of Platt Starr & Daniel Beeman, sextons.
“Voted, to Desolve this meeting.
“Gersuom Hotmes, Town Clerk.
“Eru™, Tanner, Clerk Protemry.

“Ata Town Meting Hold in Warren, December 3rd, a.p, 1792,
“Mr, Samuel Carter, Moderator; Gershom Holmes, Town Clerk.

 

“Capt. Joseph Carter, Mrssrs. Howard Fuller, Eben™ Tanner, Select
men. Made choice of Mt. Samuel Spooner, first Constable; Mr. Platt
Starr, 224 Constable.

“Listers, Mrssrs. Peleg Holmes, Lysander Curtiss, John Tallmadge,
Judah Eldred, Ebent Beeman.

“Grand Juriman, Mrssrs. Benj. Carter, Truman Beeman; Tithingmen,
Mrssrs. Samuel Eldred, Even Strong, Park Beeman.

“ Capt. Eph™ Tanner, Treasurer. Voted, to Excuse Capt. Tanner on his
Own Kequest. Made choice of Gershom Holmes, Treasurer, in room of
sd Tanner, Excused.

“ Surveyors, Mrssrs. David Taylor, Homer Sackett, Lysaunder Curtiss,
Berzillia Carter, Samuel Carter, Jut, Nat. Spooner, Samuel Morriss, Nathan
Aulgar, Elias Taylor, Luis Sweatland, Derius Kent.

“Keykeeper, Capt. Eph™ Tanner.

“ Sealer of Leather, Capt. Joseph Carter.

“Fence Viewers, Homer Sackett, Abel Fuller.

“Sealer of waits, Joseph Peters.

“Sealer of Measurs, Jolin Tallmadge.

“Voted, that the Select men be Authorized to act Discressionary with
Regard to the Town poor. Also to Destrict the Surveyors of Highways.

“Made choice of Mr. Elisha Eldred, packer.

“ Committee to draw School Money, Mr#srs, Ephraim Tanner, Nat. Swift,
Nat, Spooner.

“Made choice of Mr. Platt Starr, Town Collector. Voted, to abate Mr.
Benj. Saunders’ Town rate of two shillings & 1d.,—2s. 1d.

“Also Voled, to Abate A rate against Peter Fleming of 1s. 0.

“Voted, to give Doctor Heman N. Comstock Liberty to set up a pest
House where & under the Direction of the Select men.

“ Voted, to give James Robins fourteen Dollars in order to pay Doctor
Crouse, & then Voted to Reconsider said Vote, & Voted to Leve it with the
Select men to settle the matter at Discression.

“Voted, to leve it Descresionary with the Select men to Lay out a road
Acrose Town Hill to Pratt’s Iron Works.

“ Voted, to Dissolve said Meting.

“GersHom Homes, Town Clerk.

“Atta Town Meting Legally Warn4 & Holden in Warren on Monday
the Eighth day of April, a.p. 1793.

“Made Choice of Joseph Carter, Moderator of sd Meting.

“Voted, made choice of Messrs. Ruben Sackett, Peleg Sturtavant, How-
ard Fuller, Nat. Swift, Joseph Peters, Samuel Carter, Committee to Agree
with Revt. Peter Starr for a piece of land in front of the Meting House in
way of Exchange. Voted, to Adjourn sd Meting for ten minutes. Opened
according to Adjornment.

“Voted, to Except the doings of st Committee.

“Voted, to adjourn s4 Meting to a day without Date.

“GersHom Horimes, Town Clerk.

“Ata Town Meting Legally Warn4 & Holden in Warren on Monday
the 6th day of May, 1793.
“Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.
“Voted, to Discontinue the Small pox Till further orders.
“ Attest, GersHom Hoxmes, Town Clerk.

“Ata Town Meting legally warned & holden in Warren, September
16th, 1783,
“Made Coice of Joseph Carter, Moderator.
“Yoted, to Establish the road that was laid out a crose Town hill, so
called, in December, 1792.
“Voted, to Dissolve s4 Meting.
“GersHom Hotmes, Town Clerk.

“Mr, Nathan Holmes Agrees to give, in way of exchange, a new road
from Mr. Saunders to his House & so past his house till it comes in to the
old road. Done in Town Meting.

“Attest, GERsHom Hoxmes, T. Clerk.

“Ata Town meting Holden in Warren, December 224, 1793, Nathaniel
Swift, Esqt, Moderator ; Gershom Holmes, Clerk.

“Made choice of Mrssrs. Joseph Carter, Howard Fuller, Ebenezer Tan-
ner, Selectmen.

“Voted, Made choice af Platt Starr, Lysaunder Curtis, Constables.

“Grandjurors, Eben Strong, Samuel Eldred.

“Listers, Mrssrs. Juder Eldred, Lysaunder Curtis, Nathaniel Spooner,
Luther Comstock, Samuel Hawes.

“Tithingmen, Augustin Curtiss, Benjamin Sackett, George Thomson.

“Fence viewers, Samuel Weston, Benjamin Sackett.

“Voted, made choice of Capt, J. Carter, Leather sealer; Capt. Yanner,
Kee keeper. made choice of Elisha Eldred, packer.
WARREN.

“Sextons, Daniel Beeman, Platt Starr.

“Voted, to adjorn s¢ Meting to Wednes day the 11th Day of Inst. De-
cember.

“GeRsHom Hotmes, Clerk.

“December 11th, Town meting Opené according to Adgournment.
Proceaded & made choice of Gershom Holmes, Town Treasurer.

“Voted, & made choice of Nat. Swift, Esq", Mrssrs. Eph™, Tanner, Platt
Starr, School Committee; Mr. Lysaunder Curtis, Town Collector.

“Surveyors of Highways, Mrssrs. Ward Eldred, Ruben Beach, John
Tallmadge, Cyrus Berry, Elijah Hopkins, Augustin Curtiss, Eben Strong,
Austin Bishop, Isaac Wedge, John Cummins, Josiah Webb, Caleb Towrys,
Nathaniel Johnson, Theral Cilbourn,

“Voted, to Authorise the Select men to Destrict the Surveyors.

“Voted, to raise three farthings on the pound on the List one thousen
seven Hundred & Ninty three, to Defray Town charges the Insuing year.
then

“ Voted, to dissolve s4 Meting. “‘GersHom Hoimes, Regt.

“September 15th, 1794.

“At a Town Meting Holden in Warren, Opened Immediately after
Freeman’s Meting, According to the Warning on s¢ Day, Made Choice of
Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator, then Adjourn’ s¢ Meting to A day without
Date.

“Gershom Homes, Town Clerk.

“At A Town meeting Legally Warn’d & holden in Warren on Monday
the 1st day of December, 1794. .

“Capt. Joseph Carter Chosen Moderator.

“The following persons Were then Chosen by the freemen to the sev-
eral offices, as followith, viz. :

“Mess. Joseph Carter, Judah Eldred, & Joseph Peters, Select Men.

“John Tallmadge, Town Clerk & Town Treasurer.

“Messrs, Lysander Curtis, Samuel Eldred, Constables.

“Messrs, Benjamin Sacket, Ephraim Tanver, Asahel Fuller, Asahel
Wedge, John Finney, Samuel Eldred, Abner Everitt, Stephen Strong,
Cyrus Berry, Benjamin Hopkins, Nathan Algar, Jacob Cumings, Stephen
Wedge, for Surveyors of Highways.

“Mess®. Benjamin Sackett & Samuel Weston, Fence Viewers.

“Messrs, Martin Luther Comstock, Nathaniel Spooner, Samuel Haws,
Reuben Beach, Alex® Sacket, Listers.

“Samuel Eldred, Collector of the Town Rate.

“Capt. Joseph Carter, Leather Sealer.

“Platt Starr & Peleg Holmes, Grand Jurors.

“ William Hitchcock, M. Luther Comstock, Isaac Wedges, Tithing men.

“¥#lisha-Eldred, Packer.

“Joseph Burnet, Sealer of Weights.

“John Tallmadge, Sealer of Measures.

“Ephraim Tanner, Key keeper.

“Platt Starr, Sexton.

“Voted, To raise a Town Rate of Three Farthings on the pound on the
List of one thousand seven hundé & Ninety four, to defray Town Charges.

“ Voted, That the Select Men take Charge of the Burying ground near
the meeting House, for the purpose of puting it in fence & repair, the
front next to the Street to have a pine board fence, with Sills & Braces.

“ Voted, That the old Highway leading from Mr. Joseph Bennet’s to
Mr. David Taylor's, from a few Rods North of s¢ Bennet’s until it comes
to a point where the New Road, leading by Jabez Swift’s, joins to s1 old
Highway, Be Sold by the Select Men, The avails to pay for the s1 New
Road, or be for the Benefit of the Town.

“ Voted, That Daniel Page’s Town Rate on Lysander Curtis’s Rate bill
be Abated.

“ Voted, That Nathaniel Swift, Ebenezer Tanner, & Platt Starr be a
Committee to draw the School money.

“ Adjourned Sini Dei.

“Test, Joun TALLMADGE, Reg".

“Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d and holden in Warren on Mon-
day the 4th day May, 1795.

“Lt, Samuel Carter Chosen Moderator.

“ Voted, that all the Votes passed last December respecting the burying
ground be reconsider’d.

“ Voted, that the Select Men be directed to apply for and obtain a Deed
of the burying ground, near the meeting house, of the owners of the
Same, and give a lease of the improvement of the Same to the Rev4 Peter
Starr, his heirs and Assigns, upon obtaining 84 Deed, Under such restric-
tions as shall be agreed on by the Revé Peter Starr & the s4 Selectmen,
& when this business is so finish’d, the Selectmen pe directed then to
build a good Stone Wall in front of s¢ Burying ground.

‘adjourn. “Test, JoHN TALLMADGE, Town Clerk.

 

645

“Ata Town Meeting Legally warn’d and holden in Warren on Mon-
day the Seventh day of December, 1795.

“Samuel Carter Chosen Moderator,

“Voted, To purchase the highway through William Spooner’s Land as
appris’d by Messts. Eli Thompson and Daniel Beebe, viz., at £8 0.

“The following appointments were made:

“Messrs, Lt. Samuel Carter, Capt. Peleg Sturtavant, & Lt. Ebenezer
Tanner, Select Men.

“John Tallmadge, Town Clerk & Town Treasurer.

“Samuel Eldred, Reuben Beach, Constables.

“Nathaniel Spooner, Milton Curtis, Grand Jurors.

“Cyrus Berry, Alexander Sacket, Abel Fuller, William B. Spencer,
Levi Shove, Seth Kent, John Thomas, David Webb, Benjamin Carter,
Eben Strong, Asa Turney, Josiah Webb, Nathaniel Lyon, Jeremiah Giles,
Surveyors of Highways.

“Samuel Weston, Benjamin Sacket, Fence Viewers.

“Nathaniel Spooner, M. Luther Comstock, Samuel Haws, Reuben
Beach, Alex? Sacket, Listers.

“Reuben Beach, Collector of Town Taxes.

“Capt. Joseph Carter, Leather Sealer.

“Salmon Brunson, Joseph Bennet, Benjamin Saunders, Tithing men.

“Flisha Eldred, Wheeler Gillet, Jun", Packers.

“Capt. Joseph Carter, Key keeper.

“Platt Starr, Daniel Beeman, Sextons.

“ Voted, that Capt. Joseph Carter’s Barn Yard be considered as a Pound
for the Current Year.

“ Voted, To lay and Collect a tax of half a penny on the pound on the
list of 1795.

“ Voted, To authorize & empower the Authority & Selectmen to make
the Necessary Abatements on Samuel Eldred’s Rate Bill.

“ Adjourned.

“Test, Joun TALLMADGE, Register.

“ Ata Town Meeting Legally warn’d & holden at Warren on Monday
the 11th day of April, 1796.

“Nathaniel Swift, Esqr, Moderator.

“ Voted, That Moses Eldred be appointed a Surveyor for the North Dis-
trict, in the Lieu of John Thomas, Removed.

« Justus Sacket, Esqt, Reuben Sacket, Joseph Peters, Samuel Carter, &
John Tallmadge are request to Confer with Jabez Swift respecting the
Highway by his House.

“ Adjourn’d. Test, JoHN TALLMADGE, Regt.

“Ata Town Meeting held in Warren by Legal Warning on Monday
the 19th day of Sept, 1796, Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, That Lt, Samuel Carter, John Tallmadge, and Adanijah Carter
bea Committee to examine into the propriety of Laying out a Road from
from this place through Washington to Derby & New Haven, & Report to
the Select-Men; if in fav‘ of s¢ Road’s being Laid out, then the Select-
men are Requested to Call on the Select-men of Washington to Lay out
S4 Road where it passes through S¢ Town.

“ Voted, That the Above S4 Committee be requested to View the Road
Leading from John Finney’s to Stephen Strong’s, & Report to the Town
meeting whether alterations in S¢ Road are necessary or not.

“ Adjourn’d.
“Test, Joun TALLMADGE, Register.

« Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d & holden at Warren, October 31,
1796.

“Capt, Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, to postpone the further consideration of the propriety & expe-
diency of laying out a Road through the South East part of this Town,
from College farms to Washington line, Until the Annual Meeting in De-
cember Next.

“ Adjourn’d. |
“Test, JOHN TALLMADGE, Register.

“Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d & holden at Warren on the 5th
day of December, 1796.

“Capt. Joseph Carter, Moderator.

“The following appointments were made:

«Lt, Samuel Carter, Capt. Joseph Carter, J udah Eldred, Select-men.

« John Tallmadge, Town Clerk and Town Treasurer.

“Homer Sacket, Platt Starr, Constables.

“David Taylor, Josiah Webb, Salmon Sackett, Amos Swan, Neziah
Bliss, Augustine Curtis, Samuel Weston, Stephen Blake, John Tallmadge,
Peabody Smith, Eben Strong, Levi Palmerlee, Surveyors of Highways.

“Samuel Weston, Benj Sacket, Fence Viewers.

“Samuel Haws, Salmon Sacket, Samuel Eldred, Joseph Bennet, Abner

Everett, Listers.
646

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“Platt Starr, Town Rate Collector.

“Capt, Joseph Carter, Leather Sealer & Key Keeper.

“Solomon Carter, Samuel Carter, Junt, Grand Jurors.

“ Lysander Curtis, Theral Kilborn, Tything-men.

“Tibbels Baldwin, Packer.

“ Voted, To Allow the Widow Green Twelve Dollars in full for the Dam-
age she sustain’d in her furniture & Effects at the Bridge Neare Moses
Hawley's.

“Voted, That Benjamin Sacket, Nathaniel Spooner, Thomas Beeman,
& Joseph Peters be a Committee, with the Authority & Select men to Dis-
trict the Town for Highway work, to remain until revoak’d by the Town.

'“ Voted, To Raise or Lay a Tax of one penny on the Pound on the list
of Augt.

“ Voted, To Abate David Hitchcock’s Rate of 1s. & William Hitchcock’s
Rate of 1s. 1d. on Reuben Beach’s Ratebill.

“ Voted, To pay Mt. Samuel Eldred for Warning a Meeting of the School
Society, the demand to be Liquidated & Allowed by the Select-men.

“ Voted, To Accept of the Road lately laid out by Samuel Carter, John
Tallmadge, & Adanijah Carter, as Committee, near Stephen Ferris’, as
an Highway.

“Test, Jon TALLMAD.A:E, Register.

“Ata Town meeting Legally Warn’d & holden in Warren, Feb’y 9th,
1797.

“Samuel Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, To give Nine pence for every Crow that is Killed within the
limits of this town, from this time to the first day of July next, & the
Head thereof delv4 to the Town treasurer.

“Test, EBENEZER TANNER, Clerk Pro Tem.

“Ata Town meeting Legally warn’d & holden at Warren, April 10¢,
1797.

“Samuel Carter, Moderator.

“Voted, That this Town will lay out a Road from the Forks of the
Road Eastwardly from Capt. Abner Averitt’s, on the South Side of the
Swamp, Near Bea brook, to Washington line.

“ Voted, To Apoint Ebenezer Tanner a Surveyor for s¢ Road, & to super-
intend the laying out the work on s4 Road, included ina Subscription for
that purpose.

“ Voted, to Refer to the Selectmen the propriety of Abating the Rates
of Joseph Crofut on Platt Starr’s Rate bill.

“ Voted, To give Liberty to the Widow Sarah Fuller to build an House
on the High Way, the East Side of the Road, about Northeast from John
Brunson’s Dwelling house, where the Ceasar house stood.

“ Voted, to Adjourn.

“Test, JOHN TALLMADGE, Clerk,

“Ata Town meeting Legally warn’d and holden in Warren on the 204
day of May, 1797.

“Voted, That they will Reconsider the Vote that was pass’d in Town
meeting the 10th day of April last, which Vote was to lay out a Road from
the Forks of the Road Eastwardly from Capt. Abuer Everett's to Wasb-
ington line.

“Test, NatH! Spooner, Clerk Pro Tem,

“Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d & holden at Warren on the 25th
day of Sept, 1797.

“ Justus Sacket, Esqt, Moderator.

“* Voted, to Direct the Select Men to make Such alterations in the Road
between Capt. Everitt’s & the four Roads East of s4 Everitt's as they shall
think best, provided the same can be done without Expense to the Town.

“ Voted, To direct the Select Men to lay out a Road from the Crotch of
the Road below Joseph Peters’ House, thence Southerly through sd Pe-
ters’ & Asahel Widg’s Land, & by 84 Widg’s House through the College
land to the Road leading by W™, B. Spencer's.

“ Adjourn’d,

“Test, Joun TaLumaner, Clerk.

“ Ata Town Meeting Legally warn'd & holden at Warren, Decr, 4th, 1797,

“Samuel Carter, Moderator.

“The following persons were appointed to office:

“Lt. Samuel Carter, Judah Eldred, Peleg Holmes, Select Men.

“John Tallmadge, Town Clerk & Town Treasurer.

“Platt Starr, Josiah Finney, Constables.

“Joseph Burnet, Augustine Curtis, Grand Jurors.

“Samuel Carter, Junt, Nathaniel Swift, Esqr, Benjamin Sacket, Daniel
Hines, Solomon Carter, Theral Kilborn, Nathaniel Johnson, Nathan Al-
gar, John Williams, Asahel Widge, Benjamin Swan, Jehiel Kilborn, Ly-
sander Curtis, Abner Everett, Neziah Bliss, Isaac Wedge, Surveyor of
Highways.

 

“Samuel Weston, Benjamin Sacket, Fence Viewers.

“Samuel Eldred, Joseph Bennet, Abner Everett, Howard Fuller, An-
thony P. Hopkins, Listers.

“Josiah Finney, Collector Town Rate.

“ Howard Fuller, Leather Sealer.

“ Amos Strong, James Beardslee, Tything Men.

“Tibbels Baldwin, Packer,

“James Beardslee, Key keeper, & his Barn-Yard & Stable a Pound.

“Platt Starr, Daniel Beeman, Sextons.

“ Voted, to Abate Six Shillings for Sam! Eldred.

“ Voted, To Raise a Rate of Five Mills on the Dollar on the List of 1797,

“ Voted, to Direct the Select Men to lay out a Road to the Mill Across
Capt. Tanner’s & Mr. Andrus’s Land, from the Highway East of Capt,
Tanner's, If they think it expedient.

“ Voted, to give Liberty to the Inhabitants of the Town to Erect Sab-
Lath Day Houses, or Horssheds, on the Sides of the Highway Near the
meeting House, under the Direction of the Select Men.

“ Adjourn’d Sine Dei.

“Joun TALLMADGE, Clerk.

“Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d & holden at Warren on Monday
the 12th day of March, 1798.

“Samuel Carter, Moderator.

“ Voted, To appoint a Committee to examine the ground & Report the
Practibility & propriety of laying out a Road from the Centre of this
Town, or Near Parson Starr’s, to the Southerly part of the Town, so as to
accomodate the Road leading to New Milford & Washington, & Report to
this Meeting at the time to which it may be adjourn’d.

“ Voted, That Nathaniel Swift, John Tallmadge, Joseph Peters, Adanijah
Carter, Ebenezer Tanner, Ashel Wedge, Cyrus Berry, Abner Everett,
Ward Eldred, & Platt Starr, With the Select Men, be a Committee for the
purposes above express’d. (Meet the 1st thursday, April next, at Platt
Starr's.)

“ Voted, To give Liberty to the Physicians of this Town to inoculate for
the Small Pox any of the Inhabitants that may wish to take it, under
the direction of the Authority & Select-men, for one year from this Date.
Also the Inhabitants of any other Town, who may obtain permission
therefore from the Select-men.

“ Voted, To adjourn until Freeman’s Meeting day, in April next, to be
Open’d immediately after Freeman’s Meeting.

“Test, JOHN TaLimanGE, Town Clerk.

“At an adjourn'd Town Meeting April 9th, 1798.

“ Voted, that Jacob Cumings be a Surveyor highways the insueing year
in the lieu of Benjamin Swan, who has Sold his farm & expects to leave
this Town.

“ Voted, to discontinue the Small Pox in this town from this date.

“ Adjourn’d Sine Dei

““JoHN TaLLMsDGE, Town Clerk.

“Ata Town Meeting Legally Warn’d & Holden at Warren on Monday
the 3rd day of December, 1798.

“Nathaniel Swift, Esquire, Moderator.

“John Tallmadge chosen town clerk,

“ Voted, to appoint

“Samuel Carter, Judah Eldred, Peleg Holmes, Select Men.

“John Tallmadge, Town Treasurer.

“Josiah Finney, Benj» Carter, Constables.

“Samuel Weston, Adanijah Carter, Fence Viewers.

“Darius Carter, Joseph Taylor, Arnold Saunders, James Kidney, Jacob
Cumins, Junt, Timothy Palmerlee, Matthew Algar, Jun", Joseph Bennet,
Josiah Finney, Nath! Spooner, Peabody Smith, Stephen Strong, Anthony
P. Hopkins, Joseph Peters, Newton J. Morris, Milton Curtis, Surveyors
of Highways.

“Joseph Peters, Anthony P. Hopkins, Platt Starr, Josiah Finney,
Arnold Saunders, Listers.

“ Benjamin Carter, Collector Town Tax.

“Howard Fuller, Leather Sealer.

“Salmon Sacket, Jabez Swift, Grand Jurors.

“Samuel Carter, Jun, Joseph Taylor, Tithing Men.

“Platt Starr & Daniel Beeman, Sextons.

re Haward, Reconsider’d.

“Tibels Baldwin, Packer.

“Solomon Carter, Key-keeper, & his Barn Yard a Pound.

“Isaac Wedge, Key-keeper, & his Barn Yard a Pound.

“Benjamin Carter & Rbent Tanner are appointed a Committee to Draw
the school money of the State.

“ Voted, to Raise a Tax of three Mills on the Dollar on List of 1798.

 
‘NNO ‘MOLONINSVM “SSMCHEVOM "HH AUNEW JO ZOnzAaSay

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WARREN.

a“ Voted, That one Sett of the Laws of the United States, & one of the
Statute Law of this State, be circulated in the Town for the use of the
Inhabitants, to be drawn out, one Vol. at a time, by one person, & re-
turn’d within one month from the Drawing. ;

““ Voted, to Adjourn’d until Freeman’s Meeting in April Next, then to
be open’d at this place after s4 Meeting.

“Test, Jonw Tartmance, Clerk.”
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.*

“Six years previous to the organization of this
church an ecclesiastical society was formed here, in
July, 1750, called the Society of East Greenwich. It
was a part of the town of Kent. In fact, it is said
that the town of Kent was first settled in this part in
1737, and that the first white child in that town was
born within our limits. This first child, born in 1738,
seems to have been quite a historical character. Her
father, Mr. Stephen ‘Paine, came from Canterbury
and located near the lake, on Potash Hill. His
daughter Rhoda was not only the first in point of
time, but she was also one’of the first in the order of
strength, being, as the story goes, ‘able to lift a barrel
of cider into a cart.’

“This society remained a part of Kent until May,
1786, when it was constituted a town and society by
itself, receiving its name after Gen. Warren, who fell
so valorously in the battle of Bunker Hill.

“The church was organized in 1756, with a mem-
bership of eighteen, twelve males and six females.
The first pastor, ordained on the 29th of June, 1757,
at which time the church was admitted into the
Litchfield Consociation, was Rev. Silvanus Osborn, a
graduate of Princeton College in 1754. He is spoken
of by his successors as being an orthodox, plain,
sensible preacher, and a man of eminent piety. He
married Miss Abigail, the daughter of Mr. Stephen
Noble, of New Milford. His widow married Rev.
Jeremiah Day, of New Preston, and was the mother
of four sons and one daughter. The daughter died
young. The illustrious President Day, of Yale Col-
lege, was one of the sons. Mr. Osborn’s salary was
to be thirty pounds for the first year, to increase, until
the fourth year it was to be fifty pounds, payable in al-
most anything.

’ “This church had no house of worship until eleven
years after Mr. Osborn’s settlement. In the mean time
they met for worship in private houses, and especially
in a school-house, then standing on the hill beyond
Deacon F. A. Curtiss’. The first meeting-house was
raised in May, 1768, and completed the next year.
It stood a little to the east of the present building,
with doors on three sides, and was a very plain struc-
ture, as became the times. It had no steeple and no
chimney and no paint. It hada high pulpit, with
the mysterious sounding-board still higher. The
seats were in the pew form, and the occupants faced
one another, as in a modern omnibus. The building
of such a house, plain as it was, was a great work for
such a people, few in number and very limited in re-

* Condensed from a historical address delivered at Warren, July 23,
1876, by Rev. William Elliott Bassett.

 

647

sources, with everything to do. The fathers had no
church-building societies to call upon for help. They
must help themselves, and they did, and the Lord
blessed them.

“Mr. Osborn was succeeded by Rev. Peter Starr,
who was ordained pastor March 18, 1772. The church
was then composed of fifty-two members. Mr. Starr
was the youngest son of Samuel and Abigail Starr;
he was born in Danbury, September, 1744, and gradu-
ated at Yale College in 1764. He studied theology
with Rev. Mr. Brindsmade, in Washington, and Dr.
Bellamy, in Bethlehem, and was licensed by the
Fairfield East Association in 1769. Before coming
to Warren he preached (as a ‘ candidate,’ it may be)
in Danbury, New Canaan, Roxbury, New Milford,
Greenfield, Winchester, and Morris. He was heard
here first Sept. 21, 1771, and preached twenty-two
Sabbaths previous to his ordination.

“Mr. Starr,” says Mr. Bassett, “left behind some
manuscripts, which I have had an opportunity to look
over. Among them is a book in which he kept an
account of his expenditures during the years preced-
ing his settlement, and which is interesting as show-
ing very marked changes to have taken place since
that day. While ministers of our time have some ex-
penditures which the fathers were saved from, we
have some advantages in this respect over them. For
example: this young candidate for the ministry in
1770 charges himself with having paid ‘one pound
and fifteen shillings (about nine dollars) for a wig.’
Not only was this wig a pretty expensive article to
purchase, it also cost a good deal to keep it in order.
Quite occasionally he puts down in the debtor column,
‘For dressing my wig, fourpence.’ Quite likely,
however, the dignity gained well compensated for the
expenditure. We find other charges still more fre-
quent. For example: ‘One quart of rum, one shil-
ling twopence;’ ‘one quart of rum, eightpence;’’
‘one quart of rum, tenpence.’ Whether the ‘rum’
in these cases varied in quality with the price, or the
young preacher took his refreshment at a more fash-
ionable bar at sometimes than at others, does not
appear. As he traveled about with his horse he
would stop and feed, and then there would be a
charge ‘for oats and flip, fivepence.’ This use of
liquors was no peculiarity of Mr. Starr’s, as we all
know. Everybody in those days used them, as we
use tea and coffee. They were among the prominent
things always provided for, every public entertain-
ment. It may be doubted whether an ordination
took place in the last century without a free use of
such drinks. This habit continued through about
one quarter of this century, when a more excellent
way was learned. When Mr. Starr built his house in
1786, which is still standing, a cupboard was provided
for the keeping of liquors (as can now be seen). He
lived, however, to see the. time when that cupboard
could be at liberty for other purposes, and to do very
brave battle in the cause of temperance.
648

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

“Mr. Starr died July 17, 1829, aged eighty-five.

“ He had lived to preach his half-century sermon,
and to sustain the sacred office seven years after
that. Fifty-two years its undivided responsibilities and
labors rested upon him. He outlived every one of
those who were members of the church when he
came among them.

“Mr. Starr’s first wife was Sarah Robbins, daughter
of a clergyman in Branford, and sister of Mr. Rob-
bins, fifty-two years pastor in Norfolk. Four of their
children preceded him into the other world; five sur-
vived him and lived honored and useful lives. He
was a member of the corporation of Yale College from
1818 to 1817. He made three missionary tours into
Vermont in 1794 and ’95, twice with Mr. Robbins,
of Norfolk, and once Mr. Hooker, of Goshen, accom-
panied him. He married, for his second wife, the
widow of Rey. John Stevens, of Massachusetts, daugh-
ter of Elijah Smith, of Vermont.”

THE REVOLUTION.

“Karly in the ministry of Mr. Starr the struggle of
the Revolution came on. While no utterances of his
have come down to us, that he gave to it his warm
sympathy we need no other evidence than his own
training and character. This town was largely repre-
sented in the activities of that holy strife. Eleazar
Curtiss was a major in the service; Joseph Carter
and Peleg Sturtevant were captains; Deacon Ebene-
zer Tanner, Samuel Carter, and Nathaniel Swift were
lieutenants. Besides them, Augustine and Lysander
Curtiss, Deacon Fowler, Philip and Eben Strong,
George Batterson, William James ( colored), Chaun-
cey Dennison, and John Holloway are known to have
been connected with the army, and there were doubt-
less others. Of the particulars of this service I hare
learned but little.
battle at Danbury, and caught Gen. Wooster as he
fell from his horse in that battle. No one that
knows to what hardships those fathers had accus-
tomed themselves will doubt that they did good ser-
vice in those days that ‘tried men’s souls,’

“The house of worship, which was pretty new when
Mr. Starr first preached here, showed signs of age be-
fore he did. It became, in process of time, very much
dilapidated, occasioning the remark of one that he
‘had heard often of the Lord’s house, but never be-
fore of the Lord’s barn!’ The aged pastor urged to a
rebuilding. His text on one occasion was the one so
often used in similar circumstances, Hageai i. 4:
“Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your ceiled
houses, and this house lie waste? As a result, in
1818 the present edifice was commenced, and was fin-
ished in 1820. It was patterned after the church in
Norfolk, which had been recently built.

“While speaking of this new house, I will notice
a very interesting memorial of that day which has
come to us. The cushion and connections in that
new church were furnished by the ladies, and they

Maj. Eleazar Curtiss was in the.

 

sewed up in the cushion, for the benefit of posterity,
a paper, of which the following is a copy:

“Tn the year of our Lord 1820, under the Presidency of Monroe, the
Governorship of Oliver Wolcott, who was the first toleration Governor
of Connecticut, and the 48th year of the ministry of Peter Starr, was
built a new church in Warren, and this cushion made and placed in it
on the first day of June, the day of dedication. When this cushion shall
haye turned into rags, then shall this paper be discovered, which is de-
signed to excite in the hearts of the grandchildren and great-grandchil-
dren of those who, to their laud be it spoken, unitedly subscribed $30,
and purchased therewith this cushion and branches for the pulpit.
Then, too, will it be known that this cushion was made by the hands
of three young virgins, whose names will be had evermore in tender
remembrance: P. and F. Talmadge, and S. Saunders.’

“The first two of these ‘virgins’ afterwards had
husbands whose labors had to do with ‘pulpit
cushions,’ one being the wife of Dr. John Marsh,
the apostle of temperance. The third lived single.
All are counted with the dead.

“The good spirit showed in 1820 was followed
afterwards, and we find in our cushion another paper,
written by one who is remembered as the lamented
wife of Dr. White, of New Orleans, who died in 1863:

“Tn the year of our Lord 1845, under the Presidency of James K.
Polk, and the Governorship of Roger S. Baldwin, and in the second year
of the pastorate of Rev. John R. Keep, the ladies of Warren observed
that this pulpit cushion, under the influence of twenty-five years of
sound orthodux preaching, had, in the language of our predecessors,
‘turned to rags.’ Subscriptions were accordingly made by the ladies,
and a new cover purchased to conceal the ravages of time. On Thurs-
day, the 7th of August, assembled, for the purpose of re-covering the
cushion, Mrs. Jane Sackett Hine, Mrs. Emily Sackett Comstock, Misses
Laura Taylor, Lucy C. Sackett, Marion B. Bradley, Evelyn Starr, Sarah
Robbins Starr, Helen Talmadge, and Mr. Henry J. Taylor. Upon open-
ing the cushion the paper of 1820 was, to our great gratification, discov-
ered. Trusting that the design of that paper is answered in the renewed
zeal with which it has animated us, we follow the exaniple of those
gratefully remembered ladies whose skillful needles preceded us, and
deposit this paper, hoping that the generations who come after may be
encouraged to like laudable efforts.

“EVELYN StaRp, Scribe.

“© WaRREN, Conn., Aug. 7, 1845.”

“There is laid away in the cushion still another
paper, of a later date :

“In the year of our Lord 1859, under the Presidency of James Bu-'
chanan, the Governorship of Wm. A. Buckingham, and the first year of
the ministry of Rev. Francis Lobdell, the members of the Ecclesiastical
Society of Warren saw fit to remodel the church, which for forty years
had served as a place of worship, and to give to it a modern style. After
due deliberation, the work of repairing was commenced on the morning
of August Ist. The ladies of the church, wishing to give expression to
their generosity, met at the Town-House for consultation upon the best
method of procuring funds for the purchase of carpets, cushion, and pul-
pit fixtures, Aug. 10th. After much deliberation, Mrs. Jane Curter
Starr, Mrs, Maranda Curtiss Strong, Miss Hulda Everitt, and Miss
Maria Gilbert were chosen solicitors to visit each family who are in the
habit of attending our church, and ask of them a gift for the Lord’s
house. The work was entered upon, and to our great surprise the hand-
some sum of $120 was secured, every lady giving of her substance as
she felt disposed, which by unanimous vote was appropriated to purposes
aforesaid. The work progressed in all its parts till Saturday, October ist,
when it was pronounced complete, and ready for our assembling on the
morning of Oct. 2d, for divine worship. Having completed our work in
behalf of the house of God, we would follow the example of our beloved
predecessors, and deposit a record of our doings, hoping that their ex-
ample, with ours, may serve as a stimulus to greater effort on the part
of those who come after. When these generous hearts and active hands
that have contributed so liberally of their substance and their labor
WARREN.

aare mouldering in the dust, may our words be held in grateful remem-

brance by those who are next called upon to rebuild the house of the
Lord.

“*M. C. Strona,
“*Tn behalf of the Ladies of the Church and Society of Warren.

© Oct, Ist, '59."

“At the time spoken of in the last paper, eight
hundred dollars were raised by subscription for re-
pairs upon the church. The pulpit and the pews
were brought nearer to a level by putting the new
pulpit lower, and also by raising the floor of the sanc-
tuary. The house was new-seated.

“Other expenses to be spoken of are the purchase
of the parsonage, in 1864, by a subscription of one
thousand eight hundred dollars, and the organ, in
1872, for nearly one thousand three hundred dollars.
‘Liberty’ was given by the society ‘to put up stoves’
in 1838. Previous to that time people had kept
warm as they could.

“The fund of the society was raised by subscrip-
tion in 1790, amounting to three thousand eight hun-
dred and eighty dollars, from one hundred and two
subscribers. Miss Miriam Buck left to the society, by
will, one hundred and ten dollars and ninety cents,
which was received July 15, 1840. Mr. John Eyles
and Mr. Abner Welch added to the fund. In 1875 it
amounted to four thousand six hundred and sixty-
five dollars and seventy-nine cents.

“Nineteen persons have served here in the office of
deacon, including those now in office. Of the two first,
Deacons Smalley and Lee, I have been able to learn
nothing except the date of their appointment. Dea-
cons Abel Comstock and Jonathan Hitchcock prob-
ably removed to Vermont, as Mr. Starr spoke of
visiting persons of those names there in one of his
missionary tours. Deacon Salmon Sackett removed
to Talmadge, Ohio, and Deacon Joseph A. Tanner to
Waverly, Ill. Deacons Justus Sackett, Ebenezer
Tanner, Amos Fowler, John Talmadge, Jonathan
Reynolds, and Gustavus Rouse lived and died
among us.

“ Besides these deacons at home, Warren has raised
up deacons for other churches not a few. I am able
to name Deacons Ralph C. and Theodore Curtiss,
Waverly, Ill.; Eldred, of Janesville, Wis.; Myron
and Moses Sackett, Canfield; Ephraim M. Sturte-
yant, Cleveland; Benjamin Carter and Etheil Strong,
Edinburgh ; Bradford and Isaac Sturtevant, and Har-
vey Sackett, Ruggles; Clarke Sackett, Talmadge,
Ohio; George Sackett, Cuyahoga Falls; Rufus C.
Swift, Cooperstown, N. Y.; George Starr, LL.D.,
Middlebury, Vt.; and George Starr Humphrey, New
Preston, Conn.; besides Elders Frederick Starr,
Rochester; Myron P. Hopkins, Medina, N. Y.; and
Wm. H. Swift, Vineland, N. J.

“This is also the mother-church of many clergy-
men, some of whom are as distinguished as any in
the country. Their names are Revs. Josiah and
Prince Hawes, Reuben Taylor, Nathaniel Swift,
Urban Palmer, Charles G. Finney, D.D., Seth Sack-

 

649

ett, Alanson Saunders, Julian M. Sturtevant, D.D.,
John 8. Griffin, Lucius 8. Rouse, Julius Reynolds,
John L. Taylor, D.D., Myron N. Morris, and George
Edward Stone. Two of these, in their positions as
presidents of colleges and preachers of great power,
have had influence second to very few of this day.
It will ever be a marked thing in the history of this
town that it was the birthplace of a Finney and a
Sturtevant. This may well be a stimulus: to the
young.

-“ And here Iam reminded of one thing of which
this church and community have reason to be proud,
and that is the character of the people raised up here.
Whatever Warren has failed to do, it has not failed
to give birth and training to men and women. Not to
speak of those now among us, concurrent testimony
assures us that the men of the last and former gen-
erations were, many of them, of marked excellence.
The late Dr. McEwen, of New London, related the
following incident in an address at Litchfield in 1852:

“© A Dr. Thompson, of New London, was traveling, and spent a Sab-
bath in Warren, at the public-house. He attended church, and, without
making himself known, observed what occurred. <A well-dressed, dig-
nified person ascended the pulpit, and in good style performed the ordi-
nary service of that place. Prayers, sermon, and psalms came forth as
from a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. The stranger observed
that prayer was offered for the aged pastor of the church in his absence
for his health. In the afternoon the pulpit was occupied by another,
who, like the former occupant of the desk, was happy in the perform-
ance of all the duties, he also remembering the absent pastor. Dr.
Thompson, upon returning to his lodgings, remarked to his host, “ You
have an abundance of clergy in this town,—two present to-day and one
absent.” “Oh,” was the reply, “those whom you have heard to-day are
our two deacons.””

“ An aged friend of mine remembers being specially
interested in the remarks of the Warren delegate at a
conference of churches held in another county nearly
fifty years ago. If Deacon Talmadge was that dele-
gate, as he doubtless was one of the deacons just re-
ferred to, no one who knew him will be surprised at
the testimony. If it was not he, there were others
who could meet the case.”

The following is a list of the pastors from the or-
ganization of the church to the present time: Silvanus
Osborn, installed June 29, 1757; died May 7, 1771.
Peter Starr, installed March 18, 1772; died July 17,
1829. Hart Talcott, installed May 11, 1825; died
March 27, 1836. Harley Goodwin, installed June 27,
1838; dismissed Dec. 12, 1843; died January, 1855.
John R. Keep, installed June 12, 1844; dismissed
Nov. 5, 1852. Montgomery M. Wakeman, installed
Sept. 27, 1854; dismissed June 24, 1856. Francis
Lobdell, installed Nov. 8, 1859; dismissed April 7,
1863. Wm. Elliott Bassett, installed Oct. 12, 1864;
dismissed Nov. 15, 1875. Willis 8. Colton, present
pastor.

The list of deacons were as follows: Joseph Smal-
ley, Daniel Lee, Abel Comstock, Justus Sackett,
Jonathan Hitchcock, Ebenezer Tanner, Salmon Sack-
ett, Amos Fowler, John Talmadge, Joseph A. Tanner,
Jonathan Reynolds, Gustavus Rouse, John Taylor,
650

Clark 8. Swift, William Hopkins, Benjamin E. Carter,
Franklin A. Curtiss.

There is a Methodist church also in this town, but
we have been unable to secure data for its history.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1786 TO 1881.

1786-87, Nathaniel Swift, Jr.; 1788, Samuel Carter; 1789-91, Nathaniel
Swift, Jr.; 1792, Nathaniel Swift, Jr., Justus Sackett; 1793, Nathaniel
Swift, John Talmadge; 1794, Nathaniel Swift, Ebenezer Tanner;
1795, John Talmadge ; 1796, Nathaniel Swift; 1797, Samuel Carter;
1798, John Talmadge, Judah Eldred; 1799, Judah Eldred, Ebenezer
Tanner; 1800, Ebenezer Tanner; 1801, Nathaniel Swift, Homer
Sackett; 1802, John Talmadge; 1803, John Talmadge, Nathaniel
Swift; 1804, John Talmadge; 1805, Nathaniel Swift, John Talmadge;
1806, John Talmadge, Ebenezer Tanner; 1807, John Talmadge, Ben-
jamin Carter; 1808, Nathaniel Swift, Ebenezer Tanner; 1809, Vben-
ezer Tanner, Benjamin Carter; 1810, Nathaniel Swift, Orrin Sacket ;
1811, Benjamin Carter; 1842, John Talmadge, Eben Tanner; 1813,

. Homer Sackett, Solomon Bronson; 1814, Benjamin Carter, Homer
Sackett; 1815, Judah Eldred ; 1816-17, Judah Eldred, Homer Sackett ;
1818, Homer Sackett, Augustus Curtis; 1819, Judah Eldred; 1820,
Benjamin Carter; 1821, Homer Sackett ; 1822, Sherman Hartwell;
1823, George Starr; 1824, Sherman Hartwell; 1825, George Starr;
1826, Samuel Weston; 1827, Daniel Carter; 1828-29, George Starr;
1830, Elijah Hayes; 1831, Justus Sackett; 1832, William Battell,
Daniel Carter; 1833-34, Elijah Hayes; 1835, Daniel Carter; 1836,
Elijah Hayes; 1837-38, Rupell Carter; 1839, Elijah Hayes; 1840,
Lamin Chapman; 1841, George P. Talmadge; 1842, Laurin Chap-
man; 1843-44, Henry W. Carter; 1845, Benajah Mallory; 1846,
Charles Everett; 1847-48, Clark S. Swift; 1849, Benajah Mallory;
1850, Myron S. Hine; 1851, Jarvis C. Howard; 1852, George Hayes;
1853-54, E. M. Kellogg; 1855, Elijah Hayes; 1856-57, E. P. Moul-
throup; 1858, G. P. Talmadge; 1859-60, T. L. Jennings; 1861-62,
Augustine T. Peck; 1863, Elijah Hayes; 1864, George W. Grannis;
1865, Noble B. Strong; 1866, Elijah Hayes: 1867, Josiah Jennings;
1868, John E. Grannis ; 1869, Augustine T, Peck ; 1870, Beecher Per-
kins; 1871, C. E. Beeman; 1872-73, M. B. Strong; 1874, Edwin R.
Beeman; 1875, George Wells; 1876, Austin R. Humphrey; 1877,
Miner A. Strong; 1878, Erastus Bates;‘1879, Henry E. Shove; 1880,
Buel Carter; 1881, William F. Curtiss. ~

MILITARY RECORD.*

Charles N. Beeman, 8th Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. Nov. 16, 1862.

B. G. Page, Sth Regt.; enl. Sept. 25, 1864; disch. May 31, 1865.

George Brown, 8th Regt.; enl. Aug. 10, 1864; disch. July 16, 1865.

E. F. Prague, 10th Regt.; eul. Oct. 1, 1861; disch. Feb. 7, 1863.

W. D. Collins, 11th Regt.; enl. Dec. 9, 1864; disch, Dec. 21, 1865.

J.N. Lyman, 13th Regt., second lieutenant; com. Nov. 27, 1861; disch.
June 6, 1865.

William Beeman, 13th Regt.; enl. Dec. 30, 1861; disch. Nov. 20, 1865.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH.

DEACON WILLIAM HOPKINS.

William Hopkins was born Sept. 10, 1803. His
father, Anthony P. Hopkins, was a victim of the ter-
rible epidemic of 1813, leaving William, at the age of
ten years, the oldest son of a family of five children.
From his earliest years his Christian mother instilled
into his heart steadily, constantly, and successfully
the principles of fidelity to right and of a broad Chris-
tian charity. She lived to see the germ she had planted
come to perfection and its fullest growth, and had the
satisfaction of knowing that he was known and hon-
ored by his townsmen for his tender sympathy for the

 

 

* Por list of Nineteenth Regiment, see Chapter V.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

suffering, benevolence towards all worthy objects, and
his sterling Christian integrity. In the fullness of
years, like a shock of corn fully ripe, she passed away
to the better land, April 18, 1865, aged ninety-seven
years.

Mr. Hopkins early joined the Congregational Church,
and while yet a young man was appointed deacon,
and for over half a century he walked among the peo-
ple of Warren, and malice and suspicion never dared
whisper aught against his honor or his Christian char-
acter. By the death of his father he was, while yet a
child, withdrawn from the advantages of school, and
this loss he always deplored. It may have been a
valuable discipline for him to have thrown upon him
so early the headship of the family, for if it was his
lot to pass but a very few years in school buildings,
he was always a student, never idle. He read much
and thought more, and as he grew in years, and the
circle of his acquaintance became larger, his mind
became more and more enriched by his close associa-
tion with many cultivated people, and as he received
it he assimilated the knowledge by the very act of im-
parting it to others. He used what he had, and more
was given him. The richness of his instructions to
his Bible-class never tired of listening, his conversa-
tions on any and all subjects, and the easy illustrations
to point a moral, testified to a well-furnished mind
unusually acute and vigorous. He was never an
idler. Possessed of a healthy and vigorous physical
nature through youth and middle life, he enjoyed
labor, and could and did begin his work before the

‘sun appeared in the morning, and yet, untired, be

busy long after it had sunk behind the western hills.
Rev. Mr. Bassett, in his memorial sermon, preached
June 15, 1879, says, “Nor can I leave this part of my
subject without saying a word as to the beauty of
Deacon Hopkins’ physique. I know not how it was
with him in the early period of life, but he had a
charming beauty in his old age,—his abundant sil-
very hair, lying in graceful curls; his large forehead,
overhanging his bright, sparkling eyes, which could
not have been brighter when the fires of youth shone
through them; a mouth holding the impress of the
kind words it had uttered; his whole countenance
lighted up with kindliness and cheer, radiated very
frequently by intelligent smiles, preceding and fol-
lowing the sharp witticisms which were as natural
to him as his very breath. Altogether, he presented
a look that charmed us all. Such was he among us
physically.” He was an earnest and a willing worker.
On the farm, in society, or the church, where anything
reasonable and right was to be done, there was no fear
of his failing to respond. Social gatherings of a benev-
olent character were sure to be enlivened by his pres-
ence. A subscription-paper for a good object would
always bear his name with a generous sum affixed.
If work was to be done about the grounds of the
church, he would be among the first to come, and
stayed until the last. He was in the world for work,
 
 

 

eet

TO.THE. SOUTH EAST.
agence ‘

oa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a

AK EY
RESIDENCE OF GEO. C. HOP;
 

 

 

 

ibe”
(INS WaRREN Conn.
WASHINGTON.

651

 

and that he did nobly and well all through the years
of his life of seventy-five years, until his death at his
life-long home, “Lakeside,” March 17, 1879. We
can no better conclude this sketch than to take the
following from the discourse ‘already alluded to:
“Deacon Hopkins was what he was because of his
connection with Christ. His ‘life was hid with Christ
in God.’ It was in connection with this that he had
his grandest thoughts; his noblest impulses, his most
manly purposes and achievements. Not only did his
life blossom in his religion, it was rooted in his re-
ligion. So he lived and so he died: a man among
us. Nature was liberal in her outfit of him, equip-
ping him well for a manly career; and by grace he
was led to a manly use of his powers in a life charac-
terized by honesty, helpfulness, self-control, forti-
tude, willing to bear a man’s part in life’s burdens,
and in the service and love of God. As such we
knew him, as such we loved him, as such we will
cherish and honor his memory.”

CHAPTER LXV.
WASHINGTON.

Geographical—Topographical—Judea and New Preston Societies—The
First Settlements—Names of Pioneers— Organization of Judea Society
—Ecclesiastical History—The Congregational Church, Washington—
Congregational Church, New Preston—Congregational Church, New
Preston Hill—St. John’s Church—St. Andrew’s Church—Rising Sun
Lodge, No. 27, F. and A. M.—Physicians—Revolutionary Incident—
Gunn’s Seminary—The Shepaug Railroad—Lake Weroamaug—Civil
and Military History—Organization of the Town—The First Town-
Meeting—Officers Elected—Documentary History—List of Selectmen
from 1786 to 1881—-List of Representatives—Probate Judges—Military
Record.

THE town of Washington is located south of the
centre of the county, and is bounded as follows: on
the north by Kent, Warren, and Litchfield, on the
east by Morris and Bethlehem, on the south by Wood-
bury and Roxbury, and on the west by New Milford
and Kent. Its surface is rolling and soil fertile.

The town consists of two ecclesiastical societies,
Judea and New Preston. The former embraces the
territory taken from Woodbury and Litchfield, and
the latter that from Kent and New Milford.

The first settlement in the town was made in Judea
society, by Joseph Hurlbut, in 17386. Among the
other early settlers were Increase Moseley, Nathaniel
Durkee, John Barker, Friend Weeks, Joseph Gillett,
and Samuel Titcher.

ORGANIZATION OF JUDEA SOCIETY.

The little settlement increased in numbers, and five
years later twenty persons presented a petition to the
General Assembly for “ winter privileges,”—that is,
the privilege of supporting a minister of their own
distinct from the old society. They also asked that
they might be relieved “ from paying taxes for a new
school-house just built in the First society, and also

 

 

from parish taxes, that they may build a school-house
of their own.” The petition was granted, to continue
two years, and they were released from one-half of the
parish taxes, and from taxes to build a new meeting-
house, provided they were “in no ways Active in
the Affairs of Building a new Meeting-House in said
first Society.”

In October, 1741, a petition was presented, signed
by twenty-six persons, praying to be organized into
an ecclesiastical society, and appointed “ Our Trusty
and well-beloved friend, Friend Weeks, agent and
attorney to prosecute our petition.” The signers of
this petition were Nathaniel Durkee, John Baker,
Joseph Gillett, Joseph Chittenden, Elisha Stone,
Samuel Pitcher, Jr., James Pitcher, Increase Moseley,
Lemuel Barker, Daniel Castle, Samuel Branton, Ezra
Tyrrill, Jr., Ebenezer Allen, Zadock Clark, Elijah
Hurd, Joseph Hurd, Joseph Hurlbut, Benjamin In-
grahams, John Royce, John Hurd, Jr., Jedediah
Hurd, and Benjamin Hinman.

The petition was granted in October, 1741, and the
society erected with the following boundaries:

“ Beginning att Cols Johnaon’s line at New Milford bounds, and from
thence Running Eastward in s4 line untill it Comes to the line Dividing
Between Bethlehem and the West part of the North Purchase, and
thence to Extend North to the north line of s4 purchase, and thence
Westward to New Milford Line, and thence Southward to the first-men-
tioned place, at the End of Coll. Johnson’s line at New Milford bounds.”

At the same session twenty-four persons petitioned
for a land-tax of thirty shillings per lot, which was
granted for four years.

The matter of the church was immediately pro-
ceeded with, and in May, 1742, twenty-six petitioners
stated that they had “ Unanymously and Lovingly
Agreed upon A Place for to set a Meeting-House.”
It was built during the same year.

WEROAMAUG.,

The reservation of Weroamaug, or Raumaug, was
in the parish of New Preston, adjacent to the reser-
vation of the Bantam Indians, over whom his juris-
diction extended. He was a true friend of the whites,
and in his last years professed to have become a con-
vert to Christianity. The Rev. Daniel Boardman,
who was ordained as the minister at New Milford in
1716, became much interested in him. In a letter to
a friend he calls him “that distinguished sachem,
whose great abilities and eminent virtues, joined with
his extensive dominion, rendered him the most po-
tent prince of that or any other day in this colony;
and his name ought to be remembered by the faithful
historian as much as that of any crowned head since his
was laid in the dust.” During Raumaug’s last illness
Mr. Boardman constantly attended him, and endeav-
ored to confirm his mind in the vital truths of the
Christian faith. It was a sad place for the dying
chieftain, for a majority of his people, and even his
wife, were bitter opponents of the white man’s relig-
ion, and used all their influence against it. One day,
652

when the good pastor was standing by the sachem’s
bedside, the latter asked him to pray, to which he as-
sented. It happened that there was a sick child in
the village, and a pow-wow was in attendance, who had
undertaken to cure it with his superstitious rites.
As soon as the clergyman commenced his prayer,
Raumaug’s wife sent for the medicine-man, and or-
dered him to commence his exercises at the door of
the lodge. The pow-wow at once set up a hideous
shouting and howling, and Mr. Boardman prayed
louder, so that the sick man might hear him above
the uproar. Each raised his voice louder and louder
as he went on, while the Indians gathered around,
solicitous for the success of their prophet. The pow-
wow was determined to tire out the minister; and he,
on the other hand, was quite as fully resolved not to
be put to silence in the discharge of his duty by the
blind worshiper of Satan. The invincible minister
afterwards gave it as his belief that he prayed full
three hours before he was permitted to come off con-
queror. The pow-wow having completely exhausted
himself with his efforts, gave one unearthly yell, and
then, taking to his heels, never stopped till he was
cooling himself up to his neck in the Housatonic.
Raumaug died about the year 1735, or some fifteen
years after the first settlement of Litchfield.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

The history of the Congregational Church is really
the continuation of that of the parish or society as re-
lated above. The church was organized Sept. 1,
1742, with the following members: Rev. Reuben
Judd, Joseph Gillett, Benjamin Hurd, Deacon In-
crease Moseley, Allen Curtis, Timothy Hurd, Deacon
Joseph Hurd, Joseph Chittenden, John Royce, John
Baker, Elijah Hurd, and Samuel Bell. On the 5th
of the following September the following females
were received into the new church: Deborah Moseley,
Ann Hurd, Rachel Weeks, Jerusha Baker, Abigail
Hurd, Mary Hurd, Tabitha Hurd, Dorcas Royce,
Mary Durkee, and Esther Durkee.

The following is a list of the pastors of this church
from its organization to the present time: Rev. Reu-
ben Judd, a graduate of Yale, was ordained the same
day the church was organized, and the ceremonies
took place in a grove near the residence of the late
Daniel N. Brinsmade. He was dismissed May 6,
1747. Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, a graduate of Yale,
was ordained March 9, 1749. He died April 23, 1793.
Rev. Noah Merwin was installed as colleague with
Rey. Mr. Brinsmade in March, 1785. He died April
12,1795. For a number of months after the death of
Mr. Merwin the church was supplied by the neigh-
boring ministers, and by Mr. Platt Bassett and
Amasa Porter, candidates for settlement. Rey. Eben-
ezer Porter began preaching in 1795, and in the fol-
lowing year was ordained. He was dismissed Dec.
18, 1811, having been elected professor of Andover
Theological Seminary. He died in 1834. Rey. Cy-

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

rus W. Gray was installed in April, 1818, and dis-
missed Aug. 18, 1815. He was succeeded by Rev.
Stephen Mason, who was installed in February, 1818,
and was dismissed Dec. 17, 1823. Rev. Gordon
Hayes served from Oct. 28, 1829, to June 1, 1852,”
He was followed by Rey. Ephraim Lyman, who was
installed June 30, 1852, and was dismissed June 8,
1863. Rev. Willis S. Colton was installed Aug. 21,
1866, and was dismissed in 1876, since which time
Rev. George L. Thrall has been its minister.

During the interval between the pastorates of Revs.
Lyman and Colton, Rev. William H. H. Murray for
some time supplied the pulpit.

THE FIRST CHURCH IN NEW PRESTON.

In October, 1748, twenty persons obtained leave of
the General Assembly to hire a minister for six
months in the year, on the ground of their living from
seven to ten miles from their places of worship in
Kent and New Milford. In May, 1752, the following
persons petitioned the General Assembly for a new
ecclesiastical society: Samuel Averill, Caleb Rude,
Samuel Lake, Moses Averill, Henry Davis, Jehial
Murray, Isaac Averill, Joseph Carey, John Guthrie,
Daniel Averill, Zebulon Palmer, Jacob Rinney, Sam-
uel Cogswell, Thomas Hodgship, Thos. Morse, Benj.
Darling, Samuel Waller, Nathaniel Dewine, Enoch
Whittlesey, Jolmjah Jons, Stephen Bosworth, Thos.
Beeman, John Benedict, Stephen Noble, Gillead
Sperry, Elnathan Curtis, John Bostwick, Benajah
Bostwick, Nathan Beale, John Cogswell, Zepheniah
Branch, Edward Cogswell, Josiah Cogswell, James
Terrill, Jos. Miles, Nathan Hawley, Samuel Cogswell,
John Cobb, and Benjamin Capuen. The societies of
East Greewich (now Warren), Kent, and New Milford
opposed the application mentioned above, and it failed,
but was granted in October. In December, 1753, it was
voted to lay a tax of twelvepence on the pound to hire a
minister for a season, and to build two school-houses
by subscription for the use of the society. November,
1754, it was voted to build a meeting-house, thirty-six
by twenty-six feet, with five windows of twelve lights
each, one hundred rods west of the present stone
meeting-house. December, 1766, it was voted to build
another meeting-house, fifty by forty feet. This house
was inclosed three years later, but was not entirely
finished until 1798. In 1806 a permanent fund of
five thousand dollars was raised. In 1824 a third
meeting-house was built of stone, fifty-four by forty-
four feet. In 1853 a majority of the church, with a
minority of the society, upon their own responsibility,
built a fourth meeting-house in the village of Wara-
maug, sixty by thirty-nine feet, at an expense of about
six thousand dollars, and the church, by a majority
vote, on the 27th of January, 1854, voted to remove
their place of worship to this house.

The pastors of the church have been as follows:
Noah Wadhams, 1757-68 ; Jeremiah Day, 1770, died
in 1806; Samuel Whitlesey, 1807-17 ; Chas. A. Board-
WASHINGTON.

man, 1818-30 ; Robt. B. Campfield, 1831-34 ; Columbus
Shumway, 1834-35; Merit S. Platt, 1836-37; Benj.
B. Parsons, 1839-42; Hollis Read, 1845-51; Samuel
¥F. Bacon, 1851-53; Chas. 8. Smith, 1858-55; Jacob
H. Strong. The only installed pastor since Mr. Strong
was the Rev. H. Upson. Rev. D. Moses supplied the
church one year, and Rey. Henry Lancashire has
been acting pastor since 1877.

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH AT NEW PRESTON HILL.

An unhappy division arose in New Preston in
1853-54, on account of a disagreement about the place
of worship. The majority of the society and the
minority of the church claim the original organiza-
tion, though the Consociation decided that the major-
ity of the church, who removed, are to be considered
the original church, while the minority retain the
records and communion service, and the society with
them have the funds for the support of the gospel.
The old house has since been extensively repaired.

The pastors have been as follows :° Levi 8. Beebe,
John A. Hempstead, Noah Coe, Williams H. Whit-
tlemore, George Tomlinson, Leonard Bacon, Lewis
R. Williams, J. A. Woodhull, Henry Upson, and
Rey. A. Isham, the present pastor.

ST. JOHN’S CHURCH.

In about the year 1762 a few families of the Epis-
copal order resided in this vicinity, and services were
occasionally held in private dwellings by the Rev.
Thomas Davies, A.M., rector of St. Michael’s parish,
Litchfield. After the separation of what was known
as Davies’ Hollow from Litchfield, the Davies family,
one of influence, and zealously attached to the church,
withdrew from its Litchfield parish and erected a
church edifice in Davies’ Hollow. The land upon
which the church was built was deeded by Mr. John
Davies, father of Rev. Thomas Davies, to the new
parish, and a condition of the deed required the pay-
ment of one peppercorn annually on the feast of St.
Michael, if demanded. The church building was
erected principally at the expense of the honored
churchman John Davies, and it is related of him
that, aged and infirm, seated in an arm-chair in the
door of his house, he witnessed the raising of the
structure. He survived about three years, and died
at the age of eighty-six years. The church edifice
was removed to its present site in 1813, and received
the name of St. John. In consequence of the defect-
ive state of the records, it is impossible to give a com-
plete list of the rectors.

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH, NEW PRESTON.

The first services according to the rites of the Epis-
copal Church in New Preston were held by Rev.
Thomas Davies, A.M., in 1764. The church edifice
was erected prior to the Revolution, but during that
period was rarely used, and was finally abandoned.

In 1796 the churchmen in the vicinity purchased
the building formerly occupied by Jemima Wilkin-

42

 

653

son, the Friend, and her followers, in New Milford,
in which structure they worshiped until 1822, when
the present edifice in Marbledale was erected.

Among the rectors who have officiated for St. An-
drew’s are mentioned the names of Clark, Baldwin,
Bersham, Marsh, Jones, Andrews, Kellogg, Lucas,
Atwater, Huntington, Gordon, Hitchcock, Sherman,
Long, Scott. James L. Scott resigned the charge on
the 8th of December, 1867. The Rev. Henry C. Ran-
dall became rector on the 2d of August, 1868, and
resigned on the 17th of November, 1869. He was
succeeded some time in 1870 by the Rev. Charles
Husband, who died while rector, on the 20th of De-
cember, 1871. He was succeeded, in 1872, by Rev.
John N. Marvin, who died in charge, on the 17th of
May, 1874. Rev. William L. Peck became rector
June 28, 1874, and is the present incumbent.

RISING SUN LODGE, F. AND A. M., No. 27.*

The history of Masonry in Washington must neces-
sarily be divided into two periods, the first extending
from the establishment of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 27,
to the rise of that great persecution and humbug,
Anti-Masonry ; the second period embracing the time
from the restoration of Rising Sun Lodge to the
present time. During the long interval between the
suspension of the lodge and restoration of its charter,
two full volumes of records were lost, and its jewels
were purloined, so that all that remained to us who
were active in its restoration were its third volume of
records, of six years’ use, and some six old brethren,
who, though over threescore years and ten, joyfully
assisted us in its restoration. A portion of the Grand
Lodge records have also been unfortunately lost, and
we are left without any certain evidence when and
by whom the lodge was chartered. 1 was told by one
of our old brethren that it was instituted near the
close of the war of the Revolution.

In the long past Washington was a centre of Ma-
sonic importance, for, in addition to Rising Sun
Lodge, No. 27, there were also located here Fidelity
Chapter, R. A. M., Tyrian Council, No. 18, R. and 8.
M., and Clinton Encampment, No. 8, K. T.; and at
the head of these several Masonic bodies stood that
Masonic veteran, Daniel B. Brinsmade, also Grand
Master of Connecticut. Clinton Encampment was
removed to South Norwalk, the Rising Sun Lodge
was restored, while the Chapter and Council have
ceased to exist.

From both records and tradition, the old lodge was
rich in members, both as regards numbers and char-
acter. The Worshipful Masters of it from 1823 to
1829, when its records close, were Daniel B. Brins-
made, Daniel A. Ryon, John Goodyear, and William
Moody. Its last record was made June 15, 1829.

In November, 1864, upon the petition of Guy C.
Ford, Henry J. Chureb, R. W. Ford, of St. Paul’s

2g) oe oe ee
* Contributed by Geo. C. Ford.

 
654

Lodge, No. 11, Litchfield, Robert Black, G. H. Black,
of King Solomon’s Lodge, No. 7, Woodbury, and R.
M. Fowler, Leverett Allen, Joel Bishop, and John
Goodyear, members’ of the old lodge, M. W. David
E. Bostwick, Grand Master of Connecticut, issued a
dispensation to the aforesaid brethren to resume labor
as Rising Sun Lodge, No. 27, restored, appointing
Guy C. Ford Worthy Master, H. J. Church Senior
Warden, and R. W. Ford Junior Warden, which dis-
pensation was confirmed by a restoration of the charter
by the Grand Lodge the following May. The lodge
since its restoration has been in a uniformly prosper-
ous condition, and although death has sadly deci-
mated our ranks, and severed many a link from our
golden fraternal chain, while many from force of cir-
cumstances have been led to affiliate with other
lodges, still we number eighty members,—a goodly
number for a rural lodge.

Its Worshipful Masters since the restoration have
been Gny C. Ford, Samuel H. Clark, Charles H.
Mason, Albert L. Hodge, Frederick N. Galpin, and
William J. Ford, present incumbent.

Its first officers were Guy C. Ford, W. M.; Henry
J. Church, 8. W.; R. W. Ford, J. W.; Leverett
Allen, Treas.; Orestes Hickox, Sec.; A. M. Steele,
8. D.; Robert Black, J. D.; J. N. Frost, 8. 8.; E.
N. Moore, J. 8.; James Black, Tyler.

Its present officers are William J. Ford, W. M.;
George B. Calhoun, 8. W.; Simon D. Platt, J. W.;
A. G. Baker, Treas.; P. M. Guy C. Ford, Sec.; P. M.
Samuel H. Clark, 8. D.; William Mayhew, J. D.;
Earl Abbott, 8. 8.; N. W. Hull, J. 8.; John Rora-
back, Tyler; P. M. A. L. Hodge, Marshal, P. M. G.
C. Ford, Chaplain.

PHYSICIANS.

Among the physicians who have practiced in Wash-
ington are mentioned the names of Drs. John Cal-
houn, Warren R. and Remus M. Fowler.

Dr. Calhoun, in addition to his practice, was also
much engaged in the public business of the town.

Dr. Warren R. Fowler studied his profession with
Dr. Sheldon, and commenced practice in Judea go-
ciety about the year 1810, and continued until his
death, in 1826. In 1816 he received from Yale Col-
lege the honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Remus M. Fowler studied medicine with his brother,
Warren R., and commenced the practice of his pro-
fession here, where he continued it until his death,
In 1834, Yale conferred upon him the degree of M.D,
Dr. Orlando Brown has been the resident physician
since Dr. Fowler.

REVOLUTIONARY INCIDENT,

During the Revolution a few persons opposed to
the war were assembled at Davies’ Hollow, and the
Whigs in the town, desiring to dislodge them, had
assembled at the house of John Logan. While they
were in council, young Logan went to a neighbor’s
and returned with a musket. Hig sister, seeing him

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

in a warlike mood, asked him what he was going to
do with it. He replied, “Shoot Tories.” “You
shoot Tories!” she replied; “you haven’t pluck
enough to fire the gun.” He said he had, when she
playfully remarked, “Then shoot me,” whereupon
he fired, killing her instantly.

Gunn’s Seminary and Boarding-School for Boys has
done much to promote the material prosperity of the
town, and is one of the celebrated institutions of its
kind in New England. The sons of many of the
leading men of our age have attended school at this
place, among whom may be mentioned those of
Henry Ward Beecher, Mrs. Stowe, John C. Fremont,
Senator Carpenter, etc.

The Shepaug Railroad passes through the town,
having stations at Romford, New Preston, and Wash-
ington,

Lake Waramaug, located in Washington, Warren,
and Kent, is celebrated as a place of resort, and is
one of the mosf picturesque bodies of water in New
England. It takes its name from an Indian chief.

CIVIL HISTORY.

The town of Washington was organized from por-
tions of New Milford, Woodbury, Litchfield, and
Kent, “at a general assembly of the Governor and
Company of the State of Connecticut, holden at
Hartford, by adjournment, on the seventh day of
January, A.D. 1779.”

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held Feb. 11, 1779,
with William Cogswell as moderator. The following
officers were chosen: Selectmen, Enos Mitchel, Na-
than Hickox, William Cogswell, Joseph Guthrie, and
Thomas Parmelee, Jr.; Register, Daniel N. Brins-
made; Treasurer, Jonathan Farrand; Constables,
Ebenezer Couch, John Whittlesey, Abner Moseley,
and Nathan Hickox, Jr.; Surveyor of Highways,
Amasa Dutton, David Royce, Elizur Curtis, Solomon
Hurd, Thomas Canfield, Nathan Leavenworth, Enos
Baldwin, Elijah Hicok, Joseph Hulbut, Ebenezer
Burgess, Ephraim Guthrie, Isaac Camp, Perry Av-
erill, Gideon Morgan, Pearle Kinnie, and Mason Cogs-
well; Fence-Viewers, David Calhoun and Michael
Bryan; Listers, Gideon Hollister, George Calhoun,
Ebenezer Clark, Jr., M. Whittlesey, Ebenezer Couch,
Thomas Parmelee, Jr., and Moses Averill ; Leather-
Sealers, Amasa Dutton and Jared Bassett ; Grand
Jurors, William Hopson, Silas Beardsley, J. Clark,
and J. Durkee; Tithingmen, Pearle Kinnie, Joseph
Calhoun, and Seth Hastings; Packer, Jonathan
Hine; Branders, Charles Bailey and William Cogs-
well; Pound-keeper, Thomas Parker, William Cogs-
well, Thomas Parmelee, Jr., and Nathan Hicok;
Committee to Provide for Soldiers’ Families, Mat-
thew Logan, Brinsmade Gibson, and William Guth-
rie; Committee for Providing Clothing for the
Soldiers, Ebenezer Clark, Jr., Perry Averill, 0.
Titus, David Whittlesey, and Amasa Parker.
WASHINGTON. 655

The meeting closed with the following vote:

* Voted, That the Town-meeting be adjourned till the freeman's meet-
ing in April next, at Two of the Clock in the afternoon.
“Recorded the 11th day of February, 1779.

“Pr, Danu. N. BRiInsMADE, Register.”

OATHS OF ALLEGIANCE,

“March 17, 1779.—These certify that Thos. Armstrong, Jr., Simeon
Mitchell, Jr., Nathan Hicok, Jr., Henry Cramer, & Aaron Smith took the
Oath of Allegiance to the States of America before me.

“T. Mosexey, Jr.

“Received & recorded the 17 Day of March, 1779.

“Pr, DaNiEL N, Brinsmape, Register,

“The Oath of Allegiance was given to the Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, and
to Daniel N. Brinsmade, by I. Moseley, Jr., March 3, 1779.

“Recorded March 3, 1779.

“ Pr. DANIEL N. Brinsmape, Register.

“ April the 12th, 1779.—The following Persons took the oath of Alle-
giance to the States in Open Freemen’s meeting, viz. :

“Samuel Averill, Jr., Nathan Bryan, Rich. Bryan, Samuel Bryan, Enos
Baldwin, Judah Baldwin, Samuel Bell, Ephraim Baker, Jr., Daniel
§. Brinsmade, Chas. Bailey, Jos. Calhoun, James Calhoun, David
Calhoun, Jno. Calhoun, Ebezt Calhoun, George Calhoun, E. Baker,
E. Couch, Gideon Camp, Ebezt Clark, Ebezt Clark, Jr., Jed’h
Clark, D. Crampton, Elizur Curtis, Joshua Curtis, Thos. Canfield,
Amasa Dutton, Thos. Dutton, Nath’l Dutton, Benj’ Durkee, Jona-
than Farrand, Jos. Ferry, Ebezr. Ferry, Benj. Galpin, Timothy Good-
sell, W™. Gibson, B. Griffiv, Nathn. Hicok, Nathn. Hicok, Jr.,
Elijah Hicok, Thaddeus Hicok, Jr., Seth Hastings, Samuel Hurlbut,
Gideon Hollister, David Judson, David Lacy, Prince Moseley, E.
Mitchel, James Pitcher, Thos. Parke, Jr, Amasa Parke, David
Royce, Mark Royce, 0. Titus, Saml. Durand, John Woodruff, Jr.,
Noah Woodward, J. Weeks, Jno. Whittlesey, Martin Whittlesey,
Thos. Knaping, J. Warner, Mason Cogswell, Samuel Barnes, Seth
Kent, Benj. Adams, Thos. Avery, E. Guthrie, E. Finney, Stinson
Mitchel, Andrew Hine, Samuel Copely, Solomon Murry, Thos. Good-
sell, Thos. Parmelle, Jr., Reuben Hicok, Thadd. Hicok, Jonathan
Hine, Jos. Hurlbut, W™, Hopson, Samuel.Hull, Sulomon Hurd, Mat-
thew Logan, E. Lacey, I. Moseley, Abner Moseley, Enos Mitchel,
David Mitchel, Thos. Parker, Abel Parker, David Royce, Jno, Ruyce,
Jno. Smith, D. Sheldon, E. Hazzen, Jno. Frary, Jos. Warner, Jno.
Woodruff, Jr., Jos. Woodruff, A. Woodward, Saml. Meeker, Nuah
Titus, E. Whittlesey, D. Whittlesey, Benj. Fowler, W™. Parker, Jos.
Clark, W™. Cogswell, J, Durkee, Isaac Camp, Jonah Camp, M, Aver-
ill, P. Kinney, Jacob Stanton, Perry Averill, Jus. Guthrie, Gidn.
Morgan, Geo. Baldwin, Caleb Curtis, Aaron Foot, Caleb Hitchcok,
Oliver Olds, Lyman Kinne, Stiles Beardsley, Samuel Prindle, Thos.
Parmele, Isaac Plumb, David Howes, Daniel Smith, and Abel Mott.”

LIST OF SELECTMEN.

The following is a list of selectmen from 1775 to
1881:

John Whittlesey, Joseph Clark, Joseph Guthrie, Richard Bryan, 1786-
87; Jabez Whittlesey, 1787; Jonathan Farrand, Matthew Logan,
1788; Daniel N. Brinsmade, 1786-87, 1790, 1792-1802, 1805, 1807-16 ;
David Judson, Nathaniel Bosworth, Jr., 1790, 1792-93; Elijah Ha-
zen, 1786-87, 1790, 1792-94, 1799-1801, 1803-5, 1807-14; Isaac Swift,
Samuel Wadsworth, Jobn Sedgewick, 1791; Martin Whittlesey,
1788, 1794-95, 1798-1800; Simeon Mitchel, 1775, 1778-79, 1782-84;
Peter Sherman, Wm. Coggswell, 1776-77; Jno. Smith (2a), 1777;
Joseph Whittleséy, 1801-2, 1810-14; David Whittlesey, 1803-5; A.
Baldwin, 1807-8, 1818; Orange Wheaton, 1809, 1815-17; Daniel Cal-
houn, 1815-16, 1819; Johnson Logan, 1817; Samuel Frisbee, 1817-
18; Johnson Logan, 1818, 1826-27 ; Perry Averill, 1818 ; Philo Clark,
1819; Nathan Newton, 1820-24; E. Moody, 1820-21, 1826-27; Her-
man Hine, 1820-25; John N. Gunn, 1822-25, 1831; Elijah Meeker,
1826-28; Gershom Fenn, 1828-30; Matthew Logan, 1828; Chester
Ackley, 1829-31; David W. Norton, 1829-32 ; Geo. Lewis, 1832; Wm.
Moody, 1832-34; Samuel Leavitt, 1833-40; David C. Whittlesey, Her-
man Baldwin, 1833, 1835; Nathan Brown, 1334; Charles Lemmon,
1836; Norman Hazen, 1836-37 ; Samuel Averill, 1837; Wm. Pool,
1838-39; Joseph Titus, Jr., 1838-40 ; Rufus Smith, 1840; I. Hickox,
1841-43 ; Nathan Newton, 1841-45; Edward J. Pond, 1841-47; John
W. Titus, 1844-45; David Whittlesey, 1846-48; Samuel A. Baker,

 

1846-48, 1857 ; Gregory Seeley, 1848-50 ; Samuel J. Averill, 1849-50 ;
John B, Newton, 1849-55; A. C. Lemmon, 1851-56; Nelson Ford,
1851-53, 1857 ; Powell Hickox, 1854-56; R. A. Bryan, 1856; Geo. C.
Hitchcock, 1857-58 ; Seth S. Logan, Byron Hickox, 1858; B. G. Fenn,
Rufus Smith, Charles L. Ford, 1859-60; Orestes Hickox, 1861-64,
1871-74; James D. Barton, 1861-64; Garry Newton, 1861-62; Henry
H. Morehouse, 1863-66 ; Frederick Beardsley, 1865; William Odell,
1865-67 ; Ralph Buckingham, 1866-70; Nelson Ford, 1868-70 ; Frank-
lin S. Titus, 1868-70; Samuel H. Clark, 1871-74: George K. Logan,
1872; Henry S. Wheaton, 1873; Orestes Hickox, 1874-79 ; Henry A.
Wheaton, 1875-76; Samuel H. Clark, 1874-75 ; George C. Cogswell,
1874; Samuel T. Hollister, 1877; James D. Barton, 1877-79; George
W. Cogswell, 1877; Charles $. Mason, 1878-79.

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1779 TO 1881.

1779.—Capt. Increase Moseley, Capt. Wm. Cogswell, Capt. Eben’r Clarke.

1780.—Capt. William Cogswell, Capt. Ebenezer Clarke, Capt. Gideon Hol-
lister.

1781.—Capt. William Cogswell, Capt. Gideon Hollister, Capt. Nathan
Hicock, John Whittlesey.

1782,.—Capt. Nathan Hicock, John Whittlesey, Maj. Wm. Cogswell, John
Calhoun.

1783.—John Whittlesey, Capt. Nathan Hicock.

1784.—John Whittlesey, Capt. Nathan Hicock, Daniel N. Brinsmade.

1785,—John Whittlesey, Matthew Logan, Capt. Jonathan Farrand.

1786.—John Whittlesey, Capt. Jonathan Farrand, Capt. Nathan Hicock.

1787.—John Whittlesey, Rev. Daniel Brinsmade, Capt. Nathan Hicock.

1788.—John Whittlesey, Capt. Jonathan Farrand, Peter Sherman.

1789.—Capt. Jonathan Farrand, Peter Sherman, Johu Whittlesey, Capt.
David Judson.

1790.—John Whittlesey, David Judson, Jonathan Farrand.

1791.—David Judson, John Whittlesey, Simeon Mitchell.

1792.—Peter Sherman, David Judson, Daniel N. Brinsmade.

1793.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, David Whittlesey.

1794.—David Judson, Peter Sherman, Daniel N. Brinsmade.

1795.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Peter Sherman, David Whittlesey.

1796.—Daniel Brinsmade, David Whittlesey.

1797.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Elijah Hazen, William Cogswell.

1798.—Daniel Briusmade, Elijah Hazen.

1799.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, William Cogswell, Elijah Hazen.

1800.—Dauniel N. Brinsmade, Elijah Hazen.

1801-2.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, William Cogswell. Simeon Mitchell.

1803.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Elijah Hazen, William Cogswell.

1804.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Elijah Hazen, David Whittlesey.

1805-6.—Daniel N. Brinsmude, David Whittlesey.

1807.—Elijah Hazen, David Whittlesey, Daniel N. Brinsmade.

1808.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Elijah Hazen, William Cogswell.

1809.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, Noble Day, Joseph Whittlesey.

1810.—Warren R. Fowler, Nuble Day, Daniel N. Brinsmade, David Whit-
tlesey.

1811.—Evetts Mood), Noble Day, Daniel N. Brinsmade, John Newton.

1812-14.—Daniel N. Brinsmade, John N. Guuon, Joseph Whittlesey.

1815.—Samuel Leavitt, Noble Day.

1816.—Samuel Leavitt, Daniel B. Brinsmade.

1817.—Daniel B. Brinsmade, William Cogswell, Constantine McMahon.

1818.—Daniel B. Brinsmade, Joseph Whittlesey, John N. Gunn, Nuble
Day.

1819.—Samuel Leavitt, Joseph Whittlesey.

1820.—Daniel B. Briusmade, Joseph Whittlesey.

1821.—Curtis Hicox, Ensigu Bushnell.

1822.—Timothy Mitchell, Philo Clark.

1823.—Evetts Moody, William Cogswell.

1824.—Constantiue McMahon, Abijuh Tomlinson.

1825.—No choice.

1826.—Sanmiuel Leavitt, Jr., Nathan Newton.

1827.—Constantine McMahon, Samuel Leavitt, Jr.

1828.—Daniel B. Brinsmade, Abijah Tomlinson.

1829,—John Newton, Chester Ackley.

1830.—Samuel Leavitt, Jr., Daniel B. Brinsmade.

1831.—Johnson C. Hatch, Joseph Titus, Jr.

1832,—Youngs Elliot, David C. Whittlesey.

1833.—David C. Whittlesey, Youngs Elliot.

1834,—Samuel Frisbie, George Lewis.

1835.—Samuel Leavitt, Dauiel Wheaton.

1836.—Joseph Titus, Jr., Charles Lemon.

1837.—Daniel B. Brinsmade, Charles Vuil.
HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1838.—John Newton, Truman Baldwin.
1839.—John N. Ford, William Pond.
1840.—Chester Ackley.

1841.—No choice.

1842,—Frederick Chittenden, Daniel Frisbie.
1843.— George Steele.

1844-45.—No choice.

1846.—Ithiel Hicox, David Whittlesey.
1847.—Platt Bryan, Nathaniel H. Carey.
1848.—Daniel B. Brinsmade, Abijah Tomlinson.
1849.—Sheldon H. Calhoun, Daniel Burnham.
1850.—Abiel C. Lemon, Johnson L. Tomlinson,
1851.—Arvin Burnham, Moseley V. Bronson.
1852.—Russell W. Frisbie, Leander Odell.
1853.—Sheldon W. Meeker, Frederick Newton.
1854,—Cyrus E. Sterling, Rufus Smith.
1855.—Guy C. Ford, Joel Morehouse.
1856.—Powell Hickox, Samuel J. Averill.
1857.—George W. Cogswell, Powell Hickox.
1858.—Garry Newton, George C. Hitchcock.
1859.—Joseph E. Hatch, George K. Logan.
1860.—Isaac D. Patterson, Robert B. Limburner.
1861.—Orestes Hickox, Sidney H. Lyman.
1862.—Joseph Watson, Nelson Ford.
1863,—Seth 8, Logan, Charles C. Lemon.
1864.—Seth 8. Logan, Willington Watson.
1865.— Romulus W. Ford, Abel Bristol.
1866.—Henry J. Church, Levi Morehouse.
1867.—Wm. Beardsley, B. P. Beach.
1868.—William Odell, James D. Barton.
1869.—John B. Newton, Henry S. Wharton.
1870.—S. H. Welton, Samuel H. Clark.
1871.—Joseph N. Frost, George S. Humphrey.
1872.—George S. Cogswell, Sherman Platt.
1873.—S. F. Hollister, John M. Ford.
1874.—George S. Cogswell, Samuel F. Hollister.
1875.—George S. Cogswell, Samuel Frisbie.
1876.—Ezra B. Beebe, James D. Barton.
1877.—John M. Ford, Franklin 8. Titus.
1878.—John M. Ford, Charles H. Mason.
1879.—Edward P. Lyman, Walter A. Newton.
1880.—Curtis A. Titus, Sheldon J. Logan.
1881.—Seymour H. Welton, Earl Buckingham.

MILITARY RECORD.

This town responded nobly to the call for men and
money to put down the late Rebellion, and expended
twenty thousand and forty dollars, and sent the follow-
ing soldiers :

John Ames, Wm. Allen, George H. Aberton, Henry Armstrong, John
Bailey, John Benedict, Wm. Black, G. H. Black, R. T. Barnum, Ed-
ward F. Ryan, Henry A. Barton, B. N. Brice, Robert Bennett, James
Blauvelt, Charles Bashley, Wm. C. Barney, John Bemus, Watson,
Jvhn J., and Robert Cogswell, Henry A., Simeon H., and E. W.
Calhoun, Matthew Crow, Jeremiah Collins, Wnm.Culler, Alfred Colle,
Sheldon Clark, Wm. H. Cone, David Churchill, J. W. Crane, Charles
Dickerhoff, John Darzin, Richard and Wm. H. Davis, Charles Duskey,
John Dewey, Charles Duggan, Wm. Ellis, Christian Eiche, J. Flesor,
J. A. Ferris, Lucius Fox, Sheldon Fox, Wm. P. Fearn, Jos. Francis,
Michael and James Flynn, John Farley, John Foster, P. Fitzgerald,
Remus F. Ford, Charles Goodyear, Charles E. Galpin, J. A. Glover,
Calvin B. Hatch, Edward Hull, John G and Thomas Tlall, Alex,
Holyendorf, Oloff Hawser, Dwight, Fitz G., and Lewis Hollister,
Levi A., Platt A., John M., Lewis, and Lewis G. Hamlin, John Jones,
Peter Johnson, J. P. Knowles, Emon C. and Nixon BE, Kenney, Frank
Libunr, J. 8, Lewis, R. C, Loveridge, John H. Logan, Truman, Mal-
lory, Charles, and John Morse, Wm. McNally, Robert McCarty, Dan-
iel McMahon, Wm. Marks, J. W. Maramble, James Man, C. Muller,
A. W. Mitchell, Wm. E. Mallon, Charles Noble, J. T. Nettleton,
John Nizzer, Franklin Nichols, Harley Perkins, Jesse Purdon, John
T. Reno, August Ross, John Riley, Edmund and James Smith, Jerry
Sullivan, Jerome Titus, James Thompson, George E. Taylor, Burr,
Charles, John (2d), and Philip Williams, H. G. Worden, T. J. Wes-
tun, Timothy and Alfred N. Whittlesey, C, L. Warner, Frank War-
ner, Jr., D. B. Wright, Wm. J. Watrous, Georgo Ward, and John
B, Whitehead.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES,

HON. DANIEL N. BRINSMADE.

Hon. Daniel N. Brinsmade, of Washington, the
son of Rey. Daniel Brinsmade, second pastor of the
Congregational Church in Washington, was born in
1750, graduated at Yale College in 1772, read law in
Sharon, and practiced his profession in his native
place until his death, in 1826. In 1787 he was a dele-
gate to the convention at Hartford which ratified the
Constitution of the United States. He was justice of
the quorum, and assistant judge of the County Court
for sixteen years, ten of which he sat on the bench.
He represented his town in the Legislature during
forty-three sessions, and was at one time clerk of the
House of Representatives.

DANIEL B. BRINSMADE.

Gen. Daniel B. Brinsmade, son of Hon. Daniel N.
Brinsmade, was born in Washington, Conn., Oct. 15,
i782. He was twice married,—first to Irene Merwin,
by whom he had one son. His second wife was Mary
W. Gold, of Cornwall, Conn. Their family consisted
of four children,—two sons and two daughters,—
Thomas F., William B., Abigail Irene, and Mary M.
Thomas F. married for his first wife Silence, daughter
of Samuel Leavitt, and for his second Elizabeth Lea-
vitt, sister of Silence. William B. married Charlotte
Chapin, of Springfield, Mass., who is still living in
Washington. Abigail Irene married F. W. Gunn, of
Washington, where they reside; and Mary M. mar-
ried George L. Brown, and resides in the city of
Brooklyn.

Gen. Brinsmade was one of the leading spirits of his
day. He succeeded his father, Daniel N., as town
clerk, and officiated in that capacity over forty years.
He also represented the town in the General Assem-
bly for the years 1816, 1817, 1828, 1837, and 1848, and
was a faithful and efficient official. He manifested an
interest in military matters, and in 1817 was made
colonel of the Fifth Regiment of Connecticut Cav-
alry, and subsequently promoted to be general in the
State cavalry. He was president of the day at the
Litchfield centennial, held at Litchfield, Aug. 18 and
14, 1851, on which occasion he exhibited the epaulets
and scarf which were worn by Gen. La Fayette during
the war of the Revolution, These historic souvenirs
of the gallant Frenchman, who risked his life in the
defense of American liberty, are heirlooms in the
possession of the Brinsmade family.

Gen. Brinsmade was a man of sterling integrity and
sound judgment, and was a recognized power in the
councils of the town, county, and State. He died
Nov. 8, 1862.

 
    

 

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WASHINGTON.

F. W. GUNN.

F. W. Gunn, youngest son and child of Capt. John
Gunn and Polly Ford, was born in the town of Wash-
ington, Litchfield Co., Conn., Oct. 4, 1816.

His father was a native of Washington, Conn., and
was a farmer by occupation. He was deputy sheriff
of Litchfield County for many years, during the time
the laws of the State imprisoned for debt, serving with
credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents.

He married Polly Ford, and had eight children,—
three sons and five daughters,—and all but two are
now (1880) living.

F. W. Gunn worked on his father’s farm summers,
receiving such advantages for an education as the
schools of his own town and those of neighboring
towns afforded. At seventeen years of age (in 1833)
he entered Yale College, from which he graduated in
1837.

Among the most distinguished members of his class
are Chief Justice Waite, Wm. M. Evarts, Profs. Lyman
and Silliman, and Edwards Pierrepont. We quote the
following from the pen of a personal friend:

“Myr. Gunn’s long career and marked success as a
teacher are deserving of something more than a mere
passing notice. Shortly after his graduation from
college he started an academy school at his native
place, in 1839, which, with a few years’ interval, he
has kept up ever since. Of the character of so old
and well-established an institution it is hardly neces-
sary to speak. Mr. Gunn is a born teacher. With
that remarkable faculty for interesting pupils in study,
which normal schools may improve but cannot give,
he has excellent methods of play, as well as study for
young folks, and early recognized a fact now becoming
generally understood, that the development of boys’
bodies is as much a part of the teacher’s duty as the
development of their minds, taking into consideration
also the most important fact that with him the boy
finds a home as well as a school. We are not sur-
prised at the evidence of increasing prosperity that
strikes us at each return to the old institution. One
fact we can hardly pass by without due reference.
From the outset Mr. Gunn was an outspoken Aboli-
tionist. At that time the Abolitionist was distrusted
and disliked, if not persecuted, as a disturber of the
peace. The effect on the school was for a time disas-
trous. The number of pupils diminished, and for a
year or two Mr. Gunn taught at Towanda, Pa. On
his return from Towanda he started a boarding-school
in Washington, which for the past ten or fifteen
years has been well known as the ‘Gunnery.’ Dr.
J. G. Holland has introduced it as the ‘ Birds’ Nest’
into his novel ‘ Arthur Bonnycastle,’ while it appears
as the ‘Snuggery’ in ‘ Pastoral Days,’ a book writ-
ten and illustrated by Mr. W. Hamilton Gibson, an
old scholar of Mr. Gunn’s.”’

Some of Mr. Gunn’s characteristics are untiring
energy, devotion to his professional duties, liberal
with his means, charitable towards those who differ

 

657

from him in politics or religion, and first and fore-
most in his town in all enterprises having for their
object the best interest of society.

He married Abigail Irene, daughter of Gen. Daniel
B. Brinsmade, of Washington, Conn. She is a lady
of culture and refinement, and universally respected.

They have one daughter, who married John C.
Brinsmade, a graduate of Harvard College. They
are associated with Mr. Gunn in the school.

REV. HENRY UPSON.

Rev. Henry Upson was born in Wolcott, Conn.,
May 21, 1831; was twin brother to Arabella Harriet
Frances Upson, and the youngest of the thirteen
children of Thomas and Jerusha (Upson) Upson, a
grandson of “ Esquire’ Charles Upson, whose mother
was a sister of the famous Dr. Samuel Hopkins, of
Newport, R. I. His early school-days were spent in
the Centre district school of Wolcott, of which he
gave some reminiscences at the centenary meeting
there in 1873. In 1887 the family moved to Berlin
(Kensington parish), where was his home till his
majority. Here he was “a farmer’s son,” fond of all’
domestic animals, his favorite then, as ever since,
being the horse. With such education as the com-
mon school afforded, in his teens he became a teacher,
and exercised his gifts first in the South District in
his native town, near the place that had been the
home of his grandfather, Isaac Upson. He after-
wards taught in Southington, and received kind
words of praise from his friend Isaac Burritt, brother
of the learned blacksmith. During these years he’
was occasionally engaged as clerk in the store of his
uncle Lucas and brother Samuel Upson, and later,
in the store of his brothers Samuel and John Upson,
in Southington.

Here, in March, 1850, he became a member of the
Congregational Church, under the preaching of Rev.
E. C. Jones, for whom he had the highest respect,
and to whom he has ever felt himself greatly in-
debted for good counsel and timely encouragement.
Becoming a member of the church involved in the
mind of the subject of this sketch another important
step, viz., a liberal education in preparation for the
work of the gospel ministry.”

Filial duties to his mother, however, who became
a widow in 1848, led him to spend most of the two
succeeding years on the farm in Kensington. Re-
leased from these labors on his twenty-first birthday,
he became a member of Lewis Academy in Southing-
ton, and learned his first Latin lesson the next day.
He began his warfare at his own charges and without
money. By hard work and economy he entered Yale
College in 1855, with a small sum of money at com-
mand, College-life was congenial and delightful. In
Freshman year he was chosen deacon, and at the
meeting there were no more votes cast than were
persons present, which, it has been said, has not al-
658

ways been the case in electing such officers. He was
often called the “jolly deacon.”

Though diverted from study by teaching in term-
time, and by other employments in vacations for filthy
lucre’s sake, he stood well as a student, never got a
tardy mark, and graduated with honor in 1859. In
the autumn of that year he became a member of An-
dover Theological Seminary. A part of the next year
he spent there, and then joined the Yale Theological
Seminary. Here, June 16, 1862, from Governor Wil-
liam A. Buckingham he received a commission as
chaplain of the Thirteenth Regiment Connecticut
Volunteers. He was ordained June 22d, and subse-
quently joined the regiment in New Orleans.

Col. Homer B. Sprague, in his history of the regi-
ment, speaks of him as an earnest and eloquent
preacher, but one who in his care for the soul did not
forget the body, as many a load of chickens, turkeys,
pigs, sweet potatoes, and the like brought into camp
and distributed by him to the half-starved soldiers
testified. Hesays, also, intime of battle “he displayed
great courage, and rendered invaluable service in com-
municating orders and dispensing refreshments and
consolation to the wounded.” He adds further that
“the chaplain had a vein of fun in his composition,”
and others have thought of the same thing before and
since. He stood by the regiment in every march and
battle and siege till Port Hudson fell. Then he re-
signed his commission, and on Aug. 7, 1868, left the
service of his country to return to Connecticut and
become pastor of the Congregational Church of New
Preston, from which he had received a unanimous
call before he went to war. He was installed Sept.
23, 18638. Oct. 13, 1868, he was married to Abbie A.
Platt, daughter of Professor Meritt and Abbie A.
(Merwin) Platt, of Milford. They have had no chil-
dren. For several years after his settlement he was
almost constantly chosen moderator of ecclesiastical
meetings on account of his unusual knowledge and
tact in parliamentary usages. He continued in this
pastorate longer than any one else since 1830, He
preached here till Nov. 23, 1872. From Jan. 1, 1878,
he supplied the pulpit of the old church on the hill
for five years. In 1869 he first received some students
into his family for special instruction and training.
His success in eradicating bad tendencies and instill-
ing good principles was so marked that applications
increased, till, in 1878, he gave up preaching regularly
and devoted his whole time to his school, which then
had become widely known as “Upson Seminary.”
Having, in 1865, assisted in purchasing the old Eli-
phalet Tomlinson place for a parsonage, when he gave
up preaching in the village those who owned a ma-
jority of the stock were willing to sell it to him that he
might remain and continue his school in the parish.
So the place came into his possession, and the house,
in 1877, he greatly enlarged and improved, making it
both convenient and pleasant for a family school.
His school has been a great pecuniary and social

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

blessing to the place. From the first it has had the
patronage of persons of national fame and great
wealth. Hon. J. D. Cameron and Maj.-Gen. H. W.
Birge were among its early patrons. A son of Rear-
Admiral A. H. Foote was there, and from Chili a
lineal descendant of Governor Jonathan Trumbull.
Some Japanese students have been in the school, who
have since occupied with honor high stations in the
educational institutions and governmental offices of
Japan. Among his later patrons have been Gen.
Thomas J. Brady and Rey. Dr. T. L. Cuyler. For
one so small in numbers the school has been remark-
ably cosmopolitan in character. Students have come
from the East and the West in our own country, and
from Porto Rico, Chili, Japan, and Germany.

Upson Seminary is peculiar in having no vacations.
Boys make it their home, those going away at the
request of friends for occasional visits. The range of
studies has been wide enough to fit for Yale College
or scientific school, for West Point Academy, or for
business.

The school, from the first day until now, has
steadily grown in popularity, prosperity, and useful-
ness.

GREGORY SEELEY.

Three brothers by the name of Seeley emigrated
from Wales—in what year perhaps no record can be
found—and settled in Fairfield Co., Conn., near Long
Island Sound, one in Stamford, one in Newfield
(now Bridgeport), and the other in West Stratford.
Samuel Seeley, a descendant, lived in Stratfield parish,
and had a family of about twelve children, one of
whom, Ezra, lived in Fairfield, Stratfield parish, and
married Mary Sherwood. They hadsix children, viz.:
Anna, Elijah, Aaron, Ezra, Eunice, and Sherwood.
Their son Elijah, born Nov. 27, 1769, and Patience
Gregory, born March 17, 1774, were married March
8, 1793. He died at his home in Easton, Fairfield
Co., March 9, 1851. His wife died at the same place,
Feb. 2, 1863. Their children were Paulina, born
Dec. 18, 1794 (now deceased, and was the wife of
Benjamin Nichols, of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y.);
Eunice, born Jan. 8,1797, died May 9,1861; Gregory
(who is the subject of this sketch, and whose por-
trait may here be seen) was born in the town of Easton
Fairfield Co., May 14, 1799, and died in the town of
Washington, Litchfield Co., Jan. 28, 1867; Elijah,
Jr., born Jan. 27, 1803, died Oct. 5, 1815; Calvin,
born Jan. 18, 1806, and now living in Sandy Creek,
Oswego Co., N. Y.; Harriet (wife of Titus A. Bryan,
of Washington), born Oct. 19, 1814, died Feb. 19,
1836.

Gregory Seeley, born as above stated, and Polly
Sherwood, born Dec. 24, 1803 (daughter of Walker
Sherwood, Esq., of Easton), were married Nov. 28,
1820. In the spring of 1821 they commenced house-
keeping in their native town, where their eldest son,
 
 
WASHINGTON.

659

 

 

Walker Sherwood, was born, Aug. 27, 1821 (now a
farmer residing in Woodbury, Conn.).

In the spring of 1822, Mr. Seeley, with his family,
removed to a farm which he had purchased in the
town of Southeast, Putnam Co., N. Y. Here they
‘lived for thirteen years, during which time five of
their children were born, viz.: Jane Ann, born April
22, 1823, died Oct. 8, 1860 (wife of Daniel §. Baker,
of Washington) ; Calvin, born Sept. 15, 1825, died
Dec. 15, 1842; Marriette, born May 381, 1828, died
‘March 12, 1878 (wife of Ethiel S. Green, of New Mil-
ford); Henry Warner, born Feb, 18, 1830, now a
farmer, living in the town of Washington; Sarah
Elizabeth, born Feb. 3, 18338 (wife of Richard A.
Bryan, of Washington).

During the thirteen years that Mr. Seeley had
lived in Southeast with his family he had been en-
gaged, more or less, in the droving business, and had
frequently gone into the southwestern portion of
Litchfield Co., Conn., to purchase stock, where the
cheapness of the land and its adaptation to grazing
purposes led him to believe that he could better his
lot by selling his farm in New York and buying in
Connecticut. This he accordingly did, moving his
family in the spring of 1835 to Washington, locating
on a farm of nearly four hundred acres which he
had purchased.

Here he commenced a system of farming altogether

new in this section of country, and pursued it till his |

death. He devoted his farm especially to grazing
purposes, and discovering that plaster was exactly
suited to the soil he used it plentifully, and was boun-
tifully rewarded.

As an omen of success, in the fall of 1835 (Novem-
ber 1st) there was added to the family a pair of twin
boys, named Edwin Gregory and Edson Elijah,—the
former, a farmer, now living in Roxbury, Conn.; the
latter, a farmer, living in Washington. Benjamin
Nichols, the youngest son, was born April 24, 1839,
and now owns and occupies the farm first purchased
by his father in Washington. Harriet Bryan, the
tenth and youngest child, was born Jan. 13, 1845,
and is the wife of Andrew G. Barnes, of New Mil-
ford.

As a man, Gregory Seeley was highly respected,
being social and genial in his nature, and noted for
his hospitality, his “latch-string being always out.”

As a farmer, he was energetic, persevering, and
practical, consequently successful. He believed that
to be a good farmer was as much of a trade or pro-
fession as any other, and required as good judgment
and close application. Often told his boys that “the
theologian, physician, and lawyer could consult their
books, the mechanic his square and compass, but the
farmer must weigh and measure with his eye.”

His sons all became farmers, and his daughters all
became farmers’ wives. Soon after his removal to
Washington he purchased a small farm adjoining his
land, and lying on the main road from Washington to

 

 

Woodbury, repaired the buildings, and made it his
home while he lived. His widow owns and occupies
the old homestead, and around the old hearthstone a
large and happy group of children and grandchildren
meet from time to time as the years roll by.

SAMUEL J. AVERILL.

The exact date of the Averills coming to this coun-
try is not known, but a record in the town of Ipswich,
Mass., in 1648, recognizes their presence. Isaac and
his son Samuel (2), who was born in Preston, Conn.,

in 1715, and settled in New Preston in 1748, locating

upon a portion of the Weraumaug Reserve. Samuel
Averill bought the Indian title of Chief Weraumaug
in 1749. The Averills continue to own and live upon
the same to the present time, December, 1880. Perry
(3), born 1754, upon the Averill homestead, was a sol-
dier of the Revolutionary war, attached to Gen. Wash-
ington’s army in New York City, and afterwards a col-
onel in the Connecticut militia. Samuel (4), born
1787, a farmer upon the homestead, where he built a
substantial stone house, now occupied by his son,
Samuel J., and his family. The widow, Betsey
Averill, survives him, and was ninety-three years
of age May 5, 1880, hale and vigorous in body,
mind, and spirit. Samuel Averill was a zealous
temperance and Christian worker, and performed a
great amount of labor on the homestead, gathering
out the stones, making walls, and smoothing it for
permanent use, especially for mowing. Samuel J.
(5), born Feb. 25, 1819, married Laura P. Platt, of
South Britain, Dec. 4, 1844. Their children are
Ellen M., Heman O., and Julia. They are the sixth
generation living upon the Averill homestead. Sam-

| uel J., the subject of our sketch, was a diligent stu-

dent and a good scholar in the school and academies
of his youth, and taught school one winter. He has
continued his practical education by reading not only
the current news of the day, but also in the line of
moral, religious, and scientific subjects, with a good
degree of interest and intelligence. He brought a
mowing-machine upon the farm Aug. 4, 1853,—prob-
ably the first thoroughly successful one in the county,
—and many more rocks and stones were removed for
its free use and for other purposes upon the farm.
The capacity of the farm to produce grass has been
thoroughly developed in connection with fatten-
ing cattle. He has learned how to make two spears
of grass grow instead of one, and how to use that
grass for practical purpose. The Averill homestead
is a practical proof of the great capacity of the Litch-
field County hills to produce grass and hay. He was
one of the representatives of the town of Washington
in the State Legislature in 1856. He is a deacon in
the New Preston Congregational Church, and is
known as an active Christian and temperance worker
in the vicinity. He has the courage of holding his
660

own convictions, and while he holds strict allegiance
to mere human creed and dogmas, considers it the
duty of every one to execute loving obedience to all
true law, and fulfill the deeper obligations towards
God and man. In politics he is a Republican.

CHAPTER LXVI.

WATERTOWN.

Geographical—Topographical—The First Settlements—The Pioneers—
Organization of the Parish of Westbury—Incidents—Reminiscences of
Hon. F. J. Kingsbury—Physicians—Men of Prominence—Lawyers—
War of 1812—Votes—Evergreen Cemetery—Mortality List—Agricul-
tural—Summer Resort—Railroad—Reminiscences of Mrs. Rev. Fred-
erick Holcomb.

WATERTOWN is located in the southeastern part of
the county, and is bounded as follows: on the north
by Morris and Thomaston, on the east by Thomaston
and New Haven County, on the south by New Haven
County, and on the west by Woodbury and Bethle-
hem. The surface is hilly and the soil fertile.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS.

The first permanent settlements within the bounds
of the present town of Watertown were made in about
1721, by Jonathan Scott, Sr., and Ebenezer Richason,
son of Thomas Richason, one of the pioneers of
Waterbury. The former located on Scott’s Moun-
tain, and the latter on the road leading to the moun-
tain and near Steel’s Brook.

John Warner, the first physician in the town,
located in about 1723 near Steel’s Brook, on the road
leading to Scott’s Mountain and Wooster’s Swamp.
Two years later, Isaac Castle and Samuel Thomas,
son-in-law of Dr. John Warner, and Joseph Hurlbut,
son-in-law of Jonathan Scott, Sr., joined the settle-
ment, locating at Wooster Swamp. Jonathan Kelsey
also settled during this year.

The beauty of location and fertility of the soil soon
attracted others, and not many years elapsed ere this
became one of the flourishing settlements in this part
of the State.

Among other pioneers, besides those mentioned
above, were Jonathan Scott, Jr., Gersham Scott,
Ebenezer Warner, Joseph Nichols, Abraham Utter,
John Sutliff, Henry Cook, David Scott, Obadiah
Scott, Bemudl, James, and Elam Brown, Lieut. J.
Fulford, Capt. N. Arnold, Stephen Judd, Thos, Ham-
mond, James Doolittle, Thomas Judd, Dr. Thos.
Foot, Thos., Capt. Samuel, and Amos Hickox, George
and James Welton, Thomas Matthews, Jonathan
Gurnsey, Israel Woodward, Joseph Gurnaey, William
Andrews, William Scovill, Samuel Frost, David
Strickland, Thos. Dutton, J: athars Prindle, 5 eremiah
Peck, Ginnnl Reynolds, Nathaniel Merrills, Abraham
Andrews, John Judd, John Scovill, Edmund Scott,
Joseph Hickox, John Welton, Obadiah Richards, and
Daniel Porter.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

The pioneers were industrious and enterprising,
and as early as 1727 a road was laid out through the
town.

ORGANIZATION OF THE PARISH OF WESTBURY.

The population increased rapidly, and in 1782 they
presented a petition to the General Assembly for
“winter priviledges.” “Winter priviledges” meant the
privilege of hiring a minister for themselves during
the winter months, and being exempt during the time
from the old parish rates. This petition was signed
by thirty-two persons. The town appointed a com-
mittee to appear before the Assembly and oppose the
petition; but, notwithstanding, the privilege was
granted for four years.

In 1733 the “northwest inhabitants” presented a
memorial to the General Assembly, asking to be set
off as a distinct society, but it was not granted. The
question of the new society came before the Legis-
lature in 1734, and again the town resisted the move-
ment. In 1736 another petition was presented, pray-
ing to be set off as a distinct society, representing
that the settlement numbered forty-five families.
This prayer of the petitioners was also refused, but
five months’ “ winter priviledges”’ were granted for
two years. Another attempt was made in May, 1737,
but was alike unsuccessful. In the following October,
however, a vote was passed by the town signifying a
willingness that a Legislative committee should “ come
to view all the circumstances of the town.”

A committee, consisting of Capt. John Riggs, Capt.
Isaac Dickerman, and John Fowler, was sent by the
Assembly, who reported, in May, 1788, in favor of
the petition, and recommended a division line. The
society at that time contained two hundred and thirty-
five inhabitants. The report of the committee was
adopted at the October session of the General Assem-
bly, and the society incorporated by the name of
Westbury.

The following reference to the early settlement of
the town is taken from the Connecticut Historical
Collection :

“The first settlement within the limits of Watertown was made about _
the year 1729, by a family of the name of Garnsey, from Milford, on
what is now the farm owned by Andrew Darrow. It was considered
such an undertaking at that period that prayers were offered for their
safe arrival, etc. This town has been noted for the size of its forest-trees.
It is said that one of the first settlers, having no shelter for the night,
peeled off the bark of one of the trees which he had felled, and laid down
upon the inside, In the morning, when he awoke, he found the bark
rolled up so closely that it was with some difficulty he could extricate
himself. It is also related that one of the first settlers, by the name of
Brown, was so straitened in his circumstances that he sold one of his
children (a son) to one of his neighbors for a barrel of pork, in order to
obtain something for the rest of his children to subsist on.”

Bronson, in his “ History of Waterbury,” says,—

“The first house which was erected in the northwest section of the
town appears to have been built near what was afterwards called ‘the
village,’ about 1701, by John and Obadiah Richards, son of Obadiab.
The Indian disturbances at that period probably prevented its perma-
nent occupation. Richards’ house and buildings are occasionally re-
ferred to in the laying-out and conveying of land. In April, 1704,
Abraham Andruss sold two acres on a hill westerly from Richards’ land,
WATERTOWN.

where their house and barn is, west of Wooster Swamp. The house is
again mentioned in 1709,

“The ‘village’ (so called) mentioned in the last paragraph was a tract
of land ia the northwest corner of the town, bordering on Woodbury and
Litchfield, the fertility of which had been discovered at an early period,
and which at an unknown date had been sequestered to prevent its
being taken up in the ordinary land divisions. In November, 1722, the
proprietors agreed to have a division of this sequestered land. At the
same time land was reserved for roads and Provision made for a village.”

The following is an extract from the records:

“Tt was agreed by vote, that in dividing of the sequestered land at the
North West corner, there shall be three tears of Lotts,—viz., a highway
next Woodbury of Two Rods wide, and then half a mile wide of Land to
be paid out in lotts, and then a highway of eight rods to run north and
south, and then a nother tear of lotts a half mile, and then a highway
on the east side of eight rods (&c.), and the committee in laying out the
lotts to leave a four- or six-rod highway every half mile or there abouts
through the tears,—no lott to be divided.

“Several divisions were afterwards made of the village lands, but no
settlement seems to have been begun there for some time. They were
regarded as 0 much more valuable than the other undivided lands that,
in some of the divisions, one acre was equal to five acres (or at a later
period, to two and a half acres) in the other parts of the town. The
‘village’ is now called Gernseytown, from the name of its early settlers,
Jonathan Gernsey and his sons and John Gernsey.”

REMINISCENCES.

The following reminiscences ofthe town are taken
from an address delivered by the Hon. F. J. Kings-
bury at the centennial celebration at Watertown,
June 17, 1880:

“ By about 1810 the new town might fairly be said to
have outstripped the old (Waterbury). Several enter-
prising merchants had established themselves here.
Mr. Wait Smith, who was succeeded by his son,
Gen. Genit Smith, Mr. Younglove Cutler, and the
brothers John and Benjamin De Forest, were among
the leading merchants whose enterprise materially
aided in building up the young town. They received
the produce of the farmers, and thereby stimulated
production and introduced various new branches of
industry. Cheese-and butter-making were largely
entered into; the raising of stock also, and the pack-
ing of beef and pork. From 1810 to 1830, Watertown
as a commercial centre was a place. of more import-
ance than Waterbury, and there are many people still
living who well remember when Waterbury people
came to Watertown to do their shopping, much as
Watertown goes to Waterbury now.

“Early in the century Gen. David Humphreys, a na-
tive of Derby, a man of genius, a soldier of the Revo-
lution, who had been an aide of Washington, became
the representative of this government at the Court of
Spain. He there conceived the idea of importing
into this country the fine-wooled Spanish merino
sheep. He embarked his own fortune in the enter-
prise. To forward his plans he built a factory for the
manufacture of fine wool goods at Rimmon Falls,
afterwards known as Humphreysville, and now Sey-
mour, but which should have retained the name of
its founder. He was not pecuniarily successful ;
nevertheless the country owes him a debt of grati-
tude, and the enterprising business men and farmers
of Watertown were among the first to engage enthu-

 

661

siastically in his plans. The merino sheep were
brought and bred here, and to this day the name of
Watertown and the flock of Stephen Atwood is cele-
brated wherever merino sheep are known.

““A gentleman who has made agriculture and fine
cattle a study, and who has traveled all over the
world, once told me that he had seen more fine teams
of working oxen in the streets of Watertown than he
had ever seen in any other place in all his travels.
These, of course, were the famous ‘Connecticut Reds,’
of which Watertown may be said to have been the
birthplace, and in the breeding of which Mr. Jacob
Blakeslee and others have borne a conspicuous part.

“TI have been anxious to present some personal
sketches of the men who were most active during this
period in building up the young town. I have only
been able to get two or three, but perhaps others may
be added later. Among the business men of the town,
Younglove Cutler was one of the first to open a store
in the settlement. Whether he preceded Wait Smith
or no, Iam unable to say, but they are the two pio-
neers in the business of merchandising. Mr. Cutler
was born in Killingly, Conn., in 1750, Having a
stepmother, he was induced at the age of ten years
to pack all his possessions in a handkerchief, and,
without one cent in his pocket, to strike out and seek
his fortune, adopting as his motto, ‘Go West, young
man,’ selecting Westbury as his future home. He
worked about for the farmers for a while as he could
find employment, but I soon hear of him trading in
a small way as a peddler. Next opening a small
store in the south part of the house now owned by
Dr. John De Forest, where he traded evenings and
worked out through the day, which house must have
been built not far from 1783, since that is the year in
which he bought the land on which the house stands.
The large show windows can now be seen under the
verandah. Afterwards he built a wood store, where
he traded for many years. The building was after-
wards removed and the brick store built on its site by
Mr. Benjamin De Forest, now occupied by Mr. Mc-
Neil. He was successful in business, being, as I un-
derstand, industrious, energetic, temperate, frugal,
and acquired, for those days, a handsome estate, a
considerable part of which was lost toward the close
of his life by indorsing. He became a large land-
owner and stock-breeder, and was particularly inter-
ested in the Spanish merino sheep, procuring his
flock from Gen. Humphreys, whose importations date
1802. Mr. Cutler sold one ewe for one thousand dol-
lars, and her unborn lamb for five hundred dollars
more. To his great chagrin the ewe dropped twins,
thus involving to him a loss of five hundred dollars
as he always claimed. From his flock it is said sprung
the ‘Stephen Atwood sheep,’ nowso celebrated through
the country. He died in 1816.

“ John H. and Benjamin De Forest, brothers and
natives of Huntington, Conn., came to Watertown
and entered into mercantile business in 1803, first in
662

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

a small way in the northeast corner room of the house
now occupied by Mr. Lewis, but soon moved to the
store owned and formerly occupied by Mr. Cutler,
which stood on the ground where the brick store now
stands, occupied by Mr. McNeil. There they suc-
cessfully pursued the business of country merchants
till 1817, when the partnership was dissolved. The
business in those days was principally a barter trade;
but little money was in circulation. No cash was
paid out directly for produce; contracts were made
with a few of the larger farmers to bring in their pork,
butter, cheese, and grain, which were the principal
products of the farm, and receive on the 1st day of
April in each year one-quarter to one-third cash, the
remainder to be taken in ‘store pay.’ The pork, but-
ter, cheese, and grain were all sent by teams to New
Haven. No Waterbury market in those days.

“During the time of their partnership the older
brother, John, went several voyages to sea as super-
cargo and part owner. On one of these voyages he
visited Spain and brought away a lot of merino sheep,
among the earliest of the kind ever introduced into this
country, which proved both profitable to the owners,
and of immense value to the farming interests of the
United States. A while after the introduction of
these sheep the speculation in them ran so high that
single merino bucks and ewes were sold for fifteen
hundred dollars and sixteen hundred dollars each. On
another voyage, during the war of 1812, and while
England and France were also at war, he sailed for
France with a cargo of codfish. Had they arrived
safely the vessel would have netted a large profit to
her owners, but just as they sighted port the vessel
was cut out by a British privateer, the vessel and cargo
confiscated, and the crew thrust into the celebrated
Dartmoor prison, where they were confined several
months. After a while Mr. De Forest, who was noted
as an adept with the pen, wrote a very plausible letter
to the British admiralty, and so ‘pulled the wool’
over the eyes of the officers as to his intentions and
destination that they liberated him and the crew.

“During his residence in Watertown, John H. was
much interested in politics and civil affairs. He was
the principal trying justice for many years, and repre-
sented the town in the State Legislature for five ses-
sions, from 1809 to 1815. About the year 1819, John
H. went to Humphreysville (now Seymour) and pur-
chased the principal water-privilege there, and the
old mill foundry built and occupied by George Hum-
phrey as a woolen-factory, converted it into a cotton-
mill, where he successfully pursued the business of
cotton manufacture till his death, in 1839,

“After the dissolution of partnership in 1817, Ben-
jamin continued the business till 1825, when he gave
it up to Eli Curtiss, who had been his clerk. During
this time, while on a trip to New York to purchase
goods (there being no drummers in those days), he saw
a bundle of palm-leaflying on the wharf. The thought
occurred to him that a hat might be made of it similar

 

to the Panama. He purchased a bundle of palm-
leaf, and also a Panama hat, and brought them home.
He offered a prize of fifty dollars to any one who would
find out how to braid them. Mr. Anson Beebe, of
Northfield, and lately of Westville, took the prize. He
came to Mr. De Forest’s, and for weeks instructed
large numbers of women and girls in the art of braid-
ing. The manufacture progressed slowly for want of
material. So difficult was it to obtain the plant in
New York that an agent was finally sent to the West
Indies to procure it and to arrange for a future supply.
The manufacture became a success, and large numbers
of women and girls in this and the neighboring towns
made it their principal business, much to.their profit.
This branch of manufacture, begun here in Water-
town in this small way, is now extensively prosecuted
by machinery in various parts of the country, and a
hat that once cost two dollars or three dollars is now
sold for fifty or sixty cents.

“A short time before Mr. De Forest left the mer-
cantile business he united with Aaron Benedict and
others in forming a company for the manufacture of
gilt buttons, with a capital of six thousand five hun-
dred dollars, which was the commencement of the
Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing Company of
Waterbury. Mr. De Forest became salesman of the
new company, principally in New York and Boston,
till 1837, when he retired in consequence of ill health,
and died in 1859.

“During the period covered by the sketches just
given the town had grown in wealth and refinement.
Elegance, and even luxury, as luxury was then
counted, was found among its inhabitants. The peo-
ple were able to give their sons and daughters all the
advantages of education which the country afforded,
and many young men went forth from the old town
who made names for themselves in all parts of the
country.

“So long as agriculture was the principal interest
of the State the young town steadily gained on the
old one in wealth, enterprise, and importance. For
some reason which I have not had time to investigate,
the old town seems to have held its own in population
somewhat remarkably,—perhaps it had that prolific
gift for which poverty is proverbial.

“During the twenty years from 1815 to 1835, Con-
necticut passed from an agricultural to a manufactur-
ing State. The opening of the wheat-lands of the
West, and a variety of other causes which I have not
time to enumerate, wrought this change; and the in-
habitants of the old town of Waterbury, who had
been compelled by the poverty of their soil to exer-
cise their wits in order to live, now found use for
them in a profitable direction. Very soon the tide
was turned, and the ambitious young men of Water-
town began to look to the lower valley as a place to
exercise their gifts. The current of emigration was
reversed, and the De Forests, Eltons, Buckinghams,
Merrimans, and many others now brought their cap-
WATERTOWN.

663

 

ital and enterprise back to the older town. There the
farmers soon began to find a market for their produce,
and a place of investment for their surplus gains.
There their sons became captains of industry; and
where the sons went there went the daughters also.”

PHYSICIANS.

The first physician in this town was Dr. John War-
ner, one of the earliest settlers. Others have been as
follows: Thomas Foot, Benjamin Hull, James Elton,
John Elton, Samuel Elton, Reuben S. Woodward,
Norman Bull, John De Forest, Garwood H. Atwood,
Allyn M. Hungerford, Samuel Catlin, Jr., Henry H.
Hart, Walter S. Munger, and Rev. F. B. Woodman.*

MEN OF PROMINENCE, Etc.

The following persons, born in Watertown, have
distinguished themselves as men of talent:

John Trumbull, poet; died in Detroit, Mich.

Ebenezer Foote, attorney; died in Albany, N. Y.

Samuel A. Foote, attorney, Geneva, N. Y.

Samuel W. Southmayd, attorney, Watertown; died
in Watertown, 1818.

Matthew R. Dutton, professor of mathematics, Yale
College; died in New Haven, July 17, 1825.

Henry Dutton, attorney, New Haven, and Governor
of Connecticut in 1854.

William E. Curtis, attorney, New York City.

The oldest person who has ever lived in Watertown
as a permanent resident was Mrs. Rebecca Prindle,
widow of Mr. Noah Judd, and granddaughter of
Jonathan Prindle, one of the first settlers. “She was
baptized by the Rev. John Trumbull a few days after
his ordination, being the first child baptized in the
place. She died March 19, 1888, aged ninety-nine
years.

Tn the winter of 1800 a Mrs. Clark, who for a time
had lived with her friends in this place, was carried
to Cornwall, Vt., in a sleigh, being then one hundred
years of age. She was known to have lived three or
four years after.

The first male child born in Watertown was Mr.
James Welton, who died May 18, 1812, aged eighty-
nine.

Thomas Matthews, Esq., who died Sept. 6, 1798,
aged ninety-eight, was the person who trimmed with
a pocket-knife the tree known as “The Large Elm.”

The first one-horse wagon ever owned in Water-
town was purchased by Rev. Chauncey Prindle, in or
about 1805.

The oldest house in this town is the one owned and
occupied by Mr. Andrew Darrow, supposed to have
been built between 1730 and 1735. The next is the
one known as the “Trumbull House,” in which John

 

* Of the physicians mentioned above, Dr. John Elton was in practice
twenty-four years, and Dr. Samuel Elton fifty-eight years. The latter
died Dec. 8, 1858, Dr. John De Forest practiced fifteen years, and Dr.
Allyn M. Hungerford has been in active practice since 1844, nearly forty
years.

 

Trumbull, the celebrated author of “McFingal,” was
born, April 24, 1750.

LAWYERS.

The following sketch of the lawyers of Watertown
is taken from an address delivered by the late Hon.
William E. Curtis, of New York, at the Watertown
centennial celebration, June 17, 1880:

“Eli Curtis, who graduated in the class of 1777 at
Yale College, and who lost an arm in the war of the
Revolution, was the first member of the legal profes-
sion that settled in Watertown. Tradition speaks
favorably of his courage and services as an officer of
the Revolutionary army, of his merits as a lawyer,
and the public positions which he held indicate his
appreciation by his fellow-citizens. In the brief list
of subscribers to Kirby’s ‘Law Reports,’ published
at Litchfietd in 1789, the first, or among the first, pub-
lished in America, his name appears ;, also that of
Samuel Southmayd, the father of Samuel W. South-
mayd, the lawyer; also the name of Thomas Fenn,
Esq., the ancestor of Amasa J. Parker, and other
lawyers of eminence and sterling merit ; and also the
names of Daniel Potter, Esq., and David Smith, Esq.
This subscription-list, both here and over the country,
is worthily represented to-day in the third and fourth
generations of the subscribers. Hon. Eli Curtis re-
moved from Watertown, and died in 1821. Samuel
W. Southmayd was born in this town in September,
1773. He was the great-grandson of the Rev. John
Southmayd, of Waterbury, who himself was the
great-grandson of Sir William Southmayd, of the
county of Kent, England. He studied law at Litch-
field, and was admitted to the barin 1795. In 1809
he received the honorary degree of A.M. from Yale
College. He early acquired the esteem and confi-
dence of his townsmen, whom during his brief life he
represented seventeen times in the Legislature. He
soon rose to eminence in his profession. His law
library, much of which came into my father’s posses-
sion, contained most of the valuable English reports
and treatises of his day, which, enriched by notes and
addenda in his beautiful handwriting, indicate to this
day how accomplished and learned he was as a law-
yer. He died March 4, 1818.

“The anecdotes and traditions of his career have
almost faded away, but his example as a patriotic
citizen, a kind-hearted man, and a learned and hon-
orable lawyer, may exert an influence when his name
even is forgotten. He was a bachelor, but died, sur-
rounded by the kindred of relatives awaiting the
change, as the late Dr. Samuel P. Elton described it
to me, with the calmness of a philosopher and the
resignation of a Christian. Soon after the death of
Mr. Southmayd a committee was appointed at a meet-
ing of citizens to invite Mr. Holbrook Curtis, then
practicing law in Newtown, to remove to Watertown.
He accepted this invitation, and remained until his
death, in 1858. He was in 1813 twenty-six years of
664

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

age, having graduated from Yale in 1807. During
his long period of practice he had the respect and
confidence of the community. He was many times a
member of the Legislature, a judge of probate, and
also a judge of the County Court. Cultivated and
scholarly in his tastes, he possessed that rare gift of
memory that apparently placed at his command for
any occasion the Bible, Shakspeare, Hudibras, Black-
stone’s ‘Commentaries,’ and Chitty’s ‘Pleadings,’ and
a mass of tradition and anecdote. But his life is so
fresh in your memories that it is unnecessary, perhaps
not becoming, that I should say more of him, yet I
cannot refrain from saying, as his son, how grateful I
shall ever be to his friends and neighbors, who, in the
weary hours of his declining life, watched over and
cheered and comforted him, and whose kindness, ever
extended to me and mine, makes the very sight of
these hills dear to me.” .
The present resident lawyer is Curtis B. Atwood.

THE WAR OF 1812.

In the old town records, under date of May 20, 1811,
is recorded the following:

“A circular letter from the Chamber of Commerce in the City of New
Haven, and also a Letter from the Selectmen of the Town of New Haven
bearing sundry resolves of that town was Receivd and Re’d, after which
the following were unanimously adopted by Vote (viz.):

“* Resolved, That as Freemen under a free Government, we have a Con-
stitutional right to address our Rulers, state to them our grievances, and
in Respectful Terms request a Removal of Them.

“ Resolved, As sense of this Meeting, that the restrictions on Commerce
adopted and improved by the General Government of the United States
for a number of years Past is the principal Cause of our Present em-
barrassment.

“ Resolved, That the restrictions heretofore laid on our Commerce have
been Tested by Experience and Prove that as Coercive Measures upon
the great Beligerants of Europe they are futile. That instead of injuring
they are benefitia] to them, whilst the injury is felt only by ourselves,
and that as Perseverance in those measures serves only to weaken our
own strength and disgrace us in the eyes of other Nations.

“ Resolved, That we Consider the General Assembly of this State the
Guardian of our Rights and Liberties, and that a Petition be presented
to their Honorable body now in Session, praying them to make use of
such means as they, in their wisdom, shal Think best to prevail upon the
General Government to repeal and abandon the restrictive Anti-Com-
mercial System so injurious to the interest of this State.

“ Resolved, That we approve of the opinion expressed in the Circular
letter from the Selectmen of the town of New Haven, and of the Cham-
ber of Commerce of the City of New Haven.

“ Resolved, That the Select Men in behalf of the Town Sign the Peti-
tion to the General Assembly, which has been Red and approved in this
Meeting, and that the Representative from this town be requested to
present the same.”

EVERGREEN CEMETERY.

In 1854 some of the citizens of Watertown united
in an association to procure and arrange another
place of burial besides the one which had been used
from the earliest settlement of the town. A piece of
land containing four and a half acres, a short distance
north of the Centre, was purchased for twelve hundred
dollars, and in part graded and laid out into lots. On
Monday, Sept. 4, 1854, it was dedicated with appro-
priate services, and an address delivered by Hon.
Samuel A. Foote, of Geneva, N. Y.

The ground has since been planted with evergreens,

 

and the chaste and elegant family monuments and
stones, reared by affection to perpetuate the memory
of the departed, have greatly beautified this place of
the dead.

The first interment in this cemetery was that of
Miss Sarah B. Atwood, daughter of Mr. Hinman At-
wood, who died Aug. 28, 1854, aged twenty-one years.

LIST OF DEATHS.

The following is a list of deaths in Westbury and
Watertown from March, 1741, to 1800:

1741.—Hannah, wife of William Scovill; daughter of Jonathan Foot;
daughter of Nathaniel Arnold; son of Ebenezer Richards;
daughter of Ebenezer Richards; child of James Bellamy; son
of Obadiah Scott.

1743.—Son of Mr. Millard, of Cornwall.

1744.—Stephen Scott; Hannah, wife of Jonathan Scott; Abigail, daughter
of Stephen Scott; Mary, wife of Richard Seymour; wife of Tim-
othy Judd; child of Timothy Judd.

1745.—Mary, daughter of Samuel Hicox, Jr.; Daniel Howe; Elizabeth,
daughter of Daniel Howe; Jonathan Scott; Mary, daughter of
Ebenezer Warner; James, son of James Brown, Jr.

1746.—Naomi, wife of Samuel Frost ; child of Jonathan Scott, Jr.; Zadoc,
son of David Scott; Ellen, daughter of Juhn Warner, Jr.

1747.—Margery, wife of Stephen Judd; child of Rev. John Trumbull;
Ebenezer, son of Ebenezer Warner; Mary, wife of Ebenezer
Warner; Patience, daughter of David Scott; Widow Sarah
Scott; wife of James Smith.

1748.—Nathan, son of David Scott; Sarah, daughter of Samuel Weed;
Rebecca, wife of Deacon John Warner; Lydia, daughter of
Jonathan Foot; child of Thomas Doolittle.

1749,—Wife of Mr. Rice, of Wallingford; David, son of David Scott;
Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. J. Trumbull; David, son of Thomas
Doolittle; Thomas, son of Thomas Doolittle; Sarah, daughter
of Jonathan Prindle; Abigail, daughter of Thomas Cole; Amos,
son of Amos Hicox ; Daniel, son of Stephen Judd; Mary, second
wife of Stephen Judd; Mary, daughter of David Andrus; James,
son of Thomas Hickox ; Mary, daughter of Samuel Hickox, Jr.;
Lois, wife of Caleb Clark; Sarah, daughter of Stephen Scott;
Eunice, daughter of Phineas Matthews; Betsey, daughter of
Edmond Tompkins; Elihu, son of Silas Johnson.

1750.—Dinah, daughter of Nathaniel Arnold, Jr.; Sarah, daughter of
Nathaniel Arnold, Jr.; Ebenezer Warner; Bethuah, daughter
of Samuel Thomas; Stephen, son of Ebenezer Warner; Widow
Terrill, of Woodbury; Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Arnold;
Widow Hannah Judd; Thomas Wood; David, son of David
Scott; David Scott’s colored woman; Martha, wife of William
Andrus; John, son of Ebenezer Warner.

1751.—Deacon John Warner; Daniel Stow; Rachel, daughter of Joseph
Garnsey ; Abigail, daughter of Peter Welton; George, son of
Peter Welton; sun of James Brown, Jr.; wife of Capt. William
Judd.

1752.—Wife of Ezra Terrill; child of Ezra Terrill; Elizabeth, wife of
William Scovill; Phebe, wife of John Thomas; Mercy, daughter
of Amos Hickox; Hannah, daughter of Caleb Clark.

1753.—Child of Samuel Frost; Hannah, wife of Samuel Frost; Bede,
wife of Nathan Bronson; Andrew, colored man of Solomon
Morse; child of Daniel Tyler; child of Josiah Wetmore; Na-
thaniel Arnold; Stephen, son of Stephen Matthews; Daniel,
son of Stephen Welton.

1754.—Samuel, son of Rey. John Trumbull; Jonathan Foot; Hannah,
child of David Scott; David Strickland; Moses Bronson ; David,
son of David Andrus.

1755,—Elizabeth, wife of John Welton; William Scovill; child of James
Brown; Sarah, daughter of Ebenezer Judd.

1756.—Child of Edmond Tompkins, Jr.; child of Amos Hickox; Levi,
son of John Judd; Millicent, daughter of Jonathan Garnsey,
Jr.; Huldah, daughter of Richard Seymor; Joanna, daughter
of Richard Seymor; Abigail, daughter of Deacon Jonathan
Garnsey ; child of Ebenezer Seymor.

1757.—Child of Benjamin Stillwell; child of John Painter; wife of Ben-
jamin Wetmore ; child of Thomas Dutton; child of Josiah Wel-
ton; son of Thomas Hammond; child of Elam Brown child
WATERTOWN.

665

 

of James Doolittle; twin child of Eliphaz Scott; Dinah, wife
oo James Doolittle; twin child of Eliphaz Scott; wife of John
le.

1758.—Josiah Welton; child of John Strickland; Noah Arnold; Asa,
son of Ebenezer Richards; child of Stephen Matthews; James
Hammond, John Adkins, both drowned together; child of Na-
than Woodward; Ebenezer Richards.

1159.—Ezekiel Scott; Hagar, colored girl of Rev. Mr. Trumbull; child
of Wait Scott; Reuben, son of Thomas Dutton ; Phebe, daughter
of Nathan Coles; Olive, daughter of Ebenezer Foot; Luther,
son of Benjamin Richards; Martha, daughter of Daniel Scott;
Giles, son of Deacon Timothy Judd; Elizabeth, daughter of

4 Daniel Scott.

1760.—Wife of Moses Cook ; child of Daniel Clark; child of Ebenezer
Judd; James Brown; colored boy of James Doolittle; Grace,
daughter of Nathan Woodward ; Thomas Richards; Thankful,
wife of Thomas Hammond ; wife of Thomas Doolittle; Bethel
Garnsey; Widow Sutliff; Widow Doolittle.

1761.—Child of Thomas Hickox, Jr.; child of Josiah Stow; colored boy
of Deacon J. Garnsey ; child of Rev. John Trumbull; wife of
Samuel Garnsey; child of Nathaniel Edwards,

1762.—Child of Ebenezer Foot; Dr. Daniel Scott ; Daniel Scott; Timothy,
son of Timothy Foot; colored woman of Amos Hickox ; Milli-
cent, daughter of Timothy Judd; William, son of James Reyn-
olds ; Frederick, son of James Reynolds.

1763.—Child of Timothy Williams ; colored boy of Capt. E. Scovill; child

: of Noah Griggs; Millicent, second wife of Timothy Judd; Pruce,
daughter of David Scott; wife of David Andrus; Timothy, son
of Timothy Judd; child of David Andrus; child of James Reyn-
olds; child of James Fancher; child of Dorcas Fulford ; Gideon,
son of Ambrose Hickox ; Ebenezer Foot; Phineas Matthews.

1764,—Lois, wife of Thomas Hickox, Jr.; Roswell, son of David Turner;
Joseph Garnsey ; Sarah, daughter of Thomas Hammond; Molly,
daughter of Allen Lake; Abel Doolittle (of smallpox).

1765.—Wife of Noah Griggs; Widow Conklin; daughter of Gideon Peck;
Capt. Samuel Hickox; wife of Jonathan Robbarts; Joseph, son
of Thomas Hammond; wife of Samuel Garnsey; son of Daniel
Clark; child of John Merriam.

1766.—Colored boy of Elnathan Judd; child of William Mancer; colored
child belonging to Elnathan Judd; Joseph Richards; Daniel,
son of Stephen Matthews; child of Daniel Brown; child of Amos
Garnsey ; child of Edmond Lockwood; Abigail, wife of Edmond
Lockwood; child of Daniel Bishops; child of Jonathan Rob-
barts; child of Joshua Morse.

1767.—Negro child belonging to B. Richards, Jr.; Dr. Benjamin Hull;
child of James Doolittle; child of Noah Murray; Widow Stow;
child of Samuel Strickland; Lucy, daughter of Samuel Foot;
colored child belonging to Joshua Morse; child of Lot Osborn;
John Andrus; child of Samuel Doolittle.

168.—Ebenezer, son of John Foot; Nathaniel Edwards; Mary, daughter
of Samuel Foot; Lydia, third wife of Stephen Judd; Sheldon,
son of William Judd; David, son of David Mattoon; child of
Josiah Stow; Caleb Clark; Diana, daughter of Asa Judd; child
of Samuel Doolittle, child of Samuel Doolittle (twins); child of
Asa Leavenworth; Widow Lydia Foot.

1769.—Child of William Andrus, Jr.; twin child of Thomas Hammond;
child of Amos Fenn; Esther, wife of John Foot; negro child
belonging to David Scott; Josiah, son of Daniel Tyler; child of
Wolsey Scott; James Parker; Stephen, son of Stephen Scott;
Lucinda, child of Benjamin Richards; Deborah, daughter of
Jonathan Robbarts; child of Jacob Foot.

1770.—Child of Abel Woodward; child, daughter of Thomas Dutton;
child, daughter of Eliab Parker; child, son of William Man-
cer; Agnes, wife of Samuel Smith; Benjamin Wetmore; Giles,
son of John Judd, Jr.; John Edwards; child, son of Samuel
Southmayed; child, daughter of Stephen Matthews.

1771.—Child of Wolsey Scott; child of Jeremiah Beard; child of James
Doolittle; Gideon Richards; child of Joshua Morse; child of
Amos Fenn; wife of Daniel Tyler; Martha, daughter of
Widow Hannah Scott; Lucretia, wife of Gershom Scott, Jr.;
Benjamin, son of Jonathan Robbards; child of Thomas Fenn;
child of Jonathan Robbards; Sarah, wife of Nathan Woodward ;
negro child belonging to Josiah Stow; Mercy, daughter of Ed-
mond Tompkins, Jr.; child, daughter of John Merriam; child,
daughter of Joseph Foot; Jack, colored man ; daughter of Jacob
Dowde; child of John Judd, Jr.; Reuben Smith; child of Sam-
uel Frost (3d); child of Joseph Brown; child of Amasa Welton ;

 

Margaret, wife of Joash Seymor; wife and child of Joel Hun-
gerford.

1772.—Capt. William Judd; child, daughter of Daniel Hickox; child,
daughter of Joash Seymor ; child, daughter of William Hickox ;
child, son of Widow Eunice Smith; John, son of John Frost;
Lydia Seymor; John, son of Asa Leavenworth ; Rachel, wife of
Jedediah Turner; Nathaniel Merrills; child of Thomas Osborn ;
Mercy Porter.

1773.—George Welton; Asenath, daughter of Abram Andrus; James
Otis; child of Ephraim Robbards ; child, son of Thomas Foot;
child of Eliphaz Scott; child of Samuel Stow; Lucy, daughter
of Timothy Richards; child of David Bryan; child of Amos
Belden; Amos and Jacob, sons of Josiah Hubbard; Jeremiah,
son of Jeremiah Peck, Jr.; Samuel, son of Thomas Hammond;
child, daughter of Thomas Hammond; Content Peck; Abigail,
wife of Noah Richards; Sarah Jemima, daughter of Jeremiah
Peck, Jr.; Margaret, daughter of Barnabas Scott; Luther, son
of William Andrus, Jr.; daughter of Joel Hungerford; Roger,
son of Thomas Dutton; Uri, son of Joel Judd; Elizabeth, wife
of Capt. Nathaniel Arnold; Hannah, daughter of Noah Judd;
Keziah, daughter of Thomas Dutton; Amy, daughter of Jona-
than Robbards; Miles, son of Richard Seymor; Widow Eliza-
beth Welton; child of William Mancer.

1774.—David and Elijah, sons of Isaac Merriam ; Elizabeth, daughter of
William Scovill; Abiah, daughter of Jacob Foot; Amy, daugh-
ter of Jonathan Robbards; David Scovill; Justin Daily (leg am-
putated January 13th); Abijah Garnsey (leg amputated Febru-
ary 5th); child of Joseph Hickox; child of Samuel Stow; child
of William Mancer; Sybil, wife of Daniel Hickox; child of
Daniel Brown (3d); Lorain, wife of William Mancer; Isaac,
son of Thomas Buckingham; Hannah, wife of Eliphaz Scott;
child of Joel Hungerford; child, daughter of David Manvil;
David, son of David Manvil; Mary, daughter of Samuel Doo-
little ; Indian woman belonging to I. Woodruff; child of James
Doolittle; child of Brewster Judd; Obadiah Richards; children
of Samuel Welton (twins); child of David Punderson,

1775.—Wife of Theophilus Baldwin; negress belonging to Joseph Garn-

: sey; David Mattoon; Wealthy, daughter of Ephraim How;

Mary, daughter of Henry Wooster; Bethel, son of William
Scovill; Lois, daughter of Nathaniel Edwards; Timothy
Arnold; daughter of Ambrose Hickox; son of Elijah Wood-
ward; son of Titus Dutton; Jonathan Robbards.

1776.—Mehitabel, wife of Daniel Tyler, Jr.; Hannah, wife of David Garn-
sey; Abigail, wife of David Clap; child of William Hickox, Jr.;
Widow Frances Wetmore; Samuel Foot; Deacon Jonathan
Garnsey; child of Jacob Foot; Ephraim Robbards; Abigail,
daughter of Eber Scott; Dr. James Elton, at Kensington; Capt.
Michael Dayton ; Aaron, son of Eber Scott; Widow Phebe Mat-
toon; Sarah, wife of Samuel Hickox (3d); Jonathan Williams;
Elias Wetmore ; Isaac, son of Joel Hungerford; Sena, daughter
of Darius Scovill; Abiram Stoddard; Benjamin Peck; daughter
of Darius Scovill; Abigail, wife of Stephen Welton; son of
Timothy Foot; Comfort Peck; granddaughter of Thomas Mer-
chant; Lydia, wife of Timothy Williams; two children of Dan-
iel Tyler, Jr.; Dr. Thomas Foot.

1777.—Sarah, second wife of Thomas Hammond; Elnathan Judd; child
of Josiah Hubbard, Jr.; Mary, wife of William Judd; James
Smith; Sarah, second wife of Noah Richards; Ruth, wife of
Edward Scovill; Abel Doolittle ; Nathaniel Welton; Montgom-
ery,son of Daniel Pendleton; Sarah, wife of Capt. Benjamin
Richards; Widow Margaret Edwards; Capt. Nathaniel Arnold;
child of Ira Scovill; Samuel, son of Samuel Brown; Capt.
Thomas Richards ; Ebenezer Wetmore; son of John Hendrick;
Patty, daughter of John Hendrick; Eunice Mattoon; Daniel,
son of Thomas Judd; daughter of Joshua Morse; Ebenezer,
son of Asa Porter; Silas, son of Asa Porter; Abraham, son of
Samuel Foot; Olivia, daughter of Brewster Judd ; Stephen Judd;
Sarah, wife of Timothy Fvot; son of Timothy Andrus; Rebecca,
daughter of David Fenn; Jonathan, son of David Fenn; Dia-
dema, daughter of William Andrus; son of David Dayton.

1778,—Son of Samuel Strickland; Pede, daughter of Capt. Thomas Cole;
Gershom Scott, Jr.; colored man of Joshua Morse; child of
Alexander Douglass; Edward Scovill, Jr.; child of Mr. Tread-
well; child of Thomas Merriam; son of Elijah Woodward ;
two daughters of Daniel Pendleton (twins); John, son of Justin
Daily; child of Daniel Seymor; Rebecca, second wife of Joel
Hungerford; Samuel Hickox (3d).
666

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1779.—Thankful, wife of Seth Mattoon; Elizabeth, wife of John Judd,
Jr.; Benjamin, son of Ambrose Hickox, Jr.; child of Richard T.
Reynolds; Asa, son of Asa Porter; Joel Judd; Susanna, wife of
Sampson Stoddard; Grigg, colored man of Rev. Mr. Trumbull ;
child of Marilly Mallory; Capt. Edward Scovill; child of Joel
Hungerford; son of William Scovill.

1780,—Jolin Welton; child of Samuel Smith ; Merriam, wife of Deacon
Thomas Hickox; daughter of John Woodruff; Gershom Scott;
wife of James Williams; child of Isaiah Jones; Esther, daugh-
ter of Amos Garnsey; William, sun of John Trumbull, Jr.;
Sarah, daughter of John Foot; child of Amos Garnsey, Jr.

1781.—Son of Eldad Andrus; child of Eli Hickox; daughter of Amos
Garnsey, Jr.; child of Demas Judd; Hannah, third wife of
Noah Richards; Seth Blake.

1782.—David Scott; first wife of Thomas Matthews, Esq.; Mary, fourth
wife of Timothy Judd, Esq.; Eleazar Scott; Isaiah Jones;
Thomas Doolittle.

1783.—Elam Brown; Abigail, wife of Jonas Hickox.

1784.—Child of Samuel Seymor; Matthew Dutton; Isaac Woodruff;
Comfort Woodruff; Hannah, wife of John Nettleton, Jr.

1785,—Child of John Mattoon; child of Joseph Edwards; Samuel, son
of Samuel Seymor; Mr. Johnson; Wait, Obadiah, and David
Scott.

[Watertown bell first hung in August, 1785, funeral tolls beginning as follows :]

1785.—Child of Daniel Hickox.

1786.—Child of Eliphalet Smith; Merriam Judd; Jeremiah Peck ; Mary,
wife of Samuel Judd; child of Stephen Scott; Chloe Kenny;
Hannah Lockwood; Josiah Hickox; Esther, wife of Ebenezer
Stow; child of Ebenezer Stow; child of Joseph Nettleton, Jr;
child of Abijah Osborn; child of Eliphaz Scott; Polly Scott.

1787.—Child of Widow Phoebe Hickox; wife of Charles Collins, Jr. (L.
Farms); Rebecca, wife of Eliphalet Smith ; son of Gideon Matthews;
child of Eli Osborn; child of Eliphalet Smith ; child of John Wood-
ward; wife of Samuel Judd, Jr.; Mercy, wife of Amos Hickox;
Daniel Goodrich ; Widow Johnson ; Currence, second wife of Samuel
Garnsey ; child of Reuben Andrus; John Nettleton; wife of Amos
Stillson; Rey, John Trumbull; Sarah, wife of Simeon Peck; Capt.
Enoch Davis; Deacon Thomas Hicox.

1788.—Senah, wife of Charles Dayton; Widow Eunice Higgins; Polly
Bassett ; child of David Manvill; child of Isaac Scott; Eli Hickox;
Sarah Southmayd; son of Amasa Mattoon; Widow Joanna Porter;
children of R. T. Reynolds, twins; Lucy Davis; Susanna, second
wife of E. Lockwood; Benjamin Richards (3d).

1789.—Child of Simeon Peck ; Jehiel Saxton; Widow Childson ; child of
Michael Judd; Widow Abigail Smith; Anna, wife of Eleazer Prin-
dle; child of Joel Merriam; child of Josiah Hubbard, Jr.; Joseph
Frost; Joseph Foot; son of Chauncey B. Garnsey; child of Ephraim
Andrus; Widow Elizabeth Foot; child of Joash Seymor; Lydia
Hickox.

1790.—Peter Welton; son of Asahel Merrills; child of R. T. Reynolds;
Jonathan Johnson; child of Richard Treat ; child of Samuel South-
mayd; Widow Mary Buckingham; Anna, wife of Daniel Welton;
daughter of Reuben Welton; Widow Rebecca Smith; Esther, wife
of Jacob Foot; child of Simeon Peck; daughter of T. Hotchkiss
(drowned); Abigail, wife of Gershom Fulford; son of Josiah Sey-
mor; daughter of Samuel Judd, Jr.

1791.—Charlotte, daughter of §. Reynolds, Jr.; Gershom Fulford;
daughter of Abigail Northrop; child of R. T. Reynolds; child of
Richard Frost; child of Joseph Whitmore; Widow Martha Scott ;
Dorcas Fulford; child of David Hull, Jr.; child of Abel Dayton;
child of David Garnsey ; child of Hezekiah Hubbard; Mary, wife of
Uri Scott; Anna, colored girl of Titus Hotchkiss; child of Jacob
Bidwell, Jr.; Martha, wife of Daniel M’Donold; daughter of David.
Baldwin; Hannah Cook; Chandler Judd.

1792.—Widow Thankful Foot; Widow Elizabeth Robertson; child of
Amos Titus; son of Thomas Fenn, Jr.; child of Hulda, Perkins st
child of Ezra Fields; Mercy, wife of Even Beardsley ; Gideon Beards-
ley ; Ambrose Hickox; Hannah, second wife of T. Matthews; child
of Isaac Edwards; Daniel McDonold; daughter of Samuel Rey-
nolds, Jr.; child of Thomas Fenn, Jr.; son of Widow Molly Hickox ;
child of Joash Seymor ; Lilla, wife of Pomp Freeman; Mary, wife of
Jonathan Scott.

1793.—Child of Zadoc Osborne; child of R. T. Reynolds; Samuel Judd;
Uriel, son of Rev. Uriel Gridley; child of Simeon Peck; child of
David Pyindle; Molly, wife of Ambrose Hickox; child of Pomp
Freeman; Samuel Hitchcock; Mary, wife of Ebenezer Porter ;

 

daughter of Demas Judd; Asahel Edwards; two daughters of Amasa
Preston; child of M. Robbards, Woodbury; daughter of Ira Tolls;
Asaph Welton; Oliver Clark; James, son of Isaac Humphrey;
Nancy, daughter of Y. L. Cutler; daughter of James Williams;
Margaret, wife of Richard Miles; Martha, wife of Ethel Porter;
child of John Nettleton; Laura Woodward; son of Enoch Davis;
Hanpah, daughter of Jonathan Robbards; Isaac, son of Peter Bene-
dict; child of Olive Bronson; John Judd.

1794.—Rebecca, wife of C. Merriam; child of John Eggleston; child of
Charles Merriman ; child of Isaac Garnsey; child of David Edwards ;
son of David Hubbard; Elijah, son of Elijah Birge; Rebecca, wife of
Daniel Matthews; Jacob Bidwell; child of Pomp Freeman; Rhoda,
wife of T. Leavenworth; Richard Miles; Hannah, daughter of Jo-
seph Fenn; Abigail Ferris; Polly Judd; Abigail Smith; James
Fayette; child of Jared Bradley; Widow Frances Peck; Samuel
Belden; child of Charles Merriman; Wolsey Scott; son of Noah
Judd.

1795.—Widow Desire Garnsey; Joseph Griffin; John Stoddard, of Har-
winton; child of William Scovill, Jr.; child of Salmon Parker;
Jerusha, wife of Thomas Davis; child of Edmond Lockwood, Jr.;
James Foot; Mary Daily ; Widow Esther Merrills; Lydia Williams;
Sarah, wife of Nathan Scott; child of R. T. Reynolds; Anna, daugh-
ter of Nathan Kellogg; Capt. Joash Seymor.

1796.—Mehetable DeForest; Thomas Buckingham ; Ezra Howe, colored;
Huldah, wife of James McDonold; child of Demas Judd; child of
Pomp Freeman; Susanna, wife of Rev. U. Gridley ; Hannah, wife of
Capt. S. Matthews; child of Dr. R. S. Woodward; child of Stephen
Scott, Jr.; Widow Sarah Bryan; Widow Jerusha Pitcher; Parthena
Welton; Seth Bartholomew; Voadice, wife of Samuel Williams;
Abigail, wife of Josiah Hubbard; Richard Seymor; child of Amos
Griggs; Patty, wife of Ashbel Loveland; child of Joel Merriam;
child of Reuben Foot; Harriet, daughter of Aner Bradley; Sarah,
second wife of Thomas Merriam ; child of Eleazer Judd; Susanna,
wife of David Manville; Eber Scott; Kesiah, wife of Jonathan
Garnsey.

1797.—Mary, second wife of Thomas Davis; son of Thomas Davis; Mar-
tin Kellogg; Ethel Porter; Margaret Seymor; Abi Foot; John
Judd; child of James McDonold; child of Daniel Garnsey; Mercy
Edwards; daughter of William Watson; child of Samuel Woodruff;
Tabitha, wife of Henry Skilton; Chester Dutton.

1798.—Children of Stephen Porter, twins; Jenny, Jonathan Scott's col-
ored girl; Sarah, wife of Stephen Porter; son of David Bunnel, of
Oxford; Olive, wife of James Merriam; Irena Ferris; Widow Ra-
chel Prindle; Widow Mary Griffin; Widow Thankful Punderson;
Pathene Merriam; child of Samuel Martin; Ebenezer Andrus;
Widow Mary Scott; sun of Erastus Cadwell; Sam (colored man);
David Andrus; daughter of William Scovill, Jr.; Thomas Matthews,
Esq.; son of William Scovill, Jr.; Jared Bradley; Widow Martha
Scovill.

1799.—Samuel Hough (Salem, N. Y.); Selah, son of Isaac Barns; Polly,
daughter of Aner Bradley ; Heman Munson; Rebecca, wife of Thos.
Foot; Sarah, wife of Eber Scott; Eunice, wife of Martin Kellogg ;
Sarah, wife of Capt. S. Reynolds; Merit N. Woodruff, drowned while
bathing; Joseph Nettleton; Anadine, wife of S. Beardsley; Capt.
Israel Woodward; Thomas Merchant; Capt. John Woodruff; child
of Theodore Garnsey; child of James Garnsey.

In the ordinary course of events many of the citi-
zens of Watertown have removed their residence to
other places, but they carry with them pleasant and
fragrant memories of past days, and take a just pride
in the growth and advancement of their native place.
To come back and revisit their old homes, to greet
the friends and companions of youthful and maturer
years, is an ever-fertile source of pleasure; to speak
of changes that have come to each during days of
separation fills the mind with sadness. The ceme-
teries show where to find those who are missed among
the living, and their ever-open and increasing vol-
umes give a faithful record of familiar names. Asa
beautiful rural place for the repose of the dead, Ever-
green Cemetery is seldom surpassed. The old ceme-
WATERTOWN.

tery affords a cherished resting-place for those who
desire to be laid beside kindred and friends whose
graves were made long ago.

AGRICULTURAL.

As an agricultural town, Watertown stands among
the first in Litchfield County. Its farmers are widely
known for their thrift and enterprise, and the products
of their farms are not often excelled. The Agricul-
tural Association of the town, formed in 1867, is flour-
ishing and increasing in interest, and offers at its an-
nual autumnal fair as great attractions as those which
have had a longer existence. The present officers of
the society are as follows: Henry E. Scott, President ;
G. 8. Atwood, Wm. G. French, C. A. Warner, Vice-
Presidents; Alanson Warren, Secretary; George
Woodward, Assistant Secretary; F. B. Hand, Treas-
urer; Executive Committee, O. B. King, C. T.
Hickox, C. L. Dayton, M. Hemminway, Jr., George
Warner, Jacob Blakeslee, 8. H. Peck, W. H. Atwood.

SUMMER RESORT.

As a healthy and attractive summer resort, also,
Watertown has a just repute. Its fine and well-kept
residences, churches, and other buildings form a prom-
inent part in the landscape. The Warren House,
which affords accommodations for a large number of
guests, is an elegant structure, with fine grounds hand-
somely laid out.

RAILROAD.

Railroad communication with seaboard and adja-
cent places, which has long been desired, is now af-
forded. A branch road, connecting with the Nauga-
tuck Railroad at Waterbury, was opened a few years
since.

We subjoin the following reminiscences of Water-
town, written by Mrs. Rev. Frederick Holcomb, and
read at the centennial celebration, June 17, 1880.

“I have been requested by some friends whom I
highly esteem to say a few words, through my pen, on
this interesting occasion,—a strange request to make
to one of my years, and to one so unused to address
an audience. There is no conceivable reason for it,
except it be that my memory reaches back through
eighty years of the past century. Acting on this sup-
position, you shall have some of my childish reminis-
cences, for you can expect none other from one who
has reached the years of second childhood. The first
thing that I distinctly remember is being led across
the street to look at the lifeless remains of Dr. John
Elton. He was highly esteemed as a physician, but
died in 1800, at the age of forty-five years, and leaving
his son Samuel as his successor. He educated this
son from early childhood to be a physician, and he
commenced practice, in company with his father, at
the early age of eighteen years. He soon won the
confidence of the whole community, and his attend-
ance and advice was sought from the adjacent towns.
Perhaps his success may be attributed more to his na-

 

667

tive strength of mind, his ingenuity in devising ways
and means to relieve distress, and his avoidance of
powerful medicines except in extreme cases, rather
than from knowledge derived from medical books.
He said once in my hearing that medicine was good
for nothing but as an auxiliary to assist nature in
throwing off disease. He once told me that when he
had nervous, fidgety persons who could not be paci-
fied without some medicine when he thought they re-
quired none, that he had manufactured some pills of
pure bread for his patients, specifying the number to
be taken, and charging them not to take an overdose.
He added that the patient would afterwards speak of
the wonderful curative properties of those pills, and
the sudden relief obtained from their use.

“T will next speak of the days of military exercise,
called ‘training-days.’ On the morning of those days
the children of the village were on the alert, watching
for the hoisting of the national flag to the summit of
the liberty-pole. This pole was erected a few rods
westward of the residence of Mrs. Eli Curtiss. They
(the children) made a hasty breakfast, and dressed in
their Sunday suit, and, their pockets lined with cop-
pers, were ready to proceed to the scence of action.
These coppers were designed to purchase gingerbread
of a venerable old lady who lived near the liberty-
pole, and always kept in readiness for such occasions.
Oh, the flavor of that gingerbread on youthful lips!
methinks I taste it yet, and see the shining lustre of
its glossy surface. The train-band were in readiness
by nine o’clock to perform their evolutions, their
marches, and countermarches, all the children fol-
lowing in their wake to the music of fife and drum,
unless the troopers appeared and scattered the little
girls in wild dismay to find some place of security,
for the troopers presented quite a formidable appear-
ance, wearing fiery red coats, black bearskin caps,
and riding furiously on prancing steeds, the musicians
blowing vigorously on trumpets, and the others occa-
sionally firing off their pistols. Oh, the tired little feet
at the close of those days, and the welcome rest on the
downy pillows!

“A yivid remembrance comes up before me. It was
Saturday evening, just after sunset, and I was passing
the residence of a neighbor, in which dwelt an aged
pair. There was a little porch in front of the house,
in. which were seated this venerable couple. Oh, the
silence, the stillness, the holiness that seemed to per-
vade the atmosphere! Even the zephyrs dared not
play with his hoary locks. Their Sabbath had com-
menced with Saturday’s setting sun, and they seemed
to be holding secret communion with their God. Awe-
struck and silent, I passed along, but the impression
remained. Had any one passed the house on Sunday
evening at the same hour, possibly they might have
found the people all astir making preparations for
the labors of the following week, as their Sabbath
ended at sunset.

“Some of you may remember the little red school-
668

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. ,

 

house on the village green, surrounded by highways.
There was a large fireplace at either end; there was
a swing partition, which could be let down and form
two rooms, or be raised, and, by the aid of a platform,
make a fine place for the display of oratorical powers.
Oh, those long pages in Morse’s geography, without
the aid of globe or map! One kind teacher used to
carve apples in various devices to brighten our dull-
ness about the division of the earth and the first prin-
ciples of astronomy. But more distinctly than all is
remembered the shape and size of his ferrule, and
very vividly the peculiar tingle left in the palm of
the hand when administered as a punishment for
whispering. There were a class of young people older
than myself who had the benefit of the instructions
of Mr. William J. Punderson, who were said to be
the best readers and the most intelligent, enterprising
class ever raised in Watertown. Some of them emi-
grated, and became distinguished in other places;
others remained to benefit their native place. Two
of these persons I would briefly notice. The one was
a lady of commanding form and presence with an
intellectual and lovely face, pleasing powers of con-
versation; in short, in her were combined all the
loveliness of the female character. She died in 1862,
at the advanced age of eighty-seven.

“You will anticipate that I speak of Mrs. Young-
love Cutler. Oh, how I loved her while living, how
I venerate her memory still! The other lady still
lives, though now in her tenth decade. I make an
annual pilgrimage to look into her gentle face and
listen to her lively, interesting conversation, as she
speaks of the happiness of the past, the mercies of
the present, and the bright hopes in the future. I
allude to Mrs. Deacon Allen Hungerford. I would
not omit honorable mention of our worthy fellow-
citizen, Capt. Merit Barnes. He resembles the sturdy
oak which has breasted the storms and winds of
nearly a century, still remaining hale and vigorous,
imparting shade and shelter to all around it.

“You shall next have my recollections of the old
Congregational church, then called the * meeting-
house.’ It was situated a little north of the present
post-office, the steeple end at the west, near the public
highway. Drawing near, you would discover a huge
stone horse-block for the convenience of equine wor-
shipers, There was a little square room at the en-
trance for the convenience of bell-ringing. Here
might usually be found the stalwart form of Mr. Jere-
miah Peck tugging at the bell-rope. It is said that
this old gentleman for eight or ten years rang that
bell every evening in the week, Saturdays excepted,
precisely at nine o’clock, to warn the good people that
it was time to be at home. Saturday evening being
holy time, it was taken for granted they were at home
and at their devotions. From this little room there
was a door of entrance into the main building. There
was also a door at the eastern extremity. The descent
of land was so great that it required a very high un-

 

derpinning ; so they built a double flight of steps, one
from the north, the other from the south, to bring
them on to a platform on a level with the door of en-
trance. Possibly to avoid all imitations of popery, or
even of churchmanship, the main door or entrance
was placed directly in the side of the building. The
broad aisle led across to the opposite side, where was
a flight of stairs leading up to an elevated pulpit,
about on a level with the singers’ gallery. There was
a huge piece of architecture built on the wall behind
the pulpit, projecting over the minister’s head, called
a sounding-board, said to assist the minister in making
himself heard. Beneath the pulpit was the deacon’s
seat, a long, straight pew, with the back to the pulpit.
The audience-room was divided into pews resembling
pens, with the door of entrance on one side, and seats
running around the other three sides. In these little
pens the good people rose up to pray, and sat down to
praise. The singers’ gallery was composed of two
straight rows of slips, extending around three sides of
the building. The leader sat directly in front of the
pulpit, with his tenor on his left hand, his counter on
his right. The treble occupied the seats on the east
side of the building, the bass on the west. They were
arranged in single file. Behind the singers’ seats there
was an elevated platform, extending quite around the
gallery, and between this platform and the walls of
the building was a row of pens, similar to those below,
elevated one step. These were designed for the younger
members of the society. They then had a tithingman
appointed, whose duty it was to watch over the con-
duct or misconduct of these youngsters, and woe be to
them if they saw him marching towards them in all
the pride of office. The Rev. Uried Gridley was the
minister at that time. He was a man of more than
ordinary size, and beautifully proportioned. I shall
never forget, and language would fail me to describe,
his majestic dignity and easy grace as he walked,
bowing reverently, up the broad aisle, ascended the
steps to the pulpit, and turned his placid, benign face
towards the audience. No doubt the good man enter-
tained some of the prejudices of that age against forms
of prayer, but some of his sentences are indelibly en-
graven on the memory from their oft repetition. The
minister then read a psalm orhymn, The choir rose;
the leader produced an immense pitch-pipe and blew
upon the key-note; every singer responded to bring
their voices in unison. Then commenced the singing,
the leader beating time the full length of his arm to
keep them all up to the mark. They frequently sang
fugue tunes, the parts responding back and forth till
the walls seemed filled with melody. I remember
how majestically it sounded to my infant ears when
they sang

“On cherubim and seraphim
Full royally he rode,
And on the wings of mighty winds
Came flying all abroad.’

“There was a bald-headed old gentleman, small in
stature, with spindling limbs, who frequently took his
WATERTOWN.

669

 

stand beside Mr. Gridley in the pulpit, or rather be-
neath him, and held up in the direction of his face a
large funnel-shaped ear-trumpet, to catch the words
of wisdom as they fell from his lips. On one occasion
he seemed rather dissatisfied with his trumpet. He
removed it from his ear, applied its orifice to his lips
and blew into it, as if to remove some real or imag-
inary obstruction. The trumpet responded with a
loud blast. The children had a great veneration for
Parson Gridley. If he entered the school-room, we
all rose en masse to show our respect. If we saw his
portly form ‘advancing on the highway, we ranged
ourselves on the side of the path and made him a low
obeisance as he passed. The good man, with true
civility, always returned the salute.

“There was a building erected for the convenience
and comfort on Sundays for those who lived at a dis-
tance. They called it a ‘Sabba-day house.’ It stood
on the ground near the present residence of Mr. Day
Woodward. I think there was a shelter in the rear
for their horses. In front was a room with a large
fireplace, which in winter was filled with a roaring
wood-fire, with hot, burning coals on the hearth. Into
this comfortable room the good people used to bring
their luncheon, and, it is said, a small wooden bottle
filled with cider, to refresh them at noon. They then
left for church, some of the more delicate of the
females filling little foot-stoves with burning coals.
There was no smell of fire in any house of worship
in those days, save what came from those little foot-
stoves. No one thought of staying at home on that
account, but our sufferings were at times almost un-
bearable. It has always remained an unsolved prob-
lem how the minister could perform the duties of the
sanctuary with such frosty feet and chattering teeth.

“There was one worthy old pair whom no extremes
of cold or heat could prevent attending public wor-
ship. They were always to be seen at the regular
hour, each mounted on a pacing horse. At length
came the era of the one-horse wagon. The old gen-
tleman procured one, together with a harness to fit
his wife’s horse, and after adjusting things to his own
satisfaction, gave the whip and reins into her hands,
after inviting a widow of the neighborhood to take a
seat by her side. He then mounted his own pacer,
and, with John Gilpin civility, rode ‘on horseback
after we.’ They reached the church in safety, and
passed a most enjoyable day; but on their return,
just as they were passing our dwelling, the vehicle
suddenly capsized and threw its occupants with much
force on to the dusty pathway. They rose with
smashed bonnets and garments filled with dust, and
moved towards the house. We hastened to meet
them, and soon discovered that the driver’s nose was
minus a large piece of skin, and the widow had
sprained her wrist. The driver washed the blood
from her face, procured a piece of white paper, wet
it, and laid it carefully over the bruised member, then
mounted her spectacles over the whole, and taking

43

 

up a Bible that lay near, calmly proceeded to read in
it, while the widow, some hurt, but more frightened,
could not suppress her sighs and tears. The gentle-
man, after attending to the welfare of his horses, came
to the house to ascertain the situation of his wife.
In a state of high nervous excitement he kept crying
out, ‘You pulled the wrong rein: why didn’t you pull
tother rein?’ The old lady, calm and serene as the
surface of an unrufiled lake, pursued her reading.
She of the sprained wrist groaned audibly, while my
young eyes opened widely that any man should speak
thus testily to his wife, especially when she was
smarting under the sharp twinges of such a skinless
nose. But don’t draw any wrong inferences. He
was truly a good man. This little episode was the
natural result of having passed through such a new
and unlooked-for experience.

“ My parents, in their more youthful days, were at-
tendants at the Congregational Church. They con-
formed tothe Episcopal Church before my recollection.
As the parish was small, and unable to support preach-
ing but one-third of the time, we all went to ‘ meet-
ing’ (as it was called) the other two-thirds. This may
be one reason, among others, why to this day I enjoy
their services, and when present always feel myself to
be among friends.

“ My first recollections of the Episcopal Church is
being led in one day before service to hear the choir
practice music. The singers’ seats were arranged
very much like those at the other church. They sat
in single file, extending round the gallery. They had
the same formidable pitch-pipe and three tenor sing-
ers beating time, to the imminent danger of dislo-
cating their shoulders. The treble sang alone. It
sounded sweet to my childish ears:

“«From pleasant trees that shade the brink,
The lark and linnet like to drink.’

Surely this poetry was not found in the prayer-book
or hymnal. The Rev. Chauncey Prindle, rector, soon
walked up the aisle in his clerical robes, and passed
through the chancel into the reading-desk. I recol-
lect little except being awe-struck as he read the com-
mandments. But never can I forget the impressions
received as he passed through the old cemetery at the
head of a funeral procession, reading the service for
the burial of the dead. Surely never language fell on
human ears so sublime as that. It seemed a voice
froin another world, and it seems so still. Indeed, all
the prayers and services of the Episcopal Church have
become, from lifelong use, a part of my being. They
never tire, are ever fresh and new, and, as is said of
old wine, the longer kept the richer the flavor. Par-
don me, my friends, but if you place an old lady on
this spot you must allow her to show her colors.

“My first recollections of the Methodists in this
place is that of a few people who were peculiar in
excluding all bows and trimmings from their dress,
denied all necessity for human learning in the prepa-
ration for the ministry, depending on immediate di-
670

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

vine inspiration, and were said to be loud and demon-
strative in their manner of conducting public worship.
Truth and candor compel me to confess that these
peculiarities were then considered a fit subject for
ridicule. But what a change hath time wrought!
They now have colleges and seminaries of learning all
over the land to educate their ministers, and no out-
ward garb or custom to distinguish them from others.
In this town they have a neat little house of worship,
a flourishing congregation, in whose male and female
members are numbered some of our most esteemed
citizens, and with a leader and guide at their head
‘whose praise is in all the churches.’ This confession
is due to them from one who, in her thoughtless days,
laughed with others at their peculiarities. She now
wishes them all success in ‘ whatsoever things are law-
ful and of good report,’ but must confess to a lurking
desire, a secret hope, that they will yet return to the
mother they have deserted, and, bringing their zeal
with them, warm us all up to more zeal and devotion
in the cause of the Master.

“There is an element in our society formerly un-
known. In olden days we seldom, if ever, looked into
the face of an Irishman, but now they swarm in all
our borders. Like bees, they are industrious, loading
themselves with honeyed sweets to carry home to their
hives; but, like bees, if trampled on or crowded into a
corner, beware of their sting! Kind-hearted and
sympathetic, they are true to their friends. They
came from their mother-country to better their condi-
tion, and, judging from appearances, they have found
what they sought. Look at their nice church edifice,
and at the large congregation of well-dressed people
that attend their services. Look at the full employ-
ment they all find, at the comfortable homes they
own, and at the opportunity their children have for
acquiring an education. The intelligent Irish child
is not a whit behind the keenest little Yankee. They
are rather exclusive in their notions of church fellow-
ship, and are honest about it; but my faith looks for-
ward to the day (either in this world or the next)
when all who truly love the Lord Jesus shall see eye
to eye.

“Our colored inhabitants, who a century ago had
not the right to call themselves their own, now enjoy
all the privileges of others, whether civil, educational,
political, or religious. Must we not all thankfully
exclaim, ‘What hath God wrought!’

“A few words about our two cemeteries and I will
close. The first record of an interment in the old
cemetery was in March, 1741. It continued to be the
only place until August, 1856. Perhaps as many
persons lie buried there as are now living in Water-
town. There repose in death the two first Congrega-
tional ministers of the gospel, and with them nearly
all their people; there sleep our ancestors, and many
of the friends of our youth. They sleep the sleep that
knows no waking. Not even the tramp of the iron
horse, or the rattling roar of the cars dashing through

 

their midst, can arouse them from their slumbers;
but the last trumpet of the Archangel can, and will,
and of what a rising that will be of priests and people!
The first interment in our beautiful Evergreen Ceme-
tery was in August, 1854, of Miss Sarah B. Atwood,
a few days before its dedication. It seemed sad to
turn from her grave and leave her alone in that field;
but how soon is she surrounded by numbers! Most
of our families can say, ‘There lies one of our heart’s
chief earthly treasures.’ There sleeps the kind phy-
sician, Dr. Elton, who would cheerfully rise at mid-
night and breast the storm to alleviate the sufferings
of his poorest patient; and near him lies the good
lawyer, Holbrook Curtiss, who was himself so averse
to angry litigation that he trained our people to such
habits of peacefulness that to this day they scarcely
need a lawyer to settle their differences. And here
rest from their labors three ministers of the gospel.
The first of the three was the Rev. Frederick Hol-
comb (Episcopal). He was the person that offered
the opening prayer at the dedication of the cemetery.
It becomes not his widow to speak of him.in terms of
unmeasured praise. She leaves the record of his long
life of patient effort to advance the best interests of
Watertown and its inhabitants to the memories of
those who survive him. In the home which his love
and kindness so cheered and gladdened there must,
while life lasts, remain a sad vacancy, and a grief in
the heart of the bereaved one, ‘ with which a stranger
intermeddleth not.’ The second interment was the
Rev. Dr. Lewis (Episcopal). Who that ever listened
to his godly teaching, or witnessed his truly Christian
example, can ever cease to mourn his loss? He was
a teacher who convinced himself. The third was the
Rev. Franklyn Tuxbury (Congregational). His so-
journ amongst us was short, and as I was not a mem-
ber of his flock, of course had few opportunities of
listening to his preaching; but he gave a course of
scientific lectures which I attended, and came to the
deliberate conclusion that no man had ever labored
more earnestly to elevate the literary, moral, and re-
ligious character of this people than did Mr. Tux-
bury. It gives me pleasure to bear this public testi-
mony of my appreciation of his worth of character,
and am confident that many, with me, are thankful
that his remains rest in our pleasant cemetery, where
we can occasionally visit his grave.”

CHAPTER LXVIL
WATERTOWN (Continued),

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Congregational Church—Christ Church—Methodist Episcopal Church—
Methodist Episcopal Church in North Part of Town.

THE CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

Tuts church was organized soon after the incorpo-
ration of the society or parish of Westbury, in 1738,
and among its founders were the following: Deacon
 

nabs

RESIDENCE OF BUELL HEMINWAY, WareRTowN Conn.
WATERTOWN.

J. Garnsey, Daniel Scott, Lieut. Thomas Richards,
Nathaniel Arnold, William Scoville, George Welton,
Thomas Matthews, Deacon Thomas Hicox, Deacon
Timothy Judd, Deacon John Warner, Ebenezer Por-
ter, Amos Hicox, Jeremiah Peck, Joseph Garnsey,
Thomas Cole, Ambrose Hicox, Stephen Scott, Thomas
Buckingham, Thomas Hammond, John Stoddard,
Richard Seymour, Timothy Williams, Elnathan Judd,
Thomas Fenn, Samuel! Reynolds, Michael Dayton.

The first church edifice was erected in 1741, near
the southwest. corner of the old cemetery.

“The place for a meeting-house being determined,
the Westbury people applied to the town to provide
the ground and the necessary public green. Accord-
ingly, the town directed their committee laying out
highways at the northeast quarter (it should be north-
west) to widen the highway, so as to accommodate
said house with a suitable green, according to their
discretion, and to award satisfaction to the owners of
the land. This was the 24th day of December, 1739,
and in the February following the committee, John
Judd and John Scovill, laid out the land, as follows:

“* Beginning at the southwest corner, a heap of
stones, then east ten rods to a heap of stones, then
ten rods north to a heap of stones, then west eleven
rods to a heap of stones, then south eighteen rods to
a heap of stones, where we began, butting west on
land left for a highway, north on Eleazar Scott’s land,
south on Stephen Scott’s land, east on Eleazar Scott’s
land, or common land, as set out by us.’

“The land included in these lands amounted to
nearly one acre, belonging to Eleazar Scott, and as a
remuneration for the same the committee awarded him
‘three acres of land, to lay out in the undivided land,
or fifty shillings in money.’ ”

The first pastor of the new parish was Rev. John
Trumbull, who was born in Suffield in 1715. He was
very popular with the people, and acquired great in-
fluence by generosity, hospitality, and kindness. It
is said that “if one of his parishioners had lost a cow,
or had met with a similar calamity, he would interest
himself in the matter, head a subscription for his re-
lief, and persuade others to sign the same.”

It was also said of him “that if one of his people
turned Episcopalian he would buy his farm.” He
was a wealthy man, and a large land-holder.

The following reminiscences are related of him in
Bronson’s “History of Waterbury”: ‘Mr. Trumbull
was not a tall, but a stout, athletic man. He was
sound, shrewd, and humorous. Horses he was fond
of, and bought and sold them frequently with success.
On this account he was sometimes irreverently called
‘Jockey Trumbull.’ He loved innocent sports, and
had once been a great wrestler. A story is told of
him which, though it may not be wholly true, is prob-
ably not a pure invention. At any rate it illustrates
the manners of the times:

“The Waterbury and Westbury people were in the
habit of meeting at some half-way place, in the long

 

671

autumual evenings, to contend as wrestlers. They
met around a fire, and the sport was commenced by
the second-rate athletes. When one was thrown,
the vanquished called in another from his own side,
the object being to vanquish the victor. Then the
experts were called out in succession, and he who re-
mained last on his legs was the bully of the night.
In several of these contests, at the time of which I
am speaking, Waterbury had proven too much for
Westbury. Mr. Trumbull heard of the defeat of his
boys, and partook of their mortification. On occasion
of the next contest he disguised himself, and went
down unknown, except to two or three, to give ‘ mate-
rial aid, if necessary. The wrestlers were called in
one after another till Westbury was again ‘thrown
out,’ the Waterbury champion having grounded the
last of the rival party. At this period, when the
signs of exultation on one side and chagrin on
the other were becoming manifest, a stranger was
dragged in from the outer circle of the ring to con-
tend for the Westbury boys. The parties placed
themselves in position, and began, by ‘ playin’ ’yound,’
to find each other’s qualities. After a little time the
stranger, watching his opportunity, caught his antag-
onist’s foot and threw him upon the fire. Shouts
filled the air, and the victor disappeared. Great was
the exploit, and great the mystery of the affair, but
the secret finally leaked out.

“The story reached the ears of Mr. Leavenworth,
pastor at Waterbury, and the next time he met his
brother, Trumbull, he rebuked him for his levity, and
censured him particularly for throwing his rival upon
the fire, by which his clothes and flesh were scorched.
Trumbull agreed that he had been guilty of levity,
but as for the scorching, he thought it his duty to
give his (Mr. Leavenworth’s) parishioners a foretaste
of what they might expect after sitting under his
preaching !”

In his will he bequeathed to his widow his “ negro
wench Lemmon,” and to his son, John Trumbull, of
Hartford, gave his negro girl “ Mabel,” also his knee-
buckles and powder-horn. To his daughter Sarah,
wife of Dr. Caleb Perkins, of Hartford, he bequeathed
his negro girl “Peg,” and another daughter, Lucy,
wife of Rev. Mr. Langdon, of Danbury, received a
negro girl “that was now in her possession.”

Among the early deacons of this church were John
Warner, Jonathan Garnsey, Timothy Judd, Thomas
Hickox, Samuel Hickox, Thomas Fenn, and Thomas
Dutton.

The second church edifice was erected in 1772, and
was located a few rods east of the present one, on
lands purchased of Mr. Wait Scott. Services were
held in the building until January, 1840. In 1839

‘the present church edifice was built on lands pur-

chased of the heirs of David Woodward, and was
dedicated Jan. 29, 1840.

The pastors from the organization of the church to
the present time have been as follows: John Trumbull,
672

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

1739, died in 1787; Uriah Gridley, 1784, died in 1820 ;
Horace Hooker, 1822-24; Darius O. Griswold, 1825-
35; William B. Deforest, 1835-87; Pluto R. Hurd,
1840-49; Chauncey Goodrich,* 1849-56; George P.
Prudden, 1857; Samuel M. Freeland, Benjamin S.
Parsons, Stephen Fenn, G. P. Gilman, Franklin
Tucksbury, and C. P. Crofts.

CHRIST CHURCH.

The first movement towards the formation of an
Episcopal parish in Westbury was in 1764, when the
following persons agreed to hold public worship in
Westbury on those Sundays when there was no
preaching in Waterbury, and also to make arrange-
ments to erect an Episcopal church in Westbury.
They met in the house of James Doolittle in the
winter, and of Ensign David Scott in the summer.
Their names are as follows: Asahel Beach, Seth
Blake, James Doolittle, Noah Judd, Joseph Prichard,
Edward Scovill, Jonathan Garnsey, Samuel Brown,
Daniel Brown, Jonathan Fulford, Asa Judd, Eleazar
Prindle, Samuel Scovill, Joseph Hicox, Joseph
Brown, Thomas Doolittle, John Judd, John Hicox,
Gershom Scott, William Scovill.

In 1765, under the agency of Capt. Scovill, the
first Episcopal church was erected on a piece of
ground donated for the purpose by Capt. George
Nichols, of Waterbury, a few rods southwest of the
first Congregational church, the business part of the
town being then near the locality of the churches.

The second, in 1798, on a piece of ground pur-
chased of Mr. Samuel Southmayd, south of Mr. Tim-
othy Judd’s, and near where is now the residence of
Alanson Warren, Esq. It was consecrated Nov. 18,
1794, by Right Rev. Bishop Seabury, and last used
for divine worship on Sunday, Oct. 28, 1855. Soon
after it was purchased by George P. Woodruff, and
removed to its present location. None of the con-
tributors for the erection of said church are now
living. In February, 1846, valuable real estate, which
had been previously purchased by J. N. Blakeslee,
Esq., was offered to and secured by this society, on a
portion of which an academy was erected in 1846, a
rectory in 1851, and in 1855 a new church edifice, the
corner-stone of which was laid by Right Rev. Assist-
ant Bishop Williams, on Monday, May 29, 1854, and
the church consecrated by him on Thursday, Nov.
15, 1855.

The rectors of the church have been as follows:
James Scovill, 1759-85; Chauncey Prindle, 1788-
1804; Russell Wheeler, 1805-14; Frederick Hol-
comb, D.D., 1814-38; N.S. Richardson, D.D., 1838-
45; Frederick Holcomb, D.D., 1845-50; Horace H.
Reid, 1850-57 ; Benjamin W. Stone, D.D., 1857; Wm.
H. Lewis, D.D., 8S. D. McConnell, and James Stod-
dard.

The ‘church edifice was repaired and beautified

 

, * Father of the late Samuel G. Goodrich, familiarly known as “ Peter
Parley.”

 

in about the year 1870, and few country churches
are more pleasing than this in its proportions and
style of architecture.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

The first services according to the rites of the
Methodist Episcopal Church in Watertown Centre
were held May 29, 1853, in a room kindly offered for
the purpose by M. Heminway, Esq., and in the fol-
lowing July the church was organized. The chapel
belonging to the Congregational society was their
place of meeting from the winter of the same year
until October, 1854, when they occupied the lecture-
room of their new church, which had been erected
during the previous summer on an eligible lot pur-
chased of Miss Lydia Woodward. It was dedicated
Dec. 18, 1854, the sermon on the occasion being
preached by Rev. Dr. Kennedy. ,

The pastors of this church have been as follows:
Joseph Smith and Larmon W. Abbott officiated once
in two weeks until May, 1857; Mr. Abbott remained
until 1859; A. V. R. Abbott, 1859-60; Seymour Lan-
don, 1861-62; A. C. Eggleston, 1863-65 ; T. A. Love-
joy, 1866-67, till June; W. 8. Bell, latter part of
1867; David Osborn, 1868-69; Benjamin Pillsbury,
1870-71; Thomas N. Laine, 1872-74; Horace Q.
Judd, 1875-77; Sidney K. Smith, 1878-80.

There is an old Methodist church standing in the
north part of the town, but was long since abandoned
as a place of worship.

CHAPTER LXVIILI.
WATERTOWN (Continued).
CIVIL AND MILITARY.

Incorporation of Town—First Town-Meeting—Officers Elected—Extracts
from Town Records—The Revolution—Division of the Town—Repre-
sentatives from 1780-1881—Town Clerks—Probate Judges—Military
Record, 1861-65.

INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN.
THs town was formed from Waterbury in May,
1780, and incorporated as Watertown, which included
the present towns of Plymouth and Thomaston.

THE FIRST TOWN-MEETING.

The first town-meeting was held, with Phineas
Royce as moderator, in the present town of Water-
town, June 19, 1780, when the following officers were
elected: Town Clerk, Timothy Judd; Selectmen,
Thos. Fenn, Thos. Dutton, Stephen Mathews, Na-
thaniel Barnes, and Jesse Curtis ; Constables, Samuel
Hickox, Thos. Dutton, Noah Richards, John Fancher,
and Samuel Lewis; Grand Jurors, Josiah Hubbard,
Samuel Southmayd, Theophilus Baldwin, Thomas
Cole, Joseph Curtice, Amos Dunbar, Samuel Sutliff,
and James Warner; Listers, Samuel Hickox, Samuel
Southmayd, Jonathan Scott, Asa Porter, Jathan Cur-
NNOD NMOLYFILVYNA “OSPLYND [TZ FLVTIHL IO FINIAISIY

 

 

 

 

 

 
WATERTOWN.

673

 

tice; Moses Frost, Isaac Fenn, and Zachariah Hitch-
cox; Tithingmen, John Merriam, Samuel Reynolds,
Wait Smith, Timothy Tuttle, Benj. Upson, and Gid-
eon Seymour; Surveyors of Highways, Thos. Hickox,
Jr., Amos Hickox, Jr., Allyn 8. Judd, John Wood-
ward, John Nettleton, Jr., Jehiel Saxton, David
Foot, Jonas Hungerford, John Judd, Jacob Foot, Asa
Darrow, Benjamin Upson, Jr., Moses Foot, Benj.
Barnes, Edmund Todd, Jason Fenn, Lazarus Ives,
David Bartholomew, Abraham Wheaton, Aaron
Fenn, Abet Sutliff, Jr., John Warner, Jr., Thaddeus
Baldwams; Branders, Amos Mathews, Thos. Fancher;
Leather-Sealers, Jedediah Turner and Asa Darrow;
Treasurer, Timothy Judd; Collectors of Poor Rate,
Job Garnsey, Samuel Seymour, Younglove Cutter,
and Aaron Fenn; Town Agent, Capt. Samuel Hickox ;
Inspectors of Provisions, Lieut. Peter Welton, Capt.
Isaac Merriam, Jonathan Scott, Joseph Foot, David
Turner, Capt. John Sutliff, Capt. Jotham Curtice, and
Capt. Moses Foot.

EXTRACTS FROM THE TOWN RECORDS.

Capt. Samuel Hickox, Edmund Lockwood, Col.
Benjamin Richards, Younglove Cutter, Maj. Jesse
Curtis, Capt. Stephen Seymour, and Lieut. Thomas
Dutton were appointed a committee at the first town-
meeting ‘‘to hire men to fill up the town quota in the
Continental army.”

“ At the same Meeting Granted A Rate of two pence on the Pound, to
be paid by The first day August Next, and to be paid in hard Money or
in Bills Emitted by this State Since February Last.

“ At the same meeting made choice of Thos. Hickox, Jr., David Hickox,
Capt. Benj. Richards, Israel Woodward, Jr., Thos. Foot, Younglove Cut-
ter, Samuel Todd, Lazarus Ives, Isaac Fenn for a Committee to Provide
for the Continental Souldier’s Families.

“It was also voted that Every Person Shall have a Suitable time to
remove his Mark from Waterbury Town Records to this Town Records.

“The m eting then adjourned to the Second Monday of July next, at
one of the Clock in the Afternoon, in this Place.

“ And the meeting met according to adjournment and Voted that their
Repveseutatives that shall attend the General Assembly in Oct. next,
shall prepare a Memorial to said Assembly for Liberty to set upa Sign
Post in or Near the Middle of the Societies of Westbury and Northbury,
in this Town.

“ At the same Meeting, voted to Erect a Sign Post at or Near the Meet-
ing-House in Northbury, and to Affix a Pair of Stocks at or near the
Meeting-House in Westbury.

“ Voted, That the Committee appointed to hire men into the Continen-
tal Service are Impowered to act Discretionary, and they are to Continue
until the Town-Meeting in Dec. next.”

In December, 1780, a committee was appointed to
“view or reconnoitre a road from Torrington bounds
to Woodbury bounds.”

“ At the same Meeting Granted a Rate of three pence on the Pound,
to be Paid in states Money, or Silver Money, or Continental Money, and
to be made on the List of 1780, and to be paid by the first day March
next.

“At the town-meeting held Apl 19,1781, a rate was granted of one
penny half-penny on the Pound, to be paid on the List of 1780, to be
paid in Wheat at 6s. per Bushel, Rye at 4s. per bushel, and Indian Corn
at 3s. per Bushel, or in Silver Money at Six and Eight pence per Ounce,
ad. Rate to be paid by the first Day of August Next.

“At the same meeting made choice of Cap. John Woodruff, Noah
Richards, Jotham Curtice, John Fancher, and Joseph Curtice for a Com-
mittee to hire souldiers to Enlist to go to horse neck (Greenwich, Conn.)
for the term of one year.

 

“The same meeting made Choice of Lt. Amos Hickox, Jr., for a Con-
ductor of the Temes that are to Cart the Continental Provisions the
Current Year.

“At the same meeting gave Liberty for any Number of Persons or
Person to build a Howse or Howses for those Soldier’s families that are
Entitled for the term of three Years or During the war, on the High-
ways, takiug the Direction of the Encroaching Committee.”

At a special town-meeting, held June 25, 1781,

“ Voted, To Class the Town into Seven Classes, in Order to raise Seven
men or Souldiers for the Continental Service.”

At the same meeting

“Passed a Vote Desiring the Selectmen to use their Endeavors to
Catch those men that Belong to this Town that have Deserted from the
Continental Service and take them to the Camp.”

Ata meeting held February, 1782, choice was made
of Edmund Lockwood, Jesse Curtice, Allyn 8. Judd,
and James Warner for a committee to hire a man, or
men, for the Continental service; also

“ Voted, That if any Person that shall take up a Cattel and any Soul-
dier belonging to this Town that has Deserted from the Continental
army and Deliver him to an officer in said army and take his Receipt
therefore, shall receive the sum of £15, Lawful Money (viz.), if Listed
three years or During the War.”

May 2, 1782, Capt. Moses Foot and John Wood-
ward were appointed a committee to take the Conti-
nental soldiers to Wallingford in order to be mustered,
and take receipts of the muster-master thereof.

The first town-meeting held in that part of the
town then called Northbury, now the town of Ply-
mouth, was on Sept. 18, 1781, and the second in De-
cember, 1782.

  
   
 
  

8s. d.
John Merrill’s rate for the year 1781 is to the amount ot...... 13 «6
Credit by rates turned the sum of. se 18 #0
Timothy Foot’s order.....s.ey---e0-e+ 13 10
A rate-bill for provisions to Col. Benj. Richards 19 6
Ditto Capt. Isaac Merriam's.. 16 69
Jobn Nettleton, Jr.... 14 18

DIVISION OF THE TOWN.

The first vote in reference to the division of the
town, and the setting off of Northbury (now Plymouth
and Thomaston), was made at a town-meeting held
Sept. 25, 1786, and was as follows:

“ Voted, That This Town have a mind to be Divided into Two Towns»
and Maid Choice of Capt. Samuel Hickox, Col. David Smith, Samuel
Southmay, Capt. James Warner, Wait Smith, Capt. Daniel Potter, John
Woodward, Abner Blakeslee, Lt. Aaron Huckley, and Aaron Dunbar, a
Committee To agree upon Terms of a Division and Make Report to Each
Society By the Second Monday of Oct. Next.”

TOWN CLERKS.

Timothy Judd, 1780-83; A. Bradley, 1784-86, 1788, 1790-92, 1804-23;
Allyn Wright, 1787, 1789, 1793-94; Eli Curtis, 1795-1801 ; Samuel w.
Southmayd, 1802-4; Timothy ©. Stub, 1824-26; Ezra Fields, 1827;
Holbrook Curtis, 1827-44; Leman W. Cutler, 1850-81.

PROBATE JUDGES.
The Watertown Probate District was organized in

1884, and the following is a list of the judges from

that time to the present:

Holbrook Curtis, judge, 1834-35; Benjamin De Forest, 1836 ; Merit Heme
inway, 1837; Holbrook Curtis, 1838-45 ; Charles 8. Woodward, 1846;
Holbrook Curtis, 1847-49; Allyn M. Hungerford, 1850-51; Leman
W. Cutler, from 1852 to the present time,—a period of nearly thirty
years.
674

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

REPRESENTATIVES FROM 1780 TO 1881.

1780, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Maj. Jesse Curtis; 1781, Capt. Thomas Fenn,
Maj. Jesse Curtis, Capt. Phineas Royce; 1782, Capt. Samuel Hicox,
Capt. Phineas Royce, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Capt. Nathaniel Barns;
1783, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Capt. Nathaniel Barns; 1784, Capt. Samuel
Hicox, Capt. Nathaniel Barns, Maj. David Smith ; 1785, Capt. Thomas
Fenn, Maj. David Smith: 1786, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Col. David
Smith, Capt. Daniel Potter; 1787, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Capt. Daniel
Potter; 1788, Capt. Thomas Fenn, Col. David Smith; 1789, Capt.
Thomas Fenn, Wait Smith, Col. David Smith, Capt. Daniel Potter;
1790, Thomas Fenn, Col. David Smith; 1791, Thomas Fenn, Col.
David Smith, Elijah Woodward ; 1792, Elijah Woodward, Col. David
Smith, Daniel Potter; 1793, Thomas Fenn, Joseph A. Wright; 1794,
Thomas Fenn, Joseph A. Wright, Elijah Woodward, David Smith;
1795, Aner Bradley, Joseph A. Wright, Thomas Fenn; 1796-97,
Thomas Fenn, Aner Bradley; 1798-98, Thomas Fenn, S. W. South-
mayd; 1800, Thomas Fenn; 1801-3, Thomas Fenn, S. W. South-
mayd; 1804, S. W. Southmayd; 1805, Thomas Fenn, Samuel W.
Southmayd; 1806, Samuel W. Southmayd; 1807, Thomas Fenn,
Samuel W. Southmayd, Samuel Hulburt; 1808, Samuel W. South-
mayd; 1809, John H. De Forest, Phineas Miner; 18]0, Garrett
Smith; 1811-12, Samuel W. Southmayd; 1813, Garrett Smith ; 1814,
Garrett Smith, John H. De Forest; 1815, John H. De Forest; 1816,
David Baldwin; 1817, Samuel Elton; 1818, Amos Baldwin; 1819,
Daniel Hicox ; 1820, Amos Baldwin ; 1821-22, Holbrook Curtis; 1823
~24, Samuel H. Nettleton; 1825, John Buckingham ; 1826, John Mor-
ris; 1827, John Buckingham; 1828-29, James Bishop; 1830, Samuel
H. Nettleton ; 1831, Benjamin De Forest; 1832, John Morris; 1833,
Holbrook Curtis; 1834, Joel Hungerford; 1835, William H. Merri-
man ; 1836, Leman W. Cutler; 1837, Holbrook Curtis; 1838, John De
Forest; 1839, Holbrook Curtis; 1840, Leman W. Cutler; 1841, Alan-
son Warren; 1842, no record; 1843, Holbrook Curtis; 1844, Lucius
Woodward ; 1845, Holbrook Curtis ; 1846, Samuel H. Nettleton; 1847,
Edward Hickox ; 1848, David Mattoon; 1849, George F. Merriman;
1850-51, A. M. Hungerford; 1852, C, T. Hickox; 1853, George P.
Woodruff; 1854, Daton Mattoon; 1855, William B, Hotchkiss; 1856,
Rupell H. Beers; 1857, A. B. Everett; 1858, Truman A. Warren;
1859, Caleb T. Hickox ; 1860, S. P. Woodward; 1861, Eli Curtis; 1862,
Chester Hurd; 1863, David Welton; 1864, George Mallory; 1865,
Anos M. Judd; 1866, John H. Woodruff; 1867-68, George Wood-
ward; 1869-70, Charles A. Warren ; 1871, E, M. Smith ; 1872, Dayton
Mattoon; 1873, George A. Woodruff; 1874, George A. Woodruff;
1875, William G. French; 1876-78, Leman W. Cutler; 1879, Charles
A. Warren; 1880, David Welton; 1881, Merritt C. Skilton.

MILITARY RECORD, 1861-65.

The following persons enlisted from Watertown
for three years in different Connecticut regiments,
under the call of the President for five hundred thou-
sand men in 1861:

Robert B. Atwood, corporal, Co. G, 4th Regt.*
Mark 0. Patterson, corporal, Co. G, 4th Regt.
Levi B. Downs, Co. I, 4th Regt.

Augustus Lane, Co. I, 4th Regt.

William D. Noble, Co. I, 4th Regt.

William W. Scovill, Co. I, 4th Regt.

William Gridley, Co. D, 5th Regt.

William H. Mallory, captain, Harris Light Cav.
George Castle, Harris Light Cav.

McHenry Stone, Harris Light Cav.

Lewis J. Welton, Harris Light Cay.

Eugene McIntire, Co. E, 6th Regt.

Frederick H. Welton, sergeant, Co. B, 7th Regt.
Theodore Welton, Co. B, 7th Regt.

J. Shelton Bronson, Co, E, 8th Regt.

Sylvanus M. Clarke, Co. E, 8th Regt.

George H. Baker, Co. E, 8th Regt.

Adolph Hoffenmeyer, Co. C, 11th Regt.

Albert 8. Frost, Co. B, 11th Regt.

Henry G. Scott, Co, I, 1st Conn. Heavy Art.
Hubert Scott, Co. I, lst Conn. Heavy Art.

J. J. Fischer, Co. I, 1st Conn. Heavy Art.

 

* Changed from infantry to Ist Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Jan. 2,
1862.

 

Chester Russell, Co. I, lst Conn. Heavy Art.

H. W. Loomis, Co. I, lst Conn. Heavy Art.

Bronson Welton, Co. C, Ist Conn. Heavy Art.

William H. Norris, Co. I, 13th Regt.

H. A. Pratt, quartermaster-sergeant, 1st Conn. Heavy Art.

The following persons enlisted in August, 1862, for
three years or during the war; in Company D, Nine-
teenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, and re-
ceived the town bounty of one hundred dollars each
as residents of the town of Watertown:

William H. Lewis, Jr., recruiting officer; William C. Atwood, John §,
Atwood, Joseph Atwood, Charles L. Bryan, Norman W. Barnes,
Harvey Bronson, James McCormick, Simon O’Donnell, Jr., Theo-
dore C. Glazier, Samuel D, Hine, Edward C. Hopson, Albert J.
Hotchkiss, Edgar B. Lewis, Matthew Lusk, John A. Ludford, Hiram
Mattoon, Timothy Malone, James H. Pritchard, Andrew J. Tuite,
William H. Whitelaw, Charles Warner, Thomas Wheeler.

The following persons enlisted for three years, and
received the town bounty of one hundred dollars each:

Heman A. Morris, 14th Regt.

Charles E. French, 14th Regt.

Nathan B. Abbott, Co. H, 20th Regt.
George 8. Guilford, Co. H, 20th Regt.
William H. Guilford, Co. H, 20th Regt.
Merit B. Woodruff, Co. H, 20th Regt.
Peter Duffy, Co. H, 20th Regt.

The following persons enlisted September, 1862, for
nine months, and received the town bounty of one
hundred and fifty dollars each:

Company A, Twenty-third Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.

John A. Woodward, second lieutenant; George W. Andrews, Russell W.
Ayres, Charles F. Blackman, Marvin Brouet, John Brouet, John H.

. Bryan, John J. Beecher, Ezra E. Bassett, George Clark, John N.
Ensign, George B. French, Frederick S. Fairchild, John Fitzpatrick,
Edgar Gibson, Henry F. Gibson, Lyman F. Guernsey, David M. Hard,
Amos G. Hull, Thomas B. Hotchkiss, Frederick Nichols, Charles
Nightingale, William M. Parke, George J. Porter, Julius J. Pope,
William Root, Charles W. Scott, Cyrus Thomas, George A. Wright
(substitute for T. Jackson).

Company H, Twenty t Ce ticul Vol: 8
Richard Barker, Marcus Dayton, Edward S. Doolittle, Benjamin H. Mal-
lett, Sherman Guernsey, Charles Taylor.

third R

The following persons were drafted August, 1863,
under the call of the President for three hundred thou-
sand men, and furnished substitutes for the amount
affixed to their names, agreeable to the town vote:

George Smith, Bennett Judd, Henry Dayton, William Mallory, Enos
Bradley, Frederick J. Woodruff, Henry S. Frost, William F. Lewis,
Frederick R. Hickox, Romulus J. Potter, Wallace Atwood, H. Clay
Skilton, Lucius Woodward, $300; Henry C. Percy, Andrew A. Nor-
ton, $297.50; Samuel Decker (colored), $290; Joel E. Hawley, Fred-
erick Bryan, William Markell, James Loveland, William S. Ben-
ham, Harrison Atwood, $280; Reuben Barnes, $275.

List of Deceased Soldiers.

William Gridley, Co. D, 5th Regt., died of disease, and was buried in
Frederick, Md., Dec. 18, 1861, aged seventeen.

McHenry Stone, member of Harris Light Cavalry, died in the hospital in
Georgetown, D. C., and was buried there Jan. 14, 1862, aged nine-
teen.

William M. Parke, Co. A, 23d Regt. of nine months’ volunteers, died in
Watertown, Conn., and was buried there Nov. 12, 1862, aged twenty-
two.

Edward L. Doolittle, Co, H, 23d Regt. of nine months’ volunteers, died in
Brashier City, La., July 24, 1863, aged nineteen.

Egbert D. Reed, Co, E,11th Regt., died at Hatteras Inlet, N. C., April 14,
1862, age not given.
 
 
WATERTOWN.

William D. Noble, Co. I, 4th Regt., died of disease near Richmond, Va.,
June 28, 1862.

Sylvanus M. Clarke, Co. E, 8th Regt., died at Roanoke Island, N. C.,
March:14, 1862.

George H. Baker, Co. E, 8th Regt., died in Annapolis, Md., Jan. 8, 1862.

Joseph S. Bronson, Co. E, 8th Regt., died in Annapolis, Md., Nov. 30,
1861, aged twenty-six. Buried in Waterbury, Conn.

Edward C. Hopson, corporal, Co. D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn.
Heavy Art.), killed at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va., October, 1864;
buried in Poultney, Vt.

Edgar Bartow Lewis, sergeant, Co..D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn.
Heavy Art.), died of diphtheria at the house of a friend in Alexan-
dria, Va., Sept. 6, 1863, aged nineteen ; buried in Greenwood Ceme-
tery, N. Y.

Philo A. Fenn, Co, D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn, Heavy Art.), shot
in the head at Cold Harbor, Va., by a sharpshooter, while on duty as
a sharpshooter, June 12, 1864, aged twenty-four.

Hiram Mattoon, Co. D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn. Heavy Art.),
shot in the knee at the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 10, 1864;
his leg was amputated; died in Washington, D. C., and was buried
there June 14, 1864, aged twenty. _

James H. Pritchard, bass drummer, Co. D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d
Conn. Heavy Art.), died of brain fever in the hospital at City Point,
Va., July 1, 1864, aged twenty-one. s

Charles L. Bryan, Co. D, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn. Heavy Art.),
was severely wounded in the leg at the battle of Cedar Creek, Va.,
October, 1864, but took part in the final battles of the war; he died
in Watertown, Conn., March 16, 1866, from the effects of chronic
diarrhoea contracted during the war, and was buried there, aged
twenty-two.

Charles Reed, Co. K, 19th Regt. (afterwards 2d Conn. Heavy Art.), died
of wounds received in the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., June 2, 1864.

Marvin Brouet, Co. A, 23d Regt. (nine months), died in Watertown,
Conn., March 24, 1864, aged twenty.

John Brouet, Co. A, 23d Regt. (nine months), died in Watertown, Conn.,
Oct. 23, 1867, aged twenty-six.

Edgar Gibson, Co. A, 23d Regt. (nine months), died of consumption in
Watertown, Conn., May 7, 1869, aged twenty-six.

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

LEMAN W. CUTLER.

Leman W. Cutler, the youngest son of Younglove
and. Anna (Woodward) Cutler, was born in Water-
town, Conn., Dec. 12, 1807. Younglove Cutler was
born in Killingly, Windham Co., Conn.; was a son of
Jesse Cutler, the fourth son of Capt. Isaac Cutler,
who came from Salem, Mass., to Killingly about
1712, being one of the early settlers, and a prominent
man in Windham County.

Mr. Cutler graduated at Yale College in 1829, but
never studied a profession.

‘His three sisters had all previously died of con-
sumption, and his only brother fell a victim to a lung
disease about that time. He resolved that if an out-
door life would equally promote his happiness and
give him a longer lease of life, he would follow the
occupation of a farmer, and seek good health rather
than great riches, in which he was eminently successful.

He married, in 1831, Mary Elizabeth, eldest daugh-
ter of Rev. Frederick Holcomb, D.D. They have no
children. He has always resided in his native vil-
lage, and has been highly honored with the respect
and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

Politically a decided Republican, he has been

 

675

twice called to represent the Sixteenth Senatorial
District in the State Senate, and five times sent by
his townsmen to the House of Representatives. For
six years, through the late war, was State comptroller
of public accounts, for fourteen years town treasurer,
and for twenty-four years judge of probate for the
district of Watertown, when the constitutional limit
compelled him to leave that office. He is at present
town clerk and registrar of births, marriages, and
deaths, having held both offices for the last thirty-
two consecutive years. He is a member of the Con-
gregational Church.

GEN. MERRIT HEMINWAY.

Merrit Heminway, son of John and Hannah
(Thompson) Heminway, was born in East Haven,
Conn., March 28, 1800.

His father was the only child of John Heminway,
and was born in East Haven, Conn., about 1774. He
was a miller, farmer, and dealer in live stock. He
was twice married, and had five children by his first
wife. Three are living, of whom Gen. Heminway is
one.

He had three children by his second wife, one of
whom is living. He was a member of the Episcopal
Church. He died in 1826, leaving his family in good
circumstances for those days.

Mr. Heminway remained at home, working on his
father’s farm and in a carding-factory summers, at-
tending school winters, until he was sixteen years of
age, when he went to New Haven as clerk in the gro-
cery-store of N. & H. Oaks, where he remained two
years.

He was then employed by E. & J. Shipman, who
were engaged in trade with the West Indies. He
remained with them two years. In December, 1821,
he came to Watertown, Conn., and in March, 1822,
commenced mercantile business in the basement of
the old Bishop Hotel, with James Bishop as part-
ner, under the firm-name of Bishop & Heminway.
They continued in business seven years, when they
took in as third partner Josiah Hickox, and removed
to the store now occupied by Mr. Mattoon. Said store
was built in 1828 by the firm, and is now owned by
Gen. Heminway.

After two years the firm dissolved, and Messrs.
Bishop & Heminway continued in trade till about
1837, when they dissolved, and Gen. Heminway con-
tinued until 1842, having with him as partner Charles
Partree, Heminway being a silent partner. In 1842,
Gen. Heminway assumed control of the business,
continuing alone until 1855, when his sons became
partners, and the firm continued for a number of
years as M. Heminway & Sons.

In 1849, Gen. Heminway fitted up a building which
had been occupied by Nathaniel Wheeler, who was
engaged at that time as a wagon-maker, and began
the manufacture of silk. In a few years he took
676

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

in his sons as partners, under the firm-name of M.
Heminway & Sons, and a few years later changed
the name to M. Heminway & Sons’ Silk Company.
This firm consists of Mr. Heminway, his four sons,
and daughter, thus representing the entire family in
a joint-stock company. They represent one hundred
and fifty thousand dollars of capital, employ from one
hundred to one hundred and twenty-five persons,
mostly females, and their silk is to be seen in all parts
of the United States, also in South America and
Europe. They manufacture the very best sewing-silk
of all kinds.

Their factory is large and well situated. A view of
it may be seen in another part of this work. They
have a store in New York City for the sale of their
goods, in charge of Homer Heminway.

Gen. Heminway was engaged for some time, with
Nathaniel Wheeler, in the manufacture of slides and
buckles.

He commenced keeping public-house in 1840, in
the old Bishop Hotel, where he remained: about
twenty years. He has also managed a farm, which
he purchased in 1840.

In politics he is a Democrat. He has. been justice
of the peace, judge of probate, and postmaster for a
number of years. He never sought political distinc-
tion, preferring the quiet of home to any official
honors.

Gen. Heminway and all his family are members of
the Episcopal Church, and he has been vestryman.

He has been a prominent military man in his town.
He was a quartermaster-sergeant for Col. Chauncey
Craft, of Woodbury, in the Twelfth Regiment Con-
necticut Militia, and after serving five years resigned,
never expecting again to be called upon; but, at the
earnest solicitation of some of the prominent men in
town, he was induced to accept the position of captain
of the First Rifle Company, which was being formed
for the first time. He rose through various ranks to
colonel of the Twelfth Connecticut Regiment State
Militia, and finally was appointed general of the Sixth
Brigade.

On the 7th of March, 1882, he united in marriage
with Mary Ann, daughter of Jonathan Buell, of
Litchfield, Conn., and by this happy union five chil-
dren have been born, namely, John, Homer, Mary
Ann (who married Henry Merriman, of Waterbury,
Conn.), Buell, and Merritt, all of whom were born in
Watertown and reside there at the present time, and
are numbered among Watertown’s most highly re-
spected citizens.

DR. JOHN DE FOREST.

Dr. John De Forest, son of Benjamin and Alma
(Southmayd) De Forest, was born in Watertown,
Conn., March 31, 1806. Educated at Yale College, in
the academical and medical departments; commenced
the practice of medicine in the spring of 1829, in
Goshen, Conn.; thence came to Watertown, in Octo-

 

ber, 1830, where he pursued his profession closely and
with reasonable success until 1845, when he was
obliged to retire in consequence of ill health. From
that time to the present he has not been engaged in
any active business, but has led a quiet and unosten-
tatious life. May 16, 1831, he married Lucy &.,
daughter of Erastus Lyman, of Goshen, Conn. She
was an invalid and sufferer for more than twenty
years, which she bore with Christian fortitude and
resignation, and died Aug. 3, 1855. They had two
children ; the eldest died in infancy, and the youngest,
Erastus Lyman, born June 27, 1834, was educated at
Yale College, in the academical and scientific depart-
ments, and is now engaged in scientific pursuits.

DR. SAMUEL ELTON.

The name of Elton has been a historic name in
Watertown for more than a century. For a period
of ninety years three individuals of that name filled
the responsible position of family physician among us.

Dr. Samuel Elton, the subject of this sketch,
watched at the bedside of the suffering for sixty
years; his father, Dr. John Elton, for twenty-four
years; and his uncle, Dr. James Elton, for seven
years. Thus we see the name became a “household
word” in this community.

John Elton, the first of the Elton name of which
the writer has information, came early to this country
from Bristol, England, and settled in Middletown,
Conn. His son Ebenezer located in Branford; the
time of his death is unknown,—he was lost at sea.

His son, Ebenezer, Jr., was born in 1712, and set-
tled first at Middletown, but subsequently removed to
Harwinton, Conn.

His eldest son by a second wife, Dr. John Elton,
was born Oct. 6, 1755, and it is presumed studied with
his half-brother, Dr. James Elton, since on the death
of James, John succeeded him in practice at West-
bury, now Watertown, dying Oct. 9, 1800.

Dr. Samuel Elton, of whom we wish particularly
to speak, was the only son of Dr. John, born Sept. 6,
1780. He studied a short time with his father, who
purposed to give him the best possible medical edu-
cation, but death defeated his plans, and at the early
age of eighteen years, with little knowledge of medi-
cal works, he commenced active practice, which was
never relaxed until old age and disease enforced it,
dying Dec. 8, 1858.

What most acquire by the experience of others,
through books, lectures, etc., he seized, as it were, by
intuition, and retained by personal practical experi-
ence. He was never rash, never attempted hazardous
experiments, but waited and watched, frequently say-
ing, ‘No doubt physicians have saved the lives of
some people and prolonged those of others, but nobody
knows how many lives they have taken.”

His conclusions were so uniformly correct that he
early grew into an extensive practice as consulting
 

Vi D. Foes
 

C
ou

Sark
 
WATERTOWN.

and advisory physician in all neighboring communi-
ties. He was kind and tender in feeling, but never
profuse in expressions of sympathy; plain, almost
blunt, in language; stern in outward demeanor, but,
when occasion permitted, jovial and playful as a boy.
No one was ever more endeared, or more perfectly
secured in the confidence of his patients, than was
Dr. Samuel Elton to the end.

He acquired a handsome estate, which might have
been doubled had he chosen to enforce the collection
of very reasonable charges for his labors. He never
took legal steps to collect a debt. He visited and
cared for the poverty-stricken patient with all the
assiduity he gave the most wealthy. As has been
well said of him by another: “Honesty, temper-
ance and economy were with him cardinal virtues.
He was the friend of good order, of wholesome laws,
and whatever else was calculated to promote the best
good of the community.”

He married Betsy, the eldest daughter of Mr.
Charles Merriman, of Watertown, who bore him
seven children, one of whom alone survived him,
viz., John P. Elton, who was very successful as a
business man, and one of the most highly respected
citizens of Waterbury.

ALLYN M. HUNGERFORD, M.D.

Allyn M. Hungerford, M.D., eldest son of Deacon
Joel Hungerford, was born in Watertown, Aug. 16,
1810. His father was a lineal descendant of Thomas
Hungerford, of Hartford, Conn., an English emigrant,
and land-holder there in 1638.

Deacon Hungerford died in 1858, at the age of
seventy-five, and his widow, Rebecca Merriam, is still
living at the age of ninety-four. Her father, Chris-
topher Merriam, died in Watertown in 1838, aged
eighty-seven, and his father, Joel Hungerford, Sr.,
in 1814, at the age of seventy-two. They were men
of integrity and influence, and served as citizen-sol-
diers in the Revolutionary army, the former at the
burning of Danbury, and the latter at the siege and
capture of New York. His father, David Hunger-
ford, from Haddam, Conn., settled in Westbury about
1750, and a few years after died while in the English
army, near Lake Champlain.

Dr. A. M. Hungerford graduated from the Medical
Department of Yale College in 1838, and represented
Watertown in the State Legislature in 1850-51. He
was judge of the Probate Court for the district of
Watertown in 1851-52, and for the district of Water-
bury in 1851, also for the Watertown district during
the years 1877-78. Mrs. Emily P. Hungerford, his
wife, died July 15, 1880, aged sixty-six. She was a
daughter of Joseph Platt, Esq., of Prospect, Conn.
The only daughter, Sarah A. Hungerford, died March
17, 1870, at the age of twenty-four. The only son,
William A. Hungerford, of New York, survives her.

The following address to the Putnam Phalanx, of

677

Hartford, and other invited guests, present at the cen-
tennial celebration of Watertown, June 17, 1880, was
written for the occasion by Dr. Hungerford :

Men live but once, a noble life lives on

Down the uncounted years, through victories won,
Deathless and crowned, foraye. This very day
Heroes who perished in that bloody fray

Where Putnam fought and gallant Warren fell
Are in these scenes around us, living well.

Their lives were thoughts wrought out in deeds sublime,
And still their footsteps press the shores of time.
Our fathers came here from beyond the sea,

Gave us this heritage, and left us free.

A few years since the Indian roamed these hills,
And reared his wigwam by our busy rills;

To-day these homes, with cheerful beauty crowned,
Invite to us the eager world around.

Green isles behind him, and his father’s grave,
Erin comes, spellbound, o’er the yielding wave,
To gain a broader manhood when he wills,

And own the sod his hardy muscle tills.

And why that stranger boy from far Cathay,
Satchel in hand, his household gods away?

What but to learn the great, the good, the true
Freedom has taught her generous sons to do?

‘What they have done I pause not to relate,

Since first the colony became the State,

And States united made the nation free ,
To rule this heritage of land and sea;

But while our flag is waving in the breeze

Of tropic, torrid, and of polar seas,

Fair Freedom was and is by heaven designed

To rule the greater empire of the mind,

To raise the fallen, make the sick man whole,

And rouse to faith and life his sluggish soul.

There are some things that Freedom will not do :
She cannot make the false to be the true ;

She may inspire the poet’s loftiest song,

But fails to dignify the flagrant wrong.

We tried it once when growing proudly great,
And in the bosom of a sovereign State

Kept an ill-gotten treasure, made to bring

A pleasure often, oftener a sting.

* Twas feared, yet cherished, hated, too, yet loved,
Detested, honored, scorned, admired, approved,
Till once sworn brothers deadjiest foemen stood,
And dropped that burden in a sea of blood.

Hence to your homes, and on our natal moro
Unroll those battle-flags through Dixie borne;
Gaze the brave rents of Minie-ball and shell.
Oh! read their lesson once, but read it well,
Nor vainly strive to carry hoary ills

Up Freedoms sacred heights and heaven-crowned hills.
In the sure kingdom that is yet to come,

Where love refines and purifies the home,
‘Woman supreme, yet loyal in her sphere,

Her wrongs redressed, her intuitions clear,

Her brilliants richly set, her jewels rare

And regal, as of old Cornelia’s were,

That home a glimpse of Eden’s bower, revealed,
Ere sorrow entered it or shame concealed,—

A bright Aurora, leading in the morn

To kindreds and to peoples yet unborn,—

Shall be where’er our standard is unfurled,

A power to bless and purify the world.

Our fathers lived for us, and shall we then

Be in these coming ages living men?

Live noble lives, whole, manly lives and true,
And God will guard and guide the nation, too,
Till on earth’s darkest realms the light shall rise,
And Freedom’s gracious baldric arch their skies.

a ee

 
678

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ELI CURTISS.

Eli Curtiss was born at Huntington, in this State,
June 16, 1804, and died Feb. 27, 1878. He came to
Watertown when sixteen years old, as clerk for Ben-
jamin De Forest, and when he was twenty-two he took
Mr. De Forest’s store, remaining there until 1850. In
Watertown Mr. Curtiss built up an extensive trade,
employing many clerks, and engaging in the “ plant-
hat” business, as it was called. He procured the ma-
terial for the hats, which was taken by women from
all the adjoining towns, cut into strips, and braided
into hats. The ladies from Bethlehem, Morris, Wood-
bury, Middlebury, Plymouth, and all the surrounding
country profited by this employment, returning the
hats to Mr. Curtiss, and receiving their pay in goods
from his store. In this way he became the most ex-
tensive and successful merchant in all these parts,
people coming from Waterbury to trade with him, as
they now go from Watertown to trade at Waterbury.
Here Mr. Curtiss laid, strong and deep, foundations for
his -future prosperity, beginning business with an
empty pocket, but with a head full of good common
sense and enterprise, balanced by a benevolent heart.
In 1850, Mr. Curtiss went into the New York store of
the Scoville Manufacturing Company, remaining in
New York eighteen years, and retiring from active
business in 1868. He was postmaster of his town for
several years, and represented Watertown in the
Legislature in 1861, and ten years later became State
senator and a fellow of Yale College, assisting in
electing Professor Porter president of Yale. He was
very fond of military matters, and held various posi-
tions, from that of sergeant to that of colonel of the
Twelfth Regiment State Militia. For many years he
was connected with the Congregational Church in
Watertown, and was always interested in church and
society matters. One of his last gifts was a handsome
donation to the church, in which he occupied the
same seat, when at home, almost every Sunday for
over twenty years. His generous soul kept his purse
ever open to the calls of charity, and his prosperity
never exalted him above his own townsmen, for he
had a kind word for every one of whatever rank or
station. Feb. 20, 1878, he was suddenly struck with
a shock of paralysis, being at the Gramercy Park
_House, in New York, where he had gone, with his
wife and two daughters, to spend the winter. After
two hours he became unconscious, and lay in that
state until he passed away a week later. Mr. Curtiss
was twice married, first to the sister of Dr. John De
Forest, who left five sons to survive her when she
died, five other children having preceded her to the
other shore. Mr. Curtiss’ second wife, her two
daughters, and four of his sons by the first wife now
remain to mourn the loss of a kind and loving hus-
band and father.

 

BENJAMIN DE FOREST, ESQ.

The following was written by a friend, and published
soon after his death:

“The character of this gentleman, recently deceased,
is worthy of public notice, as it possesses features
which may profitably be commended to the imitation
of others, especially men of business.

“The outline of his life may be given in a few
words. He was born in Huntington, Conn., in June,
1780, the son of Benjamin and Mehitabel De Forest.
At the age of sixteen years he went to Watertown to
learn the trade of a hatter. After serving a regular
apprenticeship at that business, he entered the store
of Mr. Leavitt, of Bethlehem, as a clerk. He left that
position after a few months to enter into mercantile
business in Watertown with his brother, John H.
De Forest, who afterwards became a manufacturer in
Humpbhreysville, now Seymour. In that business he
continued from 18038 to 1825, when he became con-
nected, as a stockholder, and by active personalagency,
with manufacturing in Waterbury, though still hav-
ing his home and residence in Watertown. About
twenty years since, in 1838, on account of impaired
health, he retired from active service in business,
though he was for a long period after connected as
stockholder, and a director whose counsel was always
valued, with the Benedict & Burnham Manufacturing
Company. Twenty-seven years ago, in 1832, he
united with the Congregational Church in Watertown
by profession of his faith in Christ, and he has ever
since honored that profession by an exemplary Chris-
tian life. Of the ecclesiastical society connected with
that church he had been for many years previous an
active member, and a steadfast, judicious, and reliable
friend.

“The most prominent feature in Mr. De Forest’s
character was his inflexible and incorruptible integ-
rity,—he loved righteousness ; he hated iniquity. He
loved to do right himself, exactly right, and was
exceedingly careful to learn it and do it. His con-
scientiousness was very active and very just. His
devotion to the right and the true in his own conduct
was remarkable; and he loved, also, to have others
do right, and he did what he wisely could for that
end, though he was no busybody in other men’s mat-
ters, and was not lacking in charity for their failings.
The same trait of character made him in all public
affairs the firm and ardent friend of righteousness,
and the steady and unswerving opponent of wrong
and oppression. On all questions of right and wrong
men knew where to find him, and how to rely on him.

“As a man of business, he had unusual sagacity,—
he made himself thoroughly acquainted with all mat-
ters pertaining to his business, and with respect to
them was quick-sighted and far-sighted,—and with
this sagacity he united equal prudence and caution,
though it was not prudence or caution of that sort
which partakes of moral cowardice, or ever compro-
mises right and truth, His accuracy was most exact,
 

 

13 Barclay Sev xL

 

Eng *hy HBERLS 8
 
Yy Yj

 
WATERTOWN.

 

 

end

and his punctuality was proverbial among all who
knew him. It is not too much to say that during the
more than sixty years in which he was more or less
connected with business he was never one moment
too late. No man or company of men ever lost a
minute’s time by his neglect to meet an appointment
in season; and this punctuality he carried into every
department of his life: at bank, or counter, or con-
vention, at church or prayer-meeting, he was never
tardy.

“In his speech he was a man of few words, but
they were always pertinent, luminous, and unequivo-
cal words. He never spoke till he had something
suitable to say, and then he spoke plainly, briefly,
and decidedly. He was as downright in his language
as he was-upright in thought and conduct.

“Mr. De Forest was a liberal man. By the blessing
of Divine Providence on his industry and skill, he
possessed a handsome competence for many years,
and he made good use of it during his lifetime, as his
contributions to many objects of benevolence have
for a long period testified. He was quiet and unos-
tentatious in his manner of giving, but many are the
nlena of heavenly charity, and many the persons in
trial and necessity, that testify to the compassion of
his heart and the openness of his hands. :

“On the whole, it may be truly said that in a good
degree Mr. De Forest obeyed the comprehensive rule
of human duty as it is given in the Divine Word,—
‘To do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with
God.’

“Tn his domestic life Mr. De Forest had much of
joy, and an unusual degree of bereavement and sor-
row. The wife of his youth was Alma Southmayd
(daughter of Samuel and Dorcas Skinner Southmayd,
sister of Samuel W. Southmayd, before his early de-
cease an able lawyer at the bar of Litchfield County,
and descendant of Rev. John Southmayd, the second
minister of the first church in Waterbury), whom he
married in Watertown, June, 1805. With her he
lived in the happiest relations till December, 1850,
when he followed her to the grave, sorrowing, but
sorrowing not as- those without hope, in the full as-
surance of her faith in Christ and of her infinite
gain. They had before followed, in united grief, to
the grave seven out of ten children. These afflictions,
through divine grace, were borne by him with Chris-
tian patience and meekness, and had a manifest effect
in mellowing his character and ripening it for
heaven.”

He died suddenly, Feb. 2, 1859, with disease of the
heart. Three children only survive him, viz.: John,
born March 31, 1806; Alma, first wife of Eli Curtiss,
born May 28, 1813; and. Benjamin, born Aug. 7, 1818.

“Why weep ye then for him who, having won
The bound of man’s appointed years, at last,
Life’s blessings all enjoyed, life’s labors done,
Serenely. to his final rest has passed,

While the soft memory of his virtues yet
Lingers, like twilight hues when the bright sun is set.”

 

679

 

EDMUND B. DICKERMAN.

Edmund B. Dickerman was born in New Haven,
Conn., Nov. 29, 1810.

His early life was passed with his father, a farmer,
and his education acquired at the schools of New
Haven. While still a youth he entered the employ
of Durrie & Peck, booksellers, as clerk. Here he
remained until he was twenty-one, when he went to
Natchez, Miss., and engaged in trade. After twelve
years of life as a merchant in Natchez, Mr. Dicker-
man removed to Milwaukee, Wis., and became much
interested in the early growth of that city. His real
estate transactions there having proved successful, in
June, 1871, he retired from active business, and took
up his residence in Watertown, Conn., where he passed
the remainder of his life,

Mr. Dickerman married, July 2, 1844, Margaret G.,
daughter of Elam Hull, Esq., of New Haven, Conn.
Of their three children, only one, Edwin H., attained
maturity. He received a liberal education, was
graduated from Columbia (N. Y.) Law-School, and
is now a successful lawyer of Westfield, N. Y. Mr.
Dickerman had all the qualities necessary to success
in business, and he was eminently successful. His per-
sonal magnetism won him hosts of friends, and his ster-

. ling worth and integrity, with his warm, social nature,

continued the friendship for years. He was esteemed
and honored wherever he was known, and his counsel
earnestly sought and heeded in critical times. His
ear was ever open to the calls of charity, and his heart
and his purse were ever quick to respond, either to
aid the suffering or the promotion of public improve-
ments. He was a man of remarkable energy, prompt-
itude, and perception. In business, in society, in
considering public interests he always wore the same
pleasant smile, used the same far-seeing judgment
and quick, unerring decision.

Mr. Dickerman had much leisure for travel, and
did travel extensively in this and in foreign lands.
His ardent temperament, literary taste, and powerful
memory made him one of the most agreeable of travel-
ing companions, and many who enjoyed his society
will long cherish the memory of the intercourse.

On the 14th of September, 1871, he married Mrs.
Jane B. Woodruff, widow of John H. Woodruff, and
daughter of William Bronson, of Middlebury, Conn.
Mr. Dickerman’s death was sudden, but hardly un-
expected. His nervous system was too sensitive to
withstand a difficult surgical operation which became
necessary, and he passed quietly away, Feb. 22, 1877.

“Beyond the parting and the meeting
We shall be soon;
Beyond the farewell and the greeting,
Beyond the pulse’s fever beating,
We shall be soon.”
680

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

ALANSON WARREN.

Alanson Warren, of Watertown, Conn., was the
son of Edward and Mary Steele Warren, of Water-
town, and was born May 16, 1796, at their home, on
the farm called the Warren place, located about three
and a half miles easterly of Watertown Centre. The
farm-house is now standing, in a good state of pres-
ervation, and liable to for generations to come, for
many of its timbers and beams of hard wood are of
huge size, being twelve to fifteen inches in diameter.
He was the youngest of six children,—five sons and
one daughter. His father died Dec. 10, 1814, aged
fifty-three years. Alanson at this time was about
eighteen years and six months of age. His mother
died Feb. 26, 1849, aged eighty-five. His father was
a Revolutionary soldier, and but eighteen years old
when he entered the service. He was engaged in the
capture of the fortress of Stony Point by Gen. Wayne,
in 1779, and, as he used to relate the account of it, was
the third man to go over the wall or embankment into
the fort. The widow drew a pension during her life.

At the age of sixteen Alanson went to learn the
hatter’s trade with Joel P. Richards, in Watertown,
and when he became twenty-one bought out the
business of his employer, and, with a capital of
six hundred dollars, embarked@4w the business” for
himself, employing from ten to twenty apprentices
and journeymen. At the age of twenty-two he was,
married to Sarah M. Hickox, Christmas, Dec. 25, 1818.
She was the daughter of Caleb and Ruth Hickox, who
lived upon their farm, one and a half miles east of the
village of Watertown.

In the year 1833 he formed, a copartnership with
William H. Merriman and son, C. B. Merriman, mer-
chants, and united the two concerns, under the name
of Merrimans & Warren. After three years he with-
drew from the company, and alone resumed his old
business, and, in addition thereto, commenced the
manufacture of cloth and fur caps and fur goods of
various kinds. His manufactured goods he sold to
the country merchants in Connecticut, Massachusetts,
and New York States, carrying them in a large two-
horse wagon built especially for that purpose. In
1843 a company was formed for the continuance of the
same business, under the name of Warrens & Beers,
composed of A. Warren, his son, T. A. Warren, and R.
S. Beers, who for many years had been with Mr. War-
ren, acting as foreman, attending chiefly to the manu-
facturing. In 1847, A. Warren withdrew from the
business, which was thereafter carried on by Mr.
Beers and T. A. Warren, under the name of Beers &
Warren.

Besides his other business, Mr. Warren for many
years carried on farming to quite an extent, having at
times from one to three large farms and other lands,
the care of which was in a measure intrusted to his
elder sons, with hired men more or less, according to
the season of year. About the year 1845 he formed a
copartnership with his son-in-law, George P. Wood-

 

 

ruff, for merchandising, and manufacturing of buckles,
buttons, slides, and metal trimmings for hats and caps,
occupying the store then standing on what is now the
east end of the Warren House park, and was popu-
larly known as the “Corner Store,”’ but has since, at
the time of building the hotel, been removed to a lot
south of C. A. Warren’s residence. The manufac-
turing was carried on in other buildings on the same
premises for several years, until ahout the year 1848,
when they formed a copartnership with Nathaniel
Wheeler, who was then also engaged in the manufac-
ture of similar goods in Gen. M. Heminway’s factory,
now his silk-factory, but very much enlarged. The
tools and machinery of Warren & Woodruff were now
removed to this factory, and the two concerns con-
solidated, operating under the firm-name of Warren,
Wheeler & Woodruff. They now added to their pre-
vious business the manufacture of suspender-buckles.
The business so rapidly increased that early in 1849
they found the room and water-power too limited for
their business and that of Mr. Hemingway, and there-
fore purchased the water-power on which the Leverett-
Condee satinet-factory, that was burned, had formerly
stood, about one and a half miles es rt o/ the Cer:"7

and erected a large factory. Here, with their greatly

increased facilities, the business was very much en-

larged and successfully carried on.

About this time the idea of sewing by machinery
began to agitate the minds of a few inventors, and
late in 1850 the company contracted to build some
two thousand of the Wilson first patented shuttle
sewing-machine for a New York company, then the
principal owners of that patent. Early in 1851, A. B.
Wilson, the patentee, came to the factory to assist in
building these machines. He, who has since attained
such a world-wide reputation as a sewing-machine in-
ventor, had at this time, in his head, on paper, and in
models, still another idea of a sewing-machine on a
different principle,—that of a rotary hook,—which
was brought out after much study and labor, and
patented in 1851, but was not considered quite satis-
factory until his second invention, patented in 1852.
This improvement being a success, the copartnership
of Wheeler, Wilson & Co. was now formed, and com-
posed of A. Warren, N. Wheeler, G. P. Woodruff, and
A. B. Wilson, each having equal shares in it, and
without any specified amount of capital, which con-
sisted in real estate, patents, machinery, etc., valued
probably at not less than eighty thousand dollars. It’
was about this time, when the sewing-machine busi-
ness was in its infancy, that Mr. Warren remarked to
one of his sons that he would probably live to see the
day when they would make and sell twenty-five ma-
chines a day. This was considered an extravagant
remark at that time, as no one could then foresee
the magnitude to which the sewing-machine busi-
ness would in the future attain, and would hardly
have been justified in making a larger estimate. The
most visionary mind did not anticipate, or even ven-
nny)

gi

 
 

Pet wa It pies es
WATERTOWN.

ture to predict, that they would ever come up to their
present capacity of turning out from four hundred to
six hundred a day, and with such a demand for them
that, even at this rate of production, in November,
1880, they fell some eighteen thousand machines be-
hind their orders, and from a machine that could per-
haps take but fifty to seventy-five stitches a minute,
have sq improved as to now produce machines that
will take fifteen hundred stitches per minute.

The business was successfully continued under this
firm-name for about one year, when it was thought
desirable to enlarge the business, introducing more
capital. They then organized the Wheeler & Wilson
Manufacturing Company, Oct. 5, 1853, with a capital
of one hundred and sixty thousand dollars. Alanson
Warren was elected its president, and George P. Wood-
ruff secretary, Waterbury capitalists and others taking
part of the increased stock. In 1855, Mr. Warren re-
signed the presidency, and N. Wheeler was elected
president, and William H. Perry secretary, and have
been re-elected every year since to said offices, and
_may continue to be for life.

It was soon found that the room and power of this
factory was not sufficient for their rapidly-increasing
business, and in June, 1856, they removed to Bridge-
port, into more commodious quarters. They have
continued to prosper under the wise management of
its officers, increasing its capital stock from time to
time by stock dividends to its present capital of one
million dollars, with a very large surplus, and in the
mean time have paid liberal cash dividends to its
stockholders. Their extensive manufactory now covers
from eight to ten acres of ground, and employs from
nine hundred to eleven hundred hands, according to
the business. But for the engagement of Messrs. War-
ren, Wheeler and Woodruff with each other in business
this great and prosperous concern might never have
existed.

Mr. Warren was president of the Warren & New-
ton Manufacturing Company, organized Feb. 5, 1846,
for the manufacture of suspenders, with a capital of
twelve thousand dollars, which was by the earnings
of the company increased tq sixty thousand dollars.
Their factory was at Oakville. They also carried on
a store for general merchandise at Watertown Centre,
—the “Corner Store.” In 1857 the store was sold to the
Phenix Company,—a new company, with Mr. Warren
as president,—and continued as a country store. The
factory property and suspender business was sold to
the American Suspender Company, at Waterbury,—
4 new company, formed by the union of three sus
pender companies, viz., Cheshire Company, Hotch-
kiss & Merriman Company of Waterbury, and the
Warren & Newton Manufacturing Company,—and
the business continued on a much larger scale, under
a capital of three hundred thousand dollars.

Mr. Warren was also interested in various other
manufacturing companies,—that of the American

Knife Company of Plymouth, Waterbury Brass Com-

 

681

pany, Oakville Pin Company, Union Leather Com-
pany, A. Warren & Co., for buckles, etc., at the
Wheeler & Wilson Manufacturing Company’s factory,
after their removal, 1856, and the Beers, Woodruff &
Co., Watertown, for shirts and linen goods, from 1858
till the death of Mr. Woodruff, 1857, then R. 8. Beers
& Co., till the death of Mr. Warren, 1858, when, T. A.
Warren taking his father’s interest in the company, it
continued, with some changes, till 1870.

Mr. Warren always took an active and lively in-
terest in the affairs of the town, and was willing to do
his full share for its general improvements. He rep-
resented the town in the General Assembly of 1841.
In politics was a Whig. He was a member and com-
municant of Christ Church parish (Episcopal), and
for many years its senior warden, and contributed
liberally to its support, also to the building of its new
church edifice, the corner-stone of which was laid
May 29, 1854, and the church consecrated Nov. 15,
1855, by the Rt. Rev. Assistant Bishop Williams.
The church was built on grounds across the park or
church green, east of and facing the residence of Mr.
Warren. The old church, now removed, then stood
north of his residence, between it and the highway.
He was one of the building committee for the new
church, and was greatly interested in the building
of it..

He was one of the incorporators of the Evergreen
Cemetery in 1854, and took a deep interest in the
laying out and beautifying of these grounds, in which
his remains were so soon to be deposited.

He died Oct. 20, 1858, aged sixty-two years.

His widow, who survived him about eight years,
died April 20, 1866, aged sixty-seven years.

Their family consisted of ten children,—five sons
and five daughters,—of which but four sons are living
at this date (January, 1881), two of whom reside in
Watertown. :

FREDERICK HOLCOMB, D.D.*

Rev. Frederick Holcomb, D.D., was the third son
of Jesse and Louisa Holcomb. He was born in
Granby, Conn., Oct. 18, 1786. His parents, by relig-
ious profession, belonged to the Episcopal Church,
and had their children baptized in infancy. At the
early age of thirteen himself, with two brothers and
a sister, received the apostolic rite of confirmation by
the Rt. Rey. Bishop Jarvis. At about the age of six-
teen his parents, albeit in moderate circumstances,
made him the offer of a collegiate education, though
there was no decided indication on his part at that
time of a desire to enter the ministry. He eagerly
accepted the offer. His preparatory studies began
under the Rev. David Waldo, of West Suffield, and
were completed under the Rev. Mr. Clinton, of South-
wick, Mass. In 1805 he entered Williams College,

* Compiled from a sermon preached by Rev. William H. Lewis, D.D.,
June 2, 1872.
682 HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD

COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

‘Massachusetts, graduating in 1809. Soon after that he
was led, under the providence of God, to realize the ne-
cessity of due preparation for the life to come, and he
resolved on a course of theological reading, and entered
uponitatonce. His first examination was passed under
the Rev. Dr. Tillotson Bronson, of Cheshire, and his
second under the Rey. Dr. Kewley, of Middletown.
He was ordained as deacon, with license to preach and
baptize, in Trinity church, New Haven, June 23,
1811, by the Rt. Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D.D. A call
was soon received from St. Mark’s Church, Harwinton,
and Trinity Church, Northfield society, to take charge
of them both, and to divide the time equally between
them. He removed to Harwinton, with his wife and
one child, on the 17th of December, 1811. At his
ordination to the priesthood, it being necessary to
have three presbyters to lay on hands, with the bishop,
the venerable Dr. Mansfield, of Derby, then about
ninety years of age, was brought to act, with the Rev.
Dr. Bronson, and the Rev. Mr. Whitlock, of Trinity
Church, New Haven, and the ordination was in that
church, by Bishop Jarvis, Sunday, Dec. 20, 1812.

It was the last ordination performed by that prelate,
and for some years Dr. Holcomb was not only the last
presbyter ordained by him, but the only survivor of
those admitted by him to holy orders. He soon after
received a call to Christ Church, Watertown, and
removed his family there Dec. 14,1814. He remained
as rector of that parish until 1888, when he resigned
its care, but was recalled in 1845, and continued as
rector until 1850, when the infirmities of old age
prompted him to surrender the cares of a parish for-
ever. Nevertheless, he preached for feeble and desti-
tute parishes, whenever his health would allow it,
during the remainder of life. He died May 26, 1872.

His first wife, Mary Pinney, died Nov. 15, 1825,
leaving two daughters, Mary E., wife of Leman W.

* Cutler, and Martha M., wife of Orrin Starr. These last
both died before his demise. His second wife, Nancy
Merriman, widow of Ed. E. Porter, survives him.

Dr. Holcomb was a man of fine personal appear-
ance, of great physical strength, and until the decay
of nature, in old age, always favored with robust
health. He was aman of great prudence, never stir-
ring up strife by word or deed of his own,—truly a
peacemaker. He was firm in his churchmanship,
and yet courteous and kind to those of other religious
names, so as always to have been on terms of kindly
Christian intercourse with them.

CAPT. E. CARRINGTON BOWERS, U.S.N.

Capt. E. Carrington Bowers, U.8.N., was born in
Middletown, Conn., June 7, 1809. On his paternal
side he is a descendant from Governor Bradford, of
Massachusetts, and on his maternal side he is a de-
scendant of the Hamlins, of Middletown, Conn., one
of whom, Jabez, was the first mayor of Middletown.
His father, Caleb Bowers, was born in Rhode Island,

 

married Sarah A., daughter of Gen. Ebenezer Sage,
of Middletown, Conn., and had four children, of whom
the subject of this sketch is the third.

Caleb Bowers was for many years a merchant in the
Indies; returned to the United States, where he died
in 1815. Young Bowers remained at home until he
was thirteen years of age, receiving the advantages of
a common-school education, when he went to sea in
the ship “Fame” as a common sailor before the mast,
making a voyage around Cape Horn. After remain-
ing a year, he entered the Peruvian service as mid-
shipman, when he saw the Spanish flag hauled down
at the Castle of Callao, the last of all of Spain’s
vast possessions in South America. Hesoon returned

.to the United States, and entered Capt. Partridge’s

military school at Middletown, Conn., where he re-
mained some time, until he received an appointment
to enter the Greek service in her war for independence
against Turkey. He set sail from New York in the
Greek frigate “Hope,” but soon returned to New
York, when he was attached to the old steamship
“Fulton,” that being the first steam man-of-war ever-
built. He left her only a short time before she was
blown up, and entered the merchant service, making
a long voyage to the East Indies.

In 1835 he passed a very. satisfactory examination
in a class of over one hundred, standing next to Ad-
miral Porter in scholarship. Among other members
of his class were the late Commodore Decatur and the
present Rear-Admirals Strong and Almy.

He received an appointment as master-mate on
board of the United States sloop-of-war “St. Louis,”
and sailed for the Pacific. Soon after his arrival in
those waters he received an appointment as midship-
man, bearing date Feb. 2, 1829, since which time he
has been identified with the United States navy,
having faithfully filled every position from that of a
common sailor before the mast to that of captain
in the United States navy.

He served through the Seminole and Mexican wars,
rendering efficient service, and, with his four sons,—
who went forth with muskets but came back with
swords,—served through the great civil war with
credit to himself and an honor to his country.. He
was for thirty-three years in active duty on board ship,
a period longer than any other man in the same kind
of service.

After the close of the Rebellion he was for a short
time engaged in the Boston navy-yard, and at the
conclusion of his services there he was retired, and
now (December, 1880) resides in the village of Water-
town, Conn., in one of the most attractive little Italian
cottages, called “ Bowers’ Villa,” anywhere to be seen.
It consists of ten acres, well improved, being orna-
mented by trees and shrubbery generally, which re-
ceives the captain’s personal supervision.

Captain Bowers married Miss Coffin, of Boston,
Mass., a cousin of Sir Isaac Coffin, an admiral in the
British navy. :
|

 
 

2 ee
ae
 

Page

uy 2
 

ae
WATERTOWN.

DAYTON MATTOON.

Dayton Mattoon, son of William Mattoon and Sa-
rah Hungerford, daughter of Deacon Jonas Hunger-
ford, was born in Vienna, Oneida Co., N. Y., Aug.
20,1811. His boyhood till he was six years of age
was passed there, and by his father’s dying request,
in 1817, he came to his grandfather’s, Amasa Mat-
toon, of Watertown, and remained one year; then
lived with his grandmother on his mother’s side, and
his uncle, Thomas Hungerford, till he was sixteen
years of age, when he began to work on the farm by
the month until he was twenty years of age. During
all this time he received only limited advantages for
an education. He married, Feb. 23, 1831, Ruhamah
Wakeman, daughter of Eli Wakeman, a farmer in Wa-
tertown: She was born in Watertown, Dec. 19, 1812.
By this union they have had six children, viz.: (1)
Sarah E., who married George R. Baldwin, of Wa-
terbury, Conn.; (2) William B., who died at twenty-
three; (8) Amelia J., and (4) Alson, twins, the last
of whom died while an infant, and Amelia J. married
Deacon Henry T. Dayton, of Watertown; (5) Helen

G., who died at five years of age; (6) Charles B., mar- {

tied Alvin M. Kellogg, of Baraboo, Wis., and resides
at home.

Immediately after Mr. Mattoon’s marriage he set-
tled where he now resides, taking care of his grand-
mother and uncle as long as they lived. He has
made all the fine improvements on his farm, which
now consists of about one hundred and ninety acres
of well-improved land, which is in a good state of cul-
tivation. ,

In politics he is a Republican. He has been con-
stable and collector two years, selectman, assessor,
magistrate, and member of the Legislature during the
years 1854 and 1872, serving on the committee of ag-
ticulture both times.

At the age of thirty-eight, in 1849, he joined the
First Congregational Church at Watertown, of which
he was a deacon from 1855 till 1871. He has always
been one of the main supporters of the church, and
the poor have in him a true friend. He has been
Sunday-school superintendent for several years. Mrs.
Mattoon is also a member, joining the church with
her husband in 1849. He was connected for twelve
years with the State militia ‘“ Rifle Company,” oceu-
pying every position in it to captain. Gen. Hemin-
way was the first captain of said company, after which
he was promoted to general of the Sixth Brigade
Connecticut State Militia.

 

CALEB T. HICKOX.

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of
Watertown, Conn., Feb. 5, 1817. His father, Daniel
Hickox, was also a native of Watertown, Conn. ; was
twice married, rearing three children by his first wife,
and one (Caleb T. Hickox) by his second. His second
wife was the daughter of Mathew Dutton, of Water-

 

683

town, Conn., dying at the age of eighty-two years,
July 28, 1865. Mr. Hickox was a successful farmer
by occupation, and was one of the most esteemed cit-
izens of Watertown. He held nearly all the impor-
tant town offices, such as selectman, justice of the
peace, and member of the State Legislature. He died
Oct. 21, 1823, at Royalton, N. Y., and was interred in
the cemetery in Watertown, Conn.

Caleb T. Hickox was “brought up” on the home-
farm by his widowed mother, as his father died when
he (Caleb T.) was only six and a half years old. He
remained at home, working on the farm summers and
attending the district school winters, until he was six-
teen years of age, when he went to Seymour, Conz.,
and entered as clerk in the dry-goods store of E. Gil-
bert & Co., where he remained three years, when he
went to Burton, Ohio, and remained some six months,
spending his time in traveling and visiting. He re-
turned to New Haven, Conn., and entered the em-
ploy, as book-keeper, of McCrackan & Merriam,
and remained one year, then came to Watertown,
Conn., at twenty years of age, and commenced farm-
ing, which he successfully followed until he retired,
October, 1867, at which time he settled in the village
of Watertown, where he continued to reside till the
present time (December, 1880).

In politics he was a Whig until the Republican
party was organized, when he became a staunch Re-
publican, and as such has held nearly all the offices
of his town with credit to himself and satisfaction to
his constituents. He has been selectman for twenty-
one years, town treasurer since 1871, justice of the
peace for more than thirty years, secretary of the
Watertown Agricultural Association twelve years,
and treasurer for many years. He has been elected
twice a member of the State Board of Agriculture,
and during the years 1852 and 1859 represented his
town in the State Legislature. On the 8th of May,
1839, he married Emily H., daughter of Abram Haw-
ley, a farmer of Watertown, Conn. Mr. Hickox isa
regular attendant and liberal supporter of the Con-
gregational Church of Watertown, Conn., of which
his wife is a member. He has always been successful
in whatever he has undertaken, and he justly holds a
warm place in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-

townsmen.

 

WILLIAM G. FRENCH.

William G. French is a descendant of the ancient
line of the Frenches of Essex, England, being of the
eighth generation in lineal descent from William
French (first generation), his earliest ancestor 1n
America, who came in the “ Defense” from London
in 1635, with his wife Elizabeth, his eldest child,
Francis, aged ten years, and three other children, all
from Essex, England, as shown by the record in the

- e.
ofan wei was one of the original settlers of
the beautiful town of Billerica, eighteen miles north
684.

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

of Boston, where he died, aged seventy-eight, having
had ten children born in America. He was the author
of the celebrated tract entitled “Strength out of
Weakness,” published in London, and reprinted by
the Boston Historical Society.

Francis (second generation), son of William French,
came to Milford, in this State, in 1650, and in 1654 set-
tled in Paugasuck, now the town of Derby, then almost
awilderness. April 10,1661, he married Lydia Bunnel,
of Milford, and brought her to his home, which con-
stituted the third or fourth family in the plantation.
He died Feb. 14, 1691, aged sixty-six years.

Francis, Jr. (third generation), son of Francis
French, was born Feb. 11, 1677. He was high sheriff
of the town, and stood high as a Royal Arch Mason.
He died on his father’s homestead, April 11, 1751.

Israel (fourth generation), son of Francis French,
Jr., was born Oct. 8, 1709, and was among the early
settlers of Seymour.

David (fifth generation), son of Israel French, was
a patriot of the Revolution, going to Boston after the
battle of Bunker Hill, to assist in resisting the en-
croachments of despotism. He was trial justice of
the north part of the town of Woodbridge many
years. He represented the town in the General As-
sembly twenty successive years. He was for many
years a deacon of the First Congregational Church
of Bethany. He died Aug. 4, 1821, aged eighty
years,

Luther (sixth generation, grandfather to William
G. French), son of David French, married Sarah
Miles, and settled on land he inherited from his
father, in what is now the town of Beacon Falls. He
and his wife both died young, leaving four children,
among whom was Smith Miles (seventh generation), a
lad of six years, the father of William G. French
(eighth generation).

Smith Miles French was taken by an uncle living
in Bethany until he was sixteen, then apprenticed to
learn the blacksmith trade.

The maternal great-grandfather of Wm. G. French
was Capt. James Wheeler, who came to Derby, Conn.
(probably from Stratford, Conn.), May 19, 1736. He
owned considerable land where the village of Derby
Narrows was afterwards built, and was a prominent
man of the town.

James, (2d), Jr. son of Capt. James Wheeler, mar-
ried Mary Clark, of Milford, June 18, 1767. They
had twelve children, one of whom was David Wheeler,
who was a farmer and carriage manufacturer, mar-
ried Phebe De Forest, and had several children,
among whom we mention Nathaniel Wheeler, of
Bridgeport, and Mary A.

William G. French, son of Smith M. French and
Mary A., daughter of David Wheeler, was born in
Watertown, Conn., Jan. 8, 1844.

His father, Smith M. French, was a native of Beth-
any, New Haven Co., Conn., and married Mary A.
Wheeler, April 23, 1830. She was born Aug. 26,

 

1814. They have two children, viz.: Sarah J. and
William G. Mr. French was a blacksmith by trade,
making dies and tools and manufacturing wagons.
In politics a Democrat. He died on the 17th of Au-
gust, 1870, in his sixty-first year.

William G. French received a common-school and
academic education at Watertown, Conn., spending
his summer vacations on his father’s farm. He is one
of Watertown’s enterprising farmers, and takes a deep
interest in the agricultural society of his town, having
served on the executive committee several years, and
at the present time is second vice-president.

In politics he is a Democrat. He has been one of
the selectmen of the town since October, 1872, and
for the past five years first selectman, which posi-
tion he now holds. In the spring of 1875 he was
elected to the State Legislature, and served on
the committee of engrossing bills, having been the
first Democrat elected from Watertown since the elec-
tion of Samuel H. Nettleton, in 1846.

Itis perhaps not too much tosay that to Mr. French
more than to any other man is due the credit of the
Watertown centennial celebration, which occurred on
the 17th of June, 1880.

He isa member of Christ’s Episcopal Church, at
Watertown, Conn., and at the present time is one of
the vestrymen. Mr. French is of a social disposition,
and popular in his town,—a man in whom the people
have confidence.

FREDERICK J. PARTREE.

Frederick J. Partree, son of John and Manorey
(Welton) Partree, was born in Watertown, Conn.,
March 29, 1827.

His grandfather, John Partree, was a native of
Nova Scotia, and came to New England when a boy,
where he continued to reside through life. He mar-
ried a Miss.Platt, and had six children—two sons and
four daughters. He was a practical farmer, and died
at aripe old age. One of his sons was named John,
who was born in Old Milford, Conn.; was twice mar-
ried, and had one daughter, Alma (Mrs. Joseph
Tomilson), by his first marriage, and seven children
by his second marriage, of whom Frederick J. is the
fourth. John Partree was a successful farmer; in pol-
ities a Whig, and both he and his wife were members
of the Congregational Church. He died Feb. 25, 18565,
aged sixty-six years, and his wife died April 29, 1874,
aged seventy-eight years.

Frederick J. worked on his father’s farm summers,
attending the district school winters. At the age of
twenty-one he began teaching school winters, work-
ing on the farm summers. On the 12th of November,
1857, he married Elizabeth, daughter of Seabury
Scoville, and to them have been born three daugh-
ters,—viz., Cora, E., Ella M., and Bertha 8.,—all of
whom are now (December, 1880) at home.

Mr. Partree settled on his present farm in April,
 

PARTREE.

J

F
WOODBURY. 685

ve and has made nearly all the fine improvements
on it.

In politics he is a Republican. During the great
civil war he was a selectman, and for the years 1872-
‘74 was first selectman. He has been an assessor for
many years. Mr. and Mrs. Partree are members of
the Congregational Church of Watertown, Conn.

CHAPTER LXIX.
WOODBURY .*

Introductory—Six Purchases from the Pootatucks—First or Pomperaug
Purchase—Kettletown Purchase—Fourth, or Nonnewaug Purchase—
Fifth Purchase—Sixth, or Confirmatory Purchase—Reservation, or
“Purchase”—Indian “ Marks"—A Buried Race.

INTRODUCTION.

A LITTLE more than two hundred years ago the
pleasant hills and sunny valleys of Woodbury, now
teeming with life, intelligence, and happiness, were
one vast solitude, unvisited by the cheering rays of
civilization, everything betokening that the silence of
‘nature had been unbroken by human voices since
those early days “ when the morning stars sang to-
gether,’ save by those of nature’s own uncultivated
children, the red hunters of the forest. Nature in all
its great magnificence met the enchanted view of the
pale-face in these sweetly fertile plains and mountain
fastnesses. The grim chiefs of the woody wilds alone
roamed over these retired solitudes, save the wild
beasts that growled upon a thousand hills. Every
year had the Indians set fire to the fallen leaves, thus
denuding the trees of the lower branches, and de-
stroying the underbrush, so that the dense woods pre-
sented a most magnificent and enchanting appearance.
Thus the “eye was allowed to rove with delight
from ridge to ridge, and from hill to hill, which, like
the divisions of an immense temple, were crowded
with innumerable pillars, the branches of whose
shafts, interlocking, formed the archwork of support
to that leafy roof which covered and crowned the
whole.”? On the meadows by our noble river were
scanty patches of maize, beans, and tobacco, the
results of the rude husbandry of the untutored savage
of the forest. The whole face of nature was one vast
solitude, uncheered by the benign rays of civilization.
From Wyantenuck to Mattatuck, and from Pootatuck
to Bantam, were heard the dismal howl of the wolf and
the war-cry of the red man. Amid these secluded
wilds, and by the silvery waters of the Quassapaug,
sported the timid deer, and coy doves built their lovely
nests. Here dwelta race groping in the shadow of dim
imaginings, faintly led by the light of nature. Here
desperate fights and deadly ambuscades were planned.
Here did the prisoner of war suffer the extreme tor-
tures of his enemies. Here the romantic lover

 

* By William Cothren.
44

 

os wooed his dusky mate” with presents and silent at-
tentions, in primitive simplicity. Here, too, the pow-
wow held his dread incantations, and, if tradition is
to be believed, offered human sacrifices to appease the
wrath of Hobbamecko, the spirit of evil, the author
of all human plagues and calamities. Here, too, in
the golden days of the Indian summer, the poor say-
age mused of the Great Spirit, the benevolent Kich-
tau, giver of his corn, beans, and tobacco, who lived
far away to the southwest, in whose blest dominions
he hoped at death to find his happy hunting-grounds.

Everything now is changed. The desert waste that
met the first gaze of our pioneer forefathers has been
made to bud and blossom as the rose. Where once
were but the scattered huts of the former race are
now enterprising and busy villages. The ceaseless
hum of machinery, giving employment, competence,
and happiness to hundreds of families, is now heard
in our valleys, which in those early days but echoed
the growl of the bear or the cry of the panther. In-
stead of the wretched orgies of the pow-wow, and the
inhuman sacrifices of the midnight of barbarism, are
churches dedicated to the service of the living God,
where prayer and praise are wont to be made. Where
once were cherished the savage instincts of men and
a taste for war now are cultivated the arts of peace
and schemes for the happiness and advancement of
mankind. Intelligence and enterprise now take the
place of ignorance and sloth, The hills and vales
that groaned with scenes of violence and blood have
been made vocal with the praises of the great Creator.
Instead of a race groping in the shadows of pagan-
ism we find one filled with the hopes of a rational
and glorious immortality. Our fathers found a howl-
ing wilderness; we behold to-day, as the result of
their labors, from which they long have rested, some
of the most happy and beautiful of New England’s
many lovely villages. An upright and honored race,
they wrought well, and their works do follow them.

The simple, unfortunate race of the early days has
departed, faded from the view, and almost from the
memory of men. In their lowly, unnoticed, and un-
known graves they sleep well. “The chiefs of other
times are departed; they have gone without their
fame. Another race has arisen; its people are like
the waves of the ocean. Like the leaves of woody
Morven, they pass away in the rustling blast, and
other green leaves lift their heads on high.”

How did our fathers come by their title to this now
blooming territory? How did they acquire the fee to
the soil, and the right to dominion? How did they
obtain rights which civilized nations ever fight for
and wade through rivers of blood to secure? The
answer to these questions is ready, and is honorable
to our fathers’ sense of right and justice. Those who
represent the founders of Woodbury can look upon
their landed possessions as having come down to them
by fair, honest, and legitimate titles. They not only
purchased their lands of the Indians, but in some
686

instances they purchased them several times over
from conflicting claimants and dishonest pretenders.
They were very particular in procuring title-deeds
and alienations, executed in legal form, and with great
solemnity. They were extremely careful, that they
might in this manner more vividly impress on the
minds of the Indians the binding nature of their con-
tents. Those children of nature, the former lords of
the forest, took great interest in the proceedings, and
fixed their uncouth, though often ingenious, “marks”
of a snow-shoe, a fish, a bow and arrow, a war-club,
a snake, or some wild animal, to the deeds that were
conveying away forever their paternal hunting-
grounds to the pale-faced strangers within their an-
cient borders. They often stipulated in their convey-
ances that the “ marked trees,” or bounds, should be

made “‘clere and ffayre,”’ and that they should be care- |

fully kept from obliteration.

The date of the first Indian deed given to the ex-
plorers of this valley is April 20, 1659, and is signed
by Tautaunimo and other Derby Indians. They en-
couraged our fathers to purchase by saying, in their
quaint language, that this valley was “a good place
for many smokes of the white man.” It was so
proved, and no complaint, in this regard, can be
made against the grantors. The bounds in this deed
are: ‘‘Polateuk River South-west, Naugatunck River
North-east, and bounded on y* North-west with trees
marked by me (Tautannimo), and other Indians.”
This includes a territory in Litchfield and New Haven
Counties nearly as large as Litchfield County itself.
It extended from the Naugatuck to the Housatonic,
and from the southernmost point of Southbury to
Bantam Lake, in Litchfield. It does not appear that
the pioneers made use of this purchase, except, per-
haps, for hunting-grounds, till thirteen years later, at
which time they planted corn upon the river meadows
in company with the Indians. The next year, April
26, 1673, they made their first, or Pomperaug, pur-
chase of the Pootatuck Indians, the real occupants of
the soil, covering the whole town-plot from the eastern
hills to “ Wecuppeme,” and from the north end of
East Meadow to the “‘ Bent” of the Pomperaug River
at South Britain, taking in “ transilvania and rag-
land.” By this purchase a large part of the most
fertile and arable lands of the town were obtained.

The second purchase of lands from the Pootatucks
was made March 17, 1685-86. This was the Shepaug
purchase, comprising two-thirds of the present town
of Roxbury and a part of Southbury. On the 18th
day of May, 1700, the inhabitants of the town, hay-
ing become numerous for those days, made their fourth,
or Nonnewaug purchase. Till this time it seems that
the sagamore of that name had retained his posses-
sions in the valley of the Nonnewaug, in East Sprain
stream. But now it came his turn to make room,
and it seems that he and his counselors did it with a
good grace, as the deed informs us the sale was made
“For valid considerations moving thereto, besides y°

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

desire y* is win us of a friendly correspondency w*
y° English inhabitants of st Woodbury.” Ata very
early day that part of Southbury, known as Kettle-
town, had been purchased of the Indians for the con-
sideration of a brass kettle. It had been bought the
second time seven years after the settlement of the
town; and on the 25th of October, 1705, it became
necessary to purchase it the third time. Something
more than a quarter of a century had passed since the
last sale, and by this time it is probable that they
again felt the need of the “consideration.” This
was the fifth regular purchase of the Pootatucks. On
the 28th day of May, next year, the town bought the
sixth, or confirmatory purchase. This covered and
confirmed all former grants and purchases, together
with a considerable tract of land in Roxbury, and a
piece eighty rods wide, from Steep Rock, in Wash-
ington, to the mouth of the Shepaug, on the west side
of that river. In this deed the Indians reserved a
large tract of land in the southwest part of South-
bury, called the Pootatuck Reservation. This was
bounded on the north by a line drawn from Shepaug
Falls to the “ Bent” of the Pomperaug, east by that
river, or by a line drawn parallel to, or a few rods
east of it, from the “ Bent” to its mouth, south by the
Pootatuck, and west by the Shepaug River. This
reservation, now called “The Purchase,” contained
the principal Indian village, located on the Pootatuck
River, south of South Britain village. After this sale
the Indians continued to convey portions of their land,
from time to time, till 1733, when there was left to
them only a remnant of their possessions at the south-
west corner, in which was located their remaining
village, called the “ Pootatuck Wigwams.” They
retained their title to this last resting-place for a
quarter of a century longer, when, reduced to a mere
handful in numbers, in May, 1759, they sold their
cherished Pootatuck, and the “remnant that re-
mained” took up their abode with the “Scaticook
Indians” at Kent, where a few of mixed blood remain
to this day. In all their later sales they reserved the
right to take game on the lands forever,—a right which
was always religiously respected by our fathers when-
ever a straggling Pootatuck revisited the graves of
his ancestors, or wandered in his once wide do-
minions ! :

The “marks” with which these Indians signed their
deeds were unique and interesting. Nonnewaug’s
mark was a snow-shoe; Wecuppeme’s, a snake; Mo-
mauchewaug’s, a rude drawing of the face of a pros-
trate foe; Punhone’s, the uplifted arm of a warrior;
and that of Tummasseete, the owner of the first
orchard in this territory, was a bow and arrow. A
part of this orchard still exists, and bore apples last
season. These “marks” were as truly signatures a3
our own, and as readily identified.

It is many years since the last Pootatuck, ani old
squaw, came back to the Pootatuck village to revisit
the graves of her ancestors. Looking up to the place
WOODBURY.

where still stand the few remaining trees of “Tum-
masseete’s old orchard,” she said, “There is Poota-
tuck, the home of the buried braves.” What a world
of sad associations cluster around that simple outburst
of nature! After lingering among the graves of her
people a few days she returned to Scaticook, and the
light of the pristine race in this territory went out
forever !

Let us pause a moment to drop a tear over the
graves of a buried race. With as great care, or per-
haps greater, than our own, the Indians marked the
graves of their fathers. By the romantic falls of his
own ever-murmuring stream is the grave of Nonne-
waug. In his own orchard at Pootatuck, near the
Housatonic, is resting the remains of Tummasseete.
Within the fertile meadows of Wecuppeme reposes
the brave of that name, in his last quiet sleep. And
in the very midst of our village they buried Pompe-
raug, who gave his name to our beautiful river.

So far as the Indians of this town were concerned,
they were always the friends of our fathers, and main-
tained with them a perpetual peace. There were
some Indian conflicts here, but they arose from the
incursions of the Mohawks, who, previous to the ar-
rival of the white settlers, held the Indians of this ter-
ritory as tributaries by superior prowess. As early as
1675, during King Philip’s war, they made a treaty
with the first. settlers, in which they covenanted to
continue in “friendship with the white settlers, and
be enemies to their enemies, and discover them timely,
or destroy them.” This treaty was ever kept, as a
perpetual league, with entire good faith by both the
contracting parties, and many were the mutual offices
of kindness they performed for each other.

CHAPTER LXxX.
WOODBURY (Continued).

Church Dissensions in Stratford the Cause of the Settlement of Wood-
bury—Action of the General Court in 1667, 1669, 1670—Pomperaug
Granted and Settlement Commenced in 1672—Fresh Arrivals Next
Year—Pomperaug made a Town and Called Woodbury in 1674—Sig-
Dification of the Name.

THE settlement of Woodbury was the result of dif-
ference in religious opinion among the inhabitants of
Stratford. It was accomplished by one of the most
remarkable and brilliant mental conflicts that ever
occurred in planting a New England town. There
were giants in those days, girded for the defense of
what they believed to be religious truth. The usual
reason for settling a new town had been that the pa-
rent town had become too full to accommodate all its
inhabitants, and that it was necessary to seek new lo-
cations for extending the church of God and ad-
vancing the interests of religious freedom. No idea
of mere worldly advantage entered the minds of the
stern and earnest men who founded our town. The

 

687

first ministers of the colony being dead, and a new
generation coming on the stage of action, alterations
in respect to church membership, baptism, and the
mode of church discipline were earnestly demanded.
Great dissensions on these subjects accordingly arose
in the churches at Hartford, Windsor, Weathersfield,
and other places, and continued in various parts of
the colony from 1656 to about'1670. It is difficult for
us, at this distance of time, fully to understand the
merits of the controversy. The system in dispute was
called the “Half-way Covenant” system of church
membership. Upon this question there was the
gravest difference of opinion among the most learned
and pious men in New England.

By this plan a person of good moral character, who
had been baptized in infancy, might own or renew
the covenant of baptism which had been made for
him by his parents, confessing the same creed as
members of the church in full communion, and,
affirming his intention of becoming truly pious in
heart and life, have the privilege of presenting his
children, grandchildren, adopted children, and even
his slaves, for baptism by giving a pledge for their
religious education. Persons thus owning the cove-
nant were considered members of the church to all
intents and purposes, except that they were not ad-
mitted to the communion-table. For conduct unbe-
coming church members they could be, and were,
dealt with and punished in the same manner as mem-
bers in full communion. Consequent on this prac-
tice baptism followed closely upon birth, generally
in from one to eight days, and if the child was in
danger of “non-continuance” it was baptized at
once.

In those early days the choice of pastors was con-
fined exclusively to members of the church, though
every freeholder was taxed for their support, and
nearly all the offices and honors of the colony of Con-
necticut, to which Stratford belonged, were distributed
to professors of religion, who alone, in the colony of
New Haven, possessed the right of suffrage in meet-
ings of a political character. During the lives of the
early colonists little trouble had arisen on these points,
nearly all of the first immigrants having been church
members. But this generation had passed away and
a new one had succeeded, many of whom, on account
of their not belonging to the church, were excluded
from their proper influence in the community. Most
of them had been baptized, and by virtue of this it
was claimed they might own their covenant, have
their children baptized, and thus perpetuate the

church and themselves attain the rank of perfect

freemen. Hence it may be readily seen why our
forefathers, being excluded from their proper posi-
tion in the affairs of the town and colony, desired
such & change in church government as would over-
come this unjust inequality. All New England be-
came interested in this controversy, and in 1657 it
was decided by a council of the principal ministers
688

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

of the colonies, convened in Boston, that it was the
duty of those who had come to the years of discretion,
baptized in infancy, to own the covenant; that it was
the duty of the church to call them to do it, and if
they refused, they might be censured by the church.

In consequence of this decision many owned their |

covenant and presented their children for baptism,
but did not unite with the church in the celebration
of the Supper, nor in most other duties of members in
full communion. Hence it was termed the “ Half-
Way Covenant System.”

The church at Stratford, notwithstanding the Bos-
ton decision, would not adopt this practice, although
a large and influential part of its members were in
favor of it, together with a majority of the voters of
the town who were not church members. Rev. Israel
Chauncey, son of President Charles Chauncey, of
Cambridge, Mass., who was opposed to this practice,
was settled over the church in 1666. On account of
this difference a large part of the church and town
was opposed to his ordination. It was, therefore,
agreed that if, after hearing Mr. Chauncey a certain
time, they should continue to be dissatisfied with his
ministry, the dissenting party should be at liberty to
call another minister, and have the same use of the
meeting-house as the other party. After hearing Mr.
Chauncey the time agreed on, and continuing to be
dissatisfied with his ministrations, they invited Rev.
Zachariah Walker to preach to them, and finally chose
him to be their pastor. Both ministers conducted pub-
lic worship in the same house, Mr. Chauncey at the
usual hours, and Mr. Walker two hours in the middle
of the day. But it was difficult to confine the services
to the exact time allowed, and it soon happened that
Mr. Walker exceeded the time limited, one day to
such an extent that Mr. Chauncey and his hearers,
becoming impatient, retired to a private house and
held their afternoon services. They were, however,

so much displeased that next day they went over to”

Fairfield and made a complaint against Mr. Walker
to Maj. Gold, one of the magistrates. The major,
upon hearing the case, advised pacific measures, and
that Mr. Walker should be allowed three hours for
his public exercises. Then began that remarkable
conflict of master-minds, conducted on the one side
by Rev. Mr. Chauncey and Philip Grove, and on the
other by Rev. Mr. Walker, Capt. John Minor, “the
learned and pious scribe,” Hon. Samuel Sherman,
and Lieut. Joseph Judson, men of worth and might.
Space forbids that I should give full details of this
remarkable contest. The dissentients had a majority
in the town-meeting, and Deacon John Minor, one of
their leaders, was town clerk during the whole time
of the controversy and for several years afterwards.
This written controversy has been preserved on the
town and colony records and in the history of Wood-
bury, and is a model of Christian courtesy and mod-
eration, :

. After Mr. Walker had been called to preach by the

 

dissentient party there was an effort, on the part of the
Walker party, to have joint meetings, each minister
taking a part. But this plan, as might have been ex-
pected, failed.

In September, 1668, the church refused to hear the
two ministers in joint meeting, and refused to con-
sider the disputes between them till Mr. Walker’s
party had “ procured the approbation of the General
Court and the consent of neighboring churches.” In
November of the same year Mr. Walker, for his people,
replied to this communication, and informed the
church that they had concluded, “God willing,” to
occupy the meeting-house a part of each Sabbath,
beginning with the next Sabbath. He closed the
communication with the desire that the “God of
Peace” would guide the parties to such a course of
action as would be for their ‘ mutual peace and com-
fort.” The result of this notice was a compromise, by
which Mr. Walker was allowed two hours each Sab-
bath for his services in the meeting-house, in the
middle of the day, between the two services of Mr.
Chauncey, till the meeting of the General Court in
May, 1669. At that session both parties presented
petitions in relation to their disagreements, particu-
larly in regard to the manner in which they should
“enjoy the meeting-house.” The court took the case
into consideration as requested, confirmed the choice
of Mr. Chauncey, ordered both parties to choose
“some indifferent persons of piety and learning to
compose their differences,” and gave Mr. Walker’s
party liberty till the October session td occupy the
church three hours each Sabbath, in the middle of the
day, between the two services of Mr. Chauncey. They
could not, however, agree upon the points to be sub-
mitted to the arbitrators, and at the October session,
1669, a resolution was passed by the General Court
advising the First Church to comply with the desire
of Mr. Walker’s party to have union services, allow-
ing Mr. Walker to preach one part of each Sabbath
to the united congregation. Some communications
passed between the parties relative to this advice, but
Mr. Chauncey’s party, instead of granting them this
privilege, which they had so long sought, excluded
them from the house entirely, after which they met
for public worship in a private house during the re-
mainder of their stay at Stratford.

It was at this juncture that Governor Winthrop
advised that Mr. Walker and his people should re-
move, and that a tract of land for the settlement of a
new town should be granted. Accordingly, the Gén-
eral Court, on the 9th of May, 1672, granted to Samuel
Sherman, William Curtiss, Joseph Judson, and John
Minor, the leading members of Mr. Walker’s church,
“liberty to erect a plantation at Pomperoage,” pro-
vided that ‘‘any other honest inhabitants of Strat-
ford” should have liberty to join them in settling
there, and provided that they should “ entertain so
many inhabitants as the plantation would conve-
niently entertain.”
WOODBURY.

Thus ended a controversy that had agitated the
minds of the early fathers for about eight years. Dur-
ing the whole of that long period of excited discussion
it will be found, by a careful examination of the de-
tails, that the founders of our town ever maintained a
Christian tone and temper. They furnished a model
course of action to us on all occasions of conflict of
interests and opinions.

It was in the midst of this controversy, early in
1668, that Mr. Walker was called to perform pastoral
labors among the people of the Second Church at
Stratford, now the First Church in Woodbury. For
two years he had preached to them without ordina-
tion. Among the other difficulties under which his
people labored they had found no opportunity to
have him ordained in the desired ecclesiastical au-
thority. But now, being taunted by the First Church
on account of their unorganized State, being informed
that they would hold no further communication with
them 'till they were duly organized, and there being
no longer any hope of arrangement, they took the
steps necessary to ‘‘embody in church estate.” This
they accomplished May 1, 1670, with the approval of
the churches of Fairfield, Killingsworth, and the
“new church at Windsor.” Mr. Walker was or-
dained on the 5th of May, 1670, when twenty male
members again publicly owned their covenant, the
gathering of the church having been made by them
in private, on account of the great opposition to them.
This fact is most thoroughly set forth on the first page
of our First Church records, in the handwriting of
Mr. Walker, now before me. Seven more male mem-
bers were admitted a few days after, and ten more,
six of whom were females, were added previous to the
removal to Pomperaug, in 1672,—a number fully equal
to that of most other churches at their commence-
ment in this wilderness land.

The initial point from which dates the settlement of
Woodbury was the grant of the General Court, in ac-
cordance with Governor Winthrop’s recommendation,
in 1672. As this grant was not made till the May
session, it was too late for our forefathers to move
their families into the wilderness that year; but the
preliminary arrangements were immediately com-
menced, and it is related that a few of the proprietors
came here and raised some corn, which they stored in
log cribs, but when they returned the next spring with
fifteen families, they found that the wild beasts or In-
dians had rifled them of their contents. By some
mistake, which even at this distance of time seems
singular, as the founders had known the territory
since 1659, the pioneer families, in following the
Housatonic, passed the Pomperaug in their journey,
and went up the Shepaug valley some miles, till they
discovered they must be on the wrong route, when
they made the best of their way over the hills to this
valley. They encamped the first night on Gord Hill,

west of our village. The next day they proceeded
to the valleys to examine and take possession of their

 

689

lands, and encamped the second night beneath a
large white oak just below the present line of our town
in Southbury. The location still bears the name of
“White Oak.” They finally decided to make their
principal location in the lower part of the present
principal village of the town. By the colony records we
learn that the intervales on the Pomperaug River had
been deprived of the trees by the annual fires kindled
by the Indians, and had been by them cultivated be-
fore our fathers moved here. So the land was in
some measure prepared for their occupation. Their
first dwellings were built of logs, but these habita-
tions passed away with the first generation, and com-
fortable frame dwellings took their places. The first
framed house was located in Judson Lane, a few rods
west of the Congregational church. The houses were
built in a substantial manner, in the old lean-to style,
the back roof running nearly to the ground, and were
covered with rent oak clapboards. They were rude
dwellings, but sufficed the wants of the pioneers.
Among the preparations which our forefathers made
for their removal hither was a code of laws, or arti-+
cles of agreement for their government, quite as care-
fully drawn as that written covenant entered into by
the Pilgrims before they left the “ Mayflower” to land
on Plymouth Rock. This model constitution, con-
taining all the elements of civilization, justice, and
religious liberty, is still preserved to us. It is a leg-
acy of which we are proud. It is a perfect model for
our republican form of government; also provid-
ing for the exigencies of a settlement in the woods.
It provided that as many persons should be admitted
into the plantation as could be comfortably ac-
commodated, and that all public charges, civil and
ecclesiastical, should be borne in proportion to the
size of their home-lots, the largest being twenty-five,
and the smallest ten, acres, while the allotment to a
bachelor was only five acres. It was further provided
that considerable tracts of land should be set apart
for the support of the preaching of the gospel; and
also, in the quaint language of the original instrument,
“a parsell of land for y® Incouriging a Schoole, y*
learning may not be neglected to children.” Each

‘inhabitant was obliged to pay his pro rata share of

the expense of the purchase of the territory from the
Indians, the expense of removal, and all other public
charges, within ten months after his home-lot was
laid out to him, in wheat, peas, and pork, in equal
proportions. Lastly, and above all, it was stipulated
that for the purpose of remaining in the “ peaceable
enjoyment of that way of church discipline which
they were persuaded is according to God,” they en-
gaged, each for himself, not to disturb the peace of
the plantation, but to subject themselves, personally,
“to that ecclesiastical government that should be
there established or practiced agreeably to y* Word
of God.”

These articles were subscribed by Samuel Sherman,
Sr., Joseph Judson, Sr., John Minor, Israel Curtiss,
690

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

John Wheeler, John Wyatt, John Sherman, John
Judson, Jonathan Curtiss, Samuel Styles, Titus Hin-
man, David Jenkins, Moses Johnson, Samuel Munn,
Roger Terrill, Eleazur Knowles, and Thomas Fair-
child. These are the ancestors of a large number of
the most distinguished men now administering the
affairs of the nation, or who have been most distin-
guished in our history. Among these are ex-Presi-
dent Grant, Gen. W. T. Sherman, Secretary of the
Treasury John Sherman, Secretary of State William
M. Evarts, Hon. Chauncey M. De Pue, of New York
City, and many others honoring their country in
every part of the Union.

A moment’s examination will show the wisdom of
this first solemn governmental covenant. The com-
mittee of principal men composed a court to judge
between man and man, doing justice according to the
letter of ‘‘God’s written word,” until a town should
be organized under the ‘jurisdiction of magistrates,
“‘who are appointed of God.” This court had the
power of life and death over their brother colonists
till the incorporation of the town.

From these articles we learn that here, as in all other
early New England towns, the settlers had a particu-
lar regard for the establishment of religious institu-
tions. It was their design to erect churches in strict
conformity to Scripture example, and to transmit
evangelical purity, in doctrine, worship, and disci-
pline, with civil and religious liberty, to their pos-
terity. So great was the attention paid to this matter
that they not only made provision for the minister
first settled, but they also sequestered lands for the
future support of the ministry, which were called the
“ parsonage lands.”

Another truly New England feature in this their
first solemn agreement is seen in the ample provision
made for a school, “that learning might not be neg-
lected to the children.” Our fathers were republi-
cans, rejecting with abhorrence the divine right of
kings. Upon republican principles they formed their
civil institutions. They thought the church should
be accompanied by the school-house. In this way they
judged intelligence and good morals could best be
propagated.

It is interesting to notice, also, the poverty of our
ancestors at this time. All the expenses growing out
of the purchase and settlement of the plantation were
to be paid in wheat, peas, and pork, in equal propor-
tions as to value, and if any settler was so poor that
he could not obtain a surplus of these beyond the
wants of his own family, then he was to pay in other
articles to the satisfaction of the committee having
charge of the expenses of the settlement.

In our times we fail to appreciate the difficulties
attending the founding of a new town in New Eng-
land. The first signers to the covenant to found a
new town at Woodbury were but seventeen, but there
were as many founded most other towns in New Eng-
land. The territory of our town comprised a whole

 

county, and the number of noble men who founded it,
and removed their families here during the first two
years after its settlement, was fully equal to that of
most New England colonies at the date of their set-
tlement. There were but forty-one signers to the
articles on board of the ‘‘ Mayflower,” on the 11th
of November, 1620, for the founding of the cele-
brated colony of Plymouth. The first grant of the
entire colony of Connecticut was made to eleven
persons, and the first three towns, in 1635, were
settled by about sixty persons, men, women, and
children, or twenty to each town, a much smaller
number than that which first colonized Woodbury.
Roger Williams pitched his tent at Providence,
founded Rhode Island, and formed a body politic for
the advancement of religious freedom when his fol-
lowers only numbered seventeen. Massachusetts Bay
Colony had a still smaller beginning. At first it was
nearly a failure, and for a considerable time was held
only by Roger Conant and three other “ disheartened
companions,” and yet, in his lofty trust, he believed
that “God would make this land a receptacle for his
people.” Let it not be considered, then, that the
founding of Woodbury was an inconsiderable or trivial
affair. The history of an early Connecticut town is
the history of a colony, or State, or the Union in
miniature. In no way can we form so accurate an
estimate of the dangers and difficulties that beset our
fathers, the hardships borne, and the labors performed
to secure the liberty and unnumbered blessings which
we now enjoy as by a perfect history of the events
and struggles of such a town.

In our day, surrounded by the comforts, conveni-
ences, and luxuries of life, we can little estimate the
hardships encountered by the men and women who
first trod these now smiling valleys. They had no
covering for their heads but the overarching heavens,
no lodgings for their weary, travel-worn bodies but
camps made of evergreen trees. There were no pub-
lic roads and no vehicles. The first females, as well
as the males, went on foot or on horseback through a
trackless wilderness, guided by marks upon the trees
or feeling their way wherever they could find room to
pass. In the midst of the first drear winter their pro-
visions gave out, and some of the settlers were obliged
to make their way through the pathless forests to the
older settlements for food to sustain them during the
remaining winter months. Some of those sturdy
men went to Stratford, a distance of thirty miles,
with hand-sleds, and returned laden with corn for
their pressing necessities. We can have but a faint
idea of the dangers that surrounded those early found-
ers on such a journey, exposed to all the perils and
privations of those interior forests. Added to their
lack of bread, the pioneers had neither dwellings nor
clothing sufficient to prevent suffering. Should any
emergency happen, they were cut off from any suc-
cor or effective retreat. What asad beginning had
this now fair and opulent town on the Pomperaug !
WOODBURY.

691

 

It was necessary to erect and fortify houses, to
make roads, and to spend much time in watching,
training, and preparation for defense against the In-
dians of New York. Everything was to be con-
structed from rude materials or brought from a great
distance and procured at a dear rate. They were
obliged, with little previous knowledge of the art,
to break ground on bare creation, drawing their sub-
sistence from an unwilling soil. That /ifteen families
in the wilderness, before they had time to provide for
their own pressing wants, should undertake to support
a minister of the gospel shows the abiding confidence,
the lofty trust of those men of iron nerve. Every-
thing must be manufactured by themselves or they
must go without the indispensable necessaries of life.
They, being only tillers of the soil, must become
their own blacksmiths, carpenters, shoemakers, cloth-
iers, and tailors. “The grim present was lowering
upon them with all its sharp and angular realities.”
But they accepted the chances with a firm reliance
upon Providence. ;

How did our forefathers dress? What were their
costumes and fashions? All the garments of both
sexes were of homespun, of their own manufacture,
from the raw material to the perfected garment. The
small-clothes, and even the coats of the men, were
often made of deer-skins and leather. Nothing is
more commonly mentioned in the early inventories
of estates. And yet, amid all this rigid simplicity,
the General Court, four years after the settlement of
Woodbury, passed an act against the excess of ap-
parel among the people, as “unbecoming a wilder-
ness condition and the profession of the gospel;”’
ordering that any person who should wear any cloth-
ing that should be “apparently beyond the necessary
end of apparel for covering or comeliness,” should,
on due conviction, forfeit ten shillings for every of-
fense. How great a commotion would be caused by
the passage of such a law in the present days of fool-
ish extravagance!

So numerous had the arrivals of our ancestors be-
come in the new plantation of Pomperaug during
the year 1678, that at the May session of the General
Court, in 1674, it was made a town, called Woodbury
(meaning a “ dwelling-place in the wood’), and ex-
empted from taxes for four years. In May, 1675, a
committee was appointed to lay out a road to Derby,
and Stratford was ordered to construct a road to the
same place. This committee did not report till May,
1677; and it is probable that it was not completed
under several years, so that the settlers remained
secluded from all the world for many years.

 

CHAPTER LXXI.

WOODBURY (Continued).

King Philip’s War in 1675—Inhabitants of Woodbury go back to Strat-
ford—Orders of the General Court—Rev. Mr. Walker's Letter—Inhab-
itants Return in 1677—The First Three Corn Mills—Town First Rep-
resented in the General Court in 1684—Patent Granted to the Town
in 1686—General Court grants tho North Purchase to the Town in
1703—Same Purchased of the Indians in 1710.

Bor far more serious evils awaited the adventurous
pioneers in this “ dwelling-place in the wood.”

In June, 1675, King Philip’s war broke out, and
filled this and the neighboring colonies with the
gloom and terror which always accompany Indian
warfare. The startling intelligence of a general
combination of all the Eastern tribes for the utter
extermination of the white race fell with a sad
cadence on the afflicted ears of the settlers. Philip,
with his fierce band of relentless warriors, appeared
suddenly on the scene of action, and misery and de-
struction followed in his trail. Every portion of the
colony suffered from the predatory excursions of the
savages and continual alarms. The frontier towns,
like Woodbury, were particularly exposed to destruc-
tion. The General Court, deeply affected with the
apparent dangers, enacted military regulations of the
most careful and rigorous kind. It was equivalent to
putting the whole colony under martial law. Sixty
soldiers were to be raised in each county, places for
refuge and defense to be immediately fortified in
every plantation, disobedience of orders in time of
attack to be punished with death, and no male be-
tween the ages of fourteen and seventy to be suffered
to leave the colony without permission. Each plan-
tation was to keep a sufficient watch from sunset to
sunrise, and to keep one-fourth of the town under
arms every day, taking regular turns. The watch
was directed to call up every man in the town an
hour before day, and each one was directed to arm
himself, repair to his appointed ward, and there stand
guard, ready to repel any attack till half an hour
after sunrise, when the “ warders” again took their
places. Scouts on horseback were also sent into the
woods each day to look for the foe, with directions to
go only so far as to enable them to return by nightfall.
These orders were carried out with alacrity by our
town. This was then the most’ remote northwestern
town in the colony, and one of the most exposed.
It was known both by the whites and Indians that
persons sleep soundest just before the dawn, and
hence the order that every inhabitant should be
awakened by the watch, and called to arms an hour
before day. Guards were stationed on Lodge, Ore-
naug, and Castle Rocks to watch for the enemy and
protect the inhabitants. Fortified houses were erected
on Lodge Rock, on the location now occupied by the
house of Mr. Horace Hurd, in West Side, and near
Widow Nathan Warner’s dwelling-house, in Judson
Lane, to receive the settlers in case of assault. It is
692

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

more than difficult, at this distance of time, to real-
ize the trials and alarms which must exist in such
feeble communities, reminded each hour of their
desperate condition by regulations of such severity
as those that had been adopted. Every effort was
made for the public safety, but the dangers thick-
ened so darkly around them that the settlers were
obliged, early in the summer, to remove their wives
and little ones to Stratford, “a place,” as stated in
their characteristic language, “‘of more hopeful se-
curity.” This was rendered the more necessary, be-
cause their men, as often as they went to the ‘seaside
towns,” or their necessary business, were pressed into
the service, so that, as we learn from an autograph
letter of Rev. Mr. Walker, in October, 1676, a greater
number of men from Woodbury, proportioned to its
population, was engaged in King Philip’s war than
from any other town in the colony. Notwithstanding
all these discouragements and dangers, our fathers,
after having conducted their households to Stratford,
returned to Woodbury, raised and secured their crops,
and carried them to Stratford in the autumn.

But the plantation was by no means given up.
During the year 1677 the inhabitants slowly returned
to the new settlement. In May, 1678, the General
Court ordered the remainder to return by the 1st of
November, on pain of forfeiting their lands in the
town. Immediately after this the town passed a vote
that the order of the court should be strictly enforced,
and requested the town clerk to write a letter to those
who neglected to return, urging them to come back to
their lands. In writing this letter, the clerk, Capt.
John Minor, urged them to return, saying, ‘‘ Friends,
it is far from our desire that any of you should be
abused by this act of ours. We covet not your lands,
but your company. We desire not to displease any
of you, butif we cannot please you upon lower terms
than by undoing ourselves, we assure you that we can-
not come to that price.” This action of the court and
town brought the wandering children home. In
June of this year Mr. Walker came with his family
to reside, permanently, with his people at Woodbury.
Previous to this time his family had resided at Strat-
ford, and he had ministered at both places, as occa-
sion required. The householders at this time prob-
ably numbered about sixty. It is known that there
were as many as that four years later. This would
show the whole population to be about three or four
hundred.

Previous to this date they had had no corn-mill,
and had no flour or meal, except what they could get
occasionally at Stratford. Even on wedding occasions
—those times of great interest among all nations—
the principal dishes at the marriage feast were bean
porridge for soup, and for the other courses an enor-
mous plate of pork and beans, with bread made of
pounded corn. How would such a wedding entertain-
ment suit our lady friends of the present day? This
deprivation was too great to be borne by our fathers, and

 

accordingly they procured a set of small mill-stones at
Stratford, so diminutive in size that they brought them
here on horseback. This was probably in 1674, and
they were the only ones used till 1681. They prepared
mill-gearing, built a small shed on Middle Quarter
Brook, a few rods easterly from the house of the late
Deacon Eli Summers, and set their mill in operation.
It is said that when it was in complete running order
one could grind a bushel of grain per day. Each
settler, in turn, carried his grist to the mill in the
morning, set it in motion, and went for his meal at
night. One of these mill-stones is still in existence,
and is fastened to the base of the fathers’ monument.
Traces of the old dam, also, exist.

But the inhabitants had become so numerous before
1681 that the old mill was entirely inadequate to the
wants of the town. It had, therefore, granted “ mill
accommodations” of land, and other considerations,
on the west side of the river, to John Hurd, to “ en-
courage” him to take upon himself the responsibility
of building a ‘‘corn-mill” of sufficient capacity to do
all the grinding required by the town. The date of
this agreement is Aug. 28, 1681. He erected his mill
about fifty rods westerly from his dwelling-house,
which stood where the Hon. N. B. Smith’s now
stands. It was erected immediately under the hill,
and the water for its accommodation was brought in
a ditch—faint traces of which remain—from the Pom-
peraug River, about one hundred rods distant, and
discharged into the river again about fifty rods below,
the mill nearly in rear of ‘‘ Parson Stoddard’s house.”
The dam was built across the river west of the mill,
the bed-sills of which are to this day in a good state
of preservation, though it is just two hundred years
since they were placed in the river, and can be seen
at low water. Hurd and his heirs carried on the mill
for ten years, but the floods carried away the dam so
often that they gave up the contract. The town then,
Feb. 15, 1691, made a contract with John Mitchell
and Samuel Stiles to carry on the mill. There was a
stipulation that if after further trial the dam could
not be made to stand at the present location, then
they might build it “elsewhere with the consent of
the town.” For the ‘‘encouragement of the miller”
thirty pounds were granted, and a ten-acre accom-
modation was entailed to the “ Mill and Miller” that
should do the grinding power, so that it could not be
conveyed away. This “accommodation” was laid
out in Ragland, and has been owned by the owners
of the mill to this day. On the part of the miller it
was stipulated that he should “well and seasonably
grind from time to time, and at all times, all such
corn as each and every of the inhabitants of Woodbury
shall bring to said mill to be ground.” It being found
impossible to maintain the dam at the first location,
the “ millers” soon established the mill near the pres-
ent mill and factory of Daniel Curtiss’ sons, in which
place a corn-mill has ever since been kept up in ac-

-cordance with the terms of the entailment.

°
' WOODBURY.

At the May session of the General Court in 1684,
Capt. John Minor and Lieut. Joseph Judson appeared
as members. This was the first time the town had
been represented, and at that session the court granted
that the “ Woodbury sallery for their deputies shall
be fifty shillings a session.” There was a previous
regulation, by which each town was to furnish the
use of a suitable nag, upon which its representatives
might be carried, in proper state, to the place of
legislation.

About the same time uneasiness began to arise in
the minds of the inhabitants in relation to the title
by which they held their lands, The territory of the
town had originally been granted to the committee
of the Second Church at Stratford, under the injunc-
tion or proviso.that they should receive as many in-
habitants to rights and privileges in their lands as
the plantation would conveniently accommodate.
The extent of territory was large, and it was a much
more. desirable place for habitation than most other
inland towns. Under these circumstances many per-
sons offered to be admitted to the privileges of pro-
prietorship in the plantation, and the authorities did
not see fit to admit all of them. It was very natural
for these persons to question the rights of those al-
ready located there, and to threaten to have the title
by which they held their lands inquired into. It is
possible that this was the particular moving cause
that induced the town to send deputies to the General
Court this year, when it had rested quietly without
representation for ten years after its legal organiza-
tion as a town. Previous to this the people had re-
mained content with the measure of law and justice
meted out to them by their committee of the princi-
pal men of the place, who ruled in accordance with
the written word.” At the May session of the Gen-
eral Court, May, 1685, the citizens petitioned for a
patent, and. at the May session, 1686, it was granted
in ample form. At the May session, 1703, this patent
was confirmed, and the town during. the same year
confirmed all the grants of land it had previously
made.

At the same session the court granted an addition
to the north side of the town, containing seventeen
thousand four hundred and eighty-two acres and
sixty rods of land. This was called the North Pur-
chase, and covered the present town of Bethlehem
and Judea Society in Washington.

The town having obtained this grant of the court
in 1708, commenced negotiations for the purchase of
the same of the Indians, but did not complete the bar-
gain till June 28, 1710, when a deed was executed by
Nunawague, Chesguneage, Cocksherry, Wussutta-
nunckquet, and Sasaw. The town had now full and
undisputed title to its entire limits, both from the
General Court and the native proprietors.

 

693

CHAPTER LXXIIL
WOODBURY (Continued).

Character of the First Settlers—Capt. John Minor—Capt. William Cur-
tiss—Hon. Samuel Sherman—Hon. John Sherman—Lieut. Joseph Jud-
son—Lieut. Israel Curtiss—Col. Joseph Minor—Hackaliah Prestouo—
Hon. William Preston.

THE original signers of the fundamental articles, as
we have seen, were seventeen in number. Fifteen of
these, undoubtedly, removed to the new plantation
during the first year. It is not certain that the two
aged planters, Samuel Sherman, Sr., and Joseph Jud-
son, Sr., ever resided here, although they had larger
“ accommodations” than most of the other proprietors.’

First among the settlers, men of note in Woodbury,
and foremost in all difficult undertakings, was John
Minor, an interpreter to the Indians, a justice of the
quorum among the magistrates, a captain in the militia,
and a deacon in the church. He was also a surveyor,
a necessary and important character in a new country.
All the Indian deeds in this region were executed be-
fore him, from his being able to act as an interpreter.
Early in life he acquired a good knowledge of the
Indian dialects, and conversed in them with fluency.
To perfect him in this knowledge, the magistrates of
Connecticut sent him to school and college two or
three years, wishing to prepare him for a preacher of
the gospel to the Indians. He lived with Rev. Mr.
Stone, of Hartford, for several years, and acted as
interpreter for him when he preached to the Indians.
He was town clerk of Stratford for ten years from 1666,
with the exception of a year, and held the same office
for thirty years from its beginning. He was also, for
twenty years, almost always a member of the General
Court, held an influential position there, and was ap-
pointed on committees for the composing of serious
differences and the solving of difficult questions. He
died at an advanced age, and was buried in the south-
west part of the ancient burying-ground, but no stone
remains to mark the spot.

Capt. William Curtiss was another early founder of
Woodbury, of high standing in the colony, and one
of the grantees in the plantation. He was from Rox-
bury, Mass. His name was usually spelled “Curtice.”
It does not appear that he bought an interest in the
plantation himself, but he was its fast friend, and sent
two of his sons, Lieut. Israel and Joshua, with the
first settlers. le was a member of the General Court,
ten or twelve years, from Stratford; often a commis-
sioner, or justice of the peace ; and from year to year
appointed by the court on important committees in
various parts of the colony. He was appointed, Nov.
98, 1673, captain of the forces raised in Fairfield
County to serve against the Dutch at New Amsterdam
(New York). In October, 1675, he was appointed, by
the General Court, captain of the sixty men to be raised
in Fairfield County to serve in King Philip’s war, with
power to appoint his inferior officers. In May, 1676,
when the people of Woodbury were at Stratford on
694

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

account of this war, he and Mr. Samuel Sherman were
appointed commissioners for “Stratford and Wood-
bury.”

Intimately associated with the last named in all
that related to the welfare of the town, was the Hon.
Samuel Sherman. He was, at the date of its settle-
ment, undoubtedly the most distinguished man con-
nected with the enterprise. He was from Dedham,
Essex Co., England. Came to this country in 1634,
and previous to the date of the new plantation had
been a leading man in the colony. He had assisted
in the settlement of several other towns in the colony,
and now undertook the same for Woodbury. He had
been a member of the Court of Assistants, or Upper
House of the General Court and Supreme Judicial
Tribunal, for five or six years from 1663, and held
various offices of honor and trust. He is referred to
in ancient deeds and documents as the “‘ Worshipful
Mr. Sherman.” In 1676, as stated above, he was one
of the commissioners for “‘ Stratford and Woodbury.”
It is not certain he ever resided here, although he took a
first-class “ accommodation” in the grant of the Gen-
eral Court. If he did not remove personally to Wood-
bury, he evidently caused his lands to be improved in
accordance with the articles of the settlement. They
are “recorded to” him May 26, 1675, and on the 22d
of June, 1679, it is further recorded that “Mr.
Sherman having enjoyed and improved his accommo-
dations to this 22d of June, 1679, according to the
grant of y* town,” has now an “ absolute and positive
record to him of the same according to law.” He
deceased previous to October, 1684, and his sons,
Matthew and John, agreed on a division of said lands.
He may have resided here, but it is probable that,
being advanced in years and comfortably settled in
Stratford, he continued to reside there till his death.
He furnished one son (John) for the first company,
and subsequently two other sons, Samuel and Mat-
thew, for other companies. His son, Hon. John Sher-
man, was one of the first company, and his farm is
more particularly the property of the town than the
last two. He was distinguished not only in his town,
but also in the colony. He was a justice of the quo-
rum, or Associate County Court judge for forty-four
years from 1684, a representative of the town for sev-
enteen sessions, and speaker of the Lower House in
May and October, 1711, and May and October, 1712.
He was town clerk twenty-five years, and captain in
the militia, a high honor in those days. He was the
first judge of probate for the district of Woodbury
from its organization in 1719, nine years. This dis-
trict then comprised all the settled portion of the
present county of Litchfield, and Waterbury, in New
Haven County. He was also an assistant (or senator)
for ten years from 1713.

Lieut. Joseph Judson, Sr., another subscriber to the
Fundamental Articles, was a man of note before the
removal to this town. He came from Concord, Mass.
He was deputy to the General Court there some six

 

years, and otherwise distinguished. After the settle-
ment of Woodbury he was sent as a deputy, with
John Minor, to the session of 1684, being the first
time the town had been represented, and continued
to represent the town for four sessions afterwards.
He was one of the leaders of Rev. Mr. Walker’s party
at Stratford. He had a first-class “accommodation,”
but it is not certain that he lived here till the close of
his life, as a part of his land was afterwards sold to pay
a ministerial rate. His son, John, another “ original
signer,” was a prominent individual in the town and
colony. He died Jan. 12, 1709-10, aged sixty-three
years.

Lieut. Israel Curtiss, son of Capt. William, was an-
other of the “original signers,” and took a prominent
part in the settlement of the town. He was a lieu-
tenant in the militia, and represented the town at
the May session, 1689, and for seventeen sessions after-
wards.

Col. Joseph Minor, son of Capt. John, was not
one of the “original signers,” but was one of the
early settlers, and for eighty years afterwards held a
prominent position. He attained the greatest age to
which any inhabitant of the town has ever arrived,
save one, since its settlement. He was born March 4,
1672-73, and died Oct. 20, 1774, being nearly one hun-
dred and two years old. He was born sixteen days after
the signature of the “ Fundamental Articles,” came
to Woodbury a child, and spent a long life in its ser-
vice. He passed through the several grades of the
military service to the rank of colonel, and was very
efficient in preparing men for service in the French
and Indian wars. He was representative thirty-two
sessions, town clerk twenty-eight years, justice of the
quorum fourteen years from 1725, and judge of pro-
bate thirty years. He lived under the hill in rear of
Horace H. Minor’s present dwelling-house. He in-
herited the homestead and other land from his father,
which said Horace, one of his descendants, now owns;
and it is a remarkable fact that it has never passed by
deed since the deed from the Indians, two hundred
and twenty-one years ago. It has passed from father
to son through the Probate Court.

Another early settler, but not an “ original signer,”
was Hackaliah Preston. He was a native of Wales,
but came to Stratford from Turkey. Tradition says
the Turks for some reason sought to kill him, and
that he fled to save his life. He married Emma
Fairchild, daughter of Thomas Fairchild, of Strat-
ford, one of the principal planters and first magis-
trates of that town, who had come thither directly
from England. He soon removed to Woodbury, in
one of the companies of the first settlers.

Hon. William Preston, son of the above, was born
at Stratford, March 21, 1676, just before his father’s
removal to Woodbury, and was, therefore, in one
sense, a son of the soil, having spent his entire life in
the town, and rested from his labors, Sept. 5, 1754, in
the seventy-eighth year of his age. He was a leading
WOODBURY.

695

 

man in the town, county, and colony. He was a
member of the General Court thirty-five sessions, and
stood high in the militia, having attained the rank of
colonel. He was justice of the quorum eleven years
from 1740. On the formation of the new county of
Litchfield, in 1751, he was appointed its first judge,
which office he held three years till his death, per-
forming its duties to the credit of himself and the in-
terests of the people. He was a man of fine talents
and commanding influence, of sterling integrity, and
unflinching determination. He was active and effi-
cient in all the walks of life, and died much lamented.

Such was the character of the early men of Wood-

bury.

CHAPTER LXXIII.
WOODBURY (Continued).

Home-Lots—Rev. Z. Walker’s House—Palisaded Houses—First School-
House—Second, or Stoddard Parsonage—First Meeting-House—First
Birth, Marriage, and Death—First Clothier—First Physician—First
Blacksmith—First Divorce—Parson Stoddard Kills Two Indians—
Wood Creek Expedition—Slavery.

TuE settlers laid out their home-lots in quantities
of from two to five acres, with narrow fronts, which
were arranged on both sides of the Main Street, or
“Indian trail,” from East Meadow two miles, or the
whole length of the present street. The “home-lot
division,” four times as large as the home-lot, was
laid out in rear of it, and extended back one mile
from the street, “that,” as the record says, “run
through the middle of the town from end to end of
the town.” This rule for building the houses close
together was in pursuance of an order of the general
court to all new towns, for protection against the In-
dians. Next came the “meadow division,” or low-
land, which was laid on the intervales, or plain lands.
After this came the “ upland division,” laid out on the
irregular, hilly grounds. At the same time the ‘‘ pas-
ture division” was laid out for the accommodation of
their cattle. In process of time came the “ woodland
division,” after they had cleared their other divisions,
and a provision for fuel became necessary. Still later,
when they had subdued and brought under cultiva-
tion their other lands, came the “‘ Good Hill division”
and the “ White Oak Plain division,” which desig-
nate their own localities. All these divisions were
assigned or laid out to the settlers in proportion to
the size of their home-lots, and that was determined
by the amount paid in under the original articles.

The house of Rev. Zechariah Walker, the first min-
ister, or “first parsonage,” stood where Mrs. Levi 8.
Douglass now lives, and covered a part of the present
cellar, Isaac Judson built his house in Judson Lane,
and was one of those surrounded with palisades as a
protection against the Indians. Another palisaded
house stood on the site occupied by Horace Hurd’s
dwelling-house. Capt. John Minor’s, under the hill,

 

below where Horace H. Minor now lives, was an-
other. Another of the fortified houses was that of
one of the Bronsons, in Transylvania. It had a look-
out on its top, by the chimney, for observation. The
reservation of land for a school, as agreed in the
“fundamental articles,’ was laid out north of the
cranberry pond before 1700, and the first school-
house stood where George Hitchcock’s wagon-shop
now stands. In 1700 some change was made, when
Rev. Anthony Stoddard was settled in the ministry,
and his home-lot was laid on the 12th of May in this
place, then called Foot’s Neck. It was a part of the
contract of the town with him ‘to build him a house
of certain dimensions on this lot. It was immediately
commenced and finished, so that he could move into
it late in 1701. It was surrounded with “ palasadoes,”
was the most strongly fortified house in the planta-
tion, and could receive more people than any other
in case of an alarm. This old house was pulled down
in the fall of 1880, and a fine modern dwelling is now
erected on its site by Walter S. Curtiss, Esq. This
was the oldest house in the State, except the old
stone house in Guilford, and it was a pity that the old
landmark was removed.

After the settlers were in some measure located,
and began to have some of the comforts and conve-
niences of life, their thoughts naturally turned to the
prime object of all the plantations in New England,—
the establishment of public worship, and the location
and construction of a suitable house in which to enjoy
the ministrations of the gospel. From their first set-
tlement hitherto they had worshiped in each other’s
houses in the inclement months of the year, and in
the summer months had convened, in the stillness of
the Sabbath morn, in a beautiful and retired spot on
the east side of the Oronaug Rocks, between the cliffs,
with their sentinels placed on the tops of the adjacent
rocks to guard against surprise from savage foes, and
there made the “ surrounding aisles of the dim woods”
vocal with the high praises of God. In a rude pulpit
of stone, still tanding in that lonely dell, we may, in
imagination, see the faithful Walker addressing his
attentive hearers, and delivering to them the words of
“truth and soberness.” This spot received the name
of Bethel Rock from this circumstance, and has ever
been held as a consecrated place by the descendants
of those early Christians, whither they have at times
repaired for meditation and prayer to the present day.

The unsettled state, produced by King Philip’s war,
having passed away, and the inhabitants become quite
numerous for a new town, they resolved to build a
house for public worship. As has ever been the case
in such matters, they did not readily agree on a loca-
tion. They tried various ways to solve the difficulty.
Among other methods they “ cast lots,” thus showing
us a glimpse of the superstition of the age in which
they lived. But although they had “solemnly left
the matter to God” for a decision, vague suspicions of
some human agency in the result obtained arose in
696

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

the minds of many. They, therefore, in a peaceable
and orderly manner submitted the question to the
arbitrament of Deputy-Governor Robert Treat, Sr.,
Maj. Nathan Gold, who chose Nicholas Camp as the
“third man,” and they fixed the site where Hon. N.
B. Smith’s carriage-house now stands, July 5, 1681,
about twenty rods from the first parsonage, five from
the school-house, and twenty-five from the second
corn-mill. The work of building immediately com-
menced. It was of large size for those times, and was
used for public worship till the erection of the second
meeting-house in 1747. The people were called to
church on the Sabbath by the beating of a drum upon
the rock on which the Masonic lodge now stands.
The same instrument was used to call the people to-
gether on other days in the week for other purposes.
It was beat for town-meetings, for the assembling of
the train-band, and in cases of alarm in times of war.
There was a particular beat for each of these occa-
sions, but what was the difference in the roll of the
drum ecclesiastic, the drum military, and the drum
civil is not now known. During the perilous times
of the French and Indian wars, guards were placed on
Lodge Rock, Orenaug Rocks, and Castle Rock, while
the people, who worshiped within the church, also
carried their arms. After the dedication of the second
meeting-house, the old one was used for a town-hall
for many years, and also by the Episcopal Society for
their service. Still later it was used by Mr. Tallman
for a slaughter-house. But it was taken down many
years ago, and a portion of it now constitutes a part
of one of Hon. N. B. Smith’s outhouses.

The first female born in Woodbury was Sarah,
daughter of Samuel Sherman, Jr., and the first male,
Thomas, son of John Wheeler. They were both
born in 1678, and baptized in Stratford. The first
marriage that appears on record is that of Benjamin
Hinman and Elizabeth Lumm, July 12, 1684. The
first death recorded on record or tombstone was in
1683. The first wheelwright was Samuel Munn, who
came in 1681.

Dr. Trumbull, in his “ History of Connecticut,” says
that in 1713 “there was but one clothier in the
colony. The most he could do was to full the cloth
which was made. A great proportion of it was made
without shearing or pressing.” If this assertion is
correct, Woodbury was the location of that first
clothier, and Abraham Fulford was his name. His
home-lot was laid out next to that of Samuel Stiles,
the town miller. The fulling-mill was on the East
Sprain, near “‘ East Meadow Rocks.” The first phy-
sician was Dr. Butler Bedient, and Dr. Ebenezer
Warner, Sr., settled about the same time. The first
blacksmith in Woodbury of whom the records speak
was Deacon Samuel Bull, of Farmington, who was
granted a ten-acre accommodation on condition he
would carry on the blacksmith trade in town for ten
years. He married the only daughter of Mr. Walker,
the first minister. So it seems the blacksmith was

 

“settled” like the minister. The first divorce was
granted to Jonathan Taylor from his wife by the Gen-
eral Court, at its October session, 1708. The grounds
were that his wife endeavored to “take his life by
her violence, deserting him, and living with Joseph
Allen, a negro, at Sackett’s Farm, N. Y.,”—the Bible
cause somewhat aggravated.

It is related that during the Indian war of 1708,
one Sabbath evening, after the conclusion of services
at church, while the Rev. Anthony Stoddard was
walking in his garden near Cranberry Pond, he dis-
covered an Indian skulking in the bushes. He quietly
re-entered his house, and took his gun. After watch-
ing for a while, Mr. Stoddard obtained a fair view of
him, fired, and the Indian fell. He dared not inves-
tigate further that night. Early in the morning he
discovered another red foe near his companion, whom
he also dispatched.

Beginning with King Philip’s war, in which it
furnished more than its just share of men, being then
but little more than two years old, Woodbury has
always furnished its men liberally for all the wars
that have arisen in which our country has had a part.
In that fruitless and fatal expedition to Ward Creek,
under Gen. Nicholson, of the royal service, to assist
in the reduction of Montreal and Quebec, in 1709,
Connecticut furnished her full quota, of which Wood-
bury’s part was nine. Two of these, Sergt. Thomas
Skeel and John J. Johnson, died a few days’ after
their return home, of disease contracted by exposure
in the service.

It is difficult now to conceive that slavery ever ex-
isted in Connecticut. Yet it was only in 1848 it was
formally abolished by the Legislature. It is more
than ninety years, however, since the institution in
this State had even a “name to live.” We can hardly
believe that our honored forefathers could be slave-
holders, and yet such is the fact. All the leading
men of property in the early days owned slaves.
Nothing was more common in the early inventories
than the item of slaves, nor in distributions than
whole or fractional parts of slaves divided to the heirs.
It is true that they were treated kindly, educated,
their religious interests cared for, presented in bap-
tism as members of the household, treated more like
children than slaves, yet they were such, bought and
sold at the will and pleasure of their owners. During
the whole of the eighteenth century the institution
flourished here, though in a mild form, They became
attached in many instances to the places where they
were brought up, and some of them lingered around
the “old homestead” long after they were entitled to
go free by virtue of law. In the war of the Revolu-
tion, freedom was granted to all slaves who would en-
list and serve through the war. To avail themselves
of this provision, some twenty-five of their number
in town enlisted at various periods of the war, and
made good soldiers, fighting valiantly for the liberty
of the country.
WOODBURY.

CHAPTER LXXIV.
WOODBURY (Continued).
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

Character of Rev. Zechariah Walker—Rev. Anthony Stoddard Settleda—
Rev. Noah Benedict Settled—Half-Way Covenant Abolished, 1760—
Rey. Samuel R. Andrew Settled—Remaining Pastors of the Church
— Recapitulation — Strict Congregational Church — Rev. Grove L.
Brownell Settled—Rev. John Churchill Settled—W. L. R. Wychorf
Settled—Episcopal Church—Methodist Church—Catholic Church.

We have already stated the causes which led the
second church of Stratford to settle in Woodbury and
the circumstances attending the building of the first
meeting-house. Within the walls of this edifice Mr.
Walker continued to labor till his death, Jan. 20,
1699-1700, or Jan. 31, 1700, according to new style.
He was a man of solid attainments, a fervid and pow-
erful preacher, greatly beloved by the people of his
charge. He conducted the affairs of his church with
commendable discretion, and both that and the in-
fant town flourished during his administration.
Under him the church had secured a firm foundation,
notwithstanding all the trials and hardships that
beset its earlier years. After a life of usefulness “ y°
faithful, worthy, beloved Minister of the Gospel, and
much lamented Pastor of ye Chh. of Christ,” was
gathered to his fathers, and his remains repose in the
southern part of the ancient burial-ground, where the
present fathers’ monument now stands. He sleeps
amid the faithful flock to whom he ministered in life.

In 1700, Rev. Anthony Stoddard commenced
preaching to the people, and in 1702 was ordained
over the church. Rev. Israel Chauncey, of Stratford,
having forgotten all former difficulties, was one of the
officiating clergymen on the occasion. The town in
1700 built him a house, as has already been stated.
The ministry of Mr. Stoddard was remarkable for its
duration and the prosperity which attended it. From
the date of his first sermon as a candidate to his last,
immediately preceding the brief illness which termi-
nated his useful labors, he numbered more than sixty
years in his holy calling, and great peace and har-
mony ever prevailed under his administrations. The
number of communicants was always large, notwith-
standing four large societies were taken from his
limits during his ministry. These were Southbury
in 1780, Bethlehem in 1739, India in 1741, and Rox-
bury in 1743. The good work seemed constantly to
grow under his hands with a steadiness rarely equaled.
The whole number by him admitted to full commu-
nion was 474; to the half-way covenant, 142; and
1540 received baptism at his hands.

To his ministerial labors he joined those of lawyer
and physician. Like many of the early ministers, he
prepared himself for the practice of medicine that he
might administer to the wants of the body as well as
those of the mind. In this capacity he was often
called. He acquired a very good legal knowledge for
those early days. This was the more necessary, as at

 

697

the beginning of the eighteenth century there were
but four lawyers in the colony, and as late as 1730
an act was passed limiting the number of lawyers
that might practice to three in Hartford County, and
two in each of the other counties. He was clerk of
probate for forty years, during which time he drew
most of the wills of his townsmen and did the greater
part of the business of the office, the judge for the
time being approving his acts. All the records of the
court during the time he was clerk appear in his
handwriting. He was also one of the largest farmers
in town. After a life of arduous and successful labor
the second pastor, at a good old age, entered into his
rest. He died Sept. 6, 1760, in the eighty-third year
of his age and the sixty-first year of his ministry, after
a severe illness of “ about two days’ continuance.” He
lived and died enshrined in the hearts of his people.
He was buried in the central part of the old burial-
ground, and there reposes surrounded by a numerous
congregation slumbering in death, very many of
whom he himself had followed to the grave. As in
life he was ever united to his people, so in death they
are not divided.

Previous to Mr. Stoddard’s death, early in 1760,
Rev. Noah Benedict had been called to be settled as
his colleague, but he died before the day fixed for Mr.
Benedict’s ordination, which was Oct. 22,1760. The
ordination took place that day as arranged, but it was
to the work of the ministry as sole pastor.

At the time of the death of Mr. Stoddard the half-
way covenant system had not been abandoned. He,
as well as his father, Rev. Solomon Stoddard, was an
advocate of the system, though Rev. Mr. Edwards,
the grandson of the latter, had done so much to over-
throw it wherever it existed. The system was not in
accordance with Mr. Benedict’s views, and within two
weeks after his ordination it was, by a vote of the
church, abolished. The half-way covenant members

-were invited, if they had owned their covenant in

sincerity, to the Lord’s table, which invitation they
accepted, and the practice ceased forever. At the
same meeting a covenant and profession of faith were
adopted by the church, which, with slight verbal al-
terations, is the one now in use.

Mr. Benedict spent a long and useful life among his
people. Few controversies arose among them during
the long period of his ministrations till near its close.
This was a controversy in regard to the location and
building of the third meeting-house. That constant
source of bitter animosity, the location of public
buildings, was the only thing that disturbed the
serenity of a period of pastoral labor extending
through a period of more than half a century. . But
he lived not to see the heat of the battle, having died
about three years before the final disruption.of his
church. He died April 20, 1818, in the seventy-
sixth year of his age and the fifty-third year of his
ministry. Under his administration the church was
prosperous. The number admitted to it was two
698

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

hundred and seventy-two, and seven hundred and
fifty-eight persons were by him baptized. Mr. Ben-
edict was a man of sound piety, and of great dignity
and amiability of character. He held an honored
place in the affections of his people. Thus we see
that three ministers served this church for the long
period of one hundred and forty-three years.

Rev. Samuel R. Andrew was settled, by unamimous
call, over the church Oct. 8, 1817. He preached his
farewell discourse Jan. 4, 1846, having been dismissed
on account of failing health. The division in the
church, caused by the disagreement about the location
of the new meeting-house, had ended in the forma-
tion of another church before his installation, and
the church, under his care, for nearly twenty-nine
years enjoyed uninterrupted peace and_ prosperity.
Two hundred and sixty-three members were received
into the church, and two hundred and forty-three
persons were by him baptized. The present church
edifice was dedicated Jan. 13, 1819, seventy-two years
after the dedication of the second. Thus we see that
this church was led for one hundred and seventy-two
years by three ministers.

Mr. Andrew was the only son of Samuel Andrew,
who was grandson of Rev. Samuel Andrew, of Mil-
ford, one of the founders of Yale College, a fellow,
and, pro tempore, a rector of that institution, and for
fifty years pastor of the First Church in Milford. Mr.
Andrew was born at Milford, May, 1787, and grad-
ated at Yale College in 1807. He studied law for a
year or two, and spent a few years at the South in
editing a newspaper and in teaching. He studied
theology with Rev. B. Prince, of Milford, and was
ordained over this church in 1817. He was chosen fel-
low of Yale College in 1837, which office he resigned in
1847, on moving out of Litchfield County to New
Haven, and was at the same time appointed secretary
of the college, which office he held till his death,
May 26, 1858, at the age of seventy-one years. In
1848 he was chosen a member the Connecticut Acad-
emy of Arts and Sciences.

Mr. Andrew’s intellect was strong, clear, compre-
hensive, and discriminating. His judgment was pre-
eminently sound and wise. His taste was pure and
classical. His sensibilities were exquisitely suscep-
tible to beauty in nature, in literature, and in char-
acter. His thoughts were always just, and often rich
and original. He wasa laborious student, and a close,
independent, and comprehensive thinker in theology.
His sympathies were as tender as his intellect was
strong. His heart was warm to the suffering and sor-
rowing. He was true to his friends and loved them
well. His piety was the very beauty of holiness, it
was so unaffected, so symmetrical, so honest, and so
tender.

He died as few men die. He had arranged to make
a visit to his old friends in Woodbury, and had dis-
patched a more than usually cheerful letter to an inti-
mate friend there. That letter was received after he

 

had been some hours dead. In the morning he woke
at his usual hour, and, apparently, in his usual health.
He spoke of being slightly chilled, adjusted the cov-
ering of his bed, breathed twice audibly, and in an
instant was gone. Such a death had been pronounced
by him to be beautiful and desirable, and his thought
was fulfilled. “ Mortality was swallowed up in life.”
“He walked with God, and he was not, for God took
him.”

The remaining pastors of this church are all living.
Rev. Lucius Curtis was installed July 8, 1846, and
resigned on account of ill-health Jan. 22, 1854. Rev.
Robert G. Williams was installed Jan. 29, 1855, and
resigned Jan. 15, 1859. Rev. Charles E. Robinson,
D.D., began to supply the pulpit early in 1861, was
installed June 10, 1861, and resigned Jan. 27, 1864,
on account of ill-health. Rev. Charles Little sup-
plied the pulpit from the summer of 1865 to the fall
of 1867, without installation. Rev. Horace Winslow
supplied the pulpit for a year from January, 1868.
Rev. Gordon W. Noys was installed over the church,
Dec. 8, 1869, and continued his ministrations for ten
years, when he resigned. For the past year and a
half the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. A. W.
Colver.

From its origin, two hundred and eleven years ago,
this church has received into its fold sixteen hundred
and twenty-six persons, administered the rite of
baptism to three thousand one hundred and two, and
ordained twenty-five deacons, four of whom are now
living. Its present membership is about two hundred.
Six churches have been formed entirely out of it, two
others have received a good number from it, to say
nothing of its contributions to other denominations
within its ancient limits, and to the churches of its
own faith in the cities of the East and West.

In 1816 another large and flourishing church was
formed out of the First Church, and was incorporated
under the name of the “Strict Congregational So-
ciety,” with the same territorial limits as the first
society. This was about one hundred and forty-six
years after the gathering of the First Church in Wood-
bury. The first minister was Rev. Grove L. Brownell,
who was ordained over the church July 27, 1817, and
continued his ministry about twenty-three years. He
was a very capable and faithful minister of the gospel.
Two hundred and thirty-eight joined the church by
profession during his ministry, and fifty-eight by let-
ter, which, added to the original forty members, make
the whole number of persons connected with the
church during his service three hundred and seventy-
five. The number of children baptized by him was
one hundred and eighty-eight.

On the dismission of the first pastor, Rev. John
Churchill was, by unanimous call, installed over the
church April 22, 1840, and presided over it for a period
of twenty-seven and a half years, closing his labors
on the last Sabbath in September, 1867. My. Churchill
was a logical and forcible preacher, and very success-
WOODBURY.

699

 

ful in his labors. One hundred and ninety-seven were
added to the church during his ministry, and at its
close almost the entire congregation were members
of it.

The church remained without a settled pastor till
1874, when the Rev. W. L. R. Wychorf, of New Jersey,
commenced his labors, was settled over it, and still
continues his ministrations to the acceptance of his
people, and with marked success.

For nearly seventy years after the settlement of the
town there were no churches within its limits, except
those of the Congregational, or “Standing Order.”
Our fathers emigrated to this country to enjoy their
religion, not only free from persecution, but without
interruption from Christians of different sentiments.
They were desirous, as all churches had been before
them, of maintaining a uniformity of doctrine and
worship. Correct views of religious liberty had not
then been held in any Christian country, and tolera-
tion was not a virtue of that age. But our fathers
were far in advance of the rest of the world in learn-
ing and adopting that truly Christian virtue. By the
very first code of laws ever published in the colony,
in 1672, all denominations of Christians were allowed
to worship God in their own way, provided they did
not commit a breach of the peace. It is true that
all were obliged to contribute to the regular minister ;
but this was but carrying out a contract on the part
of the people, for the only price they paid for their
lands consisted in bearing their pro rata share of the
amount paid the Indians, the joint expenses of re-
moval, the expense of building roads, bridges, school-
houses, church buildings, and the support of that
mode of worship unanimously established by the first
founders of the several towns. New-comers, who, as
soon as they arrived, were admitted to all the privi-
leges of the original planters, had no right to com-
plain of the necessity of bearing the same burdens as
the rest. But at a very early day even this provision
was changed, so that every one paid his tax to the
pastor of his choice.

A short time previous to 1740 some few families in
this town adopted the sentiments of the Church of
England, and at that date were occasionally supplied
by the ministers of the “Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.” Soon after this a
church edifice was erected in the town, on the hill
between Transylvania and Roxbury Centre. After
the erection of the Second Congregational church, in
1747, on the site now occupied by the Soldiers’ Mon-
ument, the old first church was used by the Episco-
palians for public. worship till the erection of their
present church, in 1785. In 1771, Rev. John R. Mar-
shall assumed the charge of the parish, having been
ordained by the Bishop of London the same year.
The parish flourished under his administration, and by
his piety, devotion, address, and perseverance he laid
the foundations deep and sure of this now flourishing
church,

 

A most important and interesting event in the his-
tory of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Connec-
ticut, and indeed of the United States, occurred in
Woodbury soon after the declaration of peace in
1783, The priesthood of this church were under an
oath of allegiance to the sovereign of Great Britain.
But America had been acknowledged as an independ-
ent nation. Of course there was no bishop then for
the United States. Under the rules of the church
this was a matter of prime necessity, and. how to ob-
tain one, with the proper ecclesiastical consecration
and appointment, was the great question which en-
gaged the attention of the believers in this form of
church government. It was necessary to select, and
get the consent of some one to go to Great Britain
and seek consecration. Previous to this time all
those who desired to enter the Episcopal ministry
were obliged to go to the old country for holy orders.

Rev. John Rutgers Marshall, of Woodbury, was the
last but one of those candidates who went from Con-
necticut on the perilous and expensive voyage across
the ocean for holy orders. He had been reared in the
city of New York. For a time he was a merchant in
Stratford; but in the summer of 1770, when he was
more than twenty-seven years of age, we find him
studying divinity with Dr. Johnson of that town, pre-
paring to come to Woodbury to preach the gospel.
He was graduated at Kings, now Columbia College,
of New York, as Bachelor of Arts, in 1770. His di-
ploma, in beautifully written Latin on parchment, is
before me as I now write. He received the degree of
Master of Arts in regular course two years subse-
quent to his ordination, he having returned from
England in the autumn of 1771, “licensed and au-
thorized,” by the Bishop of London, “to perform the
office of a minister or priest at Woodbury, or else-
where within the province of Connecticut, in North
America.” He settled here, and preached to the
members of his persuasion in all this region.

It was in the last week of March, 1783, just after
the publication of the articles of peace, that ten mis-
sionaries of the Episcopal Church met in Woodbury,
at the house of Rev. Mr. Marshall, far away from the
centres of influence and observation, to select some
one to proceed to England for consecration as a bishop.
The meeting was “kept a profound secret, even from
their most intimate friends of the laity.” The meet-
ing, of course, was informal, but they nominated Rev.
Dr. Samuel Seabury for the office, and he was conse-
crated at Aberdeen, Nov. 14, 1784.

Mr. Marshall’s old house, in which this event, so
important to the Episcopal Church of this country,
occurred, is still standing in the midst of our village,
and in a good state of preservation. The church
here should purchase it, and preserve it as a memorial
of the important event which occurred in it.

As early as 1790 services of the Methodist Church
were held in Woodbury, at first in the open air, under
Lodge Rock, by Samuel Wigdon, and afterwards, for

4
700.

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

about twenty years, in the dwelling-house of ‘‘ Father”’
Elijah Sherman, till the erection of a church edifice,
which has within a few years been modernized and
rendered commodious and convenient. This church
has been a prosperous one.

For quite a number of years priests of the Catholic
Church from Waterbury, Naugatuck, Ansonia, and
New Milford have held services in the Town Hall
about once in two weeks. The congregation is now
quite large, and they have bought a site for a church
edifice, and are raising a fund to build it.

Thus have we traced our way through the long
years of the dim and dusty records of the early
fathers, and we cannot leave these communings with
the past without regret. We part with the actors as
from old friends with whom we have journeyed long.
There is an interest lingering about the history, say-
ings, and doings of those iron-hearted men which
belongs to no later generation. The most trivial de-
tails in regard to them seem important, and we gather
them up with ever-increasing admiration.

CHAPTER LXXV.
WOODBURY (Continued).
MILITARY HISTORY.

French and Indian Wars—War of the Revolution—War Convention at
Litchfield in 1766—Town-Meetings in 1774—Boston Alarm—Commit-
tee of Observation—Capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point by
Woodbury Men—Woodbury the Birthplace of Col]. Ethan Allen, Col.
Seth Warner, and Capt. Remember Baker—Tories—Events of 1775—
Events of 1776—Events of 1777—Events of 1778—Shadrach Osborn—
Commissary Supplies—Events of 1779—Events of 1780—Volunteers
till New York Should be Taken—Events of 1781 and 1782—Conclu-
sion.

ANCIENT Woodbury has ever been a military town
from the time of King Philip’s war, in 1675, where,
as we have seen, it had a larger number of soldiers in
the service than any other town in the colony in pro-
portion to the number of its inhabitants, through the
French and Indian wars, the war of the Revolution,
when it sent more than sixteen hundred men to the
field, the last war with Great Britain, when it fur-
nished more than two hundred men, down to the war
of the great Rebellion, when it furnished more than
its quota, and more than two hundred and sixty men.
In every war, and on every “alarm,” the men of
Woodbury have been found at the post of duty per-
forming feats of valor. For that fruitless and fatal
expedition under Gen. Nicholson, for the reduction
of Montreal and Quebec, in 1709, Woodbury, still the
frontier forest-town, furnished its full quota of men,
being nine, two of whom died from exposure at Wood
Creek. Among the forces under the American com-
mander, who was obliged to execute that most un-
righteous and cruel decree for the dispersion of the un-
happy inhabitants of Acadia among the New England
colonies, tearing the unoffending and peaceful people

 

from their loved and beautiful firesides, were soldiers
from our old Puritan town, and nine of those sorrow-
ful victims of England’s gross injustice were sent into
exile upon the outskirts of our town, to be kept at la-
bor under the direction of the selectmen. From 1744
to 1759 our town freely furnished her sturdy sons for
all those ill-managed and desolating wars between
Great Britain and France. Col. Benjamin Hinman
and Capt. Adam Hinman greatly distinguished them-
selves in these campaigns, although the regular troops
constantly domineered over the provincials. As soon
as the drum at the ‘‘alarm-posts” in our peaceful
shades sounded the note of preparation for the relief
of Fort William Henry, near Lake George, that
beautiful sheet of water once so peacefully resting
between its rampart of highlands, the gallant cap-
tains Wait Hinman and Ebenezer Downs, the former
at the head of his company of ninety-six men, and
the latter leading his company of eighty, marched at
a moment’s warning, and made their rapid way
through many a trackless and weary solitude to suc-
cor their English brethren. In Hinman’s company
marched Hezekiah Thompson, the first regular lawyer
in the village, and Dr. Joseph Perry, one of its most
distinguished physicians. And in that final, glorious
campaign, conducted under the administration and
auspices of the energetic, brilliant, and renowned
Pitt, in those important victories resulting in the
capture of Forts Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown
Point, and in the more glorious event, the surrender
of Quebec to the victorious army under Wolfe, who
met his death in the battle-field, and whose “spirit
escaped in a blaze of glory,” in all these celebrated
engagements the men of Woodbury, both officer and
soldier, stood in the first rank. Valuable, indeed, was
this school of military services, which closed with
this campaign, to our fathers, who were so soon to
engage in a life-and-death struggle for their own lib-
erties. Great was the rejoicing in Woodbury when
the news of the last great victory arrived, not un-
mingled with sorrow at the loss of the slain, three of
whom had gone forth from our hearth-stones. Like
demonstrations of joy were everywhere shown. In
the eloquent words of Bancroft, “ America rang with
exultation; the towns were bright with illumination;
Legislatures, the pulpit, the press, echoed the general
joy; provinces and families gave thanks to God.”
But in a far more glorious chapter of our country’s
history the patriotic sons of Woodbury acted a noble
and distinguished part. It was the chapter of the
war for independence. It had been generally known
that at the end of the war with France new regula-
tions would be introduced into the government of the
American colonies. Connecticut, in particular, was
said to be but “little more than a mere democracy, most
of them being upon a level, and each man thinking
himself an able divine and politician ;” and to make its
inhabitants “a good sort of people, it was supposed
all that was necessary was to take away its charter
WOODBURY. "OL

 

and crush its energies.” The mother-country had
forgotten its experience in the Charter Oak affair, by
which it should have learned that this would not be
so easy a thing as might be desirable. So she, in the
magnitude of her towering pride, said, ‘Let the col-
onies be taxed, and let there be no representation.”
What a world of interests was affected by that stern
and unjust decision! Little dreamed he who spake
it that it would inflame a continent, and rend from
old England her fairest possession. But the word had
been spoken, the decree gone forth. With a fatal
madness, an unaccountable folly, she took her furious
course. Her children, driven by her intolerance into
the savage wilds of a distant continent, were pursued
with a ruthless barbarity. She little knew, and little
cared, if far away over the mighty Atlantic her arbi-
trary acts were creating “the land of the free and the
home of the brave.” From this came the war of the
Revolution, to blast the dearest hopes of the people
of the new world. Yet from its gloomy shades
gleamed forth the light of liberty, which to-day
shines with such dazzling splendor.

The passage of the Stamp Act aroused the most in-
tense excitement, alarm, and indignation throughout
the colonies. Absolute resistance to this measure
everywhere appeared, and as early as February, 1766,
a convention of Litchfield County was held, in which
the noble men of Woodbury were leading spirits.
This body of men, feeling within them the true spirit
of freedom, “Resolved, That the Stamp Act was uncon-
stitutional, null, and void, and that business of all
kinds should go on as usual.” The paramount and
immediate cause of the great struggle of the Revolu-
tion was the passage of the Boston Port Bill. This
outrageous and malicious act excited universal sym-
pathy for that town throughout the colonies, but no-
where was it shown in a more lively or effective
manner than in Connecticut. The universal spirit of
resistance broke out in Woodbury, and in September,
1774, a town-meeting was held, at which resolutions
of sympathy with the affected people of Boston and
Charlestown were passed, and a considerable amount
of donations was collected and forwarded to Boston
with all possible dispatch. This meeting was held
just after the “great Boston alarm,” caused by a
report that ships of war were cannonading Boston.
During this alarm a large number of the patriotic
sons of Woodbury had marched in mad haste, and
made a part of that glorious twenty thousand from
Connecticut, who, completely armed, put themselves
ou the route to Boston to relieve their brother sufferers.
It was soon apparent that war with the mother-coun-
try was inevitable, and the great object of our Revo-
lutionary sires was to form public opinion in favor of
acontest with England. This was best effected in that
day of scarcity of newspapers by holding town-meet-
ings, in which they could publicly read such news-
papers as treated upon the subject of common interest,
and discuss their rights and grievances. In this way

45

 

the people became excited and exasperated, and pa-
triotism glowed in the coldest hearts. The fathers
of Woodbury were fully up to the spirit of the times,
and held frequent meetings to advise concerning the
public weal. In November, 1774, Woodbury held a
town-meeting, and appointed a committee to observe
the acts of the inhabitants in relation to the non-
importation and non-consumption agreement of the
united colonies, with directions to publish in the
Gazette the names of all violators of that sacred agree-
ment, to the end that all such persons might “be
publicly known and universally contemned,” agree-
ing to break off all dealings with such persons as
should be guilty of such violation.

There can be no better way of appreciating the
trials, dangers, and difficulties of achieving our inde-
pendence than by carefully noting the labors and
struggles of a single important town. One furnishes
a type of the whole. In that great contest Connecti-
cut was one of the foremost, if not the very first, States
in the confederacy to resist the tyranny of Great
Britain, and to lavish her blood and treasure in sus-
taining the conflict with her oppressors. Her soldiers
were frequently applauded by the commander-in-chief
of the American army for their bravery and fidelity.
The honor of the first conquest made by the united
colonies during the war belongs chiefly to Connecti-
cut, and in a distinguishing manner to the sons of
Woodbury. It was the capture of Ticonderoga, May
10, 1775, without the loss of a man or the firing of a
gun, one of the most brilliant and daring feats of the
war. At least one-half of that little patriotic band
of eighty-three men who entered the fort were natives
or inhabitants of Woodbury. They were led by Col.
Ethan Allen,* Col. Seth Warner, and Capt. Remem-
ber Baker, cousins and natives of Woodbury, then re-
siding in the ‘New Hampshire Grants,” and on the
demand of the former, in the “name of the Great
Jehovah and the Continental Congress,” the com-
mander of the fort rubbed his eyes in astonishment
and yielded the fortress. Neither the demeanor of
the man, the boldness of his message, nor the nature
of his authority could be gainsaid for a moment.
This post, and that of Crown Point, which was imme-

 

* In placing the name of Ethan Allen in the list of natives of Wood-
bury, the writer is well aware that the houor of having been his birth-
place has been claimed by several uther towns. Litchfield, Cornwall, and
Salisbury have been competitors in this contest. It is very certain, from
an examination of every scrap of evidence that has ever been found,
that there can be no competitor with Woodbury, except Litchfield, and
Litchfield has only this to shuw, that on the first page of the first volume
of its town records, thirteen years after the Lirth of General Allen, its
date is recorded, with uther Allen entries, All there is of this consists
in the fact that Allen’s grandmother, with some children, had removed from
the country to Litchfield, his father, Joseph, included. Joseph married
Mary Baker, of Woodbury, at Woodbury, March 11, 1736-37, nearly four
years after he had sold his last rod of land in Litchfield ; and Gen. Ethan
married Mary Brownson, of Woodbury, at Woodbury, June 23, 1762, and
was the owner of land in Woodbury some years after this For a careful
statement of the proof as to Gen. Allen's place of birth, the writer refers
to the first volume of his “ History of Ancient Woodbury,” pages 411 to
416. In view of the facts there stated there can be no doubt that Wood-

bury was Allen's birthplace.
-T
Ss
Lo

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

diately taken by Col. Warner, being thus acquired,
Connecticut was obliged to garrison, and in 1775 sent
one thousand men for this purpose, eight companies
of whom were from the limits of this ancient town,
containing at least one hundred and fifty men, eighty
of whose names are still preserved. The garrisons
were placed under the command of Col. Hinman, of
Woodbury. Is it then vainglorious in her sons if to-
day they claim it to be essentially a Woodbury affair?
Truly to her brave children must be awarded the

palm for securing this opening victory to the Ameri-.

can arms.
Woodbury was noted for the vigilance with which it
watched the movements of the Tories within its
borders, of whom it had a few, as well as for its active
co-operation in everything necessary to carry on the
great struggle, which had now begun in good earnest.
A committee of inspection and observation of the
conduct of the inhabitants of the town was appointed,
consisting of thirty of its chief men, and undoubted
patriots, which exercised its functions during the
whole war, vacancies in the board being filled from
time to time by the town. The duties which this
committee were obliged to perform were of the most
delicate and difficult nature, and constituted such an
. oversight and interference in men’s private affairs as
could only be justified by such a case of emergency
as was then existing. But they were men in whom
all had confidence, and upon whom entire dependence
could be placed in times of difficulty and danger.
During the first two years of the war the larger
part of the militia, which comprised all the able-
bodied men from the age of sixteen to fifty, had been
called to serve at various posts and on various expedi-
tions a great part ofthe time. Early in 1777 enlistments
for three years or during the war were called for, and
the quota for each town was established. It was a
severe levy on the already weakened state of the town.
But it met the call with a ready zeal and undaunted
perseverance. Large bounties were offered to those
who would enlist, and heavy taxes were laid on the
inhabitants who were not liable to do duty or did not
enlist in the army. Another arrangement, besides
increased wages, held out by the town to induce men
to enlist, was a provision which required it to support
their families during their absence in their country’s
service, and committees were annually appointed to
carry this provision into effect. From a report to
the General Assembly at the close of the war, in 1788,
we learn that nearly three thousand pounds worth of
provisions had in this manner been furnished to
soldiers’ families during the war. Woodbury was
also a prominent point for collecting supplies of pro-
visions for the army. The streets of the village from
the First Congregational church to the soldiers’ mon-
ument were often piled high on either side with bar-
rels and hogsheads of pork, beef, lard, flour, and other
military stores for the use ofthe army. Norwasthesup-
ply of clothing of every kind less profuse in quantity

 

for the wants of the soldiers of the town. In March,
1778, clothing to the value of more than one thousand
dollars was forwarded to them at one time. Besides
the provisions thus furnished by the town for the
army during the war, large quantities were purchased
of the inhabitants by Shadrach Osborn, of Woodbury,
who was assistant commissary of purchases, and also
issuing commissary. From his accounts and other
sources we learn that more than half a million dollars’
worth of supplies was furnished by this town towards
the grand amount necessary to achieve our country’s
independence. This is a showing of which any town
may be justly proud.

Such was the care of the town to support and de-
fend those nearest and dearest to the brave men who
were manfully fighting the battles, and consecrating
with their blood every battle-field of their country.
Such was the anxious care for the soldiers them-
selves. Those who went forth to war suffered extreme
hardships, in common with their brethren from other
parts of the country ; and those who remained at home ~
suffered hardships hardly less severe, in the heavy
taxes necessary to pay for the soldiers’ bounties, and
for the support of their families, while their own busi-
ness was crippled and nearly ruined.

All this was accomplished under the pressure of
most unparalleled financial difficulties. The Conti-
nental money, by means of British counterfeiting and
the unavoidable loss of credit, arising from so long
and sanguinary a struggle, constantly depreciated,
and at last became nearly valueless. So great was
the depreciation that, when the soldiers of the Conti-
nental army were discharged, after the peace of 1783,
many of them were forced to beg their way home,
their wages for a service so long and weary being
scarcely sufficient to purchase them a dinner.

But Woodbury, in a far more important manner,
contributed towards a successful issue of the dispute
with Great Britain. This was accomplished by send-
ing large numbers of her best sons to the field of bat-
tle. In the number and valor of her troops it is
believed that few towns of similar territorial and nu-
merical strength can vie with her. Their heroic deeds
should grace a bright page of our country’s history.
During the course of the war more than sixteen hun-
dred of her patriotic sons went forth to “do battle for
their country.” At the commencement of the war,
Col. Hinman’s, or the Thirteenth Regiment of mili-
tia, comprised only the three towns of Woodbury,
Kent, and New Milford, and all these were within
the limits of the original Indian deed. Ancient
Woodbury furnished eight out of the twelve com-
panies that composed it, and the number of soldiers
furnished from them for the Continental army, in
1775, exclusive of the company that marched in the
“Lexington alarm,” was at least one hundred and
fifty, as that was the number whose “ poll-taxes”
were abated that year by the General Assembly on
account of their service. At least an equal number
WOODBURY. 703

between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one must
have been in the ranks, who had no poll-taxes to be
abated.

The sun of 1776, although our armies had been suc-
cessful the preceding year, arose clouded and in gloom.
“The note of preparation” was sounded through the
land. There wasa‘‘ hurrying to and fro” throughout the
country on business of the most solemn import, affect-
ing the dearest interests in life. In June one-fourth
of the able-bodied men between the ages of sixteen
and fifty years in the territory were drafted or en-
listed. In August, after the evacuation of Boston and
the occupation of New York by the British, the entire
militia of Connecticut, west of the river of that name,
at the request of Gen. Washington, was ordered to
New York. The Woodbury companies were called
out on the 10th, mustered on the 11th, and marched
on the 12th for their place of destination. The num-
ber of officers and soldiers on the military rolls at this
time was five hundred and sixty-four, all of whom but
thirty-nine marched at the call of their commanders.
Besides these there were two hundred and eighty-four
men in the Continental army by enlistment, making
the number of men in actual service, from this single
town, at that time, eight hundred and seventy-three.
The entire population of Ancient Woodbury, by a
census taken that year, amounted to only five thou-
fand three hundred and twenty-five souls, so that
nearly one-fifth of the population, counting men,
women, and children, were fighting for the freedom
of their firesides. ‘This “raw militia” was present in
the unfortunate operations on Long Island, towards
the close of this year, and in Washington’s retreat
from New York, soon after which the men were dis-
charged. One would think that it would be impossi-
ble to arouse and lead forth to battle, at a moment’s
warning, all the able-bodied men in the militia of a
town in such a manner as this, but the interests at
stake were great, and the most prominent and popu-
lar men in the community were in the movement
heart and hand. The officers addressed the soldiers
in the most urgent and patriotic language, and even
the pulpit lent its powerful aid to the cause by prayers
to the Almighty, by volunteering to go with them on
their campaigns in the capacity of chaplain, as did Mr.
Wildman, of Southbury Society, on one occasion.
Besides these influences, another aided the Revolu-
tionary fathers of this town. Previous to the action
at White Plains, the soldiers of Woodbury had been
remarkably fortunate. Scarcely one had been killed
or wounded, insomuch it had become a common re-
mark, “the enemy’s bullets could not hit the Wood-
bury boys.” In consequence of this feeling of security
enlistments went on briskly, and to it, in part, is to be
attributed the large number of soldiers who volun-
teered to go into the service. In that scene of misery
at the “ Sugar-House” in New York, and the inhuman
cruelties there inflicted, Woodbury had some repre-
sentatives. With so large a number of men in the

 

service, it could not fail to be represented in every
field of battle of the eventful struggle in which our
freedom was secured and the mother-country hum-
bled in the dust.

The campaign of 1777 opened with an invasion of

Connecticut on the part of the enemy, an event long
feared by our people. Troops were called for to de-
fend the coasts, and Col. Moseley’s regiment marched
to Fairfield. In April there was a sudden call for
troops to go to Danbury, as the British were burning
the houses and destroying the property of the inhab-
itants. The alarm-lists and militia of Woodbury were
put in motion, and some of the soldiers, including
Hon. William Edmond, afterwards a judge of the
Superior Court, and one of the greatest geniuses this
State has ever produced, were wounded. Col. Joel
Hinman was also wounded at the same moment in
which Gen. Wooster received his mortal wound, at a
little distance from him. The ball remained in the
groin of Col. Hinman for the long period of thirty-
three years, when it was extracted by Dr. Anthony B.
Burritt, Sr.
"One of the guns used on this occasion is still in ex-
istence, which, as is seen by the manufacturer’s date
on the barrel, was made in 1624, two hundred and
fifty-seven years ago. It hasbeen handed down from
father to son from Capt. John Minor, the pioneer, to
Horace H. Minor, the present owner. It was used in
the Pequot, and all the French and Indian wars, and
in the war of the Revolution. It is said to have
caused, first and last, the death of forty red men, and
from this circumstance has been familiarly known as
the “ forty-Indian gun.”

It was during this attack, as the British were ap-
proaching the village, that Mr. Luther Holcomb, en-
tirely alone, rode up on a hill in front of the enemy,
and waving his sword and turning his head as though
he was addressing an army behind him, gave, in a
voice of thunder, the somewhat imposing command,
“ Halt, the whole universe! Break off by kingdoms !”
As this was rather a formidable force to encounter in
battle array, and more especially as it had the advan-
tage of position, the enemy halted, brought forward
their cannon, and sent out flanking parties to make
discoveries. Upon this the “Kingdoms of the uni-
verse” quietly subsided, and Mr. Holcomb made good
his retreat. He did not deem it prudent to see
whether ‘ one man could chase a thousand, and two
put ten thousand to flight.”

In May one-fourth of the Thirteenth Regiment was
ordered to Horseneck, numbering about one hundred
and fifty men. In the battle of Bennington, under
the brave Col. Warner, of Woodbury, his friends and
neighbors did good service. Two hundred and forty
men answered to Gen. Washington’s draft for Peeks-
kill. In September, the regular army being called to
reinforce Gen. Washington, one-half of the militia
was drafted to go to Peekskill, under Gen. Putnam.
Not far from three hundred men marched from Wood-
TO4

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

bury on this occasion, exclusive of the entire com-
pany of “ Light-Horse” under the command of Maj.
Thomas Bull, which was also ordered to the same des-
tination. The attentive student of history will see at
a glance how much greater was the number from
Woodbury than from other towns, when he considers
how small was the whole number in the service. The
exact number of the three years’ enlistments is not
known, but is believed to be at least three hundred.
At the glorious and memorable victory of Saratoga,
Woodbury had a large body of men, who fully sus-
tained the high character for skill and bravery which
they had previously earned.

In the early part of 1778 it became necessary to
draft one hundred and five men to fill the town’s
quota of three years’ men. The fear of the smallpox,
which prevailed at all of the military posts, and other
causes, had retarded enlistments. It was not strange,
under the painful circumstances and sad reverses of
the close of 1777, when the troops under Washington
had worn out their shoes and clothing, and could be
tracked in their marches by the blood of their feet,
that new recruits were obtained with difficulty. It
was emphatically the midnight of the Revolution.
But the States having, at this juncture, framed and
accepted “articles of confederation,” and being aided
by the French, the war was vigorously prosecuted in
all directions.

In February, 1779, the whole militia under Col.
Moseley, and the regiment of “ Light-Horse” under
Maj. Bull, were ordered to Norwalk, and in May one
hundred men from the Thirteenth Regiment were
ordered to Horseneck, fifty-seven of whom were from
Capt. Leavenworth’s company. It was during these
occurrences that Gen. Putnam made his famous “ es-
cape” at Horseneck, by spurring his horse, when hotly
pursued, down a steep precipice at full gallop.

During the winter of 1780 the troops had suffered
greatly in their quarters for want of food and clothing.
They were paid off in Continental money, and with it
they could buy neither food nor clothing. In this
emergency the town, in its great solicitude, offered
a bounty of forty-five pounds in silver for each recruit,
and dispatched to the suffering soldiers in the ‘‘ Con-
necticut line” nearly seven thousand articles of
clothing of which they had the most pressing need,
among which were about two thousand pairs of shoes,
At this period of the war the prospects of the country
were gloomy in the extreme. Only the most hopeful
could see relief in the dark aspect of the forbidding
future. Successive defeats and rampant toryism dis-
heartened the people at the South, and the treason of
Arnold, the uninterrupted drain of men and money,
producing poverty and distress, chilled the hopes of
the patriots at the North.

Yet in August of this year Washington conceived
the plan of taking New York from the enemy, and
consequently desired a force that would not be con-
stantly leaving him by expiration of service. He

 

therefore suggested the enlisting of a body of “ vol-
unteers to serve expressly till New York should be
taken,” and to be called on for no other service. In-
stantly twenty-two men from this town left their
labors, enrolled themselves for this purpose, and re-
ported themselves to their captains. Three of them
were cousins of Col. Ethan Allen, of the Revolution-
ary stock. The names of those noble, fearless pa-
triots, who could forget the call of all other duties,
the ties of affection, the sacred delights of their cher-
ished firesides and household joys, to go to the aid of
their country, are still preserved. Many times before
during that year had they responded to the call of
their beloved chief, and only a few days before this
they had returned from an arduous tour of service.
Four hundred and forty out of four hundred and
eighty, the whole number in the regiment, had been
on duty. But nothing could crush the indomitable
energies of those sturdy, unselfish men, unselfish in
the highest sense of the term. History does notshow
a brighter example of lofty and sublime devotion to
the country’s weal!

In 1781 thirty men were added to the Continental
line, and in 1782 twenty-eight more. This proved to
be the last time the town was called upon to show its
devotion to the interests of the country during the
war for independence. It has been seen that the
efforts of the town to subserve the good cause began
to grow weaker and weaker, as the strength of its
soldiers wasted away before the pestilence and the
deadly struggle in the field of battle, and its wealth
disappeared under the ever-fresh levies of supplies for
the army. It would seem that, overwhelmed with debt
as the country then was, it could hardly have held out
much longer. But, however that might have been, it
seems that a kind Providence had designed, in His
wisdom, to spare them the trial. To Him “who tem-
pers the wind to the shorn lamb” it seemed good to
say to pride, power, and oppression, “Thus far shalt
thou go, and no farther.”

Early next year, just eight years after the battle of
Lexington, Great Britain made propositions for peace,
and hostilities terminated. Many soldiers of Wood-
bury were present at the surrender of Lord Cornwallis,
which virtually closed the war. The eyes of these
survivors of a ruthless warfare beheld a glad sight on
the morn of the 19th of October, when in solemn
silence, not amid the smoke and carnage of the
battle-field, they saw the brave Gen. Lincoln receive
the sword of Lord Cornwallis,—the strength and glory
of the British army on this side of the ocean broken
and destroyed. Well might the news of this auspi-
cious event spread universal joy, as it did, throughout
the country. Well might all hearts unite in praise
and thanksgiving to God for this signal blessing, which
was to successfully terminate our struggle for inde-
pendence. It was not inappropriate that Washington
ordered divine service to be performed throughout the
army, and that Congress proceeded in solemn proces-
sion to the house of God to acknowledge its grateful
sense of this special favor.

But this great boon had been obtained by dangers,
and toil, and miseries, with scarcely a parallel in the
annals of mankind. The blood of the dwellers in
these fair vales, and in each town and hamlet in our
land, was shed like water on every glorious battle-field
of our country, from the skirmish at Lexington to the
ever-memorable siege of Yorktown, from the sad mas-
sacre of the fair and poetic vale of Wyoming to the
field of honor on the heights of Saratoga. Their
worldly goods, so dearly earned, were freely offered
on the altars of their country’s good. Hunger, cold,
privation of every sort, were cheerfully endured;
every tie which nature holds dear, and which binds
the hearts of men in conjugal, paternal, or fraternal
bands to the familiar hearth-stone, were sundered at
the call of our suffering country in her hour of need
and of peril. They went forth with bounding hearts,
and athletic, manly forms. Many of them found
honored graves in various parts of our land, and many
more returned with dire diseases, mutilated frames,
and shattered health, the merest wrecks of what they
were, to the firesides that had missed their presence
for months and years. But the result of their labors
was glorious beyond expectation, or even the dreams
of the most hopeful. They wrought well. A re-
deemed and widely extended people now rejoices in
the result of their toils and sufferings. Many long
years have rolled their slow course away since the
thrilling scenes of the Revolution were enacted, but
they live engraved on the hearts of a grateful and
happy posterity. The heroic events of that important
period, the immortal deeds of our fathers, shall live,
too, on the brightest page of history, while thought
shall endure, or the recollection of human greatness
remain. If there be “a recompense of reward” for
those who do well, surely our patriot sires have long
since entered on a bright fruition !

CHAPTER LXXVI.

WOODBURY (Continued).

List of Public Officers in Ancient Woodbury—Representatives, 1684-1881
—List of Soldiers in Fort William Henry Alarm—List of Soldiers in the
Revolutionary War—List of Soldiers in the War of 1812—Woodbury’s
Roll of Honor, War of the Rebellion, 1861-65—Alphabetical List of the
Soldiers of Woodbury in the War of the Rebellion.

PUBLIC OFFICERS OF WOODBURY.

MEMBER OF CONGRESS.
Nathaniel Smith, 1795-99.

JUDGE OF THE SUPERIOR COURT.
Nathaniel Smith, 1806-19.

JUDGES OF THE COUNTY COURT.

Col. William Preston, 1751-54; Daniel Sherman, 1786-91; Charles B.
Phelps, 1850-53.

 

WOODBURY. 705

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS,
William Cothren, 1851-52; Josiah G. Minor, 1865-71; Alfred Birch,
1874-77.
ROLL OF ASSISTANTS AND SENATORS.

Assistants were magistrates, who constituted the
upper house of the Assembly, and, in early times,
were the Supreme Court of the State. They were
the leading men of their times.

John Sherman, 1713-28; Nathaniel Smith, 1799-1805; Noah B. Bene-
dict, 1816-18.

SENATORS.

Nehemiah C. Sanford, 1823-34; Matthew Minor, Jr., 1837; Charles B.
Phelps, 1843; William Cothren, 1855 ;* Daniel Curtiss, 1866; James
Huntington, 1877-79.

JUSTICES OF THE QUORUM.

John Minor, 1684-1719; John Sherman, 1684-1728; Col. Joseph Minor,
1725-39; Col. William Preston, 1740-51; Noah Hinman, 1754-59;
Increase Moseley, 1755-80; Daniel Sherman, 1761-86.

JUDGES AND CLERKS OF PROBATE FOR THE DISTRICT OF
WOODBURY.

From the first settlement of the colony of Connec-
ticut to 1666, probate business was done by the Court
of Assistants and the General Court. In 1666 County
Courts were established, and probate business was
done by them till October, 1698, when Probate Courts
were first established. There were but four counties
in the State till 1726, viz., Hartford, New Haven,
New London, and Fairfield. The probate districts
corresponded in name and extent to the counties, till
October, 1719, when three new districts were consti-
tuted, viz., Guilford, Windham, and Woodbury. The
probate districts, including the original four, now
number eighty-seven. The first court in Woodbury
District was held Feb. 2, 1719-20. It included all
the settled part of the present county of Litchfield,
and Waterbury, in New Haven County. Litchfield
district was set off in 1742, Waterbury in 1779, New
Milford in 1787, Washington in 1832, and Roxbury
in 1842, The district now includes Woodbury, South-
bury, and Bethlehem.

JUDGES.

Capt. John Sherman, 1719-28 ; Col. Joseph Minor, 1728-58; Daniel Sher-
man, Esq., 1758-95 ; Nathan Preston, Esq., 1795-1805 ; Noah B. Bene-
dict, Fsq., 1805-16; John Strong, Jr., Esq., 1816-18; Nathan Preston,
Esq., 1818-22 ;+ Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 1823-34; John Strong, Jr.,
Esq., 1834;{ Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 1835-38 ; Nathaniel B. Smith
¥sq., 1838-42; Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 1842-44; Leman B. Sprague,
Esq., 1844-45 ; Thomas Bull, Esq., 1845-46; Charles B. Phelps, Esq.,
1846-47; Thomas Bull, Esq., 1847-49 ; Charles B. Phelps, Esq., 1849-

 

* Mr. Cothren’s title to his seat was contested during the session by
Abraham Beecher. Sixty-four imperfect ballots were cast, that were
intended for Mr. Cothren, which he offered to prove. But the Senate re-
fused to hear evidence of the intention of the voters, which gave the seat
to Mr. Beecher by sixteen majority. Since then, it is believed that the
practice in the several States and in Congress has been to allow the in-
tention of voters to govern. The last election of Governor Jewell was
determined by taking the testimony of all the voters of one of the wards
in New Haven. In 1877 the rule of intention was allowed in the case of
Senator Hills, of Hartford, and gave him the seat.

+ The duties of probate judge were performed from this time till May,
1823, by John Kingsbury, Esq., of Waterbury district, by statutory pro-
vision.

$ Holbrook Curtiss, Esq., of Watertown district, held jurisdiction till
May, 1835.
706

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

58;* Lewis Judd, Esq., 1858-60; Thomas Bull, Esq., 1860-61; James
Huntington, Esq., 1861.
CLERKS.

Rey. Anthony Stoddard, 1716-59; Gideon Walker, Esq., 1759-78; Daniel
Sherman, Jr., 1778-94; Nathan Preston, Esq., 1794-95; Noah B.
Benedict, Esq., 1795-1805; Matthew Miuor, Jr., Esq., 1805-16; Jud-
son Blackman, 1816-18; Nathan Preston, Jr., 1818-33; Edward M.
Phelps, 1833-34; Thomas Bull, Esq., 1834-45; William Cothren,
1845; David S. Bull, 1845-58; Alonzo N. Lewis, Charles B. Phelps,
1858; Thomas M. Thompson, 1859; James Huntington, 1859-60;
Charles Betts, 1860-61; George H. Peck, 1861-65; Lucien Parker,
1865-67 ; Frederick A. Walker, 1867-69; Arthur D. Warner, 1869-
73; Joseph J. Brothnell, 1873-76; Frederick A. Walker, 1876-78;
George F. Shelton, 1878.

STATE’S ATTORNEY FOR LITCHFIELD COUNTY.
James Huntington, from June, 1875, to —.

REGISTERS, OR TOWN CLERKS OF WOODBURY.

Capt. John Minor, 1672-1702; John Sherman, Esq., 1702-27; Col. Joseph
Minor, 1727-55; Gideon Walker, Esq., 1755-80; Peter Gilchrist,
1780-82; Nathan Preston, 1783-1822; Leman Sherman, 1822-31;
Matthew Minor, Jr., 1831-39; Lewis Judd, 1839-46; Elijah Sher-
man, 1846-47; Lewis Judd, 1847-51; Elijah Sherman, 1851-52 ; Lewis
Judd, 1852-58; Robert Peck, 1858-67; Willis A. Strong, 1867-72;
William A. Gordon, 1872-76; Anson A, Root, 1876,

In the year 1797 the post-office was established.

POSTMASTERS.

Dr. Daniel Huntington, 1797-1814; John P. Marshall, 1814-17; William
Perry, 1817-22 ; Leman Sherman, 1822-31; Charles B. Phelps, 1831-
41; Andrew Root, 1841-44; Charles H. Webb, 1844-49; John Mar-
vin, 1849-50; Charles B, Crafts, 1850-53; Gilead H. Smith, 1853;
George P. Allen, 1853-61; William E. Woodruff, 1861-67 ; Frederick
A. Walker, 1867; Stanley E. Beardsley, 1867-69; William E. Wood-
ruff, 1869-77 ;+ Frederick A. Walker, 1877. ,

MEMBERS OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, AUGUST,
1818.

Daniel Bacon, Esq., Nathaniel Perry, M.D.

MEMBERS OF THE CONVENTION OF CONNECTICUT, JAN. 3,
1788, FOR THE RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE UNITED STATES.

Hon. Daniel Sherman, Woodbury.

Dr. Samuel Orton, Woodbury.

Benjamin Hinman, Esq., Southbury.

John Whittlesey, Esq., Washington.

Daniel N. Brinsmade, Esq., Washington.

Moses Hawley, Bethlehem.

All the above voted in favor of ratifying the con-

stitution.
REPRESENTATIVES, 1684-1881.

Woodbury was settled in 1672, made a town in 1674,
but was not represented in the General Court till
1684. The following is a roll of the representatives
to the present time.

1684-86.—Capt. John Minor, Lieut. Joseph Judson.
1687.—Capt. John Minor.

1688.—Andross’ usurpation.

1689.—Capt. John Minor, Israel Curtis.

1690.—No choice.

1691.—Lieut. Israel Curtis, Capt. John Minor.
1692-93.—Lieut. Israel Curtis.

1694-96.—Capt. John Minor, Lieut. Israel Curtis.
1697.—Capt. John Minor,

1698.—Thomas Minor, John Minor.

 

* Judge Phelps having become disquulified by age to hold the office,
Mr, Lewis Judd, who was not a lawyer, was elected, with the under-
standing that Judge Phelps should continue to discharge the duties of
the office during his life, which ho did.

+ William Cothren had charge of the pffice as bondsman from Mr.
Woodruff’s death to Mr. Walker’s appointment.

 

1699.—Israel Curtis, John Sherman.

1700.—John Sherman.

1701.—No choice,

1702.—Samuel Jenner,

1703.—John Minor, Israel Curtiss.

1704.—John Sherman, Israel Curtiss.

1705.—John Sherman, Israel Curtiss, John Minor.

1706.—John Minor, John Sherman.

1707.—John Sherman.

1708.—John Minor, John Sherman.

1709.—John Mitchell, John Minor, John Sherman.

1710.—John Sherman,

1711,—John Sherman (Speaker), Benjamin Hinman.
1712.—John Sherman (Speaker), Joseph Minor, Titus Hinman.
17138.—Joseph Minor, Titus Hinman.

1714.—Titus Hinman, William Preston, Joseph Minor.
1715.—Joseph Minor, John Curtiss, Thomas Judd, John Hoskins.
1716.—Capt. Titus Hinman, Joseph Minor.

1717.—Joseph Minor, William Preston, John Curtiss.
1718.—Joseph Minor, Stephen Curtiss, Capt. Thomas Judd, Timothy

Stanley.
1719.—Capt. Titus Hinman, Joseph Minor, John Judson, Benjamin
Hickock. .

1720.—Joseph Minor, Zachariah Walker, Capt. Titus Hinman.

1721.—William Preston, John Judson, Joseph Minor, John Curtiss.

1722-23.—Joseph Minor, Thomas Knowles, William Preston, Ebenezer
Warner.

1724.—Capt. William Preston, Ephraim Minor, Capt. Joseph Minor.

1725.—Joseph Judson, Andrew Hinman, Capt. Joseph Minor, William
Preston.

1726.—Capt. Joseph Minor, Adino Strong, Capt. William Preston.

1727.—Capt. Joseph Minor, Henry Castle, William Preston, Andrew Hin-
man, ”

1728.—Capt. Joseph Minor, Capt. William Preston, Andrew Hinman.

1729.— Joseph Minor, William Preston, Henry Castle, Andrew Hinman.

1730.—Joseph Minor, William Preston, William Judd.

1731.—Joseph Minor, Noah Hinman, William Preston.

1732-33.—Joseph Minor, William Preston.

1734,—John Curtiss, Ephraim Minor.

1735,—John Curtiss, Ephraim Minor, William Preston, Noah Hinman.

1736.—Joseph Judson, Andrew Hinman, Joseph Minor, Noah Hinman.

1737.—William Preston, Noah Hinman,

1738.—Capt. William Preston, Andrew Hinman, Joseph Minor.

1739.—William Preston, Noah Hinman, Capt. Thomas Knowles, Andrew
Hinman.

1740.—Capt. William Preston, Capt. Andrew Hinman, Knell Mitchell,
Richard Bronson.

1741—Noah Hinman, Knell Mitchell, William Preston.

1742,—Samuel Minor, Daniel Curtiss, Noah Hinman.

1743-44.—William Preston, Noah Hiuman.

1745.—Col. Joseph Minor, Col. William Preston.

1746.—Col. William Preston, Noah Hinman.

1747-48.—Col. William Preston, Nuah Hinman, Caleb Martin, Benjamiu
Hicox.

1749.—William Preston, Noah Hinman, Samuel Minor, Eleazur Hinman.

1750.—Noah Hinman, Samuel Minor, Benjamin Hicox.

1751.—Samuel Minor, Benjamin Hicox, Increase Moseley.

1752.—Noah Hinman, Samuel Minor, Increase Moseley.

1753.—Samuel Minor, Increase Moseley.

1754.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1755.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Stiles, Increase Moseley.

1756.—Increase Moseley, Benjamin Stiles, Samuel Minor.

1757.—Daniel Sherman, Elisha Stoddard, Benjamin Hinman.

1758.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Hicox.

1759.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Hicox, Col. Benjamin Hinman.

1760-61.—Daniel Sherman, Col. Benjamin Hinman. *

1762.—Daniel Sherman, Col. Benjamin Hinman, Benjamin Stiles.

1763-66.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1767.—Increase Moseley, Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Hinman.

1768.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Hinman.

1769-71.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Stiles.

1772.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1773.—Daniel Sherman, Edward Hinman, Increase Moseley.

1774-76.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1777.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley, Benjamin Hinman.t

 

t Five sessions this year.
WOODBURY. G07

1778.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley, Andrew Graham, Benjamin
Hinman.

1779-80.— Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley, Benjamin Hinman.

1781.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1782.—Increase Moseley, Hezekiah Thompson, Daniel Sherman.

1783.—Daniel Sherman, Increase Moseley.

1184.—Hezekiah Thompson, Increase Moseley.

1785-86.—Daniel Sherman, Benjamin Hinman.

1787.—Benjamin Hinman, David Ambler, Daniel Sherman.

1788-89,—Daniel Sherman, Hezekiah Thompson, David Hurd.

1790.—Daniel Sherman, Nathaniel Smith.

1791.—Daniel Sherman, Nathan Preston, Nathaniel Smith.

1792.—Nathaniel Smith, Shadrach Osborne, Nathan Preston.

1793.—Nathaniel Smith, Nathan Preston.

1794.—Samuel Orton, Curtiss Hurd, Nathaniel Smith, Shadrach Osborne.

1795.—Nathaniel Smith, Shadrach Osborne, Nathan Preston.

1796.—David Tallman, Phineas Smith, Noah B. Benedict.

1797.—Nathan Preston, Elijah Sherman.

1798.—Elijah Sherman, Noah B. Benedict.

1799.—Garwood AH. Cunningham, Reuben Mitchell.

1800.—Reuben Mitchell, John Clark, Noah B. Benedict.

1801.—Nathan Preston, John Clark, Garwood H. Cunningham.

1802,—Nathan Preston, John Clark, William Hawley, Elijah Sherman.

1803,—John Strong, Reuben Mitchell.

1804.—Elijal Sherman, Reuben Mitchell, Noah B. Benedict,

1805.—Nathaniel Perry, Samuel Walker, William Hawley.

1806.—Natban Preston, Elijah Sherman, Reuben Mitchell, John Strong.

1807.—Elijah Sherman, Nathan Preston, John Strong, Noah B. Benedict.

1808.—John Strong, Matthew Minor, Noah B. Benedict.

1809.—John Strong, Noah B. Benedict.

1810.—Noah B. Bendict, Matthew Minor, Nathaniel Bacon, Nathaniel
Lamson,

1811.—Nathaniel Lamson, Noah B. Benedict, Nathaniel Perry, Daniel
Bacon.

1812.—John Strong, Nathaniel Bacon.

1813.—Nathaniel Bacon, John Strong, Jr., Nathan Preston, Nathaniel
Perry.

1814.—Daniel Bacon, Reuben Martin.

1815.—Nathaniel Perry, Philo Murray, Daniel Bacon, Elijah Daily.

1816.—Nathan Preston, Reuben Martin, Daniel Bacon, Nathaniel Perry.

1817—John P. Marshall, Elijah Sherman, Jr., Nathaniel Perry, Jesse
Minor.

1818.—Nathan Preston, Philo Murray, John P. Marshall, Elijah Sher-
man, Jr.

Under the Constitution.
1819,—Reuben Martin, Nathan Preston.
1820.—Nathaniel Perry, Daniel Bacon.
1821.—Daniel Bacon, Samuel Steele.
1822.—Daniel Bacon, William Drakeley. .
1823.—William Drakeley, Chauncey Crafts.
1824—William Drakeley, Samuel Steele.
1825.—John Strong, Jr., Jeremiah Peck.
1826.—John Strong, Jr., Peter F. Peck.
1827.—Noah B. Benedict, Danie} Bacon.
1828.—John Brush, Nathaniel B,. Smith.
1829.—Harvey Morris, Samuel Steele.
1830.—Nehemiah C. Sandford, Matthew Minor, Jr.
1831.—Charles B. Phelps, Treat Camp.
1832,—Matthew Minor, Jr., Gideon B. Botsford.
1833.—Matthew Minor, Jr., Jeremiah Peck.
1834.—Gideon B. Botsford, Treat Camp.
1835.—Harvey Morriss, John Judson.
1836.—Peter F. Peck, Wm. H. Bacon.
1837.—Charles B. Phelps, Elmore Judson.
1838,—Harvey Morriss, Nathaniel Preston.
1839.—Hermon Stoddard, Farnham Patchen.
1840.—John Judson, Charles Booth.
1841.—No choice.
1842.—Phineas 8, Bradley, Lewis B. Candee.
1843.—Daniel Curtiss, Stephen Atwood.
1844.—Daniel Curtiss.
1845.—Thomas Bull, John Abernethy.
1846.—Daniel Bacon, Charles P. Strong.
1847.—Nathaniel B. Smith, Reuben H. Hotchkiss.
1848.—William B. Hotchkiss, Barlow Russell.
1849.— Willys Lambert, Silas Clark.

 

1850.—Monroe C. Sherman, Jason Parker.
1851.—Bennet A. Sherman, Josiah G. Minor.
1852.—Reuben H. Hotchkiss, Charles B. Phelps.
1853.—Solomon Strong, Alexander Gordon.
1854.—Truman H. Judson, David 8, Bull.
1855.—Lewis Judd, Truman Minor.
1856.—Asahel W. Mitchell, Benjamin Fabrique.
1857.—George B. Lewis, Elijah D. Judson.
1858.—David H. Curtiss, Walker S. Seeley.
1859.—Anthony C. Strong, David C. Bacon.
1860.—Charles Millard, Philo M. Trowbridge.
1861.—Nathanie] B. Smith, Joseph F. Walker.
1862.—Charles H. Webb, Willis A. Strong.
1863.—Benjamin Fabrique, Thomas Root.
1864.—Timothy C. Bacon, Benjamin Fabrique.
1865.—Daniel Curtiss, John Abernethy.
1866.—David C. Porter, Henry S. Curtiss.
1867.—Nathaniel Smith, John Churchill.
1868.—John Churchill, Horace D. Curtiss.
1869.—Edwin Roberts, Robert Peck. \
1870.—George P. Crane, Joseph T. Capewell.
1871.—Walter S. Curtiss, Charles Isbell.
1872,.—Charles C. Mitchell, Nathan Warner.
1873.— William Smith, A. V. R. Abbott.
1874-75.—_James Huntington, Willis A. Strong.
1876.—Grandison Beardsley, Asahel W. Mitchell.
1877.—James G. Curtiss, John W. Judson.

1878 —Charles H. Percey, John T. Salmons,
1879.—Horace H. Minor, Homer S, Tomlinson.
1880.—James H. Linsley, John T. Salmons.
1881.—Robert I. Drakeley, George F. Morris.

FORT WILLIAM HENRY ALARM.
Capt. Ebenezer Downs’ Company.

In August, 1757, there was an alarm for the relief
of Fort William Henry, near Lake George. The
persons named below marched for that fort on this
occasion, and were gone about three weeks.

Capt. Ebenezer Downs, Lieut. Gideon Stoddard, Lieut. Matthew Mitchell,
Sergt. Jo. Hicock, Sergt. Return Strong, Jedediah Hurd, Thomas
Knowles, Joseph Washburn, Daniel King, Gideon Tuttle, Gideon
Curtiss, Robert Potter, John Calhoun, Selah Strong, Thaddeus Lacey,
Gideon Hollister, Joseph Reny, Eldad King, Obadiah Wheeler, Tim-
othy Allen, Benajah Hawley, John Stoddard, Timothy Walker, Na-
than Hine, Benjamin Warner, Carpenter Sandford, Samuel Hurd,
Samuel Knowles, Abner Mallory, Reuben Hurlbut, Benajah King,
Nathan Hurd, Tilley Blakesley, Nathaniel Minor, Bushnell Bene-
dict, Timothy Turrell, Daniel Sherman, Thaddeus Curtiss, Gideon
Hicock, Benjamin Sandford, Reuben Castle, Reuben Hinman, Sam-
uel Minor, Daniel Hicock, Euos Hawley, Peter Castle, Ebenezer
Hurlbut, Daniel Judson, James Durkeo, Jesse Roots, Samuel Hin-
man, William Hopson, Peleg Stone, Thomas Roots, Benjamin Prime,
Seth Minor, James Morey, David Crissey, John Reynolds, Joseph
Burch, Noah Frisbie, Ezekiel Baker, John Hunt, Josiah Bassett, Jo-
siah Judson, John Bassett, Samuel Galpin, Daniel Hurlbut, Gideon
Bristol, Phineas Potter, Gideon Bronson, Edward Smith, Aner Bron-
gon, David Hicock, David Johnson, Elisha Stoddard, Robert Edmond,
Matthew Dutton, David Hurd, Gideon Squire.

Capt. Wait Hinman’s Company, in the Same Alarm.

Capt. Wait Hinman, Lieut. John Hinman, Lieut. Ephraim Baker, David
Martin, Elijah Hurlbut, Joseph Perry, Benajah Hinman, David
Pouter, Samuel Wheeler, Elizur Mitchell, Amos Hicock, Daniel
Wheeler, Edward Lake, Edward Frisbie, John Hurlbut, Mitchell
Horn, Lemuel Castle, Timothy Fuller, Ephraim Baldwin, Gideon
Holley, John Jackson, Nathaniel Sandford, Timothy Judson, Zech-
ariah Walker, Benjamin Eastman, Gideon Munn, Israel Sumner,
Noah Tuttle, Samuel Castle, William Baldwin, Deliverance Koine,
William Black, Samuel Judson, Amos Martin, Abiel Tomlinson,
Daniel Minor, David Barnum, Abraham Brownson, Charles Smith,
Daniel Cressey, Elihu Smith, Joseph Gilbert, Benjamin Galpin,
David Stiles, Elijah Brownson, Graham Lake, John Atwell, Noah
Hurlbut, Titus Beach, William Edmond, Ichabod Tuttle, Gideon
Walker, John Corday, Remember Baker, Timothy Case, Abisha
Moseley, Isaac Bush, Jehial Post, Joseph Hurlbut, Robert Thomas,
708

Thomas Minor, Zachariah Weller, Hezekiah Noble, Charles Strong,
David Durkee, David Hinman, Daniel Wheeler, Hezekiah Thomp-
son, Anthony Stoddard, David Foot, Daniel Read, Abiel Mitchell,
Judah Durkee, David Calhoun, David Leavenworth, Eliphalet Clark,
John Walker, Joseph Guthrie, Richard Bouden, Thaddeus Judson,
Philemon Way, Israel Canfield, Ebenezer Hurlbut, Jonathan Royce,
Samuel Logan, William Youngs, Samuel Koine, Nathan Martin,
Justice Blakeley, Justice Gibbs, Samuel Curtiss, Thomas Durkee,

James Nichols, Cole Weller,

LIST OF SOLDIERS IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR FROM
WOODBURY.

It may be safely asserted that no town in Connec-
ticut, or in New England, furnished a greater number
of men in the war of the Revolution, in proportion
to the number of its inhabitants, than the town of
Woodbury. In 1776 every able-bodied man in this
and the other western towns of Connecticut, between
the ages of sixteen and sixty years, was marched to
New York, by order of Gen. Washington, and Wood-

, bury was during the entire war the headquarters of

the recruiting service in Western Connecticut.

No

complete list of soldiers can be obtained. The fol-
lowing is the best that can now be had. It contains
nearly one thousand names. A few in this list may
have come here from other towns to enlist. Probably
not far from fifteen hundred men went from this town
during the course of the war.

Armstrong, Stephen.

Armstrong, James.

Allen, Capt. Parmely.

Allen, Nathaniel.

Arthur, James.

Avery, Benjamin.

Avery, Nathaniel.

Avery, Roger.

Arnold, Stephen.

Adge, Aner.

Atwood, Asa, shot in New York,

Atwood, Benjamin.

Abernethy, James,

Allien, Samuel.

Alfred, Samuel.

Avered, Reuben.

Ayer, Peter.

Austin, Caleb.

Aspinwal, Caleb,

Ambler, David.

Andrus, Lieut. Benjamin,

Andrus, Thomas.

Atwood, Elijah, Jr.

Averill, Col. Perry.

Baker, Phineas.

Baker, Lovewell.

Baker, Eldad.

Baker, Edward.

Baker, Nathan.

Baker, Thaddeus.

Baker, John.

Baker, John, Jr.

Baker, Capt. Remember, killed at
St. John’s by the Indians in
1775; his head was cut off and
set upon a pole, and our people
gave them a guinea to take it
down, that they might bury it.

Bull, Maj. Thomas.

Brace, Joseph.

Bond, William.

Bassett, Samuel.

Bell, N.

Bell, Andrew,

Bell, Benjamin.

Bacon, Josiah.

Bacou, Gould,

Bacon, Jabez, Jr.

Blakesley, James.

Blakesley, Capt. Tilley.

Blakesley, Isaac.

Blakesley, Jonathan.

Blakesley, Ezra.

Blakesley, Samuel.

Blakesley, Joseph.

Bedeau, William, ruptured in ac-
tion October, 1778.

Brinsmade, Hon, Daniel N.

Barney, Frederick.

Brinsmade, Zechariah ; he was con-
fined, with others, at Halifax in
1776, in a room, “ among felons,
thieves, and negroes,” having
been taken prisoner with Col.
Ethan Allen, the preceding 25th
of September, 1775, and lodged
for a time in Halifax jail before
transportation to England.

Bellamy, Jonathan, attorney ; died
of smallpox in 1777, in New Jer-
sey.

Beemont, Friend.

Beemont, William.

Booth, Capt. James,

Booth, Abijah.

Booth, John.

Booth, Amos.

Booth, Joseph.

Booth, Aaron, taken prisoner; car-
ried to England, and kept six
years and eight months,

Banham, John.

Barlow, John.

Barlow, David.

Bunce, John, sick at Ticonderoga
in 1775.

Bunce, Isaiah.

Brownson, Luman.

 

Brownson, Abel.

Brownson, Capt. Gideon.

Brownson, Ensign Cornelius.

Backus, Electus.

Brownson, Sergt. Abijah,

Brownson, Thomas.

Brownson, Abraham.

Brownson, Abraham, Jr.

Brewster, Jonas.

Brewster, Gideon.

Brewster, Morgan.

Burns, John.

Bird, Ebenezer.

Beardsley, Nathan.

Beardsley, John.

Beardsley, Henry.

Beardsley, Theodorus.

Beach, Curtiss.

Beach, John, was at first a Tory,
and enlisted into the British ser-
vice; was arrested, and tried at
Derby; convicted, and pardoned
on condition of enlisting to serve
during the war.

Beach, Ambrose.

Bunnell, Frederick.

Bailey, Jonathan.

Brown, Asahel.

Brown, James.

Brown, Elijah, died at New York.

Buel, Benjamin.

Blois, Edward.

Bullard, Isaac.

Burton, Ensign Judson.

Burton, Robert.

Burton, Ephraim.

Burton, Jeremiah.

Burton, Asahel.

Burton, Daniel.

Burton, David.

Bondy, William.

Baldwin, Enos, Jr.

Baldwin, John, died in the North-
ern army.

Baldwin, Judah.

Baldwin, Nathan,

Baldwin, Asahel.

Barnes, Abraham, died in the army,
1781.

Barnes, Samuel.

Barnes, Simeon.

Barnes, Frederick.

Barnes, John.

Beers, Lieut. Nathan.

Beers, Zachariah.

Beers, Stephen.

Beers, Abner.

Beers, Silas.

Beers, Josiah.

Beers, Philo.

Beers, Lewis.

Belden, Asahel.

Belden, Enos.

Bates, Elias.

Bates, Ephraim.

Burritt, Samuel.

Burritt, Dr. Anthony.

Bristol, Nathaniel.

Bristol, Gideon, Jr.

Bannister, George.

Balcomb, Nathaniel.

Butler, Abel.

Beecher, Abraham.

Bradley, Zuar.

Bradley, Jehiel.

Benedict, William.

Bostwick, Andrews,

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Blenney, Barnabas.

Botsford, Samuel.

Blaisdell, Roger.

Backus, Delucena, afterwards col-
onel in United States army.

Brothwell, Joseph F.,

Burchard, Daniel.

Bulford, John.

Bloom, Isaac.

Burr, Sergt. William,

Coles, James.

Coles, Amos.

Crammer, John,

Chitman, Thomas.

Cutler, Joseph.

Carter, John,

' Chatfield, Yarmouth.

Churchill, Oliver.

Churchill, Moses.

Curtiss, Lieut. Ephraim.

Curtiss, Elihu.

Curtiss, Edmund.

Curtiss, Robert.

Curtiss, Andrew.

Curtiss, Jabez.

Curtiss, Lewis.

Curtiss, Ebenezer.

Curtiss, David.

Curtiss, Isaac.

Curtiss, Jeremiah.

Curtiss, Henry.

Curtiss, Reuben.

Curtiss, Abner.

Curtiss, Daniel.

Curtiss, Phineas.

Curtiss, Aaron.

Curtiss, Capt. Agur,

Curtiss, Asa.

Curtiss, Wait.

Curtiss, Israel, Jr.

Curtiss, Capt. Eleazar.

Crissey, Solomon.

Crissey, Truman.

Canfield, Thomas,

Canfield, Elisha.

Collins, Ensign Edward.

Chittenden, Daniel.

Case, John C.

Crosby, ——.

Cogswell, Capt. William.

Cash, Africa.

Corbran, Samuel.

Clark, Benjamin.

Clark, Isaac.

Clark, Amos.

Clark, William.

Clark, John.

Clark, Phineas.

Clark, Robert.

Clark, Josiah.

Carpenter, William H.

Couch, Capt. Ebenezer,

Chilson, Thomas.

Crowfoot, James.

Castle, John.

Castle, Timothy.

Castle, William.

Cole, Phineas.

Cole, Simeon.

Church, Ebenezer,

Church, Moses.

Church, Nathaniel, wounded by a
grape-shot at White Plains and
disabled for life,

Coflin, Samuel.

Camp, Phineas.

Camp, Ensign David.
WOODBURY.

709

 

Chapman, Capt. Nathan.

Chapman, Israel.

Chidson, John, wounded in left
arm at White Plains, Oct. 28,
1776.

Calechan, Thomas.

Crow, Elias.

Davenport, Jonathan. .

Davenport, John.

Dudley, George.

Dudley, Buel.

Dudley, Benjamin.

Dudley, Elizur.

Dudley, Nathan.

Dimonds, John.

Dimonds, David.

Davis, Amos.

Dally, Obadiah.

Dixon, David.

Dixon, Archibald.

Dixon, Jared.

Doolittle, Thomas.

Doel, Shem.

Dunning, Capt. Elias, commissary.

Dunning, Christopher.

Dunning, David.

Dunning, Phineas.

Davidson, John.

Durkee, Benjamin.

Durkee, Asa.

Durbey, Ephraim.

Durbey, John.

De Forest, Joseph.

Dunbar, Joseph.

Downs, Eliphalet.

Downs, Daniel, killed at White
Plains,

Eastman, Benjamin.

Eastman, Azariah.

Easton, Eliphalet.

Easton, Norman.

Easton, Julian.

Easton, Elijah, enlisted in 1777 for
three years; was taken sick at
Mud Fort, November, 1777, and
transferred to the hospital at
Trenton, N. J. At the time the
hospital was removed seventy
miles, the wagoners employed to
transport the invalids ran off with
the wagons, leaving him to make
his way on foot. He afterwards
petitioned the General Assembly
for relief, and the sum of £30
was granted him.

Elderkin, Jedediah.

Edmond, William, afterwardsjudge
of the Superior Court. He was
wounded in the right thigh in
the “Danbury alarm,” April 27,
1777; was also at Ticonderoga.

Edwards, Corp. John.

Elgar, Abner.

Eastburn, Deliverance.

Elwood, —.

Elias, Jonas.

Frisbie, Jonathan.

Frisbie, Asahel.

Frisbie, Noah,

Frisbie, Noah, Jr.

Frisbie, Abiel.

Frisbie, David.

Frisbie, James.

Foot, Joseph, lived to 98 years.

Farrand, Capt. Jonathan.

Fish, Nathan.

Flowers, Nathan.

Flowers, Nathaniel.

Fall, Patrick.

Field, Francis.

Field, George.

Field, Nathaniel.

Fields, George.

Fields, John.

Fielor, George.

Filets, Francis.

Frost, Joseph.

Fales, Francis.

Fieldsley, Francis,

Franklin, Jehiel.

Fenn, Daniel.

Fisher, Darius.

Goodrich, Wait, commissary ; pay-
table allowed him £3000, Dec. 18,
1780, for purchasing pork for the
army.

Goodrich, Timothy.

Galesley, Thomas.

Gideons, Joshua.

Grant, Elisha.

Gillis, Tint.

Goodsell, Isaac.

Graham, Isaac G., M.D.; surgeon
under Gen. Washington.

Graham, Dr. Andrew, surgeon.

Graham, Rev. Chauncey, chaplain.

Gardin, John.

Gilchrist, ——.

Giles, Timothy.

Garnsey, Joseph.

Gould, John.

Gould, John W.

Garnet, John.

Gilbert, Corp. Isaiah.

Gilbert, Elnathan.

Gorham, Benjamin.

Garret, Jolin.

Garret, John.

Green, Ezra.

Green, Eleazar.

Green, Samuel.

Galpin, Joseph.

Galpin, Stephen.

Galpin, Samuel, died in Northern
army.

Gage, Thomas.

Guernsey, Richard.

Guernsey, Solomon.

Gillett, Eliphalet.

Gillett, David.

Gridley, Asahel.

Griswold, Ebenezer.

Gear, Ezra.

Glazier, Jacob.

Gordon, Robert.

Gillis, Abraham.

Gibbs, Timothy.

Glazier, John.

Green, Freeman.

Hinman, Col. Benjamin.

Hinman, Capt. Elijah.

Hinman, Capt. Ephraim, commis-
sary.

Hinman, Moses.

Hinman, Lieut. Asa.

Hinman, Ens. Joel.

Hinman, Wait.

Hinman, Silas.

Hinman, Nathan.

Hinman, Jonas.

Hinman, Enos.

Hinman, Michael.

Hinman, Isaiah.

Hinman, James.

 

Hinman, Francis.

Hinman, Capt. David.

Hinman, Daniel.

Hinman, Capt. Samuel.

Hinman, Lemuel.

Hinman, Capt. Truman, commis-
sary.

Hinman, Enos,

Hinman, Timothy.

Hinman, Benjamin (3d), returned
a deserter in 1780 by mistake, he
having gone home, on account of
sickness, by advice of his captain.

Hinman, Capt. Elisha, commander
of a government ship called the
“Alfred,” which sailed out of
New London.

Hinman, Ens. Titus, in Col. Zebulon
Butler’s regiment. He was killed
in the bloody massacre of Wy-
oming, July 3, 1778.

Hicock, Asa.

Hicock, Silas.

Hicock, Reuben, taken sick at Ti-
conderoga in 1775.

Hicock, Thaddeus, Jr.

Hicock, Ebenezer.

Hicock, David.

Hicock, Elijah.

Hicock, Ephraim.

Hicock, Benjamin.

Hicock, Johnson.

Hicock, Nathaniel.

Hull, Ebenezer.

Hull, William.

Hull, Dr. Titus, surgeon.

Hull, Stephen.

Hall, Ebenezer.

Hall, Thomas.

Hall, Thomas, Jr.

Hall, Aaron.

Hall, L.

Hawley, Capt. Enos.

Hawley, James.

Hawley, Moses.

Hawley, David.

Hamsted, David.

Hows, Samuel.

Hows, George.

Humphrey, Capt. Elijah.

Herrick, John.

Hilliard, William.

Hubbell, Ebenezer.

Hill, Abraham, died in Northern
army.

Hill, Billiam.

Hill, Reuben.

Hill, Solomon, sick at Ticonderoga
in 1775,

Higley, Nehemiah.

Hazen, William.

Hazen, Elijah, sergeant.

Hurd, Capt. Thaddeus.

Hurd, Lieut. Asahel, killed in the

war.
Hurd, Simeon.
Hurd, Capt. David.
Hurd, David, Jr.
Hurd, Daniel.
Hurd, Capt. Adam.
Hurd, Stephen.
Hurd, Lovewell.
Hurd, Samuel.
Hurd, Isaac.
Hurd, Solomon.
Hurd, Noah.
Hurd, Moses.

Hurd, Calvin.
Hurd, Curtiss.
Hurd, Lewis.
Hurd, Gideon.
Hurd, Gideon, Jr.
Hurd, Simeon, Jr.
Hurd, Abner.
Hurd, Abraham.
Hurd, Graham.
Hurd, Joseph.
Hurd, John, sick at Ticonderoga in
1775.
Hurlbut, Truman.
Hurlbut, Robert.
Hurlbut, Joel.
Hurlbut, Noah.
Hurlbut, Wait.
Hurlbut, John.
Hurlbut, Amos.
Hurlbut, Elisha,
Hurlbut, Gideon.
Hurlbut, Gideon, Jr.
Hurlbut, Thomas.
Hurlbut, Squire.
Hurlbut, Joel.
Hurlbut, Capt. Adam.
Hurlbut, Asahel.
Hurlbut, Zula.
Hurlbut, Jubilla.
Hurlbut, Aaron.
Hurlbut, Asaph.
Hurlbut, Capt. Samuel.
Hurlbut, Abraham.
Hine, Capt. Nathan.
Hine, Jonathan.
Hine, Adam.
Hine, Lewis.
Hitchcock, Benjamin.
Hitchcock, David.
Hitchcock, James R.
Hitchcock, Benjamin, Jr.
Hunt, William.
Hunt, John, Jr.
Hunt, Isaac.
Hunt, Simeon.
Hunt, Isaac, Jr.
Hooker, James.
Hooker, Thaddeus.
Hastings, Dr. Seth, surgeon.
Hand, Elias.
Hannah, Alexander.
Hannah, James.
Hannah, Robert.
Hawkins, Moses.
Hawkins, Zadock.
Hawkins, Zadock, Jr.
Hayes, ——.
Hodge, Gulielmus.
Hodge, Philo.
Huntington, Ebenezer.
Hotchkiss, Reuben.
Hobert, Elisha.
Hobert, John.
Hudson, John.
Hungerford, James.
Hungerford, Lieut. Benjamin, sick
at Ticonderoga in 1775, and died
soon after.
Hastians, Samuel.
Hannayed, William.
Holt, Nicholas, had smallpox in
Canada, 1776.
Henries, Zadock.
Hollister, Preston, killed in the ex-
pedition to Canada.
Ingraham, Nathaniel.
Ingraham, Henry.
710

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Ingraham, William.

Ingraham, Eleazar.

Indian Tom.

Ives, Asahel.

Ives, Abner.

Ives, Daniel, Jr.

Isbell, Seruda.

Johnson, Isaac.

Johnson, Amos, stood next to Dan-
iel Downs, whose brains were
spattered upon him at White
Plains,

Johnson, John.

Johnson, William.

Johnson, Isaiah.

Johnson, Hiram.

Johuson, Justus, wounded in the
left arm in the action near Nor-
walk. His arm was amputated.
State allowed him $12 per month
in consequence.

Johnson, Peter.

Judd, Daniel.

Judd, Freeman.

Jackson, Samuel.

Jackson, Theophilus.

Jones, Benjamin.

Jewett, Isaac.

Jewett, Caleb, had smallpox, and
was disabled by it in his sight, in
Canada, 1776,

Jordan, John.

Jordan, William.

Judson, Gen. David, A.M.; was
captain in the Continental army.

Judson, Capt. James,

Judson, Ens. John.

Judson, Joseph.

Judson, Ens. Amos.

Judson, St. Joseph, died of small-
pox, April 26, 1777.

Judson, Elijah, sick at Ticonder-
oga, 1775.

Judson, Chapman, sick at Ticon-
deroga, 1775.

Judson, Chapman, Jr.

Judson, Agur.

Judson, Timothy, captain.

Judson, Aaron.

Judson, Joel.

Judson, Elihu.

Judson, William.

Judson, James,

Judson, Abel.

Judson, Joshua.

Jenks, Thomas,

Jennings, Charles, had smallpox
and fever in Canada,

James, Thomas.

Kimberley, David.

Kimberley, Thomas.

Kellogg, Samuel.

Knapp, Eleazar.

Knapp, Moses.

Keeney, Levi.

Kelly, John.

Kasson, James.

Kasson, Alexander.

Kasson, Archibald.

Keeler, Hezekiah.

Kellis, Peter.

King, David.

Keenie, John.

Kid, Jeremiah.

Lewis, Capt. Ezekiel.

Lewis, George.

Lewis, Asa.

Lewis, Abraham.

Lewis, Nathaniel.

Lewis, James.

Lewis, Elihu.

Lewis, Eben.

Lacey, Capt. Thaddeus, died in ser-
vice at Castleton, Oct. 3, 1775.

Lacey, Ebenezer.

Lacey, Ebenezer, Jr.

Lacey, Ezra.

Leavenworth, Capt. David.

Leavenworth, Lieut. Eben, died of
smallpox 18th March, 1778, aged
44,

Leavenworth, David, Jr.

Leavenworth, Amos,

Leavenworth, Morse.

Leavenworth, Lieut. Ebenezer.

Leavenworth, Gideon.

Leavenworth, Capt. John.

Lake, Edward.

Leavitt, Samuel.

Leavitt, Jonathan.

Leavitt, David.

Ladd, Benajah.

Ladd, David.

Lee, Abner.

Lee, Samuel.

Linsley, Abiel.

Linsley, Abiel, Jr.

Linsley, Brainard.

Lines, Abraham.

London, Pomp.

Lamfear, Samuel.

Logan, Matthew.

Logan, John.

Laslin, John.

Lusk, Samuel.

Liberty, Jeff, formerly slave of Jon-
athan Farrand, made free by en-
listment.

Lyon, Isaac.

Lynch, Michael.

Long, Robert.

Lincoln, Patrick.

Liberty, James.

Martin, Joel.

Martin, Joseph.

Martin, Solomon.

Martin, Ezekiel.

Martin, David.

Martin, Isaiah.

Martin, Capt. Andrew.

Martin, William.

Martin, Gideon.

Martin, Amos.

Martin, Samuel.

Minor, Adoniram.

Minor, Simeon, taken prisoner at
Danbury.

Minor, Elisha.

Minor, Sergt. Israel.

Minor, David.

Minor, Daniel.

Minor, Titus.

Minor, Elnathan.

Minor, Timothy, sick at Ticonder-
oga, taken prisoner at Danbury,
and carried to New York.

Moseley, Increase, Esq., commis-
sary.

Moseley, Col. Increase, Jr.

Moseley, Capt. Abner.

Manville, Simeon.

Manville, Ira.

Manville, John.

MacDaniel, Thomas.

 

Meigs, Jesse.

Mott, Lyman.

Mills, Curtis.

Mills, Samuel, Jr., had the small-
pox in Canada, 1776.

Mills, Alexander,

Moody, Ziinri.

Moody, Gideon,

Morgan, Lewis.

Mansfield, Clement.

Moltrope, Jude.

McKinney, John.

Mitchel, Beniah.

Mitchel, Nathan.

Mitchel, Daniel.

Mitchel, David.

Mitchell, Thomas,

Mitchell, Capt. John.

Mitchell, Jehiel.

Mitchell, Simeon.

Mitchell, Seth.

Mitchell, Capt. Nathaniel.

Mitchell, Abijah.

Mitchell, Capt. Eleazar.

Mitchell, Brier.

Mallory, Aaron, three years aide to
Gen. Washington.

Mallory, Daniel.

Mallory, David.

Mallory, John.

Mallory, John, Jr.

Mallory, Simeon.

Mallory, Eli.

Mallory, Capt. Abner.

Mallory, Walker.

Murray, Samuel.

Murray, Noah.

Murray, Hugh.

Meramble, John.

Mix, Joseph.

Masters, N.S.

Morris, Matthew.

Munn, Dr. Ebenezer, surgeon.

Munn, Corp. Samuel.

Munn, Justus.

McIntire, Henry.

McGraw, John.

Merchant, Job.

My, Ebenezer.

Mulatto, Michael.

Mulatto, Job.

Munger, Jonathan.

Norton, Issachar.

Norton, George.

Norton, George, Jr.

Norton, William.

Norton, John Austin.

Norton, David.

Newton, Ezekiel.

Nettleton, Josiah.

Northrop, Amos.

Nails, John.

Nichols, Elisha, killed at New
York. .

Nichols, James.

Nichols, Andrew, died at Boston.

Negro Robbin.

Negro James.

Negro Titus.

Negro Peter.

Negro Toney.

Negro Cumming.

Osborne, Shadrach, purchasing and
issuing commissary during the
war.

Osborne, Samuel,

Osborne, Nathan, wounded in sev-

eral parts of the body at Horse-
neck, June 8, 1779, and carried
to New York; was there three
months.

Olcott, John E.

Olds, Oliver.

Olds, Aaron.

Peck, Abijah.

Peck, John.

Peck, Josiah.

Peck, Judson.

Platt, John, taken prisoner at Fort
Washington, June 5, 1777; was
released on parole, and came
home with the smallpox.

Pitcher, Ebenezer.

Pease, William.

Patterson, Sherman.

Patterson, Ensign William.

Pierce, David.

Pierce, Samuel.

Post, Abraham.

Penny, Joseph.

Penny, James.

Parks, James.

Pislie, Elijah.

Prindle, Enos.

Parker, Gamaliel.

Parker, Peter.

Parker, Thomas.

Parker, Amasa.

Prentice, Zachariah.

Peters, Galloway.

Peet, Daniel.

Peet, Richard.

Parry, Daniel.

Pollard, Isaac.

Palmer, Phineas.

Porter, Capt. David.

Porter, John.

Porter, William.

Porter, Benjamin.

Pritchard, Nat.

Potter, Sheldon.

Potter, David.

Potter, Daniel.

Phelps, Charles,

Phelps, Darius.

Phelps, Samuel.

Parmely, Thomas.

Perry, Elisha.

Perry, Eli.

Preston, Nathan, paymaster, and
issuing commissary of supplies.

Pain, Justus.

Reynolds, Matthew.

Reynolds, Sergt. James.

Reynolds, William.

Reynolds, James Blakesly.

Reynolds, Justus.

Reynolds, Hezekiah.

Reynolds, Simeon.

Reynolds, David.

Reynolds, Solomon.

Reynolds, Solomon, Jr., sick at Ti-
conderoga.

Roots, Isaac.

Roots, Solomon, died at Crown
Point.

Roots, Joseph.

Roots, Col., sick at Ticonderoga,
1775,

Royce, Matthew.

Rill, Edward.

Rice, Edward.

Rumsey, David.

Rumsey, Nathan,
Rumrill, Frederick.

Richards, Amos, sick at Ticonder-
oga.

Rusco, Stephen.

Rusco, Benjamin.

Ranney, Solomon.

Rowe, Abraham.

Ranney, Stephen.

Rogers, Ebenezer.

Robinson, Solomon.

Robinson, David.

Robinson, William.

Robin, Michael.

Read, Jonathan.

Read, Matthew.

Rood, Simeon.

Rood, John, shot throngh the
thigh with a musket-ball at
White Plains, Oct. 28, 1776.

Ramsdell, Ezra,

Stoddard, ——, killed in battle of
Bennington.

Stoddard, Anthony.

Stoddard, Eli.

Stoddard, Amos.

Stoddard, Thomas, killed in the
war.

Stoddard, Abiram, died of bloody
flux in the army.

Stoddard, Capt. James, died in the
service, 1777.

Stoddard, Capt. Nathan, killed at
Mud Fort, on the Delaware,
Nov. 15,1777, by a cannon-ball,
which entirely severed his head
from his body. Lieut. John
Strong related that he was stand-
ing near him when it occurred,
and that for a moment after he
was standing without a head be-
fore he fell.

Stoddard, Curtiss,

Stoddard, Abijah, died at Crown
Point.

Stoddard, Cyrenius.

Stoddard, Luther.

Stoddard, Philo, wounded in the
arm in the Germantown action.

Stoddard, Adj. —.

Stoddard, Ichabod, sick at Ticon-
deroga.

Strong, Samuel.

Strong, Lieut. John, while in the
service he went ont one day to
view the position of the enemy.
He found La Fayette on the
ground before him for the same
purpose. When they wished to
retire they found themselves cut
off from camp by some British
soldiers. There was no escape
except by fording a creek. Lieut.
Strong, being larger and stronger
than his companion, took him
upon his shoulders and crossed
the creek in safety.

Strong, Adino,

Strong, Uriel.

Strong, Anthony.

Strong, Daniel, teamster.

Strong, Charles.

Strong, Josiah, shot through the
leg in the Germantown action,
and was obliged to have it ampu-
tated.

Strong, Benjamin.

Strong, Benjamin, Jr.

WOODBURY. ‘

Smith, Daniel.

Smith, Capt. Ebenezer.

Smith, Capt. Richard.

Smith, Hon. Nathaniel.

Smith, Samuel.

Smith, Stephen, sick at Ticonder-
oga.

Smith, Phineas.

Smith, Abraham.

Smith, Jeremiah.

Smith, Elisha.

Smith, Robert, was a sergeant un-
der Col, Seth Warner; was tom-
ahawked and scalped by the In-
dians on “ Four-Mile Island,” in
Lake George, a small party to
which he belonged having been
surprised in the night. He lay
four days, when he-was found
and taken care of. He recovered
and survived many years after,

Sperry, Ambrose.

Sperry, Enoch.

Savage, Joseph.

Savage, Seth, died at New York.

Stiles, Joseph.

Sharp, James.

Sheldon, Charles.

Sheldon, Dr. Daniel,
mate,

Slauter, John.

Steele, Sergt. John.

Steele, Luke.

Steele, Sergt. Elisha.

Sanford, Capt. J.

St. John, Adonijah.

Seymour, Capt. Moses.

Sharp, Peter.

Seeley, John.

Squire, Capt. Gideon.

Squire, Abiathar.

Squire, Joseph.

Squire, Thomas (3d).

Squire, Thomas, Jr.

Skeels, Adoniram.

Stratton, Thomas.

Starr, Elisha.

Stevens, Aaron.

Stevens, Daniel.

Sedgwick, Benjamin.

Sedgwick, Archer.

Sedgwick, Joseph.

Sherman, David, commissary.

Sherman, Elijah.

Sherman, James.

Sherman, Lieut. John.

Sherman, Taylor, expressman,.

Sherman, Daniel, member of the
council of safety four years.

Southworth, William.

Summers, Asahel.

Simons, David.

Simons, Cummey.

Stannard, Samuel.

Seeley, Ephraim.

Strickland, Moses.

Standclift, William.

Sturgess, Aquila.

Stewart, William.

Saxton, Jo., died at New York.

Sears, John.

Sperry, Eli.

Sperry, Ambrose.

Skilton, Dr. Henry.

Torrance, Thomas, wounded in the
“Danbury alarm,” April 27,
1777, in the thigh.

surgeon's

 

Torrance, Corp. Joseph.

Torrance, Capt. Samuel.

Torrance, Samuel, Jr.

Torrance, Ezra.

Torrance, William.

Torrance, Joseph.

Tona, Jethro.

Twiss, Jonathan.

Turrill, John.

Turrill, Samuel.

Tallman, Ebenezer, Jr.

Tallman, Peter.

Tomlinson, ——, commissary.

Tomlinson, Timothy.

Tomlinson, Henry,

Tomlinson, William.

Thompson, John.

Tomlinson, Thomas.

Tomlivson, David.

Tomlinson, Lieut, ——.

Tongue, Jonathan.

Tossel, John.

Thorp, David.

Taylor, Simeon.

Taylor, Josiah.

Taylor, John.

Taylor, Joel, killed at New York.

Titus, Joel.

Touseley, Nathaniel.

Thomas, Lieut. Ebenezer.

Thomas, John, taken sick at Fort
Ann; came home by advice of
his captain, lost his wages, and
was returned a deserter in con-
sequence.

Thomas, Isaac, wounded in the
knee at White Plains, Oct. 31,
1776, by a cannon-ball; was re-
moved to Woodbury by Asahel
Thomas, and died Dec. 9, 1776.

Thomas, Jacob.

Thomas, Charles.

Thomas, Charles, Jr.

Thomas, David.

Thomas, 8.

Thomas, Jeremiah.

Thomas, Joseph.

Thomas, Enoch.

Tuttle, Aaron.

Tuttle, Capt. Nathaniel.

Tuttle, Ichabod.

Tuttle, Andrew.

Tuttle, Thomas.

Tucker, Daniel.

Trowbridge, Lieut. Elihu,

Trowbridge, Philemon.

Tiff, Maj.

Tiff, John.

Tyler, Levi.

Ufford, Job.

Vandyke, Peter.

Warner, Col. Seth.

Warner, Capt. John.

Warner, Daniel, killed at the bat-
tle of Bennington.

Warner, Thomas.

Warner, Saul.

Warner, Samuel.

Warner, Capt. Elizur.

Warner, Lieut. Ebenezer.

Warner, Eliphaz.

Wakeley, Abiel.

Wakeley, Henry.

Wakeley, Abel, was a soldier
through the whole length of the
war of independence, joining
the army in his sixteenth year;

711

was with Washington at Valley
Forge; at West Point under
Arnold, and saw the traitor es-
cape; with La Fayette in his
memorable retreat before Corn-
wallis, and with him stormed the
redoubt at Yorktown; received
an honorable discharge from
Washington; died at Greenville,
Greene Co., N. Y., April 18, 1850,
in the ninetieth year of his age.

Wheeler, Capt. Seth.

Wheeler, Dr. Lemuel, surgeon.

Wheeler, Capt. John.

Wheeler, Benjamin.

Wheeler, Benjamin, Jr.

Wheeler, Silas.

Wheeler, Adam.

Wheeler, Elnathan.

Wheeler, Agur, sick at Ticonder-
oga in 1775.

Wheeler, Archelaus.

Wheeler, William, commissary at
the north end of Lake George.

Wheeler, Nathan.

Washburn, Edward.

Washburn, Edmond.

Wayland, John.

Whipple, Joseph.

Wilkinson, Abraham.

Wott, Adam.

Woodruff, Hawkins,

Woodruff, John.

Weeks, John.

Wildman, Rev. Benjamin, chap-
lain.

Walker, Abel.

Walker, Zechariah.

Walker, Elisha.

Walker, Capt. Joseph.

Walker, Isaiah.

Walker, Samuel.

Walker, Nathan.

Walker, Peter.

Walker, Joseph, Jr.

Walker, Josiah.

Walker, David.

Walker, Simeon.

Watson, Hon. James, afterwards
senator in Congress.

Watson, Capt. John, wounded in
the back at St. John’s, Canada, in
1775, and the State granted him
a pension of $18 per month.

Whittlesey, Martin, lost the use of
his limbs by sickness at New
York.

Whittlesey, David.

Whittlesey, Asaph, killed at Wyo-
ming July 3, 1778.

Wallace, Thomas.

Waugh, Buel.

Wiscott, Joseph.

White, John.

White, Joseph.

Woodward, Noah.

Woodward, Noah, Jr.

Welch, Sergt. Luke.

Weller, Benjamin.

Welch, Ithuel.

Welch, Michael.

Wagner, Daniel.

Wagner, David.

Wilson, Samuel.

Way, Ira.

Way, Isaac.

Wooster, Hinman.
712

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Woodman, Samuel.
Wells, David.
Wells, John.

Wells, Benjamin.
Wilcoxson, Ephraim.
Ward, Samuel.
Whitney, John.
Wheaton, Jonathan.
Wheaton, Roswell.
Wright, Charles, Jr.
Wright, Freedom.

LIST OF SOLDIERS IN

Atwood, Washington H.
Allen, James (B.).
Allen, Stephen.

Burton, Oliver (B.).
Bates, Richard (R.).
Bryant, Samuel (Wa.).
Blackman, Beecher.
Bunnell, Sheldon.
Barnum, Eli (B.).
Beebee, Isaac (B.).
Barlow, Elisha (Wa.).
Bishop, Miles,

Booth, Aaron.

Brown, James (S.).
Brown, Daniel (S.).
Baker, Henry (Wa.).
Bishop, Amos.

Bassett, Nathaniel.
Bryant, Ira.

Baldwin, Amos (B.).
Beecher, Lyman (B.).
Botsford, Samuel.
Barto, Jonah.

Castle, Bethel S.

Castle, John.

Coe, Daniel (B.).
Church, Samuel (B.).
Canfield, Austin (B.).
Curtiss, John.
Cunningham, William (Wa.).
Eastman, Daniel E. (R.).
Fairchild, David (B.).
Frisbie, Benjamin (B.).
Frisbie, Samuel (Wa.).
Fowler, Robert B. (Wa.).
French, Ezra (B.).
Forbes, Robert (Wa.).
Farrand, Capt. N. (Wa.).
Gordon, Jonathan.
Griswold, Harvey.
Griswold, Asa S.
Glazier, John.

Galpin, Stephen F.
Galpin, Sergt. Samuel.
Galpin, Pettit.

Gibbs, Spencer (B.).
Howe, William.
Hannah, George (B).
Hine, Austin (B.).
Hine, Elijah (B.).

Hyde, Abijah (B.).
Hubbell, Zalmon (B.).
Hatch, Joseph.

Judson, Henry.
Jackson, Joel.

Jackson, Levi.

Jackson, Samuel.
Jackson, Levi (B.),
Knapp, Capt. Seymour (B.).

Wright, David.
Waters, Joseph.
Wentworth, G.
Warden, Joseph.
Waller, Thomas.
Waller, Daniel.
Ward, Macock.
Wood, James.
Williamson, Joseph.
Youngs, David.

THE WAR OF 1812.*

Kasson, Lieut. Adam C. (B.).
Kimball, Horatio (B.).
Kimball, Horace (B.).
Luddington, Fred (B.).
Lewis, Jabez (B.).

Lewis, George (R.).

Lewis, Elisha (R.).

Leavenworth, Philo (B.).

Lum, Austin (B.).

Lambert, Fred.

Murray, David.

Murray, Alexander.

McCoy, Hugh.

Moody, Samuel.

Morriss, Edward.

Mitchell, Nathaniel (R.).

Munger, Harmon (B.).

Masters, Dr. Samuel S,

Nichols, John.

Olds, David.

Osborne, Daniel.

Parker, Willis.

Parker, James.

Parker, Lieut. Thomas C. (Wa.).

Parker, Philo (Wa.).

Patterson, Charles (R.).

Peck, Capt. Joseph.

Peet, Ashbel.

Price, Sheldon (B.).

Reynolds, Joseph.

Ryan, Marcus.

Sanford, Thomas (R.).

Stiles, Lyman.

Spring, Isaac (B.).

Seymour, John H. (B.).

Squire, John A. (R.).

Stevens, Jeremiah (B.).

Sperry, Moses.

Smith, Ensign Theodore (B.).

Strong, Daniel (B.).

Stone, Norman (B.).

Seeley, Freeman H. (B.).

Steel, Joseph (B.).

Skidmore, James B. (B.).

Titus, Stiles (Wa.).

Turrill, Asahel (R.)«

Turrill, Roswell (R.).

Tuttle, Preston,

Tuttle, David.

Weller, Capt. Thomas, killed by
Warner Knapp, who had been
drafted, when he went to notify
him.

Webb, Joseph (R.).

Warner, Capt. Elizur.

Williams, William R. (B.).

Wilcox, Linus (B.).

Wakeley, Harry.

 

* B. denotes Bethlehem; Wa., Washington; R., Roxbury; S., South-

bury. This list is not complete.
Woodbury.

Those without any letter are from

 

WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65.
ROLL OF HONOR.

First Lieut. Samuel C. Barnum, A. A. A.-G., died June 19, 1864,
First Lieut. Henry Melzar Dutton, died Aug. 9, 1862.
Second Lieut. Henry S. Conrad, died Jan. 9, 1863.
Second Lieut. Frederick Whitlock, died Jan. 24, 1863.
Com.-Sergt. Walter J. Orton, died Oct. 7, 1864,
Sergt. Myron G. Bishop, died July 28, 1865.
“ Andrew B. Candee, died Sept. 30, 1863.
“Oliver B. Chatfield (colored), died Dec. 12, 1869.
“ George E, Judson, died Oct. 31, 1864.
“~~ Charles A, Squire, died June 22, 1864.
“ Timothy F. Walsh, died Feb. 6, 1865.
Corp. Edward Bell, died Oct. 17, 1864.
“ Patrick Brady, died Nov. 1, 1864.
“Charles F. Flushmen, died Sept. 21, 1864.
“© John T. Glazier, died Oct. 19, 1864.
“ Henry F. Hard, died Dec. 15, 1863.
“Frederick Holmes, died Jan. 4, 1865.
“ Horatio S. Thomas, died Feb. 20, 1864. -
«“ John §. White, died Nov, 13, 1862.

Privates.

Patrick Allen, died March 8, 1865.

Dwight S. Atwood, died Oct. 19, 1864.
James L. Atwood, died June 5, 1863.
Charles Barney, died Sept. 19, 1864.

Isaac Briggs, died June 23, 1864.
Ferdinand Bubser, died Dec. 31, 1864.
Joseph Bunnell, died Oct. 7, 1864.
Matthew M. Castle, died March 28, 1864.
Weston Cogswell, died March 30, 1864.
Owen Crommey, died July 30, 1864.
Harvey H. Fox, died Feb. 4, 1863.

Henry F. Fox, died Nov. 27, 1863.

John R. Freeman (colored), died April 1, 1864.
Peter Flannagan, died Dec. 27, 1866.
Almond D. Galpin, died June 1, 1864.
Hugh S. Gosley, died Aug. 22, 1862.

Edgar Gibson, died May 6, 1869.

Friend F. Kane, died June 1, 1864.

George W. Locklin, died Oct, 20, 1864.
John McDivitt, died June 1, 1869.

Samuel M. Mallory, died April 17, 1867.
Joseph Miller, died Aug. 24, 1868.

Charles Patterson, died March 14, 1862.
Arnold Peterson (colored), died Aug. 15, 1865.
Frank J. Percey, died Dec. 13, 1862.

Seth W. Percey, died Aug. 2, 1864.

James C. Polley, died Nov. 19, 1862.
Thomas Rice (colored), died April 15, 1865.
George H. Richardson (colored), died Oct. 27, 1865.
Joseph F. Root, died Oct. 9, 1862.

Gardner Stockman, died May 28, 1864. '
Charles L. Thomas, died Jan. 16, 1864.
Thomas Tracey, died May 29, 1863.

John E. Tuttle, died Sept. 17, 1862.

Abram A. Warner, died Aug. 12, 1862.
Joseph Wellman, died July 23, 1863.
Curtiss Wheeler, died June 14, 1864.
Leman Phillips, died Feb, 20, 1872.
Roderick Freeman, died April 24, 1875.
Philo M. Trowbridge, died Jan. 11, 1875.
Abiram A, Atwood, died May 2, 1872,
Edgar Gibson, died 1869.

Nathan B. Munger, died 1875.

Lieut.-Col. Nathaniel Smith, died Aug. 26, 1877.
Andrew Harwood, died Oct. 19, 1878.
Daniel E. Leach, died Sept. 30, 1880.

COMPLETE LIST OF WOODBURY SOLDIERS.
Abernethy, William J., Co. H, 15th Conn. Vols,; enl. July 28, 1862; pro.
to corporal; fought in all the battles of his regiment; was never
wounded ; must. out at the end of the war at Newbern, N. C.
Addison, David E. (colored), Co. A, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 30, 1863;
must. out Oct. 24, 1865, ;
WOODBURY.

713

 

Allen, Chauncey F., Co. D, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 17, 1861; disch.
for disability July 29, 1862.

Alvord, Edgar A., enl. at Woodbury April 27, 1861; must. out at Hart-
ford July 22, 1861, in Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; re-enl. as veteran Dec.
21, 1863; pro. to corporal; must. out July 19, 1865; was slightly
wounded in the left thigh at Resaca, Ga., but was never in hospital ;
was taken prisoner at Cedar Mountain, the “Aceldema” of our
forces, Aug. 9, 1862; confined in the Libby prison and on Belle Isle,
and was exchanged in November, 1862.

Atwood, Abiram A., Co, H, 23d Conn. Vols.; enl, Sept. 2, 1862; was made
prisoner at Brashear City, La.; was exchanged Sept. 4, 1863, nearly
three months after the expiration of his term of enlistment; must.
out with his regiment, though still in captivity, Aug. 31, 1863.

Atwood, Eugene, Co. A, 15th Conn. Vols.; enl. July 14, 1862, at the age
of fifteen; was taken prisoner March 8, 1865, and kept in Libby
prison till the close of the war; must. out at Newbern, N. C., June
27, 1865.

Atwood, James L., Co. F, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 19, 1861; died of
chronic diarrhoea at Marine Hospital, in New Orleans, La., June 5,
1863; buried in Monument National Cemetery at Chalmette, La.,
six miles below New Orleans, on the old New Orleans battle-ground,
war of 1812.

Atwood, Dwight S., Co. D, 2d Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. Feb, 1, 1864; killed
at the battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 19, 1864.

Atwood, Oliver W.,133d New York Vols. ; served the period of his enlist-
mer.t and was discharged.

Avery, Walter W., enl. at Woodbury April, 1861; must. in at Hartford
July 22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran iu the field Dec. 21, 1863; wounded
at the battle of Culp’s Farm, Ga.; must. out July 19, 1865.

Allen, Patrick, Co. E, 15th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute Aug. 25,
1864; killed at the battle of Hatcher’s Run, Va., March 8, 1865.
Bacon, J. Knight, assistant surgeon on board of a ship of war, and fora
long time medical cadet in the Knight General Hospital at New

Haven, Conn.

Bacon, William T., Jr., Co. I, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 23, 1861 ; disch. -

for disability at New Orleans July, 1862.

Baldwin, Charles N., Co. I, 2d Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 18, 1862;
must, out at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865.

Banks, Daniel C., Co. G, 1st Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1861; disch.
for disability Oct. 7, 1862.

Barnum, Samuel C., enl. in the three months’ troops May 7, 1861, and
was in the battle of Bull Run; re-enl. in Co. E, 11th Conn. Vols.,
Nov. 27, 1861; for good conduct in battle he was promoted succes-
sively to second lieutenant Oct. 1, 1861, and first lieutenant and ad-
jutant June 16, 1862; for a time he acted as A. A. A.-G. of brigade;
was wounded at Cold Harbor June 3, 1864, and died at Washington,
D. C., June 19, 1864.

Barney, Charles, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 18, 1862; was killed at
the battle of Winchester Sept. 19, 1864.

Bassett, Edwin W., Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Dec. 24, 1863.

Bay, Charles, Co. I, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. Jan. 11, 1862; disch. Jan. 6,
1865, on expiration of term of service.

Barry, William C., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 18, 1862; disch. at
Alexandria, Va., for disability Jan. 31, 1863.

Bell, Edward, Co. E, 6th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 4, 1862; disch. for dis-
ability the latter part of 1862; re-enl. in Co. I, 2d Heavy Art., March
7, 1863; pro. to corporal; died at Martinsburg, Va., Oct. 17, 1864.

Bell, Robert, Co. C, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. in as a substitute for Samuel
B. Scott Aug. 17, 1863; wounded July 20,1864; must. out at Alex-
andria, Va., July 19, 1865.

Belmont, William R., Co. H, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. Feb. 19, 1864; trans.
to Co. A.

Betts, George E., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July, 1862; pro. to second
lieutenant August 18th; res. on account of disability Nov. 25, 1862.

Betts, Gilbert S., Co. I, 14th Conn. Vols.; enl. June 11, 1862; en). under
the name of Frederick Gilbert, for bounty, Oct. 21, 1862, in Co. G,
24th Conn. Vols.; disch. March 21, 1863, to re-enl. in a regiment of
Massachusetts cavalry.

Benham, Willis M., 2d Conn. Battery; enl. July 29, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; must. out at New Haven Aug. 9, 1865.

Bishop, Myron G., “ Woodbury Reds,” Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April
22,1861; must. out July 22, 1861; pro. to sergeant; re-enl, as veteran

. Dec. 21,1863; wounded July 20, 1865, at battle of Kenesaw Moun-
tain, Ga., otherwise called the battle of Peach-Tree Creek ; left leg
amputated at the hip, and died of his wounds at Chattanooga, Tenn.,
July 28, 1865.

 

Bishop, Edwin, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 21, 1861; must. out at
Hartford July 22, 1861; re-en]. as veteran Dec. 31, 1863; must. out
July 19, 1865.

Black, John, Co, B, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. as substitute of Albert C.
Peck Aug. 18, 1863; must. out at Hartford June 19, 1865.

Blackman, Charles F., Co. A, 2d Heavy Art.; enl, Aug. 26, 1864; must.
out at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865; he had previously enl. in
Co. A, 23d Conn. Vols., Sept. 1, 1862, and was must. out Aug. 31,
1863.

Biackman, Charles G., Co. D, 17th Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862; must.
out at Hilton Head, 8. C., July 19, 1865,

Bottsford, Chailes, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded in
the thigh at the battle of Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864; must. out at
New Haven May 18, 1865.

Bottsford, Edward, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22,1861; must. July
22, 1861; disch. for disability Dec. 17, 1862.

Blackman, George, Co. L, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Feb. 1, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865.

Bennett, Thomas H., Co. H, 10th Conn. Vols.; en]. ag a substitute Nov.
1, 1863.

Bradley, James Monroe, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. to
sergeant; disch. Nov. 5, 1863, for the purpose of accepting a first
lieutenancy in the 4th Regt. United States Colored Troops; pro. to
major.

Bradley, George C., Cu. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. to cor-
poral and to sergeant; must. out at New Haven July 12, 1865.

Brady, Patrick, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; pro. to corporal;
thigh was fractured at the battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 19, 1864; died
at Martinsburg Nov. 1, 1864; buried in the National Cemetery at
Winchester, Va.

Briggs, Isaac C., Capt. Eli Sperry’s Co., 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 25,
1862, being the first volunteer of that company; wounded in the foot
by a sharpshooter at Cold Harbor, June 5, 1864, as he was lying in
his tent, and died June 23, 1864.

Bronson, Purnett, Co. B, 1st Conn. Art.; enl. May 22, 1861; disch. May
21, 1864, at expiration of term.

Buell, Charles §, Co. E, 8th Coun. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25,1861; disch. Oct.
21, 1864, at expiration of term.

Buell, Frederick G., Co. A, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 26, 1864; must. out
at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865.

Bubser, Ferdinand, Co. I, 8th Conn. Vols.; must. as substitute Aug. 11,
1864; died Dec. 31, 1864, in the rebel prison at Salisbury, N. C.
Bunnell, John B., Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; trans, to

Vet. Res. Corps Sept. 30, 1864; must. out Aug. 1, 1865.

Bunnell, Joseph, Co. E, 6th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 4, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Dec. 24, 1863; died of wounds Oct. 7, 1864.

Bunnell, Wesley, Co. E, Sth Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded
at battle of Antietam, Sept 17, 1862; disch. for disability March 17,
1863.

Burton, James, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 20, 1862.

Burnham, Walter, Co. H, 2d Heavy Art.; com, Aug. 7, 1862; pro. to cap-
tain of Wvodbury Co. 1; wounded Oct. 19, 1864, at Cedar Creek;
disch. Feb. 8, 1865; was brevetted major for gallantry in action.

Cady, Arrah Beecher, Co. F, 27th Conn. Vols.; enl. Oct. 10, 1862, as sub-
stitute for John I. Fowler; taken prisoner at Chancellorsville, and
paroled at Richmond; disch. July 27, 1863; re-enl. Sept.3, 1863, un-
der his first two names, Arrah Beecher, fearing if again taken pris-
oner his parole might give him trouble.

Candee, Andrew B., Co. A, 23d Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 27, 1862; disch.
with his regiment Aug. 31, 1863, although he had been left behind
sick at Mattoon, Ill., where he died of chronic diarrhoea Sept. 30,
1863.

Cam, Marshall, Co. C, 29th Conn. Vols. (colored); enl. Dec. 14, 1863;
disch. for disability March 15, 1865.

Cam, Truman, Co. G, 29th Conn. Vols. (colored) ; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must.
out Oct. 24, 1865.

Callender, Levi, Co. B, 8th Conn. Vols. ; enl. June 5, 1861; disch. Feb. 24,
1863, for disability; re-enl. Jan. 5, 1864; wounded at Cedar Creek
Oct. 19, 1864; must. out June, 1865, at Hartford.

Castle, Matthew M., Co. I, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; died of
typhoid fever March 28, 1862, at Newbern, N.C.; buried in Newbern
National Cemetery.

Cogswell, Weston, Co. I, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; died at
Newbern, N. C., of typhoid fever March 30, 1862.

Cosier, Charles, Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; wounded at
Fort Harrisun Sept. 29, 1864; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 24, 1864; trans.
to Vet. Res, Corps June 1, 1865; must. out at end of the war.
714

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

Comber, James, Co, I, 2d Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must. out
at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865. * :

Cone, William H., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must. out
July 22,1861, at Hartford; re-eul. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; must.
out July 19, 1865.

Cockfur, Horace, Co. H, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Feb. 10, 1864; must. out at
Readville, Mass., May 18, 1865.

Condon, Richard, Co. E, 5th Conn, Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must
out July 22d; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; must. out July 19,
1865.

Connay, Patrick, Co. H, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. May 27, 1862; disch. for
disability Jan. 6, 1864, at New Orleans.

Conners, Edward, Co. H, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. June 1, 1862; must. out
at New Orleans June 1, 1865.

Conrad, Henry S., Co. B, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec, 22, 1861; pro. to
corporal and sergeant; trans. to Ist Regt. Louisiana Vols., and made
quartermaster-sergeant; received his commission as second lieuten-
ant while sick in the hospital, but died Lefore muster at Donaldson-
ville, La., Jan. 9, 1863; buried in Monument National Cemetery, at
Chalmette, La., six miles below New Orleans, on the site of the battle
of New Orleans.

Chatfield, Oliver B., Co. B, 29th Conn. Vols. (colored); enl. Dec. 5, 1863;
pro. to sergeant; must. out at Brownsville, Texas, Oct. 24, 1865; died
of disease contracted in the army Dec. 12, 1869.

Cramer, Everton, R., Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861,

Crane, Gideon D., Co. 1, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862; pro. to first
lieutenant; res. and disch. for disability Dec. 26, 1862.

Crommey, Owen, Co. K, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Dec. 30, 1863; died of
wounds received in battle at Alexandria, Va., July 30, 1864; buried
in the National Cemetery at Alexandria, Va. :

Dawson, Henry M., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must.
out July 22, 1861; re-enl. in a Massachusetts regiment, under an-
other name, and served out his time.

DeForest, Charles P., wagoner, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 18, 1862;
disch. for disability at New Haven April 8, 1865.

DeForest, George A. (son of above), Uo. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 22,
1862; pro. to corporal,

Dibble, Elliot B., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 2, 1862.

Dolan, Barney, Co. A, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute for William
8. Isbell Aug. 18, 1863; must. out at Alexandria, Va., July 19, 1865.

Downs, John F., enl. and served out his time in a Rhode Islaud regi-
ment.

Dunham, Henry, Jr., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 13, 1862 ; disch. for
disability at Fort Worth, Va., Feb. 12, 1863.

Dutton, Henry Melzar, “ Woodbury Reds”; enl. April 29, 1861, at Wood-
bury ; must. into Co. E, 5th Coun. Vols., July 22, 1861; pro. to orderly
sergeant; pro. and com. first lieutenant Co. 0, 5th Conn. Vols.; killed
at the battle of Cedar Mountain Aug. 9, 1862; buried on the field,
and still lies among the “unknown dead,” though his father, Ex-
Governor Dutton, went to the battle-field and made diligent efforts
to recover his remains.

Flannagan, Peter, Co. I, 9th Conn. Vols.; enl. Oct. 9, 1861; re-enl. in Co.
K, 1st Louisiana Vols., under the name of Peter Breene, his wife’s
surname having been Breene; served faithfully to the end of the
war, and discharged.

Flushmen, Charles F., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; pro. to

“corporal; died Sept. 21, 1864, from wounds received at the battle of
Winchester on the 19th of September, 1864.

Frank, Charles, Co. F, 8th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute Aug. 7,
1864; must. out at City Point, Va., Dec. 12, 1863.

Frehrig, William, Co, F, 8th Conn. Vols.; must, as a substitute Nov. 17,
1864; must. out at City Point, Dec. 12, 1863.

Fogg, Charles H., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 16, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; must, out at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Fowler, De Grass, Co. E, 5th Conn, Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must. July
22,1861; pro, to second lieutenant at muster; res. Sept. 23, 1864.
Fox, Henry F., Co. D, 18th Conn, Vols; eul. Dec. 22,1861; died Nov, 22,

1863, of chronic diarrhoea, at Thibodeaux, La.

Fox, Harvey H., Co. I,2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 1, 1862; died of typhoid
fever at Fort Worth, Alexandria, Va., Feb, 4,1863; buried at Wood-
bury, Conn.

Freeman, Crosby B., Co, C, 29th Conn, Vols. (colored); enl. Dec. 14, 1863;
must. out at Brownsville, Texas, Oct. 24, 1865.

Freeman, John H., Co. A, 29th Conn. Vols. (colored); en]. Nov. 20, 1863 ;
niust. out with the regiment Oct. 24, 1865.

Freeman, John R. (Rod’s brother), enl. in a Rhode Island regiment, and
died at Annapolis, Md., April 1, 1864,

 

Freeman, George (Rod’s brother), enl. in the navy and served on a gun-
boat.

Freeman, Renssellaer (Rod’s brother), en]. in the navy and served two
years on board a gunboat.

Freeman, Roderic (colored), served during the war as cook and waiter to
compauies, or to the regimental officers; he was in the special em-
ploy of Adj. 8. C. Barnum while he lived, and accompanied his body
to Connecticut for burial; he was principally connected with the
lth Regt., and was very faithful in all his duties.

Galpin, Almond D., Co. I, 24 Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; he was
killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, ten miles north of Richmond,
June 1, 1864, falling dead by a wound in the head.

Galpin, Daniel B., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; en]. Aug. 12, 1862; wounded in
the ankle at the battle of Culd Harbor, June 1, 1864, and at the bat-
tle of Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, in the leg; disch. for disability
June 3, 1865. 7

Galpin, Thomas C., Co. C, 8th Conn. Vols. ; enl. Oct. 10, 1861; wounded at
the battle of Antietam Oct. 17, 1862; disch. Nov. 4, 1864, at expira-
tion of term of service.

Gilbert, William H., Co. H, 8th Conn, Vols.; enl. as a substitute Sept. 5,
1863; must. out. at City Point Dec. 12, 1865.

Groat, Henry, Co. B, 2d Conn. Vols, (three months); enl. May 17, 1861;
disch. Aug. 7, 1861.

Glazier, Thomas T., Co. B, 6th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 12, 1861; pro, to
corporal; re-enl. as veteran Jan, 4, 1864; died Oct. 19, 1864.

Gordon, George, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols,; enl. April 22, 1861; must. July
22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; wounded; disch. Jan. 28,
1865,

Gosley, Charles, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols. ; enl. April 22, 1861; must. July
22,1861; disch. fur disability Nov. 22, 1862.

Gosley, Hugh S., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; eul. April 22, 1861; must. July
22, 1861; died at Andersonville prison, Aug. 22, 1862.

Gibson, Edgar, Co. A, 23d Conn. Vols. ; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch. Ang.
31, 1863; died of disease contracted in the service May 6, 1869.

Gibson, Henry F., Co. A, 23d Conn, Vols.; enl. Aug. 25, 1862; disch.
Aug. 31, 1863.

Hall, John S., Co, I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; pro. to corporal ;
must. out at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Hall, John T., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; eul, Aug. 16, 1862; disch, for disa-
bility Nov. 20, 1863.

Harwood, Andrew, Co. H, 14th Conn. Vols.; must. in as substitute Aug.
8, 1863; had three fingers shot off in battle, and was discharged for
disability March 11, 1865.

Hayes, Samuel D., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must. out at
Ilartford, May 22, 1865.

Hard, Henry F., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; pro. to corpo-
poral; died of diphtheria at Woodbury while on recruiting service
Dec. 15, 1863.

Hard, Frederick R., Co. I, 24 Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded
in the leg at the battle of Cedar Creek Oct. 9, 1864; disch. for disa-
bility May 27, 1865.

Heins, Peter, Co. C, Ist Conn. Cav.; enl. Aug. 27, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., Aug. 2, 1865.

Hawley, Aaron (colored), Co. C, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 14, 1863;
must. out with the regt. Oct. 24, 1865.

Hawley, Orrin (colored), Co, C, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 14, 1863;
must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Iensgean, Frederick, Co. B, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. in as substitute for
William Smith Aug. 18, 1863.

Hilmer, Frederick, Co. B, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. in as a substitute Aug.
18, 1863.

Holcomb, John W., Co. E, Sth Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must.
July 22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; must, out July 19,
1865.

Holmes, Frederick, Co. H, Ist Conn, Vols.; enl. for three months April
23, 1861; was missing in action at battle of Bull Run, but came in
safely July 21, 1861; re-enl. in 2d Conn, Light Battery Aug. 5, 1862;
pro. to corporal; died Jan. 4, 1865, in his tent, at White River
Landing, Arkansas; buriedin the Mississippi River National Ceme-
tery, near Memphis, Tenn.

Holdridge, David E., Co. E, 13th Conn. Vols.; must. in as a substitute
December, 1863.

Hotchkiss, Hubbard A., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl, Aug. 6, 1862; pro. to
sergeant; wounded in the scalp and hand at the battle of Winchester,
Sept. 19, 1864; must. out at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Hotchkiss, Levi H., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 25, 1862; severely
wounded in the hand and arm, and entirely disabled, at the battle
WOODBURY. 715

 

of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864; must. out for disability April 20,
1865. i

Hubbard, Calvin A., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must. in
at Hartford July 22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; wounded
in the hand in battle near Dallas, Ga,, May 25, 1864, and in the foot,
severely, June 22, 1864; must. out July 19, 1865.

Hull, Ammi F., Co. G, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 22, 1861; re-enl. as vet-
eran Dec. 17,1863; pro. to corporal and ordnance officer for good
conduct in battle; ninst. out at Washington, D. C., Sept. 25, 1865.

Herrington, George F., Co. C, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. in as substitute for
Walter 8. Curtiss, Aug. 7, 1863.

Hull, Ulysses A., Co. E, 12th Conn. Vols.; enl. Feb. 16,1864; must. out
at New Haven, May 18, 1865.

Jacobi, Philip, Co. K, 20th Conn. Vols.; must. in as substitute for Omar
E. Norton, Aug. 25, 1863,

Jackson, George (colored), Co. H, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 30, 1863;
must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Jackson, George P., served in the navy, on the war-ship “ Winona.”

Jackson, Henry F. (colored), Co. C, 29th Conn. Vols.; en]. Dec. 14, 1863;
pro, to corporal ; must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Jackson, Lot N. (cvlored), Co. C, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 14, 1863;
must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Jackson, Philo (colored), enlisted and served in the 11th Regt. of U.S.
colored troops, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war.

Jones, Thomas, 28th Conn. Vols.; must. in as the substitute of Sheldon
B. Castle.

Judd, Charles (colored), Co. A, 30th Conn. Vols.; enl. Jan. 11,1864 ; must.
out Nov, 7, 1865.

Judson, George E., Co, I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; wounded in the left hip and thigh at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19,
1864; removed to Patterson Park Hospital, Baltimore, Md., where
he died of his wounds, Oct. 31, 1864.

Kane, Friend F., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; was instantly
killed at the battle of Cold Harbor, June 1, 1864.

Kerner, John, 14th Conn. Vols.; received as a substitute Feb. 19, 1864,
and not assigned or not taken up on the rolls.

Kock, F. W., Co. D, 15th Conn. Vols. ; must. as a substitute Aug. 24, 1864;
trans. to 7th Conn. Vols. ; must. out July 20,1865, at Guldsboro’, N. C.

Knickerbocker, Edward, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861;
must. July 22, 1861; disch. for disability June 4, 1862.

Kregan, William, 27th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute for John Galpin,
October, 1862.

Lake, Perry W., Co. G, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. May 22, 1862; disch. for dis-
ability Nov. 22, 1862,

Laury, John, 2d Light Battery; must. as the substitute of Lewis H. At-
wood Feb. 19, 1864, but never reached the regiment.

Leach, Alvah A., Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. to
enlist in the regular army, Oct. 25, 1862.

Leach, Daniel E., Co. I, 2d. Heavy Art.; enl. Ang. 12, 1862; trans. to
Veteran Reserve Corps May 1, 1865; must. out July 1, 1865.

Lochlin, Charles A., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan, 2, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., July 8, 1865.

Locklin, Davis A., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., Ang. 18, 1865.

Locklin, George W., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art. ; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; wounded in
the thigh at the battle of Winchester, Sept. 19, 1861; died of wounds
and fever at the military hospital in Baltimore, Md., Oct. 20, 1864;
buried in Wiuchester National Cemetery.

‘Locklin, Isaac W., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865.

Lordwin, Thomas, eul. Sept. 20, 1863, as substitute for Oliver towles.

Lucas, Amos A., Co. 1, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; wounded at
the battle of Winchester, June 1, 1864; disch. for disability Dec. 18,
1864.

Lum, Charles H., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862 ; pro. to corporal.

Ledger, John, Co. F, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. July 22, 1861; trans. to the
Signal Corps Aug. 6, 1863; discharged.

Mallory, Samuel M., Cu. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for
disability May 8, 1863, at Fort Worth ; died in consequence of disease,
contracted with furmer chronic diseases, at Woodbury, April 17, 1867,
aged forty-six.

Mallory, Willis J.,Co.I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862: fought in almost
every battle of the regiment, up to the final battle of Sailor's Run,
April 7, 1865, when Gen. Ewell was taken, and some 5000 other pris-
oners.

Manchester, Oscar A., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; disch. Feb.
8, 1863, at Alexandria, Va.

 

Mayne, George A., Co. H, Ist Conn. Vols., three months; enl. April 23,
1861; disch. July 31, 1861; re-enl. in the 13th Conn. Vols., and was
trans. to, and became captain in, the 1st Louisiana Vols.

Manville, James H., served in the navy; was second captain of a 11-inch
gun on board of U.S. ship “Savannah,” and was in the Newport
News engagements. .

Martin, Frank, Co, D, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861, at Woodbury ;
must, December 22d; must. out May 19, 1862.

Meramble, George B., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must.
July 22, 1862; disch. Feb. 12, 1862, at Hancock, Md.; re-enl. in Co.
I, 20th Conn, Vols., Aug. 11, 1862; must. out at Washington, D. C.,
June 13, 1865.

McKay, William H., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must.
July 22, 1861, at Hartford; pro. to corporal; disch. for disability Feb.
12, 1862.

McDermott, Charles A., Co, E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 8, 1863 ; must.
out at Hartford, Coun., June 23, 1865; a short time after this he en-
listed in the regular army of the United States for three years, under
the name of Charles E. Ellsworth.

McKinney, Henry S., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 2, 1862; pro. to sec-
oud lieutenant Feb, 6, 1864; to first lieutenant Nov. 30, 1864; to cap-
tain of Co. D March 2, 1865; must. out Aug. 23, 1865.

McDivitt, John, Co. I, 24 Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 5, 1864; must. out at
Hartford, June 1, 1865; died of disease contracted in the army June
1, 1869. 1

McCan, George, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. July 22,1861; wounded at
Cedar Mountain Aug. 9, 1862; disch. for disability Nov. 15, 1862.

Meyer, Charles, must. September, 1863, as a substitute for Edgar Galpin.

Myers, Charles, Co. E, 5th Conn, Vols. ; enl. Aug. 27, 1863; must. out May
3, 1865, at Madison, Ind.

Miller, Jacob, Co. C, 5th Conn. Vols. ; must. as a substitute fur Samuel F.
Peck, Aug. 17, 1863 ; wounded July 20, 1864; must. out at Alexandria
July 19, 1865.

Miller, Joseph, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 20, 1862; must. out July
7, 1865, at Washington, D. C.; died at Woodbury, Aug. 24, 1868, of
enlargement of the spleen, a disease which he contracted in the ser-
vice.

Minor, Frederick M., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 7, 1862; disch. for
disability at New Haven, Conn., June 5, 1865,

Mitchell, John, Co, I, 8th Conn. Vols.; must. in as a substitute Feb. 19,
1864,

Mitchell, William H. (colored), Co. B, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 30,
1863; must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Munroe, John, must. as a substitute for Nathaniel D. Minor in Septem-
ber, 1863, but failed to report for service.

Munger, Nathan B, Co. L, 1st Conn. Cav.; enl. Jan, 5, 1864; must, out
Aug, 2, 1865, at Washington, D, C.; afterwards enlisted in the reg-
ular army. .

Munger, Trueworthy, Co, I, 13th Conn, Vols.; enl. June 11, 1862; was
wounded in taking the rebel gunboat “ Cotton,” on the Red River
expedition, and discharged in consequence May 26, 1863.

Morris, Thomas, must. as a substitute Feb. 19, 1864.

Morrison, William, Co. A, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute for
Henry C. Judson July, 1863.

Morgan, Thomas, Co. H, 10th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute Nov. 21,
1864.

Mulligan, Joseph, Co. I, 6th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute Dec. 3,
1864.

Monrve, Chauncey F., Co. E, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; re-enl.
as veteran Dec. 24, 1863; miust. out Dec. 12, 1865.

Mein, Charles, must. as.a substitute, to be sent tu the “ Woodbury Reds,”
Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols., Aug. 27, 1863, but failed to put in an appear-
ance.

Newey, Arthur B., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862.

Newton, Franklin, Co. E, 5th Conn, Vols.; enl. April 22d; must. July 22,
1861; pro. to corporal.

Orton, Walter J., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant and commissary-sergeant; wounded at the battle of Win-
chester, sometimes called Opequan; was carried to Taylor Hotel,
in Winchester, where he died Oct. 7, 1864.

Parmelee, Cornelius, Co. I, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. Jan. 7, 1862; disch.
Jan. 6, 1865.

Parmelee, George B., Co. B, 7th Conn, Vols. ; enl. Sept. 9, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Jan. 2, 1864; must, out Sept. 2, 1865.

Patterson, Charles, Co. I, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 21, 1861; died
March 14, 1862, of wounds received while charging a rebel battery
when Newbern, N, C., was taken.
716

Percey, Frank J., Co. C, 14th Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 9, 1862; killed at
the battle of Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862.

Percey, Seth W., Co. C, 1st Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 2, 1862; wounded
Sept. 17,1862; trans, to Invalid Corps; drowned Aug. 2, 1864, at Hart-
ford, in Connecticut River.

Peterson, Arnold (colored), Co. B, 29th Conn. Vols; en]. Dec, 3, 1863;
died at Brownsville, Texas, Aug. 15, 1865; buried in the national
cemetery near Old Fort Brown, Brownsville, Texas.

Petson, Thomas, must. as a substitute Feb. 19, 1864.

Phillips, Leman (colored), Co. I, 29th Conn. Vols.; enl. Jan. 1, 1864;
must. out Oct. 24, 1865.

Polley, James C., Co. I, 2d Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862 ; died of
typhoid fever at regimental hospital at Alexandria, Va., Nov. 19,
1862.

Polley, Henry E., Co. D, 13th Conn. Vols,; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Feb. 8, 1864; trans. to Co. B; must. out April 25, 1866.

Prentice, William P., Co. D, 13th Conn. Vols.; enl. March 5, 1862; disch.
Jan. 6, 1865.

Potter, Charles E., Co. K, 11th Conn. Vols.; enl. Feb. 16, 1864; must. out
at City Point Dec. 21, 1865.

Potter, Bela, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 29, 1862; pro. to corporal;
wounded in the leg at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; must. out at
Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Proctor, William H., Co. C, 1st Conn. Heavy Art.; enl. May 23, 1861;
re-enl, as veteran Nov. 16, 1863; enlisted after war was over in the
regular army.

Quinn, John M., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. July 22, 1861.

Reymer, Peter, Co. B, 5th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute of David
Cowles Aug. 18, 1863.

Reynolds, William H., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; en] Aug. 11, 1862; wounded
through the knee at the battle uf Winchester, Sept. 19, 1864, render-
ing bim a cripple for life; must. out at Washington, D. C., July 7,
1865.

Richardson, George H. (colored), must. into Co. H, 29th Conn. Vols.;
must. as substitute for Dr. Herman W. Shove Aug. 5, 1864; must.
out with the regiment at Brownsville, Texas, Oct. 24, 1865 ; died Oct.
26, 1865.

Renneis, Jacob, Co. C, 6th Conn. Vols.; enl. Feb. 7, 1865; must. out at
Goldsboro’, N. C., July 20, 1865.

Robinson, James, Co. 1, 6th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute Nov. 15,
1864; must. out at New Haven, Aug. 21, 1865.

Rogers, Henry ©., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 22, 1862; pro. to cor-
poral ; was severely wounded in the hand at the battle of Fort Fisher,
March 25, 1865; must. out at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Rogers, John J., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must. out at
Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Root, George W., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 23, 1862; pro. to cor-
Poral; wounded in the leg at the battle of Winchester, Sept. 19,
1864; must. out at Frederick, Md., May 26, 1865.

Root, Edward A., enl. at Woodbury April 22, 1861; must. out July
22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; must. out July 19,
1865.

Raymaker, Arnold, en]. at Woodbury April 22, 1861; must, July 22, 1861 .
trans. to Invalid Corps May 6, 1863.

Root, Joseph F., being in the West at the outbreak of the war, enl. in
Co. L, 2d Wisconsin Cay.; died of chronic diarrhoea at Helena, Ar-
kansas, Oct. 8, 1862; buried on removal after the war, in Missais-
sippi national cemetery, near Memphis, Tenn.

Roswell, George, Co, I, 8th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 27, 1861; disch. for
disability at Washington, D. C., Dec. 24, 1862.

Rowley, Charles M., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; eul. Aug. 12, ,1862; pro. to
corporal; must. out May 18, 1865, at Hartford.

Roberts, James, 2d Conn. Light Battery; must. as a substitute Feb, 19,
1864.

Rice, Thomas (colored), enl. Feb. 19,1864; died April 15, 1865, at Peters-
burg, Va.; buried in Hampton, Va., national cemetery.

Schindler, Jacob, Co. C, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Dec. 15, 1863; must. out
with his regiment at Washington, D. C., Sept. 25, 1865.

Sellick, Joel F., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols. ; enl. at Woodbury April 22, 1861;
must. at Iartford July 22, 1861; pro. to regimental commissary-ser-
geant July 23, 1861; disch. June, 1862.

Shaw, Thomas, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 28, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; wounded in the arm at Cold Harbor, and again severely
wounded in the arm at Cedar Creek; disch. in consequence of hig
wounds June 1, 1865.

Simpson, John, must. as a substitute Feb. 19, 1864; forgot to report for
assignment.

 

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

Smith, Marcus D., Co, I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; pro. to
orderly sergeant; severely wounded in the forearm at Winchester,
Va., Sept. 19, 1864, while advancing under heavy fire to take a rebel
battery; must. out July 7, 1865.

Smith, Nathaniel, must. in as major of the 2d Heavy Art., then the 19th
Conu. Vols., Aug. 23, 1862; pro. to lieutenant-colonel; res, on ac-
count of ill health May 6, 1864.

Soutill, Thomas, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 30, 1862.

Sommers, William, en]. in Woodbury April 22,1861; must. at Hartford
July 22, 1861.

Smith, Joseph, Co. H, 11th Conn. Vols. ; must. as substitute Feb. 19, 1864,

Sperry, Eli, must. in as captain of Co. I, 19th Coun. Vols., afterwards
known as 2d Heavy Art., July 24, 1862; Jan. 1, 1864, he was seriously
wounded in the left forearm Ly the accidental discharge of a re-
volver, in consequence of which he resigned March 20, 1864.

Slade, Frederick C., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862; must, out
at Washington, D. C., July 7, 1805.

Spring, Richard, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. April 22, 1861; must. July
22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec, 21, 1863 ; wounded in the side near
Dallas, Ga. May 25, 1864, and again, June 22, 1864, in foot, at Kene-
saw Mountain; must. out July 22, 1865,

Stammer, Warden, Co. G, 28th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 18, 1862; disch.
Aug. 28, 1863; re-enl. in Co. I, 2d Heavy Art., Jan. 2, 1864; pro. to
sergeant; wounded in the leg at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; must.
out at Washington Aug. 18, 1865.

Starr, George (colored), enl. in Co. H, 127th Regiment of United States Col-
ored Vols., and served to the end of the war; his true name is George
Jackson, but from mere freak he chose to serve under the above
name.

Stockman, Gardiner, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. at Woodbury April 22,
1861; must. July 22, 1861; was soon after trans. to Co. A, same regi-
ment; disch. by order of the Secretary of War, for disability, Nov. 5,
1863; died May 28, 1864, before his regiment was discharged.

Squire, Charles A., “‘ Woodbury Reds,” afterwards Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.;
enl. at Woodbury April 22, 1861; must. July 22, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863; he was killed at the battle of
Kenesaw Mountain, Ga., sometimes called Culp’s Farm, June 22,
1864.

Taber, Daniel D., Co. G, 11th Conn. Vols.; enl. Dec. 1, 1861; served his
time out and was discharged.

Taylor, Daniel S.,Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; wounded in
the leg at Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864; must, out June 1, 1865.

Taylor, James K. Polk, Co, I, 2d Heavy Art.; en. Jan. 2, 1864,

Taylor, William, Co. I, 27th Mass. Vols.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864; taken pris-
oner at Kingston, N. U., March 7, 1865; must. out of the regiment
(techuically) while yet in captivity June 2, 1865.

Thomas, Charles L., Co. I, 24 Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 11, 1862; died of
lung fever in the regimental hospital Jan. 16, 1864; sent home and
buried in Woodbury.

Thomas, Horatio 8., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art. ; enl. July 25, 1862 ; pro. to cor-
poral; died uf congestion of the lungs at the regimental hospital at
Alexandria, Va., Feb. 20, 1864; sent home and buried in Woodbury.

Thomas, Ira, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. July 28, 1862, at the age of sixty-
three years; Walter J. Orton dyed his whiskers, after which his ap-
pearance was that of a man of about thirty years; he, with other
Christian men in his company, instituted a prayer-meeting in his
tent, which became well attended, and was the means of great good
to the attendants; must. out fur disability March 4, 1864.

Tierney, Andrew, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 4, 1862; wounded at
the battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19, 1864, and had his arm fractured.

Tracy, Thomas, Co. B, 12th Conn, Vols.; enl. March 20, 1861; killed at
Port Hudson, La., May 29, 1863, aged twenty-one,

Trappell, Frederick, Co. G, 8th Conn. Vols.; must. as a substitute for
Roderick Atwood Aug. 12, 1864; must. out ut City Point, Va., Dec
12, 1865.

Tuttle, Elisha, Co. I, 28th Conn. Vols.; must. as the substitute of John
Galpin Aug. 28, 1862; must. out May 31, 1863.

Tuttle, Charles A., Co. A, 8th Conn. Vols. ; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; disch. for
disability March 5, 1863, at Washington, D. C.

Tuttle, John E., Co. B, 8th Conn. Vols. ; enl. Sept. 25, 1861; shot through
the breast at the battle of Antietam and killed, Sept. 17, 1862.

Vogelli, Frederick, Co. K, 20th Conn. Vols.; must. in as a substitute for
Ambrose H. Wells Aug. 25, 1863,

Wakeman, Daniel P., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; en, Jan. 2, 1864; must. out
at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865,

Walker, William P., Co. I, 4d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan, 2, 1864; must. out
at Washington, D. C., Aug. 18, 1865.
 

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Se

 
WOODBURY.

717

 

Walker, Joseph, must. as a substitute fur Henry C. Buckingham Aug.
20, 1863.

Walsh, Timothy F., Cu. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 5, 1862; pro. to ser-
geant; wounded at the battle of Winchester Sept. 19, 1864; killed
at the battle of Hatcher's Run, Va., Feb, 6, 1865,

Warner, Abram A., Co. I, 9th Conn. Vols.; enl. Nov. 1, 1861; died at
New Orleans general hospital Aug. 12, 1862; buried in Monument
national cemetery, at Chalmette, La., six miles below New Orleans,
on the site of Gen. Jackson’s battle-ground in the war of 1812.

Warner, George, Co. C, 20th Conn. Vols.; must.in as a substitute Aug.
25, 1864.

Warner, James L., Co. G, 5th Conn, Vols.; enl. July 29, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Dec. 21, 1863; disch. for disability June 19, 1865.

Warner, Newton J., Co, B, 13th Conn. Vols. ; enl. Dec. 22, 1861; trans. to
Veteran Reserve Corps April 30, 1864; must. out at the end of the
war.

Wellman, Benjamin, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 11, 1861; pro. to
corporal and quartermaster-sergeant ; wounded at Cold Harbor June
1, 1864 ; must. out in July, 1865.

Wellman, Joseph, Co. D, 28th Conn, Vols.; enl. Sept. 2, 1862; died at
Port Hudson, La., July 23, 1863.

Welch, William, Jr., enl. in the regular army in the spring of 1865, at
New Haven, Conn.; was sent to the fort at New London.

Wells, Philip, Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; enl. at Woodbury April 22, 1861;
must. at Hartford July 22, 1861; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21, 1863 ;
must. out July 19, 1865.

West, Thomas, Co. E, lst Conn. Cav.; enl. Aug. 21, 1864; must. out at
Hartford, Conn., June 23, 1865.

Whitlock, Frederick, Co. I, 20th Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 15, 1862; pro. to
corporal, and while he lay sick and insensible at Washington, D. C.,
in a government hospital, his commission as second lieutenant ar-
rived trom Governor Buckingham; but he never knew of his pro-
motion; he died Jan. 24, 1863; his remains were embalmed and
buried at Greenwood Cemetery. 3

Whitlock, Walter B., Co. G, lst Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 21, 1861; re-enl. as
veteran Jan, 26, 1864; must. out Sept. 25, 1865.

Whitlock, William, Co. G, Ist Heavy Art.; enl. Oct. 22, 1861; disch. for
disability Oct. 18, 1862.

White, John 8., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; died of typhoid
fever, Nov. 13, 1862, at the regimental hospital at Alexandria, Va.;
buried in Woodbury.

White, Daniel, must. as a substitute for Newell Osborn Sept. 3, 1863.

Wheeler, Curtis, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 8, 1862; wounded at
Cold Harbor through both thighs by the same bullet; removed to
Armory Square Hospital, Washington, D. C., where he died June 14,
1864; buried in Arlington national cemetery.

Williams, George, Co. F, 28th Conn. Vols.; enl. as a substitute for Fred-
erick Ward at New Haven Sept. 10, 1862.

Wilsey, Ambrose H., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 12, 1862; disch.
Aug. 17, 1863, by order of the Secretary of War.

/Winton, Albert B., Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; eul. April 22, 1861; must. at
Hartford, July 22, 1861; pro. to corporal; re-enl. as veteran Dec. 21,

_ 1863; must. out July 19, 1865.

. Winton, Eugene, Co. F, 6th Conn. Vols.; enl. Sept. 7, 1861; disch. Sept.
11, 1864, at expiration of term.

Winton, Jared B., Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Aug. 6, 1862; must. out at

“ Washington, D. C., July 7, 1865.

Wordell, William, Co. I, 2d Heavy Art.; enl. Jan. 2, 1864,

Woodruff, Roderick Steele, Co. A, 23d Conn. Vols.; enl. Aug. 20, 1862;
pro. to hospital steward; taken prisoner at Lafourche Crossing Hos-
pital, La., June 25, 1863; must. out Aug. 31, 1863.

Wyant, Wilson, enl. April 22, 1861, at Woodbury; must. July 22, 1861,
at Hartford, as captain Co. E, 5th Conn. Vols.; resigned for dis-
ability Jan. 31, 1863.

46

 

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

STILES CURTISS AND HIS SONS, JOHN AND
HENRY §.

Stiles Curtiss was born in Stratford, Conn., April
18,1771. He was the son of John Curtiss and Mary,
his wife, and belonged to the Stratford branch of the
Curtiss family ; the earliest record of which in that
town is in 1652, and is of widow Elizabeth Curtis,
mother of John and William. From her children
have descended all of that name claiming origin in
Stratford. The family is of English origin, having
the right to bear arms as knights from about the
Norman conquest. During the reign of Charles L.,
their right to their coat-of-arms was confirmed by
Parliament. Mr. Curtiss emigrated to Woodbury im-
mediately after his marriage; became a farmer on
Good Hill, and resided in town all of his days. He
was actively interested in church and public matters,
and was one of the town’s representative farmers.
He had nine children, eight of whom attained ma-
turity. He lived to be seventy-eight years of age,
and died, Jan. 20, 1850, much respected. His wife
survived him twelve years, living with their youngest
son, Henry, and dying at the advanced age of eighty-
eight. She was a good Christian woman, and with
her husband belonged to the Congregational Church.

JOHN CURTISS.

John Curtiss, second son of Stiles and Sarah (Beard)
Curtiss, was born in Woodbury, Conn., July 31, 1797.
He was educated at the schools of Woodbury, and,
at the age of nineteen, taught the winter term of Rox-
bury school, and was continued as teacher for several
winters. When he arrived at age he received a por-
tion of the old homestead, consisting of about fifty
acres, and afterwards became owner of one hundred
more, all on Good Hill... He married, Oct. 18, 1818,
Maria, daughter of David Gilbert, of Woodbury.
She was born in Kent, Conn., Nov. 9, 1797. For
sixty-two years this worthy couple walked life’s path-
way together, performing its duties faithfully, and
helping to bear each other's burdens in the spirit of
true affection. They had two children,—Sarah H. and
Harriet M. Sarah married Benjamin 8. Russell, of
Woodbury, and still resides in the town. Harriet
married James H. Linsley, of Woodbury, and died in
June, 1879. After his marriage Mr. Curtiss taught
the district school of Woodbury during several winter
terms, and those who remember him as teacher speak
of his marked ability in that profession. But he was
a farmer, and as a farmer had a pride in having all
his surroundings neat, thrifty, and convenient, and
his crops equal to his brother agriculturists. He never
sought position save in one direction. About 1813 he
enlisted in the Woodbury Independent Company be-
longing to the Twelfth Regiment of Connecticut
militia, and step by step was steadily advanced to its
captaincy. He was appointed sergeant Oct. 25, 1814;
718

‘ HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

commissioned lieutenant by Governor Oliver Wolcott,
April 26, 1823, and captain by Governor Gideon Tom-
linson, Aug. 28, 1827. Mr. Curtiss had positive po-
litical convictions; was first a Federal, then a Whig,
then a Republican, and has voted at every election
held in the town since he became a voter. About
1860, Mr. Curtiss sold his farm on Good Hill, and pur-
chased the pleasant home where he now resides, and
where Mrs. Curtiss, after nearly twenty years’ enjoy-
ment of its pleasures, died, Feb. 18, 1880. Both Mr.
and Mrs. Curtiss were members for many years of the
South Congregational Church of Woodbury.

HENRY 8. CURTISS.

Henry 8. Curtiss, youngest son of Stiles and Sarah
(Beard) Curtiss, was born in Woodbury, Feb. 24,
1814. He passed his early life with his father; re-
ceived his education at the schools of Woodbury, and
became a farmer on the old homestead. He was a
man who shrank from notoriety, and preferred the
quiet retirement of home to any other society, and
although he represented Woodbury one term in the
State Legislature, preferred that the matters of pub-
lic interest should be attended to by those who had
more desire for them than he.

Mr. Curtiss was especially characterized by modest
and unassuming manner, strong social feelings, frank-
ness and honesty of purpose, to which may be added
a firm belief in Christianity. Both he and his wife
were long connected with the South Congregational
Church of Woodbury. In the domestic relation Mr.
Curtiss was an affectionate husband and father, and his
friendships were warm and lasting. His marriage to
Miss Elizabeth L., daughter of Gamaliel and Abigail
(Warner) Benham, occurred June 10,1840. She was
of an old Connecticut family, her ancestors settling
at Benham Hill, West Haven, in the first days of the
commonwealth. She was born in South Britain, Nov.
22,1814. Their only child, Henry B., was born Feb.
24, 1842. He gave promise of an active manhood, but
died suddenly after an illness of only one week, Oct.
19, 1853.

Mr. Curtiss died at his residence in Woodbury, Oct.
23, 1869. Mrs. Curtiss still survives, patiently waiting
till the summons comes for her to join her husband
and son in the “ better land.”

HON. DANIEL CURTISS,

Of an old and honorable family, famed for chivalric
deeds in the days of knighthood in the earlier times
of “Merrie England,” the historian can find no
worthier character to point a moral on the pages of
the history of Woodbury than Hon. Daniel Curtiss.
The energy which marked the possessors of the name
in the olden days appeared intensified in him, and
whatever his hand found to do was done with all his

might, and he has made an impress on the town

second to none of its various residents.

 

Mr. Curtiss was a lineal descendent of Capt. Wil-
liam Curtiss, of Stratford, Conn., one of the original
proprietors of Woodbury (1672), and who probably
came from England in early manhood, with his
mother and brother John, about 1650, as the first
record of them in Stratford “town records” is of
“widow Elizabeth Curtis, mother of John and Wil-
liam.” The Curtiss coat-of-arms is used by “ Daniel
Curtiss’ Sons” as their trade-mark on their manufac-
tured goods, and is thus described in heraldry: “ Az.
a fess dancetteé betw..three crowns or. Crest, a lion
in his pp. colors, issuing forth of his colors or and
azure, thereon a fess dancetteé; or maritted gules
doubled argent. Motto, Sapere aude.” Their right
to bear this coat-of-arms was confirmed during the
reign of Charles I. “by grant under the Great Seal,
reciting that search having been made in the register
and records for the true and antient armes belonging
to the Curtis name and family, and the same appear-
ing by ould seales and records and other good testi-
monie and proofes in the custody and keeping of
Richard St. George, Clarencieux, King of Armes, to
be the proper and antient armes thereof, and which
they did theretofore bare, they were, to them, and their
issue and posterity, in memory thereof, forever ratified
and confirmed, according to the law of armes and cos-
tome of England.”

Hon. Daniel Curtiss was fifth child of David S.
and Sybilla (Huntington) Curtiss, and was born
in Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 18, 1801. In education
he had only the advantages of the public schools of
that day, when the student graduated oftener with
knowledge of axe and scythe than that of books, but
acquired sufficient knowledge to enable him to teach
two or three terms of winter school, in Middlebury
and Litchfield, before he became of age. Then going
to New Jersey, he peddled for some time for a New
Jersey firm, both on foot and with a horse. Return-
ing to Woodbury, he established himself as a dry-
goods and grocery merchant, and continued in trade for
years. In connection therewith he commenced the
manufacture of silver-ware,—spoons, thimbles, specta-
cles, etc..—and was the pioneer in this branch of man-
ufacturing in this part of the State. He was the in-
ventor of “German silver,” and was the first person
to manufacture goods made of this article. These
goods were sold by peddlers, who traveled through the
country for that purpose. Of these Mr. Curtiss had
sometimes seventy-five employed at one time. About
1840, he disposed of this manufacturing interest, and
it was carried to Waterbury. Soon after, or about
that time, he commenced manufacturing woolen
goods, with which he was ever after connected, and
which is now carried on by his sons under firm-name
of “Daniel Curtiss’ Sons.” Selling out his mercan-
tile interests in 1845, he thereafter gave his attention
to manufacturing and farming.

Mr. Curtiss married, Jan. 27, 1887, Julia F., daugh-
ter of Hon. John Strong and his wife, whose maiden
 
A

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E. BEARDSLEY.

STANLEY
WOODBURY.

719

 

ame was Flora Preston. She was born in Woodbury,
Feb. 9, 1812. Her grandfather was a lieutenant in
the colonial army throughout the Revolution. Their
-children are Walter'S., Emily A. (Mrs. Homer Tom-
-linson), Ellen C. (Mrs. Perry Averill, of Jackson,
Mich.), Horace D.; Cordelia S. (Mrs. George C. White,
Jr.; of Brooklyn, N. ¥.), Edward J., Frances J., Eliz-
abeth S. (Mrs. Edward F. Cole, of Waterbury, Conn.).

About the time of his marriage Mr. Curtiss pur-
chased the Jabez Bacon place, where he resided until
his death, which occurred May 16, 1878. Mr. Curtiss
was prominent and active in public affairs, was often
called to take public trusts, was selectman, represent-
ative for Woodbury three years, and senator for this
district in the State Senate one year: In politics he
was a Whig in early life, and a Republican from the
organization of that party. He was active during the
Rebellion, and gave largely in time and money for
the preservation of our free institutions.

In 1851, the Woodbury Bank was established, and
Mr. Curtiss was chosen its president. He always com-
manded the esteem and confidence of the citizens of
the town for which he has done so much. He was
essentially a self-made man, and his life was one of
steady -and active devotion to business. His great
success, which built up a large fortune, was the nat-
ural result of his ability to examine and readily com-
prehend any subject presented to him, power to decide
promptly, and courage to act with vigor and persis-
tently in accordance with his conviction.

STANLEY E. BEARDSLEY.

Stanley E. Beardsley, son of Grandison and Mary
‘A. Beardsley, was born in Woodbury, Aug. 4, 1841,
and‘ died Feb. 23,1879. He was educated in the
common schools and in the Woodbury Academy, then
conducted by Mr. P. B. Hulse. He made a rapid
advance in mastering the English branches of educa-
tion taught therein. At an early age he showed a
decided aptitude for mercantile business, and his
father took him into his store, where he soon became
familiar with all the branches of trade carried on
therein. He became the leading salesman and book-
keeper, and in a few years relieved his father princi-
pally from the purchasing of goods in the market.
During the last few years of his young life he super-
intended the entire purchases and sales, and had the
sole care of the books. He was a rapid accountant
and an excellent bookkeeper. He possessed indefat-
igable industry,—mnever on any occasion leaving his
post of duty when there was business to be done. He
never attended public gatherings in town, deeming
it his duty, then of all other times, to be in his place
of business to attend to the wants of the public. He
was always active, attentive, and polite to his custom-
ers, It was his rule to let none go away dissatisfied.
In consequence of this attention to business, and his
tact’ in its management, the firm of G. Beardsley &

 

Son secured a larger trade in its line than any other
firm in all this part of the county. He was absolutely
a man of no recreations and no holidays. He had no
taste for and did not go into general society. Perhaps
this utter engrossment in business, and excessive labor

in it, were the principal cause of his early death. It

may have weakened his constitution so that he was
less able to.bear the shock of the final blow upon the
head which carried him off. Human endurance can-
not last forever,—though in this case he had been re-
markably well for three or four weeks preceding his
death.

His decease was sudden and untimely. On Sunday
morning, the 23d of February, 1879, as he did not go
home to breakfast at the usual hour, his parents be-
came alarmed for him, and his father went to the
store, in the chamber of which he slept at night to pro-
tect the property, and on trying to open the door of
the store found that he was lying against it. On
gaining an entrance the father assisted the son to sit
up on a bale of cotton. He was weak, and put his
fingers under the fastenings of the bale to support
himself. He told his father that he had stumbled
upon the bale and fell, hitting his head violently
against the door. A load of goods had arrived the
evening before, and this bale had been left in the way.
He had arisen, dressed himself, gone into the store
below, taken the coal-hod to go for some coal, and
fell, as before stated, the store being dark on account
of the shutters being closed. Help and a physician
were called, and he was borne to his home a little
distance away, where everything possible was done to
save his life, but he gradually failed and breathed his
last about four hours after he was found, dying of .
concussion of ‘the brain.

He was a young man of genial and kindly disposi-
tion, warmly attached to his friends, and devoted to
his parents. A strong and lasting attachment existed
between him and the writer, such as will sometimes
spring up between persons of a considerable disparity
of age. As the survivor he feels a personal loss, and
will never cease to regret his early death.

He was thoroughly self-reliant, though modest and
retiring in his demeanor. He was very reticent in
his intercourse with others, and was much more likely
to divine your secret than to disclose his own. He
was careful in speech. No vulgar or profane word
escaped his lips. He was thoughtful of the wants of
others, and liberal and kind to the poor. He was for
a number of years town treasurer and justice of the
peace, and was postmaster from Oct. 19, 1867, to
April, 1869, when he resigned the office.

Tn his death his parents, the community, and espe-

cially the business community, suffered a very great

loss. A prominent business man remarked at his de-
cease, that by his death and that of his neighbor, the
late William E. Woodruff, the pillars of business
seemed to have fallen, and there were none to replace
them. Such removals are providences we cannot un-
720

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

derstand, but we must reverently believe that the
Ruler of the universe knows what is for the best, and
“doeth all things well.”

THOMAS BULL.

It is with pleasure that the historian stops the nar-
ration of events, for the purpose of sketching the
character and life’of one who has for so’ many years
been identified with the history of Woodbury, and
who has done so much in his way for its improvement
and advancement, that coming generations may read
and take example from its teachings.

Thomas Bull, son of David Samuel and Elizabeth
(Mitchell) Bull, was born in Woodbury, Conn., Dec.
29, 1801. His father was brought up in New Tnmuiden,
and often, in early life, went as supercargo to the
West Indies. He afterwards became a merchant in
Woodbury, and in the latter part of his life was a
farmer. He died in October, 1810. Thomas Bull,
grandfather of the subject of this sketch, and from
whom he was named, was a major of cavalry in the
Revolutionary war, and died in February, 1804.
The first settlers of the Bull family came from Farm-
ington, and were originally from Hartford. Deacon
Samuel Bull settled on the place now occupied by
Mr. Bull, and it has been in the possession of the
family ever since.

Mr. Bull was educated at the best schools of Wood-
bury, has been trying justice of Woodbury for forty
years, was judge of probate for several years, and has
always been aman known and prized for his frank-
ness, acumen, and sterling integrity. As a justice,
he carefully weighed the evidence, and decided with
such good judgment as to give justice, and never
was a decision of his reversed by a higher court. He
was brought up a farmer and always was a farmer,
but through his financial ability was often enabled
to extend aid to his townsmen, and by many of them
was considered a private banker. He was in posses-
sion of a handsome competency, the result of inherit-
ance, business ability, and prudence. He was a man
of no common ‘intellect, and his reasoning powers and
memory are far better now than many much younger
than he. He is respected, esteemed, and honored.
On the last portion of a long and useful life he can
look back and see a life that will be pointed to with
pride by his descendants, and from which he need
not wish to erase a single line. He married Jan. 15,
1824, Susan, daughter of Aaron and Anna (Curtiss)
Sherman. Their children are Elizabeth A., DavidS.,
Julia E., and Susan J. (Mrs. Dr. Shove). Both Mr.
Bull and wife have been for many years members of
the Congregational Church.

BENJAMIN FABRIQUE.

Benjamin Fabrique is of French ancestry. His
grandfather, John Fabrique, emigrated from France,
and settled in Newtown, Fairfield Co., Conn., at an

 

early day, where he raised a large family, of which
Bartimeus, the father of Benjamin, was the youngest.
He was born in 1751, was apprenticed to and learned
the carpenter’s trade, and settled in Southbury, mar-
rying Lucy, daughter of Nathan Judson, of Wood-
bury. He had three children that attained maturity,
—Betsey, who married Nathaniel Tuttle, of South-
bury; William L., and Benjamin, and died at the
good old age of seventy-eight years.

Benjamin Fabrique was born in Southbury, Conn.,
Oct. 26,1799. He received such advantages of edu-
cation as were afforded by the common schools of
that period, and, after arriving at manhood, engaged
as farm hand on a farm in Woodbury. For twenty-
six years he followed this labor, by economy and
thrift gradually laying up a capital for future years.
When about fifty-four years of age he was called to
attend to the business of a sick nephew, a resident
of New Haven, and for two years he was absent from
Woodbury. Returning here in 1855, he has ever
since devoted himself to the care of his business in-
vestments, and the business which others have con-
fided to his careful attention.

Mr. Fabrique is a man who has taken care of him-
self, and consequently is possessed of youthful ap-
pearance. He is possessed of correct habits; is a
man of unusual regularity, careful, painstaking, and
accurate in everything. He does not jump at hasty
conclusions, but weighs every side before he forms
his judgment, which, once formed, he rarely finds
occasion to change. For years he has been familiar
in his dealings, and his ‘‘ comings and goings,” to the
people of Woodbury, and none to-day have aught to
say of him but words of respect and esteem. He
has been chosen at various times selectman of the
town, and the last time he held that office was con-
tinued in it for several successive years. He also rep-
resented Woodbury in the Legislature in 1856, 1868,
and 1864. He has been for years an auditor anda
corporator of Woodbury Savings Bank. In politics
was formerly a Whig, but a Republican, from the
organization of that party. He is a member of the
First Congregational Church of Woodbury.

HORACE HURD.

Among the inhabitants of Meriden, Conn.; who went
to Stratford, John Hurd went so early as to represent
the town in 1649. His brother, Adam, was residing
there at the same time. Both married and had chil-
dren, each a son named John. From this has arisen
some trouble to genealogists, as the greatest pains has
to be taken in order not to confound the two Johns.

John Hurd, son of Adam, came to Woodbury in its
pioneer days, and the family has been an industrious,
honorable, and respected one in Woodbury from that
day to this. Those who desire to trace the long line
of lineage with its numerous ramifications, will find
 

       

     

     

  
 
 
 
 

He
WOODBURY.

the work well done in Cothren’s “ History of Ancient
Woodbury.”

Isaiah Hurd was probably born in Woodbury
before the Revolution, and grew up, married, and
lived there till about 1805. He married Eunice,
daughter of Seth Minor, of Woodbury, in 1794-95,
and had children born in Woodbury, as follows:
Gideon, Marcus, Horace, Burr, and Diah. He then
moved to the “Hurd Settlement,” Bethel, N. Y.,
and passed the rest of his life in that State. There
his son Seth and a daughter, who died in infancy,
were born. Mr. Hurd was a hard-working farmer all
of his days, and died about 1850.

Horace Hurd was born in Woodbury, March 15,
1801. He went to New York with his father when
but a mere child, and remained until he became of
age. He then came to Woodbury and resided with
an uncle—Seth Minor—for several years. He mar-
ried Roxa, daughter of Wait and Susan Minor, of
Woodbury, and commenced housekeeping. Already
his industry and economy had given him a small cap-
ital, and he purchased a farm of about sixty acres, on
which he erected a house the next year after marriage.
To this farm he added by purchase about one hun-
dred acres more. Mrs. Hurd died Oct. 3, 1863. Of
their children, only their oldest—Marcus A.—lived to
grow up. He married Eunice Warner, of Woodbury,
and resides on the place first purchased by his father,
who, about 1852, removed to the pleasant home he
now occupies, which formerly belonged to Seth Minor,
his uncle, and which he had purchased some time
previously.

Mr. Hurd has been all his life a hard-working,
practical farmer, and is in all respects a true repre-
sentative of that class. His fields, his plowing, his
sowing, all were models, which others would have
done well to imitate. He has never sought office, and,
although often-solicited to do so, has steadily refused.
He is justly considered one of Woodbury’s estimable
citizens. He united with the “South Church” in
1836, and has held his membership from that date.
He is a man of positive convictions, and, having once
formed a course of action, is slow to change. For ex-
ample, when a youth of thirteen, he took a stand against
liquor and tobacco, and has never indulged in the use
of either during his long life, even abstaining from
cider that had fermented, and he says his health has
been as good, and, in fact, better than those who have
used these articles. Mr. Hurd is a Republican in
politics, and was an “ Old-Line Whig” in former days.
He was married, May 14, 1856, to Mrs. Clarinda
Barnes, daughter of Philo and Grace (Nichols) Tou-
sey, of Newtown, Conn. She was born in Perrington,
N.Y.

 

GEORGE B. LEWIS.
George B. Lewis, second son and third child of
Abijah and Sally (Fairchild) Lewis, was born in
Roxbury, Conn., Dec. 8, 1820. His grandfather,

 

721

John Lewis, emigrated from Stratford to Roxbury in
the latter part of the last century, and located there
permanently as a farmer. He died in Roxbury, leav-
ing a large family of children. Abijah Lewis was
the oldest son of John Lewis, and was born prior to
the Revolution. He became a farmer also, passed
his life in Roxbury, living to a hale old age, and
dying about 1852, at the age of eighty-one. His chil-
dren were three girls and two boys.

George B. Lewis spent his early years at home,
but, when about ten years of age, went to work for
farmers in the neighborhood, and from that time
returned only at intervals to his father’s. When
about sixteen he came to Woodbury, and served an
apprenticeship at the tinning business with Tuttle
Dayton. And right here we will make a singular
statement in these days of workmen of unsettled and
roving disposition and habit. Mr. Lewis, after his
apprenticeship, worked at his trade for a time for
Mr. Dayton, and, after his death, purchased his in-
terest and continued the business. For thirty-five
years he continued in the same trade and occupied
the same buildings. He was ever thorough in his
business, careful, economical, and a good investor of
funds. He is frank, social, and pleasant in his inter-
course with others, and his relations with his fellow-
townsmen have ever been agreeable. His business
qualities have been appreciated by them, and he has
been chosen to administer many estates. He has
been first selectman for five years, and has repre-
sented Woodbury in the State Legislature. He has
been president of Woodbury Savings Bank from its
incorporation. His industry and attention to business
have brougbt him a fine property and enabled him
to retire from active life in 1871. He has a beau-
tiful home in Woodbury, where he has resided since
he closed his business. He has traveled much, visit-
ing nearly every State in the United States. He is a
Republican in politics, and has been one from the
organization of the party. He married, May 19,
1848, Miss Charlotte L., daughter of Capt. Judson
and Charlotte (Leavenworth) Hurd, also of Roxbury.
His success is a lesson to every young man, showing
what steadiness, industry, and proper attention to
business will accomplish for any one under our Amer-
ican institutions and laws.

DR. HARMON W. SHOVE.

The “Shove” family has long had a place in the
annals of Connecticut. Rev. Seth Shove, the great-
grandfather of Dr. Shove, was the first settled pastor
of the First Congregational Church in Danbury. His
sons, Seth and Levi, came to Warren shortly after
marriage, and settled permanently there as farmers.
They both reared large families, and were reputable
citizens. The only son of Seth was Cyrus. He mar-
ried Saloma Young, by whom he had seven children.
722

HISTORY OF LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.

 

He was always a farmer, and died, much respected,
when comparatively a young man. His son, Har-
mon W., was born in Warren, Litchfield Co., Conn.,
July 80, 1828. He remained at home until he was
fifteen years old, and then for three years attended
Howard’s Academy, in Warren, after which he went
to New Jersey, and taught school for four years. He
then taught two years in New York and two in Con-
necticut. About 1849 he commenced the study of
medicine at Litchfield, in the office of Drs. Beckwith
and Seymour. He attended one course of lectures at
Yale Medical College, and two at the College of
Physicans and Surgeons in New York, and was gradu-.
ated at Yale in the spring of 1852. For two years,
while pursuing his studies, he held the appointment
of surgeon’s steward in the United States navy. This
was, both in experience and pecuniarily, of great as-
sistance to the young student. Immediately after
graduation, Dr. Shove removed to Woodbury, where he
has since resided. For the past twenty-eight years he
has steadily devoted himself to his profession, work-

 

ing hard and never relaxing his student habits, but
keeping pace with all medical progress, and availing
himself of all the improvements and advancement of
the healing art, at the same time gathering rich ex-
perience from an extended practice, and his long and
successful labors have been productive of a handsome
competency. He is a member of the Litchfield County
Medical Society, Connecticut State Medical Society,
and the American Medical Association, and has been
examiner for pensions since 1861.

Dr. Shove is a careful, deliberate man, of fine phy-
sique, pleasing in personal appearance, and with a
fund of quiet humor which makes his conversation
entertaining. He has never received any assistance
from any one but himself, and is a good example of
what may be accomplished by steady application,
self-denial, and patient resolution. In politics he
has been a Republican from 1856.

Dr. Shove married, July 30, 1861, Susan J. iat
ter of Thomas and Susan (Sherman) Bull, of an.old
and honorable Woodbury family.
SUPPLEMENT

 

TuE following additions were received too late for
insertion in the body of this work:

JOSEPH BATTELL.

Joseph Battell was born in Milford, Conn., July 21,
1774. He was the second of twelve children of Wil-
liam and Sarah (Buckingham) Battell, of whom five
sons and five daughters lived to adult life. He was
of the fifth generation in descent from Thomas Bat-
telle, who became a townsman of Dedham, Mass., in
‘1648, and in the same year married Mary Fisher,
daughter of Joshua Fisher, of Dedham. This Thomas
Battelle spelled his name as here written. The name,
with different spellings, is an old one in England,
and from the prevailing forms would seem to have
been of Norman origin.

William Battell, the father of Joseph Battell, re- |

moved from Milford to Woodbury, and soon again
to Torringford, while the son was yet a lad. At the
age of eighteen the son commenced business for him-

self in Norfolk, upon a small capital furnished by his.

father, which was afterwards refunded. Here he
passed the remainder of his life, for forty-six years of
which he was actively engaged in mercantile business.

The following extract from a sermon delivered at
Norfolk the Sabbath after New Year, 1842, is be-
lieved to be a just estimate of the character of Mr.
Battell :

“The character of his intellect was elevated, com-
bining qualities which we do not often meet; he had
comprehension of mind to embrace the largest sub-
ject, and at the same time did not overlook the details
of any matter. His mind was wonderfully active,
and capable of great and long-continued effort with-
out any signs of exhaustion or weariness. In the
most active and busy period of his life, when his cares
would have seemed sufficient to overwhelm and crush
amind of ordinary vigor, so far was he from being
oppressed or overburdened that at that very period he
was a great general reader. Most of the books of his
large and select library were purchased during those
years, and were read, too. Standard authors in lit-
erature, history, morals, and religion were perused
amid the intervals of business. His taste was just;
his criticism upon authors and intellectual perform-
ances indicated nice discrimination, a full apprecia-
tion, and high enjoyment of whatever possessed lit-
erary merit. He was a friend of education, and a lib-
eral patron of literary institutions in different parts
of our land.

 

“Of his business character I will not say much:
most of you have had opportunity to judge for your-
selves, His plans were characterized by enterprise,
by sagacity, and by caution. But he was not a mere
schemer. He was, beyond any man] ever knew, dili-
gent and persevering in the execution of his plans.
Without any parade of method, he attended to every
matter in its season, and never left anything to which
he put his hand till he had seen it through and fin-
ished, then, the very next moment, he was ready to
turn to.anything else that might arise. This habit of
doing things in the proper season, of carrying through
matters undertaken, was, I imagine, one great secret
of his success. His business never became confused,
nothing was overlooked. He was ever ready to attend
to any person who called, or to any subject that might
be presented, thus everything was kept in order. His
natural disposition was uncommonly amiable,, and-
thus business never perplexed or fretted him. On this
account he was always in good humor, and ready to
attend to your concerns.

“Need I add that, as a merchant and a man of
business, he was scrupulously honest. His integrity
was perfect. Those who knew him best, who had
most dealings with him, and the best opportunities to
understand his principles, were most implicit in their
confidence; indeed, many considered him fastidious
on this point.

“In speaking of him in relation to business, I
ought to add that his own affairs, extensive and
various as they were, constituted but a small part of
that which received his attention. How many went
to him for advice? and he must draw their contracts,
and adjust the whole matter for them.

“With what interest would he enter into your
affairs! how disinterested his counsel, how prompt
in rendering you his personal assistance! He was
guardian for many an orphan, treasurer of various
corporations; and how easily he seemed to sustain
these burdens, how cheerful and pleasant and social !

“Tn his character as a citizen he was public-spirited
and liberal. He was an intelligent and interested
observer of public affairs, both in our own land and
in the world. His circle of acquaintance and friends
was as wide as that of any man I have known who
was not in public life, yet he felt a special regard
for this place. Here he had spent the greater part of
his life, transacted a vast amount of business, made

his property, enjoyed much happiness, formed many
723
724

SUPPLEMENT.

 

intimate friendships; here he expected to be buried.
I have never known him give a stronger manifestation
of injured feeling than when any one spoke dispar-
agingly of this place or its population.

“He rejoiced in your prosperity, was always grati-
fied in the well-doing of your children who live else-
where, and is it too much to say that he himself con-
tributed much to the prosperity of this town during
the half-century he has been here?

“Tn declaring that he did I only repeat what has
been frequently said to me by those among you. Cer-
tainly everything of a public nature received his most
cordial and liberal support; it was expected by every
one, and he seldom disappointed such expectation.

“This leads me to speak of his charities. I will
but just allude to them. I think those bestowed
in private far exceeded in amount his public dona-
tions. For some years I have been in a situation to
know something in regard to these matters, and am cer-
tain that his heart was full of compassion for the poor
and distressed ; that he thought of them, and provided
for their relief when they were forgotten by others.
A single remark now on this point: his charities
arose, not from indifference to the value of property ,—
he appreciated it according to its worth,—but benevo-
lence overcame his desire to retain it. He was a
thoughtful, a judicious, a considerate benefactor.”

Mr. Battell married, July 24, 1805, Sarah Robbins,
daughter of Rev. Ammi R. and Elizabeth (Le Baron)
Robbins. There were nine children of this marriage,
four sons and five daughters, who lived to adult age.

Mr. Battell died Noy. 30, 1841, aged sixty-seven
years.

THE COE FAMILY.

The Coe family came to this country from Suffolk-
shire, England, where they had resided for many
generations. The earliest notice of them which can
now be found is in Fox’s “ Book of Martyrs,” which
speaks of Roger Coe, of Milford, Suffolkshire, in
1555. Little is known respecting the family till the
removal of Robert Coe to this country. In the au-
thentic family record he belongs to the first genera-
tion.

Robert Coe* was born in Suffolkshire, England, in
1596. With his wife, Anna, born in 1591, and their
three sons, he sailed from Ipswich in the ship “ Fran-
cis,” John Culling, master, April 10, 1634. They
reached Boston in the following June, only six years
from the date of the first settlement in the Massachu-
setts colony. Robert Coe settled with his family in
Watertown, near Boston, and was made a freeman

 

#* “Tn Fox’s ‘ Book of Martyrs’ the orthography is Coo; in the records
of the custom-house in Westminster Hall, London, the name is written
Cooe; in many of the early records of New England itis Co. The old-
est original signature which I have found is in the town records of Ja-
maica, L. I., and is written Feb. 14, 1663. The name is Robert Coe; but
a signature written March, 1663, is Robert Co..—From a “ Record of the
Coe Family,” by Rev. David B. Coe.

 

there Sept. 8, 1634. In 1685 or 7386 he removed to
Wethersfield, Conn.

Oct. 30, 1640, Mr. Andrew Ward and Mr. Robert

Coe, in behalf of themselves and about twenty other
planters, purchased Rippowams (Stamford) of New
Haven colony for thirty-three pounds, and com-
menced a settlement there. At the General Court in
New Haven, April 5, 1643, a court having the same
powers as that at New Haven was established at
Stamford, and Robert Coe was appointed one of the
assistant judges.

In the spring of 1644, Robert Coe and several others
formed the first English settlement at Hempstead,
L. I. In 1652 he removed to a place called Westport,
and aided in establishing a settlement, which was
named Middleburg (now Newtown, L. I.). He was a
magistrate during his whole residence there, and took
a leading part in all the affairs of the town.

Early in 1656 he, with several others, commenced
a settlement in Jamaica. The first town-meeting was
held February 18th, when a house-lot was given to
Robert Coe, and another to his son, Benjamin Coe.
He continued to be one of the most active and prom-
inent men in public affairs till about 1672, at which
time he was seventy-six years old. The time of his
death is not known.

SECOND GENERATION.

Robert! and Anna had three children, viz., John’,
Robert?, and Benjamin’. Robert? was born in Eng-
land in 1627, and accompanied his father to Water-
town, Wethersfield, and Stamford. He removed
thence to Stratford, Conn., married Hannah ’
and died in 1659, aged thirty-two.

THIRD GENERATION.
Robert? and Hannah had one child, viz., John’,
born May 10, 1658, spent his early life in New
Haven, returned to Stratfurd in 1680, married Mary
Hawley, December 20, 1682, and died April 19, 1741,
aged seventy-eight, leaving ten children, viz. :

 

FOURTH GENERATION.

Robert‘, born Sept. 21, 1684; Joseph‘, born Feb. 2,
1686; Hannah‘, born April 14, 1689; Mary‘, born Aug.
11, 1691; John‘, born Dec. 5, 1693; Sarah‘, born
March 26, 1696 ; Ephraim‘, born Dec. 18, 1698; Kath-
arine*, born Sept. 23,1700; Abigail‘, born March 11,
1702; Ebenezer’, born Aug. 18, 1704.+

Robert‘, son of John and Mary (Hawley) Coe, mar-
ried Barbara Parmele, and settled in Durham, and
afterwards in Middlefield, Conn. He was commis-
sioned as ensign in train-band in 1718. His wife,
Barbara, died in Bristol, Sept. 26, 1774, in her eighty-
sixth year. Children:

FIFTH GENERATION.
John’, born in 1710; Martha®, born March 21, 1713;

Ebenezer’, born Aug. 21, 1715; Mary®, born April.

 

+ The above record is taken from “ Record of the Coe Family,” by Rev.

David B. Coe,
SUPPLEMENT.

11, 1717; Robert’, born June 11, 1719, died young;
Hannah’, baptized April, 1721; Robert’ (2d), baptized
June, 1723; Thomas’, born May 18, 1727; Reuben’,
baptized Dec. 22, 1728; William, baptized June 7,
1730; Rachel’, baptized Oct. 22, 1782.

Thomas’, son of Robert‘ and Barbara (Parmele) Coe,
married Mary , and settled in Litchfield, Conn.;
died Feb. 23, 1810, in the eighty-third year of his
age. His wife, Mary, died Sept. 10, 1812, aged
eighty-five years. Children:

SIXTH GENERATION.

Zachariah®, baptized Dec. 11, 1757; Abigail’, bap-
tized Jan. 15, 1759; Levi®, born July 3, 1760; Lois®,
baptized June 6, 1762; Mary®, baptized June 23, 1765;
Eunice’, baptized Aug. 31, 1766; Thomas’, Jr., Sept.
11, 1768. 5
_ Levi’, son of Thomas’ and Mary Coe, married De-
borah McCall, of Lebanon, Conn., Sept. 8, 1789. He
purchased the homestead in Litchfield in 1785, which
is still in possession of his son Levi’. Levi® Coe died
Feb. 28, 1832, aged seventy-one years. His wife,
Deborah, died April 29, 1848, aged seventy-three
years. Children:

 

SEVENTH GENERATION.

Dyer’, born June 2, 1794; Ira’, born April 9, 1796;
Walter’, born Feb. 10, 1798; Emeline’, born Feb. 2,
1801; William’, born Nov. 28, 1802; Elizabeth’, born
Jan. 18, 1805; Olive’ M. W., born Oct. 29, 1806; Levi’,
Jr., born Sept. 14, 1810; Maria’ D., born July 10,1812;
Thomas’ M., born Jan. 4, 1815.

Levi’, son of Levi® and Deborah (McCall) Coe, mar-
ried, May 22, 1838, Lavinia, daughter of Samuel and
Lavinia (Judson) MeNiel, of Litchfield, born Sept. 30,
1815. Children:

EIGHTH GENERATION.

Dwight* M., born March 6, 1840, died Dec. 3, 1863;
Frederick® L., born Sept. 20, 1842, married Sarah C.
(born Jan. 1, 1851), daughter of William Norton, of
Litchfield, Dec. 8, 1875. Children:

Stanley® L., born Sept. 8, 1876; Philip’ F., born
Nov. 20, 1878.

Francis’ M., born Jan. 22, 1852, married, March 18,
1880, Marion I. Platt (born Oct. 10, 1852), daughter
of Sherman Platt, of Marbledale, Conn.

Levi? Coe and his family are all members of the
Congregational Church, Litchfield.

REV. RUFUS BABCOCK, D.D.

The Rev. Rufus Babcock, D.D., a native of Cole-
brook, Litchfield Co., Conn., was one of the most
prominent and learned men who have been born in
the town of Colebrook, Conn. His father, Elder
Rufus Babcock, was the founder and first pastor of
the Colebrook Baptist Church. He was born in
North Stonington, Conn., April 22, 1758, and was of
the eighth generation from James Babcock, of Essex,
England. Asa Puritan, James Babcock migrated to

 

725

Leyden, Holland, and thence went to Plymouth col-
ony, Mass., where he arrived in June, 1623. Elder
Rufus Babcock was ordained at Colebrook in 1794,
and was the first minister of any denomination in the
town. He continued to serve the Baptist Church at
Colebrook as its pastor until he was seventy-three
years of age, with good success, maintaining his fam-
ily by carrying on the business of a farmer. In the
same way he was enabled to give a liberal education
to his two younger sons, Cyrus G. and Rufus, at Brown
University, Providence, R.I. After resigning as pas-
tor he continued to nurse the church with fatherly
care, and gave to ita parsonage. Without any great
advantages of early culture, without fluency of speech,
or any of the graces of oratory, Elder Babcock had
such native soundness and vigor of mind, coupled
with good sense and indefatigable industry, that he
was highly and deservedly esteemed, not only in his
own community, but by learned and intelligent min-
isters of other denominations.

During the Revolutionary war he was twice called
out as a soldier, and served in Capt. Timothy Moses’
company. Elder Babcock was twice married, but
left issue only by his first wife, who was a daughter
of Capt. Moses, all being sons, named, respectively,
Timothy, Cyrus Giles, and Rufus. He died Nov. 4,
1842, aged nearly eighty-five years. His youngest
son, Rufus, in writing of him, describes him as being
“one of the best of fathers.”’

Rufus Babcock, Jr., was born in North Colebrook,
Conn., Sept. 19, 1798, and passed his early years on
his father’s farm, where he formed habits of indus-
try which never forsook him as long as life lasted.
Having obtained such rudiments of education as a
country town afforded, he was sent to Brown Uni-
versity, then the only Baptist college in America,
where he devoted himself with untiring energy to
study, and from which he was graduated in 1821. As
was the custom in those days with students in the
various colleges, young Babcock devoted his vaca-
tions to teaching, and took charge of a school in the
town of Barrington, R. I., on the shores of the beau-
tiful Narragansett Bay, where in after-years he was
accustomed to spend many weeks each year, amidst
the friends whose acquaintance he had formed in
early life. While at college, by his consistent de-
portment and steady habits, he made many warm
friends, and among them was Nicholas Brown, whose
friendship continued until death severed the ties
which bound them together.

The natural ability of the young student soon at-
tracted the attention of distinguished men in the Bap-
tist denomination, and before his class had graduated
he was offered a tutorship in Columbian College (now
Columbian University), a Baptist college, which had
then been chartered by Congress, in the District
of Columbia, under the special auspices of the cele-
brated Luther Rice. It was in 1815 that he united
with the Baptist Church at Colebrook, and, having
726

SUPPLEMENT.

 

been licensed to preach, he spent several months
after his graduation, in 1815, in supplying churches
in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

In 1821 he went to Washington City, and assumed
the position of tutor in the college of which the Rey.
William Staughton, D.D., was president. He re-
mained here until 1828, when he resigned to take
charge of the Baptist Church at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,
where he was ordained, and the same year was mar-
ried to Miss Olivia Bicknell Smith, daughter of Na-
thaniel Wait Smith, of Barrington, R. I. It was
while here that he formed his habits of personal
visitation among his flock as pastor, and devoted
himself to his studies, which soon placed him among
the best preachers of his denomination. While at-
tending one of the large conventions of his church
he met with Dr. Lucius Bolles, of Salem, Mass., who,
although pastor of the flourishing church ie that
place, was likewise engaged as corresponding secre-
tary of the Baptist Triennial Converition, now known
as the American Baptist Missionary Union. Such
was the impression created by Mr. Babcock that he
was invited by Dr. Bolles to become his associate
pastor at Salem, and in 1826 he moved to that city,
and at once assumed such a position that his learning
and graces as a speaker made him prominent among
the Baptists of New England. He found here a loving,
intelligent people, and after a lapse of fifty years, refer-
ring to his settlement at Salem, he wrote of them as fol-
lows: “A happier settlement, all things considered,
I have never seen; and I have ever since been accus-
tomed to think and speak of this as the model church.”
But his fame had gone forth as a teacher and preacher,
and Waterville College, in Maine, being without a
president, he was in 1833 invited to that high and
honorable place. Accordingly, in that year he as-
sumed the duties of president of that college, and so
continued until 1836, when failing health compelled
him to resign and seek a more congenial clime. He
accordingly removed to Philadelphia, Pa., and became
pastor of the Spruce Street Baptist Church.

While at Waterville the degree of Doctor of Divin-
ity was conferred upon him by Bowdoin College, and
while at Philadelphia he was invited to the presi-
dency of the State University, at Bloomington, Ind.,
of Alton (now Shurtleff) College, Illinois, and of
Columbian College, District of Columbia, all of which
positions he declined, as he afterwards did the presi-
dency of Burlington University, Iowa. Few young
men were more sought after at this period than was
Dr. Babcock.

His subsequent pastorates were at New Bedford,
Mass., Paterson, N. J., and again at Poughkeepsie,
N. Y., which he always regarded as his home. For
some years Dr. Babcock was president of the Amer-
ican Baptist Publication Society, and corresponding
secretary of the American and Foreign Bible Society ;
he was also interested in the Pennsylvania Coloniza-
tion Society and the American Sunday-School Union.

 

While at Poughkeepsie one of his most prominent
parishioners was Matthew Vassar, the founder of Vas-

sar College, who conferred with Dr. Babcock in all ,

the initiatory steps which led to the organization of
that grand institution of learning for young women. .

During all his career Dr. Babcock was a most in-
defatigable student and worker. From his early life
he wrote much for the press, and while at Pough-
keepsie projected, and for five years edited, the
Baptist Memorial, which soon acquired great popu-
larity. When Dr. Sprague began his great work,
“The American Pulpit,” and was gathering materials
for his sixth volume, containing sketches of Baptist
ministers, he secured the aid of Dr. Babcock, to whom,
in his preface, he offered his best thanks, and said
that to him the public were indebted for no small
degree of the interest that pertains to that department
of his work. He was likewise a frequent contributor
to the Christian Review of extended articles, as well as
literary notices, and he wrote much for the various
Baptist newspapers. His published works are “Claim
of Education Societies,” 1829; “Review of Beck-
with’s ‘Dissuasive from Controversy on Baptism,’”
1829; “Making Light of Christ,” 1880; “Life of
George Leonard,” 1832; “ Abraham Booth and Isaac
Backus ;” ‘History of Waterville College,” 18386 ;
“Tales of Truth for the Young,” 1837; ‘“ Adoniram
Judson, D.D.,” 1851; ‘Personal Recollections of
John M. Peck, D.D.,” 1858; and “The Emigrant’s
Mother,” 1859. Dr. Babcock’s attachment to his
birthplace, and his love for the church of which his
father was the founder, were remarkable. Towards
the close of his life, when he had withdrawn from the
duties of the pastorate and was living at Poughkeep-
sie, surrounded by a loving circle of friends, and in
the midst of an attached family, having heard that
the little church was without a pastor, he separated
himself from all home comforts, and journeyed to Cole-
brook. There, even in the winter, he remained for
many months, and ministered to the little flock, trying
to infuse new life and energy into the church. While
thus laboring he was cheered by the hearty support
of his warm and devoted friend, Gen. E. A. Phelps,
who had been his playmate, though several years his
junior, in “days lang syne,” and who still survives,
and often speaks of his friend, Rufus Babcock.

As already stated, Dr. Babcock was devoted to lit-
erary pursuits, and his ability as a scholar was recog-
nized by those with whom he was associated in the
various benevolent and educational organizations of
his church. For nearly half a century he was a
trustee of Brown University,—his Alma Mater,—and
he was one of the original trustees of Vassar College,
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Dr. Babcock died at Salem,
Mass., on the 4th day of May, 1875, in the seventy-
seventh year of his age. He had gone there appa-
rently in excellent health, and on the last Sunday of
April preached twice, his last sermon being delivered
at the First Baptist Church, of which he had once
SUPPLEMENT.

727

 

been the pastor. His text was from Mark vii. 37:
“ He hath done all things well.” The effort was too
much for him, and he was attacked with typhoid
: pneumonia, and died after a brief illness. His re-
‘. mains were taken to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and interred
in the beautiful cemetery near that city. The esti-
mate of his character has been truthfully portrayed
_ by the Rev. Dr. F. B. Wheeler, pastor of the Pough-
*keepsie Presbyterian Church, in the following words:
“ Affectionate and sunny in his disposition, all were
won to him; courteous and gentlemanly in his bearing,
all respected him; a man of warm Christian spirit, all
revered him. His memory is precious in many hearts.
He was pre-eminently a peacemaker, always ready
to conciliate and turn away wrath. In all the inter-
course of life he was kind and true, a friend upon
whom one could always rely. As a preacher he has
been a positive power in his denomination, persuasive
in oratory, and thoroughly evangelical in his doctrine.
While he was warmly attached to the principles and
faith of the Baptist Church, there was no narrowness
in his spirit, but a catholicity of feeling and action
that was delightfully refreshing to all with whom he
came in contact. Honored by his brethren and his
church, he has entered into rest, like a shock of corn
fully ripe into the garner.”

Dr. Babcock left but two children to survive him,
viz., Caroline Vassar Babcock Jones, wife of Horatio
Gates Jones, Esq., of Philadelphia, a member of the
bar, and a senator in the Pennsylvania Legislature ;
the other, Harriet Shepherd Weeks, wife of James
H. Weeks, Esq., a member of the Poughkeepsie bar,
in Dutchess Co., N. Y.

UNITED STATES SENATORS ELECTED FROM LITCH-
FIELD COUNTY.

   

First chosen. No. years.
Uriah Tracy, Litchfield «see 1796 11
Elijah Boardman, New Milford . 1821*
Perry Smith, New Milford... - 1836 6
Truman Smith, Litchfield... aces 1849 5

 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ELECTED FROM LITCH-
FIELD COUNTY.

   
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  

 

zs 3 First chosen, No. years.
Uriah Tracy, Litchfield........ wee 1793 3
Nathaniel Smith, Woodbury. . 1795 4
John Allen, Litchfield......... 1797 2
John Cotton Smith, Sharon.... 1800 5
Benjamin Tallmadge, Litchfield. - 1801 16
Uriel Holmes, Litchfield... 1817 1
Ansel Sterling, Sharon...... 1821 4
Orange Morwin, New Milford 1825 4
Jabez W. Huntington, Litchfield 1829 5
Phineas Miner, Litchfield... 1834 1
Lancelot Phelps, Colebroo! 1835 4
Truman Smith, Litchfield. .. 1839 8
Origen S. Seymour, Litchfield. 1851 4
William W. Welch, Norfolk.... 1855 2
George C. Wovdruff, Litchfield 1861 2
John H. Hubbard, Litchfield 1863 4
William H. Barnum, Salisbu 1867 10
Frederick Miles, Salisbury... . 1879 4

 

SOLDIERS’ MONUMENT, LITCHFIELD.
The matter of erecting 2 monument to the mem-
ory of the patriot dead of Litchfield who fell during

* Died in office.

 

the war of 1861-65 was undertaken by the ladies
of the town in 1868, and a committee, consisting of
Mrs. L. W. Wessells, Mrs. Rufus Smith, Mrs. H. D.
Kilborn, Mrs. E. R. Wadhams, Mrs. H. R. Coit, and
Mrs. C. Hinsdale, were appointed to attempt raising
the necessary funds. This was done by individual
subscriptions of one dollar, and the balance by means
of fairs and entertainments of various kinds, and was
placed in the East Park, in the centre of the village, in
June, 1871. It was made by H. F. & G. E. Bissell,
of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and cost something more
than two thousand dollars.

It is of white marble, about twenty feet high, and
of fine workmanship.

Three sides of the base contain the names of those
who were killed in action or died in service, and the
fourth represents very handsomely a cavalryman and
infantryman, with cannon, muskets, flags, etc., and the
column is inscribed with the various battles in which
the soldiers were engaged.

The following are the inscriptions :}

On the west:

ROLL OF HONOR.
KILLED IN ACTION.
Cold Harbor, Va., June 1, 1864.
Luman Wadhams, Capt., Co. A, 2d C. V. H. A.
Joseph Parks, First Sergt.
Albert E. Jones, Corp.
George W. Potter.
Charles Adams, Jr.
Apollos Morse.
Robert Watt.
Lyman J. Smith, Jr.
Andrew J. Brooker.
John Iffland.
Patrick Ryan.
Almon J. Bradley.
Willard H. Parmalee.
Joseph E. Camp, Co. K.

North Anna, Va., May 26, 1864,
Henry W. Wadhams, Lieut., Co. C, 14th C. V. I.
Petersburg, Va.
George B. Hempsted, Lt., Co. B, 2d C. V. H. A. June 22, 1864
E. Goodwin Osborn, Sergt., 2d C. V. H. A., March 25, 1865.
Fort Harrison, Va. ;
Thos. McKinley, Lieut., Co. B, 29th C. V. I., June 3, 1865.
Seth Plumb, Ist Sergt., Co. B, 8th C. V. L, Sept. 29, 1864.
On the north: .
ROLL OF HONOR.
KILLED IN ACTION.
Fisher's Hill, Va., Sept. 22, 1864.
David B. Wooster, Q. M.-Sergt., 2d C. V. H. A.
Chancellorsville, Va.
Walter Hale, Co. C, 20th C. V. I., May 3, 1863.
Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864.

William §. Bulkley, Lieut., Co. A, 12th O, V. I.
Horace Hubbard, Co. H, 2d C. V. H. A.

Hiram T. Cooley, Co. D.

Franklin Bunnell, Co. A, Sept. 26.

 

+The Nineteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry and Second Con-
necticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery are the same, the Nineteenth being
transformed into the Second Connecticut Volunteer Heavy Artillery.
728

SUPPLEMENT.

 

Fort Darling, Va., May 16, 1864.
Edward Wadhams, Ist Sergt., 8th C. V. I.
Antietam, Md,, Sept. 17, 1862.

George Booth, Corp., Co. E, 8th C. V. I.
Morton W. Castle, Co. C.
Thomas Mason, Co. E.

DIED.

Alexandria, Va.

Frederick B, Webster, Corp., Co. D, 19th C. V.'1., Nov. 5, 1862.
Watson Parmalee, Co. A, Nov. 11, 1862. :

Albert P. Newberry, Co. A, April 18, 1863.

Henry W. Minor, Co. A, Feb, 14, 1863.

Edwin F. Perkins, Co. A, 2d C. V. H. A., Aug. 25, 1864.

David M. Candee, Andersonville.

On the east side :
DIED.
Harwinton, Conn., Oct. 12, 1863.
Norman L. Barber, Co. A, 19th C, V. I.
Hatteras Inlet, Jan, 30, 1862.
Francis Barber, Co, E, 8th C. V. I.
Newbern.

George W. Baldwin, Co. E, 8th C. V.I., March 22, 1862.

Francis A. Newcomb, Co. E, 8th C. V. I., May 14, 1862.

Sylvanus M. Clark, Co. E, 8th C. V. I., March 14, 1862.
Georgetown, D. C.

John Tompkins, Co. E, 8th C. V. I., Sept. 7, 1862.

Jerome Nichols, Co. E, 8th C. V. I., Oct. 17, 1863.

Charles L. Castle, Co. C, 8th C. V. 1., Aug. 4, 1864,

New Orleans, La,

Rufus M. Bissell, Co. F, 12th C. V. L., Aug. 31, 1862.
Charles Catlin, Co. I, 13th C. V. L., Sept. 2, 1863,

Enos Tompkins, Co. A, Ist C. V. C., July 16, 1862.

James B. Beach, Corp., Co. K, 23d C. V. L., Aug. 22, 1863.

Fluuter’s Chapel, Va.

Elliot Barse, Co. E, 4th N. Y. C., Jan. 9, 1862.

Beaufort,

Luman Lampman, Oo. I, 30th C. V. L., Aug. 21, 1864,
Bermuda Hundred.

Thomas Dickinson, Co. D, 30th C. V. I., Aug. 22, 1864.

Aiken’s Landing.

James Edwards, 30th C. V. ., March 4, 1865.
Brownsville, Texas.

Henry H. Bunnell, Sergt., Co. A, 29th C. V. I.

The following were also killed, but their names do
not appear on the monument:
Capt. Luman Wadhams, killed June 1, 1864.

Lieut. Henry W. Wadhams, killed May 26, 1864.
First Sergt. Edward Wadhams, killed May 16, 1864.

The above were brothers, sons of a widow, and fine
soldiers.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, CORNWALL.

Methodism in New England was founded, under
God, by the bold evangelist, Jesse Lee, in the year
1789, he being the first preacher appointed to the
State of Connecticut by the New York Conference of
that year. He arrived at Norwalk on the 11th day of
June, 1789, and preached his first sermon on the 17th
of that month, by the roadside, under the shade of an
apple-tree, to about twenty hearers, from John iii. 7:
“Ye must be born again.”

“ Litchfield Circuit was founded about the begin-
ning of the year 1790, and comprehended all the

 

northwestern portion of Connecticut,” says Stephens’
“ History of Methodism,” ‘and Samuel Wigton and
Henry Christie were the first preachers appointed by
the Conference to travel this circuit, during the eccle-
siastical year of 1790-91. Cornwall was for many
years embraced within its boundaries,”

So far as we have any authentic information, the
first Methodist sermon preached in Cornwall was by
Freeborn Garrettson, who “entered the northwestern
arigle of Connecticut at Sharon, on the 20th of June,
1790,” and on the 22d, “after riding fifteen miles,
preached in a Presbyterian meeting-house to some
hundreds” from. ‘If the righteous scarcely be saved,
where shall the ungodly and sinners appear?” The
meeting-house referred to was undoubtedly the one
which stood on the ground now occupied by the school-
house at Corwall Centre. He preached again in Corn-
wall on Saturday, July 24, 1790, and found, he says,
“that the Lord had begun a blessed work in this
town.” These were among the first of the sowing of
the seeds of Methodism in Cornwall.

It is said, on good authority, that Edward Rogers,
Esq., one of the leading spirits of his age, and a man
greatly respected, invited the first Methodist minister
to preach here, because he preached “‘a full salvation,”
in opposition to the strong Calvinistic doctrines so
universally preached at that time, and which were re-
pulsive to the Rogerses. His wife and two daughters
became ardent Methodists; one of them, Elizabeth
W., married Henry Christie, one of the first preachers
that traveled the circuit, who afterwards located and
lived in Cornwall more than twenty years, much of
the time at the place now occupied by William W.
Baldwin, where he continued to assist his “ itinerant
brethren” as a faithful local preacher, sharing their
trials.

It is related of him “that he was summoned early
one morning, before he was out of his bed, with a writ
by a sheriff for marrying a couple, and was saved
from a lodgment in jail only by the timely bail of a
Christian brother.” He removed to Ohio in 1817,
“where he continued to preach with increased fre-
quency.” His health now gave way, and in 1826 he
sank into the repose of the grave, joyful in the hope
of the first resurrection. On his death-bed, being
asked how he was, he replied, “ I am near my Father’s
house.”

It is recorded of him “that his last hours were full
of special consolations and triumphs.” Another
daughter of Edward Rogers, Lucretia, married John
Ward, whose son, John R. Ward, lived in Salisbury,
Conn., recently deceased, and was so well known as
a prominent man in the town, and in the Methodist
Church, of which he was an exemplary member.

“The apostolic bishop of Methodism, Francis As-
bury, entered Connecticut on the 4th of J une, 1791,—
a man whose ministerial labors have scarcely been
paralleled since the days of St. Paul.”

On the 23d day of July, 1791, this great evangelist
SUPPLEMENT.

“traveled by a rocky, mountainous way to Cornwall,
and preached to about one hundred and fifty hearers.”
He tarried in the place over the night; tradition says
that he was entertained at the home of Capt. John
Peck.

The nucleus of a society thus founded was soon
strengthened by the immigration to this place of Capt.
John Peck, “ who was the first man to join the class
founded by the Rev. Jesse Lee in Stratford, Conn. He
purchased the farm, and lived on the place now
owned by the heirs of B. P. Johnson, at Cornwall
Centre. In 1793 his house was opened for preaching,
and until his removal to the West continued to be
the place of meetings, and the itinerants’ home. In
1794 further accessions were made in Samuel Agin
Judson and family; and in 1796 he bought the farm
now owned by M. Beers and son of Abel Thorp, and
by a residence of over fifty years he sustained by
precept and example the cause of the church. In
1798 the society was further strengthened by the arrival
of Allen Shepherd and his family. He purchased
the farm: now owned by Mrs. C. Todd, and after the
removal of Capt. Peck his house became the place
for meeting.

Rev. Gendon Rexford, a Methodist minister, settled
on Cream Hill, in the north part of the town, towards
the close of the last century.

A class-paper of date “ Cornwall, Feb. 23, 1805,”
records the names of Zalmon Lyon and Eben
Smith as preachers on Litchfield circuit, Henry
Christie as local deacon, Samuel A. Judson as class-
leader, and Allen Shepherd as class steward, with
thirty-one names following: Samuel A. Judson, Abiah
Judson, John Peck,* Mary Peck,* Holly Reed, Selah
Reed, George Dibble, Huldah Hartshorn, Daniel A.
Dean, Clarissa Dean, Lois Wickwire, Allen Shepherd,
Anna Shepherd, Henry Reed, Sarah A. Reed, Eliza-
beth Christie, Enos Northrop, Anna Northrop, Rusha
Lewis, Rebekah Bishop, Nancy Wright, Rebekah
Shepherd, Lucina Bishop, Jonah Dibble, John Tous-
ley, Rachel Hull, Sarah Wadsworth, Sarah Ward,
James Wadsworth, Hannah Rogert.

The land on which the first Methodist Episcopal
church in Cornwall was built-was given to Samuel
A. Judson, Allen Shepherd, John Ward, trustees,
and to their successors in office, by Edward Rogers
and Henry Christie, by deed bearing date May 4,
1808. The building now occupied as a dwelling by
Anna Kaler was soon after erected, and served as a
meeting-house for about thirty years.

In 1839 the society was reorganized, as expressed in
the following declaration of purposes and desires:

“ CoRNWALL, March 19, 1839.
“We, the subscribers, being desirous of forming
ourselves into a legal ecclesiastical society, for the
purpose of enjoying and promoting the public wor-
ship of God, and in pursuance of a statute law of this

 

* Moved away.

 

729

State, do hereby unite and form a society to be known
and called ‘The First Episcopal Methodist Society
in Cornwall,’ with all the powers and immunities
given to religious societies by the laws of this State.

“Samuel A. Judson, John Kellogg, Holly Reed,
John R. Harrison, Luther Miner, C. B. Crandall, Eli-
phalet H. Shepherd, Clark Marvin, Julius Beardsley,
John Bradford, Carrington Todd, John Whitcomb.”

The present church edifice was erected in 1839.
The trustees at that time were Eliphalet H. Shep-
herd, Luther Miner, Carrington Todd, Julius Beards-
ley, and Samuel A. Judson.

The building committee were Eliphalet H. Shep-
herd, Luther Miner, Julius Beardsley, George Whea-
ton, and John R. Harrison.

Below are given the names of some of those noble
men of God who traversed these hills and valleys to
preach the glad tidings of the gospel:

1791-92.—Mathais Swain, James Cood.

1792-98.—Philip Wager, James Coleman.
1793-94.—Lemuel Smith, Daniel Ostrander.
1794-95.—Fredus Aldridge, James Cood.
1795-96.—Jesse Stoneman, Joseph Mitchel.
1796-97.—Daniel Dennis, Wesley Budd.

1797-98.— Ezekiel Canfield, William Thatcher.

1798-99.—Ebenezer Stevens, Freeman Bishop.

1799-1800.—Augustus Joselyn, Aaron Hunt.
1800.—Elijah Batchelor.

1801.—Peter Moriarty, John Sweet.

1802.— James Campbell, Lennan Andress.

1803.—Caleb Morris, John Sweet.

1804.—Zalmon Lyon, Eben Smith.

1805.—Zalmon Lyon.

1806.—Nathan Emery, Samuel Cochrane.

1807.—Aaron Hunt, Jonathan Lyon.

1808.—Harry Eames, Andrew Prindle.

1809.—Laban Clark, Reuben Harris.

1810.—Laban Clark.

1811.—James Coleman, Aaron Scolefield.

1812.—James Coleman, Benjamin Griffin.

1813.—William Swayze, Gad Smith, J. Reynoldy.

Many noble men of deep piety, consecrated to the
work of the Master, and filled with the Spirit of God,
have preached their one, two, and three years in
Cornwall since Methodism became established here,
and well and nobly they have performed their self-
denying labors. They were men of more than ordi-
nary ability, and believed the calling of a Methodist
circuit-rider to be the highest on earth. Below will be
found the names of some of these men:

P. Cook, Cyrus Culon, Nathan Emery, E. Wash-
burn, Seth Cronell, Gad Smith, Henry Hatfield, Ste-
phen L. Stillman, Samuel D. Ferguson, Julius Field,
Elbert Osborn, Eli Barnett, John Lovejoy, A. Bush-
nell, Luther Mead, L. A. Sanford, Laban Clark, A.
8. Hill, David Osborn, R. R. Reynold, Weeks M.
Blydenburg, Isaac Sanford, Wm. McAllister, 8. H.
Platt, T. C. Youngs, Henry Burton, R. D. Kirdy,

| David Nash, C. W. Powell, J. D. Bouton, 8. F. John-
730

son, Wm. H. Stebbins, Wm. Brown, D. 8. Stevens,

C. 8. Dikeman, F. M. Hallock, James Robinson.
Many of them, with those to whom they preached

the word of life, have long since gone to their reward.

The deeds and incidents of their lives are to a great

extent forgotten.

George Clark came from Woodbury to Cornwall in
1800, and became identified with the first Methodist
Episcopal Church; was an exhorter, a great Bible
reader, and very zealous in holding meetings and
other labors for Christ.

Many unassuming men and women have lived and
labored and performed their life-work as members
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Cornwall whose
names will never appear, and whose graces will not
be alluded to by the historians of earth, but they are
all recorded in the great record book on high.

This church has truly been a vine of the Master’s
planting. Its influences for good cannot be deter-
mined in time. Its children and representatives
have gone out into other and various fields of Chris-
tian duty, many of these worthily honoring them-
selves and their mother-church.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN NEW MILFORD.

There must have been Episcopalians in New Mil-
ford earlier, but the first allusion to them occurs in
the record of a town-meeting in 1744, just previous to
the death of Mr. Boardman: “ Voted, That those of
us who are of the Church of England shall be free
from paying any charge for a minister for one year, if
circumstances remain as they now are; but if in the
providence of God our reverend pastor should be
taken away, then the said churchmen to be under
the same regulation as the rest.”” The Rev. James
Beach, of Newtown, visited New Milford occasionally
between 1740 and 1745, and a lay reader read service
for some time. The first Episcopal clergyman who
resided here was Rey. Solomon Palmer, who came in

 

 

SUPPLEMENT.

1754. This society continued feeble for many years, '

but under, the twenty years’ pastorate of the Rev.
Charles G. Acly it grew strong and healthy. It is
now in a flourishing condition.

THOMASTON.

There is also a Congregational Church at Reynolds-
ville, organized a few years ago, and the present pas-
tor is Rev. Mr. Sanford.

Reynolds’ Bridge is a hamlet in the southeastern
part of the town. Here is located the American Knife
Company, a flourishing institution.

ST. JAMES’ CHURCH,. WINSTED.

The Rev. D. P. Sanford, D.D., took charge of the
parish in May, 1870, and remained nearly four years.

Rey. F. S. Jewell, Ph.D., was chosen rector in 1874,
and remained in charge nearly four years.

Rev. F. W. Harriman was his successor, and he re-
mained a little over one year, and was succeeded by
the Rev. George M. Stanley, the present rector.

JOHN H. HUBBARD, LITCHFIELD.

John H. Hubbard was twice married, first to Miss
Julia Dodge, of Salisbury, who died in 1851 (two
children of this marriage died in infancy) ; the second
time to Miss Abby J. Wells, of Litchfield, who, with
four children, still survives.

ERRATA.

Page 395, line 32, “six feet square” should read
“ sixteen feet.”

The history of Barkhamsted is copyrighted, and all
rights reserved by Capt. Henry R. Jones; and the his-
tory of New Hartford is also copyrighted, and all
rights reserved by Sarah L. Jones, 1881. _—-
 

 

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